North Central Public Health District says through Saturday, at least 27,519 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam counties.  North Central Public Health District has administered 16,724 doses, including 44 in the last week, Mid-Columbia Medical Center has administered 1,937 doses, 44 in the last week, and One Community Health has administered 3,814 doses, 23 in the last week.  Other entities have previously administered 4,440 doses.  The totals do not include vaccines administered by local pharmacies.  In Wasco County, 73.1 percent of those 18 and up are vaccinated; in Sherman County, its 65.7 percent, and in Gilliam County, its 49.1 percent.  NCPHD is holding a number of large clinics in the coming days and weeks. To book an appointment, visit ncphd.org or call 541-506-2600.  NCPHD on Wednesday did announce a 41st death from COVID-19 in Wasco County.  The person tested positive on Oct. 15 and died on Oct. 19 at Mid-Columbia Medical Center.

The Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 Weekly Report, released Thursday, shows decreases in daily cases and deaths and an increase in hospitalizations.  The OHA reported 7,707 new cases of COVID-19 during the week ending October 24.  That represents a 4.1% decrease from the previous week and the eighth consecutive week of declining case counts.  The incidence of reported COVID-19 cases was higher in Oregon counties with population vaccination rates less than 50%.  There were 415 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, up from 377 last week, marking the first time hospitalizations have risen following seven consecutive weeks of declines.  There were 110 reported COVID-19 related deaths, down from 183 reported the previous week, and the lowest weekly death toll since the week of August 16.  There were 137,537 tests for COVID-19 for the week ending October 23.  The percentage of positive tests was 7.4%, down from 7.6% the previous week.

Columbia Basin Care announced Aubree Schreiner has been named interim Executive Director.  Schreiner previously spend five years as the facility’s executive director.  She has spent the last year as Director of Operations for Aidan Health Services, Columbia Basin Care’s management company.  Schreiner was also acting in an advisory capacity for CBC.  Columbia Basin Care is the region’s only independent, nonprofit care facility for short-stay recovery and long-term care.  Aidan Health Services manages Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Skilled Nursing Facilities in Oregon, Washington, and Colorado.

Cross Country The Dalles was the boys’ winner and Hood River Valley the girls’ champions at the Intermountain Conference Championships on Birch Creek Golf Course in Pendleton. The Riverhawks held off the Eagles by a single point in the boys’ standings, as The Dalles’ Juan Diego Contreras won the race, while teammates Leo Lemann finished fourth, Conor Blair eighth, and Egan Ziegenhagen tenth.  HRV’s also had four top ten finishes, with Elliot Hawley third, William Bunch sixth, Jaime Rodriguez seventh, and Jackson Bullock ninth.  In the girls’ run, HRV had four of the top six finishers to easily outpace the field, led by a first place finish for Phoebe Wood.  The Eagles’ Alex Bronson was fourth, Sophie Kaden fifth, and Olivia Nickson sixth.  The Dalles took second, led by Alaina Casady in third, Caitie Wring in seventh, and Fiona Dunlop in eleventh.  All four area teams are headed to the Oregon Class 5A Championships on November 6 in Eugene.   Volleyball Class 1A First Round South Wasco def. Open Door Christian 17-25, 25-16, 15-25, 25-17, 15-12:  The Redsides advance to visit Damascus Christian in round 2 on Saturday.   Girls Soccer Westside Christian 1, Trout Lake 0

North Central Public Health District’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center tomorrow is full, but openings remain for clinics scheduled during the first two weeks of November.  District Clinical Programs Supervisor Martha McInnes says they have ramped up capacity at the clinics as booster shots become available, and they are varying operation hours to provide more options.  McInnes says they will add more clinics as demand increases.  She also points out that COVID vaccines are available at pharmacies and various medical providers.

Boys Soccer Hood River Valley 8, Pendleton 0:  The Eagles clinch the Intermountain Conference championship with the win. The Dalles 2, Redmond 1:  The Riverhawks nailed down a berth in the state Class 5A playoffs with the victory over the Panthers. Damascus Christian 6, Horizon Christian 1 Grand View Christian 8, Trout Lake 0   Girls Soccer Redmond 2, The Dalles 0 Pendleton 3, Hood River Valley 0 Montesano 6, Columbia 1 Grandview 7, Goldendale 2   Volleyball Montesano def. Columbia 3-0 Onalaska def. Stevenson 25-15, 25-15, 25-23 Goldendale def. Granger 25-15, 25-13, 25-7  

The Dalles City Council on Monday evening approved a Strategic Improvement Plan agreement with Google and Wasco County for development of a portion of the former aluminum plant site the company purchased, but there are still other steps remaining for the project to move forward.  Most notably, the Council will consider an agreement for water use and infrastructure at the panel’s November 8 meeting.  Mayor Rich Mays says he has heard concerns from some residents about water needs for the data center, but says improvements by Google will result in an increase in the City’s water capacity.  The agreement also calls for Google to transfer water rights they received in the aluminum plant property purchase to the City, and data center water will be treated post-cooling.

The City of White Salmon has entered into a real estate agreement for the purchase of the “Walker House” at 245 W. Jewett Blvd.   The city says it would like to purchase the home in order to preserve the historic significance of the structure to the city’s history, and to also create a gathering place for the community.  The real estate agreement provides a 150-day due diligence period.  The City will be conducting inspections of the property including structural and electrical, conducting an appraisal, and determining how the purchase can be financed.  The White Salmon City Council will hold a public comment period on the proposed purchase during its November 3 meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m.  Information on how to take part in the online meeting is at white-salmon.net.

The Dalles City Council approved a Strategic Improvement Plan agreement with Google and Wasco County for development of a portion of the former aluminum plant site the company purchased.  The agreement actually covers two data center projects to be developed in the next 25 years, with a 15-year tax abatement for each.  There would be a one-time $3 million payment to the County and City for each project, a prescribed Community Service Fee, and a guaranteed annual payment for 15 years based on 50 percent of property tax due for the first project, and 60 percent for the second.  Councilors were unanimous in approving the agreement, with Councilor Dan Richardson saying he sympathizes with community members skeptical of the agreement, but noting the reality is that cities and states compete for business, and this deal comes with modest costs and large gains.  Next up for the Council will be to consider an infrastructure agreement between the City and Google, and that will take place on November 8.  

The Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District board will hold a meeting on November 4 to go over a proposal to place two measures on the ballot in the May 2022 primary election that would dissolve the current district and then re-form it with a new property tax rate.  District director Mark Hickox told the Hood River City Council that passage of Measure 50 in Oregon in 1998 fixed their tax rate.  He added with the Hood River Aquatic Center pool reaching the end of its lifespan, surveys of the public showing demand for an expanded community center and more trails, and the need for more funding for parks operations, the district needs more financial options.  Both the dissolve and re-form measures would have to pass for either to take effect.  Hickox told the Council they would need a resolution from the City to put the measures on the ballot, and the district plans to bring one forward on November 8.