While Hood River County has seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases, there has not been a spike in cases leading to hospitalizations.  The County reported 99 COVID cases for the week that ended October 8, up from 60 the prior week.  County COVID-19 coordinator Daron Ryan says the County is following national trends in seeing fewer cases resulting in hospitalizations, a sign vaccinations are preventing serious conditions.  The County is starting to plan for when COVID vaccine shots are authorized for those five-to-11 years old, and for booster shots for the Moderna vaccine when they become available.

The Strategic Investment Program proposed for Google’s construction of a new data center on former aluminum plant property in The Dalles is tentatively planned to be on the Wasco County Commission agenda at the panel’s meeting next Wednesday.  Commissioner Kathy Schwartz says that has not been finalized yet.  Schwartz points out it’s a different arrangement than Enterprise Zone agreements reached with Google on its previous three projects in The Dalles, with monies going to all of the applicable taxing districts.  Once Google had the data center completed, it would be paying up to 50 percent of the taxes that would normally be duem which Schwartz says is more than the previous Enterprise Zone deals called for.  The County Commission will post its agenda for the October 20 meeting later this week, and the SIP will also eventually go to The Dalles City Council.

Hood River County Commissioners will hold a public hearing this Monday evening on Zoom on an ordinance that would establish six staging areas for trails on Hood River County forestlands as fee parking areas requiring a permit.  Fees would be $30 for an annual pass and $5 for a daily permit.  County Forester Doug Thiesies says the parking permit plan came from the recreation trail and forest advisory committees, and is to generate revenue for continued maintenance of the trails.  There would be six parking locations the permits would cover:  Post Flats, Seven Streams, Family Man, Binns Hill, Kingsley Reservoir, and Pinemont.  The hearing will part of this Monday’s County Commission meeting, beginning at 6 p.m.

NORCOR Corrections Deputy Alicia Talley was honored by The Dalles City Council for her heroic efforts to save a young boy who was being swept away by strong Columbia River currents in July.  Talley was fishing with her daughter when she heard cries for help.  She jumped into the river and brought the boy back to safety.  Councilor Tim McGlothlin said it was an honor to make the virtual presentation to Talley.  The City of The Dalles presented Talley with a certificate of recognition and a commemorative coin.

The Dalles Main Street is being re-organized.  New Main Street Executive Director Victoria Davis told The Dalles City Council says the group’s objective is to implement a practical business plan driven by a new strategic model.  Davis said she has been going business to business to find what business owners are needing, from technical support to problem solving.  She added Main Street is also now accepting applications for new board members.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce will host the Veterans Day Parade and Starlight Parade with Community Tree Lighting.  In a statement, the Chamber said local veterans reached out to it for help in hosting the Annual Veterans Day Parade on November 11 at 11 a.m.  Then on November 26, the “I Spy Christmas” Starlight Parade and Community Tree Lighting will be held.  Applications for both parades are available online at TheDallesChamber.com or can be picked up at the Chamber office located at 404 West 2nd Street.  The Chamber also said for the first time they will have a title sponsor for the Starlight Parade, Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace.

Hood River County may have to adjust its Commission district boundaries.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says a report is expected to be ready in November on any needed changes.  The adjustments would be mostly to equalize population in each of the four districts.  Historically, the County has tried to keep its Commission borders to have districts that are defined by the City of Hood River, the Westside and Cascade Locks area, the Mid-Valley, and the Upper Valley.  

Medicare’s Open Enrollment period begins on Friday, giving enrollees the opportunity to change plans if there are better options.  Oregon Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance, or SHIBA, program coordinator Sue Ann Arguelles says Medicare recipients should look for an annual notice of change in the mail, and then start considering what might be different in their life from last year.  To arrange Medicare counseling through the SHIBA program, call 541-288-8341 in Hood River, Gilliam, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler counties.  To find counseling in Washington, call 800-562-6900.

Football Hood River Valley 54, The Dalles 6:  Ryles Buckley ran for a touchdown, caught a TD pass, and intercepted a pass for a score, while Shaw Burns had a 95-yard touchdown run and Trenton Hughes threw for two scores and ran for a third. Castle Rock 42, Columbia 6 Adna 47, Stevenson 6 Imbler 30, Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 16 Ione-Arlington 30, Sherman 26 Echo 32, South Wasco 29   Girls Soccer Pendleton 2, Hood River Valley 1   Cross Country Both the Hood River Valley boys and girls finished seventh at the Champoeg Invitational. Elliot Hawley was 13^th for the HRV boys, and Phoebe Wood 21^st for the Eagle girls.   Monday Schedule Girls Soccer Stevenson at Winlock   Volleyball Horizon Christian at The Dalles Frosh, 5 p.m.

Football Dufur 46, Pilot Rock 44   Boys Soccer Hood River Valley 2, The Dalles 2:  HRV’s four-game winning streak in the Intermountain Conference was snapped by the draw, while the Riverhawks went to 2-2-1 in conference.   Girls Soccer The Dalles 2, Hood River Valley 1:  The Riverhawks defeated the Eagles for the first time in 12 years. LaCenter 5, Columbia 0   Volleyball Crook County def. The Dalles 25-22, 26-24, 25-19 Wahkiakum def. Stevenson 3-1 Dufur def. Horizon Christian 25-11, 25-7, 25-7 Sherman def. Mitchell-Spray 25-20, 25-20, 25-17   Cross Country The Dalles finished on top of the girls’ standings and second to Enterprise in the boys’ competition at the Mustang Invitational in Heppner.  Caitie Wring led the Riverhawk girls with a third place finish, while Leo Lemann was fifth for The Dalles boys.