Hood River County has inched over the 70 percent mark for COVID-19 vaccinations, but that doesn’t mean health officials are going to let up in their efforts to get as many people vaccinated as possible.  County COVID-19 Response Coordinator Daron Ryan says they continue to try to get the rate as high as possible.  Ryan says the 70 percent figure is the number of people who have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine.  She noted eight percent are “in process,” having received their first shot and waiting to receive the second dose.  There are now a number of walk-in vaccination clinics in Hood River County, and a schedule is available at hrccovid19.org.

A full road closure of a block of Quinton Street in The Dalles as a result of last week’s water main break is expected to remain in place through next Thursday.  The Dalles Public Works Department says Quinton Street remains closed between East 13th and East 14th.  All traffic can detour to Oregon Street.  The road bed must dry completely before the damaged asphalt can be replaced.  Once the street is reopened, drive with caution on the gravel driving surface.  Paving is expected to be finished in mid-July.

Boys Basketball Hood River Valley 61, Ridgeview 36:  The Eagles led all the way to win their second straight and solidfy their spot in the upper half of the Intermountain Conference. Redmond 58, The Dalles 49:  The Riverhawks had four players in double figures, led by Jaxon Pullen and Styles DeLeon with 11 points apiece. Dufur 56, Horizon Christian 33 Ione-Arlington 64, Sherman 52   Girls Basketball Ridgeview 57, Hood River Valley 27:  The Ravens’ Jenna Albrecht scored 21 points as the league leaders pulled away after HRV played them close in the first half.  Marina Castaneda scored 15 points for Hood River. Redmond 43, The Dalles 28 Dufur 66, Horizon Christian 39 Ione-Arlington 34, Sherman 24

River flows throughout the region figure to be low throughout the summer.  Les Perkins of Hood River County’s Farmers Irrigation District says those flows have been in the 25th percentile consistently through the year.  Perkins notes snowpack on Mt. Hood was good, but with a very dry spring irrigation demand spiked, and that will impact summer water supplies.  Perkins did say that snowpack has left this region in a better position than other parts of the state.

Wasco County Commissioners are providing more flexibility for department heads to make adjustments to their budgets as necessary during Fiscal Year 2021-22.  Commissioner Steve Kramer says the move is to provide more options for individual departments without having to go to the Commission to move forward.  Kramer says large changes will still have to go through the Commission, with limitations differing for each department based on their budget size.

Transit agencies in the Gorge have been partnering with the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District on the Gorge Regional Transit Strategy.  Columbia Area Transit assistant executive director John Andoh says the goal is to set a vision on how the four transit providers work together to provide a seamless experience for the rider.  He adds the ultimate goal is to have tourist system that helps facilitate more tourism-based travel, seamless travel between communities on both sides of the Columbia River, and allow people to visit and live car-free.  Andoh adds having a regional transit vision can provide a framework to get additional funding sources to help cover the cost of an expanded system.

As COVID-19 vaccination levels increase, Hood River County Commissioners are preparing to return to in-person meetings.  Commissioners this week discussed the possibility of returning to meetings at the County Administrative Building in July, with Administrator Jeff Hecksel noting some adjustments would have to be made to the meeting room to prepare for that to occur.  But they also noted that continuing to make on-line access to meetings is important.  Hecksel said that is doable with the technology they now have.  The Commission also plans to go back to having just one meeting a month starting in July.  It would be the third Monday of every month.  

Donna Mickley has been tabbed as the new Forest Supervisor for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.  Mickley will serve as the Forest Service’s lead administrator for the 80-mile river corridor and surrounding natural scenic area.  Mickley comes to the Scenic Area from the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, where she served as the District Ranger since March 2010.  She also served as acting Forest Supervisor on the Siuslaw National Forest leading up to the firestorms of 2020.

A portion of Giles French Park adjacent to John Day Lock and Dam will be closed beginning Tuesday while the Bonneville Power Administration replaces transmission lines from the dam to the substation located on top of the hill south of Interstate 84.  BPA contractors were starting to place temporary fencing to restrict access to the work site.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says due to the severe safety hazard in the work area underneath the transmission lines, it is restricting public access to the far eastern end of Giles French Park through December 15.  The remainder of the park and shoreline are open for use.  The extended timeframe will allow BPA contractors to setup and tear down the temporary fencing and to restore the area.

Personal use firewood will be available on the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area beginning Tuesday in the Eagle Creek picnic area parking lot.  Several large log decks are left over from cleanup activities following a large landslide that took place in mid-February 2021. Scenic Area Public Affairs Officer Karen Davis says the wood is available for personal use only and is free, but a firewood permit is required.  Contact the Hood River Ranger District at 541-352-6002 to get permit information.  Access to the site is from 8 a.m.to 6 p.m., and only wood located in decks on the pavement may be removed.  Permit, load tags, map, and information sheet must always be with you.  Wood quantities are limited and not guaranteed.  The Eagle Creek recreation site and trail remain closed, and access to the parking lot is authorized for firewood removal only.