The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District is reminding campers of some recent closures and changes to primitive camping near The Dalles Dam that went into effect in November.  Primitive camping is being permitted at Avery Park, Celilo Park, and Rufus Landing until October 31, with camping limited to seven days within a 30-consecutive day period.  There is no public use at Avery Park during commercial treaty fishing season, and tent camping at Celilo Park is on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings only.  The Corps implemented changes – in part – because of illegal dumping, resource destruction and vandalism at the sites.

The deadline to apply for Wasco County’s COVID-19 Emergency Business Grant program has been extended to Monday.   Funds were provided by the State of Oregon, with grants to be made based on the number of employees between 0 and 50, and award amounts ranging from $2,500 to $15,000.  Small businesses with under 25 employees that are over a year old and those most impacted will be prioritized for resources.  Mid-Columbia Economic Development District is working with the County to administer these funds.  Visit mcedd.org/bizgrants for full details.

Boys Basketball Hood River Valley 66, The Dalles 54:  HRV broke open a close game in the fourth quarter to stay unbeaten on the season.  The Riverhawks held a one-point lead after three quarters, but saw HRV go on a 24-11 run in the final eight minutes.   Girls Basketball The Dalles 47, Hood River Valley 38:  Ten-point runs in the second and third quarters by the Riverhawks were the difference in the game.  Jeilane Stewart scored ten of her 15 points in the third to lead The Dalles.  HRV’s Marina Castaneda led all scorers with 19. Onalaska 44, Stevenson 22 Trout Lake 45, Echo 22

Washington Gorge Action Programs says it has closed on a three-bedroom home in Klickitat County that will act as a haven for individuals and families who have been affected by domestic violence and need a transitional space to figure out their next steps.  Klickitat County is one of two counties in Washington State that currently does not have such a facility.  Programs for Peaceful Living direct Kirsten Poole is hoping to have the site up and running by the end of the summer.  Until that time, the organization says it will continue to partner with other regional agencies for domestic violence shelter services.  WAGAP executive director Leslie Naramore credited 14th District State Representative Gina Mosbrucker for securing $250,000 from the state’s capital budget, a large part of the $345,000 raised toward establishing the home.  Cost of the building was just under $280,000, and the remaining funds will go towards remodeling, furnishing, supplying, and operating the shelter.

Plans are in the works for this year’s Klickitat County Fair and Rodeo.  Fair Board President Ron Ihrig told County Commissioners this week that there are still unknowns to deal with, but they are moving forward with putting this year’s event together.  He said they are looking at a fairly normal fair, with some changes, most notably minimal people in enclosed areas, and moving exhibitors that had been under the grandstand outside.  Ihrig says their worst case scenario would be to stretch the fair out over seven days to space out their animal competitions.  He added they’ve been told the governor’s office will be providing guidance to fairs at the beginning of June.  The Klickitat County Fair is scheduled for August 19-22 in Goldendale.

North Central Public Health District is shifting from large vaccination events to smaller mobile clinics, and is starting a small weekly clinic at its own offices in The Dalles.  NCPHD this week is starting a lunch-hour vaccine clinic on Thursdays at the health district office, at 419 E. 7th St. in The Dalles, and filled the first one this week quickly.  The clinic may expand to more hours and more days, depending on demand.  To book an appointment for this Thursday clinic, call 541-506-2600.  Also, for the next four Fridays, NCPHD will be offering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at Community Meals in The Dalles.  The final two vaccine events at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center are on June 3 and June 10.  On both days, the clinic will accept walk-ins for both Moderna and the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  Over 55 percent of those 16 and older have been vaccinated in Wasco County; 48 percent in Sherman County and 37 percent in Gilliam County.

Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added extra fishing days for recreational spring Chinook salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River at a meeting this week.  Although the projected return of adult upriver spring Chinook to the Columbia River mouth remains at 87,000 fish, managers were able to add more days based on catch information from this past weekend.  This additional opportunity supplements seasons adopted last week for below and above Bonneville Dam.  Below Bonneville Dam, the season will be on Saturday, plus June 1-15.  From Bonneville Dam to Oregon/Washington border, the season is now Saturday and Sunday for the next two weekends.  

Washington Gorge Action Programs is using its Pathways HealthConnect program in Klickitat and Skamania counties to connect families to a community health worker who knows their way around healthcare, social services, and other systems.  WAGAP Executive Director Leslie Naramore says an important element of the program is the health workers having experience with some of the issues their clients face.  The program is free and confidential.  For more information on the Pathways program, call 509-261-1291 in English or 509-281-2331 in Spanish.

With a burn ban going into place in Wasco and Hood River counties on June 1, fire officials are bracing for what could be a busy fire season.         Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Chief Bob Palmer said they have dealing with wildfires much earlier than usual, and the tinder dry conditions increases the danger.  He adds recent rains have not really helped the situation.  Palmer noted most of the fires local crews have dealt with this spring have involved burn piles getting out of control.

Klickitat County Commissioners decided on Tuesday to lift a moratorium on commercial or industrial solar projects that would be subject to a conditional use process, passing a motion by Commissioner Jacob Anderson that calls for staff to do a cumulative impact analysis of potential solar farms in both Goldendale’s Knight Road area and the County while the Commission works on recommendations for the Board of Adjustment to consider when dealing with any applications it might receive.  Anderson maintained his belief in the conditional use process if and when they receive an application for a solar project near Knight Road.  Commissioner Dan Christopher had been calling for the Commission to provide more specific criteria for the public to see, but did concur with the plan to create recommendations and do the impact analysis.  The Commission spent three weeks deliberating the subject after a public hearing on the moratorium.