Oregon health officials announced during a news conference Friday record COVID-19 numbers with 2,176 new confirmed or presumptive cases and 30 deaths listed in today’s report from the Oregon Health Authority.  The state has now seen 1,004 deaths attributed to COVID.  Governor Kate Brown said the state was on the brink of a “full blown crisis,” while at the same time saying most Oregonians are taking precautions to try to stem the spread of coronavirus.  Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen worried that as case tallies from the Thanksgiving holiday come in during the next few days, the toughest times for the state may still be ahead, and state Public Health Division Director Rachael Banks said the situation for hospital capacities remains precarious.  The state released new modeling showing an average of 2,000 to 2,700 cases per day by Christmas Eve, 75 to 110 of which would be considered “severe.”  

A couple of virtual tree lightings will take place over the next two nights.  The annual lighting of Hood River’s Christmas tree in Overlook Memorial Park will take place in a virtual mode Friday evening at 7 p.m., and the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce says it will be streamed at the Hood River Holidays Facebook page and through visithoodriver.com.  The annual Hood River Holidays parade has been modified by teaming up with the annual lighted fire truck parade, which will start at the St. Mary’s Church parking lot at 5 p.m. and wind its way through Hood River neighborhoods to end at the tree.  Saturday evening the annual Dreaming of a White Salmon virtual tree lighting will take place at 5 p.m., and can be viewed at the Mayor Marla Keethler Facebook page.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported a thrust hub cooling water pipe broke on Thursday, spilling up to 200 gallons of oil into the Columbia River at The Dalles Dam.  The equipment is part of a fish unit turbine designed to provide attraction water for migrating fish.  A statement from the Corps indicated the turbine is now isolated from the river.  Corps technicians are assessing how much oil actually spilled into the river, as some of the 200 gallons may be contained in a draft tube or collection channel within the dam.  Operations Division chief Dwane Watsek says booms and skimmers were used to contain and clean up the oil, and the unit will remain out of service and isolated from the river until technicians assess and repair it.

Hood River County Health Officer Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg says the sources of the increase in the County’s COVID-19 cases in the last few weeks are mostly from social and family gatherings and from people going to work when they are sick.  The County has reported 123 new COVID cases since November 13.  Van Tilburg says in a Facebook video that their recommendations to people have not changed in the last ten months:  wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands, and don’t go to work if you are sick.  Van Tilburg says those precautions will also help protect you from the flu and the common cold.

Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden honored long-time Representative Bob Smith in a floor speech on Thursday.  Smith passed away in September at the age of 89.  Walden said Smith was a champion for improving management of public lands and natural resources.  He also added that his predecessor in the Second District seat competed in rodeos while in Congress, an example of how he lived life to the fullest.  Smith spent 22 years in the Oregon Legislature and 14 years in Congress.

The annual lighting of Hood River’s Christmas tree in Overlook Memorial Park will take place in a virtual mode Friday evening.  It will occur at 7 p.m., and the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce says it will be streamed at the Hood River Holidays Facebook page and through visithoodriver.com.  The annual Hood River Holidays parade has been modified by teaming up with the annual lighted fire truck parade, which will start at the St. Mary’s Church parking lot at 5 p.m. and wind its way through Hood River neighborhoods to end at the tree.  There will also be fire truck parades next week in Parkdale, Odell, and Cascade Locks.  

Health officials continue to urge people to get their flu shot if they haven’t already.  North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell told the Wasco County Commission this week that we are starting to see the onset of flu season.  She reported there were five reported cases of influenza last week, all in the Columbia Gorge region.  Flu vaccine is available from a number of different sources, including your health care provider, pharmacies, and local health departments.

Klickitat PUD will hold its 2021 budget and electric rate hearing on Tuesday online.  PUD Manager Jim Smith says presentations will be made on the proposed 2021 budget and an electric rate increase proposal of 1.5% for all rate components in all rate classes effective on April 1, followed by comment from the public.  Klickitat PUD only electric rate increase in the last four years was a 1.5% hike in 2019.  Smith indicated there are many cost divers involved in the rate increase, including wholesale power costs from the Bonneville Power Administration.  He adds the BPA has indicated it may increase the costs for transmission service, which is the cost of poles and wires, by as much as 17%  Smith says that represents about 10% of the bill they receive from BPA, and that the PUD staff is continuing to refine its rate proposal leading up to Tuesday’s hearing.  It will begin at 3 p.m., and log-in information is available at klickitatpud.com.

Three Bingen/White Salmon- area organizations have received grants from the Washington Youth Development Nonprofit Relief Fund to support out-of-school programming for vulnerable youth.  The White Salmon Valley Education Foundation is receiving $33,000 for the White Salmon Valley School District’s after-school and summer school program called A-List Adventures.  CultureSeed, which provides year-round outdoor immersion and mentorship programs for youth that are historically underserved or face economic barriers, is receiving $15,000 to double the numbers the program can serve.  And Gorge MakerSpace will receive $10,000 to offer free programs to children and families who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.  The funding was made possible in part by the federal CARES Act.  

A juvenile male was arrested in Hood River and lodged at NORCOR after a search of two Hood River homes where photographs and videos depicting sexually explicit conduct involving children had been downloaded.  In a statement Hood River Police Chief Neal Holste said several subpoenas had been issued for IP addresses and wireless numbers involved in the uploading of the material, and an Oregon Department of Justice task force investigation unearthed information tracing one IP address and one wireless number to a Hood River residence.  On Tuesday the Hood River Police Department, with assistance from the County Sheriff’s Office, served search warrants on two Hood River homes.  Several pieces of electronic equipment were seized during the search, and the juvenile was taken into custody.