Mid-Columbia Medical Center announced it is permanently closing The Spa at Water’s Edge.   The Spa has been closed since mid-March as part of the statewide coronavirus shutdown.  MCMC president and CEO Dennis Knox said with recent financial losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, they could not continue to support the spa.  He did say MCMC will continue to offer alternative therapies to inpatients as well as patients of the Celilo Cancer Center at MCMC.  With the spa closure, 15 positions at MCMC are affected.  The hospital says it is giving impacted workers priority access to apply for non-licensed job postings at MCMC.  MCMC also indicated information on The Spa gift cards will be released in the very near future.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is signing up businesses to take part in their “It’s All About The Cherry” promotion in July.  Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says they will be holding activities all month long.  Creation of a “Cherry Trail” with businesses providing Cherry specials, a window decorating contest, a hunt for wooden cherries, and a cherry baking contest where people send in photos of what they make are all being planned.  Farquharson says Columbia Bank has signed on to sponsor, so prizes will be purchased rather than asking businesses to donate.  Information on how to take part is available at thedalleschamber.com.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown has scheduled a press briefing at 11 a.m. on her latest announcements that include moving Hood River County into Phase 2 and making it one of seven counties where face masks will be required in indoor public settings beginning June 24.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced that Hood River County can move into Phase 2 of reopening on Friday, but will also be one of seven counties where mask wearing will be required in indoor public spaces beginning on June 24.  Brown made the announcement in a video statement on Wednesday. The Oregon Health Authority explained the recommendation to move Hood River County into Phase 2, saying it has had only one hospitalization in the past two weeks, and that public health officials have done follow-up for all new cases, which have fallen by half in the last week.  Brown did not offer an explanation on why Hood River County is one of the seven in the mask requirement.  Hood River and Wasco counties did not report new cases on Wednesday, with the OHA saying one case previously reported in Hood River County was determined not to be a case and removed from its count.  That leaves Hood River County with a reported 82 COVID-19 cases in the last three-plus months, and Wasco County at 42.  Klickitat County reported one more case on Wednesday to inch up to 52, and Skamania County remains at three.  Statewide, the OHA said there were 122 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases in the state to move that total to 6,218, and one additional death to put that number at 183.  In Washington, statewide numbers on Wednesday show cases went up by 253 to 26,784, with 1,226 deaths.

Local health officials say the COVID-19 outbreak in Union County reported as related to mass gatherings at a church is a warning about the importance of maintain physical distancing and wearing masks.  Hood River County Health Department Health Officer Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg said in a Facebook video Wednesday that as they try to move into Phase 2, they are concerned about virus transmission among residents gathering in groups.  He said he did not believe the primary source of the increase in COVID-19 cases in Hood River County was from tourists, seasonal workers, or workplace transmission.  North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell told the Wasco County Commission that research is showing people wearing masks does reduce the transmission of coronavirus. She said studies are indicating 50% of the population wearing masks can cut transmission by 80%.  The latest numbers update on Tuesday from the Oregon Health Authority showed both Hood River County and Wasco County reported just one new COVID-19 test apiece.  Hood River County is now at 83 confirmed and presumed COVID-19 cases and Wasco County is at 42.  In Washington, Klickitat County Tuesday afternoon added two more to move to 51 positive COVID-19 tests, while Skamania County remained at three.

A Washougal woman died in a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 84 in Sherman County on Tuesday afternoon.  The Oregon State Police says 52-year-old Vickie McDowell was a passenger and sustained fatal injuries in the accident.  According to the OSP, a preliminary investigation showed a van driven by 45-year-old Shannon Gatlin of Camas was westbound on I-84 near milepost 110 when it traveled into the median and rolled several times.  Gatlin was taken to Mid-Columbia Medical Center for serious injuries.  The OSP says the crash occurred at about 4:05 p.m. Tuesday.  The OSP was assisted by Sherman County Sheriff’s Office, Sherman County Ambulance, North Sherman Fire and Rescue, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Columbia Gorge Community College saw a bit of a downturn in enrollment during the spring, but it is trending up for summer term.  CGCC President Marta Yera-Cronin says they believe some students may have skipped spring to see how the pandemic would develop, but now they are signing up for on-line classes.  Cronin says the college has been told by the state to prepare for significantly reduced funding, but added they are receiving help through the federal CARES Act.  She notes they are trying to develop ways to save money moving forward to remain in a good spot financially.

The Dog Mountain trailhead in Skamania County is now open.  Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area manager Lynn Burditt told the Wasco County Commission they opened it this week.  The busy season for Dog Mountain is during the bloom of wildflowers, and that has passed.  Burditt said the Waterfall Corridor will remain closed for a significant amount of time longer, as the issues surrounding its reopening are much more complex.  Updates on the status of recreation sites in the Gorge are available at readysetgorge.com.

The Hood River County Commission approved the County’s 2020-21 Fiscal Year budget on Monday evening.  Commissioners approved the budget with some changes, including adding a little over $21,000 for Oak Grove, Ruthton, and Panorama Point parks, and $100,000 for potential legal costs.  The County approved the budget coming off approval of a five-year local option levy for public safety.  There was some public testimony on using funds from the levy differently based on recent protests about police behavior around the country, but Commissioner Les Perkins pointed out they had been specific with voters about how the levy dollars would be used, and they need to stick with that.  Commissioners approved the budget unanimously.

North Wasco County School District 21 announced a pair of personnel additions.  Kara Flath will be district’s new Chief Financial Officer, taking over for the retiring Randy Anderson.  Flath comes to D-21 from Montana, where she currently serves as the School Finance Division Administrator for the Montana Office of Public Instruction.  Ajay Rundell was tabbed to be the interim principal at Dry Hollow Elementary.  Rundell is currently a science teacher at The Dalles High School.  He will take the helm at Dry Hollow for the 2020-21 school year for Theresa Peters, who will be serving as D-21’s interim superintendent.