As elk hunting seasons get underway, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is reminding hunters to make plans to get any elk they harvest tested for Chronic Wasting Disease. ODFW will be testing elk and deer at five check station locations in Oregon from Saturday through Monday. One of those check stations is at Celilo Park off Interstate 84 exit 97 west of Biggs Junction, and will be open from 9 a.m. to dusk all three days. Other check stations will be located in Elgin, Baker City, Prineville, and Ukiah. Hunters who drive by one of the check stations while transporting a deer or elk are required to stop. ODFW biologists will take a small tissue sample from lymph nodes in the neck or a portion of the brainstem, a tooth for aging, and general information about where and when the animal was harvested. Hunters who can’t get to a check station can also get their animal tested at a participating meat processor or taxidermist, by dropping the head in a drop bin at an ODFW office or by calling a local ODFW office to make an appointment. While CWD has never been detected in Oregon’s deer or elk, it has been found in California, Idaho, and Washington. It’s possible the disease is already present in the state’s herds as deer and elk can be infected with CWD, and spreading it, for years before showing symptoms.
Author: mbailey
SBA Offering Low-Interest Loans For Microwave Tower Fire Impacts
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses economically impacted by the Microwave Tower Fire that occurred in late July and early August. SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman made the announcement Tuesday, noting the SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Tina Kotek on Monday. The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Jefferson, Clackamas, and Marion counties in Oregon, and Klickitat County in Washington. Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred. The SBA virtual recovery center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by emailing FOCWAssistance@sba.gov or calling 916-735-1712.
October 29 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Volleyball
Putnam def. Hood River Valley 25-9, 25-13, 25-18
Columbia def. Castle Rock 3-1
Stevenson def. Fort Vancouver 3-0
Boys Soccer
Milwaukie 1, Hood River Valley 1: The Eagles finish second in the Northwest Oregon Conference, and will start the Oregon Class 5A playoffs next Tuesday.
Girls Soccer
Hood River Valley 1, Milwaukie 0: The Eagles will learn on Saturday whether they will get an at-large bid into next week’s Class 5A post-season.\
Columbia 7, Castle Rock 0
Fort Vancouver 1, Stevenson 0
EWAC Tournament: Goldendale 3, Columbia (Burbank) 0: The Timberwolves advance to face Cle Elum-Roslyn on the road on Thursday evening at 6 p.m.
Boys Water Polo
Hood River Valley 8, Grant 7
The Dalles Parking Study Shows Plenty Of Supply
The Dalles City Council received a downtown parking assessment showing it has plenty of supply available, with peak occupancy rates only at 45% of available spots being used. The study defined the downtown area as from Mill Creek to the Highway 30 traffic circle and from East 1st to West 4th & 5th Streets. It showed only 12 of 138 “parkable” block faces are considered constrained, and clustered in a nine-block area from East 1st to East 4th between Federal and Madison. Much of the reason to have the assessment done was to determine parking issues that might need to be addressed as new development occurs downtown. Consultant Rick Williams says the City is in a good place to move forward with parking strategies. Williams went on to say The Dalles has the opportunity to get a basic parking management system in place, because it has time and supply.
Analysis Indicates Westside Housing Will Need Infrastructure Help
The Hood River Urban Renewal Agency Board and its advisory committee received a housing constructability analysis for the Westside Urban Renewal District, and it showed a familiar story: to get middle housing built on the lands that are available in that area, there will need to be some help to pay for infrastructure. Hood River Urban Renewal Administrator Will Norris and Becky Hewitt of EcoNorthwest, which prepared the report, noted single-detached and middle housing can afford $5,000 to $20,000 more in per unit in land costs, which it may it difficult for apartments to compete. Norris said one of his main takeaways is that the URA will have to come to the table with infrastructure help when a developer is making a proposal for affordable housing projects. Hewitt did point out that having an urban renewal district in place does provide an opportunity to overcome the infrastructure obstacles.
Wasco County Ballot Boxes Helped By Placement In High Traffic Areas
Wasco County utilizes ballot drop boxes, and they are almost all at governmental buildings to help ensure security. The boxes are at city halls in Mosier, Dufur, and Maupin along with at the Wasco County Courthouse in The Dalles, plus on the Warm Springs Reservation at Simasho. County Clerk Lisa Gambee says they have additional security measures in place for those boxes, but adds their locations have the advantage of being spots where there is naturally a high level of traffic. Gambee says they have noticed the boxes being used more and more worried that the post office won’t get their ballots to the election offices, with some even bringing them directly to the County Clerk’s office by hand.
Magill Receives Smith New Freedom Award
The National Alliance on Mental Illness Oregon awarded Wasco County Sheriff Lane Magill its Gordon and Sharon Smith New Freedom Award. The organization says Magill was selected for his work in Wasco County and around the state to create alternatives to traditional law enforcement responses for individuals experiencing mental health issues and crisis. The award that was established in 2009 and is done in partnership with former U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith and Sharon Smith to annually recognize individuals and organizations who publicly advocate for improved behavioral health services and for wider public awareness in Oregon. The Smiths lost their son Garrett to suicide and both have been tireless advocates for suicide prevention. Magill said he was honored and humbled by the award, noting it is not about him but rather everyone coming together to improve the mental health system for the betterment of all citizens.
Hood River County Christmas Project Taking Applications
The Hood River County Christmas Project is taking applications in its 101st year of helping those in need during the holidays. The project’s Lindsay Holmson says they are taking applications are now from those who would like to receive a food and gift box. Hood River County residents who qualify as low-income in the state of Oregon are eligible to receive the help. Applications are online at hoodrivercountychristmasproject.com, or by calling 541-329-0901. Information on how to donate to the effort or volunteer to help is also available at hoodrivercountychristmasproject.com.
Northern Wasco PUD Receives Smart Energy Provider Designation
Northern Wasco County People’s Utility District has been designated as a Smart Energy Provider by the American Public Power Association. The designation is awarded to utilities that demonstrate excellence in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and environmental initiatives. Northern Wasco PUD is Oregon’s sole recipient in the program’s six-year history. The SEP program recognizes close to 100 public power utilities across the nation for their commitment to best practices in energy management. An expert review panel that assesses the utility’s programs in four key areas: Smart Energy Information, Energy Efficiency and Distributed Energy Resources, Environmental and Sustainability Programs, and Communication/Education and Customer Experience. The SEP designation lasts for three years, commencing on December 1.
City of Hood River Asks Residents For Issues
The City of Hood River is asking its residents’ one question in advance of an upcoming City Council goal setting session. City Manager Abigail Elder says they are asking simply what should the Council focus on in the upcoming two years. The goal setting session will try to think big picture and what are the projects the City should focus on. Mayor Paul Blackburn added this is a good opportunity to bring up issues other than housing, which has dominated the Council’s focus for some time.