Republicans in the Oregon Senate and House are indicating that they are willing to return to the Capitol on Sunday to pass emergency budget bills before the legislative session ends, but one Democrat leader says that’s not acceptable.  Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertschiger, Jr of Grants Pass said in a statement today that his caucus is “willing to attend the Sunday floor session to pass emergency budget bills” and House Minority Leader Christine Drazan of Canby issued a similar statement.  But in a response House Speaker Tina Kotek of Portland says the only deal she will agree to is if Republicans agree to take a floor vote on every bill that has passed out of committee.  Republican 59th District Representative Daniel Bonham said on the Mid-Columbia Today program this morning trust remains a big issue between the two parties.  GOP lawmakers walked out last week to attempt to head off passage of a carbon cap-and-trade bill, denying Democrats a quorum.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says the Hood River will be open for adult hatchery Chinook from April 15 through June 30 from the mouth to mainstem confluence with the East Fork, and the West Fork from the confluence with the mainstem upstream to the angling deadline 200 feet downstream of Punchbowl Falls.  The catch limit is two adult hatchery salmon per day, and five hatchery jack salmon per day.  All wild Chinook salmon must be released unharmed.  Fishery managers are predicting a relatively strong return of about 1,300 hatchery fish for the Hood River, which is slightly higher than last year’s prediction.  There will be no season on the Deschutes River for 2020 due to another year of predicted poor returns of both hatchery and wild fish.  ODFW fish biologist Rod French says the Hood River fishery is one of the few places a bank angler has a pretty good chance of catching a Columbia River spring Chinook.  While the fishery will open in mid-April, French said the run usually peaks in late May due to colder water temperatures in the Hood River.

The Klickitat County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan update has been completed in draft form and is now available for public review and comment until March 19.  The purpose of the plan is to reduce the impact of hazards such as floods, landslides, severe weather, wildfire, and drought, on Klickitat County while maintaining appropriate emergency response capabilities and sustainable natural resource management policies.  The plan identifies high risk areas as well as structures and infrastructure that may have an increased potential for loss due to a hazard event, and recommends specific projects that may help prevent disasters from occurring altogether or, at the least, lessen their impact on residents and property.  A committee of elected officials and department heads, emergency response agency heads, land managers, highway district representatives, and others put the plan together.  The plan is available for review at the White Salmon and Goldendale libraries, and online at the County Emergency Management Department website.  The plan will continue to enable Klickitat County and its communities to be eligible for grant dollars to implement the projects and mitigation actions identified by the committee. 

As the coronavirus COVID-19 continues to be in the headlines…health officials have been reminding people one of their best defenses against it is the same as for a number of other potential illnesses:  wash your hands.  Lauren Kraemer from OSU Extension in Wasco and Hood River counties says the important thing is to use soap and water, do it for 20 seconds, and to be thorough.  If soap and water is not available, use hand sanitizer.  Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, avoid contact with people who are sick, and cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

The Mt. Hood National Forest is one of 16 forests selected to receive funding for a Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration project.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation Service awarded the forest over $560,000 for work in 2020 on public and private lands in Wasco County near Rock Creek Reservoir west of Highway 197.  The completed work on nearly will improve forest resiliency to insects and disease, restore pine and oak habitat and riparian areas, improve conditions for wildlife, and reduce the risk of fires spreading from public lands to neighboring non-federal lands.  The local project was developed by the All-Lands Committee of the Wasco County Forest Collaborative.  It is a partnership between the forest, the collaborative, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Wasco County Soil and Water District.  It will encompass over 27,000 acres of Forest Service-managed land, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s White River Wildlife Area, and over 12,000 acres of private land.

A Wasco County Commission Town Hall scheduled for Mosier Wednesday evening has been cancelled.  County officials say a Mosier City Council meeting that was to be held in conjunction with the town hall was cancelled, leading to the town hall being scrubbed as well.  The County says those interested should check the Commission’s upcoming agendas for a new date.

The Wasco County Economic Development Commission is accepting applications for an open position on that panel representing Central Wasco County with a focus on the Dufur area.   The Commission consists of eleven members representing geographic and economic interests in the County.  It keeps the Wasco County Commission apprised of economic development opportunities and needs throughout the County, collaborates with local entities to accomplish projects focused on job creation, community capacity and bringing further investment into Wasco County, and provides leadership on countywide economic development efforts.  Interest forms are available on the Economic Development Commission page at the Wasco County website, or at the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District office on 802 Chenowith Loop Road in The Dalles.  Deadline to apply is March 26.

Mid-Columbia Medical Center says one of its patients has tested negative for the coronavirus.  In a statement, hospital spokesperson Stephanie Bowen said the patient had arrived at MCMC on Sunday with coronavirus-like symptoms and was placed in an isolation unit, and staff members who came in contact with the patient were asked to self-quarantine under the guidance of the North Central Public Health District.  The patient’s lab results were returned from the Oregon State Lab on Monday, which found the patient did not have the COVID-19 virus, and the patient and staff have been informed.  Bowen indicated MCMC leadership has been meeting on a weekly basis to prepare for possible COVID-19 patients, and nurses and physicians have been kept up to date on screening and identification as well as safety protocols.

Long-time Hood River County District Attorney John Sewell has announced he will not seek re-election to an eighth term.  Sewell has been in the position since winning election in 1992, unseating then-D.A. Sally Tebbet.  Sewell is retiring from a 40-year career as a prosecutor at the end of his current term, which expires at the conclusion of the year.  Prior to winning the D.A. position, he spent 12 years as a deputy district attorney, first in Coos and Lincoln counties before coming to Hood River County in 1984.  In his statement, Sewell says he will continue to work for the citizens of the County through the end of his term in office, and will do all he can to ensure a smooth transition to his successor.  Two people have filed to seek the position, with one week remaining before the filing deadline.  They include Marion County Deputy District Attorney and Hood River resident Sean Kallery and Hood River County Deputy District Attorney Carrie Rasmussen.  In his statement, Sewell says he supports Kallery to succeed him.

After the Washington State Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources, and Parks Committee had killed a bill by 14th District Representative Chris Corry to require the Department of Natural Resources to reimburse farmers and ranchers when the agency cancels their land lease before it expires, the concept has been tacked on to another bill to get it through.  Corry said a member of the committee thought the money to pay out to the farmers would come from DNR’s school trust account, when it will actually come from the general fund.  Corry says with that straightened out, the language was inserted into another bill.  Corry said that the worst case scenario would be if the current bill was not to pass this session, he has a budget proviso that earmarks money to the termination language, and he would run a bill in the 2021 session to get it through.