YouthThink of Wasco County is using some grant dollars to help provide people a better sense of attachment through volunteerism.  The organization is promoting JustServe.org as a place where people can register to be available for various projects, and organizations can find volunteers.  Debby Jones of YouthThink says a recent Gorge-wide community health assessment showed many people listed a lack of sense of attachment as a health concern.  JustServe.org uses zip codes to notify those who sign up of projects in their area.  

The North Wasco County School District 21 Board has declared 70 acres of property on Columbia View Heights to be surplus, and it will be put on the market.  D-21 currently owns 100 acres in that area, and over the years some had called for the district to divest of the property so it can be developed.  D-21 Superintendent Candy Armstrong says if and when the property is sold, revenues would go toward the district’s building needs.  The district will hold on to the remaining 30 acres in anticipation of increased development in that area leading to the need to develop a new school in that location.

Friends of the Columbia Gorge says it has successfully completed a land preservation campaign raising a total of $5.6 million.  The group says it has allowed Friends to purchase and permanently protect eight properties, seven acquired with funds raised by the campaign an, one additional property donated in response to the effort, totaling 470 acres of land along the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge.  Among the properties is 25 acres on Lyle Peak, which is situated above the 550-acre Lyle Cherry Orchard property near Lyle that Friends of the Gorge already holds.  Friends officials indicate the new property will provide wildlife habitat and opportunities for future trail connections.  The Friends of the Gorge land trust has conserved 26 sites across the Gorge for a total of over 1,500 acres.

An informal survey by the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce of its members indicates most businesses had a good first quarter of 2018.  The Chamber’s Ashley Huckaby-May says they asked members if their sales were up or down for first quarter and April of this year.  She said about 90 percent reported sales were up, while ten percent said they were flat, and virtually no one down.  The survey did not ask for opinions on why sales were up.  But this past winter was much milder than last year, when icy conditions made travel through the Gorge difficult.

There is still a need for volunteers to help during build week of Children’s Park in Hood River.  The park is being rebuilt with modern materials after the original wood facility constructed 25 years ago had deteriorated.  Many roles still need to be filled for the upcoming build effort that starts on Monday.  To sign up go to cityofhoodriver.com and click on the Children’s Park Rebuild tile.  In addition, there is a need for community members to loan tools for construction of the play structure.  The list of needed tools is on the website, and there will be tool drop-off events at the park on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Dalles Public Works Department says operations at the municipal wastewater treatment plant are improving but are not yet back in compliance after a recent plant upset that resulted in discharge to the Columbia River of treated wastewater exceeding the plant’s limit for E. coli.   On Tuesday samples were taken at pre-arranged locations in the Columbia River to determine the effect of the discharge on water quality in the river.  Tests on five samples taken between River Mile 186.5 and 189.5 show that E. coli levels at the sample locations were well below bacterial criteria set by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for freshwater recreation.  The Dalles Public Works says plant staff is working to restore the biological balance so that the plant can quickly return to normal operations.  As a precaution, signs advising no water contact will remain in place at locations of public river access until the discharge from the wastewater treatment plant returns to compliance.  Signs are posted on the Oregon shore of the Columbia River, from The Dalles Riverfront Park to West Mayer Park boat launch.

The Union Street Undercrossing in The Dalles will remain closed to all traffic.  The Dalles Public Works Department says flood waters have receded from the underpass, but the road section remains “super saturated,” and will need a drying period of seven to ten days to avoid damage.  Union Street northbound remains closed to through traffic at the railroad tracks, and remains completely closed north of the Hattenhauer access road.  Access to Lewis and Clark Festival Park will be open throughout the drying period.  Approaching the undercrossing from the west side, West First Street will be closed to through traffic at Terminal Way and will be completely closed beyond the Oregon Cherry Growers facility employee access.  Motorists are encouraged to continue using Webber Street as an alternate route to access West First Street during the undercrossing’s closure.

The Oregon State University Extension Cherry Pre-Harvest Tour will take place on Tuesday.  New OSU Extenson Horticultural Specialist Ashley Thompson says they will start at 7:45 Tuesday morning at Dahle Farms on Knob Hill Road off of Cherry Heights Road in The Dalles.  The tour will move on to Omeg Family Farms, and then to Dave Cooper Orchard for an equipment showcase.  For information call OSU Extension at 541-296-5494.

The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District, including Hood River and Wasco counties, will enter fire season Friday at 12:01 a.m.  District Forester Mike Shaw says fuel conditions and drier and warmer long term weather forecasts prompted the declaration.  He adds fuel conditions are drier than they were at this time last year.  With the implementation of fire season, logging and other industrial operations must meet requirements for fire prevention, such as fire tools, water supply, and watchman service when those operations are occurring on lands protected by ODF.  In addition to fire season restrictions Industrial Fire Precaution Level 1 will be in effect for lands protected by ODF in Hood River and Wasco counties.

A series of public meetings on the next steps in Wasco County’s update to the 30-year-old Comprehensive Plan for land use and development is taking place over the next week.  County Long-Range Planner Kelly Howsley Glover says these meetings being held by the Wasco 2040 Citizen Advisory Group will center on a handful of areas, including water, economic development, and the use of incentives to achieve policy goals.  The location of where agri-tourism activities can take place in Wasco County will also be discussed.  The first meeting is Wednesday at Dufur City Hall, with others set for Thursday at the Mosier Grange Hall, Tuesday at the Columbia Gorge Community College Lecture Hall in building two, and next Thursday (June 7) at the Maupin Legion Hall.  All four meetings begin at 5:30 p.m.