Klickitat County has received a $2.6 million grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to do five public safety projects. County Engineer Seth Scarola outlined for the County Commission the work that the money will pay for, including a Pine Creek Bridge guardrail retrofit, and white plastic edge lines on portions of Bickleton and Centerville highways. There will also be in-laid plastic pavement markings installed on Roosevelt Grade Road, guardrail upgrades on Alderdale and Trout Lake Highway, and curve warning signs on Bickleton Highway in the Rock Creek grade area. In other business, County Commissioners approved an annexation of properties into the Rural 7 Fire District.
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Partners Campaign To Get White Salmon Drivers To Slow Down
The White Salmon Valley School District, Skyline Hospital, City of White Salmon, and other community partners are starting a campaign asking motorists to slow down on neighborhood streets as students return to school next week. They are distributing free signs for the 20 is Plenty campaign. School District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says the signs are simply a reminder to the community to slow down for pedestrians and bicyclists. The 20 is Plenty signs are available at White Salmon City Hall, Bingen City Hall, and at local back-to-school events.
Rowena Fire Disaster Loan Deadline Is September 15
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible businesses, private nonprofits, and residents in Wasco, Hood River, Sherman, and Klickitat counties of the September 15 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset physical damage caused by the Rowena Fire. Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence. Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
CGCC Introduces Two New Transfer Pathways
Columbia Gorge Community College says it has two new enhanced opportunities for students seeking career advancement and transfer pathways. One works towards a paramedic license. Students complete their first year of coursework locally at CGCC then transition into Chemeketa Community College’s paramedic program, which would be delivered on-site at CGCC. The second is an updated agreement with Pacific Northwest College of Art to create a clear transfer pathway for students pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Eligible students can receive a $5,000 transfer partner scholarship, which is stackable with other scholarships and external aid. The agreement provides meaningful credit for previous coursework and removes common transfer barriers. Information on both programs is available at cgcc.edu.
The LINK To Introduced Redesigned Routes On September 13
The Link will introduce redesigned bus routes in The Dalles, known as the Blue and Red Deviated Fixed Routes, effective September 13. Operating weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on an hourly schedule, officials with The Link say the new bi-directional design will provide a faster, more efficient route within The Dalles by eliminating stops on the outskirts and offering travel in both directions. The Link will continue to serve Water’s Edge and Port of The Dalles through its Dial-a-Ride service. Updated printed brochures and an online version will be available a week prior to the effective date at the LINK’s website at mcedd.org. Frequent riders are encouraged to consider the Gorge Transit Pass, which offers unlimited travel on fixed route service offered by The Link, Columbia Area Transit, Mt. Adams Transportation Services, and Skamania County Transit. They are available at gorgepass.com.
HR Schools Get Ready For Classes To Resume
The Hood River County School District is getting ready to start classes next week. What day a student starts depends on what grade they are in. Superintendent Bill Newton says if parents have any questions, the district has posted information on their website at hoodriver.k12.or.us. Early enrollment projections show the district with 40 students fewer than it was last year at this time. Newton says once again the drop is in the early grades. But he adds they usually don’t get a firm idea of what their true numbers are until about a month into the school year.
Limited Tickets Left For Maryhill Gala
There are a limited number of tickets remaining for Maryhill Museum of Art’s “Echoes of the Gorge” fundraiser set for September 6. Museum CEO Amy Behrens says they are raising funds for their programs and exhibits as they prepare for a milestone next year: the Centennial of the museum’s dedication by Queen Marie of Romania. Behrens adds that funds raised at the gala also goes toward providing access to the museum by subsidizing ticket revenue as part of several partnerships to make sure anyone who wants to visit Maryhill can do so. Tickets for the September 6 gala are available at maryhillmuseum.org.
Line Painting In The Dalles This Week
The Dalles Public Works Department will be painting the center and side lines on streets throughout the community through Thursday beginning at 6 a.m. each morning, weather permitting. Motorists are asked to watch for the crews and avoid driving on the wet paint. The paint truck will be preceded and followed by warning vehicles, with signs calling attention to the wet paint. The trucks will be spaced according to the necessary drying time of the paint. Attempting to pass or drive between the trucks will result in a messy striping job and paint damage to the motorist’s vehicle. Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the wet paint because it cannot be easily removed from vehicles.
Tickets For Distinguished Citizens Award Banquet On Sale
Tickets are on sale for The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizens Award Banquet coming up on Thursday, September 11 at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center. It’s the first time they’ve held the banquet in the late summer. Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says they made the move to get away from weather issues in the winter time that have led to some postponements in past years. She says with the selection of September 11 as the banquet date, they will also honor first responders. Tickets can be purchased at thedalleschamber.com.
North Bonneville Man Injured In Highway 14 Accident
A 63-year-old North Bonneville resident was injured in a one-vehicle accident that the Washington State Patrol attributed to the man having a medical episode while driving. According to the WSP, the truck the man was driving was westbound on Highway 14 at milepost 37 in Skamania County just before 5 p.m. Saturday when the vehicle drifted into the eastbound lane. It struck the guardrail and came to rest blocking the eastbound lane. The man was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver. No one else was reported to be in the truck. The WSP did not indicated the nature of the medical episode.