North Central Public Health District says it will lift statewide mask requirements on April 3 along with other healthcare facilities in Oregon. The state has left it up to local entities to decide whether they will continue, modify, or lift their mask policies. NCPHD officials say they will support any member of the public who wishes to continue masking for their own comfort level, adding those who visit their office will be asked to wear a mask if they are coughing or otherwise appear to be ill. The state announced the change in requirements in early March, giving healthcare facilities time to update their own masking policies. The state decided to lift the mask mandate because cases of COVID-19, flu and RSV were dropping. NCPHD officials say people at higher risk for severe disease, or who live with someone at higher risk, should still consider wearing masks in health care or any settings, to better protect themselves and those most vulnerable around them.
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TD Art Center On Track To Be Preserved
The Dalles Art Center board now says the facility is on track to be preserved just a week after announcing that it was in financial trouble. Since last week’s announcement the Art Center needed a minimum of $3,500 in committed funding a month to avoid closing by mid-April, board member Philip Mascher said Tuesday they have received $25,500 in one-time donations, and a commitment for $2,200 in recurring monthly donations. That puts the Center needing an additional $1,300 in monthly donations to cover the basic costs of running it at the current level of staffing and opening hours. Wednesday’s statement by the Center board indicated with the support they have seen, all planned exhibits will continue as scheduled and no exhibit cancellations will occur. To contribute to The Dalles Art Center, go to thedallesartcenter.org.
County Commissioners Get Westside URA Overview
Hood River County Commissioners received an overview of the proposed Westside Urban Renewal District from City officials on Monday. Councilor Tim Counihan told the panel the district is intended to fund infrastructure, park development, and advance affordable housing development. Commissioner Arthur Babitz asked about the possible impacts the district could have on compression of general government local option levies now and in the future. City consultant Elaine Howard noted there is very little compression with the exception of the school district’s local option levy. She did say the County’s permanent property tax levy could see some compression loss, but probably not a lot. She did add they don’t have any hard data yet, and the impact on levies could change in the future. Because some of the urban renewal area might be outside of the city limits, the County would have a voice in establishment of the district.
HR School District Wraps Up Construction Projects
The Hood River County School District has been wrapping up a pair of construction projects. At Hood River Middle School, new office space and a new main entrance is open and being used, and conversion of the old office into a counseling center is being finished up. Hood River County School District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says getting a single point of entry at Hood River Middle School was part of an effort to improve security at all district buildings. At Parkdale Elementary, a new modular classroom is providing space for a third kindergarten classroom. Crews are doing exterior flat work around the building during the current spring break.
White Salmon Prepares For Community Outreach On Housing
The City of White Salmon is planning community surveys, walking tours, and hosted conversations with experts to engage residents in the conversation on housing needs. Mayor Marla Keethler says as City officials delve into this subject in the next few months, they need to gauge what the community’s vision is. She says that could involve breaking down barriers in the City codes that make building homes cost prohibitive for developers, and how zoning could be adjusted to encourage various types of housing. Keethler says White Salmon’s Planning Commission and City Council will be working on municipal housing codes over the next few months.
Cherry Fest One Month Away
The Northwest Cherry Festival is just one month away. The annual event in The Dalles will take place April 21-23. The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says vendor applications for the outdoor market are still being accepted. Those interested in being a vendor can inquire by emailing events@thedalleschamber.com or call the Chamber office at 541-296-2231. Applications for the Cherry Festival Parade are also currently available at northwestcherryfestival.org.
Suspect Sought In Double Murder North Of Goldendale
A search is underway for a man believed to have been the shooter in the murder of two people on Box Canyon Road north of Goldendale last week, while another man has been arrested in connection with the case. The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office says a warrant has been issued charging 31-year-old John Scott Raczykowski of Rufus with two counts of first degree murder in the shooting deaths of 35-year-old Jeremy Allen Wyatt and 34-year-old Elisha Ann King, both from Yakima. Klickitat County authorities were alerted Thursday night by the FBI in Yakima of a suspect that had been involved in the burning of two bodies on Yakama Nation land in the Toppenish area. Early Friday morning Goldendale Police, Klickitat County Sheriff’s, and FBI officers located a vehicle associated with one of the suspects in Goldendale, and took two subjects into custody, one of whom was determined to not be involved in the incident. 57-year-old Larry Duane Kleven of Goldendale was booked into the Klickitat County Jail for rendering criminal assistance and tampering with physical evidence. The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who may know where Raczykowski is located to call County Emergency Management at 509-773-4545. He is considered armed and dangerous.
Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Investigating “Suspicious” Death As Homicide
Authorities in Wasco County have confirmed the death of a woman termed “suspicious” was a homicide. In a statement Monday, the Wasco County District Attorney’s and Sheriff’s Office confirmed the identity of the woman as Amanda Harman, and autopsy results confirmed her death was a homicide. The statement says Harman was killed late Friday near Cherry Heights outside The Dalles, but authorities have offered no other details at this time. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with a camera on Cherry Heights near Ayres Drive or with any possible information to contact law enforcement. A tip can be submitted online through The Dalles City Police website tip form at thedalles.org, by phone to the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at 541-506-2580, or texted to TIP 411. The investigation is on-going.
Port of Hood River Director In D.C.
Port of Hood River Executive Director Kevin Greenwood is in Washington, D.C. with the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association advocating for infrastructure funding and streamlining permitting processes, which includes the proposed new Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge. Greenwood says he’s also pushing for NOAA Fisheries to help them finish the environmental impact study for the bridge. Greenwood adds its completion is a necessary step for the bridge project to be able to compete for federal dollars. He says the delegation will meet with the agency later this week.
The Dalles Public Works Begins Work At East 4th & Union
The Dalles Public Works on Monday began the first phase of a storm water catch basin project on East 4th Street and Union Street. The first project area is on East 4th between Union and Court Streets. Work on the first phase is expected to be done on Wednesday. Until then, no through traffic in either direction on East 4th will be allowed between Union and Court Streets during work hours, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Through traffic will detour to East 3rd Street or East 5th. On Wednesday, The Dalles Public Works will move the project area to Union Street between 4th and 5th Streets, with work to be finished on Friday. From Wednesday to Friday, no through traffic in either direction on Union Street will be allowed between 4th and 5th Streets during work hours, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Through traffic will detour to Court Street.