Home At Last Humane Society in The Dalles says it is forming a committee of Wasco County residents to explore additional revenues from both the City and County, as well as a ten-cent levy to put on the November ballot.  That after the results of an online survey the organization recently conducted showed respondents value the animal shelter and believe that new and sustainable funding sources must be found to maintain services.  Home At Last says 246 people took the survey.  In the survey, community members said the most valuable services provided by Home at Last are animal adoptions, animal rescue and sheltering, and stray holds for lost animals.  In the past 18 months, the shelter says it has seen a more than 25% increase in costs of labor, supplies, medicines, and maintenance.  

There will be single lane closures on the Hood River-White Salmon bridge today (Thursday) as Port crews work to repair new potholes in preparation for the approach ramp work that will close the bridge for three days.  Flaggers will direct traffic around the moving work zone until the work is complete.  Beginning on Friday, the bridge will be closed to all traffic for a 72-hour period beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday morning through 11:59 p.m. Sunday night.  The closure will allow for repair of the on-ramps to the bridge on both sides of the Columbia River.  The work had been planned for two weeks ago, but was pushed back due to wet weather at that time.  

North Wasco County School District 21 has named Ryan LaDouceur as the next Principal at The Dalles Middle School.  LaDouceur, who was raised in The Dalles, has over 16 years of educational experience in schools around the world as a teacher and administrator in Japan, China, Germany, and South Korea.  Most recently, he has served as a Teacher and Focused Collaboration Facilitator at Antilles High School at Fort Buchanan in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  LaDouceur’s educational experiences to the district span across elementary, middle and secondary levels, including hands-on experience with vocational and career and technical education.  He holds two Bachelors of Science Degrees in Social Science and Economics and a Masters of Art in Teaching.  LaDouceur is also an accomplished wrestler, including wrestling at the NCAA Division I level, and was a member of the 2000 U.S.A. Junior Freestyle Wrestling Team, along with over two decades of coaching experience.

Klickitat County Commissioners have set July 1 as the new date for a ban on outdoor burning to take effect in the County’s Burn Ban Zone Three, which is the western portion of the County.  Burn bans in the other two zones are already in effect.  Originally the Zone Three ban was to have begun June 15, but continued wet conditions in the western part of the County had led Commissioners to delay its start.  Outdoor burning except for authorized agricultural burning will be banned as of July 1.  Residential barbecues will be allowed.  Burn ban zone maps can be viewed at klickitatcounty.org.

Several agricultural organizations have formed a new alliance to focus on strategic water investments and policies that will promote water and agricultural sustainability.   Members of the newly formed Oregon Agricultural Water Alliance include the Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Cattleman’s Association, Oregon Association of Nurseries, Oregon Dairy Farmers Association, Oregon Water Resources Congress, Northeast Oregon Water Association, and Water for Life Inc.  The alliance formed a steering committee and contracted with consultant Greg Addington, who has experience in organizational operations and state water policy.  Priorities identified by the alliance include shifting state water policy to focus on an adequate, safe, and affordable food supply and growing other environmentally beneficial agricultural products; creating more water storage both above and below ground; building drought resiliency; interstate cooperation in water supply and management; demanding more agency accountability; and reducing litigation.  Additional goals established by the coalition include educating policymakers on the importance of forward-looking water policy, and advocating for investment in water supply.  

Columbia Gorge Community College awarded 195 certificates and degrees during its recent commencement exercises.  Approximately 70 graduates participated in the ceremony, held in the outdoor amphitheatre on CGCC’s campus in The Dalles.   CGCC President Dr. Marta Yera Cronin addressed the Class of ’22, calling upon graduates to advocate for social justice wherever their lives may take them.  Katrina Mace was recognized as the Outstanding GED Graduate for 2021-22, and Kristin Bighorn as the Outstanding Degree/Certificate Student.  The college recognized writing instructor and author Tina Ontiveros as Faculty of the Year, and CGCC digital access and public services librarian Tori Stanek was recognized as staff member of the year.

Hood River County Commissioners gave their blessing for the County’s Forestry Department to continue exploring a forest carbon project.  County Forester Doug Thiesies told Commissioners they have been talking with The Climate Project, an Oregon-based non-profit that has a portfolio of 111 of these kind of projects around the country.  Josh Fila of The Climate Project told Commissioners that Hood River County could get a premium for the carbon credits from maintaining forestland without changing its current management practices.  County Commissioner Arthur Babitz summarized the proposal as being paid not to change their management plan, but also pointed out he would like to see how it would fit in a longer financial stability model for the County.  Commissioner Les Perkins said looking down the road, involvement in a carbon project could put the County out in front of future regulation and create goodwill.

The Columbia River Gorge Commission has decided to extend the comment period on its Climate Change Action Plan, which means it also will push back its planned adoption.  Gorge Commission Executive Director Krystyna Wolniakowski told the Wasco County Commission that the Gorge Commission’s Executive Committee made the decision on Tuesday morning to take comment until August 9.  As a result, consideration for its adoption drops back to October.  Wasco County Commissioners will be receiving a presentation from Gorge Commission staff on the plan in July to help them formulate their response to the document.  Wolniakowski told the County Commission that the plan is not a regulatory document, adding it sets out goals and objectives but doesn’t create new policies.

The Washington State Department of Ecology will be taking comments over the next month of the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Goldendale Energy Storage Project.  Online public hearings are planned for Thursday at 6 p.m. and June 30 at 10 a.m., with both accessible at ecology.wa.gov.  An in-person hearing will take place next Tuesday, June 28, at 6 p.m. at the Goldendale Grange.  Comments are also being taken through July 25 at ecology.wa.gov.

The Hood River County Library District will be developing a new strategic plan over the next four months.  Library officials say they have opportunities for community members to participate this summer and early fall both virtually and in-person.  A community survey is available at hoodriverlibrary.org through July 1.  In addition, in-person town halls are scheduled for July 14 at 6 p.m. and July 16 at 10 a.m. at the Hood River branch of the library, along with a virtual town hall on July 15 at 1 p.m.  Participants can register at hoodriverlibrary.org.  There will also be feedback opportunities in library branches this summer.  Elements of the plan will be reviewed and discussed at Library Board meetings in September and October.