Hood River Police earlier this week arrested two men after the vehicle they were in was found to contain a significant amount of fentanyl.  In a statement Hood River Police Chief Neal Holste said after the vehicle was stop and the driver arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance, further investigation led to 71 grams of suspected pure uncut fentanyl and 111 suspected fentanyl pills being seized.  The street value of the drugs was estimated at between $12,000 and $16,000.  Holste says the two men were lodged at the Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility on a number of charges including possession and distribution of a Schedule II drug, tampering with physical evidence, giving false information to a peace officer, and a felony fugitive warrant.  

A bill that would pave the way for a bi-state commission to oversee efforts to replace the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge has unanimously passed the Oregon Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation.  The next stop for the bill that establishes a framework for local governments to create the bi-state commission for a new bridge is the Ways and Means Committee.  52nd District Representative Anna Williams says the bill received the Transportation Committee’s unanimous recommendation for approval, and would set the stage for funding opportunities for the bridge.  A similar bill is being considered in the Washington Legislature.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic will be at the Hood River County Fairgrounds through next Saturday.  Even though Hood River County continues to be at the top of the state’s vaccination rates with nearly 89 percent of those 18 and over receiving at least one dose, County Health Department Director Trish Elliott says they want to get more second dose and booster shots done.  The vaccination clinic at the Fairgrounds will be over from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through February 19.  It will then go to The Dalles beginning February 21.

Mid-Columbia Center for Living and PacificSource Community Solutions have reached an agreement that will see PacificSource provide Center for Living $2 million in two payments between now and August to help the facility continue to provide services to Columbia Gorge Community Care Organization members and help mitigate the Center’s financial challenges  Center board member and Wasco County Commissioner Scott Hege says they have been providing the services at a loss, and this will allow Center for Living to move forward, particularly toward filling currently vacant positions.  Hege noted like in many other sectors, it has been difficult to find mental health workers to fill vacancies.

There is a critical need for blood donations in the Pacific Northwest. Central and Eastern Oregon Red Cross Executive Director Nadine McCrindle says with the amount of blood drives lost to the pandemic and weather conditions the supply of blood is very low, down to a one day supply in some cases. Usually a five-day supply is available. McCrindle did say as pandemic restrictions wind down, they are hoping to see blood donations increase as people become more comfortable going out and doing things. To find Red Cross blood drive information, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS.

EWAC Boys Basketball Tournament First Round

Columbia (Burbank) 74, Goldendale 28:  The Timberwolves next play at River View on Friday evening at 6 p.m.

  Girls Basketball

Milwaukie 72, Hood River Valley 30

Washington 14th District State Representative Gina Mosbrucker says a package of four bills out of a much larger number presented by Republicans in regard to public safety have made it to the House floor.  The bills are in response to changes made last session in response to the Supreme Court’s Blake decision.  The Goldendale Republican says much of the content of these bills is to allow officers to act on reasonable suspicion, rather than requiring probable cause as in the court decision.  Mosbrucker adds the bills are primarily amendments Republicans tried to add to the legislation passed in 2021.

The state of Oregon announced on Monday that indoor mask mandates will be lifted no later than March 31, but local health officials are reminding people that it’s not time to discard them yet.  Hood River County Health Department Health Officer Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg says masks still need to be used indoors, emphasizing they work, noting drop in flu cases over the last couple of years.  Hood River County is hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic provided by the Federal Emergency Management Administration at the County Fairgrounds in Odell.  It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through February 19.

North Central Public Health District has distributed about 1,500 free home COVID-19 test kits to a number of entities in Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties to be given out to the community.  They are available at libraries, senior centers, and public health clinics.  People eligible for at-home test kits are those who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to a positive case.  Each test kit contains two tests, and people are asked to only take enough kits to have one test per person.  They are not intended for screening purposes such as travel or event attendance.  Test kits are also available for the public at the North Central Public Health District office in The Dalles.  Call 541-506-2600, and select the testing option to request a home test kit.

Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Wednesday over $262 million is headed to Oregon to help the state recover from wildfires.  The U.S. Forest Service will allocate nearly $1.1 billion in disaster assistance funding nationally to support post-disaster recovery and other emergency needs as a result of natural disasters occurring over the past three years.  Merkley is Chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds the Forest Service.  National forests and grasslands will be provided with specific funding for selected projects that meet certain criteria.  This funding will also be used for state and private forestry programs to meet recovery needs on non-Federal lands in states that experienced damage from wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters.  This funding will also be allocated to complete data collection and program delivery tasks delayed by natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic.