Mid-Columbia Medical Center officials unveiled their vision to create a new healthcare campus at Kramer Field on 6th and Webber in The Dalles, and replacing the ballfields there with a new athletic complex, at a Wasco County Commission meeting on Wednesday.  MCMC officials say the project would include a new hospital with all private rooms, the Celilo Cancer Center, an expanded emergency department, and a new inpatient behavioral health center and mental health services in partnership with the Columbia Gorge Resolution Center.  The proposal includes developing an athletic complex on 35 acres from the former aluminum property site that Google would be giving over to the County and the City of The Dalles in as part of a Strategic Investment Plan still to be signed by the company and BusinessOregon, and the current hospital property would be dedicated to be repurposed for residential housing.  MCMC CEO Dennis Knox said no public bonds would be issued for the project, and Director of Business Development Travis Dray said they want to work with the County and City to build support for the project.  After the presentation Commissioners said there are a lot of questions surrounding the project, and Steve Kramer pointed out “the devil is in the details.”

The Hood River Warming Shelter should be opening in a new location in a couple of weeks.  Sarah Kellums of Hood River Shelter Services says they have a lease on a lot at 1733 Oak, near the junction with Cascade Avenue.  Kellums says they will have 13 pallet shelter units for a total capacity of 26, which they did not reach last year.  She adds this location on Oak provides easier access for public transport than last year’s site at Hood River Valley Christian Church.  Kellums says Shelter Services have the option to renew their one-year lease at their new site, and they are hoping within three years to find a true long-term location to move to.

North Central Public Health District says COVID-19 vaccine appointments for children ages 5 to 11 are available at local doctor’s offices and several local pharmacies, but appointments will not be available through the district at this time.  The vaccine is available by appointment at local doctor’s offices in The Dalles, for established patients only, at:  Mid-Columbia Medical Center’s Family Medicine and Pediatric Clinics, and One Community Health.  Sherman County Medical Clinic in Moro is creating a sign-up list for kids ages 5-11, and it is open to the children of families who live or work in Sherman County.  NCPHD says Fred Meyer, Walgreen’s, and Rite-Aid in The Dalles are also offering the vaccine to ages 5-11, by appointment.  Go to their websites for appointment information.

Eligible energy customers in Washington who are past due on their bills as a result of COVID-19 can receive a one-time credit of up to $2,500 to help them catch up on their last 12 months of payments.  It’s available through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program.  To qualify, participants must earn less than 150% of the federal poverty level.  The now year-round program covers all types of heating including gas, oil, coal, and wood.  An approved participant could also receive a one-time credit to their energy account of up to $1,000 for current and future bills.  Those in Klickitat and Skamania counties can apply for the program can calling Washington Gorge Action Programs at (509) 493-2662 or toll-free at 800-755-1192.

The coalition in charge of utilization of a $600,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to spur economic development and revitalize underdeveloped parcels in and around The Dalles says it is working with several property owners on redevelopment planning and is seeking others, including those with parcels that could benefit from environmental site assessment.  Wasco County and the City and the Port of The Dalles make up the Brownfields Revitalization Committee.  In a statement released Wednesday, the governmental agencies say they are working with property owners on diverse projects including preparation to develop workforce housing in a mixed-use development in The Dalles, removing an old fuel tank from a downtown property, evaluating an old auto wrecking yard for potential redevelopment, and helping North Central Public Health District with an environmental assessment and hazardous materials survey on one of its properties.  The coalition says it is looking for more properties to help.   Contact the Brownfield Revitalization Coordinator, Jim Schwinof at 541-296-5481, ext 1131.

With the wildfires in the Northwest over the last two years causing a big demand for tree seedlings and reforestation services in the region, Oregon State University Extension and the Oregon Department of Forestry are working together to help small family forestland owners be able to get the seedlings.  Extension Forester Glenn Ahrens says they are aggregating small landowner orders, with many large forest tree nurseries not taking orders for less than 10,000 seedlings at a time.  If you’re looking for help with establishing new forest trees, call Ahrens at 503-655-8631.

Oregon Class 5A Boys Soccer First Round

Woodburn 2, Hood River Valley 0:  Jose Guzman scored on a rebound in the ninth minute to put Woodburn on top, and the Bulldogs got the insurance goal in the 76th minute when Christopher Amezcua followed up a shot that glanced off the post.  Woodburn had most of the offensive chances in the game, with HRV goalkeeper Hugh Dalbey making a number of key saves to keep the Eagles in the game.

LaSalle 5, The Dalles 0:  The top-seeded Falcons scored four goals in the first half to win their sixth in a row.

  Washington Class 2B District 4 Volleyball Tournament

Stevenson def. Winlock 3-0

Wahkiakum def. Stevenson 3-0  (loser out)

The Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District Board will consider putting a pair of ballot measures on the May 2022 ballot during its meeting on Thursday.  The board is considering one measure to dissolve the current district and a second to reform with a new permanent property tax rate.  District director Mark Hickok says the current rate is locked in under Measure 50 at 34 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value, and dates to when the district was formed and simply about swimming pool operation.  But with the Hood River Valley Aquatic Center pool needing replacement, and the district taking on parks and trails and a demand for other services, Hickok says they need a different tax rate.  The meeting will be on Zoom at 4 p.m. on Thursday.  Log-in details will be available at hoodriverparksandrec.org.

Semi-annual maintenance welding to the steel grate deck of the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge will begin Monday, and helicopter service to repair overhead utility lines on November 10 will require intermittent closures of the bridge.  The Port of Hood River says there will be single lane closures of the bridge with flaggers directing traffic between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays starting Monday through November 24.  Motorists should expect delays of approximately 15-25 minutes throughout the day, depending on traffic volume.  There will be three, 30-minute total closures of the bridge next Wednesday to allow a helicopter to service the overhead telecommunication utility line.  The bridge will be closed to all vehicle traffic on that day between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m., 10:30 and 11:00 a.m., and 12:30 and 1:00 p.m.

Mid-Columbia Senior Center Executive Director Scott McKay is retiring at the end of the year.  McKay began his 15-year tenure as the Center’s executive director in 2006.  McKay says one highlight of his tenure was the installation of an elevator to make the downstairs floor of the Center accessible to all.  In a statement, the MCSC board of directors said the center has grown under his leadership, becoming a place of gathering and sharing with group activities and classes.  The Board says it will be actively seeking a new executive director.  The job description and application is available on the Center website, midcolumbiaseniorcenter.com.