Cooler temperatures minimized fire growth Sunday on the Bull Complex Fire in the Mt. Hood National Forest, and unseasonably cooler temperatures were forecast to remain over the fire area again Monday.  Fire officials say temperatures are expected to increase and normalize starting Tuesday, possibly increasing fire behavior and visible smoke.  The fire is still smoldering, moving along the ground and burning in low brushes and small trees.  Firefighters are working to remove vegetation with heavy equipment and chainsaws to prepare existing roads to use as containment lines.  If conditions are appropriate firefighters may do burnouts along those roads to remove fuel between the roads and main fire to slow the main fire’s progress towards the desired containment lines.  Pumps and hoses are also being installed to support potential future burnouts.  The south end of the fire, closest to Detroit and the Breitenbush Hot Springs, is the current priority containment focus area.

Columbia Gorge Community College is modifying its plans for a ribbon-cutting at the college’s new workforce skills center and student residential hall in September.  While the ribbon-cutting is still planned for September 11 at 10 a.m., the college will offer a livestream of the event for people who do not wish to attend in person.  The college is encouraging people to participate via the livestream, while still keeping the ribbon-cutting open to those who prefer to attend in person.  Masks will be required at the ribbon-cutting, outdoors as well as indoors.  Social distancing will be encouraged.  The livestream and a video “walk-through” of the new buildings will be posted on the college’s YouTube channel, with a link from the college website, cgcc.edu.  The event will take place at the skills center entrance on The Dalles campus.  

Oregon State Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek announced Monday the upcoming public hearings of the House and Senate Redistricting Committees will be moved to a virtual format due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.  Meetings will be held virtually and organized to hear from residents of each current congressional district.  Oregonians can participate by signing up for video or phone testimony, uploading written testimony, or by submitting a map for consideration by September 7.  Meetings for the Second Congressional District are set for September 8 at 1 p.m. and September 10 at 8 a.m., with statewide sessions planned for September 13 at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.  For participation information, go to oregonlegislature.gov/redistricting.

North Central Public Health District reports a sixth person has died of COVID-19 during an outbreak at Columbia Basin Care.  The person died on August 14.  It is the 37th such death in Wasco County.  Five others at the facility died between August 4-11.  On Thursday, the facility reported it has five residents who are post-20 days COVID positive with no symptoms.  Eleven residents are still COVID positive and in varying stages of recovery.  Ten staff are still out due to positive tests.  Five have made a full recovery and are back to work.  Most of the residents and many of the staff at the facility who tested positive were vaccinated.  July breakthrough data in Oregon shows the median age for breakthrough cases was 83.  The ability to fight off infection is less robust in the elderly.

Skyline Health in White Salmon said in a statement that the current COVID-19 situation is “dire,” and is asking for the public’s help.  Noting COVID transmission and hospitalizations are at an all-time high, and the statement from Skyline says hospitals throughout the Gorge all share the same concern with staff shortages and increased COVID cases limiting bed capacity at larger hospitals, which means if someone is in need of advanced care due to a medical emergency, a bed may not be available.  Skyline is asking people to limit risky behaviors and activities…wear a mask under Washington’s statewide order going into effect today requiring masks for everyone over five years of age in most public indoor settings regardless of vaccination status, and get vaccinated.  Skyline says in Klickitat County, only 45% of eligible people have been vaccinated.

Providence hospitals, including its facility in Hood River, is restricting most visitors to hospitals beginning Monday due to recent surge of COVID-19 in Oregon.  The hospital says exceptions include one visitor while in the emergency department only, two visitors in labor and delivery through approximately 2 hours postpartum, one visitor in the mother/baby unit, two visitors in the pediatric inpatient area, and people with disabilities.  In these cases, visitors must be at least 16 years old, wear a mask fully covering their nose and mouth, and remain in the patient room unless entering or exiting the medical center.  The change comes as the highly contagious delta variant leaves Oregon with a record number of new cases and intensive care hospitalizations.

Wasco County Chief Deputy Clerk Christy Zaugg is one of five Oregonians recognized with the National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Award.  The award honors individuals whose outstanding service and dedication further the mission of the National Association of Secretaries of State within the states.  According to the Oregon Secretary of State’s office, as both a Girl Scouts leader in The Dalles and as Wasco County’s Chief Deputy Clerk, Zaugg showed exceptional creativity and resourcefulness in the pursuit of transparency in the democratic process.  Zaugg and her two daughters Ella and Aralyn transformed their Girl Scouts elections and civics event into a video called “Path of the Ballot”.   The video, which was shot, produced, and voiced entirely by Ella and Aralyn, provided transparency on the elections process, and received rave reviews from local political parties and citizens across the county.

Powerball players will have the opportunity to start the week with a third chance to win jackpot.   A new Monday Powerball drawing debuts this week and will join the current lineup of Powerball drawings held every Wednesday and Saturday, at 7:59 p.m. PT.  All 48 Powerball lotteries will sell tickets for the Monday night Powerball drawing.  In Oregon, ticket sales from the third weekly drawing will contribute to public programs and services including public education, economic development, state parks, Outdoor School, veteran services, and watershed enhancements.  Since 1985, Oregon Lottery proceeds have helped contribute more than $13 billion.  Players can watch the new Monday night drawing live online at Powerball.com, which will also be broadcast live by participating television stations.

The four finalists for Hood River’s City Manager position have been announced.  The quartet includes Charlie Bush, who most recently was the City Manager for five-and-a-half years in Sequim, Abigail Elder, currently director of community services and engagement in Beaverton, current Sisters City Manager Cory Misley, and Olympia assistant city manager Keith Stahley.  Hood River residents will have an opportunity to meet the finalists at a community reception on September 7.   Candidate interviews will take place over the following two days, and a selection by the Hood River City Council is expected on September 10.

Oregon’s indoor face mask mandate went into effect Friday.  North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell says masking is most effective when it comes to protecting others from virus transmission.  She adds a mask does provide some benefit to the wearer by decreasing the amount of viral load coming in to a person.  She says the transmissibility of the Delta variant is much greater that earlier forms of the COVID-19 virus.  McDonell also says masking does not cause problems with breathing, noting medical providers routinely wear face coverings for long periods of time.