This past spring the Ford Family Foundation awarded Columbia Gorge Community College a grant to conduct a child care center feasibility study.  The study is taking place over the summer and fall.  It will gather information on the regional need for affordable child care and develop a business model to determine how a child care center can be operated on a sustainable basis.  The Ford Foundation provided a grant to conduct the study.  Participants are asked to report the number of children in their families, how their child care needs are currently met, and their ability to contribute toward the cost of child care.  The survey is posted to the college website, cgcc.edu, and social media.  People are encouraged to complete the survey no later than August 20.  Paper versions of the survey are also being distributed to libraries, schools and other locations.

The Dalles Public Works Department will be painting the center and side lines on several streets throughout the community Monday through Thursday beginning at 6:00 a.m. each day, weather permitting.  Motorists are asked to watch for the crews and avoid driving on the wet paint.  The paint truck will be preceded and followed by warning vehicles, with signs calling attention to the wet paint.  The trucks will be spaced according to the necessary drying time of the paint.  Attempting to pass or drive between the trucks will result in a messy striping job and paint damage to the motorist’s vehicle.  Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the wet paint because it cannot be easily removed from vehicles.  The purpose of this project is to provide clear lane and bike path designations for the safety of the traveling public.  

Huckleberry season is approaching, and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest is issuing a reminder that a permit is required to remove any berries from the Forest.  A no-cost free-use permit for personal consumption is available to remove up to one gallon of berries per day and a total of three gallons per year, and is available through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest website.  Commercial charge berry permits will be available for purchase beginning August 9 at Ranger District offices and the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Headquarters through walk-up service windows.  Permits cost $60 for 14 consecutive days, or $105 for the season.

Southwest Washington Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler will host a live telephone town hall on Wednesday.  Southwest Washington residents can call in to join the town hall at any point during the event by calling 1-877-229-8493 and using the passcode 116365.  Herrera-Beutler will give an update on her work in Congress, and attendees will be invited to ask questions or share whatever is on their mind.  The town hall will begin at 5:25 on Wednesday afternoon.

The White Salmon City Council has imposed a temporary six-month moratorium on short-term rentals within the city limits of White Salmon.  The ordinance also provides a 30-day opportunity from the date of the ordinance for property owners who currently have short-term rental bookings finalized before the date of the moratorium to comply with city requirements including obtaining a business license and short-term rental permit.  Councilor Jim Ransier brought the moratorium before the council for consideration this week, after Councilors had heard concerns from residents regarding short-term rentals and decided it is time to provide guidance in the city’s land use codes on how short-term rentals are allowed.  Councilors felt the moratorium is necessary due to the impacts that short-term rentals are having on the housing market and long-term rental availability in the community.  The White Salmon Planning Commission will be forwarded the moratorium ordinance and is expected to make short-term rentals a priority.  The City Council will hold a public hearing on the moratorium on September 1 at 6:00 p.m. in the council chambers at the White Salmon Fire Hall and via teleconference.

Oregon Second District Congressman Cliff Bentz has introduced a bill to allow the U. S. Forest Service to utilize the same exemptions from the National Environment Policy Act as other federal agencies when working to implement joint projects that can range from wildfire preparedness and response to certain land management and infrastructure activities.  Bentz said in a House floor speech that the Commonsense Coordination Act would eliminate duplicative paperwork for potentially life and property saving federal projects that do not require an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement.  Nine Republican Representatives are co-sponsoring the bill.

Columbia Gorge Community College has reached a transfer agreement between with Pacific Northwest College of Art at Willamette University in Salem, an opportunity for students interested in pursuing an art and design education.  CGCC announced that students who transfer to PNCA are now able to receive a scholarship of $22,000 per year, guaranteed for up to three-and-a-half years, for a total of $77,000.  The art scholarship is available to all CGCC graduating students who apply and are accepted into PNCA.  In addition, the agreement outlines a clear pathway for students to begin their coursework at CGCC and complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at PNCA.  CGCC officials say the agreement is part of PNCA’s sustained effort to make its nationally recognized fine art and design education available to more students.

Washington Third District Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler announced $583,390 has been included in an appropriations bill that will support an effort by Washington Gorge Action Programs to develop a child care facility in Goldendale.  The FY22 Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill included funding to renovate or construct a facility in Goldendale to serve as a child care or early learning center.  Currently there are no licensed child care providers operating in the region except for a Head Start program that is at capacity.

The Oregon Health Authority’s weekly COVID-19 report released on Wednesday shows an increase in daily cases, hospitalizations and COVID-19 related deaths.  The OHA reported 2,026 new daily cases of COVID-19 during the week ending July 18.  That represents a 54% rise over the previous week and the highest tally in seven weeks.  New COVID-19 related hospitalizations rose to 123, up from 104 the previous week.  There were 29 reported COVID-19 related deaths, up from 15 reported the previous week.  There were 62,098 tests for COVID-19 for the week of July 11 through July 17. The percentage of positive tests was 4.2%, up from 3.4% the previous week.  As of July 20, 2,452,035 Oregonians, or 57.5% of the state’s total population had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.  Case rates have generally been higher in counties with lower COVID-19 vaccination rates.  During the week of July 11 to 17, case rates in 15 counties exceeded the statewide average of 44.9 cases per 100,000 population.  All 15 counties had overall population COVID-19 vaccination rates of lower than 55%, and 13 of them had rates lower than 47%.

Klickitat PUD has received a $245,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce Community Services and Housing Division Office of Crime Victims Advocacy to provide customers COVID-19 relief programs.  The funding is federally provided through Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funds.  The grant will help establish three utility specific programs to assist Klickitat PUD customers, one for small businesses, one for residential customers, and the third for a summer low income eldery discount program.  PUD officials say the goal is to reach and assist as many customers as possible to prevent, prepare for, and recover from the coronavirus prior to resuming disconnects for non-payment.  To apply, go to klickitatpud.com.