Transit agencies in the Gorge have been partnering with the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District on the Gorge Regional Transit Strategy.  Columbia Area Transit assistant executive director John Andoh says the goal is to set a vision on how the four transit providers work together to provide a seamless experience for the rider.  He adds the ultimate goal is to have tourist system that helps facilitate more tourism-based travel, seamless travel between communities on both sides of the Columbia River, and allow people to visit and live car-free.  Andoh adds having a regional transit vision can provide a framework to get additional funding sources to help cover the cost of an expanded system.

As COVID-19 vaccination levels increase, Hood River County Commissioners are preparing to return to in-person meetings.  Commissioners this week discussed the possibility of returning to meetings at the County Administrative Building in July, with Administrator Jeff Hecksel noting some adjustments would have to be made to the meeting room to prepare for that to occur.  But they also noted that continuing to make on-line access to meetings is important.  Hecksel said that is doable with the technology they now have.  The Commission also plans to go back to having just one meeting a month starting in July.  It would be the third Monday of every month.  

Donna Mickley has been tabbed as the new Forest Supervisor for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.  Mickley will serve as the Forest Service’s lead administrator for the 80-mile river corridor and surrounding natural scenic area.  Mickley comes to the Scenic Area from the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, where she served as the District Ranger since March 2010.  She also served as acting Forest Supervisor on the Siuslaw National Forest leading up to the firestorms of 2020.

A portion of Giles French Park adjacent to John Day Lock and Dam will be closed beginning Tuesday while the Bonneville Power Administration replaces transmission lines from the dam to the substation located on top of the hill south of Interstate 84.  BPA contractors were starting to place temporary fencing to restrict access to the work site.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says due to the severe safety hazard in the work area underneath the transmission lines, it is restricting public access to the far eastern end of Giles French Park through December 15.  The remainder of the park and shoreline are open for use.  The extended timeframe will allow BPA contractors to setup and tear down the temporary fencing and to restore the area.

Personal use firewood will be available on the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area beginning Tuesday in the Eagle Creek picnic area parking lot.  Several large log decks are left over from cleanup activities following a large landslide that took place in mid-February 2021. Scenic Area Public Affairs Officer Karen Davis says the wood is available for personal use only and is free, but a firewood permit is required.  Contact the Hood River Ranger District at 541-352-6002 to get permit information.  Access to the site is from 8 a.m.to 6 p.m., and only wood located in decks on the pavement may be removed.  Permit, load tags, map, and information sheet must always be with you.  Wood quantities are limited and not guaranteed.  The Eagle Creek recreation site and trail remain closed, and access to the parking lot is authorized for firewood removal only.

Boys Basketball Horizon Christian 53, Trout Lake 46 Toutle Lake 66, Stevenson 53   Girls Basketball Trout Lake 47, Horizon Christian 29 Adna 64, Stevenson 28

Hood River County reports just over 70 percent of residents over the age of 16 have been vaccinated for COVID-19.  County COVID-19 coordinator Daron Ryan said the County is seeing four or five new COVID cases per week.  Ryan says they are seeing about a six percent increase in vaccinations each week.  Ryan said there are more efforts to get vaccinations to where people are.  She added the County’s COVID website, hrccovid19.org, now has a calendar of vaccine clinics.

North Central Public Health District reports that through May 29 over 22,700 doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered in Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties.  Dose totals given by pharmacies in those counties are not included in that count.  District officials say a key focus for the next number of weeks will be on directing people to the mobile vaccine unit that will be open six days a week, providing the first extensive access to vaccine clinics in Wasco County.  The mobile unit will be at St. Mary’s Academy at 1112 W. 10th Street starting Wednesday.   Hours will be from noon to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.  NCPHD has also begun small vaccine clinics Thursdays at noon.  To book an appointment, call 541-506-2600.

In June, The Dalles Public Works crews and contractors will complete several pavement preservation projects, with two scrub seal projects planned later this week.  On Thursday and Friday work will be done on both lanes of Bridge Street from West 10th to West 14th.  A full road closure will be in effect there from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Detours to Mt. Hood Street or Trevitt Street will be in place until the project is complete.  On the same days, work will be done on East Scenic Drive from Jefferson Street to the Sorosis Park Exit, with lane closures in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Motorists will be flagged to a single lane next to the construction zone, and delays are expected.  Motorists and bicyclists are encouraged to use alternate routes.  The sidewalks will remain open to pedestrian traffic during work hours.

More than a hundred bidders helped raise over $21,000 to support student scholarships when Columbia Gorge Community College Foundation held its “Saddle Up & Celebrate” on-line auction this spring.  CGCC Foundation executive director Wendy Patton said this year’s fundraiser will support eight scholarships to Columbia Gorge Community College.  The auction took place for one week in May.  The virtual format replaced, at least for this year, a traditional in-person dinner hosted at Fort Dalles Readiness Center on The Dalles Campus.  Patton said her number one goal is to fund every qualified scholarship.  Visit cgccfoundation.org to learn more.