Klickitat County Commissioners decided on Tuesday to lift a moratorium on commercial or industrial solar projects that would be subject to a conditional use process, passing a motion by Commissioner Jacob Anderson that calls for staff to do a cumulative impact analysis of potential solar farms in both Goldendale’s Knight Road area and the County while the Commission works on recommendations for the Board of Adjustment to consider when dealing with any applications it might receive.  Anderson maintained his belief in the conditional use process if and when they receive an application for a solar project near Knight Road.  Commissioner Dan Christopher had been calling for the Commission to provide more specific criteria for the public to see, but did concur with the plan to create recommendations and do the impact analysis.  The Commission spent three weeks deliberating the subject after a public hearing on the moratorium.

The Hood River County Library District says its Hood River and Cascade Locks branches are open for what is being called Library Express Services.  Patrons are invited into the buildings for 30 minutes, with no appointment needed.  They can pick up holds, browse for books, or use a public computer.  There are occupancy limits in the Children’s Library in Hood River and the Cascade Locks and Parkdale branches, and patrons may be asked to wait.  The Parkdale Library will start Library Express Services on June 1.  Curbside services are available by request at all three branches.  Starting June 1 the Hood River Library will be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10:00am to 6:00pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00am to 4:00pm.  The Cascade Locks and Parkdale Branches will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00pm to 6:00pm and Saturdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm.  The library district still encourages patrons to continue to use their online resources and services.    

Boys Basketball Hood River Valley 54, Ridgeview 39: The Eagles pulled away in the fourth quarter of the Intermountain Conference opener for both teams.  Emanuel Romero scored 13 points for HRV, while Davis Yates added 10. Redmond 71, The Dalles 35 Condon-Wheeler 72, Trout Lake 40 South Wasco 54, Sherman 41   Girls Basketball Redmond 50, The Dalles 22 Ridgeview 85, Hood River Valley 23 Rainier 79, Stevenson 36 Trout Lake 62, Condon-Wheeler 42 South Wasco 55, Sherman 34

The Dalles City Council voted to go ahead with a contract amendment with KPFF Consulting Engineers to finish design work on the long-discussed First Street/Riverfront Connection project.  The City entered into an agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation back in 2008 for funding for the project, but it has been delayed for a number of years.  Mayor Rich Mays says they are trying to get the project moving and completed, and it will probably be another two years before construction could start.  The project focuses on street and pedestrian improvements on First Street from Union to Laughlin Streets, with the potential to connect to the Mill Creek Trail.

Business Oregon on Wednesday will open the final portion of a program to provide grants for small businesses to help with commercial rent and operational costs in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Oregon Legislative Emergency Board allocated approximately $100 million for the program to help small businesses impacted by the pandemic and the restrictions it necessitated.  Following two rounds of distribution of Commercial Rent Relief assistance grants, approximately $28 million remains to be distributed in this final round through the Operational Cost Assistance Grant.  The Operational Cost Assistance Grant is designed for businesses with 100 or fewer employees in industries that were particularly affected by the pandemic, including those that offer the consumption of food and or drink on premise, provide specified indoor physical exercise, recreational or family entertainment, or provide specified personal services.  Full details of the program, including eligible industries, is available on Business Oregon’s website and in application materials.  Applicants must have faced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon.  Applications for the Operational Cost Assistance Grant will be accepted beginning May 26, and continue through June 6.

Boys Basketball Morton/White Pass 77, Stevenson 56 Sherman 53, Echo 51 Ione-Arlington 47, Horizon Christian 38   Girls Basketball Stevenson 47, Morton/White Pass 40 Echo 56, Sherman 25

Both the North Central Public Health District and the Hood River County Health District have COVID-19 vaccination clinics scheduled this week.  In Hood River County there will be drop-in clinics for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon for those 18 and older, with no appointment needed.  NCPHD has Pfizer clinics for those 12 and older planned for Tuesday and Wednesday at three different schools.  One will be at Condon High School from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday, call the school at 541-384-2441 to book an appointment.  Then from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday there will be a clinic at Arlington High School, and appointments can be made by calling 541-454-2632.  And there will be a third on Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Sherman High School, call 541-565-3500 to schedule at time.  NCPHD will also be doing Moderna vaccinations on Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. at their office on 419 East 7th in The Dalles from noon to 1 p.m.  Book an appointment at ncphd.org, and walk-ins will be welcome.  The latest numbers from the Oregon Health Authority put Hood River County 66.9 percent of residents 16 and older vaccinated as of Friday, Wasco County at 52.9 percent, Sherman County at 47.4 percent, and Gilliam County at 36.1 percent.

Klickitat County Commissioners are scheduled once again on Tuesday to decide if they already have the tools in place to deal with potential applications for solar projects.  Commissioners spent an hour last week discussing what they are actually trying to accomplish.  The group noted that in many ways two issues are being pushed together, one involving setbacks and protections for adjacent property owners, and the other involving overall county policy.  Commissioner Dan Christopher said on Bicoastal Media’s Mid-Columbia Today his main two concerns remain how they are taxed and decommissioning.  Commissioner Jacob Anderson said during last week’s County Commission meeting that he believes in the already required environmental impact processes for conditional use permits.  There is currently a six month moratorium on commercial and industrial solar projects that are subject to a conditional use process.

It’s a busy time for the City of Hood River’s Public Works Department.  Municipal Public Works Director Mark Janeck says they are preparing drawings for summer construction and waiting for bids.  Park maintenance is also a priority, and Janeck notes there has been more use of city parks by both residents and tourists because of the pandemic.  There are also plenty of street projects being planned for this spring and summer, including paving taking place this Tuesday through Thursday on 9th Street between State and Hazel and Hazel Street between 7th and 9th.  There will be no parking allowed between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on those days.  

Klickitat County Health Department says it was notified of an additional fourteen COVID-19 cases in individuals associated with Goldendale High School this past week after receiving reports of three positive COVID-19 cases last weekend.  Over 60 students and staff were absent from the High School Friday according to School Administration officials due to the significant number of close contacts and individuals identified as positive cases.  The health district says starting Monday, Goldendale High School will transition to remote learning for this week in order to minimize any further spread of COVID-19 among students and staff.  The decision was made in consultation with the health district out of an overabundance of caution as well as minimize any potential impacts to the GHS Graduation which is scheduled for June 11.  Goldendale Middle and Primary Schools will continue with in-person learning.  Of the individuals testing positive for COVID-19, there does not appear to be any evidence of in classroom transmission between students and staff at this time.