Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden delivered his farewell remarks in the House on Wednesday as he prepares to retire after 22 years in Congress and over 30 years in public service, including eight years in the Oregon Legislature.  The Hood River Republican said he would miss the process and his colleagues in the House, but also was happy to leave on his own terms. Walden served in the Oregon House of Representatives for six years, from 1989 to 1995, which included serving as the House Majority Leader during both 1991 and 1993 sessions.   He then served in the Oregon Senate in 1995 to 1997.  Walden was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998.

The Oregon Health Authority reported 10,355 new daily COVID-19 cases during the week that ended Sunday, a 14% increase over the previous week and the seventh consecutive record high weekly case count.  Hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 increased to 494, a 24% increase and an average of 70 per day.  There were 133 reported COVID-19 reported deaths, up from 86 the previous week and an average of 19 per day – the highest since the pandemic began.  People aged 20 to 49 have accounted for 55% of the cases, while people 70 and older have accounted for 76%of the deaths.  During the week of November 29 to December 5, the number of COVID-19 tests administered to Oregonians increased significantly to 170,964.  The percentage of positive tests was 8.1%.

The Klickitat PUD board has decided against a retail electric rate increase in 2021.  Commissioner Doug Miller indicated that while a proposed 1.5 percent rate increase is needed to support budgets in 2021 and the future, now is not the time to do so, with fellow board member Randy Knowles pointing out there is no better time to use the PUD’s rate stabilization fund to offset an increase than now.  Klickitat PUD board president Dan Gunkel asked staff to continue to work with Klickitat County in applying for federal CARES Act funds to assist customers impacted by COVID-19 and to put a plan in place to utilize their rate stabilization fund to offset the proposed rate increase.

An additional reward is now being offered for assistance with identifying whoever was responsible for the unlawful taking of a buck deer in the White River Unit last weekend.  The Dalles chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association has offered an additional $500 for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation in this case.  The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division says a citizen reported finding a fresh deer on Sunday that had been dumped near a fence line off of Highway 30 on United States Forest Service property about five miles east of Mosier near Marsh Cut-off Road.    Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to call the Turn in Poachers hotline at 1-800-452-7888 or *OSP on mobile devices.

Oregon Food Bank has purchased a warehouse building in The Dalles to be the permanent home for the Columbia Gorge Food Bank.  The building at 3525 Crates Way has five times more space than the organization’s current leased facility.  This purchase was funded by what the Columbia Gorge Food Bank called a “generous donor.”  The building does require renovation and additional equipment to be an effective food bank, including freezer and cooler capacity and other food handling and storage equipment.  Oregon Food Bank plans to raise additional funds for the renovation process and equipment, and a formal assessment and buildout planning is currently underway.  A grand opening will be held when renovations are complete and gatherings are no longer a risk to public health.

In announcing spending more federal funds for additional business grants, Washington Governor Jay Inslee said more needs to be done for workers, and action by Congress is needed.  Inslee says a critical piece of plans to defeat COVID-19 is for individuals to have financial resources while staying at home, adding Congress has more tools at its disposal but he is prepared to have the state step in.  He said if Congress doesn’t act by Christmas, the state will step up to help workers and their families who are not covered by pre-pandemic unemployment insurance benefits.  The Governor went on to say relief would be provided to those on the pandemic unemployment system as of the week of November 21 by the end of December.  Inslee added loss of the benefits would push 100,000 Washington households closer to poverty.

A week after the launch of WA Notify, the Washington Department of Health reported Monday that 1.2 million users have signed up for it by enabling the notifications or downloading the app that uses Bluetooth technology to alert people they may have had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.  Klickitat County Public Health Director Erinn Quinn says the app can help as case numbers make it difficult for health departments to keep up with contact tracing.  If a smartphone user does test positive, they can submit their code and others with the app will be notified if they’ve been in contact with someone who is COVID-positive.  

Hood River County Commissioners on Monday authorized moving forward with an agreement with the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District to administer state funded grants to help businesses impacted by COVID-19.  The County has $705,000 in state funds to distribute, and the potential for another $145,000 in CARES Act funding could be added in.  County Administrator David Hecksel has been given authority to sign an agreement once it is finalized.  Hecksel says qualification requirements are still being finalized, and MCEDD will handle the administration.  The County is on a tight timeline, as they are required to disburse the funds by December 31.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced Tuesday that he is extending current restrictions on businesses and social gatherings through Jan. 4 due to a continued spike in new coronavirus cases that is straining the state’s hospital system.  Inslee said the issue isn’t just hospital space, but the number of people available to provide care is strained because of a lack of available reserve personnel available.  He noted in the spring personnel could be sent to virus hotspots, but that’s not available with the entire state dealing with increased COVID numbers.  The current set of restrictions that took effect last month — including limiting restaurants and bars to to-go service and outdoor dining — were set to expire this coming Monday, but will now be extended an additional three weeks.  Indoor social gatherings with people from more than one household are also prohibited unless attendees have either quarantined for 14 days before the gathering or tested negative for COVID-19 and quarantined for seven days.  Inslee also announced $50 million in additional grants for businesses, on top of the $135 million in grants, loans and other assistance he announced two weeks ago to help businesses and workers impacted by the restrictions.

Oregon Food Bank has purchased a warehouse building in The Dalles to be the permanent home for the Columbia Gorge Food Bank.  The building at 3525 Crates Way has five times more space than the organization’s current leased facility.  This purchase was funded by what the Columbia Gorge Food Bank called a “generous donor.”  The building does require renovation and additional equipment to be an effective food bank, including freezer and cooler capacity and other food handling and storage equipment.   Oregon Food Bank plans to raise additional funds for the renovation process and equipment, and a formal assessment and buildout planning is currently underway.  A grand opening will be held when renovations are complete and gatherings are no longer a risk to public health.