North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell said in the local area the strain on the health system from COVID-19 is not so much about hospital beds as it is human resources.  During Wednesday’s Wasco County Commission meeting, McDonell said representatives of Mid-Columbia Medical Center and long-term care facilities all said they are experiencing shortages of staff that can give direct care to patients and residents.  McDonell doesn’t forsee the situation changing anytime soon.  She adds if there is an outbreak in a medical clinic or long-term care facility, staff is impacted as well.

Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley Tuesday introduced new legislation to incentivize utility companies to do more to reduce wildfire risks as aging power infrastructure ignite wildfires in Oregon and the West.  Wyden and Merkley’s Wildfire Resilient Power Grid Act of 2020 would call for power companies to reduce the risk of wildfires through power system upgrades such as the undergrounding of power lines, fire safety equipment installation and proper vegetation management.  The Act would establishes a $1 billion-per-year matching grant program for power companies through the Department of Energy to reduce the risk of power lines and grid infrastructure causing wildfires, and gives special priority to smaller, rural electric companies to ensure mitigation efforts are targeted to forested rural areas.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and a group of other Senators to introduce a bill that would retroactively extend the $600 weekly federal boost to unemployment insurance benefits through October 2021.  The American Worker Holiday Relief Act would also tie the additional weeks of federal benefits and new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program for gig and freelance workers to economic conditions on the ground.   The additional weeks of federal benefits and the program for gig and freelance workers would not expire as long as the three month average national unemployment rate is above 5.5 percent, and will stay available longer in states where unemployment remains high.  The bill would add 26 weeks of federal benefits for workers receiving traditional unemployment insurance.  Wyden said the bill is designed to provide relief for workers who are hanging by a thread.

The Oregon Attorney General’s Office is reminding Oregonians to make careful and informed decisions when donating to charities.  Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum advises people to do their research, and use websites like Guide Star, Charity Navigator, and the Better Business Bureau to find the missions and programs right for you.  Only give to registered charities, be wary of telephone, text, e-mail, or door-to-door solicitations, and remember that not all gifts are tax deductible.  If you have concerns about a solicitation, call the Attorney General office’s Charitable Activities Section at 971-673-1880.

The Project ELFF (Everyone Loves A Firefighter) canned food drive put on by the Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Volunteer Association will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday in The Dalles with some changes due to the pandemic.  Instead of fire trucks going through town to collect canned food, the public is asked to bring donations to public schools in The Dalles, Columbia Gorge Community College, St. Mary’s Academy, or the closest fire station between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.  Fire apparatus and personnel will be on location awaiting your donation.  Dallesport-Murdock firefighters will still do front porch pickup in their community on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Just leave the donation on your porch with the light on.

Hood River Valley High School’s canned food drive for FISH Food Bank is carrying on in spite of the pandemic.  There are donation bins at Safeway and Rosauers in Hood River.  In addition, HRV activities director Lindsy Weseman says they will be accepting donations at the high school on Tuesdays through Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 for the next three weeks, and also on Saturday, December 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Information on the drive is available by going to hrvhs.com and clicking on the activities page.

A virtual fundraiser for the proposed Deschutes River Athletic Complex on the South Wasco High School campus in Maupin will take place on December 9.  Phase one of the project includes an eight-lane track that could host “pop-up” meets and training for high-level athletes along with allowing the school to host meets…along with alignment of the football field with improved spectator seating, working lighting for nighttime events, and a new concessions area.  The on-line fundraiser will be on December 9 at 6 p.m.  For a free ticket and to learn more about the project, go to maupindrac.org.

A virtual public hearing on the draft Environmental Impact Statement for replacement of the Hood River/White Salmon Interstate Bridge is scheduled for Thursday evening.  The Port of Hood River’s Kevin Greenwood says the document is available for review at portofhoodriver.com, adding it covers a number of elements of the project.  Thursday’s public hearing will start at 5:30 p.m.  Log-in information is available at portofhoodriver.com.  Comment will be taken through January 4.

Columbia Gorge Community College board member Kim Morgan has been named as vice president of the Oregon Community College Association, setting her up to assume that panel’s presidency in a couple of years.  Morgan has represented CGCC on the state association board for the past three years.  Morgan joined the board of Columbia Gorge Community College in May 2017.  She will stand for re-election to the CGCC board next spring.  If re-elected, she would serve a full one-year term as OCCA vice president and then automatically assume the statewide presidency for a two-year term.

A different kind of Starlight Parade is planned for Friday evening in downtown The Dalles.  This year, The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquhason says the floats will be parked on Third Street and people can drive by in their cars to see them.  The floats will be in the left hand lane of 3rd Street, and people will drive by slowly in the right hand lane.  The Dalles Public Works Department will place no parking signs along the Reverse Starlight Parade route on 3rd Street between Lincoln and Monroe.  The traveling public is asked to leave all parking spaces open along the parade route on Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.