The City of White Salmon has begun accepting applications for its COVID-19 CARES Act funded Community Relief Fund and Business and Nonprofit Grant.  The White Salmon Community Relief Fund will provide grants up to $1000 for families who can show a hardship related to COVID-19 such as reduced work hours or unemployment or changes in childcare/schooling.  The grants will cover payment of utilities, rent or mortgage payments.  The White Salmon Business and Nonprofit Grant Program will provide grants up to $10,000 to eligible businesses or nonprofits who have been impacted by COVID19 and are Small Business Administration eligible.  Businesses must be located within the city limits of White Salmon.  Applications are available online at www.white-salmon.net/COVID19.  Deadline to apply is Wednesday, November 4 at 5 p.m.

North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell told Wasco County Commissioners that there have been no COVID-19 cases associated with the outbreak at Flagstone Senior Living and its memory care unit since October 1.  The outbreak that started September 5 resulted in 52 confirmed COVID cases with 12 fatalities.  McDonell said there were a number of lessons to be learned, most notably the importance of quick testing, and increasing understanding of the symptoms in older adults in long-term care and to be on the alert for them.  McDonell added communication is also critical, and working hard with all families and agencies involved to be forthcoming about information without invading privacy.

While the Hood River County School District eyes returning to in-person instruction for students in kindergarten through third grade by November 9, it has determined students in fourth through twelfth grade will remain in comprehensive distance learning until the end of the first semester on February 2.  District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn said the semester date is most important for high school students, and also the district wants people to be able to do some planning for the near-term.  Hood River County does not currently meet ODE and OHA health metrics to reopen schools for in-person instruction for students in grades 4-12

Public lands managers are wondering how the recent wildfires in the western part of the state might impact recreation in the Columbia River Gorge.  Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Manager Lynn Burditt told the Wasco County Commission that the potential closure of recreation sites in the Willamette Valley could change visitation patterns next year in the Gorge.  Burditt said the Bi-State Recreation Insights Group put together during the pandemic will continue to meet to prepare for what they could see this winter and into next spring and summer.

With less than two weeks until the 2020 election, more than 16% of Oregon’s registered voters have already returned their ballots.  By comparison, data from the Oregon Secretary of State Office’s Elections Division shows at this time during the 2016 presidential election, 12.8% of the state’s voters had mailed their ballot, and it was 11.4% in 2012.  As of this morning, Hood River County reports that 29.1% of the ballots it sent out have already been returned…4,596 out of 15,809 distributed.  And it’s a similar situation in Wasco County, with 4,868 having been received out of the 18,298 mailed out, for 26.6%.  In Oregon, ballots must be received in county election offices or official drop boxes by 8 p.m. on November 3.

The Hood River County School District announced on Tuesday evening it is on track to meet Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health Authority metrics to reopen schools for in-person instruction for students in kindergarten through third grade by November 9, but students in fourth through twelfth grade will remain in comprehensive distance learning until the end of the first semester on February 2.  The plan to bring K-3 students back to classrooms is dependent on the County continuing to meet the metrics, and in-person instruction would take place on weekdays from approximately 7:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.  Families with K-3 students will receive an email from the district administration that includes more information regarding schools reopening.  Hood River County does not meet ODE and OHA health metrics to reopen schools for in-person instruction for students in grades 4-12.  The district’s operational blueprints for in-person learning will be presented to the district board next Wednesday, and then submitted to the Oregon Department of Education and the Hood River County Health Department for approval.  Earlier in the month, North Wasco County School District 21 announced it would continue with comprehensive distance learning through the end of its trimester on December 3.

Wasco County Commissioners proceeded to the first reading of an ordinance to revise portions of the County’s comprehensive land use plan dealing with incorporating the most recent Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife maps for sensitive habitat for wildlife and birds and a destination resort eligibility map.  The revisions are part of the Wasco 2040 periodic review of the comp plan that is in its final stages.  County Long-Range Planner Kelly Howsley-Glover told the Commission the habitat maps are already in state law and used for conditional use permits, and the changes should streamline and simplify existing permitting processes.  County Commissioner Scott Hege said he felt the revisions would bring very little actual change.  The Commission will hold a formal vote on the ordinance on November 7.

North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell told Wasco County Commissioners on Wednesday that point of care rapid testing for COVID-19 has arrived.  McDonell says the district received 5,000 of the BinexNOW antigen card tests, and will be of huge benefit to enable them to move swiftly.  McDonell says they have distributed many of the tests to clinics in Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties, and they will distribute to schools as appropriate.

The White Salmon Valley School District is continuing its planning to return students to the classroom soon. Klickitat County’s COVID numbers remain in a place where the district can move forward.  District Superitendent Jerry Lewis says they are still working on a date for a return, working with the teachers’ association to figure out how to balance their workload to deal with both in-classroom and on-line instruction.  When students return to the building they will be in hybrid learning, with a couple of days each week in classroom and the rest online.  Lewis said their intention remains to give families about a week’s notice before making the change.

Ballots continue to come in to county election offices at a rapid clip with 13 days still remaining in the election cycle.  As of Wednesday morning, Hood River County reports that 22.2% of the ballots it sent out have already been returned, 3,511 out of 15,809 distributed.  And it’s a similar situation in Wasco County, with 3,698 having been received out of the 18,403 mailed out for 20.2%.  In Oregon, ballots must be received in county election offices or official drop boxes by 8 p.m. on November 3.