Public forums are scheduled in early June in The Dalles and Hood River as the Columbia Gorge Community College board nears a decision on the institution’s next president. There will be two separate public forums for each candidate on each college campus. The series will begin with Dr. Anne Howsare Boyens on June 5, followed by Dr. Ken Lawson on June 8, Dr. Jerry Fliger on June 9, and Dr. Rachel Solemsaas on June 12. In all four cases, the forums on CGCC’s campus in The Dalles will begin at 10:30 a.m., while the Hood River sessions will begin at 3:30 p.m. except on June 8, when the start is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Members of the public who attend the forums will be invited to provide their feedback through written forms which will be reviewed by the college board. Internal forums with students, staff and faculty are also scheduled.
Klickitat County Burn Ban In Zone 2 To Start June 5
Klickitat County will put a burn ban in effect for its Burn Ban Zone 2 on June 5. Zone Two is the County’s central burn ban zone. It is defined as lands between the Klickitat County Fire District 7 eastern boundary west to the western boundaries of Klickitat County Fire Districts 4, 12 and 15 then north on the Klickitat River to the north county line. It is in effect for lands outside the jurisdiction of the Yakama Indian Nation; and the jurisdiction of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, and prohibits the issuance of burning permits except for authorized agricultural burning. Residential barbecues will be allowed. The burn ban will be in effect from June 5 until it is rescinded. Those living in an incorporated city or town should check with appropriate authorities on burning restrictions in those communities.
Klickitat County Preparing Behavioral Health Location In Goldendale
Klickitat County is getting a physical behavioral health location prepped to open in Goldendale. County interim behavioral health director Erinn Quinn says they are doing interior work now, but it will be another month or two before they can open the doors. Quinn notes they have not secured space in White Salmon as of yet, so behavioral health may have to share space there with the Public Health Department, which Quinn directs. The County recently was informed by Comprehensive Healthcare that it will be closing its physical locations in the near future.
May Is Community Action Month
May is National Community Action Month, highlighting the agencies started during the Lyndon Johnson administration in the 1960’s as part of President Johnson’s “War on Poverty.” Washington Gorge Action Programs and Mid-Columbia Community Action are just two of the over one-thousand Community Action agencies in the country. WAGAP’s Jennifer Pauletto says the local agencies are able to decide where the gaps are in the community and how they can fill them. WAGAP serves Klickitat and Skamania counties, while Mid-Columbia Community Action covers Wasco, Hood River, and Sherman counties.
City Of HR Holds Informational Session On Westside Urban Renewal
The City of Hood River held a virtual informational meeting on the proposed Westside Urban Renewal District, giving an overview on the district being put together for moving forward with projects identified in three different previously done plans. City Planner Dustin Nilsen pointed out the projects being considered for the 407-acre district are already called for in transportation systems and multi-jurisdictional parks plans and affordable housing development strategy. Consultant Elaine Howard says the urban renewal district is the implementation tool for those projects. The urban renewal plan is scheduled to be reviewed by the City Council on June 12, then go to the Urban Renewal Advisory Committee on June 20, the municipal planning commission on July 10, the Hood River County Commission on August 21, and then back to City Councilors for final passage August 24.
SafeSpace To Begin Renovation Of New Facility
SafeSpace Child Advocacy Center of the Gorge will mark the beginning of construction of its new permanent facility on Thursday afternoon. The organization will be renovating a building at 206 Wasco Loop in Hood River. SafeSpace Executive Director Beatriz Lynch says they’ve raised money for two years for the project. Lynch adds their capital campaign continues, seeking $1.2 million to do the final parts of the $5 million project. The ceremony will be at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at 206 Wasco Loop. SafeSpace is a non-profit organization that provides a single point of contact for child abuse victims, offering trauma-informed care in a child friendly environment for Hood River, Wasco, Klickitat, Gilliam and Wheeler counties.
TD Council Asks Staff To Examine STR Regulations
The Dalles City Council has asked staff to examine the municipal short-term rental ordinance and bring back potential changes to the Council. A group of citizens from a neighborhood near Sorosis Park made a second visit to the Council to ask for changes after experiencing what they consider negative impacts as a result of STR’s. Mayor Rich Mays says there are options to look at, including limiting the number of STR’s to be allowed in the community, referencing his experience as city manager in Cannon Beach when they went toward that option. Mays said he expects the Council to receive some information on the topic from staff in September.
Wet April Followed By Hot Spell Builds Up Fire Fuels
The combination of wet conditions in late April and early May followed by a hot spell with high winds has led to fire fuel build up that has dried quickly. Erick Castaneda of the Oregon Department of Forestry says it is looking very dry, and there have already been a couple of small fires for wildland crews to deal with. Castaneda says people going into wildfire prone areas are best advised to stay on improved roads. Those going into the grassy and wooded areas are advised to bring a fire extinguisher can help prevent some fires. And preparing defensible space for homes and properties is another important prevention step to take, go to firewise.org for tips on what that should look like.
WAGAP Bracing For SNAP Cutbacks Impacting Food Bank Demand
Washington Gorge Action programs is bracing for how an upcoming reduction in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will impact its food bank. The SNAP benefits will be returning to pre-pandemic levels. WAGAP Executive Director Leslie Naramore says inflation is eating into the funds the recipients receive, and also into the ability of WAGAP to acquire food for the organization’s food bank. She adds the size of food boxes has gone down, with their funds not able to go as far as they had in the past. Naramore is also concerned that the end of the Treasury Rental Assistance Program in June will lead to more homelessness in the area.
Hood River Fire Receives Grant Funds For Additional Firefighter
Hood River Fire & EMS has received $384,025 in grant funding from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office to staff an additional firefighter. The grant will partially cover the new position’s salary over the course of three years – 90% in the first year, 75% in the second, and 50% in the third year. The City would be responsible for paying the full salary beginning in the fourth year. The money is awarded through the Oregon Fire Service Capacity Grant, a program designed to provide funding for small and medium-sized Oregon fire agencies, and to encourage an increase in permanent local firefighter staff. Hood River Fire Chief Leonard Damian says the additional staff member will allow the department to more quickly respond to emergency service requests. The Hood River City Council this week approved accepting the grant money. The City will recruit for the position once the funds are received.