Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s Housing Production Advisory Council will meet for the first time Friday, tasked with developing an action plan to meet her goals for new housing construction, and will include two local members. Mid-Columbia Housing Authority Executive Director Joel Madsen is one of those members. Madsen says he is excited for the challenge, and to be able to communicate the housing needs of the Columbia Gorge. Madsen adds the group is on an aggressive timeline to provide a framework by April 1. 52nd District State Representative Jeff Helfrich is also on the Council, one of four legislators in the group. The Governor appointed 18 members, and the directors of Oregon Housing and Community Services and the Department of Land Conservation and Development area also on the panel.
Waters Bill To Ease Employment Age Restrictions Passes House
The Washington State House passed a bill authored by Stevenson Republican Kevin Waters intended to help ease Washington’s workforce issue by allowing, under specific and limited circumstances, youth between the ages of 18 and 21 to be employed in establishments traditionally classified as off-limits to persons under the age of 21. It passed just before a deadline to for bills to pass their chamber of origin, and Waters had thought earlier in the day the bill would not make it out. Waters says it is a move that many restaurants and taverns need to keep their businesses staffed. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Fire Destroys TA Express In Biggs Junction
An early morning fire destroyed the Biggs Junction TA Express building. According to the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office, the initial call came in at 5 a.m. Tuesday, with thick smoke reported in a dryer. The fire was in mop-up stage by 9 a.m. North Sherman Fire Department reports the building is a total loss, with most of the exterior completely burned away, leaving only a charred frame. There were no injuries reported. The Sheriff’s Office says the fire will be investigated by the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office. Volunteer firefighters from throughout Sherman County were involved in battling the blaze.
Madsen & Helfrich Named To Governor’s Housing Council
There will be two local members on Governor Tina Kotek’s Housing Production Advisory Council that will be charged with developing an action plan to meet her goal of 36,000 new housing starts per year in Oregon. Mid-Columbia Housing Authority and Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation Executive Director Joel Madsen is one of the 18 gubernatorial appointees on the Council, while 52nd District State Representative Jeff Helfrich is one of four legislative appointments. The Governor’s order established an annual housing production goal of 36,000 additional housing units at all levels of affordability across the state to address Oregon’s current housing shortage and keep pace with projected population growth. It’s about an 80 percent increase over current construction trends. The Council will convene for the first time on Friday and is scheduled to provide a recommended framework for their action plan by April 1.
Second Phase Of 9th Street Sewer Main Replacement Begins Monday
The Dalles Public Works will begin the second phase of a sanitary sewer main replacement project on E. 9th Street next Monday. The project area is on E. 9th Street west of Quinton Street and on the east leg of the “Y” connector to E. 10th Street. Local traffic for home access will be allowed. Eastbound traffic on E. 9th Street will detour via Oregon Street to E. 10th Street. Traffic control and closures will remain in place 24-hours per day for the duration of the project, starting Monday and continuing through April 21. Motorists are asked to avoid the construction area, and plan to use alternate routes whenever possible. If you have questions, contact The Dalles Public Works Department at (541) 296-5401 or call the after-hours number at (541) 980-7703.
Two Carson Residents Arrested After Search Yields Drugs
Two Carson residents were arrested after a search of a home found a large amount of narcotics. According to the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office, 37-year-old William Konoske III and 29-year-old Erika Essex of Carson were both taken into custody and transported to the Skamania County Correctional Facility on a variety of charges. The Sheriff’s Office says the search of the home on the 100 block of Fuller Road yielded over 200 fentanyl pills, heroin, methamphetamine, LSD, over $1,000 in cash, and packaging materials. The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is on-going and further arrests could be made.
Succession Planning Class Set For March 13
Farm succession planning will be the focus of a class next Monday that will be held by Oregon State University Extension Wasco County and the Oregon Agricultural Trust. OSU Extension’s Jacob Powell says planning for the future of family farms is one of the most difficult issues ag operators face, adding it starts with having a good farm management plan. The class will begin at 1 p.m. on March 13 at the Columbia Gorge Community College Building 2 Third Floor Lecture Hall in The Dalles, and will cover dispute resolution, obstacles, options, and more. To pre-register, call OSU Extension at 541-298-3581, or go to the OSU Extension Wasco County Facebook page.
March 3-4 Prep Sports Roundup
Oregon Interscholastic Ski Racing Association Championships at Hoodoo
Hood River Valley’s Emily Teets finished third in the girls’ combined after a fifth place finish in the slalom. In the boys’ combined, HRV’s Lars Welch was ninth and Thorsen Welch was 12th. Cooper Klindt of The Dalles was 15th.
Oregon Class 5A Boys Basketball First Round
Cascade 70, The Dalles 31: Cascade used a 20-5 run in the second quarter to break the game open. Spencer Horne had nine points, 12 rebounds, six assists and seven steals to lead the Cougars into the state tournament.
CGCC Selects Group To Search For New President
Columbia Gorge Community College board members have selected the Association of Community College Trustees to help recruit the institution’s next president. The group is a non-profit based in Washington, D.C, and has conducted search processes for over 750 community colleges. Current CGCC President Dr. Marta Yera Cronin will step down in June to become president of Delaware County Community College in Pennsylvania. The college board will appoint a broad-based, representative search committee to review applications, interview semifinalists, and identify final candidates for consideration by the full board. Finalists will participate in open forums at the college, probably in early June. All employees, students, and community members will be invited. CGCC’s website, cgcc.edu, will provide updates on a dedicated web page.
OHA Lifting Mask Requirement In Health Care Settings April 3
The Oregon Health Authority announced that workers, patients and visitors in health care settings will no longer be required to wear masks starting April 3. The mask requirement has been in effect since August 2021. In addition, an executive order that gave hospitals flexibility to respond to surges in respiratory infections will expire on Monday. The decision to end statewide health care mask requirements aligns with decisions in other states, including Washington. State epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger said the lifting of Oregon’s health care mask requirement stems from data in recent weeks showing overall decreases in circulation of the three respiratory pathogens that triggered a surge in visits to hospital emergency departments and intensive care units last fall. He added the month-long lead-up to the ending of Oregon’s health care mask requirement gives the health care system time to prepare for the change. The OHA advises people at higher risk for severe disease, or who live with someone at higher risk, should still consider wearing masks in health care or any settings. Some health care settings may continue to require masks even after the requirement is lifted.