The City of White Salmon will be considering a draft parks system plan next month.  The draft plan is currently on the City’s white-salmon.net website for the public to review and make comments on.  Mayor Marla Keethler says the plan includes a number of components after doing a public survey last year and an open house in the spring.  The draft plan combines improvements to existing park facilities with proposals for new park locations.  The White Salmon City Council will consider the parks plan on September 21.

As the summer tourism season in The Dalles reaches the halfway point, it appears the trend this year is fewer overnight stays but more daytrippers in the area.  The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says gas prices and inflation are a major factor behind what the summer has brought, but they are adjusting their marketing accordingly.  Farquharson noted that an increase in live music offerings in The Dalles has led to increased activity in the evenings.

The Port of Hood River is reminding those who use The Hook recreation area to keep the access road clear should emergency vehicles need to use it.  Port Interim Executive Director Genevieve Scholl says large numbers of people using The Hook has led to some new signage all along the access road to ensure two lanes of travel are kept clear.  Scholl says The Hook has seen more use with the increase in popularity of winging, the latest wind and water sport in the Gorge.

The Oregon State Police have released the identities of two people who died in a single vehicle automobile accident discovered last week on Highway 293 near milepost 8 in south Wasco County.  The OSP says the driver was 23-year-old Elijah Wilson of Salem, and the passenger was 24-year-old Tabitha Scott of Newberg.  According to the OSP, a preliminary investigation revealed a car that had been reported stolen last Wednesday from Fossil was southbound and for unknown reasons left the roadway going down an embankment where it crashed into a tree.  The crash was reported to emergency personnel by a landowner who found the vehicle on his property.  It is unknown when the crash happened.

Another application for a large federal grant for construction of a new Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge has been submitted.  The latest application is for $100 million from the federal Bridge Improvement Program.  Port of Hood River Interim Executive Director Genevieve Scholl says Bridge Replacement Project Director Kevin Greenwood and management firm HNTB submitted the request this past week.  She adds the $195 million application for another federal transportation grant from the BUILD program is still pending.  Scholl says there figures to be more grant applications made as the process continues.  

The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency Board in The Dalles has launched a new grant program for property owners and tenants in the urban renewal district wishing to improve their properties, buildings, and tenant spaces.  The grants provide 50% match and up to $50,000 for commercial building/tenant upgrades; a 70% match and up $150,000 for mixed commercial and residential redevelopment; and a System Development Charge subsidy up to $10,000 for the construction of new dwelling units in the area.  The Urban Renewal Agency Board originally established grant programs for the area in the early 2000s, but in recent years City staff found that the programs were underutilized by area property owners, due to low caps on grant awards and an onerous process for applicants.  The new grant program offers higher award caps and a streamlined process.  For details go to thedalles.org.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce continues to take donations for a monetary pool to bid on animals at the Youth Livestock Auction during the Wasco County Fair this weekend in Tygh Valley.  Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says minimum donation is $10, and she is hoping they can help two-to-three students.  Those who would like to take part can call the Chamber at 541-296-2231 or e-mail info@thedalleschamber.com.  The Wasco County Youth Livestock Auction will be on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the fairgrounds in Tygh Valley.

Resurfacing work will be restarting Wednesday on Highway 142 between Lyle and the Little Klickitat River.  The Washington State Department of Transportation says work was paused in mid-June to allow recently applied crack sealant time to cure before a chip seal is applied.  The chip seal work will resume Wednesday, and when it does travelers should expect daytime delays of up to 20 minutes, with flaggers or a pilot car directing vehicles through the work zone.  Beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday and continuing through 5 p.m. Friday, Highway 142 will be fully closed from mileposts 19 to 22.5 for the chip seal application.  The project is scheduled for completion this fall.

The Dalles Public Works Department will be painting the center and side lines on several streets in the city this week.  Motorists are asked to watch for the crews and avoid driving on the wet paint.  The paint truck will be preceded and followed by warning vehicles, with signs calling attention to the wet paint.  The trucks will be spaced according to the necessary drying time of the paint.  Attempting to pass or drive between the trucks will result in a messy striping job and paint damage to the motorist’s vehicle.  Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the wet paint because it cannot be easily removed from vehicles.

Mid-Columbia Medical Center has signed a non-binding letter of intent to join Adventist Health.  MCMC made the announcement today, saying as part of the proposed agreement Adventist Health will commit at least $100 million to finance strategic capital needs…with a shared vision for a future healthcare campus in The Dalles.  If finalized, MCMC would become part of Adventist Health’s Oregon Network, which includes medical centers in Portland and Tillamook along with over 47 other clinics.  MCMC Board of Trustees Strategic Exploration Committee Co-Chair Dr. Paul Cardosi said Adventist Health has a tradition of non-profit integrated health care going beyond hospital walls.  MCMC officials stressed while the letter of intent is an important milestone, there is still more work to do to determine the special details of a potential affiliation, and nothing changes at this time.