Staff shortages at DMV offices will require the agency to close the office in The Dalles for a midday break starting Monday.  The Dalles DMV will close from 12:30 to 2 p.m. daily until DMV can restore staff levels there.  This allows for the customers in the lobby by 12:30 to be served, and then for staff to take their break.  The Dalles office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays except Wednesdays when it opens at 10 a.m.  DMV is entering the busy summer season with a statewide staff shortage averaging about 20% among its 60 field offices.  As a result, DMV has temporarily closed six small offices and reduced hours at 10 others across the state at least for the summer.  Normally, DMV would lend staff from the Hood River office to The Dalles location, but Hood River is short on staff too.  DMV officials encourage people to go online to DMV2U.Oregon.gov.  

A resident of The Dalles was sentenced to federal prison Tuesday for transporting and possessing thousands of images depicting child sexual abuse.  27-year-old Nickolas K. Parsons was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison and 10 years’ supervised release.  According to federal court documents, in late 2019, as part of an ongoing investigation, officers identified a Twitter user who sent two links to child pornography via MEGA, an encrypted online file sharing service.  Investigators traced the user’s Twitter account to Parsons’ residence in The Dalles where, in March 2020, they executed a federal search warrant.  After seizing his mobile phone, Parsons admitted to viewing child pornography online and provided investigators with his MEGA account information.  The account was later found to contain thousands of files containing child pornography.  On June 9, 2020, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Parsons with transporting and possessing child pornography and he plead guilty to both charges in February of this year.

Plans for a 72-Hour closure of the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate bridge this weekend has been pushed back two weeks due to rain in the weather forecast.  A statement from the Port of Hood River says that since the work must be conducted in dry conditions, Port contractor Granite Construction has notified the Port that they will use the rain delay option provided for in their contract to do the work.  The closure will now take place beginning at 12:01 a.m. the morning of Friday, June 24 through 11:59 p.m. the night of Sunday, June 26.  The planned work is to repair the approach ramps on both sides of the bridge.

The Dalles Police investigated an individual shooting an airsoft-type gun towards students at The Dalles Middle School on Tuesday afternoon.  In a statement, The Dalles Police indicated they received a call at about 1:17 p.m. of a person dressed in dark clothing shooting an airsoft-type gun toward the students, and were able to identify a subject thought to be responsible and detained him for investigation.  The statement says legal process paperwork was served to the individual for disorderly conduct in the second degree, reckless endangering, and harassment, and seized an orange and grey air gun as evidence.  Police say several Middle School students were struck by projectiles, however no injuries were reported.  Police added the school was not placed in lockdown since the individual departed the area and officers were quickly able to respond and control the scene.

The Urban League of Portland will conduct a “community conversation” on community-shaped budgets on Thursday at the Best Western Hood River Inn.  Hood River Mayor Kate McBride and The Next Door Executive Director Janet Hamada will take part in the event.  Urban League Director of Advocacy and Public Policy Jennifer Parrish Taylor used the topic of affordable housing to describe what community-shaped budgeting takes into account going beyond allocating resources, noting the need to continue to engage the community so they hold governments accountable.  The discussion will take place Thursday at noon at the Best Western Hood River Inn as part of the Rotary Club’s meeting.  To register or take part virtually, go to ulpdx.org.

NORCOR’s juvenile detention facility is looking for volunteers who can help teach youth about various skills and activities as they work toward improving their lives.  NORCOR Overseeing Juvenile Director and Wasco County Youth Services Director Molly Rogers says they are looking for people who would like to share what they know.  If you believe you have something to offer those youth, call NORCOR’s juvenile facility at 541-298-1447.  Rogers says NORCOR is also currently looking to fill jobs involving nursing and behavioral health.

Work will be done to change the configuration and operation of traffic signals at the intersection of West 2nd and Webber in The Dalles next Tuesday night (June 14).  New left turn signals will be installed for the north and south travel lanes at the intersection to match those on West 6th and Webber.  The Dalles Public Works Department says this change is expected to smooth the flow of traffic and improve safety for motorists making left turns.  Flaggers will be directing traffic on all travel lanes at this intersection, but expect delays.  To minimize disruption, the work is scheduled at night from 9:00 p.m. to midnight.

A man found guilty of burglary and theft of a home in Mosier in November 2021 received a 34-month sentence in Wasco County Circuit Court, but Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis says the man who lived at the home remains missing.  Shawn Marsalis was found on November 22 inside the house on 3125 Vensel Road belonging to Charles Keller, who had been missing for eleven days at that time.  Marsalis was also found in possession of items from Keller’s home.  Ellis says Keller remains listed as a missing person, and anyone who has any information regarding Keller’s whereabouts are asked to contact Detective Jeff Hall at the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at 541-506-2580.  Ellis credited Hall’s perseverance and hard work for leading to the burglary conviction.  In addition to the prison sentence, the court placed Marsalis on 36 months of post-prison supervision.  Ellis says Marsalis will be next be transported to Portland, where he is facing federal charges separate from this case.

The Hood River County Health Department says the county has recently seen a rise in sexually transmitted infections, specifically syphilis and gonorrhea cases.  Rates for all STIs continue to climb nationally and at state and local levels.  Many of these infections may not be diagnosed if those infected are without symptoms.  Health Department officials are urging regular, routine STI screening for those who are at high risk of STI transmission including those who have a new intimate partner, have multiple intimate partners, or with a partner that has other intimate partners.  Mutual testing prior to engaging with a new sexual partner is also important.  Also, partners need to be informed of potential exposure to an STI through sexual activity, and to use protection.  The Hood River County Health Department offers confidential STI testing, and nurses are available to discuss how you can reduce the risk of getting one of these infections.  Call 541-386-1115 to make an appointment.

FISH Food Bank’s main location in Hood River is open again to those who want to come in to receive food.  Marianne Durkan of FISH says after delivering to people in their cars for a little more than two years during the pandemic, in April they moved to a hybrid model giving people to option to come in, but now they are encouraging people to come in the building, where it easier to provide clients with the food assistance they specifically need.  Durkan does say they continue to offer to bring food to the cars of those with mobility issues, or have other reasons to feel better in their cars rather than coming in the building.