Mid-Columbia Community Action is reporting the results from the January 2022 Point in Time count, and while the numbers have not yet been confirmed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, preliminary data shows an overall 50% increase in people experiencing houselessness throughout Wasco, Hood River, and Sherman Counties as compared to data collected in 2020.  Increases in overall houselessness are reflective of few affordable housing options coupled with the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had across the region.  In Wasco County, there was about a 70% increase in people experiencing houselessness, with a significant increase in the number of sheltered individuals, reflective of the increase in the number of shelter beds in the community.  Hood River County saw a nearly 27% increase in houseless community members between 2020 and 2022.  There was also a notable increase among Native community members experiencing houselessness in Hood River County.  While the overall numbers were small, Sherman County showed a slight decrease in individuals experiencing houselessness.

The Dalles Public Works Department crews are expected to complete stage two of a stormwater system main installation at the intersection of West 10th St. and Walnut St. tomorrow.  On Thursday crews are expected to move to stage three of the project which will see the system main installed on West 10th between Walnut and Snipes, requiring a full closure of the section of street for up to eight days.  Through traffic will be detoured to West 7th via Walnut and Snipes.  Traffic control and closures will remain in place until completion of the work.  No parking will be allowed within the work area due to heavy equipment use and the location of the trench.  

Fishery managers closed sturgeon retention in The Dalles Pool in the Columbia River from The Dalles Dam to John Day Dam and all adjacent tributaries effective Monday night to stay within catch guidelines.  While The Dalles Pool sturgeon fishery is closing before the end of the month, this is the first time since 2017 that this fishery has lasted into March.  Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Ocean Salmon and Columbia River Program Manager Tucker Jones said the “days per week” management approach used for the first time this year allowed angling opportunities to be spread out over time and provided a more orderly season structure.  He says it’s something they will likely consider in other reservoirs in the future.  Sturgeon retention is now closed throughout the Columbia River.  Catch-and-release sturgeon angling remains open all year, except angling for sturgeon is prohibited May 1 through August 31 within the designated sanctuary areas in each of the dam tailraces.

AARP says more than 65,000 people from around the state have signed a petition calling on lawmakers to take steps to control drug costs. Last week, the petition was delivered virtually to Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. AARP Oregon communications director Stacy Larsen says high drug prices directly impact people’s lives. AARP is supporting legislation that would allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, put a cap on out-of-pocket costs for older Americans and impose penalties on drug companies that raise prices faster than the rate of inflation.

Baseball

Scappoose 15, The Dalles 10

Stevenson at Napavine, ppd. to Wednesday

  Softball

Hood River Valley 16, Franklin 12:  Abby Kahler had four hits as the Eagles scored seven runs in the fifth inning to rally for their first win of the season.

Hood River Valley 12, Roosevelt 2:  Bella Moore led the HRV offense with four hits, including a two-run triple in a decisive seven-run third inning.

Gresham 10, The Dalles 9

Sandy 23, The Dalles 19

The Environmental Protection Agency has added a portion of Bradford Island in the Bonneville Lock & Dam complex to the National Priorities List.  The section on the northeastern side of Bradford Island is not in a public area and was formerly used as a landfill, pistol range and sandblast area.  A portion of this section of the island has been set aside to be managed as a wildlife habitat, while the remaining area is currently used for industrial purposes.  The NPL is a list of sites across the country which are the highest priority for Superfund cleanup.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will remain the lead federal agency as it works with other agencies including the EPA, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Washington Department of Ecology, tribal nations, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine the best course of action to restore the site to environmentally acceptable levels.  In 2007, the Corps removed 65 tons of sediment from an eight-tenth of an acre area along the shoreline of Bradford Island.

Hood River County’s new parking permit program for six county forest trail staging areas will get underway on April 1.  The permit will be good for parking at Seven Streams, Post Flats, Family Man, Binns Hill, Kingsley Reservoir Day-Use, and Pinemont staging areas.  County Forester Doug Thiesies says an online payment portal will be ready soon, available through the County website and QR codes.  Annual permits will be available for $30, and day-use permits will be $5.  Money generated from the program will help support the County’s recreational trails programs.

The Dalles Public Works Department crews are expected to complete potholing in the eastbound lane of West 10th Street between Walnut and Snipes Friday or Saturday, and move on to stage two of a stormwater system main installation at West10th and Walnut on Monday. During the second stage of work, through traffic will be detoured to West 6th via Webber and Snipes.  Work hours will be 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays and possibly during the weekends.  Traffic control and closures will remain in place until completion of each stage of work.  No parking will be allowed within the work area due to heavy equipment use and the location of the trench.  No parking signs will be place on the curb 48 hours before the project moves into each work area.

Klickitat PUD says it is starting to experience critical electric system equipment shortages due to the global shortage of materials and longer delivery delays from many vendors.  Klickitat PUD General Manager Jim Smith says with material delivery delays and increased construction volumes, the utility is short on stock for their standard pad mounted transformers, which take high voltage power from distribution lines and convert it to voltages delivered to residences and businesses when underground power lines are used.  Transformers are on order and the PUD expects deliveries throughout the year.  Compounding the supply chain problem is a large increase in new construction in Klickitat County. The PUD would normally see about $1.4 million in new electric construction activity each year, but in 2021 it was up to $2.8 million and the same is expected for 2022.  At this time, KPUD and the electric industry are seeing the supply chain shortages limited to transformers.

The City of White Salmon will celebrate Arbor Day on Saturday in conjunction with Underwood Conservation District’s Tree Fest.  The City will be giving away a tree seedling to city residents, while supplies last.  Trees will be available on a first come, fire served basis beginning at 9 a.m. in Rheingarten Park.  Tree seedling species include Golden Currant and Ponderosa pine.  The city will recognize the Arbor Day celebration by the flag pole at 10 a.m.