Hood River’s Urban Renewal Agency board and committee held a worksession to discuss what it would take to form a new Urban Renewal district in the Westside area.  Two current districts, in downtown and the waterfront, will expire this year, creating the opportunity to use Urban Renewal in the Westside if desired.  Mayor Kate McBride says there are many infrastructure needs in that area that Urban Renewal can help pay for and may need to be done in order to spur development of affordable housing in that area.  McBride said Urban Renewal funds could also be used for parks and land for affordable housing.  She emphasized the worksession was to learn more about the options available, and a number of steps would have to take place before a decision could be made.

Klickitat County Commissioners have been developing the County’s 2022 budget, with some belt tightening taking place.  Commissioner Dan Christopher says departments were asked for a three percent reduction in their budgets, not counting payroll.  He said overall they’ve ended up with a balanced budget reducing the budget from 2021 by $3.7 million.  He says they end up with a surplus of $918,000, which would be ready for paying cost of living adjustments to employees while still maintaining a buffer.  Christopher noted with two new commissioners, including himself, the process involved more questioning than usual.

North Central Public Health District says vaccination rates in Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties have picked up significantly with both booster doses and pediatric doses now available.  Nearly 1,900 vaccines were administered in the first two weeks of November.  In Wasco County, 77.6 % of those 18 and up have received at least one dose.  In Sherman County, its 67.6 %, and in Gilliam County, 51.8 %.  For information on district vaccination clinics, go to ncphd.org.  The district adds local physician offices and pharmacies have vaccine available for all ages.

The Sherman County U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center is temporarily closed.  In a statement on Monday, the USDA says Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency staff are working and able to support customers for virtual or scheduled in-person visits.  They are asking for patience during this time.  To connect with NRCS staff, call 541-298-8559, ext. 3.  To connect with FSA staff, call 541-565-3551, ext. 2.

The Hood River County Health Department says a Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer currently doing COVID-19 vaccinations in the Hood River Marina area will be able to accommodate five-to-11 year-old children beginning Saturday.  No appointment is necessary for the free vaccines.  The health department is promoting Saturday and Sunday as family days, a chance for everyone in a family to get vaccinated.  Pfizer vaccine is available for ages five-to-11, while for those 12 and up Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available for first, second, and third doses as well as booster shots.  The FEMA trailer is operating from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Tuesday.

A man wanted for firing shots at a Wasco County Sheriff’s Deputy on Saturday near Shaniko was arrested on Wednesday in Skamania County.  The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office says 23-year-old Logan Cantwell was taken into custody without incident after a brief standoff.  Cantwell was lodged into the Skamania County Jail on local felony warrants along with a Wasco County felony warrant for attempted murder.  The Southwest Washington Regional SWAT Team, U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the FBI assisted the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office in taking Cantwell into custody.  On Monday, Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis filed multiple charges including first degree attempted murder against Cantwell.  He is alleged to have fired shots at a Wasco County Sheriff’s Deputy near Shaniko while attempting to elude arrest along Highway 97.  No one was injured in that incident.

Hood River County Commission Chair Mike Oates announced he would not be seeking re-election in 2022.  Oates made the announcement during Monday’s Commission meeting.  He said the three years he has spent as Chair of the panel has taken a toll on him.  Oates said he wanted to make the announcement now to give people plenty of time to decide if they want to run for the position.

Hood River County Commissioners heard four different options for redistricting of Commission districts, and will discuss the issue further in December.  The early consensus of the Commission leaned toward an option that would move Cascade Locks from District 1 with the Westside area to District 4 in the Upper Valley, move some of western rural Odell and Hood River from District 4 to District 3, and leave District 2 in the City essentially as is.  In presenting the options, Records and Assessment Director Brian Beebe explained those changes would bring the most balance in population across the districts for future growth.  A hearing on redistricting is planned for December.  

North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell says Wasco County is seeing a downward trend in COVID-19 cases, dropping to 54 reported last week, compared to over 90 five weeks ago.  McDonell said Wasco County now has 77.4 percent of those age 18 and up vaccinated.  McDonell notes Mid-Columbia Medical Center is still being challenged with high numbers of patients with COVID-19 symptoms, with six to eight at one time, often with cardiac monitoring being done.  She says people tend to stay an average of seven days in the hospital, with some staying much longer.  McDonell did add the availability of Intensive Care Unit beds in the state has improved in recent weeks.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is once again encouraging residents to shop locally this holiday season.  Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says many local business already have their gift inventories in their stores.  Farquharson says the Chamber will be doing some activities and promotions for local businesses during the holiday season, including Shop Small Saturday.