The Hood River County Christmas Project has started to take registration for families in need during the holiday season.  Bruce Holmson of the Christmas Project says they are once again taking registrations online, and will once again be providing food and gift cards to those in need.  Last year 891 families received assistance from the Christmas Project, and Holmson expects a similar number will apply this year.  Eligible families need to meet state of Oregon low-income eligibility requirements.  To register, or to donate or volunteer, go to hoodrivercountychristmasproject.com or call 541-490-9581.

The Oregon Health Authority reports that 80% of Oregonians 18 and older have had at least one dose in a vaccination series against COVID-19.  The Centers for Disease Control’s percentage of adults who’ve received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is slightly higher than the number and percentage reported on Oregon’s vaccination dashboard.  The CDC’s data include vaccinations delivered through federal installations and facilities, such as the Veteran’s Administration.  Overall, Oregon has delivered at least on dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to 68 percent of all residents, with children below 12 remaining ineligible for a vaccine.  Oregon has fully vaccinated 63 percent of all residents and ranks 12^th in the nation for the percentage of residents who are fully protected.  Health experts estimate that Oregon and other states remain below the level of “herd immunity” required to extinguish viral transmission, and experts continue to urge people who are unvaccinated to get immunized.

The Columbia Gorge Community College Foundation has received a $12,000 grant from the Union Pacific Foundation’s “Community Ties Giving Program” to provide critical new equipment for CGCC students enrolled in Advanced Manufacturing & Metals Fabrication.  The grant allows the college to obtain oxy-acetylene tanks and a transport cart for gas welding classes.  CGCC Advanced Manufacturing lead instructor Robert Wells-Clark says the UP grant allows the school to train students to fit into the modern railroad industry.  He adds that industry has extremely competitive wages and excellent benefits.

Most Oregonians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits will receive emergency allotments in November.  The federal government has approved emergency allotments every month since March 2020.  This gives SNAP recipients additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic.  In November, approximately 398,400 SNAP households will receive approximately $63 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits.  Emergency allotments will be available on Nov. 11 for current SNAP households.  New SNAP households will receive the emergency allotments Nov. 30 or Dec. 2.  SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these supplemental benefits as they will be issued directly on their EBT cards.

NW Natural customers in Oregon will be seeing an increase in their bills this winter.  New rates recently approved by the Public Utility Commission of Oregon include the annual Purchased Gas Adjustment to true-up the prior year’s gas purchases and project the cost of natural gas for the year ahead.  The changes are driven by multiple factors, including economy-wide supply and demand impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with higher prices experienced during last winter’s heating season.  Starting November 1, NW Natural customers in Oregon can expect to see new rates on monthly bills starting November 1.  Rates for residential customers in Oregon will be about $7.50 more a month for customers using an average of 54 therms per month.  Rates for small-commercial customers in Oregon will be about $36.21 more a month for customers using an average of 242 therms per month.  Mitigating this increase, NW Natural’s sales customers could see a one-time bill credit in February, which would equate to an approximate $35 credit on the average residential customer’s bill and an approximate $165 credit on the average small-commercial customer’s bill.

North Central Public Health District says through Saturday, at least 27,519 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam counties.  North Central Public Health District has administered 16,724 doses, including 44 in the last week, Mid-Columbia Medical Center has administered 1,937 doses, 44 in the last week, and One Community Health has administered 3,814 doses, 23 in the last week.  Other entities have previously administered 4,440 doses.  The totals do not include vaccines administered by local pharmacies.  In Wasco County, 73.1 percent of those 18 and up are vaccinated; in Sherman County, its 65.7 percent, and in Gilliam County, its 49.1 percent.  NCPHD is holding a number of large clinics in the coming days and weeks. To book an appointment, visit ncphd.org or call 541-506-2600.  NCPHD on Wednesday did announce a 41st death from COVID-19 in Wasco County.  The person tested positive on Oct. 15 and died on Oct. 19 at Mid-Columbia Medical Center.

The Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 Weekly Report, released Thursday, shows decreases in daily cases and deaths and an increase in hospitalizations.  The OHA reported 7,707 new cases of COVID-19 during the week ending October 24.  That represents a 4.1% decrease from the previous week and the eighth consecutive week of declining case counts.  The incidence of reported COVID-19 cases was higher in Oregon counties with population vaccination rates less than 50%.  There were 415 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, up from 377 last week, marking the first time hospitalizations have risen following seven consecutive weeks of declines.  There were 110 reported COVID-19 related deaths, down from 183 reported the previous week, and the lowest weekly death toll since the week of August 16.  There were 137,537 tests for COVID-19 for the week ending October 23.  The percentage of positive tests was 7.4%, down from 7.6% the previous week.

Columbia Basin Care announced Aubree Schreiner has been named interim Executive Director.  Schreiner previously spend five years as the facility’s executive director.  She has spent the last year as Director of Operations for Aidan Health Services, Columbia Basin Care’s management company.  Schreiner was also acting in an advisory capacity for CBC.  Columbia Basin Care is the region’s only independent, nonprofit care facility for short-stay recovery and long-term care.  Aidan Health Services manages Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Skilled Nursing Facilities in Oregon, Washington, and Colorado.

Cross Country The Dalles was the boys’ winner and Hood River Valley the girls’ champions at the Intermountain Conference Championships on Birch Creek Golf Course in Pendleton. The Riverhawks held off the Eagles by a single point in the boys’ standings, as The Dalles’ Juan Diego Contreras won the race, while teammates Leo Lemann finished fourth, Conor Blair eighth, and Egan Ziegenhagen tenth.  HRV’s also had four top ten finishes, with Elliot Hawley third, William Bunch sixth, Jaime Rodriguez seventh, and Jackson Bullock ninth.  In the girls’ run, HRV had four of the top six finishers to easily outpace the field, led by a first place finish for Phoebe Wood.  The Eagles’ Alex Bronson was fourth, Sophie Kaden fifth, and Olivia Nickson sixth.  The Dalles took second, led by Alaina Casady in third, Caitie Wring in seventh, and Fiona Dunlop in eleventh.  All four area teams are headed to the Oregon Class 5A Championships on November 6 in Eugene.   Volleyball Class 1A First Round South Wasco def. Open Door Christian 17-25, 25-16, 15-25, 25-17, 15-12:  The Redsides advance to visit Damascus Christian in round 2 on Saturday.   Girls Soccer Westside Christian 1, Trout Lake 0

North Central Public Health District’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center tomorrow is full, but openings remain for clinics scheduled during the first two weeks of November.  District Clinical Programs Supervisor Martha McInnes says they have ramped up capacity at the clinics as booster shots become available, and they are varying operation hours to provide more options.  McInnes says they will add more clinics as demand increases.  She also points out that COVID vaccines are available at pharmacies and various medical providers.