The White Salmon Planning Commission will conduct a workshop Wednesday evening on short-term rental regulations.  The White Salmon City Council last week extended a moratorium on new short-term rentals while regulations are developed.  Mayor Marla Keethler noted STR’s have a place in the community and the local economy, but there is a necessity for some controls based on four key factors:  location, duration, quantity, and occupancy.  Wednesday’s Planning Commission meeting will be held on Zoom beginning at 5:30 p.m.  Go to white-salmon.net for log-in information.  

Regulated-Use Closure restrictions within Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District will ease beginning at 12:01 Wednesday morning.  There will be no change to the activities restricted, including prohibiting all open fires.  The primary change to the Closure is restriction of activities such as mowing of dried grass and chainsaw use between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.  District Forester Mike Shaw said recent moisture and cooler temperatures has reduced fire danger across the District, but warmer than average temperatures are forecast for the next week or more with no expected precipitation.  The lack of precipitation, combined with drought conditions and extremely dry fuels continues to keep the risk of wildfire ignition elevated even as we transition to fall.  Fire Season remains in effect with debris burning, including burn barrels, not allowed at this time.

Mid-Columbia Medical Center has appointed Camie Overton as its chief operating officer, effective immediately.  Overton joins the hospital’s executive leadership team and will report directly to MCMC President and CEO Dennis Knox.  Overton brings to MCMC extensive hospital leadership experience, most recently serving as chief executive officer at Curahealth Tucson Hospital in Arizona.  She previously served as vice president and interim CEO of Yuma Regional Medical Center where she led multiple service lines, including cardiac, orthopedics, women and children programs, oncology and all related ambulatory operations.  At MCMC Overton will assume responsibility for all acute care and ambulatory care operations.

Hood River County Health Department Director Trish Elliott says they have seen a slight drop in the number of daily active COVID-19 cases over the last several days.  Elliott told County Commissioners on Monday that they are hoping this is the beginning on a downward trend after dealing with a surge in cases dating back to July.  Elliott said of the current 43 active COVID cases in Hood River County, 21 percent are people under the age of 18.  Elliott added the health department is getting ready for a busy fall as youngsters become eligible for COVID vaccination, flu shots become available, and there is usually a peak of people seeking routine vaccinations at this time of year.

Meta Loftsgaarden will be the new Mt. Hood National Forest Supervisor. Pacific Northwest Loftsgaarden joins the Forest Service from the State of Oregon where she is currently the Executive Director for the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.  Prior to that, she worked for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service on partnership and policy issues including farmland protection, working forestland easements, and strategic conservation.  She will begin working in her new position in early October.

Boys Soccer Horizon Christian 4, Columbia Christian 1 Faith Bible 2, Trout Lake 0   Girls Soccer Napavine 4, Stevenson 2  

NW Natural crews this will be working this week and into next week on NE Tohomish Street in White Salmon between NE Estes and Main as phase two of a pipe system upgrade project continues.  NE Church St, between Jewett Boulevard and NE Tohomish, will be closed during the remainder of the construction project.  Parking access is for local tenants only.  There will be intermittent single-lane traffic on Main at the intersection of NE Tohomish when crews are working there.  Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic.  Paving is scheduled for Thursday on Jewett Boulevard from Grandview to NE Estes, then up NE Estes towards NE Tohomish.  Flaggers will also be there directing traffic.

The Port of Hood River is considering whether to install some kind of aviation tracking technology at the Ken Jernstedt Airfield to track takeoffs and landings at the airport.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says their Airport Advisory Committee is considering doing a fairly informal tracking project, using available software that would track much of the activity, but not planes with certain types of transponders.  McElwee said another element would involve setting up a small camera and use the images produced to get a sense of what kind of planes are using the airfield and whether they are local or from out of the area, and the times they are using the airport.  He adds by aggregating the data over time, they should get a good idea of the kind of use the airfield is receiving, and the impacts from that.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says they have started some planning for the 2022 Northwest Cherry Festival…but there are questions to be answered before moving too far forward.  The festival hasn’t been held the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Farquharson says her big concern is whether the sponsor revenue will be there for the festival, especially with local businesses not having the opportunity to build reserves back up.  Farquharson says getting vendors wouldn’t be a problem, but having enough labor come spring is another potential concern.

The Dalles Public Works Department crews will begin installation of storm sewer pipe on Quinton St. between East 13th and 14th streets on Tuesday.  Starting Tuesday and running through September 29, there will be a full road closure in place through the work area, and again from October 4 to 7 when that section of street will be paved to replace the gravel surface in place since a water main break that occurred in June.  Quinton St. will be open to through traffic the weekend of October 2nd and 3rd, between the two phases of work.  Those with questions can call The Dalles Public Works Department at (541) 296-5401.