Klickitat County Commissioners are expected to discuss on Tuesday whether to petition the Supreme Court to hear their appeal of a decision that the Glenwood Valley is part of the Yakama reservation.  The Ninth U.S. Court of Appeals reaffirmed on Friday an August 2019 U.S. District Court decision that the 121,466 acre Tract D is within the reservation.  The actual boundary of the reservation in that area had been debated for more than 150 years.  Klickitat County Commission Chair David Sauter said he was disappointed but not surprised by the Court of Appeals decision, noting the only recourse they have left would be to petition the Supreme Court, and there is no guarantee the case would be heard.  Klickitat County has 14 days from the ruling on Friday to make a decision on petitioning for Supreme Court review.

Hood River County has received a 151-page document with guidelines on how $4.5 million in federal pandemic relief funds can be used.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says there are basically five categories the money can be used for, including pandemic response, addressing negative economic impacts, replacing lost revenue, premium pay for some workers, and water, sewer, and broadband projects.  Hecksel says the Treasury Department defined lost revenue in such a way that Hood River County wouldn’t be eligible to use the funds in that way off of the current fiscal year.  It’s based on the County’s overall budget, not individual sources of revenue, and because of a local option levy for public safety approved by voters last year, the County would not be eligible to use the pandemic relief funds for that purpose.  Hecksel did say the federal funds don’t have to be used until 2024, so it’s possible if revenues were to drop overall the County could qualify to use the money to cover that.    

The Port of The Dalles Commission held its meeting in Dufur last week.  Port Executive Director Andrea Klaas says they got an update on water system improvements the Port and the City of Dufur partnered on, and discussed wastewater system needs for the community.  Klaas says a design is in place and funds are being sought, and that’s good news for the Port, as there is the potential for commercial and industrial development in Dufur.  That meeting also marked the final one for long time Port board member Mike Courtney, who is stepping away after serving for 24 years.

Hood River Valley High School will double the size of its summer school program this year to give students more options to regain credit, participate in experiential learning classes, and get back on track for graduation.  The summer program will run on weekdays in July, with full- and half-day options for students.  The high school has scheduled 12 experiential learning classes, in which students can earn credit while learning real-world skills.   Students will earn elective credit for the hands-on classes.  They will also work in small groups with teachers and staff to complete classes and recover credits they need for on-time graduation.  To sign up for summer school at HRVHS, go to hrvhs.com, or contact the school at (541) 386-4500.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce has announced its “Cherry Fun in the Sun” events planned for July.  A Cherry Trail will take guests around the area to try local cherry specials, and guests can complete a Cherry Trail Passport for a chance at prizes.  The Cherry Hunt will encourage visitors and locals to look for a wooden cherry hidden in businesses all over our community.  From now until Friday, submit an application online for children to be considered for the Miss Royal Ann and Mr. Royal Andy competition at thedalleschamber.com or drop off a 5×7 photograph of your child and an application at The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce on 404 W. 2nd Street.  A Cherry Fun in the Sun Pop-up Market will be at The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce parking lot every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm during the month July, with spaces reserved for Wasco County vendors.  The Chamber says “Cherry Fun in the Sun” will also include a Farmers’ Market in The Dalles City Park, concerts and live music in Little Music City, Waterfront Wednesday’s at Bargeway Pub, a Block Party Downtown, plus the Fort Dalles Fourty Independence Day Celebration.

A 43-year-old Camas man was injured when the motorcycle he was riding was hit from behind by a pickup truck Saturday afternoon on Highway 14 west of Beacon Rock.  According to the Washington State Patrol, Himar Van Der Kooij had slowed his motorcycle because ducks were crossing the highway near milepost 32.  The pickup, driven by a 43-year-old Stevenson man, was unable to slow down in time to avoid striking the motorcycle from behind, ejecting Van Der Kooij from it.  Van Der Kooij was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver with unspecified injuries.  The accident occurred at around 12:10 p.m. Saturday.  

Three people were injured and taken to area hospitals after a two-vehicle accident Friday afternoon on Highway 14 east of Bingen.  According to the Washington State Patrol, a pickup driven by 31-year-old Humberto Castro-Aguiniga, Jr. of Carson slowed for traffic on eastbound Highway 14 at milepost 71 at about 1:20 p.m. Friday when it was struck from behind by a semi-truck and trailer driven by 23-year-old Omar Barbosa of Pasco.  The pickup struck the eastbound guardrail, rolled, and came to rest on its top blocking both lanes, while the semi crossed the center line and collided with the westbound guardrail.  Castro-Aguiniga Jr. was taken to Skyline Hospital in White Salmon, while Barbosa and a passenger in the pickup, 56-year-old Humberto Castro –Aguiniga, were taken to Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles.

The Dalles Public Works Department will be doing street maintenance work at a number of different locations through Wednesday.  The chip seal projects will require short duration road closures between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at each location on the date the work is scheduled to take place.  Detours will be in place during work hours.  To get a list of the planned locations, go to thedalles.org.

Wasco County moved into Oregon’s “lower risk” COVID-19 category as of Wednesday, allowing an increase capacity in restaurants, gyms, indoor entertainment venues and retail stores.  According to the Oregon Health Authority, Wasco County’s rolling two-week COVID case count dropped to 27, under the 30 that is the upper limit to be in lower risk.  North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell says she doesn’t expect that number to trend back up.  McDonell says Wasco County’s vaccination rate is at 58%, under the 65% for qualifying for the “lower risk” category by that metric.  Governor Kate Brown has said that once Oregon reaches a 70% vaccination rate, most restrictions will be lifted around the state.

Hood River County has inched over the 70 percent mark for COVID-19 vaccinations, but that doesn’t mean health officials are going to let up in their efforts to get as many people vaccinated as possible.  County COVID-19 Response Coordinator Daron Ryan says they continue to try to get the rate as high as possible.  Ryan says the 70 percent figure is the number of people who have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine.  She noted eight percent are “in process,” having received their first shot and waiting to receive the second dose.  There are now a number of walk-in vaccination clinics in Hood River County, and a schedule is available at hrccovid19.org.