A Minnesota man died in a motorcycle accident Wednesday in Sherman County.  The Oregon State Police says that OSP troopers and emergency personnel responded to a report of a motorcycle crash on Highway 206 near milepost 6 in Sherman County.  An investigation found the motorcycle driven by 51-year-old James Nordrum was northbound when he failed to negotiate a curve and went off a small embankment.  Lifesaving efforts were attempted by bystanders and emergency personnel.  Nordrum was pronounced deceased at the scene.  The OSP was assisted by the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office, North Sherman Fire & Rescue, Moro Fire & Rescue, Sherman County ambulance and LifeFlight.

A return of the timber severance tax continues to be debated by the Oregon Legislature.  Two different bills to restore a tax on the value of timber that is logged but with different structures have been passed out of committees and sent to the Ways and Means Natural Resources subcommittee.  52nd District Representative Anna Williams says legislators are trying to sort out how to combine the bills, adding one of the issues is counties like Hood River that both could receive revenues from the tax and also have to pay the tax when selling trees on their own land.  The concept is also being discussed by the House Revenue Committee.

The Performing Arts Initiative, which is looking to build a state-of-the-art performance center in the Columbia River Gorge, has announced its effort to raise $200,000 over the next two months.  The DREAM BIG campaign will run through the end of June.  Current PAI Board President Emily Vawter says PAI has received a $10,000 donation from a long-time supporter, and if the PAI receives a total of $10,000 in donations from other supporters by May 15, they will donate an additional $10,000.  The organization plans in the next 12 months to finalize land lease terms for a venue location overlooking the Columbia River, hire an interim development director, and hire an architectural firm to begin designing the performance center.  Donations can be made at https://givebutter.com/PAI_DreamBig

The City of White Salmon is seeking applicants to serve on its Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and the newly created City Lab Board.  The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee will establish the program and procedure whereby parties may apply for grants from the Hotel/Motel tax fund for tourism promotion.  The City Lab Board will take direction from the Mayor and/or City Council on items the board may study, investigate, or provide guidance on in order to develop and recommend ordinances, resolutions, and/or building code changes that support the adopted Comprehensive Plan, relevant resolutions and other visioning documents approved by the City Council.  To apply, e-mail a resume and cover letter to janb@ci.white-salmon.wa.us

One westbound lane of Interstate 84 will close around the clock for slide repairs starting Friday east of Cascade Locks.  Crews will close the right westbound lane at milepost 48 to repair an embankment adjacent to the highway damaged by a slide.  The slide was one of a series of landslides during winter storms that forced occasional closures of I-84 and the Historic Columbia River Highway.  During the work, the shoulder of westbound I-84 will also be closed.  A signed detour for people riding bicycles on I-84 west will be available by taking Exit 51 and following Wyeth Road into Cascade Locks.  The Oregon Department of Transportation will reduce the speed limit speed to 55 mph in the lane closure area.  Travelers should plan for delays during peak travel times and go to TripCheck.com for real-time traffic conditions.  The schedule calls for completion and re-opening of the lane in June.

The Wasco County Commission decided to have planning staff move forward with incorporating revisions to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Management Plan into their land use development ordinance.  Commission Chair Scott Hege said while he remains concerned about the County not being fully reimbursed for the costs associated with implementing the Scenic Area ordinance, he added after receiving significant public comment over the last two weeks it became clear they should move forward with implementation.  He added it was clear the Gorge Commission does not have the resources to take on administering the NSA ordinance in Wasco County at this time.  Commissioner Steve Kramer suggested sending a letter to Oregon Governor Kate Brown and the Gorge Commission seeking to modify this year’s state budget to provide the funding for the counties and the Gorge Commission to cover the costs of Scenic Area ordinance administration.  

Klickitat County Public Health Director Erinn Quinn said Tuesday’s announcement by Washington Governor Jay Inslee to put a two-week pause on changes in reopening phases for counties came as a bit of surprise.  Quinn said the County’s COVID-19 numbers should have allowed them to stay in Phase 3 anyway, but there was concern Inslee could make changes to the metrics.  Quinn said she is happy with vaccination rates in Klickitat County right now, with 33 percent of those 16 and older fully vaccinated, and 43 percent have at least one dose.  But she added vaccine demand has started to decline, so they are trying to determine how best to reach those who have been unable to get a vaccine or answer questions for those that are hesitant.

Wasco County will be going back down to the Oregon’s high risk COVID-19 category from extreme risk on Friday, but County officials say that case rates in the County remain too high.  The North Central Public Health District says Wasco County had 68 cases in the latest 14-day lookback, which qualifies for extreme risk, but because the increase in the seven-day statewide hospitalization average over the past week dropped below 15 percent, all extreme risk counties were allowed to move to high risk.  County Commission Chair Scott Hege said during Wednesday’s Commission meeting that Wasco County residents need to understand the case numbers are “way too high.”  County Administrator Tyler Stone told Commissioners that vaccination rates have been declining in the County, with 40 percent of County residents having received at least one dose.  Stone noted most vaccination clinics have spots available, and the County is now looking to go where people are to distribute vaccines.

The Dalles municipal budget committee wrapped up its process Tuesday after two evenings of work.  The panel approved the budget as presented by staff for recommendation to the City Council.  City Councilor Tim McGlothlin chaired the committee, and said they finished an in-depth analysis of the budget.  In her budget message, City Manager Julie Krueger told the panel the budget for the 2021-22 Fiscal Year reflects the City Council’s goal of maintaining fiscal stability.  Krueger said the proposed total city budget for FY 2021-22 is up by about three percent from the current fiscal year.  The budget goes before the City Council later this spring.

The Next Door, which services seven different counties in the Mid-Columbia through 40 different agencies, is holding a fundraising drive for its 50th anniversary.  Executive Director Janet Hamada says their goal is to raise $50,000 in $50 donations from 1,000 people.  Hamada noted they have added 15 different programs in the last year to respond to community needs during the pandemic, with a focus on mental health support.  Hamada said monies raised will be spread throughout their programs, with a focus on responding to today’s needs.  To donate, go to nextdoorinc.org.