Wasco County’s budget committee is working on the financial plan for the 2021-22 fiscal year.  County Commission Chair Scott Hege says the County is in good financial health.  Hege says they are considering putting aside some money in a PERS side account. which is invested by the state to help reduce the costs of local contributions to the Public Employees Retirement System.        He adds they’ve done that a couple of times before, and it has been a positive for their overall budget.  

Hood River County’s vaccination rate is now over 50 percent.  County Commission Chair Mike Oates says as of Thursday, 51.3 percent of Hood River County residents were either fully or partially vaccinated, which continues to be above the rate statewide.  But Oates quickly adds the County needs to do better, citing state statistics showing over 98 percent of those who have been hospitalized in Oregon due to COVID-19 have not received the vaccine.  Hood River County is holding another walk-in clinic for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon at the County Health Department on 1109 June.  For vaccination information go to hrccovid19.org.

North Central Public Health District says Wasco County has cleared the threshold of having at least 40 percent of its total population receiving at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.  Helping the county edge toward that mark, through last week, at least 19,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in North Central Public Health District’s three-county service area of Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam counties.  In Wasco County, 40.46 percent of the total population has received at least one dose of vaccine.  In Sherman County its 38.42 percent and in Gilliam County its 30.05 percent.  All Oregonians 16 and older are eligible for the vaccine, and expectations are that the Pfizer vaccine will soon gain authorization for use in 12-15 year olds.  NCPHD is now taking walk-ins at its clinics, although appointments can be made at ncphd.org or by calling 541-506-2600.

The Port of The Dalles has received a Travel Oregon grant to do some improvements at the Port marina’s launch ramp.  Port Executive Director Andrea Klaas says some of the funds will be used to add signage to point visiting guests arriving by the Columbia River to downtown The Dalles, and do some infrastructure work, including upgrading degraded asphalt and adding additional lighting.  In addition, Klaas says the Port will be adding the ability to start taking online payments from those who use the guest moorage facility.

Baseball Hood River Valley 8, Redmond 1:  Harrison Howell had four hits and drove in two runs, while Nate Van Dooren had three hits and also had two RBI as the Eagles closed in on nailing down second place in the Intermountain Conference. Hood River Valley 6, Summit 5:  Hunter Hough got a strikeout with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning to preserve the win. The Dalles 5, Crook County 4:  The Riverhawks scored four runs in the seventh inning to win, including an RBI single by Riley Brock to tie the game and William Lee was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in the winning run. Bend 18, The Dalles 8 Sherman sweeps Umatilla 10-9 and 10-0 Irrigon sweeps Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 11-0 and 12-2 Dufur sweeps Grant Union 11-3 and 13-11   Softball Hood River Valley 12, Redmond 1:  Jessa Nicklesen drove in four runs and Abby Kahler three for HRV in the IMC win. Hood River Valley 20, Summit 0:  Molly Routson had three doubles and three runs batted in to lead the Eagles to their seventh win in nine games. The Dalles 13, Crook County 7:  Maddie Troutt hit two home runs and drove in four runs to lead the Riverhawks to the Intermountain Conference win.  The Dalles had nine extra-base hits in the game. Bend 9, The Dalles 0   Track and Field South Wasco took the boys title and Bickleton the girls’ crown at the Jeff Agar Memorial in Glenwood.  Aaron Smith of Lyle-Wishram and Holly Miles of South Wasco won three events apiece.   Horizon Christian was the boys’ winner and the Condon finished first in the girls’ standings at the Wheeler County Invitational.  Lyle-Wishram’s Aaron Smith won four different events in the boys’ portion of the meet, while Sherman’s Mercedez Cardona won a trio of girls’ events.   Boys Lacrosse Grant 10, Hood River Valley 5 Hood River Valley 21, Wilson 5   Boys Basketball King’s Way Christian 60, Columbia 21 Goldendale 47, Castle Rock 40 Toutle Lake 76, Stevenson 26   Girls Basketball King’s Way Christian 60, Columbia 43 Goldendale 58, Castle Rock 38

Wasco County has updated and reopened its COVID-19 Emergency Business Grant program to support businesses impacted by the movement to the Extreme Risk Category on April 30.   Funds were provided by the State of Oregon.   Grants will be made based on the number of employees between 0 and 50, with award amounts ranging from $2,500 to $15,000.  Small businesses with under 25 employees, over a year old and those most impacted will be prioritized for resources.  Mid-Columbia Economic Development District is working with the County to administer these funds.  Visit mcedd.org/bizgrants for additional details.  Applications must be submitted by May 16th for consideration.

Boys Basketball Seton Catholic 63, Columbia 47:  Seton Catholic outscored the Bruins 24-10 in the fourth quarter to pull away for the win.  Chase Colloton scored 22 points for CHS. LaCenter 90, Goldendale 59   Girls Basketball Columbia 52, Seton Catholic 38 LaCenter 50, Goldendale 33   Boys Tennis Hood River Valley 5, Pendleton 1   Girls Lacrosse Lincoln 17, Hood River Valley 5

Wasco County Commissioners have approved a drought declaration for 2021.  Commissioners heard a presentation from National Weather Service Science and Operations Officer Ed Townsend, who said North Central Oregon has seen below normal snowpack and precipitation since winter, and drier than average conditions are expected this summer.  The drought declaration, which was also issued in 2020, sets up County agricultural operations to be eligible for federal and state assistance.  

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.