The Hood River County Health Department says as of Tuesday morning it has about 250 openings for the Johnson & Johnson one dose COVID-19 vaccine at its upcoming Thursday clinic at River of Life Assembly in Hood River.  People can check for eligibility and schedule an appointment at the clinic by going to hrccovid19.org.  Thursday’s clinic is the first of a number the department is planning.  The County says once they have established a consistent supply of vaccine it will open additional clinics for scheduling.  All future Hood River County Health Department vaccine clinics will be scheduled though its website at HRCCovid19.org.

The Barlow Ranger District plans to implement a series of prescribed burns west of Wamic over the next several weeks.  Depending on the weather, fire personnel may start ignitions as early as Friday on the North and South Rock prescribed fire units.  Both units are located approximately 3 miles SW of Pine Hollow and 5 miles west of Wamic.  The two areas are about 622 acres combined.  Fire personnel are planning for up to three days of ignitions.  Visibility along Mt. Hood National Forest roads in the area and nearby Rock Creek Road may be temporarily reduced.  Smoke may also be visible from Highway 197.  No road closures are anticipated, however access to Forest roads in the burn perimeter may be temporarily restricted while firefighters are actively lighting.  Forest visitors traveling in the vicinity should use caution and adhere to any closures to provide for firefighter and public safety.

The Next Door has named 11-year-old Josie Robidoux of Hood River as its 2020 Philanthropist of the Year.  According to a Next Door Executive Director Janet Hamada, Josie and her dad decided to build and sell wooden garden boxes and donate the proceeds to The Next Door.  After nearly two months of building and selling, Josie and her dad built 32 garden boxes.  In June of 2020, Josie handed The Next Door over $2,000 for its services.  She is the youngest recipient of the organization’s Philanthropist of the Year award.  This year, Josie plans to operate a homemade slime and gadgets stand, again donating proceeds to The Next Door.

The Dalles Lock and Dam navigation lock will return to service Wednesday morning at 6:30 a.m.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says technicians are finalizing repairs on cracking engineers found in the downstream miter gate during annual inspections.  The return to service is 36 hours earlier than officials initially predicted.  The Dalles navigation lock, completed in 1957, is 650 feet long and is 86 feet wide.  On an average day, around six commercial vessels pass through the lock.  Portland District locks on the Columbia River pass 10 million of the 50.5 million tons of commerce shipped annually in the nation.  The Columbia River is the number one U.S. export gateway for wheat and barley, the number two U.S. export gateway for corn and soy, and the number one U.S. export gateway for West Coast mineral bulk.  The Columbia River system is also a national leader for wood exports and auto imports and exports.

North Central Public Health District reports that through March 20, over 10,600 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam counties.  Vaccines have been given to healthcare providers, emergency responders, educators and childcare providers, and those 65 and older.  Wasco County has vaccinated 24.42 % of its population.  Sherman County has vaccinated 26.29% of its population, and Gilliam County has vaccinated 24.05% percent of the population.  To get registered with NCPHD’s booking system, go to ncphd.org.  Once your group is eligible, you will get a link to our booking system to book your own appointment.

The Hood River County Health Department reports over 7,000 residents have been vaccinated for COVID-19.  The department also said on Monday it will be scheduling large clinics in the coming weeks as those qualified to receive the vaccine expands to include what the state has defined as Group 6.  The first of these clinics will be on Thursday at the River Of Life Assembly church in Hood River, where it has previously held events.  An exact schedule is to be announced later.  All future Hood River County Health Department vaccine clinics will be scheduled though its website at HRCCovid19.org.  The County says once they have established a consistent supply of vaccine it will open additional clinics for scheduling.  

Two people were injured in a two-vehicle accident Saturday afternoon on Highway 14 near Rowland Lake.  According to the Washington State Patrol a car attempted to turn left out of the Coyote Wall trailhead parking lot into the eastbound lane of Highway 14 in front of a westbound pickup truck.  Both the 35-year-old Portland woman driving the car and the 72-year-old Lyle man driving the pickup truck were taken to area hospitals with unspecified injuries.  The woman was cited by the WSP for failure to yield the right of way.  The accident occurred around noon on Saturday.

Sewer system work will close part of East Scenic Drive in The Dalles Monday and Tuesday, but the public can still drive to North Central Public Health District’s vaccine clinic at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center by approaching from the west, using West Scenic Drive.  Drivers can get to West Scenic Drive by taking Trevitt Street or Lincoln Street.  Approaching from the west on Scenic will take you past Sorosis Park.  The readiness center shares an entrance driveway on East Scenic Drive with Columbia Gorge Community College and is just past the park.

Paving is scheduled to begin on Monday to repair roadway damage due to a water main break that occurred in downtown The Dalles.  Road closures are expected to be in place Monday through Thursday until work is complete.  A full road closure will be in place on East 3rd St. between Jefferson and Laughlin streets.  A detour to East 1st is in place for eastbound traffic.  The intersection of Jefferson and East 2nd will be closed.  Jefferson Street will be closed at the alley between East 3rd and East 4th St.  The alley will remain open to through traffic.  Motorists and bicyclists are asked to use alternate routes around the work zone during the closure.  Sidewalks will remain open to pedestrians.

The U.S. Forest Service will release online permits on March 31 at recreation.gov for hikers headed to Dog Mountain on weekends from April 24 to June 13 this year.   New this year, permits will be required on Memorial Day.  The permits are required as part of a partnership that began in 2018 to ensure public safety near Dog Mountain Trailhead, where congestion during the spring wildflower hiker rush created dangerous traffic congestion and at least one fatal accident prior to when permits were required.  Every hiker on the Dog Mountain Trail system on Saturdays and Sundays between April 24 to June 13, as well as on Memorial Day, will be required to carry a permit.  Permits can be obtained by riding the shuttle operated by Skamania County Transit, or by reserving a permit at recreation.gov for $5 per car and a $1 administrative fee.  This year, 100 permits will be released on March 31 for each day through the permit season.  New this year, an additional block of 100 permits will be released online three days before each permit date at 7:00 a.m.