The Dalles Public Works will begin installation of three sanitary sewer services on East Scenic Drive and Jefferson Street on Monday.  The purpose of this work is to connect properties to sanitary sewer service.  Construction is expected to occur for approximately two days with expected completion by Tuesday.  A full road closure on East Scenic Drive will be in effect during work hours 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Jefferson Street will be closed to southbound traffic at East 14th Street during work hours.  Northbound traffic will remain open.  A detour to East 14th Street between Lincoln St. and Jefferson St. will be in place until the project is complete. Motorists and bicyclists are encouraged to use alternate routes.  The sidewalk will remain open to pedestrian traffic during construction.

Construction on a residence hall and a skills training center at the Columbia Gorge Community College campus in The Dalles are on track for a fall opening…with substantial completion slated for July 23.  The 50-unit Chinook Residence Hall is to start housing students in the fall…and CGCC’s Dan Spatz says they have opened the registration process.  The Columbia Gorge Regional Skills Training Center will host advanced manufacturing, aviation maintenance, and construction technology training programs.

Oregon 52nd District State Representative Anna Williams is one of 14 sponsors of a bill to allow survivors of domestic violence who feel they were coerced into committing a crime by their abuser to petition the court for a lighter sentence.  The Hood River Democrat said the opportunity to petition and present specific evidence to the court would be at the time of the trial and sentencing or after the person is incarcerated.  Williams notes often these people need sufficient time and distance from their abuser to be able to tell their story.  House Bill 2825 is scheduled for a worksession in the House Judiciary Committee on April 13.

Landowners planning to burn yard debris, material from fuel reduction projects, and other commercial forest slash this spring in Wasco and Hood River counties should contact the Oregon Department of Forestry office in The Dalles for information on how to obtain a permit and when burning is allowed.  ODF is encouraging landowners to complete burning from fuel reduction projects or commercial forest slash prior to March 31st to reduce risks of escaped burns and the rekindling of burn piles later in the season when wildland fuels have dried out.  Yard debris pile burning is typically allowed until May 15th.  ODF reminds landowners to be cautious if they plan to burn that material.  Weather in the spring can often be erratic and winds can pick up suddenly, fanning flames and dispersing embers into dry vegetation nearby.  Many communities have programs which allow for chipping and disposal of these types of materials at low or no cost to landowners.  ODF encourages landowners to take advantage of these “No Burn” opportunities.  During the month of May the Wasco County landfill accepts yard debris free of charge.

The Dalles City Council and the Wasco County Commission have not yet gotten a final version of a Strategic Investment Plan with Google as the company seeks to build new data centers on former Northwest Aluminum and Rodeo Grounds properties, and The Dalles Mayor Rich Mays does not expect one soon.  Mays says they have a tentative agreement in place, but they are waiting for Google to make progress on permitting issues before proceeding.  Mays thinks the plan probably won’t go before the City Council or the County Commission until May.  He added that he is confident the agreement will eventually get done.

Washington State House Republicans have introduced a package of legislation to address a recent State Supreme Court decision that ruled the state’s drug possession law is unconstitutional.  14th District Representative Gina Mosbrucker is the ranking Republican on the House Public Safety Committee.  She says the decision is retroactive and could affect thousands of convictions, so the Republicans on the committee introduced five bills to help counter fallout from the ruling.  Proposed legislation would increase behavioral health system responses to individuals on drugs, help youth with substance abuse problems, allow local governments to enact laws and ordinances relating to possession of controlled substances, and expand offenses and penalties for manufacture, sale and distribution of hard drugs.    

Northern Wasco County PUD has earned a Reliable Public Power Provider designation from the American Public Power Association for providing reliable and safe electric service.  The designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement.   Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity.  Northern Wasco County PUD joins more than 275 public power utilities nationwide that hold the RP3 designation.  The American Public Power Association is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 49 million people in 2,000 towns and cities nationwide, advocating and advising on electricity policy, technology, trends, training, and operations.

Boys Soccer The Dalles 3, Pendleton 1   Girls Soccer The Dalles 3, Pendleton 1:  The Riverhawks received goals from Lyris Voodre, Amyrah Hill, and Courtney Hert.   Volleyball Crook County def. Hood River Valley 25-13, 25-7, 25-11 St. Paul def. Dufur 25-12, 25-11, 25-23 Days Creek def. Dufur 25-20, 25-16, 25-17

State, federal and nonprofit groups are encouraging people to plan before venturing out to recreate in the Gorge.  Winter trail damage, COVID-19-related modifications, along with a closure of the Historic Columbia River Highway between Bridal Veil and Ainsworth State Park, have the agencies urging people to prepare by having backup plans if they find their initial destination is already full with people.  Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Recreation Staff Officer Stan Hinatsu says they are already seeing usage at some sites at levels normally associated with summer.  ReadySetGorge.com includes an interactive map of recreational trails, boat launches, picnic sites and more.  Also included are packing lists and other helpful tips, such as suggestions for lesser-known but equally beautiful trails.

The pallet shelters located on Bargeway Drive in The Dalles will be closing at the end of the month.  City Councilors discussed requests to keep them open, but Mayor Rich Mays says they were allowed on an emergency basis and municipal zoning ordinances currently don’t allow a homeless shelter except at the St. Vincent dePaul location.  Mays does say they are hoping legislation at the state level will pass soon to allow the shelters to reopen.  House Bill 2006 would allow cities to declare emergencies to be able to place any homeless shelter on certain properties.  Mays adds City staff is working on changes to the municipal land use and development ordinance to allow the shelter, but he expects the state law would be approved first.