The Hood River County Health Department has set up its call center to help direct people toward getting a COVID-19 vaccine.  Department Director Trish Elliott says they have been very busy receiving questions, but it is working well to direct callers where they need to go, whether it’s the department or elsewhere.  Elliott said phone line capacity issues are forcing those staffing the call center to return messages rather than taking calls directly, but they are usually returned within 60 minutes.  The call center number is 541-387-6911.  Elliott also said that starting March 29 when the number of people eligible for vaccination increases, the Department plans to move to open scheduling for its vaccinations rather than using an invitation system.

A bill to create a dedicated account to prevent and fight wildfires in Washington has unanimously passed the state House and is on its way to the Senate.  The bill calls for $125 million every two years to boost wildfire response, accelerate forest restoration, and support community resilience.  Washington Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz has pushed for this bill for the last couple of legislative sessions in response to increasing wildfires in the state.  14th District Representative Gina Mosbrucker says they expect some federal help in paying for the fund.  In its current form, the general fund will be used to pay for the account, but Mosbrucker says that could change in the Senate.  Wildfires burned 812,000 acres in Washington last year.

The Hood River City Council took testimony this week on proposed “middle housing” codes intended to encourage a diversity of housing types including duplexes, triplexes, and cottage housing in more residential zones.  Most who testified were in favor of the changes, noting the lack of housing that is affordable to those who work in the community.  Cardinal Glass plant manager David Windsor told the Council his employees struggle trying to find a home to purchase.  But there were plenty of questions on the details surrounding the proposed code changes, in particular around whether parking requirements would be sufficient.  The Council will continue the hearing this coming Monday at its 6 p.m. meeting.

The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals reversed The Dalles City Council’s decision to deny a permit for Legacy Development Group’s “The Grove” subdivision on Richmond Street.  In its final opinion and order, LUBA sustained all of Legacy’s challenges to the Council’s bases for denial of the application, and ordered the City to approve it.  The order goes on to say the Council denied the application on bases barred by state law because the standards the Council found were not met are not “clear and objective”…therefore the decision was “outside the range of discretion allowed the local government under its comprehensive plan and implementing ordinances.”  Much of LUBA’s decision centered on transportation impact study issues.  The City can appeal LUBA’s decision to the Oregon Court of Appeals.  Mayor Rich Mays indicated the Council would discuss the matter in executive session during their meeting on Monday night, but there was no decision announced after that session.

The winter warming shelters that were placed on City of The Dalles property on Bargeway Drive will be closing at the end of the month.  City Councilor Darcy Long-Curtiss told the Council on Monday that the shelter worked as it was intended to.  She added mainstream housing vouchers have been received for some of those in the shelters as part of federal COVID-19 relief, but housing supply remains a problem.  Long-Curtiss adds they housed some people in the shelter with serious medical issues who would not have otherwise made it through the winter.

North Central Public Health District has received the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine and will have a clinic on Friday using that vaccine only.  There were 150 slots made available for booking on Monday.  The health district has been distributing the two-dose Moderna vaccine already, and says having different types of vaccine available for use can offer more options and flexibility for the public.  To sign up for vaccine in Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties, visit ncphd.org and fill out the form.  Those 65 and older are currently eligible for the vaccine, as are first responders, healthcare workers, educators and childcare providers, and paid/unpaid caregivers and those receiving in-home care.

Boys Soccer Horizon Christian 1, Central Christian 1 Columbia Christian 2, Trout Lake 0   Girls Soccer Kalama 2, Stevenson 0   Volleyball Dufur def. Trout Lake 25-9, 25-15, 26-24 Napavine def. Stevenson 3 games to 0

Wasco County Commissioners received a report last week from a team of staff members that have been exploring options for communicating with citizens.  County Commissioner Kathy Schwartz says going to virtual meetings during the pandemic has led to a jump in citizen participation in meetings.  The report outlined different approaches for various audiences.  Schwartz says the group will come back to the Commission with specific recommendations and costs to move forward with.

Maryhill Museum of Art will be welcoming visitors back when it opens for the season on Monday.  Museum executive director Colleen Schafroth says they have a 25 percent capacity limit at this time, which is roughly about 100 people.  Schafroth says they will used timed entry tickets allowing patrons to access the museum for two to three hours.  Maryhill Museum of Art will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning this Monday.  For ticketing information go to maryhillmuseum.org.

Hood River County officials are studying proposals at the state level to revive the Timber Severance Tax.  One that received a hearing in the Legislature recently would be a five percent tax on all harvested timber to go to wildfire fighting, forest research projects, and local jurisdictions.  But County Commission Chair Mike Oates says it’s difficult to tell if the County could benefit from this tax by what they would gain through sales on private land, or could lose because of having to pay it on sales from the County’s own forestlands.  Oates says the County needs to do the math to determine that.  Private timber owners in Oregon paid a severance tax on the value of the trees they logged until the 1990s, when lawmakers passed a series of tax cuts.