North Central Public Health District is shifting from large vaccination events to smaller mobile clinics, and is starting a small weekly clinic at its own offices in The Dalles.  NCPHD this week is starting a lunch-hour vaccine clinic on Thursdays at the health district office, at 419 E. 7th St. in The Dalles, and filled the first one this week quickly.  The clinic may expand to more hours and more days, depending on demand.  To book an appointment for this Thursday clinic, call 541-506-2600.  Also, for the next four Fridays, NCPHD will be offering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at Community Meals in The Dalles.  The final two vaccine events at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center are on June 3 and June 10.  On both days, the clinic will accept walk-ins for both Moderna and the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  Over 55 percent of those 16 and older have been vaccinated in Wasco County; 48 percent in Sherman County and 37 percent in Gilliam County.

Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added extra fishing days for recreational spring Chinook salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River at a meeting this week.  Although the projected return of adult upriver spring Chinook to the Columbia River mouth remains at 87,000 fish, managers were able to add more days based on catch information from this past weekend.  This additional opportunity supplements seasons adopted last week for below and above Bonneville Dam.  Below Bonneville Dam, the season will be on Saturday, plus June 1-15.  From Bonneville Dam to Oregon/Washington border, the season is now Saturday and Sunday for the next two weekends.  

Washington Gorge Action Programs is using its Pathways HealthConnect program in Klickitat and Skamania counties to connect families to a community health worker who knows their way around healthcare, social services, and other systems.  WAGAP Executive Director Leslie Naramore says an important element of the program is the health workers having experience with some of the issues their clients face.  The program is free and confidential.  For more information on the Pathways program, call 509-261-1291 in English or 509-281-2331 in Spanish.

With a burn ban going into place in Wasco and Hood River counties on June 1, fire officials are bracing for what could be a busy fire season.         Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Chief Bob Palmer said they have dealing with wildfires much earlier than usual, and the tinder dry conditions increases the danger.  He adds recent rains have not really helped the situation.  Palmer noted most of the fires local crews have dealt with this spring have involved burn piles getting out of control.

Klickitat County Commissioners decided on Tuesday to lift a moratorium on commercial or industrial solar projects that would be subject to a conditional use process, passing a motion by Commissioner Jacob Anderson that calls for staff to do a cumulative impact analysis of potential solar farms in both Goldendale’s Knight Road area and the County while the Commission works on recommendations for the Board of Adjustment to consider when dealing with any applications it might receive.  Anderson maintained his belief in the conditional use process if and when they receive an application for a solar project near Knight Road.  Commissioner Dan Christopher had been calling for the Commission to provide more specific criteria for the public to see, but did concur with the plan to create recommendations and do the impact analysis.  The Commission spent three weeks deliberating the subject after a public hearing on the moratorium.

The Hood River County Library District says its Hood River and Cascade Locks branches are open for what is being called Library Express Services.  Patrons are invited into the buildings for 30 minutes, with no appointment needed.  They can pick up holds, browse for books, or use a public computer.  There are occupancy limits in the Children’s Library in Hood River and the Cascade Locks and Parkdale branches, and patrons may be asked to wait.  The Parkdale Library will start Library Express Services on June 1.  Curbside services are available by request at all three branches.  Starting June 1 the Hood River Library will be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10:00am to 6:00pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00am to 4:00pm.  The Cascade Locks and Parkdale Branches will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00pm to 6:00pm and Saturdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm.  The library district still encourages patrons to continue to use their online resources and services.    

Boys Basketball Hood River Valley 54, Ridgeview 39: The Eagles pulled away in the fourth quarter of the Intermountain Conference opener for both teams.  Emanuel Romero scored 13 points for HRV, while Davis Yates added 10. Redmond 71, The Dalles 35 Condon-Wheeler 72, Trout Lake 40 South Wasco 54, Sherman 41   Girls Basketball Redmond 50, The Dalles 22 Ridgeview 85, Hood River Valley 23 Rainier 79, Stevenson 36 Trout Lake 62, Condon-Wheeler 42 South Wasco 55, Sherman 34

The Dalles City Council voted to go ahead with a contract amendment with KPFF Consulting Engineers to finish design work on the long-discussed First Street/Riverfront Connection project.  The City entered into an agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation back in 2008 for funding for the project, but it has been delayed for a number of years.  Mayor Rich Mays says they are trying to get the project moving and completed, and it will probably be another two years before construction could start.  The project focuses on street and pedestrian improvements on First Street from Union to Laughlin Streets, with the potential to connect to the Mill Creek Trail.

Business Oregon on Wednesday will open the final portion of a program to provide grants for small businesses to help with commercial rent and operational costs in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Oregon Legislative Emergency Board allocated approximately $100 million for the program to help small businesses impacted by the pandemic and the restrictions it necessitated.  Following two rounds of distribution of Commercial Rent Relief assistance grants, approximately $28 million remains to be distributed in this final round through the Operational Cost Assistance Grant.  The Operational Cost Assistance Grant is designed for businesses with 100 or fewer employees in industries that were particularly affected by the pandemic, including those that offer the consumption of food and or drink on premise, provide specified indoor physical exercise, recreational or family entertainment, or provide specified personal services.  Full details of the program, including eligible industries, is available on Business Oregon’s website and in application materials.  Applicants must have faced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon.  Applications for the Operational Cost Assistance Grant will be accepted beginning May 26, and continue through June 6.

Boys Basketball Morton/White Pass 77, Stevenson 56 Sherman 53, Echo 51 Ione-Arlington 47, Horizon Christian 38   Girls Basketball Stevenson 47, Morton/White Pass 40 Echo 56, Sherman 25