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.

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.