Washington 14th District State Representative Gina Mosbrucker is serving as the Republicans’ ranking member of the House Public Safety Committee, where police reforms will be discussed.  The Goldendale Republican says reform is needed, but adds she believes most police officers are good public servants and deserve support.  Mosbrucker says she won’t support “defunding” police, noting polls have shown most Washingtonians agree with that stances, but she wants to see more training and community outreach programs, adding a need to reflect and listen to the community.  Mosbrucker also said the stories of police doing right by the community need to be told along with those the show officers acting inappropriately.  

The Hood River County Health Department continues to report progress in getting COVID-19 vaccinations done.  Department Health Officer Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg says by the end of next week, they will have well over 3,000 people vaccinated in the County, with the bulk of Phase 1A vaccinations having been administered, allowing them to move on to Phase 1B and the education group starting Thursday.  Van Tilburg says their progress is ahead of what he had predicted.  He added that volunteers are being used to help in the vaccination effort, and those who would like to help can go to the getreadygorge.com website to register.  Van Tilburg also urged people who are scheduled to get a vaccine soon to get their paperwork ahead of time, and if you have questions or concerns talk with your physician now so you are ready when the opportunity arrives to schedule a vaccination.  

The Dalles City Council reviewed the final draft of a report on the City’s “employment buildable” lands inventory.  Mayor Rich Mays says the report is contradictory in some ways, with much of the vacant acreage that could conceivably be built on is already owned by Google, and another large parcel is owned by Wal-Mart.  He says that doesn’t leave a large amount of buildable lands left within The Dalles urban growth boundary.  City Councilors did not make a decision on accepting the report, and asked municipal staff to report back with more details during a February Council meeting.

The White Salmon Valley School District is going to bring back elementary and intermediate school students for in-person learning over the next couple of weeks as Klickitat County’s COVID-19 activity drops to levels that allow it under Washington Department of Health metrics.  Superintendent Jerry Lewis says they will start with kindergarten, first graders, and fourth graders beginning this coming Monday in a hybrid model calling for two days in the classroom for each student and distance learning the rest of the week.  Grades two, three, five, and six will start February 8, and grades 7 and 8 will start February 17.  Lewis noted COVID activity must drop further in the County for Columbia High School students to come back to the classroom.  Building principals are sending letters to parents on the plan, and Lewis adds there will still be full distance learning options for families not comfortable with coming back to classrooms yet.

Washington 14th District State Representative Gina Mosbrucker has reintroduced legislation to establish a joint legislative task force to look at the role of the workplace in helping to curb domestic violence.  The bill was approved unanimously in both the House and Senate last year, but was one of the bills vetoed by Governor Jay Inslee in an effort to save money to address COVID-19 repercussions in the state.  Mosbrucker says she’s confident the measure can move forward this session.  The task force would be convened through the state Department of Commerce to make a preliminary report and recommendations by December 1, with a final report one year later.  The measure has been referred to the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee.

North Wasco County School District 21 remains outside of the state’s advisory metrics to move toward in-person instruction, even with recent changes.  In a letter to parents, D-21 interim superintendent Theresa Peters says the latest two-week Wasco County case count is 143, well above the 90 cutoff for considering moving toward on-site and hybrid models.  Peters did say the district is consulting with North Central Public Health officials to review required safety protocols.  She says D-21 will follow the advisory metrics, and when they allow will begin a careful phasing in of in-person learning starting at the early elementary grades and adding grade levels incrementally.  The district has shared prioritized lists of educators to be vaccinated with the local health department to facilitate that process.   Once Wasco County meets the metrics, a two-week notice will be given to allow staff planning, family communication, and a gradual opening with one grade at a time, starting at the kindergarten level.  Extra-curricular sports conditioning and strength training activities continue for high school students and will begin February 1 for middle school students.  Individual evaluations for specific students are taking place to prepare for some individual student testing at The Dalles High School to begin in February.  Peters said D-21’s next update will be the week of February 15.

A free COVID-19 testing event is planned on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Wasco County Aquatic Center in The Dalles.  Appointments are required and individuals need to register for an appointment online at www.doineedacovid19test.com.  No insurance is required.  The tests are a self-administered nasal swab.  The event is managed by the Oregon Health Authority.  At a similar event last Thursday, 76 people were tested.

At its first weekend mass vaccination clinic on Saturday, North Central Public Health District, with assistance from Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue and Medical Reserve Corps members, vaccinated 290 people.  The district says many were intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals and their caregivers.  Educators and childcare providers will be the main focus on another large vaccination clinic this coming Saturday that will serve 400 people.  Some educators already got their vaccines last Saturday.  The invitation-only events are held at The Dalles Readiness Center.  Sherman County educators and childcare providers have been vaccinated, and Gilliam County childcare providers were vaccinated last Friday and educators will be vaccinated this Friday.  Educators in Wasco County are being contacted by their schools with information about the vaccination clinic.  All who work for school districts qualify for vaccines, as well as those who contract with the district, such as coaches.  Childcare providers will be contacted by Childcare Partners.  Seniors over 80 will be eligible for vaccines starting Feburary 8.  Those 75 and older are eligible February 15, those 70 and older are eligible on February 22, and those 65 and older are eligible March 1.  The health district would like to hear from anyone in Phase 1a who has not yet received a vaccine, call 541-506-2600.  The phase broadly includes any healthcare workers, mental health workers, workers in group homes, and emergency responders.

The Hood River County Library District is going to go “fine free” starting on February 1.  “Fine free” means that patrons will not be fined daily for overdue materials.  The change is a part of an institutional movement from libraries nationwide, guided by the recommendations of the American Library Association in an effort to increase free public access to library services.  A statement from the district says studies in libraries that have eliminated fines show that there has been no impact on return rates, and the step can even increase use of library materials.  The District will also erase all past overdue fines for patrons.  This does not include past fees for lost or damaged items.  Items will still have a due date and materials will still need to be returned.  Last fiscal year the amount collected from fines was less than 1% of the Hood River County Library District’s budget.

Klickitat County is beginning to discuss how to deal with short-term rentals in their codes.  New County Commissioner Jacob Anderson says the first step is to determine how many STR’s there are in the County outside of incorporated areas.  Anderson points out that the state of Washington has adopted new regulations for short-term rentals, so they will need to follow those and tailor them to their local needs.  Anderson says the Commission is planning workshops in February to discuss the topic.