A free COVID-19 testing event is taking place Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northern Wasco County Aquatic Center parking lot in The Dalles.  Appointments are required for this event, which is being held by the Oregon Health Authority.   You can get an appointment time at doineedacovid19test.com.   One person per appointment is allowed, and each person must register individually.  The event is open to anyone and no insurance is required.   The test consists of a quick and pain-free self-administered nasal swab.

Kindergarten through eighth grade students in the Stevenson-Carson School District made their return to full-time, in-person learning on Tuesday.  District officials say they worked closely with county health professionals to determine that Skamania County’s new case numbers of the Covid-19 novel coronavirus have dropped to a point where in-person learning has once again become a possibility.  Students and staff will use cohorting, social distancing, and mask-wearing to ensure all remain healthy and safe.  Officials say all three reopened schools – Wind River Middle School as well as Stevenson and Carson Elementary Schools – receive thorough cleaning of all facilities at the end of each day.  The district is also developing plans for the return of high school students as wall as restarting the district’s athletic program.  Families with sixth grade students who prefer to remain with distance learning can opt to stay with Stevenson-Carson Learning Link, the district’s distance learning program, rather than returning to in-person school.

The Hood River County Health Department is receiving 700 additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the Oregon Health Authority this week to complete first-dose vaccination of Phase 1a.  County officials say by the end of next week, approximately 20% of eligible people in Hood River County who have opted to receive the vaccine will have gotten their first dose.   The county is currently completing first-dose vaccination of those in Phase 1a.  If you are in Phase 1a and have not yet been contacted by the health department or your supervisor or administrator about receiving your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, please email covidvaccine@co.hood-river.or.us.  County Health Department Director Trish Elliott told the County Commission they have a plan in place for Phase 1b but do not have a start date yet, as it is dependent upon when the county receives additional vaccines.  She adds they have to be flexible to deal with changing state guidelines.  Phase 1b will include: child-care, preschool and K-12 school and school district staff; people 65 and older; other essential workers; and high-risk populations.

The Hood River Soil and Water Conservation District’s annual native plant sale is underway.  District Conservation Specialist Kris Schaedel says they hold the sale to help local residents access native plants for their landscape or reforestation.  Orders are being taken until March 19.  Information is available online at hoodriverswcd.org.

The City of White Salmon will be signing off on a certificate of substantial completion for Crestline Construction’s work on the Jewett Water Main Improvement project.  Mayor Marla Keethler says there is still some finishing elements of the project to be done, but they can’t occur until spring, and they came up on deadlines set by the Washington State Department of Transportation.  The main task left in the project is to finish paving in the state transportation department right-of-way and the pavement markings that go along with that.  Keethler says the City will finish that in combination with some planned construction work this coming year.

Even when the Oregon Department of Education issues revised metrics for returning students to in-person learning, Hood River County School District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn expects his district still will not be in a position to open.  Polkinghorn says transmission rates in the County remain high enough that he doesn’t think they will be in a position to consider reopening.  Polkinghorn adds the district will continue to work closely with the Hood River County Health Department in determining when the time is right to bring students back in classrooms.  He also said they are preparing to bring small numbers of students identified as struggling with distance learning in to classrooms for support.

The Port of Hood River’s toll revenue from the Interstate Bridge dropped by about $920,000 in 2020.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says after a 40% drop in the first few weeks of the pandemic, it’s leveled out to a 9% to 10% drop in the last few months.  McElwee says the drop will have the Port looking at trimming capital expenditures and dipping into reserves.  But he adds recent federal COVID relief legislation carved out monetary assistance for tolling agencies around the country, with states receiving the funds to distribute by formula.  Hood River County Commission Chair Mike Oates is on the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Region 1 Area Commission on Transportation, and is asking County Commissioners at a meeting Tuesday whether they support using COVID relief funds to fill in for the loss of toll revenue.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is pushing ahead with its annual Distinguished Citizens Awards Banquet this week by taking it online.   Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says the “banquet” is being recorded Tuesday to air on the Chamber’s website on Thursday at 6 p.m.  Farquharson says they will be giving eight awards in total, including two in partnership with the Mid-Columbia Health Foundation.  The video will be available on Thursday at 6 p.m. at thedalleschamber.com and on the Chamber’s social media platforms.

A full road closure will be in place for East 14th between Thompson and Morton streets in The Dalles on Tuesday and Wednesday between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. as the City Public Works Department installs a new water service.  During work hours, local traffic can exit and enter from Thompson Street only.  Some parking will be restricted where barricades are set out.  Motorists are encouraged to use an alternate route.  The street will be opened after work hours both days.

Hood River County Emergency Management is offering an opportunity for businesses and residents to get more personal protective equipment this week.  Ten pallets of PPE will be given out Tuesday through Thursday at a drive-through location at Hood River Alliance Church on 2650 Montello Road.  The drive-through location will be open to businesses and non-profits on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon, and to residents along with businesses and non-profits on Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Residents and businesses can pick up disposable masks and sanitizer wipes.  Boxes of vinyl gloves will be available for businesses that serve food or offer hands-on personal services.  And while supplies last, the County has 300 hands-free hand sanitizer stations for businesses and non-profits.  For more information, visit GetReadyGorge.com