Mid-Columbia Medical Center is closing in on getting their employees vaccinated against COVID-19.  MCMC infection prevention specialist Connie Jubitz says they are most of the way through of getting all of their employees their first doses of vaccine.  Jubitz says MCMC they have had COVID patients in-house consistently in recent weeks.  She adds one of the challenges is getting those patient to an appropriate discharge location.

The Eagle Creek Recreation Area and the Eagle Creek Trail are closed until further notice in order to remove debris deposited from flooding, and repair damage sustained following this week’s rainstorm.  The Forest Service is partnering with the Pacific Crest Trail Association to remove large fallen trees, landslides and to address anticipated damages sustained on the Eagle Creek Trail.  The cleanup will begin as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.  The steep slopes and loss of vegetation from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire throughout the waterfall corridor make the area prone to landslides, rockfall, and debris flows from heavy rains.  The Forest Service says hikers should use caution when entering burned areas.  Visit ReadySetGOrge.com to plan around closures and find open outdoor recreation areas, and remember to be safe and to use your best judgment when planning your hike.

The Bonneville Power Administration reports that in 2020, for the 23rd consecutive season, the Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Program met its annual goal to remove 10% to 20% of pikeminnow, 9 inches or longer, in the Columbia and Snake rivers that prey on juvenile salmon and steelhead.  The program is funded by BPA and administered by Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and the states of Oregon and Washington.  The goal of the sport reward fishing program is to reduce the number of larger northern pikeminnow in the Columbia and Snake rivers.  Since 1990, anglers paid through the program have removed more than 5.2 million predatory pikeminnow.  Biologists estimate that the program has reduced predation on young salmon and steelhead by up to 40% from pre-program levels.  The 2021 season is expected to operate from May 1 through September 30.   For more information about the program, call 800-858-9015 or visit www.pikeminnow.org.  

Washington Third District Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler said on the House floor during Wednesday’s vote on the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump  that fear is our enemy, but the truth is not.  Herrera Beutler, one of ten Republicans to vote for impeachment, said she was “choosing truth.  It’s the only way to defeat fear.”  Washington Fourth District Congressman Dan Newhouse also voted yes as the House voted to impeach Trump by a count of 232-197.  The remainder of the Northwest delegation voted along party lines, with Democrats for impeachment and Republicans, including Oregon Second District Congressman Cliff Bentz, against.  In a written statement issued after the vote, Bentz said he continued to “share the emotions many are feeling in the aftermath of the unprecedented and unacceptable violence this past week.  But the current rush-to-judgement impeachment proceedings have only succeeded in dividing our country even more.”

Hood River County Health Department Health Officer Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg says Oregon Governor Kate Brown announcement after guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the state will expand COVID-19 vaccination to include people age 65 and older won’t have a lot of impact in the short-term.  Van Tilburg said supply of the vaccine will still be a driving force.  Van Tilburg says they have given out roughly 1,000 vaccines in Hood River County between the health department, Providence Hood River, and the long-term care facility program with Walgreen’s.  He says they are moving down into groups 2 and 3 in Phase 1a.  The governor’s office and Oregon Health Authority will provide more details on the latest vaccine distribution plans, as well as how Oregon will continue to reach populations most vulnerable to COVID-19, on Friday.

The North Central Public Health District is nearing completion of a comprehensive list of all the entities in its three-county service area that fall within the four groups of Phase 1a of the Oregon vaccine sequencing plan. The health district is offering vaccine clinics to eligible individuals in the four groups.   District officials say there are many hundreds of people in Phase 1a and it will take time to get through them. Thus far, the district has been getting 100 doses of vaccine a week the last several weeks.  Counties may not be in the same phase due to population size and availability of the vaccine.  The District says the Sherman County Medical Clinic in Moro got its own vaccine supply and was able to proceed through Phase 1a quicker.

There will be a single-lane closure on the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. as Port crews work to repair potholes on the approach ramp.  Flaggers will direct traffic around the work zone, and delays of about 20 minutes should be expected.  Due to the close proximity of the work area to Washington Highway 14, motorists may experience delays or traffic backups on the highway as well.  

The eastbound, uphill lane on Brewery Grade in The Dalles will be closed to all vehicle traffic Thursday morning for about four hours starting at 7 a.m.  That’s to allow The Dalles Public Works Department to remove debris from behind the concrete barriers along the sidewalk on Brewery Grade.  Eastbound traffic on Brewery Grade will be detoured to East 2nd and Fremont druing the closure.  The roundabout will remain open during the work, and eastbound pedestrian traffic will be escorted by City staff on the Brewery Grade sidewalk.  Motorists are asked to use alternate routes around the work zone during the closure.

The Washington State Department of Transportation says Highway 14 about seven miles east of Carson has been reopened after a debris slide last night.  The department’s Celeste Dimichina said technicians found the hillside is stable. The Oregon Department of Transportation says eastbound Interstate 84 is open to traffic east of Troutdale following a debris slide that closed the road four miles east of Multnomah Falls earlier today. However, traffic is limited to one lane between mileposts 34-37 in the slide area. Motorists should drive with extra caution through this area.

Southwest Washington Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler announced late Tuesday that she will vote to impeach President Donald Trump when the matter comes before the House today.  Herrera Beutler, a Republican from Battle Ground, released a statement on Twitter at 8:29 p.m. announcing her decision and reasoning why she believes Trump acted against his oath of office.  Her statement says “The President of the United States incited a riot aiming to halt the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next. That riot led to five deaths.”  She goes on to say “Hours went by before the President did anything meaningful to stop the attack. Instead, he and his lawyer were busy making calls to senators who were still in lockdown, seeking their support to further delay the Electoral College certification.”  Herrera-Beutler goes on to write “The President’s offenses, in my reading of the Constitution, were impeachable based on the indisputable evidence we already have.” and “I see my own party will be best served when those among us choose truth.”