With the cherry harvest season coming in a couple of months, North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell talked with Wasco County Commissioners about preparations for agricultural workers coming to the area from a COVID-19 perspective.  McDonell says a number of systems were built up in the last year for this, with communication between western states and the Mexican consulate to do messaging with workers that if a vaccine is available to them, they should get it, and if they only get one dose of a two-shot vaccine bring their information so they can be matched up with the correct vaccine.  McDonell said the Oregon Health Authority has said they will direct doses to the area for seasonal agricultural workers if needed.

Even without the census data that will be needed to make decisions, Oregon legislators continue to hold virtual public hearings on redistricting for legislative and Congressional districts.  Oregon 59th District Representative Daniel Bonham notes even though the data is delayed, it would not have been available right now had it been on time.  So he says this is an opportunity for citizens to give their thoughts on what should be consider in redrawing the lines, .and he hopes to hear from more me during another session for the current Congressional District 2 on Saturday.  The next hearing is Saturday at 1 p.m.  For information on how to take part, go to oregonlegislature.gov/redistricting.

White Salmon Valley School District Superintendent Jerry Lewis is retiring at the end of the school year.  Lewis has been with the district for 24 years, the last 12 as superintendent.  He says it’s been a wonderful career, adding he had actually considered retiring last year.  The district has begun the process to search for a replacement.  

Cracking found in a downstream gate of the navigation lock of The Dalles Dam during its annual inspection will require the Army Corps of Engineers to extend is closure to April 1.  A planned, system-wide outage of all the locks on the Columbia and Snake rivers is scheduled to end March 21.   Corps officials believe vibration, improper sealing and gate misalignment likely caused the damage.  The Corps plans to update the status of the lock every Monday and Thursday until it is back in service.  On an average day, around six commercial vessels pass through The Dalles Dam navigation lock.  

Two bills authored by Washington 14th District State Rep. Gina Mosbrucker that would provide additional help for domestic violence victims and work to protect private information in state agencies from cyber hackers passed a Senate committee Wednesday.  House Bill 1315 would create a task force on domestic violence and workplace resources to identify the role of the workplace in helping to curb domestic violence.  The measure passed the House on March 1 with a unanimous vote, and was approved Wednesday in the Senate Labor, Commerce and Tribal Affairs Committee.  The same committee approved Mosbrucker’s House Bill 1455, which seeks to provide greater security against data breaches within the Employment Security Department and the Department of Labor and Industries.  It asks Employment Security and Labor and Industries to examine their practices of how they disclose individual Social Security numbers in agency correspondence with third party entities.

The Oregon Department of Revenue is joining the IRS and automatically extending the income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year from April 15 to May 17.  Both the IRS and the Oregon Department of Revenue will be providing formal guidance in the coming days.  Individual taxpayers can also postpone state income tax payments for the 2020 tax year due on April 15 to May 17 without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed.  This postponement applies to individual taxpayers, including individuals who pay self-employment tax.  Penalties and interest will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid balances as of May 18.  Individual taxpayers will automatically avoid interest and penalties on the taxes paid by May 17.  Individual taxpayers do not need to file any forms or call the Department of Revenue to qualify for this automatic tax filing and payment relief.

Cross Country Hood River Valley grabbed places two through 11 to run by Ridgeview in an Intermountain Conference boys’ cross country race.  Elliott Hawley was second and Thomas Ziegler third to lead the Eagle effort.  HRV also won the girls’ run with Ridgeview fielding an incomplete team.  The Eagles’ Chloe Bullock was the individual winner, with Savanna Pitman in third.   The Dalles used a 1-2-3 finish to defeat Pendleton in an Intermountain Conference boys’ cross country dual.  Juan Diego Contreras finished first, followed by Nick Caracciolo and Leo Lemann.  Pendleton nipped the Riverhawks in the girls’ competition.  The Dalles’ Hanna Ziegenhagen was the individual winner, while teammate Emily Johnson was fourth.   Boys Soccer Hood River Valley 8, Crook County 1   Southwest Washington Class 1A Girls Soccer Tournament Consolation Round Elma 5, Goldendale 1

The Hood River City Council unanimously directed municipal staff to prepare a utility rate setting resolution for the upcoming fiscal year based on the recommendations made by a consulting firm.  It would include rate credits for non-residential stormwater mitigation efforts offset by a broadbased rate increase across all stormwater customers, and water and sewer rate assistance for those making 60 percent below the area median income to be paid for by a broadbased phased-in rate increase across all water and sewer ratepayers.  It also includes a program to provide rate credits applied to electricity bills equal to the water and sewer discounts for low income households where water and sewer charges are included in their rent.  Mayor Kate McBride said the recommendation stems from the most thorough utility rate review the City has undertaken in many years.  The resolution will come back to the Council for a final vote at a future meeting.  

North Central Public Health District is planning for how they will distribute COVID-19 vaccines in their three-county service area as supplies increase.  District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonnell told the Wasco County Commission they plan to get doses out in Wasco, Gilliam, and Sherman counties in as many ways as possible in addition to the clinics they currently hold in the Fort Dalles Readiness Center.  McDonell adds the anticipation is as more and more people are vaccinated and supplies increase, the expectation is larger scale events will decrease.

Boys Soccer Clackamas 2, Hood River Valley 0:  Cameron Gaines scored both of the Cavaliers’ goals in the first 21 minutes of the game as the 6A school ran its record to 5-0.   Girls Soccer Madison 3, Hood River Valley 0   Volleyball Pendleton def. Hood River Valley, 3 games to 0 Crook County def. The Dalles 25-16, 25-21, 25-17 Dufur def. South Wasco 25-22, 25-10, 26-24 Sherman def. Bickleton 25-15, 25-17, 25-14   Southwest Washington Class 1A Volleyball Tournament Goldendale def. Tenino 3 games to 0