The Dalles City Council, Wasco County Commissioners, and representatives from other groups discussed mental health issues and how to deal with them, and there are plenty of hurdles to finding solutions.  Funding and inaction at the state level were discussed.  Mid-Columbia Center For Living board member and Hood River County Commissioner Karen Joplin said the state’s removal of intermediary mental health care 30 years ago to streamline services into the Oregon State Hospital has led to this problem.  Wasco County Sheriff Lane Magill says Oregon has a broken mental health system without a continuity of care, but the local public safety coordinating council would like to create a stabilization center.  Wasco County Commissioner Steve Kramer pointed out the need to make advocacy to state legislators on this issue a top priority.

Klickitat County has started its 2021 budget process.  County Commissioners have been meeting with department heads over the last month, and their guidance to them was status quo.  Commissioner David Sauter says they weren’t looking for big cuts, and at the same time won’t be adding anything new.  Sauter said revenues from the regional landfills have come back from drops in April and May, cutting an expected drop of $1.5 million down to $800,000.  He said the County has a healthy emergency reserve, so Commissioners decided to back fill budgets from there.  

As the City of Bingen moves toward working on its 2021 budget, the impacts of COVID-19 figure to be felt.  Mayor Betty Barnes said sales tax revenues within the City are looking to be down about 70 percent.  Barnes also says revenues from building are also down, and water and sewer monies have decreased as well.  She did say they don’t have exact figures at this point, but expects to have them by their second meeting in November.

The Mt. Hood National Forest says after weeks of work, most trails outside of wilderness on the Zigzag Ranger District have been cleared of fallen logs, but visitors should continue to be aware of existing hazards such as fallen trees, hanging branches, loose rocks, and unstable slopes.  The western side of the Forest suffered extensive damage as the result of the Labor Day windstorm that brought down trees and fueled wildfires.  Numerous trails in the Mt. Hood Wilderness remain blocked or damaged.  The Timberline Trail and Pacific Crest Trail were hit particularly hard by the windstorm, with thousands of trees still down on the trails.  Zigzag District Ranger Bill Westbrook said crews have been working to clear trails, but with winter weather approaching many areas will be not cleared until late spring or summer.  Some recreation areas are open to hikers, as well as other non-motorized use, but are gated and remain closed to vehicles, including Trillium Lake and Old Maid Flat.  Campgrounds on the Forest are closed for the season.

Ballots continue to arrive in County elections offices with one week to go before Election Day.  In Hood River County 51.6% of the distributed ballots have been returned as of Monday…8,177 out of 15,833.  In Wasco County 41.5% of ballots have come back…7,560 out of 18,403.  Klickitat County on Monday reported that 23% of ballots have been returned.

Six Rivers Dispute Resolution Center has been selected as one of five community mediation centers from around the nation to participate in a grant-funded pilot project.  The project will develop conflict resolution and leadership skills in young adults ages 21 to 35, with a focus on those who have experienced marginalization.  The project is facilitated by the National Association for Community Mediation and funded by the JAMS Foundation.  It connects five selected centers to jointly create program materials and best practices in conflict resolution and community mobilization.  The other four selected centers are located in San Francisco, Fresno, New Orleans, and Savannah, Georgia.

Stevenson-Carson School District is now offering students access to free Internet Cafes.  The Port of Skamania, the Economic Development Council, and the Stevenson-Carson Education Foundation donated space and resources.   The district’s Internet Cafes operate from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. each weekday and are staffed with school employees who can assist students, if needed.  Families can reserve time-slots where students will be provided with private cubicles which will be deep-cleaned after each use to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.   Families can reserve time at any three locations…at Stevenson High School by calling 509-219-8849…at Wind River Middle School at 509-219-8794…or in North Bonneville by calling 509-219-8756.

Klickitat County officials still don’t have any word from the state of Washington on when counties looking to move into Phase 3 will be considered by the Governor’s office.  Commissioner David Sauter says they are talking with the Washington Department of Health “several times a week” on the subject, but he adds the best thing County residents can do right now is continue to work to keep COVID-19 numbers down.  As of Friday, Klickitat County reported it had only five currently active COVID-19 cases, and Sauter indicated a couple of those should be removed from that list soon.

Design work is continuing for reconstruction of the Cascade Avenue/Rand Road intersection at the west end of Hood River to lead to a signal light at that busy location.  The Oregon Department of Transportation and the City of Hood River are working together on the project.  City Manager Rachael Fuller says realigning the intersection is a key component, noting the project was originally planned for some time ago, so changes have had to be made.  She pointed out there are significant right-of-way issues to work through.  ODOT has the design phase scheduled to continue through spring of 2021.  Construction is planned for next fall, with completion in spring 2022.

There will be a Starlight Parade in The Dalles this year, but it will take on a different form than in the past.  The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce announced it will be a “reverse parade,” with floats parked on 3^rd Street and the public will drive past to view them.  This year’s parade is “Oh, Christmas Tree” and will begin with Santa and a virtual tree lighting.  The Chamber says it is partnering with The Dalles Beautification Committee to encourage the community to decorate trees, windows, and storefronts in that theme.  The Chamber said it has worked with North Central Public Health District and the City of The Dalles to ensure the event meets all state mandates and guidelines.  Parade applications will be available both at the Chamber office and on our website by Tuesday.