Columbia Gorge Community College is preparing to continue to operate with on-line classes when spring term starts, but also getting ready to possibly offer some courses in person when the situation allows it.  CGCC President Dr. Marta Yera-Cronin says once a class starts online it will stay that way, but if they can offer some classes later in the spring in-person, they want to do it.  Cronin says enrollment has been steady through the pandemic, with some losses in non-credit community education but that has been made up for in for-credit classes.  CGCC’s spring term class offerings will be announced soon.  

A 27-year-old Washougal man was arrested on drug charges by Hood River Police after a traffic stop on Interstate 84 near milepost 62 on Wednesday.  According to Hood River Police Chief Neal Holste, Cody Bliss was discovered to have a nationwide warrant for his arrest after the vehicle he was driving was pulled over.  Officers found heroin, methamphetamine, and morphine along with drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.  Bliss was booked and lodged at the Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility in The Dalles on charges of possession and delivery of methamphetamine, possession of heroin, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, carrying a concealed weapon, fail to carry and present a license, tampering with drug records, and the outstanding warrant.  

The City of Hood River has contracted with a licensed clinical social worker to provide direct outreach to those experiencing homelessness.  Alisa Fowler has two decades of professional, educational, and volunteer experience as a therapist service provider, and she specializes in mental health and housing with a commitment to the model of “housing as healthcare.”  Fowler says many think those experiencing homelessness are from outside of the community, but that’s usually not the case.  She says usually they are from within the community.  Hood River residents experiencing homelessness and seeking basic needs and assistance can call Fowler at 971-238-4438.  The City of Hood River’s homelessness stakeholder group will discuss long-term options for homeless services in February.

Two area legislators introduced a bill in the Oregon Legislature this week that would create longer sentences for criminals who cause permanent physical injury to their victim.  59th District Representative Daniel Bonham first introduced Ezra’s Law during the 2020 session, and is being joined by 30th District Senator Lynn Findley in sponsoring the bill.  Bonham says while he had been disappointed that the bill didn’t move last year, since then the bill has been refined, including tightening the definition of permanent disability.  Judicial review for significant mitigating circumstances is also built into the bill.  The bill got a public hearing on Tuesday in the House Judiciary Committee.  The bill is named after four-year-old Ezra Thomas of Madras, who three years ago suffered severe injuries that left him in a wheelchair and unable to breath on his own after being beaten by his mother’s then-boyfriend.  

An Oregon Department of Human Services foster parent recruiter says numbers of available homes in the Wasco, Hood River, Gilliam, Sherman, and Wheeler counties are all right in spite of the pandemic, but they can always use more.  Marvin Hamilton of DHS says they currently have 49 parents in the five county area, with 46 children currently in care.  Hamilton says when looking at prospective foster homes, DHS is simply looking for a good home for the youth.  Those interested in being a foster parent in Oregon can go online to fosteroradopt.com, or call 800-331-0503.

The Hood River County School District is targeting the beginning of March to return K-3 students to their classrooms.  That after the Oregon Health Authority’s released the latest county health data for the past two-weeks showing Hood River County met state metrics allows for a transition to on-site and hybrid instruction in elementary schools.  In a video statement released Tuesday night, Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn said March aligns with the start of the third trimester for elementary students, but going into the classroom still depends on a few things, including remaining in alignment with the advisory metrics, stable and downward trends of COVID in the community, and staff access to COVID vaccinations.  Polkinghorn said bringing back upper grade levels is complicated by physical space requirements and cohort limitations from the state.  He said the district will continue to provide limited in-person instruction and co-curricular activities for secondary students.

The Dalles City Council will conduct a goal-setting worksession on Friday.  Councilors will hear presentations from all City departments, and then discuss what their goals should be for 2021.  Mayor Rich Mays says downtown will be one of his focuses, noting he felt that before the pandemic they were on the cusp of a rejuvenation of that area.  The goal-setting session will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday on Zoom, and log-in information is available at the City of The Dalles website.

Oregon Second District Congressman Cliff Bentz has been selected to serve on the House Natural Resources Committee.  The committee oversees federal lands, wildlife, water, energy and mineral resources, oversight and investigations, and affairs with indigenous peoples.   Bentz says his experience as a water rights attorney, rancher, and member of the Oregon Water Resource Commission will help him advocate for what he called “more balanced use” of federal lands, forests, and water.  Bentz added he will continue to focus on communities hard hit by natural disasters, especially those in Oregon struggling to rebuild after wildfires last September.

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.