Hood River County Sheriff Matt English has been was recognized as Oregon’s Sheriff of the Year for 2020 by the Oregon State Sheriffs Association.  Lincoln County Sheriff Curtis Landers said during a ceremony for the award that English is a “forward- and critical-thinking individual who exemplifies the professionalism that all elected sheriffs should display.”  Active with the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association (OSSA) since he took office in 2013, Sheriff English has served the organization in a variety of capacities, including Secretary, Vice-President, and President.  English said the award was “humbling” and it was “an honor to be recognized.”  English was sworn in for his third term as Hood River County Sheriff last week.

The Hood River County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is starting the search for permanent executive director to lead that organization.  In a statement the Chamber, doing business as Visit Hood River, indicated interim executive director Ashley Huckaby May declined an offer from the board to serve in the permanent position to pursue new personal and professional endeavors in February.  May will continue to support the board of directors and the organization through the executive search and transition process.  The board plans to take applications through January 25, interview finalists in February, and fill the position as soon as possible.  

Vintage neon signs are being installed on four buildings in downtown The Dalles.  The signs were restored by David Benko of the National Neon Sign Museum and are being installed by Ramsay Signs of Portland at no cost to the City.  The vintage signs are going up on the 110th anniversary of both the arrival of the neon tube to the United States and the start of the Ramsay Signs company.  Signs are being installed on the Court Street side of the Guild Mortgage office, on the alley side of the The Last Stop building, which is visible from Interstate 84, on the northeast corner of the Mid-Columbia Medical Center billing office, and the southwest corner of the main building of Sunshine Mill.  The project is funded by a National Main Street grant.

A fifth-generation Wasco County resident and Columbia Gorge Community College instructor has received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, the Federal Aviation Administration’s highest honor.  Mike Davis is a professor of autonomous flight at CGCC and life-long pilot.   The FAA based its decision on nominations from commercial airline pilots and others who have worked with Davis through the years.  The award recognizes professionalism, skill and aviation expertise spanning at least a half-century of civilian and military service.  Davis has a Commercial Pilot’s Certificate, with instrument rating for single and multi-engine aircraft.  In addition to his faculty roles at Columbia Gorge Community College as an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and business instructor, Davis directs Aero Drone Corporation, a UAS training center, from his family ranch near Tygh Valley.  Davis is on the Wasco County Planning Commission.

The City of Hood River has contracted with a licensed clinical social worker to provide direct outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness.  Alisa Fowler was lead program coordinator for Gorge Outreach, which began in the early days of the pandemic to provide temporary housing to the houseless community through hotel vouchers.  Working in the Mid-Columbia region since 2017, Fowler has two decades of professional, educational and volunteer experience as a therapist and service provider, specializing in mental health and housing.  Following the success of the initial Gorge Outreach program, the City is using grant funds to continue providing the service part-time.  Fowler says in the first six weeks of the City’s program, 33 individuals have been contacted by referral or street outreach. Ten households are actively engaged in housing placement and case management services.  Hood River County residents experiencing homelessness and community partners seeking basic needs and housing assistance can contact Gorge Outreach by leaving a message or text at 971-238-4438 or emailing gorgeoutreach@gmail.com.  

North Central Public Health District is temporarily reducing its walk-in clinic hours and reproductive health clinic hours as it focuses on dispensing the COVID-19 vaccine.  Starting this coming week, the walk-in clinic will temporarily be offered on Wednesdays only, rather than Wednesday through Friday.  The reproductive health clinic will be offered on Mondays only, rather than Mondays and Tuesdays.  The Wednesday walk-in-clinic is open from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m.  Though it is walk-in, the public is asked to call ahead, at 541-506-2600.  The reproductive health clinic is available by appointment by calling 541-506-2600.

The History Museum of Hood River County has a new executive director.  The County Heritage Council has tabbed Anna Goodwin for the position.  According to a statement from the museum, Goodwin most recently was collections manager for Maryhill Museum of Art.  Over the last 17 years Goodwin has held positions around the country working in most aspects of museum administration.  She has a Masters’ degree in Historical Administration from Eastern Illinois University and a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, Classics, and Museum Studies from Beloit College.

Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen said he thinks fall is a reasonable target for getting to the point where enough people in the state are vaccinated against COVID-19 to get to reach a degree of herd immunity.  During a press conference with Governor Kate Brown today, Allen says he thinks the more optimistic messaging from the federal level has misled people, and that unless supply numbers pick up, it’s going to take longer than what the federal government believes.  Brown has set a goal of vaccinating 12,000 people per day by the end of next week.   Allen said they are actively working towards reaching the goal, but added there have been data reporting issues, and the OHA talked to 100 sites yesterday to clarify those and to adjust vaccine allocations, prioritizing those who can deliver more.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden will hold an on-line town hall for residents of Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, and Grant counties Monday morning.  It will be hosted by the Town Hall Project.  Wyden’s office says the Senator has postponed in-person town halls until there are clear-cut public health guidelines to allow a large open-to-all public meeting.  After the pandemic in March 2020 required Wyden’s town halls to go virtual, he held multiple regional and statewide virtual town halls hosted by Town Hall Project.   Monday’s on-line town hall will be at 10 a.m. Go the Senator’s webpage at wyden.senate.gov for information on how to view the town hall and how to take part.  

North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell told Wasco County Commissioners about where early shipments of COVID-19 vaccine to the district area have gone.  Mid-Columbia Medical Center has received 1,100 doses of the Moderna vaccine, the district itself 200, and One Community Health and the Sherman County Medical Clinic have received 100 so far.  The doses have been going to those in the phase 1a category…including first responders, health care providers, long-term care residents and staff, and congregate living facility residents and staff.  McDonell adds one of the challenges is not knowing what the rate of supply will be, making it difficult to plan their next steps.  McDonell says she expects this region will primarily receive the Moderna vaccine.