The North Wasco County School District 21 board voted to support a resolution by the Medford School District calling for state officials to prioritize getting K-5 students back into classrooms and providing the resources and safety measures to do so.  The board also plans to prepare its own resolution on the topic for its next meeting in January.  D-21 board co-chair Jose Aparicio said the Oregon Legislature needs to practice what they preach in regard to education being a priority.  D-21 Superintendent Theresa Peters told the board negotiations with the D-21 Education Association on hybrid learning and the safety concerns of staff are on-going.  Peters added she has been working with the North Central Public Health District limited in-person learning opportunities.  

Hood River City Councilors have approved an ordinance giving the City Manager the discretion to suspend utility shutoff penalties and interest for non-payment of utility charges during a “unusual circumstance impacting the local economy.”  The City had enacted emergency measures at the beginning of the pandemic in March allowing for those moves, but those provisions expired at the beginning of December.  Mayor Kate McBride says this doesn’t really change what the City intends to do during the pandemic, but does give City Manager Rachael Fuller and staff flexibility to make changes as the situation warrants.  The City intends to waive utility late payment fees, interest, and suspend shutoffs for nonpayment until a COVID-19 vaccine is widely available.

The Mid-Columbia Community Action Council and Mid-Columbia Housing Authority say they have received an additional $100,000 from Oregon Housing and Community Services through its Coronavirus Relief Fund to assist area households in keeping up with their rent payments.  The agencies have collaborated to get nearly $900,000 in rental assistance out to households in the region during the pandemic.  The COVID Rent Relief Program provides rental assistance to households who are at or below 80% of the Area Median Income and have experienced a loss of income, compromised health conditions, have been diagnosed or exposed to COVID-19, or at risk of losing housing as a result of public health measures.  Funds are available through December 30 and are available on a first come, first serve basis.  For more information or to apply for the COVID Rent Relief Program, contact Mid-Columbia Housing Authority at 541-296-5462.

Klickitat County has received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines.  County Public Health Director Erinn Quinn says they were delivered Thursday to Klickitat Valley Health in Goldendale for vaccinating high priority healthcare workers.   The first group of healthcare workers to be vaccinated are those who will be administering the vaccine and includes the staff at Klickitat Valley Health, NorthShore Medical Group, and Skyline Health.   Next to be vaccinated will be first responders.  The first frontline healthcare providers from both county hospitals and NorthShore Medical Group will be vaccinated promptly, kicking off Klickitat County’s participation in the largest vaccination campaign in United States history.  Klickitat Valley Health CEO Leslie Hiebert called the arrival of the first vaccine shipment “the hopeful light at the end of the tunnel.”  The vaccine does arrive at a time when positive case counts have surged in Klickitat County.  In the first two weeks of December alone there were over 100 reported cases of COVID-19 in the county.  That equates to the total reported positive cases between March through July.

The Hood River County Health Department will be doing some COVID testing on a trial basis for adult contacts who do not have a personal medical provider.  The goal is to allow symptomatic close contacts of cases who have no personal care provider access to be tested at the Health Department.  It is not open to the general public for testing of those with no symptoms.    Testing will take place between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. December 21 and after the Christmas holiday on December 28 and December 31.  People will need to make an appointment for testing by phone at 541-386-1115.  

The Hood River Valley Adult Center’s capital funds campaign to renovate the building starting with the kitchen has gone over $150,000.  Campaign board member Gary Young notes that puts them in range of their $250,000 goal to seek help from philanthropic organizations.  Young noted the Center has seen demand for Meals on Wheels prepared in its aging kitchen jump dramatically during the pandemic.  To contribute, go to the Center’s website at hrvac.org.

Washington Gorge Action Programs has reached its immediate $50,000 goal to replenish its COVID-19 relief fund.  WAGAP Executive Director Leslie Naramore says they gave out nearly $180,000 from the fund this year to help pay essential bills for those in Skamania and Klickitat counties that have lost a job or had hours reduced by the pandemic.  Naramore says they will continue to take donations for the relief fund, noting this could be a difficult winter.  To donate to the WAGAP Covid-19 Relief Fund, go online to wagap.org/donate, and designate the relief fund by typing it in the “Note” field.

The vision for the building at 3525 Crates Way in The Dalles recently acquired by the Columbia Gorge Food Bank goes beyond simply storing food.  The Food Bank’s Sharon Thornberry says they will have five times the space they have now, and they can do more the community.  One aspect will be a flexible space that can be a food pantry and be a place where produce can be repacked by the Food Bank and the agricultural community.  Another goal is to have a community room with a kitchen where nutrition education and meetings can take place.  Thornberry says they are currently doing buildout planning before beginning a fundraising drive, with a goal of moving into the facility in October.

The White Salmon Valley School District will reassess Klickitat County’s COVID-19 situation after the winter break to determine possible opportunities to get students back in classroom in a hybrid model.        District Superintendent Jerry Lewis, who is currently in quarantine himself after a family member tested positive for COVID, says he has seen other districts in Washington look at various options, but adds the bottom line is they want to get kids back in classrooms as soon as safely possible.  Lewis noted the district has been looking at data on how students are able to progress during the pandemic, and the numbers of students struggling has increased while in distance learning.

Hood River City Councilors voted to deny an appeal of the site plan for the Adams Creek co-housing project on a 2.4 acre site on Sherman Avenue.  City planning officials gave Councilors revised conditions of approval to respond to some of the issues raised on appeal, specifically screening and dealing with a parking lot on the west side of the property.  Some councilors noted there was only so far the City can go in asking for conditions.  The Council voted 5-0 to deny the appeal, with Erick Haynie and Mark Zanmiller having recused themselves before the hearing one month ago.  The development would consist of 26 dwelling units in three buildings along with two common buildings, a parking lot, carport, pathways and walkways, street frontage improvements, and associated site improvements.