Klickitat County Emergency Operations Center says it was able to distribute over 5,000 KN-95 masks in recent weeks to those who needed them.  In partnership with the Washington State Emergency Operations Center and Washington State University Extension, the County was able to obtain and distribute 1,000 KN-95 masks to medical providers and another 345 to those with breathing difficulties during recent days with heavy wildfire smoke in the region.  In addition, 4,350 KN-95 masks and 700 gallons of hand sanitizer were distributed to local agricultural operations through a partnership with the Washington Farm Bureau.  Also, In the past month, over 5,000 cloth masks have been distributed to ag communities in Klickitat County, and they are still available and being distributed to the public through Klickitat County Public Health, Washington Gorge Action Programs, WSU Extension, Programs for Peaceful Living and other local community offices.

We are one month away from Election Day, and next Tuesday is the last day to register to vote in the General Election in Oregon.  Citizens can register online at OregonVotes.gov if they have a valid Oregon driver’s license, permit or ID card.  Wasco County Clerk Lisa Gambee says paper registration forms are available on the Wasco County website in the Elections section, or outside their office door in the Wasco County Courthouse.  She adds the office will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 13 for anyone who needs assistance.  The Hood River County Elections Office has registration cards available at its office on 601 State Street.  Please call 541-386-1442 for curbside service and more information.  If you are already registered to vote but want to check your registration, you can use the MyVote link on the OregonVotes.gov website, or call county election offices.

No new COVID-19 cases were reported for Oregon’s Mid-Columbia counties in the Oregon Health Authority’s Sunday report.  Two cases were reported for Wasco County and one for Hood River County on Saturday.  That put Wasco County’s pandemic total at 305, with 210 patients recovered using a 30-day standard and stable medical condition.  Hood River County is at 254 total cases, with 251 having been released from isolation.  The North Central Public Health District reports that all 18 Sherman County cases for the pandemic are now listed as recovered.  Gilliam County remains at eight total cases, with four recovered.  The OHA reported 260 new COVID-19 cases in the state on Sunday, moving the pandemic total to 34,770, and one death, moving that number to 572.  In Washington, Klickitat County on Friday added a new COVID case and currently has three active cases, with its pandemic total at 210.  Skamania County’s last report listed one active case, with a pandemic total of 65.  As of Sunday the Washington Department of Health had the state at 89,874 total cases for the pandemic, with deaths at 2,142.

Containment levels for fires in the region continue to inch upward.  The Big Hollow Fire on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest is now at 40% containment.  That fire fifteen miles northwest of Carson has burned 24,995 acres, and the last update from officials indicated a Burn Area Emergency Response Team is currently working in the area and preparing an emergency rehabilitation and restoration plan.  The 204, 412-acre Lionshead Fire about 14 miles west of Warm Springs is now at 47.5% containment, with fire officials and representatives of the Stahlman Cabins community discussing plans for residents’ reentry and crews working with Mt. Hood National Forest personnel to repair and winterize recreational cabins at Olallie Lake.  Officials say the Riverside Fire in Clackamas and Marion counties on the Mt. Hood National Forest that burned 138,085 acres is now 57% contained.  

Oregon Health Authority statistics on Friday added two new COVID-19 cases in Wasco County and one in Hood River County.  That puts Wasco County at 303 total cases for the pandemic, with 200 recovered based on a metric of 30 days from the onset of the disease plus being in stable medical condition.  Hood River County is at 253 total, but the County also added three to its released from isolation statistics, putting that number at 251.  Sherman and Gilliam counties had no new cases reported on Friday.  The Oregon Health Authority says the state has 314 new confirmed or presumed COVID cases in its Friday report, which moves Oregon’s pandemic total to 34,163.  Three deaths were reported, moving that number to 563.  In Washington, Skamania County reported no new COVID cases on Thursday, leaving its pandemic total to 65, and its number of active cases dropped from five to one.  Klickitat County on Thursday added one active case, putting the total number at two.  The County’s pandemic total is 208.  The Washington Department of Health listed 594 new cases on Thursday to move the pandemic total to 88,118 cases, and added six deaths to move that number at 2,132.

Travelers who use Wind River Road to access Carson from Highway 14 should plan ahead for daytime delays beginning next week.  On Monday contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will be performing pavement repairs and installing drainage features within the roundabout between Wind River Road, the town of Carson and Highway 14.  On Monday and Tuesday travelers going both directions on Highway 14 near the intersection with Wind River Road will alternate intermittently through a single lane with flaggers from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then from Wednesday through Friday it will take place around the clock.  Travelers should use caution and reduce speeds through the work zone, and expect delays of up to 20-minutes.

There will be traffic impacts at various locations in Hood River over the next two weeks as paving work takes place in the wake of NW Natural’s completing a pipeline reinforcement project.  Work will take place between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday of next week, plus October 12 and 13.  The work will take place in an area from near 18th and May Streets northeast through town, finishing at 6th and Cascade.  Roadways to be impacted included 17th to Sherman Street…13th between Sherman and State…State from 13th to 9th…9th from State to Cascade…and Cascade from 9th to 6th.

North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell says the recent COVID-19 outbreak at a senior living facility in The Dalles shows how contagious the virus is.  McDonell points out COVID is more easily spread than influenza, and can be spread by carriers who show no symptoms.  McDonell does ask people if they are diagnosed with COVID or are a contact of someone who has it to follow instructions and go into isolation, even if you don’t have symptoms.  She says cases will continue to crop up, but how far they spread will depend on our actions.  McDonell adds COVID testing is available in Wasco County seven days a week, and contact the health district for help if necessary.  The health district announced on Wednesday a fourth death resulting from the outbreak at Flagstone Senior Living.

October is once again Gorge Happiness Month.  Emily Reed says it’s the fifth year Happiness Month has been observed, and it revolves around three habits science has shown can help make us happier and healthier, gratitudes, acts of kindness, and moments of silence.  Like many other events, Happiness Month has been forced to move online.  A virtual kickoff is set for Thursday night at 7 p.m., with a set of online events planned throughout the month.  For information on all of it, along with a calendar with suggestions for small steps to take to promote happiness every day, go to gorgehappiness.org.

The Oregon Health Authority says the state has 220 new confirmed or presumed COVID cases in its Wednesday report, which moves Oregon’s pandemic total to 33,509.  Four deaths that occurred between August 25 and Monday were reported, moving that number at 559.  The OHA’s weekly report was released Wednesday, showing that for the week that ended on Sunday, 1,999 new cases of COVID-19 infection were recorded—up 32% from the previous week’s tally of 1,511.  The number of Oregonians newly tested rose 29%, to 24,243, while the percentage of tests that were positive was unchanged from last week’s report at 6.2%.  143 Oregonians were hospitalized, up from 116 in the previous week.