Hood River County School District administrators are reporting a good start to distance learning after over a week of being fully underway.  Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn told the District board he has been receiving good reports from most staff, students, and parents he has talked to.  District Curriculum Director Bill Newton added student attendance has been strong.  Newton said they continue to identify areas they need to improve and work on, including connecting with struggling students.  Polkinghorn says in the weeks ahead they will also be focusing on plans for a return to in-person learning in some form once Hood River County meets the metrics to do so.

Fall term at Columbia Gorge Community College begins Monday, with classes continuing to be offered online rather than in person.  But both the The Dalles and Hood River campuses have begun to open on a limited basis, with the library at both locations, the school bookstore, student services, business office, and The Hook café available with reduced hours and COVID-19 limitations.  For hours of operation, go to cgcc.edu.

Over two inches of rain fell Wednesday on the area of the Big Hollow Fire on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.  Fire officials said minimal fire movement was observed by firefighters, while heavy fuels such as larger logs and stumps continue to burn in place.  Crews patrolled and worked on clearing fire debris along roadways and containment lines.  The fire remains at 15% containment, and is 24,995 acres in size.  A Level 3 “Go” evacuation order remains in effect for cabins located at Government Mineral Springs near the Trapper Creek Wilderness.  Wind River Highway/Forest Road 30 is still partially closed between the Carson National Fish Hatchery and Curly Creek Road.  It remains open north of Curly Creek Road towards the Lone Butte area.

Rain fell on the Lionshead Fire west of Warm Springs overnight.  The rain was variable, but over an inch fell on some sections of the fire.  Fire officials say that will reduce fire behavior and should allow crews to make more progress.  The wind picked up Wednesday afternoon, resulting in increased burning in green islands well within the fire’s perimeter.  The fire gained some acreage, with size now listed at 203,566 acres, but containment remained at 15%.

Showers and breezy conditions were expected to continue across the Riverside Fire area Thursday with cool temperatures and high humidity.  Gusty winds were also expected, especially at higher elevations.  The fire on the Mt. Hood National Forest in Clackamas County is listed at 34% containment, and is 138,029 acres in size.  The fire continues to smolder in areas where heavy fuels including logs, stumps, and deep layers of needles are sheltered from rain.  Firefighters are mopping up and patrolling 90 miles of completed fireline.  Fire crews and heavy equipment continue to expand and strengthen firelines where they can do so safely and effectively.

The Hood River County Health Department announced Wednesday that the Oregon Health Authority will do drive-thru or walk-up COVID-19 testing in Cascade Locks, Parkdale, and Hood River next week.  The testing events will be this September 29 at the Cascade Locks Marine Park Pavilion, September 30 at Parkdale Elementary School, and October 1 at River of Life Assembly on 979 Tucker Road in Hood River.  Hours for all three days are from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.  No appointment is needed, and you should bring a form of identification and medical insurance card if you have them.  Testing will be done by Medical Teams International.

In the Oregon Health Authority’s weekly report that was issued on Wednesday, it shows reported new COVID-19 infections for the week that ended Sunday  rose 17% from the week prior, to 1,511.  The number of Oregonians newly tested rose 8% to 18,840, and the percentage of tests that were positive rose from 5.6% to 6.2%.  Eighteen Oregonians were reported to have died in association with COVID-19, compared to 29 the prior week.   One hundred and sixteen Oregonians were hospitalized, up from 83 in the previous week.  The age group with the highest incidence of reported infection continues to be 20–29-year-olds.  People under 30 years old have accounted for 37% of reported cases.

The Oregon Health Authority’s Wednesday COVID-19 report listed two new positive cases in Hood River County, and four in Wasco County.  Hood River County’s total for the pandemic is now at 248, with the County’s latest tabulation showing 240 as out of isolation.  Wasco County has now had 273 total COVID-19 cases during the pandemic, with 203 listed as recovered using as a metric 30 days from the onset of illness and in stable medical condition.  Gilliam County remains at eight total cases with four listed as recovered.  Sherman County stays at 18, with 17 listed as recovered.  The OHA on Wednesday reported 193 new confirmed or presumed COVID-19 cases, with six additional deaths that occurred between August 31 and Tuesday.  The state has now had a total of 31,503 COVID-19 cases, with 537 deaths.  Klickitat County’s statistics as of Tuesday added an active case, bringing the current total to three, all in the White Salmon area.  Skamania County remained at three active cases.  

Former Congressman Bob Smith, who represented the Second Congressional District for more than a decade, died in Medford on Monday.  He was 89.  Smith served as congressman for the district that encompasses eastern and central Oregon, as well as part of southern Oregon.  He served for 12 years, from 1983 to 1995.  After a brief retirement, he ran again in 1996 and served one more term after his successor, Wes Cooley, resigned after admitting to falsifying his military service record.  The Mail Tribune reports Smith’s cause of death was not immediately released, and family could not be immediately reached.  Congressman Greg Walden, a fellow Republican who succeeded Smith in the Second District, said he remembered meeting Smith for the first time when he was 13 and visiting the Capitol.  In a written statement Walden called Smith “a one-of-a-kind rancher, legislator and advocate for the eastern Oregon way of life.”  

The Big Hollow Fire in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest about 15 miles northwest of Carson remains at 15% containment and 24,788 acres in size.  Officials say anticipated rain will moderate fire behavior.  Cooler temperatures and wet conditions will allow for further cleanup and removal of debris along the containment lines.  Increased winds could bring down fire weakened trees.  The 42 cabins at Government Mineral Springs are being watched and monitored for any fire threat.  The Washington Department of Natural Resources has lifted the closure order for Merrill Lake Conservation Area, but the Siouxon Block remains closed.