In a letter to parents, North Wasco County School District 21 Interim Superintendent Theresa Peters says that at this point the district is looking at a hybrid model combining distance learning and in-person instruction to begin the upcoming school year as the COVID-19 crisis continues on.  Peters wrote that each building administrator has formed a team to assist in the planning efforts, and each school has a blueprint that is currently in draft form as they await guidance from the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Health Authority.  She anticipates sharing those plans with staff, parents, the North Central Public Health District, and the D-21 board in late July or early August.  Peters also wrote that it will be important to plan for multiple possibilities.

The Oregon Health Authority’s latest COVID-19 case numbers on Sunday put both Wasco and Hood River counties at 130 apiece.  The OHA’s Sunday numbers added six to Hood River County’s totals, and one to Wasco County.  Over the weekend the Hood River County Health Department said 107 of its cases have been released from isolation.  Sherman County remained at eight total COVID-19 cases for the pandemic.  Klickitat County reported 85 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday, with 78 listed as recovered.  The Washington State Department of Health put Skamania County at 40 as of its latest update at the end of Friday.

The Hood River County Health Department reports COVID-19 cases have been identified among members of the Hood River Valley High School Boys’ Basketball and Football teams.  In a statement over the weekend, the Health Department says in cooperation with the Hood River County School District it confirmed that more than one positive-case participated in off-season workouts for the two teams last Monday, and said the number of identified cases may expand.  The Health Department says the Hood River County School District is following Center for Disease Control, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Department of Education, and County Health Department processes and guidance.  The department also said at this point no other details will be released to protect confidentiality.  The Hood River County Health Department is proceeding with an investigation and contact-tracing of the outbreak, noting only close contacts of positive cases will be contacted.  The Hood River County School District is also reaching out to affected individuals.

Discharge from The Dalles Wastewater Treatment Plant into the Columbia River returned to compliance within permitted limits for E. coli on Sunday morning.   According to The Dalles Public Works Department, the average of five samples taken throughout Saturday at the City discharge point to the river were within limits.  A 24-hour incubation time is required for test results to be finalized.  Recent Columbia River samples show that E. coli levels at the sample locations were well below bacterial criteria set by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for freshwater recreation.  Signs which were placed at locations of public river access on the Oregon shore of the Columbia River to warn of contaminated water were taken down on Sunday.

Like most school districts this Summer, the White Salmon School District is consumed with plans for schools this Fall in the age of Caronavirus. Superintendent Jerry Lewis says they learned a lot with the last three months of the previous school year, and discovered what they need to improve. They have to look at different options, from a balance between in-school learning and online, or even entirely online. The District has just begun a survey to get input from the community, because everyone needs to be on board for things to work. Washington State law requires districts to submit a plan to the state 2 weeks before school starts and the district is planning to start August 26th. The district hasn’t heard much yet from the state concerning any money that might be available for districts. CARES Act money will start being distributed to the districts around the state. Lewis says it won’t be enough, but it helps. Those are one-time payments that must be used for COVID-related expenses. Lewis says they are getting prepared for whatever happens. The key word right now is “flexibility”.

After the disbanding of the organization Gorge Grown, there was a question if the 11th season of the Sense of Place lecture series would take place. But the Mt. Adams Institute took over the responsibility for the series and Sarah Fox from the Institute says they have gotten very positive feedback from the community. The series will go virtual this season and that could actually open up some guests and subjects that before couldn’t come to Hood River for the series. They will also archive all shows, so those who can’t catch them “live” can go online anytime and see them. Funding is another question they are dealing with. Fox said the programs may be free, with donations accepted. At this time, they are taking Requests for Proposals from possible lecturers. The deadline is August 7th. If you have a program idea, or want more information, you can go to mtadamsinstitute.org.

One Community Health in Hood River and The Dalles remains busy as they are working with growers and workers in the area to fight against COVID-19 while harvests are being prepared or are in progress. Gladys Rivera, OCH’s Preventative Health Manager, says one of the most important steps growers can take is to reassure workers that there is income replacement in case they get sick and can’t work. There are several funds available. There is regular unemployment, the Oregon Workers Relief Fund can help workers who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and can’t qualify for other unemployment and also the Farm Workers Quarantine Relief Fund, which was created by Gorge Ecumenical ministries, or GEM. You can find information on all these funds at onecommunityhealth.org. OCH also goes out into the orchards to educate workers and growers on the best methods to prevent disease. With around 6500 workers arriving in the area and with some families, over 10,000 people could come to the area. Rivera says that makes education even more important. Rivera advises growers that want OCH to come to their orchards for education, to get in touch with them now to get a time for when their workers start arriving. All of the information is available at onecommunityhealth.org.

With hot, summer weather increasing, the risk for wildfires also increases. So far in Hood River, Wasco, Skamania and Klickitat Counties the largest fire has been around 15 acres. But the deeper into the Summer we get, the chance grows that bigger fires could still occur. Rick Fletcher from the Oregon Department of Forestry says people seem to be staying closer to home, but they are seeing people in areas they haven’t seen them before because of restrictions. He worries that could lead to problems. Fletcher says resources to fight fires are available, most fire crews are full strength and a couple fire boss planes from Washington Natural Resources are based at Dallesport, and that is a huge addition. With the fire season forecast a bit higher than usual, Fletcher urges everyone to be extremely careful and follow all regulations. For those who might want to look into protecting their homes and property more, head to firewise.org for tips.  

PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 claimed two more lives in Oregon Thursday, raising the state’s death toll to 249, according to the Oregon Health Authority. Oregon Health Authority reported 437 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 13,509. Thursday’s case count is the highest since the onset of the pandemic. The rise in cases is attributed to the spread of COVID-19 from social gatherings and sporadic spread. Worksite outbreaks and long term care facility outbreaks also are contributing cases to the daily count. Both deaths Thursday were from Malheur County, a 97-year-old man and a 58-year-old woman. Hood River County reported 5 new cases yesterday, upping the overall count in the county to 115…..Wasco County had 2 new cases yesterday, with 124. Sherman County had none, but Morrow County reported 8 new cases. In Washington, there was 1 new case in Klickitat County, raising their overall total to 80. Skamania County reported 2 new cases with their total going up to 38. Washington State has now recorded 44,313 cases with 1,427 deaths.  

COVID-19 has claimed seven more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 244, the Oregon Health Authority reported. The last time Oregon saw seven deaths in a single day was on April 28. Oregon Health Authority reported 380 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 12,805. One of the deaths was an 81-year-old woman in Wasco County who tested positive on June 27 and died on July 8. Her place of death is being confirmed. She had underlying medical conditions. Hood River County reported 3 new cases yesterday, with the total cases during the pandemic 110. Wasco County also reported 3 new cases and are at 120. Sherman had none and are still at 5. In Washington, there were no new reported cases in Klickitat County so they remain at 79. Skamania reports 6 new cases and now stand at 34 cases overall. The state of Washington has recorded 42,304 cases with 1404 deaths.