The Oregon Health Authority on Tuesday reported two new positive COVID-19 cases in Hood River County.  Hood River County’s number of COVID-19 cases is now at 236 for the pandemic, with the County on Friday saying 218 are out of isolation.  There were no new cases reported for Wasco County, leaving its total at 207, with the County listing 151 as recovered using a 30-day standard.  Sherman County remains at 17 total COVID-19 cases with eight recovered.  All four of Gilliam County’s COVID cases during the pandemic have recovered.  The OHA reported 243 new and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, moving the state’s pandemic total to 26,946.  Six deaths that occurred between August 23 and Friday were listed on Tuesday, moving that number to 465.  In Washington, Klickitat County reported two new cases on Monday to move to 193 total for the pandemic, while active cases are at 12.  Skamania County’s Monday update saw their total case count remaining steady at 59, with no active cases.  Statewide, Monday’s update from the Washington Department of Health reported 315 new cases to move the statewide total of COVID-19 cases to 74,635, with ten deaths to put that total at 1,915.

In three days since Oregon Governor Kate Brown removed Hood River County from the state’s COVID-19 watch list, the County has seen 11 positive cases.  County Health Department Health Officer Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg says there are currently 14 active COVID cases in the County.  He did say the County has had no fatalities and no current hospitalizations, which is reassuring and shows residents are trying prevent spread of the disease.  Van Tilburg points out the primary source of spread remains informal social gatherings, and the leading group of positive tests for COVID-19 in Oregon are those in their twenties, followed by people in their thirties and forties.  He adds the social gathering issue is particularly concerning with the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend.

The Hood River City Council approved awarding a contract for Phase 1 of replacement of the deteriorating storm line in the Waterfront District.  The contract was awarded to the lone bidder, Landis & Landis Construction of Portland, for $984,352, over $116,000 under engineer’s estimates.  Phase 1 stretches approximately 600 feet east and 300 feet north of the intersection of Riverside Drive and North 8th Street, and is considered the most urgent part of the work because it will bypass a recurring sinkhole.  The City is pursuing financing through the Department of Environmental Quality and United States Department of Agriculture.  Work is expected to be finished in November.

The Hood River County Prevention Department and the Hood River County School District are planning to bring Youth Mental Health First Aid training to the district’s parents and staff.  Erin Rust of Greater Oregon Behavioral Health is working with the two agencies on the program, which she says doesn’t require any prior mental health knowledge to take part.  Those interested in the training can call the Hood River County Prevention Department at 541-386-2500.

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has made some adjustments to evacuation advisories in effect for the White River Fire.  Juniper Flats and Smock and Ayres Road have been reduced from Level 3 “Go Now” to Level 2 “Be Set.”  Pine Grove will remain at Level 3 due to firefighters still actively working the fire line in the vicinity.  Highway 216 is still closed from the intersection with Highway 26 to mile marker 14.  Detailed evacuation level information is posted on the Wasco County Sheriff’s Facebook page.  Fire Public Information Officer Katie O’Hara said on Mid-Columbia Today this morning today’s weather would be favorable for firefighting efforts to get additional containment and get lines tied in.  No structures have been lost in the fire.  Officials say the danger to structures has diminished significantly, and that will allow four of the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s task forces to return to their home departments.   Two left this morning and two more will leave in the afternoon.  The 15,418 acre fire is listed as 10% contained.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is working with state officials on a “shop at home” campaign to help local businesses.  Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says with the pandemic it’s more important than ever to help hometown stores that have been impacted by a loss of business.  Farquharson says many local businesses have adapted by using on-line and telephone ordering during the pandemic, but it’s important the community is aware the businesses are out there and of what they contribute to local life.

The Dalles Public Works Department will continue to paint the center and side lines on streets throughout the community through Thursday beginning at 6:00 a.m. each day, weather permitting.  Motorists are asked to watch for the crews and avoid driving on the wet paint.  The paint truck will be preceded and followed by warning vehicles, with signs calling attention to the wet paint.  The trucks will be spaced according to the necessary drying time of the paint.  Attempting to pass or drive between the trucks will result in a messy striping job and paint damage to the motorist’s vehicle.  Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the wet paint because it cannot be easily removed from vehicles.  Proceed with caution around work areas and observe all temporary traffic control devices.

Public hearings on the last series of updates for the Wasco County Comprehensive Land Use Plan are scheduled for September before the County Planning Commission.  Wasco County Long-Range Planner Kelly Howsley-Glover says these in the Wasco 2040 project include new policies for forestlands and recreation, revisions to sensitive wildlife maps, and an introduction chapter.  She says this includes a new destination resort eligibility map.  The only two areas eligible for a destination resort in the update are in the Pine Grove area and the Big Muddy area where the Washington Ranch Young Life camp is already located.  Two locations in the Petersburg area where removed from consideration earlier in the process.  The hearings will take place online this Tuesday and September 15, both beginning at 3 p.m.  Log-on information is available at wasco2040.com.

North Wasco County School District 21 is going to start distance learning orientation with parents and students on Wednesday, with a soft start to the school year on Thursday and next Friday.  D-21 Interim Superintendent Theresa Peters told the district board on Thursday night the orientation was originally set for earlier in the week, but teachers expressed concern they needed more time to prepare.  Peters said moving the orientation can provide that time while maintaining the planned start of the school year on Thursday.  Peters said individual schools are pushing out orientation information to students.

The Mt. Hood National Forest says beginning today Forest Road 1300 will be barricaded and closed at the junction with Jones Creek Road on weekends when capacity limits at Lost Lake Resort and Campground area met.  That’s four miles from the entrance to Lost Lake.  Forest officials say vehicle parking along the entrance roads to the resort has become a public health and safety concern, adding emergency personnel cannot get through when the roads become congested.  Visitors are advised to have a backup plan if forest locations are full, and do not park in the road where you could prevent someone from receiving lifesaving care from emergency response.  Forest officials advise that arriving before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m., and visiting during the mid-week are great ways to beat the crowds.