Crews will work early next week on several pavement preservation projects in The Dalles.  Work will take place Monday through Wednesday.  The chip seal projects will require short duration road closures between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at each location on the date the work is scheduled to take place.  Detours will be in place during work hours. To view a map of the work and learn more about the 2020 The Dalles Pavement Preservation Program go to thedalles.org/transportation.

The Hood River County School District announced a pair of personnel moves.  Chief Financial Officer Saundra Buchanan is retiring at the end of the month.  Buchanan has been the district’s CFO for seven years, and has agreed to work back with the district as a retiree until a suitable replacement is found.  Columba Jones was named interim principal at Hood River Valley High School to take over for Rich Polkinghorn, who moves into the district superintendent’s role on July 1.  Jones has been an assistant principal at HRV since 2018, and prior to that was a teacher in the district and the principal at Stevenson Intermediate School in White Salmon.

The Oregon Health Authority reported 178 new confirmed coronavirus cases Thursday, marking the highest daily count in the state since the start of the pandemic.  Officials said part of the reason for the increased case number is due to the expansion of testing, contact tracing, and active monitoring of close contacts along with recent workplace outbreaks.  During a Thursday media briefing, OHA Director Patrick Allen says his biggest concern is that people are thinking counties moving into phases one and two of reopening can go back to life before the pandemic, but nothing could be further from the truth.  He says residents need to continue to cover their coughs, wash their hands, stay home from work when sick, maintain physical distancing, and wear face coverings.  Allen did say the hospitalization rate of COVID-19 cases is currently at 16%, below an earlier peak of 24%, and the percentage of cases without a known source and with full contact tracing are within their benchmark goals.  The OHA numbers added one additional case each in Hood River and Wasco counties, moving Hood River’s total number up to 68 and Wasco to 35.

There is no word from the state yet on whether Hood River County’s application to move into phase two has been approved.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel said early Thursday afternoon they had received word from the Governor’s office that the application has been passed on to the Oregon Health Authority for review.  The County’s application had sought to move to Phase 2 on Friday.  Hecksel said they would probably receive word by Friday afternoon.  There are currently 29 counties in Phase 2, including Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties.  Hood River, Marion, and Polk counties have applications pending to move into Phase 2.

The Klickitat County Public Health Department is investigating two new COVID-19 cases in the Goldendale area that have the potential for wider community spread.  Klickitat County Emergency Management said on Wednesday the Health Department is working to gather as much information as quickly as possible in order to be able to identify close contacts of confirmed cases.  David Kavanaugh of Klickitat County Public Health explains the concern is when you can’t find a source of the infection, that indicates the virus is circulating in the community, and you can’t measure the extent of the spread.  Since entering Washington’s phase 2 on June 1 Klickitat County reports an increase of 19 cases bringing its total count to 44 cases, with 12 of those positives in the Goldendale area.  County officials are once again asking everyone to follow all health precautions that have been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.  If you test positive for COVID-19 or if you are a close contact to someone who has tested positive you are asked to cooperate with Klickitat County and voluntarily quarantine or isolate yourself.  

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area manager Lynn Burditt said at Wednesday’s Wasco County Commission meeting that reports from recreation sites have been positive as they have been reopened.  Burditt said visitors appear to be doing the right things, with trailheads being the most problematic issue, as that where people tend to congregate.  Burditt noted the various agencies are not trying to do social distancing policing, but rather providing information and guidelines and urging people to follow those.  She added the agencies are still discussing how to handle the Waterfall Corridor, which remains closed.

As they discussed trying to get people to wear masks when in public to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Wasco County Commissioners pointed out this shouldn’t be a political issue.   Commissioner Scott Hege said the masks are intended to protect those who are most vulnerable in the community and the front-line workers who are providing services to citizens.  And fellow Commissioner Steve Kramer pointed out the panel is a non-partisan body that just is trying to help its citizens get through the situation as best they can.  The third Commissioner, Kathy Schwartz, encouraged people to do business where there is compliance with masking and social distancing.

Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital has taken down its surge tent this week, but it could be put back up quickly if necessary.  Susan Frost of Providence says it could be put back up in about 24 hours if it became necessary.  Frost says the hospital has experienced only one COVID-19 hospitalization, and that was a month ago.  She adds surgery volumes are back up to where they normally are.  They continue to have safety screeners at the door, providing masks for all visitors, and visitor limitations remain in place.

The City of The Dalles says Traffic Court sessions will resume on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, beginning this Monday.  They will be held in the Council Chambers in City Hall to allow for social distancing, with the front doors of City Hall be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. for Traffic Court only.  Those coming to Traffic Court must wear a mask.  The City will be disinfecting the Council Chamber and banisters and other “touched surfaces” after each Court session.  The City will not accept cash payments at this time.  If you need assistance paying online please call 541-296-5481, ext. 1111.  City Hall and Public Works offices will be open by appointment only.  The Dalles Library will open in Phase II on June 29.   Customers will have limited access into the library with operating hours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.  All The Dalles City Council, Planning Commission, Historic Landmarks Commission and other committee meetings will continue to be held virtually.  

One person was injured in an accident between a pickup truck and a semi-truck at the intersection of Highway 97 and Simcoe Drive in Goldendale on Wednesday.  According to the Washington State Patrol, the pickup truck was stopped at a stop sign on eastbound Simcoe Drive and then turned left, but did not yield for the southbound semi on Highway 97.  The two vehicles came to rest blocking both lanes of Highway 97.  The driver of the pickup, a 33-year-old man from Moses Lake, was taken to Klickitat Valley Hospital.  The WSP said he has been charged with DUI and failure to yield.  The driver of the semi, a 27-year-old man from Sacramento, California, was not injured.  The accident occurred around 2:30 Wednesday afternoon.