Local health officials say the COVID-19 outbreak in Union County reported as related to mass gatherings at a church is a warning about the importance of maintain physical distancing and wearing masks.  Hood River County Health Department Health Officer Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg said in a Facebook video Wednesday that as they try to move into Phase 2, they are concerned about virus transmission among residents gathering in groups.  He said he did not believe the primary source of the increase in COVID-19 cases in Hood River County was from tourists, seasonal workers, or workplace transmission.  North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell told the Wasco County Commission that research is showing people wearing masks does reduce the transmission of coronavirus. She said studies are indicating 50% of the population wearing masks can cut transmission by 80%.  The latest numbers update on Tuesday from the Oregon Health Authority showed both Hood River County and Wasco County reported just one new COVID-19 test apiece.  Hood River County is now at 83 confirmed and presumed COVID-19 cases and Wasco County is at 42.  In Washington, Klickitat County Tuesday afternoon added two more to move to 51 positive COVID-19 tests, while Skamania County remained at three.

A Washougal woman died in a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 84 in Sherman County on Tuesday afternoon.  The Oregon State Police says 52-year-old Vickie McDowell was a passenger and sustained fatal injuries in the accident.  According to the OSP, a preliminary investigation showed a van driven by 45-year-old Shannon Gatlin of Camas was westbound on I-84 near milepost 110 when it traveled into the median and rolled several times.  Gatlin was taken to Mid-Columbia Medical Center for serious injuries.  The OSP says the crash occurred at about 4:05 p.m. Tuesday.  The OSP was assisted by Sherman County Sheriff’s Office, Sherman County Ambulance, North Sherman Fire and Rescue, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Columbia Gorge Community College saw a bit of a downturn in enrollment during the spring, but it is trending up for summer term.  CGCC President Marta Yera-Cronin says they believe some students may have skipped spring to see how the pandemic would develop, but now they are signing up for on-line classes.  Cronin says the college has been told by the state to prepare for significantly reduced funding, but added they are receiving help through the federal CARES Act.  She notes they are trying to develop ways to save money moving forward to remain in a good spot financially.

The Dog Mountain trailhead in Skamania County is now open.  Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area manager Lynn Burditt told the Wasco County Commission they opened it this week.  The busy season for Dog Mountain is during the bloom of wildflowers, and that has passed.  Burditt said the Waterfall Corridor will remain closed for a significant amount of time longer, as the issues surrounding its reopening are much more complex.  Updates on the status of recreation sites in the Gorge are available at readysetgorge.com.

The Hood River County Commission approved the County’s 2020-21 Fiscal Year budget on Monday evening.  Commissioners approved the budget with some changes, including adding a little over $21,000 for Oak Grove, Ruthton, and Panorama Point parks, and $100,000 for potential legal costs.  The County approved the budget coming off approval of a five-year local option levy for public safety.  There was some public testimony on using funds from the levy differently based on recent protests about police behavior around the country, but Commissioner Les Perkins pointed out they had been specific with voters about how the levy dollars would be used, and they need to stick with that.  Commissioners approved the budget unanimously.

North Wasco County School District 21 announced a pair of personnel additions.  Kara Flath will be district’s new Chief Financial Officer, taking over for the retiring Randy Anderson.  Flath comes to D-21 from Montana, where she currently serves as the School Finance Division Administrator for the Montana Office of Public Instruction.  Ajay Rundell was tabbed to be the interim principal at Dry Hollow Elementary.  Rundell is currently a science teacher at The Dalles High School.  He will take the helm at Dry Hollow for the 2020-21 school year for Theresa Peters, who will be serving as D-21’s interim superintendent.

Hood River County Commissioners voted to deny an appeal by Thrive Hood River of an administrative decision to grant a fourth one-year extension for Apollo Land Holdings’ permit for the proposed DeeTour ampitheater.  The County Planning Commission had earlier voted deny the appeal.  Commissioners voted 3-1 on the matter, with Rich McBride voting no.  Commissioner Bob Benton is a principal in Apollo and did not participate in the hearing on the panel, even though he did testify during the hearing.  Commissioners who voted to deny the appeal felt that even though they might need to address the issue of how many permit extensions should be allowed, they believed criteria for the extension had been met.  The DeeTour project has been the subject of argument particularly in the Upper Hood River Valley, and has faced opposition from a large number of residents in the Dee area.  The decision can be appealed to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce says it is going to make the month of July “All About The Cherry.”  Even though the Northwest Cherry Festival has had to be cancelled for 2020  due to the pandemic, the Chamber on Tuesday announced a number of different cherry-themed activities I in July for businesses to become involved in.  Creation of a “Cherry Trail” with businesses providing cherry specials, a window decorating contest, a hunt for wooden cherries, and a cherry baking contest where people send in photos of what they make are all being planned.  For information go to thedalleschamber.com.

Both the cities of White Salmon and Bingen are looking at placing parklets on their main downtown streets to allow restaurants be able to serve customers outside.  White Salmon Mayor Marla Keethler says they met with area restaurants about several options with a goal to provide more outdoor capacity, and parklets got the most support.  Bingen is looking at a similar scenario on Highway 14, starting with putting two parklets together to start and adding two more if needed.  The Bingen City Council will discuss it during the panel’s virtual meeting this evening at 7 p.m., while the White Salmon Council holds its teleconference at 6 p.m. Wednesday.  Information on how to listen in to the meetings is available at the two cities’ websites.

With the 2019-20 school year having ended virtually, for school officials the next issue is determining how to conduct classes this fall.  Oregon education officials provided some guidelines last week, ranging from how classes can be held in-person to how to once again conduct them virtually, and just about everything in between.  Incoming Hood River County School District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says the primary focus is having a plan to keep students and staff safe, adding they also have to think about the health of vulnerable family members as well.  The guidance from the state requires 35 square feet of space per person, and Polkinghorn says the district is doing some calculations to determine what it can do on campuses, with having students come to school in shifts in combination with distance learning very possible.  Districts have to submit their plans to the state by August 15.