With COVID-19 concerns making operation of the existing The Dalles Warming Place shelter difficult at best, and winter just a few months away, Mayor Rich Mays is considering convening a committee to address homeless issues.  Mays said on Mid-Columbia Today Tuesday morning he doesn’t like forming panels just to have them, but this issue needs to be addressed.  He notes the problem can’t be completely solved, but they can do something to help both the homeless and the community.  Mays noted city staff has been looking for potential answers for sheltering, but many possibilities are difficult to implement with the need for social distancing.

Columbia Gorge Arts and Culture and the Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance are offering a pass to allow four people to visit nine different museums in the region.  Tourism Alliance Network Director Emily Reed says many of the museums are open now, but the pass will be good through next September.  Museums involved include the Cascade Locks Historical Museum, Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center in Stevenson, History Museum of Hood River County, Maryhill Museum of Art, the Original 1859 Wasco County Courthouse, and the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum.  The passes are $99, and available at gorgeculture.org.

A helicopter pilot died Monday while assisting in efforts to fight the White River Fire.  According to a statement from fire officials posted late Monday night on the Inciweb fire information page, a Type 1 Kmax helicopter was conducting bucket drops on the fire when the accident occurred.  The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office and Forest Service air and ground resources responded to the crash site.  The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have been notified and will conduct an investigation into the accident.  The identity of the pilot has not been released.  The Forest Service placed containment of the White River Fire in the Mt. Hood National Forest at 5% on Monday.  Officials reported Monday that the size of the fire was dropped to 1,102 acres after resolving a mapping error and new infrared data.  Fire officials say firing operations have started along both the east and west ends of the fire toward the White River, and work to improve contingency lines will continue.

The Dalles City Council will continue its hearing on the appeal of a Planning Commission decision to approve a high density residential subdivision on seven acres at East 10th and Richmond next Monday night.  That after spending nearly three hours hearing reports from and asking questions of city staff, applicant Legacy Development Group, and appellants who believe it is incompatible with the surrounding area, and that traffic impacts have not been sufficiently studied.  Attorney Chris Crean, who is advising the Council on the subject, pointed out that the application has to be reviewed on criteria and zoning in effect today, noting compatibility standards that had been in many municipal land use regulations have been struck down by state law.  The hearing will be continued next Monday at 5:30 p.m., beginning with public testimony.

Hood River County Commissioners will hold a special meeting Tuesday to consider closing the county forest to recreational use due to fire danger.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says fire risk is very high right now, adding 90 acres of County forestland were affected by the recent Fir Mountain Fire.  He added camping on forestlands on the east side of the Hood River Valley has become a concern.  Tuesday’s meeting will be held online at 4 p.m.  Log-in information is available on the Hood River County website.

The Dalles City Council Monday evening will hear the appeal of a Planning Commission decision to approve a residential subdivision on seven acres at East 10th and Richmond.  Legacy Development Group’s plans for “The Grove” subdivision includes 72 parcels for various types of dwellings on just under seven acres.  Those against the development have cited that it is incompatible with the surrounding area, and that traffic impacts have not been sufficiently studied.  The on-line hearing begins at 5:30 p.m., and can be accessed through the City of The Dalles’ website.

Hood River City Councilors will be discussing the best way to use about $200,000 in federal CARES Act funds during their meeting Monday evening.  Among possible uses for the money:  increasing child care availability, mobile shelters for the homeless, grants to hotels that lost business during a temporary lodging ban, small business aid, utility payment assistance, and supporting the United Way Community Assistance Fund.  City Manager Rachael Fuller said the City will be looking for partners to help administer funding distribution.  The CARES Act monies are separate from a local economic relief fund established in the City’s fiscal year 2020-21 budget.  Monday evening’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. online, and log-on information is available at the City of Hood River’s website.

The U.S. Forest Service placed containment of the White River Fire in the Mt. Hood National Forest at 5% today.  Officials reported Monday that the size of the fire was dropped to 1,102 acres after resolving a mapping error and new infrared data.  Fire officials say firing operations have started along both the east and west ends of the fire toward the White River, and work to improve contingency lines will continue.  The fire is expected to be active Monday, with short runs up steep slopes where slope and wind align and short range spotting probable to the north and east expected to test established lines and making creating line to the east a challenge.  Preparation and burnout operations are taking place along both the east and west flanks of the fire, continuing to remove unburned fuels between Forest Service Road 48 and the main fire.

Klickitat County is expecting to see less revenue from the Roosevelt Regional Landfill in 2020 than they expected to.  County Commissioner Rex Johnston says it appears landfill revenues will be down about $1.5 million in 2020, but added they have reserves on hand to deal with that.  Johnston said for budget purposes the County is currently looking at planning for a similar year in 2021 as they start the process of preparing their annual budget while hoping for a bounce back once the pandemic subsides.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown told a press briefing Friday that at the current rate of COVID-19 spread it would take about 200 days to get students back into classrooms at the current one-to-one transmission rate, but it could happen in as little as six weeks if it drops to .75.  Brown said she told a group of city and county officials this week to step up their efforts to ensure face covering, workplace, and social gathering restrictions are observed.  The governor said she has heard reports of law enforcement on some communities not wearing masks, which she called “unacceptable.”  Brown said the other way to speed the reduction of virus spread would be to bring back business restrictions and perhaps institute travel restrictions, but also said those come with economic costs.