The former office manager and bookkeeper for a La Grande medical practice who also faces similar allegations from when she worked in Hood River pleaded guilty Tuesday for devising a scheme to defraud her employer.  U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams says 49-year-old Anndrea D. Jacobs pleaded guilty tiling a false personal income tax return, falsely impersonating an IRS employee, aggravated identity theft, and bank fraud as a joint resolution for two criminal cases.  According to court documents, beginning on or about January 2011 and continuing until her termination in December 2015, Jacobs used her position and access to the medical practice’s finances to steal money from the practice by, among other means, writing business checks to herself or for her own benefit.  A federal grand jury in Portland returned a 15-count indictment against Jacobs one year ago.  Jacobs still faces bank fraud charges for allegedly stealing checks payable to a Hood River dental practice worth more than $22,000.  Under the terms of her plea agreement, Jacobs will join the U.S. Attorney’s Office in jointly recommending a four-year prison sentence followed by five years of supervised release.  She will be sentenced on in December.  Jacobs has also agreed to pay restitution in full to her victim as ordered by the court.  

The Dalles City Council tentatively upheld an appeal by residents, and overturned Planning Commission approval of “The Grove” high density residential subdivision on seven acres at East 10th and Richmond.  Councilors listed traffic and pedestrian safety concerns the primary reason.  Most expressed the need for more housing starts in The Dalles, but Councilor Linda Miller pointed out that the impact on area roads was an overriding problem.  Councilor Darcy Long-Curtiss did say she had safety concerns but also felt applicant Legacy Development had done what was required by the City’s planning codes.  She said she voted for the motion in the interest of not rushing the issue and giving people time to process the hearing that took over six hours over two nights.  City planning staff will now develop findings of fact, and will present them to the Council for its approval at its September 14 meeting.  Assuming Councilors approve the findings of fact, Legacy Development has the option of appealing to the state Land Use Board of Appeals.  

Firefighters on the White River Fire took advantage of Monday’s break in the weather to make progress in securing lines and suppressing fire.  An update from fire managers this morning said hotshot crews were able to construct a line in the canyon all the way down to the river edge.  Established dozer lines continued to hold, keeping fire from reaching Highway 216.  In an operational update issued this morning, Incident Commander Trainee Randy Johnson said there are now some options for direct line to help reduce acreage.  There are now 1,188 personnel on the fire, which is listed as 15, 411 acres in size and 10% contained.  A community meeting on the fire is scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Wamic Community Center, and will be available online through White River Fire Information Facebook page.

Hood River City Councilors approved a resolution for distribution of $195,000 in federal CARES Act dollars.  Columbia Gorge United Way will receive $70,000, Hood River Shelter Services was allocated $45,000, $40,000 is dedicated individual utility assistance, $25,000 was put toward increasing childcare resources, the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce will receive $10,000, and $5,000 will be held for continuing costs incurred by the City during the pandemic.  The Chamber allocation was a late addition, with Councilor Jessica Metta noting that organization has been working to help local businesses during the pandemic, but needs financial help.  The City has already used a little over $100,000 in CARES Act monies.  

Wasco County’s COVID-19 numbers continue to trend downward.  North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell said on Mid-Columbia Today Tuesday morning that the County’s positive test rate was down to 0.9% for the week ended Saturday, with the case rate down to four per 100,000 residents.  McDonell said the trend is good and is moving the County closer to schools being able to resume in-person learning, but it’s important for people to keep wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing, especially heading to a holiday weekend.  The Oregon Health Authority announced the statewide positive test rate dropped to 4.4% last week, the first time it’s been under five percent in some time.

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.