The Port of Hood River will resume tolling on the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge on Friday, using an all-electronic system.  Breeze-By transponder users will pay $1 per passenger vehicle crossing.  Non Breeze-By users will be charged $2 per crossing if they pay on-line or at the Port office within seven days of crossing, or after seven days, an invoice developed with a pay-per-plate system the Port has put in place will be mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner for the $2 base toll rate plus a $3 administrative fee per crossing.  Port officials are stressing Breeze-By accounts are free to set up at portofhoodriver.com.  The Port closed toll booths on March 17 due to COVID-19 concerns.

There have been no new positive COVID-19 tests reported in the Mid-Columbia Thursday.  Klickitat County added a positive COVID-19 test to its count on Wednesday afternoon.  It was the 17th reported in the County during the pandemic, and the 15th in the central zone of the county.  Klickitat County officials say 12 of the 17 that tested positive have recovered.  Wasco County is at 13 cases, Hood River County six, Skamania County four, and Sherman County one.  Oregon reported 64 new cases on Thursday, bringing the state total to 2,510, and also two deaths to move that total to 103.  Washington’s latest report showed an increase of positive cases of 228, moving the total number to 14,070 positive COVID-19 cases, and an additional 15 deaths to a total of 801.

Hood River County’s proposed five-year local option levy for public safety is on the May 19 ballot.  The levy would be for 78-cents-per-thousand dollars of assessed property value, and it comes after two money measures to deal with the County’s budget problems failed last spring.  County Commissioner Les Perkins acknowledges the timing of the measure with the COVID-19 pandemic is not good, but the Commission felt it had to move forward with the levy.  While the funds from the levy will be dedicated to public safety uses, County officials say other services would receive more stable and dependable funding to maintain current service levels.

Proposed revisions to The Dalles City Charter will be on the May 19 ballot.  Mayor Rich Mays says one of the changes would involve removing the zone representations for City Councilors.  He notes Councilors are currently voted on by the entire City but represent a specific portion of town, and the change would eliminate the zones.  The proposed revisions would also change the term of office for Mayor from two years to four, beginning with the 2022 election.  Information on the charter revisions are available at the City of The Dalles website.

The City of The Dalles’ state of emergency has been extended for an additional two weeks to May 15.  The Dalles City Manager Julie Krueger made the announcement on Thursday.  The original emergency declaration put in place on March 17 was for one month, and the City Manager has the ability to extend it in two-week increments.  This is the second extension Krueger has put it place.  The state of emergency will be re-evaluated again the week of May 11.  City staff continue to respond to voicemails and emails as quickly as possible.

Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with 44 other Senate Democrats, have introduced legislation to direct production of vital medical supplies and equipment along with oversight of its supply chain.  The Medical Supply Transparency and Delivery Act requires President Donald Trump to utilize all available authorities under the Defense Production Act to mobilize a federal response to the pandemic through an equitable and transparent process.  The bill would require publicly reported national assessments on a weekly basis to determine national critical equipment supply and requirements.  The legislation would also establish an Executive Officer position to oversee acquisition and logistics for COVID-19 equipment production and delivery.  The bill would also require a comprehensive plan for a COVID-19 vaccine and testing, including viral and antibody testing, and establish an Inspector General to oversee the implementation of the legislation.

There will be nighttime Interstate 84 ramp closures in Hood River next week.  The closures will take place between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday nights.  Closures will occur on the eastbound I-84 exit 63 on-ramp and exit 64 off-ramp…and the westbound exit 64 on-ramp and exit 63 off-ramp.  Oregon Department of Transportation crews are completing the first phase of construction work to repair and replace bridge decks on the I-84 bridges over the Hood River.  The schedule is subject to change and weather dependent.

The Oregon Department of Transportation will start a project in Cascade Locks in May that will include paving Wa Na Pa Street from just east of the Bridge of the Gods to Forest Lane, constructing accessible sidewalk curb ramps at 11 intersections, and restriping the roadway and six crosswalks.  One lane of traffic in each direction will be open during sidewalk curb ramp work.           Flaggers may need to direct traffic on weekdays during paving.  Access that is accessible for people walking, and biking will be available in the parking lanes on Wa Na Pa.  On-street parking will be closed in segments during construction.  Short-term detours may be in place for side streets at their intersection with Wa Na Pa.  Work will take place between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekends prior to Memorial Day and weekdays throughout construction.  Those working or living in the area may hear the noise.  A 24/7 noise hotline is available for noise questions or comments at 503-294-1337.  The contractor plans to start work between Forest Lane and SW Portage Road as soon as Monday.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce announced it will not hold the Northwest Cherry Festival this year.  In a statement released Wednesday, the Chamber said with the uncertainty of the guidelines for public gatherings in July, and not wanting to put anyone in the community at risk, they have decided to postpone the 41st version of the event to 2021.  Originally scheduled for last weekend, the Chamber had initially moved Cherry Festival back to the Fourth of July weekend.  The Chamber’s statement called the postponement “an exceedingly difficult decision” as the community looks forwarded to the event every year, adding they hope to make the 2021 Cherry Festival bigger and better than ever.

Wasco County Commissioners held a virtual meeting Wednesday with public health and Mid-Columbia Medical Center officials, discussing preparations for re-opening of businesses as they await finalization of a plan from the Governor’s office.  County Administrator Tyler Stone says the Wasco-Sherman-Gilliam Unified Command for the COVID-19 pandemic is not waiting on the state guidelines to prepare for what will have to be done for a reopening, but work is on-going as they await word from the Governor’s office.  Personal protective equipment acquisition was once again one of the key concerns in moving toward a reopening, especially as medical offices are able to resume doing some elective procedures.  Mid-Columbia Medical Center CEO Dennis Knox said his facility is at a 30-day supply of PPE right now, but the difficulty is not having a supply chain they can trust.  North Central Public Health Director Teri Thalofer said PPE is an unknown given the amount private businesses might need to reopen.  She added they are awaiting guidance from the state on contract tracing needs…but that she can put that together once the standards are in place.