Hood River County Health Director Patricia Elliott said the County has now had 29 positive COVID-19 tests.  That’s up from 16 last Friday, the result of cases associated with three different congregate work facilities.  The County also indicates they have individuals connected to the outbreaks that have test positive and work at other local businesses.  Elliott said Wednesday the rate of positive tests has not gone up, but the amount of testing has.  She noted they have done almost 700 tests in response to the work facility outbreak, and County Health Officer Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg added they are now testing asymptomatic people.  Contact investigators for Hood River County do say several cases were involved in group activities outside of work like parties where they could have contracted the virus.  County officials emphasize those types of gatherings are discouraged. Wasco County’s tally of positive COVID-19 tests went up by two Wednesday to 28, while Sherman County is at one and Gilliam County remains at zero.  Statewide, Oregon reported 65 new confirmed and presumptive cases to move the full total to 4,399.  There were also two COVID-19 deaths in Wednesday’s report, bringing that number to 159.  In Washington, Klickitat County remains at 29 cases and Skamania County three.

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area director Lynn Burditt said overall the opening of 70 recreation sites in the Gorge last weekend went fairly well.  Burditt told the Wasco County Commission that they did have a few challenges, particularly Dog Mountain in Skamania County, which remains closed, but some people were not honoring that closure.  Burditt says Dog Mountain will probably remain closed until at least mid-June because the mechanisms to deal with parking and congestion at the site are not yet in place.  For information on recreation sites in the Gorge, go to readysetgorge.com.

Wasco County Commissioners approved a request to the state for a drought declaration.  Commissioner Steve Kramer said the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a declaration of extreme drought status for Wasco County last month.  As of May 27, snowpack snow water equivalent by the Natural Resources Conservation Service for the Hood Deschutes Basin is 68 percent of normal and the Upper Deschutes Basin is at only 41 percent.  In addition, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting persistent drought, above average temperatures, and below average precipitation this summer.  Kramer said the request asks Oregon Governor Kate Brown to move forward with a drought declaration so growers and producers can access various programs that can offer assistance.

The United Way of the Columbia Gorge has selected Christine Baratoff as its new Executive Director.  She succeeds Jarrod Holmes, who resigned to pursue other opportunities.  Baratoff is originally from Concord, Massachusetts, and is a graduate of American University in Washington D.C.  She has previously worked as a commercial property manager, finance associate, executive assistant and statistical analyst.  Most recently, Baratoff was the Event Coordinator for the United Way of the Columbia Gorge’s Viva Las Vegas Gala in October 2019.

Highway 141/Jewett Blvd. is closed in both directions from Skyline Blvd. to Dock Grade due a contractor hitting a natural gas line. Northwest Natural is onsite and the line is being repaired.  All traffic should use Alternate 141 to access White Salmon or points west of White Salmon via Highway 141.  The period for repairs is unknown at this time. Please check the City of White Salmon’s website for updates: www.white-salmon.net.

Hood River Police Chief Neal Holste says law enforcement officials chose to err on the side of caution when they chose to make public on Monday that a social media post claimed there would be rioting and looting in Hood River that night.  Holste said his department and the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office worked to confirm the legitimacy of the threat, adding thankfully the night ended with no incidents.  Holste added there have been questions regarding citizens who arrived downtown openly carrying firearms.  He said officers spoke with those individuals about their intentions and emphasized the expectation for the situation to remain peaceful.  Holste added the peaceful protest that did take place on Monday afternoon was civil and respectful, and that Hood River law enforcement is also outraged by the incident that took place in Minneapolis.  Holste noted they will never condone that type of behavior or recklessness from police officers who have a sworn oath to protect people, and that “our nation is in a state of pain, frustration, and sadness, and we must learn from this.”  

The Mid-Columbia again saw an increase in numbers of positive COVID-19 cases Tuesday.  The update released Tuesday afternoon by the Oregon Health Authority added two more to Wasco County’s numbers to run the count there to 26 since statistics began to be compiled, while Hood River County was up by four to 22.  Many of those in the counts have recovered.  However, Hood River County Health Officer Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg said in a Facebook post Tuesday night the County’s number of confirmed or presumptive COVID-19 cases is actually around 30 with three outbreaks in congregate settings or workplaces, but adding they can’t be sure if the clusters were transmitted through workplaces or by group leisure activities in the past two weeks.  Van Tilburg said it’s difficult to give an exact number because multiple counties of residence are involved.  He also did not identify two of the congregate outbreaks outside of the one reported last week at Duckwall Fruit, however the coffee shop Dutch Bros. did release a statement on its website that one of its Hood River employees had tested positive on May 28, and that location is undergoing a deep cleaning before reopening.  Klickitat County is at 29 cases, with the addition of three Bingen residents that County Emergency Management Director Jeff King said were connected to the Duckwall outbreak either by working there or as a family member.  King said they do not foresee a cluster or community spread in Bingen.  The OHA reported 33 new and confirmed cases Tuesday in the state, including three deaths.  Oregon has now had 4,335 COVID-19 cases, with 157 deaths.

The Union Street Undercrossing in The Dalles will be closed to all traffic at times due to high water levels, which is causing water at the undercrossing to be deep enough to be hazardous to vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians.  According the Army Corps of Engineers, the high water level of the Bonneville Pool is necessary for flood control due to recent rain and snow melt.    When necessary, Union Street northbound will be closed to through traffic at the railroad tracks, and will be completely closed north of the Hattenhauer access road at 111 West First Street.  Intermittent access to Lewis and Clark Festival Park will be open as river levels allow.  Approaching the undercrossing from the west side, West First Street will be closed to through traffic at Terminal Way and will be completely closed beyond the employee access to the Oregon Cherry Growers Riverside facility.  Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians are encouraged to use Webber Street as an alternate route to access West First Street and the west section of the Riverfront Trail during times the underpass is closed.  The closure may be periodic and sometimes sustained for several days during spring water runoff.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has closed some facilities at three John Day Lock & Dam recreation sites due to a severe storm that caused extensive damage over the weekend.  Winds between 40 and 50 miles per hour and gusts around 70 miles per hour toppled trees and damaged park facilities.  The day-use parks and restrooms are closed at both LePage Park and Roosevelt Park but boat ramps are open.  At Plymouth Park all facilities have been closed including the boat ramp.  Portland District natural resource specialist Nick Racine says the facilities will remain closed until damage is fully assessed and they can determine the next steps.

YouthThink in Wasco County is focusing on how kids are coping with the loss of school time and other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The organization’s Debby Jones says they are trying to keep kids engaged in life, and while there is physical distancing they want to avoid social distancing.  She adds parents have the opportunity to reconnect with their children.  Jones said the organization has been offering parenting classes online during the pandemic.  Their website is youththink.net.