The Port of Hood River is planning to resume tolling on the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge on May 1, and will implement a pay-by-license-plate billing system for all vehicles that do not have a BreezeBy transponder.  About seven days after a vehicle crosses the bridge, a pay-by-plate toll bill will be sent in the mail to the registered owners of that vehicle with charges for the $2 base toll rate plus a $3 ancillary fee per crossing, utilizing a system that is designed to normally be used to detect cars that go through without paying a toll.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee said they have received some criticism for the plan, but the bridge needs to get back to generating some revenue to pay for its operation and maintenance.  McElwee estimated that the Port has lost $600,000 to $800,000 in tolls since they had to stop accepting them due to safety concerns for toll-takers.  McElwee is emphasizing that BreezeBy still provides the lowest rates, and accounts can be set up at portofhoodriver.com.  He also says there will be the ability online and through the pay station at the Port’s marina office to avoid the ancillary fee without BreezeBy.  

The North Wasco County Education Foundation is in the midst of a fundraising campaign to generate $20,000 to provide Chromebooks & internet access so all students can participate in distance learning, and also food for a weekend backpack program and gas cards for needy families.   Foundation executive director Rebecca Thistlethwaite says it’s an attempt to provide some basic needs for families in District 21m adding many don’t have the Internet for their children to do distance learning.  To donate, go to www.northwascoed.org

A fund established by the United Way of the Columbia Gorge and the Healthy Gorge Initiative has awarded more than $62,000 in grants within the past month to 13 local nonprofits to address the immediate needs faced by these organizations and their clients.  A statement from the Gorge COVID-19 Community Response Fund will continue to review applications on a weekly basis and award funds while they are available.  Grants have been given to the Hood River Adult Center, FISH Food Bank, Backpacks 4 Kids, Windy River Gleaners, Youth Empowerment Shelter, White Salmon Education Foundation, Meals on Wheels in The Dalles, Hope Clinic, Columbia Gorge Food bank, Washington Gorge Action Program, Mid-Columbia Senior Center, Double Mountain Foundation and HAVEN.  To donate securely online, go to https://www.unitedwaycolumbiagorge.org/give.  To send a check or money order, please make it payable to the United Way of the Columbia Gorge and mail it to P.O. Box 2 in Hood River, zip code 97031.

The Oregon Legislature’s Emergency Board is expected to allocate more than $30 million in coronoavirus relief funds during a virtual meeting Thursday morning.  Funds will be dedicated to support workers and small businesses, as well as provide housing assistance to vulnerable Oregonians.  $12 million dollars will go to safe shelter and rental assistance, $10 million to the Oregon Worker Relief Fund for payments to workers ineligible for traditional unemployment insurance programs or cannot qualify due to immigration status, $10 million to establish an assistance program for small businesses with no more than 25 employees impacted by COVID-19 economic restrictions that have not received support from the federal CARES Act, and $2 million for emergency housing for victims of domestic and sexual violence.  Additionally, the Emergency Board will increase federal spending limits to access relief in the CARES Act.

The Hood River County Library District says it is now closed until further notice.  The district board approved a “roadmap to reopening” plan that will follow recommendations and guidelines from the Center for Disease Control, Oregon Health Authority, Governor Kate Brown and Hood River County public health officials.  Patrons do not need to renew or return their materials at this time, and no fines will accrue during the closure.  Library drop boxes are closed.  If a patron has an item on a hold shelf it will be waiting for them when they reopen.  During the closure, people can use the library’s online resources and services through hoodriverlibrary.org.

The COVID-19 Unified Command for Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties says there is a scam circulating in the area trying to charge workers who have lost their jobs to file an unemployment claim.  The Oregon Employment Department does not charge a fee for customers to file their claim for benefits, or to receive assistance from a representative to file a claim.  Visit the Oregon Employment Department’s website to file a claim.  The Employment Department’s Online Claim System is the fastest way to file your claim or access any other claim services.  If you have questions or need to file your claim over the phone you can call 1-877-345- 3484, but it is experiencing high call volumes, so if you are able to file your claim online it is strongly encouraged.  The Dalles WorkSource office is not accepting in-person appointments, but they continue to offer job seeker services by phone, email, and Skype.  Contact them at 541- 296-5435.

Skamania County has lifted its temporary ban on small debris burning.  All issued small debris burn permits will be valid and new small debris burn permits will be available to issue.  The Skamania County Community Development Departmtent says a current burn permit for small debris fires is required and a copy must be on site and readily available.  You can find the Small Debris Fire Burn Permits at your local fire station, the Skamania County Courthouse Annex or online at the Community Development page on skamaniacounty.org.  Be sure to follow all the conditions and restrictions listed on your permit and check all available resources regularly for potential upcoming burn ban.

The Oregon Health Authority announced that it has revised guidelines for COVID-19 testing to prioritize impacted populations and all frontline workers.  The guidelines continue to allow healthcare providers to make clinical decisions about their patients.  In addition, if supplies allow, asymptomatic people within the congregate care or group living systems can be considered for testing.  The newly revised guidelines urge clinicians to potentially increase testing for Oregonians who may be at particular risk for contracting COVID-19.  That includes those living or working in congregate care or group living facilities, underserved and marginalized populations, including racial and ethnic minority groups, and essential frontline workers, including those providing healthcare services and those serving the public, such as grocery store workers.

White Salmon officials are starting to look at what projects they can start phasing in when the state of Washington begins to loosen some of the restrictions they are operating under.  Mayor Marla Keethler says the City wants to begin to address the construction moratorium in residential zones put in place in January and to plan on how to resume work on the Jewett Boulevard renovation project.  Keethler says Klickitat County officials met with Governor Jay Inslee’s staff last week about what a phased-in approach will look like.  Keethler says the Governor’s office made it clear that coming out of the restrictions will be like turning a dial, not flipping a switch.

The Hood River County Commission has asked staff to prepare a plan to reopen County Forestlands to recreation for local residents without causing an influx of out-of-area visitors to come in.  Commissioners discussed the issue during their Monday evening online meeting, and have scheduled another session on Thursday at 4:30 to receive a plan from staff.  All members of the panel expressed a desire to get the forestlands opened again to local residents, with Bob Benton saying there was an important mental health component.  Karen Joplin noted the County appears to be in the downward trajectory for COVID-19 after participating in a meeting with Governor Kate Brown on the framework for reopening the state with an estimate of a first phase coming on May 4.  Chairman Mike Oates says time was needed to get a plan from staff and to coordinate with local support groups.  It appears a reopening of the forestland would go back to what was first attempted by the County, with staging areas and restrooms remaining closed.  Commissioners also indicated they would want to have a closure of parking on Post Canyon Road, noting that area tends to become congested, something they want to avoid in a trail reopening.