Hood River County Commissioners decided to close County forestlands to public recreational use between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. starting on Thursday.  County Forester Doug Thiesies had suggested to the Commission to completely close those lands to recreational use, citing high fire danger in combination with concerns about the availability of firefighting resources and a continued high public use of the forestlands.  But Commissioners decided to zero in on stopping dispersed camping outside of designated campgrounds.  Commissioner Les Perkins said limiting access to day use should make it easier to identify risky situations.  Commissioners also discussed motorized vehicles, but Thiesies says the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Regulated Use Closure already limits those to improved roads only.  

North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell gave an optimistic report to the Wasco County Commission on Wednesday, presenting statistics showing only five COVID-19 cases were reported for the week that ended August 16, and the positive test rate dropped to 1.4%.  McDonell said it’s a trend that could lead to the opportunity for schools to be able to return to in-person learning, but stressed that it is not a given the trend will continue.  She says it’s important for people to keep wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing.  Oregon’s positive COVID-19 test rate for the week ended August 16 was 5.1%.  That mark needs to get below 5% to let most larger schools become eligible to reopen.

The White River Fire grew Tuesday to approximately 2,290 acres based on information received late last night.  An update from the management team assigned to the fire said northwest winds were amplified as they aligned with the White River drainage, increasing fire activity and creating embers which flowed downwind and started spot fires in dry vegetation.  The fire moved about 2.5 miles east and southeast staying north of the White River, growing into flatter terrain with less vegetation where there is more opportunity to contain the fire.  Fire managers have reassessed planned containment, dropping the current figure to 5%.  Three new firefighting crews arrived late Tuesday.  A Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect prohibiting people from flying in the area.  A Level 1 evacuation advisory remains in effect for the Sportsman’s Park and Rock Creek areas.

Wasco County Clerk Lisa Gambee is reassuring voters that Oregon’s mail-in voting system will be unchanged from the last two decades.  Gambee says the most common question says the most common question she has been receiving from the public is “am I going to get my ballot” and “will I be able to return it?”  She says Oregon’s election procedures are the same as they have been for over 20 years, and have not changed.  Oregon State Elections director Steve Trout said in a recent statement that Postal Service partners in Oregon continue to support the elections and go above and beyond to make sure that ballots travel efficiently through the mail.

With the number of operational child care programs in the Mid-Columbia down by about half since the onset of the pandemic, there is an effort underway to recruit more to fill the need.  Nancey Patten of Child Care Partners at Columbia Gorge Community College says a number of child care providers closed at least temporarily during the pandemic for both economic and health reasons.  She says now the focus is on opening new programs.  Patten says anyone who is interested in operating a child care program can call her at 541-506-6131.

Hood River City Councilors have decided to use nearly $200,000 in federal CARES Act funds to assist community members with basic life and safety needs.  City Manager Rachael Fuller says the Council has directed staff to put together a final proposal to direct funds to the United Way Community Relief Fund, the Hood River Warming Shelter to help that organization develop a non-congregate housing model, utility assistance, and child care.  Fuller noted they will ask for outside help to administer the funds.  The City has until the end of the year to use the federal monies.

An investigation is underway into the crash of a helicopter while it was doing water drops over the White River Fire on Monday.  The crash claimed the life of the pilot.  Authorities during an online press briefing did not offer many details on the accident, citing the on-going investigation.  Wasco County Sheriff Lane Magill did say the pilot was a man from Bozeman, Montana.  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 National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have been notified and will conduct an investigation into the accident.

The Forest Service placed containment of the White River Fire in the Mt. Hood National Forest at 15% Tuesday.  Incident Commander Brian Goff said the size of the fire to 1,289 acres, and that firefighters are making good progress on it.  Most fire behavior will be interior backing and flanking fire.  Short range spotting to the north and west could test established lines.  U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region Director for Fire, Fuels, and Aviation Director John Giller said the White River Fire is the #2 priority fire in the region.  A portion of the Mt. Hood National Forest was closed today to support fire suppression efforts.

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.