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.

Oregon OSHA has adopted a temporary rule to increase protections for workers against the spread of coronavirus in employer-provided housing and in labor-intensive farm operations.  The rule, which takes effect on May 11 and will remain in effect until no later than October 28, strengthens requirements in three areas: field sanitation, labor housing, and transportation.  In field sanitation it requires employers to appoint one or more social distancing officers to ensure at least six feet of separation during work activities, breaks, and meal periods.  The same applies for housing operations to ensure at least six feet of distance between unrelated people.  In transportation, the rule requires at least three feet of social distancing during travel in employer-provided vehicles, as well as facial coverings worn by passengers and by the driver in employer-provided vehicles.  The Oregon Farm Bureau says with only 11 days’ notice, it is concerned supply chain issues make complying with these rules impossible.

Hood River and Wasco counties have each reported new positive tests for COVID-19 on Tuesday.  The Hood River County Health Department says its sixth case of COVID-19 in a local resident is not associated with any of the previous cases and has not been hospitalized.  This person is now self-isolating at home.  Health Department officials are in the process of notifying contacts of the infected person.  The Health Department statement added the first four COVID-19 cases in Hood River County have recovered fully.  Wasco County is now at 13 cases.  Klickitat County remains at 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases, Skamania County four, and Sherman County one.  Oregon reported 31 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the state total to 2,385, but also seven deaths to move that total to 99.  Washington’s latest report showed an increase of positive cases of 156, moving the total number to 13,842 positive COVID-19 cases, and an additional 21 deaths to a total of 786.

The City of Hood River is opening up green spaces in City parks with social distancing in place.  Mayor Kate McBride says social distancing requirements need to be adhered to, and restrooms and play equipment will remained closed.  She added if crowding is observed, the City will close the areas down again.  This follows Hood River County’s decision to open trails in its forestlands, but keeping staging areas and restrooms closed.  Local officials are trying to balance a desire to have outdoor opportunities open to local residents without attracting people from outside of the area.  The City is extending its emergency declaration through the first two weeks of May.

The Dalles Mayor Rich Mays says right now the City is in a wait and see mode, waiting for the state to give more details on reopening plans.  Mays says the state and Governor Kate Brown have done a good job so far, and he has taken part in a number of conference calls regarding how a reopening could take place, but the biggest uncertainty is when it can happen, and he notes the numbers of COVID-19 cases and the amount of personal protective equipment and tests will dictate that.  A complicating factor for the Columbia Gorge area is its proximity to the Portland metropolitan area.

The City of White Salmon will begin repairing a water main line this evening (Tuesday).  Customers in the area beginning at Brislawn Road and Highway 141 west will experience a water outage beginning at 7:00 p.m.  This includes the Powerhouse Road and Forester Lane neighborhoods.  White Salmon officials say the water outage was scheduled in the evening to provide the least amount of disruption to customers.  The water will be back on no later than 6:00 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday).  The City is also asking all White Salmon customers to use water sparingly beginning at 7:00 p.m. in order to ensure that water remains in the city’s reservoirs.  If you have any questions regarding the water outage call 509-774-7280.  

A workgroup has begun to meet in Hood River County to discuss a reopening plan for the County.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel said during a County Commission meeting on Monday that the workgroup held its first session earlier in the day with representatives from County administration, emergency operations, the City of Hood River, Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, and One Community Health, with an expectation of having a representative from Cascade Locks for future meetings.  Hecksel the initial meeting focused on the process to move forward and begin to develop a plan around the state’s framework.  Hecksel said the goal is to have a plan ready in one-and-a-half to two weeks.  They plan to meet again on Wednesday at 2 p.m.  Hecksel noted they have not yet received a template from the state to follow in developing reopening plans.

The Dalles City Manager Julie Krueger says the City is experiencing reduced revenue for the current fiscal year and what is proposed for the next one due to a loss of transient room tax revenue during the pandemic.  Krueger told Councilors during a Monday afternoon meeting they and the municipal budget committee will be receiving data to explain how staff will propose to make budget adjustments.  There will also be a special line item for economic recovery included in the 2020-21 fiscal year budget.  Krueger says what kind of help the City may have available isn’t known yet, but including the line item will allow any funds to be accounted for without having to do an amended budget.  

Skamania County has reported a death from COVID-19, its first and the fifth in Mid-Columbia counties since the pandemic began.  A Wasco County resident died on Friday from the disease.  The other three deaths from the coronavirus previously reported in Mid-Columbia counties were all in Klickitat County.  Skamania County’s numbers also moved its number of positive COVID-19 cases to four.  Klickitat County remains at 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases, Wasco County 12, Hood River County five, and Sherman County one.  Oregon reported 43 new cases on Monday, bringing the state total to 2,354, and one death for a total of 92.  Washington’s latest report showed 13,521 positive COVID-19 cases, and 749 deaths.