Construction of improved traffic controls at the intersection of West Second and Cherry Heights in The Dalles will begin on Tuesday, and is expected to be completed by mid-July.  The new traffic controls will eliminate the left-turn and straight-through movements from Cherry Heights Road and the AutoZone parking lot onto West Second Street.  Raised concrete medians and islands within the roadways will direct traffic safely and with less delay.  Similar traffic controls are in place near Fred Meyer on both West Sixth Street and on Cherry Heights Road.  The project will also provide for construction of pedestrian crossings and driver warning systems at the intersection.  The City expects this project to reduce delays and improve safety, even though it also may result in more out-of-direction travel for some drivers.  Project information will be posted at thedalles.org/transportation.

The Columbia Gorge Veterans Museum is looking for a new home after the sale of the building it is located in downtown The Dalles was sold.  In a statement from the museum’s board, they said they are hoping to find someone to step forward with an appropriate space for the Museum to continue to operate, but they are in a time crunch.  The museum has to be out of its current location by July 31.  The facility currently occupies about 875 square feet.  Those who would like to help can visit the museum at 205 East 2nd in The Dalles between noon and 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.  The Columbia Gorge Veterans Museum is entirely supported by donations and volunteer efforts, with no paid employees.

The departments of fish and wildlife from Oregon and Washington decided not to set additional spring Chinook salmon fishing on the mainstem Columbia River.  A public hearing earlier this week found there were concerns about hatcheries throughout the interior basin being able to meet broodstock collection targets, and public testimony from recreational and commercial interests overwhelming supported keeping fisheries closed.  Preseason, the 2020 upriver spring Chinook return was forecasted to be very poor, and in-season information is showing that is the case, on track for the lowest return since 1999.  Recreational steelhead and shad fishing remain open on portions of the Columbia under permanent rules, and the fishery managers again made a plea to anglers to stay close to home, to observe social-distancing, avoid crowding and maintain sanitary conditions.

The Hood River County Budget Committee met on Wednesday, one day after voters in the County approved a five-year, 78-cents-per-thousand dollars of assessed property value local option levy for public safety.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says the committee gave direction to have staff go back through the budget and add back in items that would have been eliminated had the levy failed and adding some things that were included in the levy.  Hecksel noted impacts of the pandemic have the potential to change some aspects of the budget, but he doesn’t expect that would be significant.  The budget committee’s next meeting will be May 29.  

The Hood River County Library District will begin offering curbside services and library material returns at the main Hood River Library on Thursday, May 28, and the Cascade Locks and Parkdale branches on Saturday, May 30.  Cardholders may reserve and pick up books, movies and more, all while practicing physical distancing.  Curbside Pickup Services will be scheduled at the Hood River Library Tuesdays through Thursdays from noon to 6 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at the Cascade Locks and Parkdale branches Tuesdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  In order to pick up materials through this service, library patrons will be asked to place holds on their library cards through the library’s online catalog or by calling the branches directly.  For information, go to hoodriverlibrary.org.

For a third straight day on Wednesday there were no new positive COVID-19 tests reported in Mid-Columbia counties.  Klickitat County is at 24 with 21 in the central part of the County.  Wasco County remains at 18, Hood River County 14, Skamania County 3, and Sherman County 1.  The Oregon Health Authority reported 65 new confirmed and 10 presumptive COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the state total to 3,801.  Four deaths from COVID-19 were reported in Oregon’s Wednesday statistics, moving that total to 144.  The Washington State Department of Health reported the number of deaths in Washington because of the coronavirus went up by six on Wednesday to 1,037.  It listed the total number of confirmed cases at 18,971, up 160 on Wednesday.

North Central Public Health District officials briefed County Commissioners on the latest in their efforts against COVID-19 as reopening occurs.  District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell said one of the messages they are trying to emphasize the difference between going to a location like the grocery store as compared to trying to go to a bar or other location where people congregate in tight quarters for a period of time and risk of exposure increases.  District Director Teri Thalofer says she would like to see more mask wearing in public, adding it’s about protecting your neighbor and community members.  Thalofer also said that working with community partners has prepared them as well as they can be for the beginning of cherry harvest and the influx of workers that will arrive in the region.

The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency Board has approved formally turning over ownership of the Granada Theatre in downtown The Dalles to Chuck and Debra Gomez.  The couple entered into a Disposition and Development Agreement with the URA in March 2017 to purchase the building for $60,000 while also making an estimated $300,000 in improvements.  Urban Renewal Manager Steve Harris told the agency board those terms have been met.  The purchase will be finalized upon receipt of supporting documents for the improvement work that has been done.

The White Salmon Valley School District expects to be able to announce some plans for graduation sometime next week.  The district’s ceremonies are scheduled for June 13.  Superintendent Jerry Lewis says they have received guidance from the state depending on whether Klickitat County remains in phase 1 of reopening as it is now or gets to move up to phase 2.  Lewis said they are working on plans to honor graduates in some way, including posters of students to put up around the community.  Lewis also said they will be probably have two plans depending on which phase Klickitat County will be in on June 13.

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Manager Lynn Burditt told Wasco County Commissioners on Wednesday that the plan of public land agencies is to keep access to their recreation lands restricted through the Memorial Day weekend.  Burditt says various agencies continue to work to coordinate their strategies for reopening recreation opportunities.  She told the Commission that a number of agencies still have steps to take to be ready to open safely, but on the Oregon side of the river they are tentatively looking at easing restrictions on most day-use areas east of the Eagle Creek Closure this coming Wednesday.  On the Washington side of the Columbia Burditt said they are looking at easing restrictions on most day-use sites except Beacon Rock State Trail and Dog Mountain Trailhead.  She also said a few Corps of Engineers day-use sites will be delayed from opening.