Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties are trying to determine their options as PacificSource seeks a 30 percent cut in the payments it provides for mental and behavioral health services to Mid-Columbia Center for Living through the Columbia Gorge Coordinated Care Organization. Center for Living Executive Director Al Barton talked to Wasco County Commissioners about the situation on Wednesday, noting the cuts would seriously impact its ability to deliver programs. Barton asked Commissioners to sign on to a letter to PacificSource protesting the cut it proposes in the contract it submitted, and Commission Chair Scott Hege said while they need to do that, they need to take other steps as well. County Administrative Officer Tyler Stone noted this might be an opportunity to seek a new CCO. Barton said Center for Living offered to take a contract that would have a one-ninth reduction in funding, but that was rejected by PacificSource.
No Timeline For Water’s Edge Reopening
Adventist Health Columbia Gorge has gotten about 95 percent of its operations that were housed at Water’s Edge in The Dalles functioning at new locations, but there is no timeline established for re-entering the building. Adventist Administrative and Operations Officer Jayme Thompson told Wasco County Commissioners on Wednesday that they have had conversations with the Oregon Health Authority on code updates and the need to rebuild around those. She does not foresee a quick return, but also doesn’t think it will take 12 months to get back into the building. Water’s Edge suffered serious damage during the severe wind storm the night of December 16. County Commissioners approved a Declaration of Emergency as a result of that storm, which could help provide some funding help for repairs.
Klickitat County Emergency Management Moving To Public Works
Klickitat County’s Emergency Management program is going to move into the Public Works department. County Commissioners gave their verbal approval to the change, which is part of the County’s on-going reorganization efforts. County Administrator Robb Van Cleave said the move is not a performance issue, but a desire to allow the Emergency Management director to focus expertise on a major radio system improvement plan and the challenge of maintaining staffing at the County dispatch center. Van Cleave noted that Public Works has a past history of running the emergency management program in Klickitat County. He also said the intent is to label the program as Klickitat Emergency Communications, in line with similar programs in Washington.
Pinchot Assessing Huckleberry Permit Impacts
Gifford Pinchot National Forest managers are assessing the impacts of a decision last March to not issue commercial huckleberry harvesting permits for the duration of the 2025 season. Forest Service officials made that decision due to overharvesting concerns, enforcement challenges, and escalating conflicts among harvesters. A Commercial Huckleberry Feedback Form is available at the Gifford Pinchot National Forest website to gather feedback to guide decision making for 2026. Huckleberries hold significant cultural and economic importance to tribes, local communities, businesses, and personal use gatherers. In the early 2000s, permitted commercial huckleberry harvesting began on the Pinchot with harvests ranging from 50,000 to 70,000 gallons annually.
Storm Impacted Roads & Trails On Mt. Hood Forest Remain Closed
Recent storms have left some roads and trails on the Mt. Hood National Forest closed. Forest officials say On the Hood River Ranger District, Tamanawas Trail #650A is blocked by multiple slides and completely washed out in one section, making Tamanawas Falls inaccessible via that route. The nearby East Fork Trail #650 has a bridge washout north of Tamanawas Trail, along with additional slide damage and obstructions. On the Zigzag Ranger District, Still Creek Road and Salmon River Road are closed to motor vehicles at the Forest boundary. Multiple landslides completely block both roads and clogged culverts are preventing drainage. Parking is very limited at the Old Salmon River Trailhead. The Salmon Butte and Salmon River Trailheads farther down the road are inaccessible. On the Clackamas River Ranger District, Forest Roads 63 and 70 are closed to motor vehicles, as well as all other roads west and south of Forest Road 46. Portions of FR 45 are also closed. Bagby Hot Springs is inaccessible and closed to public access. Oregon State Highway 224 remains closed east of Estacada, temporarily limiting access to any Forest roads beyond that point. Downed trees and slides are expected to continue over the next month. Forest staff will continue to assess conditions and update closures as conditions stabilize. Many roads may remain closed through spring.
January 6 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
LaCenter 78, Columbia 57
South Wasco 84, Trout Lake 34
Horizon Christian 54, Dufur 36
Sherman 60, Condon 51
Ione-Arlington 72, Lyle-Wishram 53
Girls Basketball
Trout Lake 38, South Wasco 28
Dufur 67, Horizon Christian 9
Sherman 33, Condon 29
Dog Ordinance Takes Effect In The Dalles Wednesday
The updated dog control ordinance in the City of The Dalles goes into effect on Wednesday. It includes a requirement that dogs must be in the control of their keeper when off the owner’s premises, which the City says generally means dogs must be on a leash and not allowed to run at large, except in locations or situations where off-leash use is specifically permitted by law. The ordinance establishes limits on the number of adult dogs at four in a single-family residence, and two in a duplex, multi-family, or other dwelling type. Those with more dogs before the new limits were established can file a non-conforming dog declaration available at the City of The Dalles website by March 8, while also getting each dog licensed by July 1. All adult dogs kept within The Dalles city limits will need to be licensed by July 1, which requires a current rabies vaccination. The City Council will be approving dog licensing fees at its January 26 meeting as part of the adoption of a municipal fee schedule.
HR Planning Commission Denies Hotel Site Plan
By a three-to-two vote, the Hood River City Planning Commission voted down a site plan review application to build a 135-room hotel on the site of the former Hood River News building at 419 State Street. The proposal by applicant Line 29 Architecture had brought out significant opposition at a December public hearing for a myriad of reasons, most notably for traffic, parking, and building height concerns. Mike Kitts and Zac Lytle also voted no, while Bonifacio Romero and Kate Hoffman voted yes. It is expected the decision will be appealed to the Hood River City Council.
NORCOR Says It’s In Compliance With State Law
Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility officials say an internal audit found the facility is in full compliance with Oregon law and found no violations. The finding comes after NORCOR’s Sheriff’s Advisory Board asked for the audit to verify that no individuals are being held for federal immigration administrative violations, in accordance with Oregon’s sanctuary statues. In a statement, NORCOR officials said three individuals were identified as being held on federal charges of illegal re-entry and dangerous drugs, but met all legal requirements for custody under Oregon law. However, the Advisory Board and NORCOR command have coordinated with the U.S. Marshals Service to transfer the trio to a different facility, and also advised the Marshals Service that individuals facing illegal re-entry charges are not be transported to NORCOR moving forward. The Sheriff’s Advisory Board is made up of the sheriffs of the four counties that operate the regional jail.
Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Reaches 24-Hour Patrol
The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office says for the first time in more than a decade, it will have 24-hour patrol coverage starting this year. Sheriff Summer Scheyer says she worked with the Skamania County Sheriff’s Guild contract negotiators to create a new schedule for deputies, allow for 24-hour coverage and safer working conditions for patrol through strategic staffing. Scheyer says getting back to 24-hour patrol staffing has been a priority. She says the new schedule will reduce overtime for callouts during times when deputies were not staffed, provide quicker response times, and create a greater deterrent for crimes during the window where deputies were not present.