A4   Wednesday, March 4, 2020
The Dalles Chronicle
TheDallesChronicle.com
REGIONAL NEWS
Columbia Gorge CASA
welcomes new volunteers
Exit 63, shown, and Exit 64, on Interstate 84 in Hood River will be
under construction starting March 2. This is the view from Second
Street looking east toward exit 64.
Kirby Neumann-Rea photo
ODOT starts
work on 1-84
between exits
63-64 this week
Repairs began March 2 to
the aging bridges that carry
Interstate 84 across Hood
River. That will mean around-
the-clock single lane closures
in both directions and ramp
closures.
The concrete decks are
deteriorating on the I-84
structures over Hood River
between exits 63 and 64. The
repairs will increase their
lifespans and safety. Work
will take place in phases to
minimize impacts during the
peak summer travel season.
Phase one runs March
through May 2020; phase
two continues September
through November 2020 and
phase three will be January
through May 2021.
In between phases, traffic
impacts will be minimized,
but some work may still
occur.
Additional ODOT
advisories
One lane in both
directions of I-84 will be
closed 24/7 during each
phase of construction.
Expect traffic shifts
with reduced lane and
shoulder widths.
Speed limits in the
work zone will be reduced
to 50 mph during con-
struction. Watch out for
the workers.
Expect night-
time ramp closures of
on- and off-ramps at Exit
63 (toward Hood River
City Center) and Exit 64
(toward Oregon 35, White
Salmon and Government
Camp).
The ramps will periodi-
cally close from 10 p.m. to
5 a.m., Monday through
Thursday nights, primarily
at the beginning and end
of each phase. Travelers
should use an alternate
route.
Cyclists using the
shoulder of I-84 will need
to use an alternate route
during construction.
Pedestrians can continue
using the overcrossings and
trails under I-84 with minor
delays.
Check TripCheck.com for
up-to-date traffic impacts
during construction.
Columbia Gorge CASA
(Court Appointed Special
Advocates) has introduced
their newest child advocates:
John Fisher, The Dalles;
Marianna Roberts and
Emily Anderson, Mosier;
Jackie Selevan and Carol
Beamer, White Salmon; and
Stephanie Pate and Ed Drew,
Hood River.
After completing 36 hours
of profession training, the
group was sworn into duty by
the Honorable John A. Olson
on Feb. 20.
Olson welcomed the
newest advocates and subse-
quently described many of
the attributes he feels CASAs
bring to the court, and perti-
nent information concerning
a child CASAs bring to the
court’s attention.
Appointed and empow-
ered directly by the courts,
CASA volunteers advocate
for a child’s best interest by
providing critical informa-
tion to judges about the
child’s needs and well-being
to help the judge make the
most well-informed decision.
The CASA model was created
more than 40 years ago
and CASA programs have
established themselves and
their volunteers as trusted
partners with the courts and
New CASA  volunteers recently sworn in are, left to right, Marianna Roberts, Stephanie Pate, Jackie
Selevan, John Fisher, Judge John A. Olson, Ed Drew, Carol Beamer and Emily Anderson. Contributed photo
child welfare professionals.
On any given day, there
are nearly 443,000 children
in foster care in the United
States, served by more than
93,000 dedicated CASA vol-
unteers, said a press release.
On average, nationally,
children remain in state care
for nearly two years and six
percent of children in foster
care have languished there
for five or more years. Among
these children, around 200
are available for adoption
and waiting for adoptive
families in Oregon, according
to AdoptUSKids.
Columbia Gorge CASA
serves children in Hood
River, Wasco and Sherman
counties, with the mission to
Horizon Christian School invites you to an:
OPEN
HOUSE
FREE PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Saturday, March 14th
8:30-11:00am
For more information
Search for the project,
officially titled “I-84: Hood River
Bridges Repair,” in ODOT’s proj-
ect list at www.oregon.gov/odot/
Projects/Pages/default.aspx.
Classroom & Student Activities Expo
Bilingual Campus Tours
Kindergarten Roundup 9:30-10:30a
advocate for the needs and
well-being of children in fos-
ter care through profession-
ally trained and supported
community volunteers.
New advocate training
sessions will begin in April.
To learn more about the
CASA program, contact
Michelle Mayfield, train-
ing coordinator, or Susan
Baldwin, volunteer manager,
at 541-386-3468 or www.
gorgecasa.org.
Ride
THE LINK
Public Transit
ONLY
$ 50
1
one
way
The Dalles Bus Stops
• The Dalles Transit Center • Near Goodwill
• Columbia Gorge Community College
• Mid Columbia Medical Center
• Veterans Service Offi ce
700 Pacific Ave - Hood River, OR
541.387.3200
Call 541-296-7595
MCEDD.org/linktransit
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