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About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 2020)
Columbia Gorge News www.columbiagorgenews.com Wednesday, October 28, 2020 B5 Sandbar silt plumes Dewey Thomas celebrates 106th birthday Nov. 4. A rare dust event obscures the Washington side of the Columbia River Oct. 19 in these images taken from Hood River Marina beach at about 1:30 p.m. The plume covers part of Hood River bridge, and walkers on Marina Beach are framed against the plume. A parfait of dust, green river water, and beach strata adds drama to the event, which lasted for several hours. High winds blowing straight east picked up silt from the Hood River Sandbar and created a wall of smoke-like sand that stretched all the way to Hood River bridge. The cloud was thick enough on the crossing that cars were observed turning on their headlights. Port offi- cials said over the years, winds have occasionally created dust clouds from the Sandbar and other surfaces, but not in the size, density and duration of Monday’s silt cloud “storm.” The effect was periodically visible over the next few days. Corps of Engineers had drawn down the Columbia River in recent weeks, exposing more of the Sandbar to sun and wind, and the way the dust stayed aloft suggested it con- tained lighter silt material deposited by glacial runoff from Mount Hood in early fall. Kirby Neumann-Rea photos Thomas celebrates 106th birthday Dewey Thomas, a long- time resident of Wasco and now living in The Dalles, is celebrating his 106th birth- day Wednesday, Nov. 3, and the event will be celebrated with a “Birthday Card Party.” Those wishing to join in the celebration are encour- aged to send a card to Dewey Thomas, 1000 Vey Way, Apt. 254, The Dalles OR 97058. Thomas, a veteran of World War II, was honored on Armed Forces Day, May 18, 2019, with a visit from house representative Greg Walden. A video interview was recorded Dewey for the Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center. A memoir, written by Dewey with his daughter, the late Reine Thomas, was also sub- mitted to the project. Thomas was featured in the May 25-26, 2019, edition of The Dalles Chronicle, and prior to that in November, 2014, when he celebrated his 100th birthday. Faced with of a six-tiered birthday cake, Dewey said at the time, “Well, I reckon I can blow out a 100 candles ... I’ve got quite a bit of wind left in me ...” White Salmon Valley School District, Education Foundation, provide free school supplies WHITE SALMON — Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the White Salmon Valley School District and the White Salmon Valley Education Foundation (WSVEF) have collaborated to provide food, household and hygiene items and school supplies to families facing difficult times. So far, needed items have been provided to more than 100 families, thanks to donations from local community members, and from grants from the United Way of the Columbia Gorge, the Joan Burchell Fund of the Gorge Community Foundation, and the Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health. With the start of school and distance learning, a major priority has been to get school supplies such as pencils, pens, notebooks, art supplies, scientific calcu- lators and headphones to children who otherwise could not afford them. “Teachers and families kept asking for school sup- plies,” said Michelle Ward, health and wellness coordi- nator for the school district. “I contacted the secretaries at all our district schools and we worked with teachers and families to compile a list of most-needed items.” After creating this list, WSVEF staff reached out to local businesses for help sourcing items. “We felt it was really important to buy locally, and keep the money in our Gorge communities,” said Amanda Lawrence, execu- tive director of the Education Foundation. “Our local businesses consistently sup- port us with donations and in-kind support. We believe it’s important to buy locally whenever we can to support them as well, and that is especially important during this time.” The bulk of the school supplies were bought Wasco County certifies tax roll, payment due Nov. 16 Wasco County certi- fied the 2020-21 tax roll of $41,932,645.69 on Oct. 8. The tax roll includes 30 districts and three special assessments; one county, six cities, three fire districts, nine general government agen- cies, six school districts, three education service districts and two community colleges. Tax statements were mailed beginning Oct. 16. Value changes Value change comparison prior years to current year: Real Market Value 2018-19: $ 4,096,126,925 2019-20: $ 4,203,357,517 2020-21: $ 4,788,502,962 Tax Assessed Value 2018-19: $ 2,349,008,057 2019-20: $ 2,433,810,936 2020-21: $ 2,540,752,482 Taxes Imposed 2018-19: $ 39,985,712.28 2019-20 $ 42,031,310.46 2020-21 $ 41,932,645.69 One of the changes this year is a noticeable decrease in the taxes imposed. This is due mainly to the retire- ment of District 12 School Bonds. The bond levied $1,863,862.03 for the prior 2019-20 year, a noticeable difference compared to the current year taxes levied minus the bond. Tax payments are due Nov. 16 this year, due to the 15th falling on Sunday. Payment in full by Nov. 16 receives a three percent discount. If mailing, it must be post- marked Nov. 16. Paying 2/3 by Nov. 16 receives a two percent dis- count. A 1/3 payment does not receive a discount. Installment payment op- tions are due on Nov. 16, Feb. 15, 2021 and May 17, 2021. Pandemic changes In an effort to prevent, slow and stop the spread of the coronavirus, customer service will continue to look different this year. Residents are asked to utilize one of the following Blazing Fast Internet! ADD TO YOUR PACKAGE FOR ONLY 19 . 99 $ /mo. where available 2-YEAR TV PRICE GUARANTEE America’s Top 120 Package MO. 190 CHANNELS for 12 Mos. Including Local Channels! CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card Promo Code: DISH100 1-866-373-9175 Offer ends 1/31/21. All offers require credit qualification, 24-month commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification. options for tax payments during this time: • A new payment drop box has been installed outside of the Wasco County Courthouse on Fifth Street to assist taxpayers during this time of COVID-19 to contin- ue our efforts in protecting the health and safety of our employees and the public. Additional payment op- tions are: • Payment drop slot in the door, Room 208, at the court- house, 511 Washington St. • Mail to US Bank Processing Center in Portland. Payment cou- pon on the tax statement included. • If you typically pay in cash, we ask that you con- sider exchanging cash for a money order and mail your payment. • Online payment options are also available. Online payment option includes E –Check payment, with a flat $2. Credit card payments, with a 2.5 percent fee charged of tax paid (paid to the service provider, not Wasco County). You can also pay by phone at 844-435-3978. The online payment portal isco.wasco.or.us/depart- ments/assessment_and_tax- ation/index.php, click on “online payments.” Questions Those with tax or value questions, visit the new tax information service online at co.wasco.or.us/depart- ments/assessment_and_tax- ation/index.php, click on “Ascend Web.” Informational videos also available. The payment coupon must be mailed with your payment to US Bank payment process- ing center as it has a unique bar code for your payment. Questions can also be addressed to: Value questions, 541-506- 2510; tax questions, 541-506- 2540; or email assessor@ co.wasco.or.us. Imagine The Difference You Can Make DONATE YOUR CAR 1-844-533-9173 through Hood River Stationers, who provided a discount. Some tech items, such as headphones, were bought through Staples in The Dalles, which also pro- vided discounted pricing. Ward is leading efforts to provide school supplies to families, and had this story to share: “A local mom was telling me that her child has a sen- sory processing disorder and is really sensitive to sounds and textures. The family lives where there is current con- struction going on, and the noise has been affecting the child and her online school work. I told them I had some noise canceling headphones that I would love to give them. The little girl was so excited and her Mom was a little teary and kept thanking me and saying that those are so expensive, and she was wanting to get some but couldn’t afford them.” Families who have stu- dents enrolled in the White Salmon public schools and need help with food, household/hygiene supplies and/or school supplies may contact Ward at michelle. ward@whitesalmonschools. org. To donate to the White Salmon Valley Education Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund, visit www. wsvef.org or contact Amanda Lawrence at amanda@wsvef. org. 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