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Wednesday,April21,2021
Columbia Gorge News
www.columbiagorgenews.com
Masking Up
Youth Pfizer
vaccine event
Friday night
"Friday Night
Lights” on April 23
appointment or call 541-506-
2600 if you need assistance.
The health district also
has openings for Moderna
On Monday, all
clinics next week. The Pfizer
Oregonians 16 and older
event has 240 slots and they
become eligible for the
are likely to fill fast. Wasco
COVID-19 vaccine, and on
Friday, April 23, a Pfizer vac- County has 34 percent of the
cine clinic for 16-17 year olds population vaccinated, and
vaccination is the best tool
and their families is set at
Wahtonka Field in The Dalles to end the pandemic. The
county is seeing a third surge
from 4-8 p.m.
in cases, and hopes are that
The vaccine is safe, effec-
increasing vaccination rates
tive, and free, according to
North Central Public Health, will blunt the effect of the
surge. It is still important to
which is organizing the
wear a quality mask, keep
clinic.
distance, ensure indoor
Dubbed “Friday Night
Lights!” the Pfizer event, will spaces are well ventilated,
feature music, free pizza, and and avoid gatherings.
For more information,
prizes. The Pfizer vaccine
visit COVID-19 Vaccine
is the only vaccine autho-
rized for those 16 and older. in Oregon, contact North
North Central Public Health Central Public Health District
District also has the Moderna at 541-506-2600, visit www.
vaccine, which is authorized ncphd.org or find them on
Facebook.
for those 18 and older.
A ground squirrel appears to be struggling to position a face mask over its nose while foraging at Sorosis Park in The Dalles. In reality,
To sign up for the Pfizer
the squirrel was working a strip of paper torn from a food bag between its jaws. It then carried it away to its underground burrow nearby.
event visit www.ncphd.
Mark B. Gibson photo
org/ to book your own
Hood River bridge repairs scheduled; replacement plans move forward
Oberst
■ By For Gail
Columbia Gorge News
While a new bridge awaits
funding amid a flurry of
meetings, studies and re-
ports, the nearly century-old
Hood River/White Salmon
Interstate Bridge will get
some needed repairs this
year.
April 26-30, testing and
repairs to the lift span, which
allows ships to pass under
the bridge, is expected to
delay traffic for up to 30
minutes or more depend-
ing on traffic, according to
Genevieve Scholl, Special
projects manager for the Port
of Hood River. Up to six lifts
are planned per day. No lifts
are planned April 27, but
work crews will be on the
bridge between 9 a.m. and
3 p.m.
Port commissioners
this month also approved
engineering in preparation
for resurfacing the approach
ramps on each side of the
bridge, as well as funds for
underwater inspections of
the structure.
“We want to keep the
current bridge safe and oper-
ational until the new bridge
is in place,” said Michael
McElwee, executive director.
At the same time, commis-
sioners are limiting repairs to
“all but the necessary” until
they secure funding for the
new bridge.
“If we don’t get it,” said
Fred Kowell, the port’s chief
financial officer, “we’ve got
another set of problems.”
Register now for
May 18 election
Tuesday, April 27 is the
last day to register to vote in
the May 18 special district
election.
Citizens can register to
vote or change their polit-
ical party affiliation for the
upcoming election through
April 27. Oregon residents are
encouraged to participate by
registering or updating their
current voter information.
Visit the Wasco County
Elections or Hood River
County web page to find links
to register online, or go to
www.oregonvotes.gov.
You can also download
and print a paper registration
to mail or turn in at your
county clerk’s office.
The Wasco County
Courthouse is located at 511
Washington St., Suite 201 in
The Dalles. Call the elections
office at 541-506-2530 if you
need assistance.
Hood River County resi-
dents can contact the Hood
River County Courthouse, or
call 541-386-1442 to schedule
an appointment. The Hood
River County Courthouse is
located at 601 State St., Hood
River.
•••
Abril 27 es el ultimo día
para registrarse para las
elecciones especiales de
distrito de mayo
El martes, abril 28 es el
ultimo día para que los
ciudadanos se registren para
votar o cambien su afiliación
a un partido politico para las
próximas elecciones espe-
ciales de distrito de mayo. Se
anima a todos los residentes
Del condado de Wasco a
participar registrándose o
CONCEALED CARRY
PERMIT CLASS
actualizando su información
de votante actual. Visite la
página web de elecciones Del
condado de Wasco (www.
co.wasco.or.us/depart-
ments/clerk/voter_registra-
tion_and_absentee_ballots.
php) para encontrar enlaces
para registrarse en línea o
visite www.oregonvotes.gov.
También puede descargar e
imprimir un registro en papel
para enviarlo por correo o
entregarlo en la oficina del
secretario del Condado de
Wasco County.
La oficina Del secretario
Del condado está localizada
en la corte de Wasco County:
511 Washington Street,
Suite 201, The Dalles, OR
97058
Si necesita asistencia,
llame a la oficina de elec-
ciones al 541-506-2530.
Last month’s state-im-
posed weight limits to the
old bridge — reduced from
80,000 to 64,000 pounds for
some vehicles — prompted
commissioners to review of
potential tests and repairs
needed to restore the current
structure to former weight
limits. The limits have already
impacted local and inter-
state truck traffic, including
farmers and construction
contractors, commissioners
said.
The future for a new bridge
remains murky until funding
is in hand — estimates place
costs at $330-390 million
or more to remove the old
and build the new bridge.
Despite the lengthy process,
the environmental and
land-use studies, required
for permitting and federal
clearance, may be complet-
ed in November. The port
staff is also applying this
month for transportation
and stimulus fund grants to
support continuing bridge
work, and commissioners
discussed opportunities for
funding in President Biden’s
proposed infrastructure
bill. The Bi-State Working
Group, of which the port is
a part, April 13 considered
preliminary bridge design
and finance details. Port
staff listed more than a
dozen meetings planned this
month aimed at forwarding
the bridge’s progress. Since
2018, the port has spent
$2.7 million in grant funds
from the state of Oregon on
environmental work. For
more about the preparations,
visit the port’s webpage,
portofhoodriver.com/bridge/
bridge-replacement-project.
Commissioners mulled
other details April 6 at its
spring planning meeting,
among them, the potential
loss of toll income when the
new bridge is in place.
By 2029, if the new bridge
is in place and operational,
the Port may lose an estimat-
ed of $1.7 million per year
in toll revenues, according
to a report from consultant
Steven Siegel.
Siegel was hired to help
commissioners make plans
to offset potential losses.
This year, the commission
has already approved some
measures to shore up its
future budget. Paid parking
on the waterfront and in-
creasing building and hangar
lease rates are among the
measures.
The port plans to adopt its
2021-22 budget by June 15.
LIMITED TIME
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The Dalles
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Restaurant GUIDE
EGG RIVER CAFÉ
“Breakfast of champions” – New York Times
Family friendly. Extensive breakfast
& lunch menus. Organic eggs, omelets
HOOD RIVER TAQUERIA
made with love, pancakes, waffles,
MEXICAN RESTAURANT
skillets, eggs benedict, organic coffee,
Featuring fine authentic Mexican food and
espresso, soups, salads, sandwiches,
cocktails. Spacious outdoor seating.
hamburgers. Full bar available
Closed Tuesdays
Open daily, 6am-2pm
1313 Oak St., Hood River
541-386-1127 | eggrivercafe.com
Only $0.10 a word with a 25 word minimum-
To add your restaurant,
email sales@gorgenews.com
Sun. -Thurs. 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.,
Fri. - Sat. 9:30 am to 10 pm
1210 13th St., on the Heights,
Hood River | 541-387-3300
Advertise your restaurant here!
To add your restaurant,
email sales@gorgenews.com
Cuddle up in the new styles for
your home all at very comfortable prices.
Downey Furniture
Downtown The Dalles | 541-296-2871
Our store is a clean and sanitized shopping environment.