Wednesday,June2,2021 Columbia Gorge News www.columbiagorgenews.com 7 OBITUARIES PA I D N O T I C E S Venita Shaw Venita Shaw was born in Sayre, Okla., in the summer, July 17, 1943, to Leonard and Marie Mahan. The family moved to Arkansas for a few years before relocating to Bakersfield, Calif. Her father accepted a job on The Dalles Dam and this is were she resided until she passed away on April 10, 2021. She married Artie Shaw in July 1961. The Venita Shaw couple raised three daughters in their home on East 15th St. She is best known for her ser- vice at The Dalles family practice, working three decades as Dr. Peruzzo’s medical assistant. Venita loved being a mother and grandma. She was a dedicated sports fan and was known to travel all over Oregon as not to miss her grandchildren’s events. Venita leaves behind her daughters Amy Jensen (Dan), Tracy Keyser (Jeremi), Kelly Freeland (Brent), and Heather Thomson, whom she loved as a daughter; grandchildren Emma, Alex, Cody (Ashlie), Josh, Spring, Spencer and Ben; as well as several cousins she adored. She was preceded in death by her husband, Artie Shaw, parents, Leonard and Marie Mahan and her only sibling, Jim Mahan. A casual celebration of life will be held at Sorosis Park in The Dalles, Ore., on June 5 at 11 a.m. DEATHS AND SERVICES Joseph Hugh Pratt died March 16, 2021, in Columbia, S.C. Joseph was born on Aug. 5, 1978, and was 42 years of age at the time of his passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center, The Dalles. Visit www. AndersonsTributeCenter. com to leave a note of condo- lence for the family. Sara “Lilly” Ellsworth died April 17, 2021, at her home in The Dalles, Ore. Lilly was born on Jan. 23, 1953, and was 68 years of age at the time of her passing. A celebration of life ser- vice will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 6 at The Dalles Civic Auditorium, 323 E. Fourth St., The Dalles, with arrangements under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center. Visit www. AndersonsTributeCenter. com to leave a note of condolence for the family. Mary Ishimaru died May 9, 2021, at her home in Hood River, Ore. Mary was born on Nov. 29, 1922, and was 98 years of age at the time of her passing. A graveside service is planned for 10 a.m. on Friday, June 25 at Idlewilde Cemetery, 980 Tucker Road, Hood River, with arrangements under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center. Visit www. AndersonsTributeCenter. com to leave a note of condo- lence for the family. Lawrence Goudy Jr., age 53, a resident of The Dalles, Ore., died at a local hospital May 19, 2021. Services have been held, and he was laid to rest at Toppenish Creek Cemetery, White Swan, Wash. Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements. Robert Anthony Wojtecki III, age 20, a resident of The Dalles, Ore., died May 20, 2021. Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements. A family directed candlelight vigil was heldMay 28 at Sorosis Park, The Dalles. A celebration of life will be held at a later date, with details on the Spencer, Libby & Powell website once finalized. David Carl Pratt died May 21, 2021, in The Dalles, Ore. David was born on Jan. 12, 1948, and was 73 years of age at the time of his passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center, The Dalles. Visit www. AndersonsTributeCenter. com to leave a note of condo- lence for the family. Edward Lee Stone, age 61, a resident of Eugene, Ore., died at a local hospital May 21, 2021. Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements. Lynnora O'Meara, age 72, a resident of The Dalles, Ore., died May 24, 2021. Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrange- ments. A family directed memorial will be held at a later date, with information posted on the Spencer, Libby & Powell website once details are finalized. Catherine Ann Hickman, age 64, a resident of The Dalles, Ore., died at home May 25, 2021. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements. James Wesley, age 59, passed away at Mid- Columbia Medical Center May 28, 2021. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements. GORGE NEWS Travel Oregon makes local grants Travel in the Mount Hood and Columbia River Gorge areas decreased significantly in 2020, with travel spending down 41.6 percent compared to 2019. According to Travel Oregon, a state tourism agency, 2019 figures show $446.7 million in travel-re- lated expenditures in 2019, compared to $260.9 million in 2020. Employment directly related to travel declined 19 percent from 2019, with roughly 4,300 jobs in 2020. This spring, Travel Oregon has awarded more than $2.4 million in grants for projects that promote economic recovery across the state. Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood region grants include: • The City of Maupin will received a $35,443.12 grant to improve outdoor space for dining and physical space for trip preparation for local raft companies. A second grant was awarded to the Maupin Area Chamber Endowment of $100,000 to install a regula- tion eight-lane polyurethane track and related spectator facilities replacing the cur- rent track located on South Wasco County School District property. • Port of Cascade Locks received $99,998 for parking lot and trail improvements to ease congestion on the Easy CLIMB family-friend- ly mountain bike trail in Cascade Locks. • Port of Hood River received $40,000 to im- prove the visitor experience by increasing safety and expanding water access and amenities along the Hood River waterfront. • Port of The Dalles re- ceived $45,230 to improve safety and infrastructure, in- cluding launch ramp repairs and wayfinding enhance- ments at The Dalles Marina. • Mt. Hood Outfitters received $12,760 to con- struct an onsite boat storage building to provide a safer and more efficient way for boat renters to have access to watercraft recreation at Trillium Lake. The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon awarded a total of $2,408,124 through its Competitive & Recovery Grant Program to support economic recovery by investing in projects that enhance and expand the vis- itor experience and prepare communities and visitors for COVID-19 safe travel. For this grant cycle, Travel Oregon received more than 400 applications with a request greater than $18 million. “These projects directly support Oregon’s tour- ism economy, from iconic Oregon attractions like the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, to outdoor trail development, to retrofitting outdoor events to meet public health stan- dards,” said Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon. “Many of these entities have been closed or were un- able to hold their event in the last year because of COVID. Our goal is to support these businesses, events and attractions as they operate safely, restore vibrancy and create economic stability in communities across the state,” Davidson added. The COVID-19 pandem- ic has severely impacted Oregon’s tourism economy. Dean Runyan & Associates’ preliminary Economic Impact of Travel in Oregon report finds that in 2020, employment related to travel declined by 22.1 percent and that total travel spending declined 49.5 percent from $12.8 billion in 2019 to $6.5 billion. Travel Oregon has devel- oped a variety of programs to support recovery in tourism-related and sup- ported industries as part of the state’s larger economic recovery strategy. Comments welcome on Heights’ future Oberst ■ By For Gail Columbia Gorge News The report summarized input from 344 people who answered an online survey Hood River’s Heights-area and attended community residents and users said they gatherings and interviews. Although the online want a livable community survey is closed, comments with improvements that are welcome at cityofho- balance safety with busi- odriver.gov/urban-renewal/ ness access and mixed-use development. the-heights-streetscape-plan. The Heights’ future was the The Heights, for the subject of a report to the city’s purposes of future street Urban Renewal Advisory planning, includes 12th Committee, which met May and 13th streets between 20 to hear the first phase of Belmont/Union streets at the proposed project goals for south end and May Street at the north end. Today, the area, including analy- the neighborhood includes sis and community input. homes, businesses, schools, a hospital and other public buildings. As part of State Highway 281, it connects downtown Hood River with the Hood River Valley and the farms, forests, parks and trails that feed into it. Initial community input called for slowing traffic, creating safer intersections, promoting livability, sup- porting local businesses and improving safety for walkers, bikers and drivers. The consultant team said that they got some input from the local Latinx community, but they still hope for more. They are also seeking addi- tional suggestions from busi- ness and property owners in the Heights. The plan, once completed, will help inform future im- provements to intersections, sidewalks, streets, parking and housing develop- ment in the Heights. The “Streetscape” plan also in- corporates other city projects now in progress, including “Safe Routes to School” which is reviewing bike and walk routes for youths. Putnam named to Dean’s Honor List Nate Hochman honored at Colorado College Cedarville Student Forrest Putnam of Glenwood, majoring in Mechanical Engineering, was named to the Dean’s Honor List for Spring 2021. This recognition requires the student to obtain a 3.75 grade point average or higher for the semester and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours. Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enroll- ment of 4,550 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Nate Hochman of Hood River was awarded the Edith Bramhall Award at Colorado College’s recent Honor’s Convocation, held online on May 11. Hochman is a member of the Class of 2021. Colorado College is a nationally promi- nent, four-year liberal arts college that operates on the Block Plan, in which students take one class at a time in intensive three-week segments. Gunnerson of graduates from McDaniel College and receives senior award Rachel A. Gunnerson of Hood River earned Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in social work from McDaniel College on May 22. Select graduating seniors also received academic, activity and leadership awards at the virtual awards ceremonies on May 21. Gunnerson was the recipi- ent of The Dr. Mary Ellen Elwell Distinguished Social Work Award. McDaniel College awarded nearly 600 bachelor’s and master’s degrees during the 151st commencement ceremony on May 22. DANIELS health & nutrition main challenges, said Tina Lassen, committee member. The city’s team will con- tinue to collect input from business and residents before drafting goals and reporting to the Hood River Urban Renewal Agency Board for review June 14. Another 10-12 months of planning remain in The Heights project’s three phases. The second phase will use identified goals to create preliminary concepts which will be refined into a preferred plan in the third phase. Cookie cutter funerals? SCHOOL NOTES Quality vitamins and supplements. Additional plans for the Heights call for enhancing the district’s identity as a diverse neighborhood with historic roots as the northern gateway to the city; providing parks that support Heights businesses and neighboring residences; providing trans- portation and infrastructure improvements to enhance safety and efficiency; and enhance housing and neigh- borhood services. Balancing the transpor- tation corridor with the housing and neighborhood concerns will be the group’s Your Friends IN THE BRIGHT RED VANS Expert Service & Reliability Quality Sales & Installation • Maintenance programs • Licensed and Bonded • Over 20 years Experience • Factory trained technicians • Furnaces • Air Conditioning • Heat Pumps • Ductless Mini-Splits and much more! For a limited time only get up to 72 months no interest or 6 months no payments or interest with approved credit on your purchase of a new Heat Pump, AH, or Furnace. 10% off one regular priced item. Serving the Columbia River Gorge Since 1997 NEW LOCATION IN THE DALLES! 918 12th St | Hood River, OR | 541-386-7328 541-296-0701 The Dalles 541-387-3311 Hood River 203004 EHEATHA862KN Not from us. In your time of loss your family has unique needs and is better served with a service that reflects your unique attributes and your unique wishes.