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About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (July 7, 2021)
INDEX Hydro Flask fundraiser helps migrant workers — A9 Classifieds B7-8 History B6 Kidspace B14 Obituaries A7-8 Opinion A4-5 PoliceLogs B5 PublicNotices B9-10 SeniorLiving B3 Sports A14-15 ThroughtheEyesofanElder A16 What'sHappening B5 Sports — A14-15 4-H shares history with Hood River Co. Fair — B1 Weather Notashotaslastweek— highof102inTheDalles Sunday,week-longaverages in90s,breezyWednesday Fourth of July photos: White Salmon, Hood River and The Dalles — A13 and online Columbia Gorge News HOOD RIVER | THE DALLES | WHITE SALMON Wednesday,July7,2021 Volume2,Issue14 Celebrating the Fourth $1.00 FIRE WATCH Wildfire response ‘working’ By Mark Gibson ■ Columbia Gorge News Fort Dalles Fourth firework watch- ers gather on the intersection of Union Street and the Riverfront Trail to watch the firework show over the Columbia River Sunday evening, July 4. Additional photos, page A13. Mark B. Gibson photo Riverside Riders 4-H Club member Kasia Hylton drives fellow member Colt Lawson in a red, white, and blue-themed John Deere down Jewett Boulevard in White Salmon. The Goonies Motorsports Tail End Support Team, driven by the two young- sters, won the contest for Most Patriotic Vehicle in the White Salmon Fourth of July Parade and Celebration in the Park. Jacob Bertram photo Swimming with the apps Local nonprofit helps you swim without fear Oberst ■ By For Gail Columbia Gorge News There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than to splash in the cool Columbia River or the falls and streams that feed into it. But before you dive, take a minute to research your favorite swimming hole. If you like to dive with a mouth-wide-open smile on your face, you could emerge from the water with more than a cool attitude. Drinking water where unhealthy levels of the E. coli bacteria occur can cause diarrhea, nausea and fever. Although the E. coli bacteria lives in every healthy warm-blood- ed animal’s gut and often ends up in local waters, some types of fecal matter, when ingested, can cause illness in humans. SeeFIRE,page3 Columbia Riverkeeper Director Lorri Epstein, at left, closely examines a sample of river water at the Hood River Spit. The lab needs 100 mg of water for the best possible sample. Signs like the one above can be seen at recreation sites throughout the Gorge where samples have returned elevated levels of contamination. Noah Noteboom photos So, how do you play in the summer without getting sick? Not swim? Of course not. Water is The Gorge’s raison d’etre. Lorri Epstein to the rescue, a fish biologist and water quality director for Columbia Riverkeeper, in Hood River. Among other work, Epstein is tasked with testing the waters in and around the Columbia River for E. coli bacteria. She then posts her findings to the public Swim Guide app and website, allowing locals — and visitors — to make healthy choices around where they swim. The guide is at www. theswimguide.org. Epstein since 2009 has been test- ing local waters for the nonprofit SeeWATER,page11 States lift COVID restrictions Report ■ Staff Columbia Gorge News Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has signed an executive order to lift all COVID-19 health and safety re- strictions, which includes Oregon’s statewide mask mandate and county risk level system, effective June 30. There will no longer be restric- tions in place on physical distanc- ing or capacity limits, as previously outlined in the county risk level system. However, masks will still be required in certain setting such as airports, public transportation, and health care facilities. Currently, 69.5% of Oregon res- idents 18 and over have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. “It is because of this success that we can move Oregon forward, and into the next chapter of this pandemic,” Brown said. “We are ready.” In a letter to the editor July 2, Dr. Mimi McDonell, health officer for North Central Public Health District, noted the pandemic was not, however, over. “I am incredibly grateful and proud of the compassion, inge- nuity, hard work and generosity shown by the residents of our community,” she wrote. “It is important to remember, however, that although we feel very done with COVID-19, it is not quite done with us. Although low in numbers, infections and hospital- izations from COVID-19 are still happening, with the vast majority occurring in unvaccinated people. Children under 12 and some indi- viduals are unable to receive the vaccine at this time, leaving them susceptible to infection. Those who are immune-compromised may be vulnerable to infection even after being vaccinated. “Finally, there are still SeeCOVID,page8 Plans begin for homeless shelter in TD Site sought for new $1.5 million ‘navigation center’ to serve multiple local agencies One Community Health, he said. would serve as a multi-agency House Bill 5006, the budget By Alana Lackner ■ Columbia Gorge News He believes it will be a worthwhile service site, as well as a homeless reconciliation bill, which award- THE DALLES — The Mid- Columbia Community Action Council recently received $1.5 million for the development of a navigation center in The Dalles. MCCAC Executive Director Kenny LaPoint spoke at the city council meeting on June 28 and said that the navigation center When the Valley View Fire (also called the Sunset Valley Fire) was first reported July 1, conditions where reminiscent of those facing firefighters during the Substation Fire of 2018. Both fires started within 1/2 mile of each other, were driven by high winbds into dry fuels. The Substation Fire fire con- sumed almost 80,000 acres in Wasco and Sherman counties, and destroyed four homes and four outbuildings. At its height, it was the nation’s “top priority” wildfire due to the number of at risk. The Valley View Fire, in contrast, was held to 987 acres, damaged one barn, several out- buildings, multiple vehicles and a portion of a cherry orchard. Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Chief Bob Palmer credited local response and the quick work of the Oregon Fire Marshall’s Office with the difference. “Without the resources we had today, including the three addi- tional task forces and air support from OSFM, we would not have stopped it as quickly and the fire would have grown much larger,” said Palmer. “What the state is shelter. The current shelter would move to the new building, LaPoint said, as would many local agencies. The MCCAC still has to find a location for the navigation cen- ter, LaPoint said. “We’re looking throughout The Dalles to find a site that will work for this project,” he said. The funds come from Oregon ed millions of dollars to agencies across the state. Despite the $1.5 million from HB 5006, LaPoint said the MCCAC foresees needing more funding for full completion of the project. Multiple local organizations have already pledged money to the project, including the Mid- Columbia Center for Living and endeavor for the community in the long-run. “It’s really good news for this community,” LaPoint said. “It’s go- ing to get a resource into The Dalles that we have probably needed for a really long time and Mid-Columbia Community Action is very excited to take the lead on this project.” Policy addresses mental, emotional health By Jacob Bertram ■ Columbia Gorge News WHITE SALMON — It’s all come full cir- cle for Gabrielle Gilbert. After advo- cating locally for years to see pol- Gabrielle icy changes im- Gilbert plemented in the White Salmon Valley School District that would address students’ social and emotional learning needs, Gilbert’s overall goal for taking the policy statewide culminated in a state bill signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee last year that will take effect by the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. According to the Washington Office of Superintendent of SeeGILBERT,page11 Contact Us at 541-386-1234 541-296-2141 delivery: Subscribe@gorgenews.com news tips: News@gorgenews.com place an ad: Sales@gorgenews.com Stay connected Facebook.com/columbiagorgenews Twitter.com/gorge_news