•
HRV Grad
Takes GOLD
The Gorge
Community
Responds to
COVID-19
page 7
page 2
A joint publication of the Hood River News and The Dalles Chronicle
www.hoodrivernews.com | www.thedalleschronicle.com
March 28-29, 2020 Volume 1, Issue 1 $1.00
Two Gorge Quilters and Scott McKay, director of the Mid-Columbia Senior
Center in The Dalles, are pictured — standing six feet apart — with masks the
quilting group is making and distributing to Meals on Wheels drivers and others.
Contributed photo
Protective
gear
needed
Precautions increase
as COVID-19 spreads
Caution tape wraps around the playground at Thompson Park in The Dalles, closed by statewide mandates. Park facilities
are closed, but most parks are available to pedestrians seeking to get outside.
Photo by Mak B. Gibson
Protection Equipment
donated — and created
-- in three new efforts
Fitzgerald
■ By News Emily
staff writer
As COVID-19 continues to
spread, local agencies have ramped
up their efforts to enforce social dis-
tancing guidelines while supporting
their communities through the
pandemic.
While Oregon Health Authority
has confirmed a total of 266 cases of
COVID-19 — including 10 fatalities
— throughout the State of Oregon
since the start of the outbreak,
Hood River and Wasco counties
had no cases to contribute to those
rising numbers until this week.
Wasco County had its first pre-
sumptive positive case of COVID-19
confirmed the evening of March 25
out of the Oregon Veterans’ Home
in The Dalles. The individual, a male
resident in the 60-80 age range, had
no known contact with a confirmed
case and had not traveled to a coun-
try where the virus is circulating,
so the case is being investigated as
a community-acquired case, said
an Oregon Health Authority press
release. They have been in isolation
since March 19.
“On behalf of North Central
Public Health District, I would like
to extend support to those affected
by the diagnosis of COVID-19 in this
beloved individual who served our
country, and to commend the in-
credible work of the staff of Oregon
Veterans’ Home in The Dalles. They
have worked diligently and tireless-
ly to care for their residents,” said
Dr. Miriam McDonell, health officer
for North Central Public Health
District.
“We are doing our utmost to
combat the spread of this dis-
ease, and to provide information,
resources and guidance to all
in Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam
counties, “ McDonell said. “In these
times of uncertainty and hardship, I
know the compassion and integrity
of our residents will enable us to
protect our most vulnerable, and
provide help to any neighbors in
need.”
Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam
counties have formed a Unified
Command to respond to the many
challenges COVID-19 brings to
the residents of these counties;
Hood River County has activated
the Emergency Operations Center
(EOC) to support local partner
agencies and community members.
Hood River County confirmed
its first COVID-19 case Sunday
afternoon.
The patient is an adult, county
officials confirmed, but no further
identifying information has been
released due to concerns for the
patient’s privacy. “As we have seen
in other communities throughout
the world, more cases will likely be
identified in the coming weeks,”
said the health department in an
official release.
Hood River County Chair Mike
Oates, City of Hood River Mayor
Kate McBride, and City of Cascade
Locks Mayor Tom Cramblett is-
sued a joint statement Wednesday
endorsing Gov. Kate Brown’s
March 23 “Stay Home, Save Lives”
order and calling residents to fol-
low social distancing protocols.
“ALL OF US ARE RESPONSIBLE
for limiting contacts and stopping
person-to-person transmission of
the virus. The sacrifices required
of our local businesses have been
significant and painful. We will
only get through this and get ev-
eryone back to work by preventing
the spread of this virus,” reads the
statement. “…We will get through
this together. Our spirits have been
lifted by the generous and resilient
spirit of our community during the
See COVID-19, page 16
building. Donations will be accept-
ed on the exterior of the building to
limit exposure indoors and practice
safe distancing.
“The community has real-
ly stepped up and the Health
Department is trying to imple-
ment this in the most efficient way
Local doctors are supporting
possible,” Van Tilburg said. “We’re
the Hood River County Health
Department by conducting dona- reserving all these PPE (donated)
for health care providers and first
tion drop-offs three times a week
responders. The Health Department
for masks, gowns, and other pro-
has done a couple of rounds of PPE
tective gear used in the medical
distribution. Community distri-
and first response fields.
Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg,
bution will go into the next round
county health officer, is overseeing of distribution, which will be next
the stockpiling and distribution
week,” he said Thursday.
of PPEs, to relieve a Gorge-
Organizers are also reaching out
wide shortage in the face of the
to industries to donate gear.
COVID-19 outbreak and rising
demand for PPE.
Makers, funders step up
“Currently, our supplies are
running low and we are asking
In addition to the donation
for help from the community
effort, what amounts to a three-part
with PPE donations,” said Dr.
rallying of forces to create new PPE
Christopher Swisher, a Hood River is underway in the Gorge, under the
pediatric dentist. “These dona-
aegis of Van Tilburg and Hood River
County Health.
tions will help protect our first
Gorge Makers Collective is a new-
responders. We are looking for any
PPE equipment, but are specifi-
ly-formed volunteer group formed
due to a shortage of medical masks
cally short of masks, gowns, and
gloves. Respirators and N95 masks during the COVID-19 crisis, for
are the most protective masks for creating specially-designed cloth
masks for health care providers and
first responders.”
other seeking facial protection. A
The program is accepting
group of local residents have band-
used and new masks and other
equipment Monday, Wednesday
ed together to create the masks and
and Friday, 1-2 p.m., until further to form teams of cutters and sewers.
notice at the Hood River County
The home of Kirk and Cherie Zack
building, on Sixth and State, in
is pickup point for materials. For
downtown Hood River.
details see the group’s Facebook
PPE donations days start March
See GEAR, page 16
27 at the Hood River County
Some pantries close, food distribution continues
Food banks continue
operation in Hood
River, Wasco and
Sherman counties
again,” organizers said in a Facebook post.
St. Vincent de Paul continues to provide
Community Meals, with patrons served
outside the facility due to restrictions on the
number of individuals allowed in the building
at one time.
The food pantry operated by the Salvation
Army at Wahtonka school has been tempo-
rarily closed, and that evening distribution
program is now at the downtown location,
by Mark Gibson
The Dalles Chronicle
623 E. Third St., The Dalles. As a result,
that pantry is currently open Monday and
Wednesday, 1-3 p.m., and Tuesday and
Many food pantries in the Gorge have
suspended services due to facility restrictions Thursday, 3-6 p.m.
Capt. Raymond Morris of The Dalles
and staffing needs, but communities contin-
Salvation Army noted that working in
ue to be served, according to the Columbia
emergency situations is “what we do.”
Gorge Food Bank (CGFB.)
“We have expanded our hours and
All The Dalles’ were closed as of Thursday,
our days of operation, to better meet the
March 26, except for the Salvation Army’s
needs of the community and reduce hav-
downtown facility, which has expanded its
pantry hours to five days a week.
ing large congregations gathering outside
The Columbia Gorge Food Food bank
the building,” Morris said.
announced Tuesday the St. Vincent de Paul
Food distribution has changed, Morris
pantry and Windy River Gleaners are closed
said. “We are doing a drive-up deliveries, and
until further notice; in Hood River, FISH Food a walk-up deliveries for those who do not
Bank Hood River is no longer distributing
have a vehicle.”
food on Saturdays; and The Salvation Army
Those walking are asked to keep a six-foot
pantry in The Dalles will be open five days a
distance between each other. Those driving
week with expanded hours.
up are asked not to exit their car.
In a notice from Windy River Gleaners,
“Folks are driving up, we get their informa-
organizers noted the pantry closed because
tion and then they pull forward. A couple of
the building does not allow for them to follow staff members grab a small or medium food
new rules set by the state. “We are asking
box, as needed, or both for a larger family,”
everyone to remain at home and stay safe so Morris explained. “We try to keep as simple
when this passes we can all see each other
as possible. We ask them not to get out of car,
■
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Obituaries
Food boxes are being distributed curbside at the Salvation Army in The Dalles, which is currently in
operation five days a week. Patrons in vehicles are asked to remain in their cars, and those on foot are
asked to maintain six feet between themselves and others.
Contributed photo
we put it on a seat or into the trunk.”
Staff are also observing safety precautions
as recommended by the CDC, like wearing
protective masks and washing down carts.
The Salvation Army is also working with
See PANTRIES, page 16
CONTACT US AT (541) 386-1234/296-2141
Cloudy and some rain with a high in the low 50s
11 Opinion
14 Sports
6 What’s In the Sky
the Columbia Gorge Food Bank by helping
deliver food outside the city in areas served
by the CGFB where that organization is
4
7
10
SUBSCRIPTIONS / Tanya Lindsey - tlindsey@thedalleschronicle.com
NEWS / hrnews@hoodrivernews.com • tdchron@thedalleschronicle.com
ADVERTISING / gorgesalesteam@eaglenewspapers.com
PUBLISHER / cmarr@hoodrivernews.com
The Dalles Chronicle