The Oregon State Police arrested a Hood River man who drove into a closed Interstate 84 off-ramp on Wednesday and struck two Oregon Department of Transportation workers before leaving the scene. The OSP says ODOT had closed the Exit 64 eastbound off-ramp while crews worked to remove a crashed commercial truck and trailer. But a white Porsche entered the off-ramp, and the driver told workers he needed to take the exit to get to work, and drove through the closure, striking two ODOT employees. Neither were injured, and both declined medical treatment. Later in the day, the OSP spotted the car and pulled it over, arresting a 43-year-old Hood River man, who was booked into the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility for reckless driving, recklessly endangering highway workers, and two counts of recklessly endangering another person. OSP reminds motorists they are required to obey traffic control devices, road closures, and directions from roadway workers.
Firefighters Battle Sherman County Fire
Firefighters are battling a fire in the southeastern portion of Sherman County. The Wilcox Fire was reported late this morning near Kent, and has resulted in a Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation advisory for Wilcox Lane. Sherman County Emergency Services says early estimates put the size of the fire at around 250 acres. Further east, crews are battling the Hopkins Fire on Bureau of Land Management land northwest of Condon. It started Wednesday evening as lightning strikes moved through the area. Central Oregon Fire Information put its size at approximately 5,000 acres, with crews engaged in suppression after fire activity lessened through the night. There are no evacuation advisories in effect on that fire. In southwest Gilliam County, a BLM engine crew is monitoring the location of the 1,000 acre Porcupine Ridge Fire, which after sparking Wednesday evening was showing no active behavior or growth early this afternoon. On the Mt. Hood National Forest south of Parkdale, three fires were reported, but none reached one acre in size.
Nichols Appointed To Fill Vacant Commission Seat
Wasco County Commissioners selected Rodger Nichols to fill the remainder of the term of late Phil Brady. Nichols, a longtime print and broadcast journalist who is currently in the midst of his second stint representing Wasco County on the Columbia River Gorge Commission, will serve the final six months in Brady’s term. Commissioner Jeff Justesen made the nomination that Chair Scott Hege seconded, noting it was important to get a third person to represent the County’s citizens. He said Nichols has a history of attending Commission meeting as a journalist, someone who looks at facts, and has his finger on the pulse of many things. Nichols said while he had volunteered, the appointment was unexpected. He told the Commission he would work to do the same things Brady would have done. Nichols added he has no intention of being a candidate for the post in November.
Wasco County Moves Forward With Oak Ranch RV Project
Wasco County Commissioners decided to proceed on the proposed Oak Ranch RV Park west of The Dalles. The County has a $1 million grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for the project, with a required $884,900 match by the County. The County has four estimates in hand, depending on how many amenities they want to include, which range from just under the total grant and match amount to $2.5 million. Commissioners moved to accept the grant, committing themselves to the minimum match, while authorizing staff to negotiate a final construction contract to bring back for their approval. Commissioner Scott Hege says his main concern is around the operation of the park, noting this is a new venture for the County. Hege also hopes this makes the full 159 acre property the County purchased four years ago more available for enjoyment by the public.
White Salmon School Bond Sale Set For Tuesday
The first sale of bonds by the White Salmon Valley School District to construct a new K-12 campus will take place this coming Tuesday. District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says because the state of Washington has a Triple-A rating under which the bonds will be sold. Polkinghorn notes this is the first of two sales under the $77.8 million bond measure, with another expected to take place two years from now. Polkinghorn says it looks like construction will start next spring, with work on the track, athletic field, and intermediate school. That would allow Whitson Elementary to move to the expanded campus in 2028-29. A two-year high school remodel would follow that.
Hood River City Council Goes With Two Bond Measure Option
The Hood River City Council decided it will go for two separate $8.7 million bond measures in November, one to renovate the police station in the basement of City Hall and a second floor addition to accommodate staff growth, and another to address housing. Councilors reached consensus on separating the two issues and the bond amounts fairly easily, with most of the discussion centering on how to define affordable housing in messaging, and whether to go with a guideline of projects for up to 80 percent of affordable median income or 120 percent. They went with 120 percent, and Councilor Doug Stepina pointed out the growth in the affordability gap for buying homes and the number of people rent burdened are the key messages. Polling done by Patinkin Research Strategies indicated a combined bond actually had a better chance of success, but Councilors felt the measures should be separated, in part for messaging on the need for an improved police facility.
TD Council Amends Nuisance, Traffic Control & Burn Restrictions
The Dalles City Council adopted an ordinance amending its codes regarding nuisances, traffic control, and burn restrictions. City Attorney Jonathan Kara said the changes don’t create any new programs, fees or abatement authority, but do clean up language to make existing rules easier to enforce. One involves clarifying the 120-hour rule for storage parking on streets, which Kara says as written allowed the clock to restart when the vehicle was moved, and the amendment stops that. Other changes include adding annual interest to nuisance-abatement liens, clarifying the City Manager’s authority for day-to-day administrative implementation of traffic control measures, and allows the City Manager to issue a written order temporarily suspending or limiting yard-debris open burning only when conditions make burning inconsistent with public health, safety, or welfare.
Discovery Center Historic Photo Archives Now Online
The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center has placed its historic photos archive online, where the public can view over 30,600 images from the museum’s photo collection. A $10,000 grant from the City of The Dalles allowed the archive to be digitized. Museum Registrar Susan Buce says the photo collection dates back to the 1800’s. They come from a variety of sources, including The Dalles Chronicle and the Wasco County Pioneer Association. Many photos have come from the estates of families, and there are over 5,000 photos from the Oregon-California Trail Emigrant Inscription Collection, coming from White Salmon’s James Henderson, who photographed inscriptions left by Oregon Trail pioneers. The collection can be viewed at gorgediscovery.org.
Adventist Health Columbia Gorge Has Critical Access Hospital Status Finalized
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has finalized Adventist Health Columbia Gorge’s designation as a Critical Access Hospital. A Critical Access Hospital is a special designation by CMS for small, rural hospitals that helps make it possible to provide essential healthcare services to underserved communities. CAHs receive cost-based reimbursement from the federal government, which allows them to focus on essential services and remain a lifeline for their communities. Adventist Health joins Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, Skyline Hospital, and Klickitat Valley Health as Critical Access Hospitals in the Gorge. Adventist Health’s application to become a Critical Access Hospital was approved in May by CMS. The final step involved the Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits over 15,000 U.S. healthcare organizations, performing an on-site evaluation of Adventist Health Columbia Gorge’s compliance with specific Critical Access conditions.
CGCC Announces Two New Academic Programs
Columbia Gorge Community College announced two new academic program, including an Initial Early Childhood Education certificate, offered in both English and Spanish, and an Additive Manufacturing Processes certificate in the college’s Advanced Manufacturing and Fabrication program. The 12-credit Initial Early Childhood Education certificate, designed for part-time students to complete in a year, prepares students to work in childcare centers, preschool programs, and other early learning settings serving children from birth through age eight. The new Additive Manufacturing Processes certificate requires 36 credits, designed to fit in one full academic year, and positions students at the forefront of modern manufacturing by training them to use CNC manufacturing, 3D design and printing to create parts and products from polymers and metals. The Additive Manufacturing Processes certificate is part of CGCC’s growing Advanced Manufacturing and Fabrication offerings. Early Childhood Education graduates will help meet the growing demand for qualified teachers and caregivers, while Additive Manufacturing students will bring cutting‑edge technical skills into local shops and industrial workplaces. Information on both programs is available at cgcc.edu.