The Hood River City Council, acting in its capacity as the Urban Renewal Agency, plans to move forward with asking the community how to use $1 million in remaining funds before closing out the Waterfront Urban Renewal District. The Urban Renewal Advisory Committee picked out four options to consider, rather than sending the money back to taxing districts. URA Board Chair Doug Stepina pointed out that those districts have benefited from what the Waterfront District has already done. If the $1 Million was returned to districts, about half would end up out of the area in the state’s common school fund, and about $250,000 would go to the City, leaving only approximately $250,000 that would go to the districts. The potential projects include helping the Port of Hood River move forward with the Second and Riverside Roundabout, helping Columbia Area Transit with a proposed interregional transit hub, Waterfront Park Restroom and Playground renovation, or creating public art in the Waterfront with the Art of Community.
TD City Council Gets Overview Of Street Needs
The Dalles City Councilors received an overview of challenges to maintaining municipal streets as transportation revenues have not kept pace with the increasing costs of labor, materials, equipment, and construction. Public Works staff gave a detailed presentation showing that Oregon State Shared Revenue, the City’s largest transportation funding source, has remained relatively stagnant and has declined in purchasing power over time. Local transportation revenues have also faced limitations and declining trends. City Councilors asked staff to provide more information on what similar-sized cities are doing. Since 2019, the City has utilized the StreetSaver pavement management software to track the condition of the street network and evaluate maintenance and rehabilitation strategies. The City’s current overall Pavement Condition Index (PCI) is 68 out of 100. The City’s PCI goal is 80.
Orchard Fire Remains At 165 Acres
The Orchard Fire remains at about 165 acres after crews reported no new growth overnight. The unified command of the Oregon Department of Forestry and Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue says firefighters monitored the fire and patrolled the perimeter throughout the night. Tuesday, crews will continue strengthening containment lines and mopping up hotspots, working about 100 to 150 feet inside the fire perimeter where terrain and conditions allow. Most of the containment perimeter follows existing roads and mechanically constructed dozer lines. Today’s firefighting resources include six engines, a water tender, a dozer, and a 20-person hand crew, along with command and overhead personnel. Crews will continue locating and extinguishing hotspots, improving containment lines, removing hazards as needed, and securing the fire perimeter. Fire investigators will also continue their work today to determine the fire’s origin and cause. Weather conditions are expected to remain favorable for firefighting.
September 28 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Volleyball
The Dalles def. Molalla 25-13, 25-17, 25-23
Boys Soccer
Grand View Christian 7, Horizon Christian-Trout Lake 1
Man Dies In I-84 Crash
Oregon State Police are investigating a fatal, single-vehicle crash on Interstate 84 in Gilliam County. The crash happened shortly after midnight Sunday near milepost 140, east of Arlington. State police say a white Toyota Avalon driven by 24-year-old Adhishwar Ramanathan of Umatilla was traveling eastbound when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle left its lane and struck the end of a guardrail. The Toyota came to rest facing westbound in the eastbound lanes. Ramanathan was pronounced dead at the scene. The highway remained open during the investigation. The Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office, North Gilliam County Rural Fire Protection District, and Oregon Department of Transportation assisted Oregon State Police at the scene.
MCCAC Announces Shelter Plans
People experiencing houselessness in the Columbia Gorge will have more consistent access to shelter this winter, under changes announced by the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council. The Hood River Shelter will move from seasonal, winter-only operations to a year-round schedule. The shelter is expected to reopen November 16. In The Dalles, the Gloria Center Shelter will shift from emergency shelter operations to a seasonal winter shelter, operating around the clock from mid-November through March. It’s expected to open November 23rd. MCCAC says the changes are designed to provide greater stability and help people transition from shelter into permanent housing. MCCAC Executive Director Leslie Naramore says the need for safe shelter doesn’t end when winter does, and people shouldn’t have to wait for severe weather to find a safe place indoors.
Fire Burns 165 Acres
A fire that broke out on Sunday afternoon in the 4700 block of Orchard Road in The Dalles area is estimated at 165 acres in size. A statement from a unified fire command of the Oregon Department of Forestry and Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue said firefighters made significant progress overnight. Crews successfully completed planned firing operations, with those operations concluding at approximately 2:00 a.m. Resources assigned to the fire Monday include one 20-person hand crew and six fire engines, along with Unified Command and overhead personnel. Crews will continue working throughout the day on mop-up, strengthening containment lines, extinguishing remaining hotspots, and removing hazardous trees where necessary. One barn and one small outbuilding were lost in the fire. No other buildings or residences have been damaged. Residents and travelers in the area should expect to see smoke throughout the day. Interior pockets of vegetation will continue to burn and smolder as firefighters work through the fire area. Officials note the presence of smoke does not necessarily indicate that the fire has escaped established control lines.
Hood River Council Embarking On Visioning Process
The Hood River City Council is considering embarking on a visioning process that asks the broad question: “what do we want Hood River to be 10-20 years from now?” The City last did this in full in 1995, with an update in 2006. City Manager Abigail Elder says the visioning would give definition to what the City should look like and be in 20 years. The Council will discuss an overview of what a visioning process would like at their meeting Monday evening at 6 p.m. in Hood River City Hall.
Sherman County To Lift Seasonal Fire Ban Thursday
Sherman County’s seasonal fire ban will be lifted on Thursday. The Sherman County Fire Defense Board issued a notice that improved weather and conditions now allow a safe but cautious return to regulated burning activities. The ban lift on Thursday will allow residential burn barrels with permits, agricultural burning with proper notification, recreational campfires in approved areas, and the use of charcoal, wood, and propane grills. Be sure to follow all city and fire district rules, keep water and tools ready for suppression, supervise all fires at all times, fully extinguish before leaving, and check wind conditions. Some areas may still have site-specific restrictions.
Mosier To Remove Invasive Trees For Public Park
The first step toward developing a public park between Mosier Creek and the new Jacob’s Skatepark will be the removal of invasive black locust trees on Wednesday and Thursday. The City of Mosier and Main Street Mosier say the black locust trees are non-native and release compounds that make it difficult for other species, including native plants, to grow in the area. Arborists consulted on the removal say the trees also have insect infestations, causing them to die from the top down. After the black locusts are removed, the site will be replanted with a variety of native trees. Jacob’s Skatepark will be closed Wednesday and Thursday to allow for the work to be done. Mosier Creek Confluence Park is being developed on City-owned land by Main Street Mosier.