Klickitat County Emergency Management has again reduced the evacuation advisories associated with the Lyle Hill Fire. Areas that had been Level 2 “Get Set” have been reduced to Level 1 “Be Ready,” and Level 1 advisories in the community of Lyle have been lifted completely. More accurate mapping has reduced the size of the fire to 233 acres, and containment is at 60%. Doug’s Beach has reopened, as has the Centerville Highway, but the Lyle Cherry Orchard Trail remains closed. Officials with the Southeast Washington Interagency Type 3 team in command of the fire scene says great progress has been made, hiking into the Lyle Cherry Orchard Trail system to extinguish fire visible from Highway 14 and Interstate 84. Firefighters are laying hose to get water to more areas of the fire, building direct fire where possible, and falling hazardous trees near the perimeter of the fire where needed. A temporary flight restriction remains in place over the fire.
MCEDD Starts Strategic Plan Process
Mid-Columbia Economic Development District will start its process to outline a five-year Regional Economic Development Strategy during the month of July. Meetings will be held to bring together participants from Hood River, Wasco, Skamania, Klickitat, Sherman, and Gilliam counties to identify economic development strategies based on current trends. MCEDD Executive Director Jessica Metta says the goal is to develop a strategy that assists a wide variety of needs. The first meeting will be on July 23 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Hegewald Center in Stevenson, and will focus on sharing the region’s economic and demographic data and trends. Everyone is invited to participate, visit mcedd.org to register.
Fire Restrictions In Place For Mt. Hood Forest & Scenic Area
Following a dry spring and expected warm and dry conditions across much of the forest, public use fire restrictions will be implemented across Mt. Hood National Forest and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area beginning Wednesday. All campfires, charcoal or briquette fires, pellet fires, or any other open fires are prohibited across the entire Forest, including in developed campgrounds. Smoking is prohibited except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated campground, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter cleared of flammable material. Fireworks and other explosive devices are prohibited on national forests all year long. Portable cooking stoves, lanterns, and heating devices using liquefied or bottled fuel, such as propane, are still allowed as they can be switched off instantly.
HR Chamber Director To Step Away
After more than five years as the leader of Visit Hood River, Chief Executive Officer Katie Kadlub has announced her intention to step down from the role. Her departure includes her leadership roles at both Visit Hood River and the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce. Kadlub will play a role in the search and hiring of her successor and will remain in place until mid-December or until the position has been filled and her replacement has been onboarded, whichever comes first. Chamber officials say Kadlub leaves behind a track record of progress and accomplishments, and significantly improved organizational financial stability. During Kadlub’s tenure, Visit Hood River introduced the Community Investment Grant Program, launched the stewardship-based “You’re our People” marketing campaign, and made significant progress in the DEI and LGBTQ spaces, as well as the overall inclusivity of Hood River as a travel destination.
HR County Trailhead Parking Permit Fee Prices To Go Up
The Hood River County Parking Permit fees at six trailheads is going up starting on Wednesday. Cost of an annual permit will go up by $15 to $45, with the daily fee increasing from $5 to $10. The fee parking zones are located near six popular recreation staging areas, including Seven Streams, Post Flats, Family Man, Binns Hill, Kingsley, and Pinemont. The areas are marked with signage. The County says parking permit fees directly support the maintenance, development, and management of recreation opportunities and trail systems within the County Forest. Permits can be purchased online at hoodrivercounty.net/parking-passes or at participating local retailers.
MCCFL Working With OHA To Fund Substance Abuse Treatment Facility
Mid-Columbia Center For Living is working with the Oregon Health Authority to receive $11 million in funding to establish a 24-bed substance abuse treatment facility for the region. Center For Living Executive Director Al Barton says they hope to get the details worked out and agreements signed in the next couple of months. Barton said the facility would be located in The Dalles. The money comes from two recently passed bills in the Oregon Legislature designed to help fill an identified need for 2500 more substance abuse treatment beds in the state. Barton noted once the grant agreements are signed, they will be working on tight timelines to actually use the funds.
CGFG Researching USDA Marketing Order For Cherries
A Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers committee is researching the potential benefits of creating a U.S. Department of Agriculture marketing order for cherries. Such an order could set fruit quality and size standards. Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission Chair Ian Chandler says the goal would be to provide better price returns for growers, and create transparency standards with a non-moving target. If the CGFG committee finds a marketing order would be beneficial, it would go to the Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission, and ultimately involve hearings and a referendum vote. Washington currently has its own sweet cherry marketing order.
TD Council Approves Change Order For First Street Project
The Dalles City Council approved a $364,223 change order for the First Street Project after finding a 100-year-old clay sewer main line near First and Court that made it impossible to place heavy machinery at the location for necessary work. Community Development Director Joshua Chandler says the location is one of the most complex in the project due to the old sewer pipe, elevated sidewalk structure, underground vault areas, and the proximity of the Baldwin Saloon. Chandler noted the line is one of the two primary sewer lines in The Dalles. Even with the added expense, the project remains $781,932 over budget. The big impact may be extending the length of the project, with the Council also approving a 73-day contract extension for project contractor Ajax Engineering, pushing the completion day to July 13, 2027.
WAGAP Food Network Faces Challenges
Washington Gorge Action Programs Food Bank Network, like most food pantries around the country, is facing challenges to keep their shelves stocked to meet demand. WAGAP Food Bank Manager Janeal Booren says her two biggest challenges are in gathering fresh produce and proteins to provide in monthly food boxes. Booren says while WAGAP still has donors in the area providing fresh produce, a change in federal funding has hurt her ability to purchase more. Booren says they like to include the fresh foods in their boxes as they tend to be healther than processed food. WAGAP is now selling tickets to its Food For All fundraiser at AniChe Cellars in Underwood on August 14. Tickets are available at wagap.org.
Market Conditions For Cherries May Be Stabilizing
Market conditions for cherries may be stabilizing as harvest continues around the Mid-Columbia. Area orchardist and Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission Chair Ian Chandler says they started well, then there was a glut that led to a downturn, but the market is turning upward again. Chandler says they are hitting the Fourth of July window with high quality fruit, even though there was some rain and wind damage in the early part of the season. Labor supply has been good this year. But the big question is whether market prices can overcome input costs that continue to increase.