A fireworks-related brush fire near The Dalles is under investigation after quick action by neighbors and first responders kept the flames from spreading. Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue says crews were called just after 2:30 Thursday morning to the intersection of Five Mile Road and Highway 197 following reports of a fire and people shooting fireworks into dry grass along the roadside. A nearby resident, along with deputies from the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police, was able to stop the fire’s forward spread before firefighters arrived to quickly extinguish the remaining flames. During the investigation, firefighters found two Roman candles near the burned area. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue Fire Marshal at 541-296-9445.
Two Arrested In Hood River After Motorcycle Stop
A traffic stop in Hood River led to multiple felony arrests after officers say they found weapons, suspected drugs, and a concealed firearm. The Hood River Police Department says an officer stopped a motorcycle Wednesday after the rider allegedly ran a stop sign and was driving without registration plates. Police say the driver and passenger immediately began passing items back and forth after pulling over. During a search, officers say they found brass knuckles, two loaded magazines hidden in specially made pockets, a small amount of a white powdery substance, and two unidentified pills on the driver. Police also recovered a loaded handgun from the passenger, exactly where the initial officer had directed responding officers to search. Investigators say the driver is a convicted felon, and the passenger did not have a concealed handgun license. Both suspects were booked into the Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility on multiple charges, including felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, felon in possession of a restricted weapon, unlawful possession of a concealed firearm, and tampering with physical evidence.
Southern Wasco County Evacuation Levels Reduced
The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has reduced the evacuation advisories related to a pair of fires in southern Wasco County. There is now a Level 2 “Get Set” evacuation advisory for Antelope and for both sides of Highway 293 from milepost 4 to milepost 8. Shaniko remains at Level 2. The National Interagency Fire Center puts the size of the Deadman Canyon Fire about six-and-a-half miles west of Antelope at 5,000 acres, while the Incident 432 wildfire between Shaniko and Antelope was over 400 acres in size. Highway 293 from Highway 97 to Antelope is closed.
Wilcox Fire Evacuation Advisory Lifted
The evacuation advisory for the Wilcox Fire has been lifted in the southeastern portion of Sherman County. Sherman County Emergency Management announced this morning there is no longer any evacuation advisory for Wilcox Lane after the area was under a Level 3 advisory overnight. The Wilcox Fire was reported late Thursday morning near Kent. The National Interagency Fire Center this morning estimated the size of the fire at around 3,000 acres. To the north, the Starvation Point Fire southeast of Wasco is 80% contained with an estimated size of 4500 acres.
State Approves Mt. Adams/Cascade Roundabout
The Oregon State Traffic Engineer has given conceptual approval for a roundabout at Mt. Adams Road and Cascade Avenue in Hood River. The City can now move forward with additional engineering and permitting. Construction of a roundabout is tentatively targeted for 2030. City first selected a roundabout as the preferred intersection alternative in the 2017 Westside Area Concept Plan, and it has since been incorporated into its Transportation System Plan. Funding will come from the Westside Urban Renewal District. Cascade Avenue is a state highway, so state approval was needed. The proposed roundabout design initially has a single traffic lane, but the curbline is designed for future expansion. The City says the initial smaller roundabout will reduce upfront costs and vehicle speeds.
Hood River Port Commission Votes Against Amazon Extension
The Port of Hood River Commission narrowly voted this week to not grant Amazon a 45-day extension on their proposed sale of approximately 11 acres at the Lower Hanel Mill site near Odell. The decision gives Amazon until Monday to notify the Port that it intends to move forward with the $3.4 million purchase to place a distribution facility on the site. In May, the Hood River County Planning Commission turned down Amazon’s application to proceed, and that decision is scheduled for an August 17 hearing before the County Commission. But Port Commissioner Ben Sheppard pointed out even if the County Commission upheld Amazon’s appeal, it’s likely the matter would go to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals, and he felt the company would ask for another extension. The vote was 3-2, with Sheppard, Tor Bieker, Kathryn Thomas voting against the extension, and Heather Gehring and Kristi Chapman voting in favor. If Amazon informs the Port it wants to go ahead and close on the property, there would then be 30 days to complete that process.
Man Arrested For Hitting Two ODOT Workers On Closed Off-Ramp
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.
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.