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Orchard Fire 100% Contained

The Orchard Fire near The Dalles is now 100 percent contained, and all assigned firefighting resources have been released.  Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue and the Oregon Department of Forestry say crews spent several days conducting suppression operations, building containment lines, mopping up, removing hazards and patrolling the fire perimeter.  Updated mapping puts the fire at approximately 155 acres.  No firefighting crews are currently assigned to the Orchard Fire.  MCFR and ODF will continue monitoring the area and will respond if conditions require additional action.  Officials say some smoke from larger interior fuels may still be visible, but the fire perimeter is secure and the Orchard Fire remains 100 percent contained.  Officials say the response to the fire highlighted the importance of automatic aid, mutual aid and regional partnerships across the Columbia Gorge.

 

CWD Monitoring Expands

Oregon wildlife officials are expanding Chronic Wasting Disease monitoring as deer and elk hunting seasons get underway.  For hunters in the Columbia Gorge, Celilo Park, just off Interstate 84 at Exit 97 west of Biggs Junction, is a key check station.  The station will be open Sunday through Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to dusk, for the opening of deer season.  It will also operate October 31through November 2 for the first Rocky Mountain elk season.  ODFW is asking all successful deer and elk hunters to voluntarily submit a sample for CWD testing.  Sampling takes about 10 minutes.  Hunters who pass a posted CWD check station while transporting harvested deer or elk are required to stop.  Hunters can also get animals tested through participating taxidermists and meat processors, ODFW offices, and designated collection bins.  More information is available from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.  CWD is a fatal disease that has been detected in Idaho, Washington and California, but not yet in Oregon.

Bentz Introduces Medicare Legislation

Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz, a Republican, and New York Congressman Dan Goldman, a Democrat, have introduced legislation aimed at expanding Medicaid coverage for inpatient psychiatric care.  The IMD CARE Act would allow Medicaid funding for psychiatric facilities with more than 16 beds.  That limit dates back to the Social Security Act of 1965.  Under current law, states seeking federal Medicaid reimbursement for larger psychiatric facilities generally must obtain temporary waivers.  Supporters of the bill say those waivers can be complex and unpredictable.  The legislation would create a state plan option for Medicaid coverage at larger Institutions for Mental Diseases, providing what supporters describe as more predictable and stable funding.  Bentz says expanding access to psychiatric beds could help people with severe mental illness get treatment and reduce pressure on hospitals, law enforcement and correctional systems.  Goldman says outdated Medicaid restrictions have left some people without access to needed mental health care.  The National Association for Behavioral Healthcare also supports the legislation, calling the current 16-bed restriction outdated.

Mackency Receives WAGAP El Grito Heart Award

Washington Gorge Action Programs has named Alicia Flores Mackency this year’s recipient of its El Grito Heart Award.  The award recognizes a community member who has gone above and beyond to support family, neighbors and the broader Gorge community.  Organizers say Flores Mackency’s story reflects perseverance, service and a commitment to helping others.  An immigrant and former farmworker, Flores Mackency spent years harvesting pears and strawberries at Dickey Farms before beginning what became a 21-year career with the Employment Department.  She went on to become a translator and interpreter, helping Latino community members access essential services and understand their rights.  Her work included interpreting in hospitals, courts and other settings.  She was present for 22 births and three C-sections, helping families communicate during critical moments.  Beyond her professional work, Flores Mackency has provided housing and connected newcomers with food banks and other community resources.  She continues to serve by volunteering with the Glenwood Women’s Club and as an interpreter at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

October 1 Prep Sports Roundup

Boys Soccer

The Dalles 5, Molalla 0: The Riverhawks moved into a tie for second in the Tri-Valley Conference at 2-1.

 

Girls Soccer

The Dalles 5, Molalla 1:  The Riverhawks stay unbeaten in Tri-Valley Conference play, in spite of giving up their first goal of the season in the seventh game of the year.

Columbia 6, Stevenson 0

Trout Lake 6, Toutle Lake 1

 

Volleyball

Pendleton def. Hood River Valley 25-16, 25-18, 25-17

Columbia def. Stevenson 3-0

Dufur def. Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 25-14, 25-9, 25-14:  Dufur remains atop the Big Sky Conference with eight straight wins.

Sherman def. Ione-Arlington 25-20, 25-18, 20-25, 14-25, 15-10:  The Huskies are second in the BSC at 8-1.

Trout Lake-Glenwood def. Horizon Christian 3-0

Dufur def. Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 25-14, 25-9, 25-14

South Wasco def. Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 3-0

 

Boys Water Polo

Hood River Valley 6, Hillsboro 4

 

Girls Water Polo

Hood River Valley 13, Hillsboro 5

Man Presumed Deceased After Kayak Found Adrift In The Columbia

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office is continuing a recovery operation in the Columbia River following reports of an unoccupied boat adrift near the end of a sandbar.

Authorities say they received multiple reports at about 2:08 Thursday afternoon.

Marine Patrol deputies later found a fishing kayak in the area, with its trolling motor still running.

A search for the kayak’s owner was launched with assistance from the sheriff’s office plane, the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Police and the Hood River Police Department.

The owner has been identified as David Kalousdian of Hood River.

The Sheriff’s Office says he has not been found and is presumed deceased.

Search efforts are continuing, but authorities say the mission has shifted from a search operation to a recovery operation.

September 30 Prep Sports Roundup

Volleyball

The Dalles def. Estacada 3-1:  The Riverhawks move to 3-0 in the Tri-Valley Conference.

 

Cross Country

Lilah Zimmerman led a group of four Columbia Bruins to finish in the top six to win the girls’ half of a four-school Trico League meet in Vancouver.  Kathryn O’Connor of CHS was second, while Stevenson’s A’Layjha Johnson was third. Seton Catholic swept the top three places to hold off Columbia in the boys’ race.  Jack Brooks was fourth and Colby Clark fifth for the Bruins.

 

Wasco County Victim Services & HAVEN Expand Partnership

Wasco County Victim Services and HAVEN are expanding their partnership to provide more support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.  An experienced HAVEN legal advocate will work about 25 hours a week alongside Victim Services staff in the Wasco County District Attorney’s Office.  The advocate is bilingual and bicultural, adding capacity to help survivors who may face language, cultural or other barriers when accessing services or navigating the criminal justice system.  Officials say the partnership brings together two different approaches to victim advocacy.  District Attorney’s Office advocates help victims navigate the criminal justice process, prepare for court, understand their rights and access Crime Victims’ Compensation.  HAVEN advocates work independently of the justice system, focusing on safety, individual needs, informed choice and self-determination.  Officials say having the advocates work side by side will strengthen coordination, reduce barriers and improve responses to safety concerns, particularly in high-risk domestic and sexual violence cases.

CCHC Completes Purchase Of Apartments In Cascade Locks

A 51-year-old affordable housing complex in Cascade Locks is getting a major renovation.  Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation has completed its purchase of Columbia View Apartments, a 12-unit affordable housing community.  The nonprofit says preserving existing affordable housing is especially important in smaller communities like Cascade Locks, where replacing those homes can be difficult.  Planned improvements include a new roof, siding, windows and exterior doors, along with new decks and stairs.  Kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, parking and other site features will also be upgraded.  One apartment will be converted into an accessible unit, with improved accessible routes throughout the property.  CCHC expects construction to begin quickly and hopes all 12 apartments will be fully operational before the end of 2026.  The project is being funded through a combination of public grants and loans, with support from Oregon Housing and Community Services, USDA Rural Development, Enterprise Community Partners and other project partners.

Progress Reported On Orchard Fire

Firefighters continue to make progress on the Orchard Fire, with no additional growth reported overnight.  Updated mapping now puts the fire at approximately 155 acres.  Crews patrolled the perimeter overnight, checking containment lines and addressing remaining hotspots. On Wednesday, firefighters will strengthen containment and conduct mop-up up to about 150 feet inside the fire perimeter, where terrain and conditions allow.  Most of the containment is along existing roads and mechanically constructed dozer lines.  Steep slopes, loose rock, debris and hazardous trees are limiting access in some areas.  Fire crews will focus on safely extinguishing hotspots, reinforcing containment lines, removing hazards and monitoring for changes in fire behavior.  Resources include a 20-person hand crew, seven engines, and overhead and command personnel. Fire investigators from the Oregon Department of Forestry, Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office are expected to complete their investigation today.