Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area fire management officials plan to implement two prescribed burns Wednesday and Thursday in the upper Catherine Creek Drainage between Bingen and Lyle. If weather conditions allow, the prescribed burns are anticipated to take two days to complete. The objective is to reduce long-term wildfire risk through reductions in existing fuel loading, to restore the ecological functions of a fire adapted ecosystem to the area, and to improve wildlife habitat and biodiversity. Forest visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and avoid the area during prescribed burning activities. While there won’t be a direct impact to the Coyote Wall and Catherine Creek trail systems, visitors may see or smell smoke while on the trails. Smoke may be visible on Highway 14 and Interstate 84 at times during the prescribed burn. When smoke is present, motorists should reduce speeds and turn on headlights.
Author: mbailey
Two Taken To Hospital In Highway 14 Accident
Two Carson women were taken to a Vancouver hospital following a motor vehicle accident early Wednesday morning that led to one driver being charged with DUI. According to the Washington State Patrol…a car driven by a 24-year-old woman was on Highway 14 at milepost 47 between Stevenson and Home Valley left the roadway, struck the eastbound guardrail, crossed the center line, and then struck another car driven by a 43-year-old woman. Both vehicles came to rest blocking the westbound lane and were totaled, and both women were transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center with unspecified injuries. The WSP says the 24-year-old is charged with DUI and vehicular assault. The accident occurred just before 5:30 Wednesday morning.
September 24 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Volleyball
Hood River Valley def. Milwaukie 22-25, 26-24, 25-11, 25-20
Columbia def. Fort Vancouver 3-0
LaCenter def. Stevenson 3-0
Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler def. Sherman 24-26, 25-15, 25-14, 8-25, 15-5
Dufur def. Horizon Christian 25-6, 25-4, 25-11
Goldendale def. Kittitas 3-1
Boys Soccer
Crook County 3, The Dalles 2
Girls Soccer
The Dalles 2, Crook County 0
LaCenter 5, Stevenson 0
Cross Country
Goldendale took three of the top four spots in the girls’ portion of an EWAC run at Cle Elum-Roslyn. Emma Meagher won the race, with Addie Throop third and Mia Meagher fourth. In the boys’ race, Malachi Lawson was the top Timberwolf finisher in sixth.
TD Council Approves Employee Pay Increase After Insurance Premiums Jump
The Dalles City Council approved a “retention and recruitment adjustment” of $127.42 per pay period for exempt employees and the members of two unions after a jump in insurance premiums. After Councilors came out of executive session to make the votes for the increases for full-time employees, Councilor Darcy Long explained why the move was made, noting the insurance premiums and the desire to retain quality municipal employees. The measures were approved barring any objections from either of the unions that represents municipal employees: Service Employees International Union 503 and The Dalles Police Association. The Council votes for all of the adjustment measures were unanimous.
HR Council Talks Transportation Options
Data gathered by an informal taxicab task force in Hood River has found some increase in the available transportation options and their usage, but a number of City Councilors want to proceed toward allowing transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft to operate in the city. Some councilors earlier in the year began pushing the issue in response to rising numbers of DUII cases in the area, and wanted to see an increase in ride options that local companies are unable to fill. But Councilor Grant Polson pointed out the TNC’s don’t necessarily go through the background checks or abide by the same rules and regulations that are currently in the city’s taxi code, and attempts to reach out to those companies to learn their practices have been unanswered. A member of the task force and taxi company owner Matt Barmann told the Council there was a hesitancy among the taxi businesses to invest with the possible increasing evidence of Uber in the area.
No Transfer Date Set For Klickitat County Jail Administration
Klickitat County officials say there is no date set for a transfer of County Jail administration from the Sheriff’s Office to a new Department of Corrections. During a report to the County Commission, Human Resources Director Robb Van Cleave said he had received questions and heard rumors, but emphasized a date had not been discussed. Van Cleave told Commissioners the hiring process for a jail administrator is proceeding. The County earlier this month announced they had selected an applicant, but the process to complete the hire remains in progress.
September 23 Prep Sports Schedule
Volleyball
The Dalles def. Madras 25-19, 25-11, 25-15
Boys Soccer
Trout Lake-Glenwood 6, Columbia Christian 1
Open Door Christian 10, Horizon Christian 2
Girls Soccer
Riverdale 3, Trout Lake-Glenwood 2
West Klickitat Regional Fire Authority Goes Into Effect September 30
The voter approved West Klickitat Regional Fire Authority officially goes into effect next Monday. A planning committee consisting of members of what will be the inaugural governing board for the authority has been developing the formation documents for the district for most of this year, and they will presented for approval at the authority’s first meeting net Monday evening at 6:30 in the White Salmon Fire Hall. That’s the next step toward putting the Fire Authority into full operation at the start of 2025. White Salmon and Klickitat County Fire District 3 voters approved the WKRFA Plan in November of last year, creating the new entity and a dedicated funding stream to sufficiently fund fire and emergency response and preparedness. The White Salmon Fire Hall will become the main fire station of the WKRFA.The inaugural Governing Board Members will be White Salmon City Council Members Ben Giant, David Lindley and Jason Hartmann and Fire District 3 Commissioners Thomas Montag, Robert Connors and Charles Virts, Jr.
Veterans Stand Down To Be Held Wednesday
Wasco County Veterans’ Services will host its “Veterans Stand Down” with a number of other agencies on Wednesday at The Dalles Civic Auditorium. Wasco County Veterans’ Services Officer Chelsea Perritt says in a military terms a stand down is a reprieve, but in this case it is a resource fair for Veterans and their families. There will be housing, employment, mental health, and substance use resources on hand. Perritt emphasizes the event is free to all Veterans and their families. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday at The Dalles Civic Auditorium.
City Of Hood River Embarks On SDC Review
The City of Hood River is embarking on a review of its Systems Development Charges next month. SDC’s play a big role in how the City pays for infrastructure like roads and stormwater and wastewater systems, using the charges assessed when property is developed. But City Manager Abigail Elder it has been a number of years since a complete review of SDC’s has been done. Elder says a report is available on the City’s website, cityofhoodriver.gov. A public hearing is planned for October 15.