The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area will conduct prescribed understory and pile burning in the eastern Gorge this fall and possibly into the winter months. Scenic Area officials say the focus this year will be on select areas within Klickitat County east of Bingen between Courtney Road and Tracey Hill. Scenic Area Fuels Manager Roland Rose says they anticipate a weather window in the next month where temperatures, humidity, and ground moisture are right for successful prescribed burn. Prescribed burning is an effective tool for removing large amounts of vegetation and accumulated woody debris from the forest understory, and helps to recycle soil nutrients, improve wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and increase resiliency of the landscape to the effects of wildfire. Prescribed burning only occurs on days when the Washington State Smoke Management Office determines weather conditions are conducive for ample smoke dispersal. Once specific dates for burning are confirmed, details will be posted on the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Facebook and Twitter pages. Those with respiratory illnesses or concerns about potential impacts to agricultural interests can request to be on a special call list for advance notifications by contacting the National Scenic Area office at 541-308-1700.
Author: mbailey
Prep Sports Scoreboard For Thursday, September 12
Volleyball
Canby def. Hood River Valley 12-25, 25-11, 25-9, 25-16
LaSalle def. Hood River Valley 25-20, 25-13, 25-14
The Dalles def. Ridgeview 25-17, 25-13, 25-10
Columbia def. Evergreen 3-0
Mannahouse Academy def. Sherman 25-18, 24-26, 25-17, 26-24
Open Door Christian def. Horizon Christian 25-10, 25-6, 25-11
Trout Lake-Glenwood def. Bickleton 22-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-19, 15-7
Boys Soccer
Hood River Valley 1, Central Catholic 1
Trout Lake-Glenwood 5, Horizon Christian 0
Girls Soccer
Trout Lake-Glenwood 2, Stevenson 0
Williams Mine Fire Activity Down
The Williams Mine fire area northwest of Trout Lake did not receive the amount of rain that had been forecast for Wednesday, but higher humidity and cooler temperatures kept fire activity down. Fire officials say similar weather is expected for several more days. Size of the fire remains at 13,089 acres, and containment has not moved from 31% for several days. Officials say fire personnel continue to monitor the fire for hot areas, but are also able to make progress on repair work that needs to be done on roads and dozer lines before fall rains arrive. Forest Service Road 23 south of Road 90 is still closed to the public due to fire suppression activity.
El Grito Sunday In White Salmon
Hispanic Heritage Month will be observed with a celebration of El Grito this weekend at White Salmon’s Rheingarten Park on Sunday. Washington Gorge Action Programs, the City of White Salmon, the Southwest Washington Accountable Community Health, and One Community Health are sponsors of the third annual event. There will be food, music, activities for kids, and information on community resources available. Although the title “El Grito” refers to the Mexican Independence battle cry, WAGAP says the purpose of this event is to bring all Latin American cultures together with local community members to share their heritage. El Grito runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Rheingarten Park.
September 11 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Volleyball
Stevenson def. Hockinson 25-14, 25-16, 25-20
Girls Soccer
Hood River Valley 4, Liberty 0
Two Arrested After Traffic Stop
A traffic stop in Hood River led to the seizure of quantities of three different narcotics and the arrest of two people. The Hood River Police Department says an officer stopped the vehicle for speeding on Saturday, and observed the driver with several signs of impairment. A passenger in the vehicle acknowledged the pair had taken drugs an hour prior to being stopped. A search of the vehicle found over 92 grams of Fentanyl, over 40 grams of Methamphetamine, and three-tenths of a gram of Heroin, along with $4,800 in cash and a digital scale. The driver was lodged at NORCOR on charges involving possession and distribution of controlled substances and DUII.
Skull Found Near Sawtooth Berry Fields
The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office says a human skull was found near the Sawtooth Berry Fields within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The Sheriff’s Office says a bear hunter contacted emergency dispatchers last Wednesday and said they had found the skull. A Sheriff’s detective responded to the coordinates the hunter provided and successfully discovered the skull, which was determined to be of human origin. The Sheriff’s Office says the identity of the remains is unknown and the case is under active investigation at this time. The skull will be sent for forensic analysis in an attempt to make positive identification. The Sheriff’s Office added there are no indicators to believe there is a public safety risk based on the circumstances of the discovery.
Minimal Growth On Whisky Creek Fire
The Whisky Creek Fire southeast of Cascade Locks in the Mt. Hood National Forest grew minimally on Tuesday. Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 12 says most of the activity was on the south flank in the headwaters of Herman Creek. Minimal growth is anticipated given forecasted weather conditions, and officials believe there is a high probability of confining the fire within its current footprint, but smoke from smoldering heavy fuels will persist. The fire is now listed as 3,047 acres in size, with containment remaining at 25%. Wednesday is the final day for Team 12 to be assigned to fire. A local Type 3 team will be taking responsibility for the fire.
Tuesday Quiet For Williams Mine Fire
Tuesday was another quiet day on the Williams Mine Fire northwest of Trout Lake in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, despite sunshine and periods of low relative humidity. Fire officials say the main area of concern in the Morrison Creek drainage west of the South Climb Trailhead showed minimal growth. Fire personnel continued to patrol and mop up on the fire’s edges, and worked on repairing damage caused by the suppression efforts. Officials say there is a 50% chance of a “wetting rain” today that is capable of making fuels wet enough to not be easy to ignite. While this will make fire activity decrease, it will not extinguish the fire. The 13,089 acre fire is 31% contained.
September 10 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Volleyball
Columbia def. Battle Ground 3-0
Stevenson def. Washougal 3-0
Mannahouse Academy def. Horizon Christian 25-6, 25-12, 25-7
Mannahouse Academy def. Trout Lake-Glenwood 25-20, 25-11, 25-11
Sherman def. Lyle-Wishram 25-13, 25-17, 25-7
Goldendale def. River View 3-2
Boys Soccer
Roosevelt 2, Hood River Valley 1
The Dalles 8, LaGrande 0
Girls Soccer
Stevenson 2, Corbett 0
Cross Country
Columbia was the boys and girls winner of a four-school Trico League meet at Strawberry Island. The Bruins dominated the girls’ run, taking four of the top five places led by individual winner Lilah Zimmerman. Stevenson’s Daisy Jones was second. CHS narrowly held off Seton Catholic and King’s Way Christian in the boys’ race. Noah Slayton was the top Bruin finisher in third, with Cole Wooding fifth.