A tripped feeder at Cascade Square in resulted in a power outage for about 300 Northern Wasco PUD customers on Thursday. The PUD said the outage started around 11 a.m., and power was restored at approximately 1:15. The PUD added it was not involved in the work being performed by another agency, or even aware of the work taking place, and will be investigating the incident to learn what happened and take steps to limit the possibility of it happening again. The PUD also indicated a worker was injured, but had no other information.
Author: mbailey
HR-White Salmon Bridge Single-Lane Closures On Friday
There will be single-lane closures on the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge on Friday. The Port of Hood River says they will start at 8 a.m. Friday, and last until approximately 3 p.m. Port facilities crews are scheduled to perform wire replacement to repair electrical issues that led to the recent lift span outage. Motorists should expect delays of 10 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic volume.
Tucker Road To Close For Gas Line Relocation
NW Natural will be relocating a gas line to accommodate planned renovations of Tucker Road at Nobi’s Corner south of Hood River. Work is expected to take place beginning February 12 and running through February 23. The work is scheduled for weekdays from 8 a.m.to 4 p.m., but some evening work may be necessary. Tucker Road will be closed during construction except for emergency vehicles, school buses, local residents and businesses. Traffic will detour at Barker Road for eastbound traffic on Tucker Road, and at Guignard Road for southbound traffic. A detour will also be available at Indian Creek Road for northbound Tucker Road traffic and at Brookside Drive for southbound traffic.
Locks To Close For Two Weeks In March
The $23 billion of commerce that flows along the Columbia River will pause for two weeks beginning March 2 as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District closes three navigation locks for annual inspections and maintenance. The closures of the Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day Locks will continue through March 16. The closure will include annual inspections and routine maintenance, as well as additional rappel inspections at John Day by a Corps of Engineers climbing team. Typically, the Portland and Walla Walla districts coordinate their annual lock closures across the Columbia-Snake River System. This year, each district is notifying the public separately due to different closure periods. Walla Walla District’s lock closure began January 14 and ends March 29. The Corps coordinates the annual lock closures with inland shippers and cruise lines to minimize the impacts to those users. Portland District’s locks on the Columbia River pass 10 million of the 50.5 million tons of commerce shipped annually in the nation.
Harris Bill To Assist Independent Health Care Providers Passes Committee
The Washington House Health Care and Wellness Committee approved legislation from 17th District Rep. Paul Harris that would assist independent health care providers. House Bill 1655 would require contracts between insurance companies and providers to include an increase from the previous year based on the consumer price index. Harris says small, private health care providers have not received an increase in their reimbursement fees for about ten years. Harris adds significant consolidation in health plan markets has given insurance companies greater bargaining power over individual health care providers and small clinics who have little or no opportunity to negotiate compensation to cover overhead costs.
Mosbrucker Bill To Train K-9’s To Sniff Fentanyl Passes House
Washington 14th District State Representative Gina Mosbrucker’s bill to equip law enforcement with trained dogs that could sniff out fentanyl received unanimous support in the State House. The Goldendale Republican says the legislation would create a new training and certification program for police dogs to root-out fentanyl. Mosbrucker is author of House Bill 1635, which would require the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission to develop model law enforcement standards and train and certify K-9s in the detection of fentanyl. If Mosbrucker’s bill is approved by the Senate, fentanyl-sniffing police dog training could begin later this year.
Klickitat PUD Suspend Late Fees For Billing Cycle
Klickitat PUD Commissioners have decided to suspend the issuance of late fees and penalties associated with delinquent accounts for a billing cycle. In a statement issued on social media, the PUD recognizes weather related challenges during January leading to usage-related increases, and wanted to provide customers more time to make payments or payment arrangements before incurring penalties. Notices and calls will be issued as usual, but late fees will not be assessed for the current billing cycle. This will run through mid-February. If you have questions regarding your bill, your usage, or to make payment arrangements, call Klickitat PUD in White Salmon at 800.548.8358 or in Goldendale at 800.548.8357.
January 31 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Parkrose 63, Hood River Valley 50
Girls Basketball
Hood River Valley 66, Parkrose 21
LaCenter 36, Columbia 30
Castle Rock 57, Stevenson 39
Bickleton 47, Horizon Christian 19
Boys Wrestling
Hood River Valley 72, Putnam 12: The Eagles used six wins by fall to pull away for the victory.
January 30 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Canby 67, Hood River Valley 45
The Dalles 66, Molalla 44
LaCenter 92, Columbia 62
Castle Rock 44, Stevenson 43
Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 76, South Wasco 55
Sherman 50, Horizon Christian 28
Dufur 42, Condon 37
Trout Lake 67, Klickitat-Glenwood 35
Mabton 65, Goldendale 48
Girls Basketball
Canby 51, Hood River Valley 35
The Dalles 57, Molalla 16
South Wasco 49, Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 41
Sherman 50, Horizon Christian 19
Condon 49, Dufur 20
Bickleton 42, Lyle-Wishram 30
Mabton 67. Goldendale 17
Boys Wrestling
Centennial 51, Hood River Valley 27: HRV did score four wins by fall in the match.
Girls Wrestling
Centennial 45, Hood River Valley 34: Valeria Solorio Campos had a win by fall for Hood River.
Hwy 30 Closed Due To Rockslide East Of Biggs Junction
An excavator is on the site of a rockslide that occurred Tuesday morning on Highway 30 east of Biggs Junction, but there is no estimate on when the Biggs-Rufus Frontage Road will reopen. Oregon Department of Transportation public information officer Kacey Davey says the goal today is to make room for overhanging rock on the cliff to land so that it won’t go to the railroad below the highway. She added ODOT plans to start hauling some of the material away, but they have to wait for word from their contractor on when the rock face is stable enough. ODOT said on Tuesday “boulders the size of cars” had tumbled onto the road. Officials say to avoid the area.