Containment of the Boulder Fire has been increased to 75% today. Size of the fire remains at 233 acres southeast of Mt. Hood on the Barlow Ranger District near Boulder Lake Trailhead. Northwest Team 10 Operations Section Chief Bert Thayer says mop-up objectives have been completed. Fire investigators are asking anyone who might have been in the area of the Boulder Lake Trailhead and Little Boulder Lake located off Forest Road 4880 on July 8 to come forward with any tips, photos, or videos as they try to determine the cause of the fire. Please submit any information that could assist fire investigation efforts to SM.FS.R6TipHotLine@usda.gov
Author: mbailey
WS Schools To Approve Budget Next Thursday
The White Salmon Valley School District Board will be approving a budget for the 2023-24 school year at its meeting next Thursday. The budget was developed with the backdrop of a projected shortfall of around $2.5 million, but Interim District Superintendent Jerry Lewis says they have gotten everything in order, and after a lot of hard work they have a balanced budget that will include an ending fund balance to carry over from the current school year projected at about $900,000. Lewis does say the target for an ending fund balance for a district with the budget White Salmon has should be $2 million. Lewis will be stepping away from the interim superintendent role after the budget approval, with Rich Polkinghorn stepping into the permanent position.
Industrial Fire Protection Level Increases
With increasing fire danger, the Oregon Department of Forestry will move lands in its The Dalles Unit under its MH-4 protection area to Industrial Fire Precaution Level 3 as of Thursday. This effects all industrial operations west of Highway 35. There will be a 2-hour fire watch required after operations are complete. Under Industrial Fire Precaution Level 3, the use of fire or power-driven machinery in any operation area is unlawful unless such use falls within the time period of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. That includes power saws at loading sites, loading or hauling of any product or material; blasting; the welding, cutting, or grinding of metal; and any other spark emitting operation not specifically mentioned. Other equipment can be used under if mechanized equipment is immediately available to quickly reach and effectively attack a fire start and construct fire lines. Contact the Oregon Department of Forestry for specific information.
New HR Parks & Rec Camps For Kids Offered
Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District is offering two new camps for kids in the upcoming days. One is a comedy mini-camp on Monday and Tuesday at Wy’east Middle School’s Performing Arts Center, and the other is a yoga camp this Tuesday through Thursday at Hood River Middle School. For information on all Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District is available at hoodriverparksandrec.org.
HR Planning Recommends Approval Of Westside Urban Renewal Plan
The Hood River City Planning Commission found the proposed Westside Urban Renewal District conforms with the municipal comprehensive plan, and recommends the City Council adopts it. It’s the latest step toward making the district designed to assist in increasing Hood River’s housing stock a reality. Planning Commissioners spent over an hour discussing the district with City Planning Director Dustin Nilsen and urban renewal consultant Elaine Howard. Nilsen told the panel the district can provide funding to establish infrastructure to get housing built in that area, using road needs that are preventing a developer from building homes right now as an example. The vote keeps the plan on track towards adoption by the City by the end of August.
White Salmon Council To Discuss West Klickitat Fire Authority
The White Salmon City Council will be discussing the proposed West Klickitat Regional Fire Authority at a pair of meetings in the coming days. The Council will talk about the proposal to bring together City and Klickitat County Fire District 3 fire services at their regular meeting on Wednesday and at a special meeting on Monday. If Councilors give the go-ahead, the proposed authority would go to voters in November. It includes a 76 cent per thousand dollars of assessed property value tax levy, something City taxpayers have not had for fire service before. Mayor Marla Keethler says the City has been behind in spending on fire protection for a number of years, and residents have been concerned about growing wildfire risks. The regular White Salmon City Council meeting is Wednesday at 6 p.m., with the special meeting on Monday at 6 p.m., both at the White Salmon Fire Hall.
HR County Commission To Hold Worksession On Forest Carbon Project
Hood River County Commissioners continued discussion of entering into an agreement with The Climate Trust for a carbon project on County forestlands. The County Forestry Department, County counsel, and The Climate Trust have drafted a carbon development agreement that would follow standards required by the American Carbon Registery. It could generate an estimated $23 million for the County through carbon credit sales, and commits the County to 40 years of sustainable forest management, much of which the County already practices. Commissioners said they want to make sure harvest levels remain where they are currently, with Arthur Babitz noting the concept is a good one but it also is a major decision for the County’s fiscal future. The Commission are planning a worksession to discuss the proposed agreement on August 7 at 3 p.m. Commissioners would have to hold a public hearing before approving any agreement.
Police Note Overdose & Controlled Substance DUII Spikes
The Dalles Police Department says it and other emergency responders were called to three separate overdose incidents in The Dalles on Sunday within two hours of each other. The department acknowledged many social media posts about the topic in a post of its own, and confirmed there were at least three overdose responses on Sunday alone. The department said there were no fatalities as all of those who overdosed were saved by Narcan administered by bystanders. TDPD emphasized possession of controlled substances is still illegal under state law, and those caught in possession of illegal control substances will be cited and provided a 24 hour addiction hotline to call. In the post, the department also said dealing and delivery of controlled substance is illegal and those caught will be arrested and charged. Meanwhile, the Hood River Police Department says over the last few months it has seen a spike in DUII’s where the intoxicant is a controlled substance like Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, Cocaine, Prescription Narcotics and Marijuana. When some of these individuals are arrested, the department says it is very common that they have in their possession the narcotic that is causing their impairment.
Running Named HR Schools Special Ed Director
Kelly Running has been named the Hood River County School District’s Director of Special Education. Running has served as the principal of Hood River Options Academy since 2017. Prior to this role, she was the behavior and autism spectrum disorder specialist in the district for 10 years. Running worked as a learning specialist within the Lake Oswego School District for three years. She began her career in education at Portland Public Schools, serving in various special education roles and supporting students from preschool through 12th grade. The Hood River County School Board will vote to formalize Running’s appointment on August 15. Running replaces Kelly Beard after he resigned from the position in July.
Toll Rates To Go Up On Hood River Bridge September 1
Toll rates on the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge will go up on September 1. The Port of Hood River Commission approved the increase on the recommendation of the newly formed Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority, with base toll rates for passenger vehicles for cash-paying customers, going from $2.00 to $3.50 per crossing. Bridge users that have signed up for the Port’s prepaid tolling system, BreezeBy, will see an increase of 75 cents per crossing rate, going from $1.00 to $1.75 per crossing for two-axle vehicles. Port Executive Director Kevin Greenwood says all of the new toll revenue will be used solely for building up cash reserves required for a federal construction loan. The Bridge Authority says $70-$150 million in local toll revenue is needed to complete the funding package for construction of a replacement bridge.