Fire crews held a grass fire south of Highway 14 near Lyle at milepost 72 to less than a quarter acre. Lyle Fire & Rescue District 4 says the fire was situated adjacent to the railroad tracks on the north side, in close proximity to a 20-foot rock cliff. Lyle and Bingen Fire along with Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area crews responded to the fire, which was extinguished in less than an hour. A representative from Burlington Northern Santa Fe responded and ensured train operations were halted for firefighter safety. Crews successfully deployed two hose lines from Highway 14 up over the beach area between the highway and railroad tracks.
Author: mbailey
HRCSD Summer Food Service Begins Monday
Hood River County School District says its Summer Food Service Program, offering free, nutritious meals and snacks to all children and teens aged 1-18, will get underway on Monday and be available on weekdays through August 21. The federally funded nutrition program ensures that children continue to receive healthy food during the summer months when school is out. The Summer Food Service Program is open to all families without the need for paperwork, income verification, or regard to immigration status. To receive a meal, children can simply drop in during a site’s designated meal times. Many programs also offer fun activities to keep kids active and engaged. A complete schedule of times and locations is available at hoodriver.k12.or.us.
Webber Street Reopens Monday; Closed Again Friday
Webber Street in The Dalles between West 2nd and River Road is about to reopen after a lengthy closure due to Westside Interceptor project. Contractor Crestline Construction says that section will open on Monday morning at 6 a.m., but close again on Friday morning at 6 a.m. for permanent striping of the street. Webber will then reopen by the end of the business day on June 26. During next week’s opening of Webber, access to the Port of The Dalles via Union along West 1st will be closed to allow final grinding, paving, and striping. At any given time, a minimum of two access points to the Port will remain open.
Lampreypalooza Wednesday At Bonneville Dam
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission will host Lampreypalooza on Wednesday at Bonneville Dam. It will be a day of science, storytelling, and up-close encounters with one of the Northwest’s most ancient and culturally significant native fish. Lampreypalooza is a free, family-friendly event highlighting the importance of Pacific lamprey and the collaborative efforts to support their recovery. From 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., visitors can explore interactive exhibits, see live lamprey, and hear from Tribal representatives and fisheries experts across multiple locations at the dam. Events will take place at both the Bonneville Fish Hatchery and the Bradford Island Visitor Center.
HRVHS Students Ready Solar-Powered Car For Texas Race
A group of Hood River Valley High School students have designed and are building a solar-powered car to race in Texas next month. Fifteen members of the Solar Storms are planning to make the trip. The car has been built from scratch by the students, as they designed every piece of the vehicle. Solar Storms captain Isabel Ulland says the goal is to complete in the Solar Car Challenge in Texas, a six-day, 600 mile race across the state. The team is continue to look for sponsors and raise money to pay for the trip to Texas. You can learn more and donate at hrvhsolarcar.org.
Judge Sets Bail With House Arrest Condition
Hood River County Circuit Court Judge John Olson set bail at $750,000 for a 47-year-old man from The Dalles who faces 46 different charges, including 38 felonies, involving a 14-year-old girl. Olson put what he called “very stringent” release conditions on Bryan Matthew McGeeney, most notably that he would be under house arrest and have to wear a GPS bracelet at all times. McGeeney also could not have any contact with the victim or minors, consume intoxicants, or have access to social media. Hood River County Deputy District Attorney Danielle DeCant argued during a court proceeding on Monday that given the nature of the charges against McGeeney, which include numerous counts of rape and providing narcotics to a minor, he should be deemed unreleasable. But defense attorney Jeffrey Wallace countered that McGeeney has no prior record, should be presumed innocent until proven guilty, does not pose a threat to the community, and that he needs to be able to post bail to assist in his own defense. Olson set McGeeney’s next court appearance for Tuesday if he posts bail, or July 6 if he does not.
Birthday Celebration For Herman The Sturgeon
Oregon’s most famous fish is celebrating another year. Herman the Sturgeon’s birthday will be celebrated from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday at Bonneville Fish Hatchery. Herman, a white sturgeon measuring approximately 10 feet long and weighing more than 500 pounds, has lived at Bonneville Fish Hatchery since 1998 and is estimated to be in his 80s or early 90s. White sturgeon are among the Pacific Northwest’s oldest fish species, with some living more than 100 years. Oregon Wildlife Federation Executive Direcror Tim Greseth says Herman has become an ambassador for white sturgeon and Oregon’s aquatic ecosystems, and his birthday celebration is a chance to recommit ourselves to their long-term conservation. This free, family-friendly event will include birthday sing-alongs, cupcakes, raffle prizes, hatchery activities and opportunities to learn more about one of Oregon’s oldest living fish. Morning festivities begin at 10 a.m., and afternoon activities at 12:30. In addition to participation in the birthday festivities, visitors are invited to explore Bonneville Fish Hatchery, which produces over 12 million salmon and steelhead annually.
Wasco Commission Gets Options For Filling Open Seat
Wasco County Commissioners received a number of different options for dealing with the vacancy left by the passing of Phil Brady, but decided they weren’t ready to move forward at this point. County Administrative Officer Tyler Stone and Counsel Kristin Campbell presented Commissioners Scott Hege and Jeff Justesen with options ranging from taking applications from those who would commit to not running for the seat in November to a direct appointment of advancing primary candidate Mike Urness to simply leaving the seat vacant until the election. Stone pointed out that under Oregon law for filling a non-partisan vacancy, it’s up to the Commission to decide how to proceed. The Commission will discuss the subject again at its July 1 meeting.
Klickitat County Puts Public Records Position In Prosecutor’s Office
Klickitat County Commissioners approved creating a full-time position in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to coordinate and respond to a growing number of public records requests. Government agencies around the country have seen public records requests increase, often times by political groups asking for large quantities of records, and it has become difficult for small counties like Klickitat to keep up with them in time parameters required by state law. Commissioner Lori Zoller says the liability the County would face outweighs the cost of a position. To make the position budget neutral, the Commission will not fill a position within their own department.
Expedited Review Of NSA Structure Replacement Gets First Hearing
The Wasco County Commission held a first hearing Wednesday on amendments to the County’s National Scenic Area Ordinance to allow for expedited review of replacement structures destroyed by disaster, such as last June’s Rowena Fire. The Columbia River Gorge Commission moved forward earlier this year with adjusting its management plan to pave the way for the amendments. Wasco County Planning Director Daniel Dougherty says this will allow applications for replacement structures to be approved at the administrative level. Dougherty noted the amendments allow recreational vehicles to be placed on Scenic Area properties on a temporary basis, along with an accessory building. A second County Commission hearing will take place July 1, when approval is expected.