Cruise The Gorge weekend will take place in The Dalles this weekend.  The Neon Cruise on Friday evening will once again be an open cruise and begin around 7 p.m. in downtown The Dalles.  Then on Saturday the car show will take place in downtown The Dalles from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Steve Hudson of the Mid-Columbia Car Club says the show will be centered on the 1st Street parking lot.  Those wishing to register for the car show can do so at midcolumbiacarclub.org.

The Hood River County Health Department is planning to have vaccination pop-up events at some school registration events later this month.  The department’s Daron Ryan says they plan to have COVID-19 vaccines and other immunizations as well.  It’s part of encouraging parents to get their children the shots required for school attendance in Oregon.  Ryan says the health department plans to be at registrations at Wy’east and Hood River middle schools on August 24 and 25.  Those who would like more information can call the Hood River County Health Department at 541-386-1115.

The Wasco County Commission voted to proceed with the purchase of 154 acres west of Chenowith Creek for $1.5 million.  Formerly owned by Bert Hodges, Commissioner Scott Hege said the County has been looking at the property for a number of years.  Hege says the purchase is a long-term vision…with the potential of using part of the land for an athletic complex to replace Kramer Field rather than on 35 acres in the Port area the County is to receive from Google as has been proposed by Mid-Columbia Medical Center.   The acreage from Google could then be used to create jobs.  Hege says there are plenty of hurdles to use of the land, with most of it in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, noting recreational facilities are not prohibited in the NSA.  He added the purchase is being made with the future growth of the community in mind.  

The Hood River Urban Renewal Agency board voted to move forward with having staff draft contracts with consultants MIG to develop a final Heights Streetscape design using Alternative 3 as the preferred alternative.  That alternative was a mix of two others that went through a public process over the first part of the year.  In the next phase of work, MIG will produce a more specific design along with a project implementation strategy.  Board member Mark Zanmiller pointed out there will still be opportunities for more public input as the process continues, noting this alternative will still be refined with more detail.  The URA board is made up of the Hood River City Council and two Port of Hood River representatives.

Matt Dumolt appears to have grabbed the second spot on the November general election ballot for District 2 Klickitat County Commissioner.  The latest vote count released by the County late Monday showed Dumolt with 599 votes, to 571 for William Morris.  Lori Zoller was the top vote-getter with 1,073 votes, while Rick Essacson received 313.  The County will release one more set of results next Monday, but the latest returns indicated only two more ballots remained to be counted.  Ballots only had to be postmarked last Tuesday, and the County has until August 16 to complete the count and August 19 to certify the results.  In Monday’s results reported, the County reported a turnout of 51.6 percent of registered voters.

Due to dry and hot conditions, campfires are prohibited across the Mt. Hood National Forest, beginning Wednesday.  All campfires, charcoal or briquette fires, pellet fires, or any other open fires will be prohibited, including in developed campgrounds.  Portable cooking stoves, lanterns, and heating devices using liquefied or bottled fuel, such as propane, are still allowed as they can be instantly switched off.  Additionally, target shooting is temporarily prohibited because of the risk of wildfire.  While the Forest enjoyed a wet and cool spring, dry July and August conditions have resulted in low moisture levels in vegetation, increasing the risk of wildfire.  With the current dry and warm long-range forecast, any wildfire start poses a greater threat to firefighter safety, public safety, and personal property.

The Dalles Public Works Department will be painting the center and side lines on several streets throughout the community next Monday through Thursday, 2022 beginning at 6:00 a.m. each day, weather permitting.  Motorists are asked to watch for the crews and avoid driving on the wet paint.  The paint truck will be preceded and followed by warning vehicles, with signs calling attention to the wet paint.  The trucks will be spaced according to the necessary drying time of the paint. Attempting to pass or drive between the trucks will result in a messy striping job and paint damage to the motorist’s vehicle.  The purpose of this project is to provide clear lane and bike path designations for the safety of the traveling public.  Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the wet paint because it cannot be easily removed from vehicles.  

Wasco County Commissioners have approved sending a letter to the Columbia River Gorge Commission on that panel’s draft climate change action plan.  The letter says the County appreciates the Gorge Commission staff being willing to work with them through the process, but added several of the recommended policies could have far reaching impact on a number of economic sectors and resource protections.  It also asked for the plan to coordinate with regional efforts addressing climate change.  Commissioner Scott Hege penned the letter, saying it’s important for the Commission to register the comments and stay engaged in the process.  Commission Chair Kathy Schwartz had also prepared a draft letter, but said she thought Hege’s letter was acceptable.

Investigators continue to sift through the damage from last week’s fire in the Port of The Dalles Marina.  Port Executive Director Andrea Klaas says the number of properties damaged in this fire was less than in a blaze that occurred at the Marina thirteen months ago.  Klaas says investigators brought in by various insurance companies are visiting the site.   Once that is complete the area will be released to the Port to begin cleanup.  Klaas noted a joint fire investigation with all of the parties will take place August 17, and any release of the area to the Port would occur after that date.  

Work to get the Kingsley Reservoir Campground reopened has been slowed by a labor shortage in the Hood River County forestry department.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says they have been in the final push phase to get the campground opened, but they have a backlog of detail work that needs to be done, and the loss of a worker has slowed progress.  Hecksel said the tasks include getting fire rings and picnic tables put together and rolling gravel out.  Hecksel could not give an estimate on when the campground will be open.  He did say it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they will unable to open the facility this season.