The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a pair of armed robberies of cannabis retail locations in Carson and Stevenson.  The first occurred just after 11 p.m. on May 26 when two men wearing dark clothing and masks entered the Forbidden Cannabis Club on 1171 Wind River Highway, with the Sheriff’s Office saying one appeared to be armed with a semi-automatic handgun ordered the clerk to empty the cash register and safe at gunpoint.  The suspect with the gun is described as a heavy set male, wearing a blue jacket, gray hoodie, black gloves, black mask, jeans, and dark colored boots.  The second suspect was a smaller adult male wearing a two-tone blue jacket, blue shorts over blue sweats, wearing a gray hoodie and mask.  The other robbery occurred the night of June 26, when an adult male, wearing dark clothing and mask, entered the High 5 Cannabis store in Stevenson.  The suspect presented a semi-automatic handgun and ordered the clerk to empty the cash register and then the safe.  He was described as light skinned with a medium build, wearing a black hoodie, black mask, black gloves, and carrying a dark colored backpack.  If you have any information on these subjects, contact the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office at (509) 427-9490.    

A 25-year-old man was sentenced in Wasco County Circuit Court to 140 months in prison for his role in a violent robbery and kidnapping in February in The Dalles.  Judge Janet Stauffer issued consecutive 70 month sentences for the robbery, burglary, and kidnapping charges to Dakota James Christopher Glenn, plus another 13 months for a previous charge of failing to perform the duties of a driver.  Of the 153 total months, Glenn must serve 140 months with no possibility of a reduction under Oregon’s Measure 11 statute.  The Wasco County District Attorney’s office says that on February 9, Glenn and another person confronted the victim at gunpoint, ransacked his home, stole some of the possessions he had, and then forced him from his home by threatening him with a gun and making him accompany them across town.  Glenn fled to California after the incident, where has was apprehended.  Stauffer remarked that Glenn had committed a terrifying crime, has repeatedly shown that he has no respect for the law, and is a danger to the community.

North Central Public Health District says COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are up in Wasco County and across the state, and the district is encouraging the public to wear masks in indoor settings.  Hospitals in The Dalles and Hood River before the holiday weekend had nine patients who had COVID-19.  NCPHD says Wasco County recorded 31 COVID cases last Tuesday and 10 each on Wednesday and Thursday.  Actual case counts are likely considerably higher due to use of home tests.  The county, like most of the rest of the state, has a high rate of community transmission of COVID, according to the latest Oregon community transmission map.  High transmission is considered having a seven-day test positivity rate of 10 percent or higher, and having more than 100 cases per 100,000 population over the past seven days.  In Wasco County, 42.5 percent of eligible people have gotten a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.  Since immunity wanes over time, boosters are highly recommended to reduce the risk of a severe outcome from COVID.  NCPHD offers free vaccines Wednesdays and Fridays.  Call 541-506-2600 to book an appointment.

The Hood River Police Department reports two seizures of fentanyl over the holiday weekend.  On Monday, a Hood River Police Officer stopped a vehicle for a minor traffic infraction, and during the course of the investigation, a large amount of suspected, pure uncut fentanyl and fentanyl pills were seized along with a significant amount of methamphetamine and heroin.  A large amount of cash, ammunition and a restricted weapon were seized as well.  The male driver was lodged at NORCOR on several drug related charges and identity theft.  The day before, another traffic stop determined the male individual had an outstanding warrant and he was also in possession of a substantial amount of methamphetamine and some suspected fentanyl pills.  The man was booked and lodged at NORCOR.

Fire crews on Monday dealt with some small fires in the Mid-Columbia Region.  Among them:  a late evening fire at the Ferry Landing near Dallesport that did get into some trees.  Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue crews responded to a small grass fire shortly before 8 p.m. at the Mayer State Park boat basin.  And on Monday afternoon there was a 1/6 of an acre fire on top of Satus Pass northeast of Goldendale.  In all three cases, the fires were quickly brought under control.

The Dalles Public Works crews and contractors will apply fog seal next week to all streets that received chip seal treatment last month.  These fog seal projects will require short duration road closures between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at each location.  Detours will be in place during work hours.  This road work is expected to extend the service life of the pavement structure.  Proceed with caution in those areas during construction times and observe all temporary traffic control devices.   A full list of projects and a 2022 The Dalles Pavement Preservation Program map can be viewed at thedalles.org/transportation.

Hood River’s Urban Renewal Agency heard from City staff and consultants on their recommendation for a concept for the Heights Streetscape project.  The suggested alternative is a hybrid of two other proposals that would convert the existing one-way traffic on 13th Street to two-way traffic while maintaining one-way traffic on 12th Street.  12th Street would have diagonal parking and a two-way protected bike lane and 13th Street would have a center turn lane and on-street parking on one side of the street.  The intersection at 13th and May would be controlled with a roundabout and the intersection at 13th and Belmont would have a traffic signal.  City Planner Dustin Nilsen noted the concept would be used to develop a preferred design along with incorporating public input from a recent open house and surveys.  URA board members did express concern about whether the Oregon Department of Transportation would sign off a such a plan, as 12th and 13th are a state highway, noting they didn’t want to spend money on a plan that might not meet ODOT approval.  The URA board made no decisions on the concept recommendation.

The Dalles Police Sergeant Doug Kramer was honored for his actions in saving a man from potentially dying from a drug overdose during a City Council meeting this week.  Police Chief Tom Worthy presented the Lifesaving Award and letter of commendation to Kramer.  Worthy said on June 2, Kramer arrived at a home to find a woman giving CPR to a man in the bathroom.  Kramer recognized the man had symptoms of a drug overdose, and was trained in the use of NARCAN, which he administered to the man who began to breathe again.  As the man woke up to emergency crews assisting him, Kramer was able to calm him down and explain what happened, staying with the man until he was taken for further medical treatment.

The Union Street Undercrossing in The Dalles has been closed to all traffic until further notice due to the high Columbia River level, which is causing water at the undercrossing to be deep enough to be hazardous to vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians.  According to the Corps of Engineers, which operates Columbia River dams, the high water level of the Bonneville Pool is necessary for flood control due to recent rain and snow melt.  When necessary, Union Street northbound will be closed to through traffic at the railroad tracks, and will be completely closed north of the Hattenhauer access road at 111 West 1st Street.  Intermittent access to Lewis and Clark Festival Park will be open as river levels allow.  Approaching the undercrossing from the west side, West 1st Street will be closed to through traffic at Terminal Way and will be completely closed beyond the employee access to the Oregon Cherry Growers Riverside facility.  Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians are encouraged to use Webber Street as an alternate route to access West 1st Street and the west section of the Riverfront Trail during times the underpass is closed.

Mt. Hood National Forest officials are reminding all those headed to public lands this Fourth of July weekend to take precautions to prevent wildfires and natural resource damage.  While there are currently no campfire restrictions on Mt. Hood National Forest, campers and picnickers are encouraged to always plan carefully before starting a campfire.  Fireworks and explosives are never allowed on national forests, regardless of weather or conditions.  Fireworks are also prohibited on other public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and Oregon State Parks, as well as most county and city parks.  If you are planning to have a campfire, please remember to keep your campfire small and away from flammable material, use a designated campfire ring when available, keep water and a shovel nearby, and never leave a campfire unattended.  Completely extinguish your campfire by drowning your fire with water and stirring with a shovel and mke sure your campfire is cold to the touch before leaving it.  Portable fire pits and propane-fueled stoves with an “off” switch are a good alternative to campfires as they can be extinguished quickly.  More information about recreation sites, seasonal road closures, and areas impacted by wildfire damage is available on the Mt. Hood National Forest website.