With increased moisture and cooling temperatures, Forest Service fire officials recommended the elimination of public use restrictions on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest effective today.  Fire danger levels across the Pinchot forest will be lowered from extreme to high, and campfires, as well as target shooting, will be allowed once again.  Industrial Fire Precaution Levels across the Forest recently moved to an IFPL 2, allowing personal firewood cutting to resume, but chainsaw use is not allowed from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and must be followed by a one-hour fire watch after equipment is shut down.  Fire officials would like to remind people to continue being diligent with possible ignition sources.  Vegetation remains dry and is susceptible to sparks.  Remember to have plenty of water and a shovel on-hand when maintaining a campfire. Make sure your campfire is cold to the touch before you leave it unattended.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public comments on a request to exempt the fish passage requirements at the Indian Creek culvert on Highway 281 in Hood River County.  Oregon Department of Transportation emergency repairs triggered state fish passage requirements.  ODOT proposes to remove two water diversion structures, remove and replace a road crossing to full fish passage, and move a water return line upstream, adding additional flow instream on Evans Creek, as mitigation for not providing fish passage at the waiver site.  Indian Creek could provide passage for cutthroat trout if passage were provided at the culvert location.  ODFW has made the initial determination that providing the proposed mitigation package at Evans Creek will provide a greater benefit to native migratory fish than providing passage at Indian Creek.  The Fish Passage Task Force will be asked to consider the waiver application on October 15.  

Boys Soccer The Dalles 1, Hillsboro 1 Damascus Christian 5, Trout Lake 4   Girls Soccer Hillsboro 4, The Dalles 0 Goldendale 2, Warden 0   Volleyball Crook County def. The Dalles 24-26, 25-13, 25-17, 25-11 Ridgeview def. Hood River Valley 25-6, 25-15, 25-5 South Wasco def. Klickitat-Glenwood 25-12, 25-23, 25-6 Goldendale def. Mabton 25-5, 25-16, 25-17   Football Montesano 53, Columbia0 Toledo 47, Stevenson 12 Prairie City 36, South Wasco 18   Cross Country Isabella Spencer’s first place finish led Stevenson to the girls’ victory at a Central 2B League meet in Onalaska.  The Bulldog boys finished fifth in their race.   Girls Water Polo Hood River Valley 16, David Douglas 5

COVID-19 case rates in Wasco County remain high, but there are signs it is beginning to come down.  In a report to the Wasco County Commission, North Central Public Health District clinical programs supervisor Martha McInnes said the County had 97 cases for the week that ended September 5 after being over 150 the week prior.  She said they still about 20 cases per day.  Wasco County’s vaccination rate is up to 66.8% of those 18 years of age or older.  The statewide rate is 73.6%.

After three weeks of classes, new White Salmon Valley School District Superintendent Sean McGeeney says it has been a successful and safe start to the school year.  McGeeney says it has been better that he expected, and the word that comes to his mind is “joy,” seeing that emotion in classrooms every day.  McGeeney says face coverings are being used by everyone in the classroom with students separated by at least three feet and air filters in the rooms.  He adds they are getting students outside as much as possible.  In addition kindergarten through eighth graders are eating lunch in a six-thousand square foot outdoor pavilion.

Friends of the White Salmon Valley Library’s Community Reads program, KOOBDOOGA, is getting underway.  The group’s Shari Bosler says this year’s book is A River Lost:  The Life and Death of the Columbia by Blaine Harden.  Copies of the book are available at the White Salmon Valley Community Library.  There will be online events taking place every Thursday evening at 6:30 beginning September 30 and continuing through October.  For information on the events and how to take part, go to fvrl.org.

Volleyball Hood River Valley def. Banks 3-2 Corbett def. Columbia 25-20, 25-20, 25-23 Stevenson def. Toledo 3-2 Klickitat-Glenwood def. Horizon Christian 25-9, 25-16, 25-11 Goldendale def. White Swan 25-5, 25-10, 25-16   Girls Soccer Hillsboro 4, Hood River Valley 0 Westside Christian 3, Trout Lake 1   Boys Soccer Corbett 3, Trout Lake 3

The Hood River City Council has offered its City Manager’s position to Beaverton Director of Community Services and Engagement Abigail Elder.  Mayor Kate McBride made the announcement during Monday night’s Council meeting.  Councilors had conducted a second interview with her before the meeting, and McBride said she had reached out to negotiate a contract with her.  Elder was one of three finalists for the position   Elder has 16 years of local government management experience including as Director of the Mayor’s Office and Library Director in Beaverton, Library Manager in Tualatin, Multnomah County Library Administrator, and Circulation Manager for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library.

The Hood River City Council approved asking two firms to submit proposals for development of an affordable housing project on seven acres the City owns off of Rand Road.  Bridge Housing Corporation and Community Development Partners were selected…and municipal senior planner Kevin Liburdy said the two firms have extensive experience developing affordable and attainable housing in Oregon or elsewhere.  Liburdy says they expect to have proposals from the firms and a recommendation developed in October or early November.  Both firms would partner with Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation on the project.

The Dalles City Council has approved a list of projects to use just short of $1.7 million of American Recovery Plan funds the City will receive, but also asked for more details on the two biggest recipients before the money is actually disbursed.  Those include a $650,000 property acquisition fund for which a large part would go toward Mid-Columbia Community Action’s proposed Navigation Center for low-income community members and those experiencing homelessness, and $400,000 to Northern Wasco Parks and Recreation District for rehabilitation of Sorosis Park.  Other areas of funding in the plan include replacing transient room and fuel tax revenue lost in the pandemic, police department security and safety, and downtown economic development.