A revised estimate on the size of the Mile Post 85 Fire just west of The Dalles places it as 170 acres in size.  The fire remains at 70% contained.  Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area spokesman Stan Hinatsu says Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Oregon Department of Forestry continue to have crews on the scene doing mop-up, focusing on the areas around the Pinewood Mobile Manor, Taylor Lakes, and Chenoweth Creek where there are heavier fuels that hold heat longer.  Hinatsu noted continued forecasts for strong west winds remain a concern.  The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office dropped all evacuation advisories associated with the fire this morning.  Fire officials due ask the public to avoid the fire area, including the Riverfront Trail, until firefighting operations are completed.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation.  

A 32-year-old Condon man died in a motorcycle/SUV accident on a road outside of Fossil on Saturday.  According to the Oregon State Police, the accident occurred around 4:20 p.m. on Saturday on Hoover Creek Lane.  A preliminary investigation revealed a Honda 450R motorcycle, operated by Timothy Bender of Condon, was northbound and collided with a southbound Subaru Outback operated by 71-year-old Thomas Edwards of Bend.  Bender sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.  Edwards and his passenger, 61-year-old Gale Brown of Bend, received minor injuries.  The OSP was assisted by Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office and EMS.  

Public comment is now being taken on a proposal by Farmers Irrigation District and partners to modernize irrigation infrastructure to increase water conservation, water conveyance, and operational efficiency in District owned-infrastructure.  By converting open-ditch irrigation canals into underground, closed-pipe systems, and improving other infrastructure, the proposed Farmers Irrigation District Infrastructure Modernization Project is intended to reduce seepage losses and improve the District’s ability to efficiently provide water.  The project is sponsored by the Farmers Irrigation District, with funding and technical support from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farmers Conservation Alliance.  A public scoping meeting will be held on June 16 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Zoom, and registration is available at oregonwatershedplans.org.  Public comments may be submitted through July 15 at oregonwatershedplans.org.  Following the public scoping period, project partners will develop a Draft Watershed Plan – Environmental Assessment that will enable NRCS to apply for funding to construct the irrigation improvements.

Hood River County Public Works will begin chip sealing east valley roads next Monday.  Work will occur on Eastside Road, Old Dalles Drive and Fir Mountain Road between next Monday and June 18 with surrounding county roads being done in late June and early July.  Fog seal and striping work will continue thru July and into August and will include roads in the upper valley and Parkdale areas.  Drivers and cyclists are reminded to be cautious around work zones and to please follow all traffic signs.  County Public Works notes that pedestrians and cyclists are subject to the same laws as vehicles and may be cited for illegally entering a restricted work zone.  For more information about which roads will be worked on, visit the Hood River County Public Works website.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife closed the spring Chinook fishery originally set to go through June 30 on the Hood River on June 1 instead due to unexpected low returns of hatchery fish.  Fishery managers authorized retention of hatchery Chinook in portions of the Hood River beginning on May 1, based on pre-season run forecasts.  However, ODFW says actual run estimates of Hood River stock spring Chinook to Bonneville Dam are less than necessary to meet hatchery broodstock goals.  Based on the reduced returns, broodstock needs, and lack of broodstock already collected, fishery managers decided to close the fishery.

North Central Public Health District says over 22,400 vaccine doses have been administered in Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam counties through May 22.  Through that date, 22,455 doses have been administered by a variety of entities in the three-county service area of the district.  Most vaccines are administered by NCPHD, which has held large vaccine clinics for months now, and is starting to transition to smaller clinics.  Local pharmacies are also offering vaccines, and their dose totals are not included in this count.  NCPHD says One Community Health is hosting a Pfizer Party June 11 from 1-6 p.m. at their office in The Dalles, at 1040 Webber St.  The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for those 12 and older.  To register, visit onecommunityhealth.org.  NCPHD has also begun small vaccine clinics Thursdays at noon.  To book an appointment, call 541-506-2600.

White Salmon American Legion Post 87 will host a Memorial Day Service on Monday at 1 p.m. in the White Salmon Cemetery.  The ceremony will honor the service and sacrifice of passing veterans.  Approximately two dozen deceased local veterans will be inducted into the “Walk of Honor” at the cemetery.  Each will be honored with a permanent bronze plaque on the walk.  Attending families of those veterans will presented with an American flag.  Parking and chairs will be available for the event.

A group of five people are challenging the City of Hood River’s recently approved “Middle Housing” ordinance.  They are appealing to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals, claiming inadequate public notice.  The petitioners say the only advance notice of the March 8 City Council hearing on the code change was in the February 17 public notices page of the Columbia Gorge News, and that did not meet legal requirements for notice.  The Council opened the hearing that night and took testimony, and then left the record open and took more testimony the following week before entering into deliberations.

Registration for summer and fall classes at Columbia Gorge Community College is underway with a mixture of on-line and in-person classes.  CGCC President Marta Yera-Cronin says they have scheduled a limited number of in-person summer classes with limited capacity in the room for social distancing, with more planned for fall but maintaining on-line options.  Yera-Cronin adds the school is on track to complete its new skills center and housing unit for the fall, with a ribbon cutting planned for September 11.

Expect smoother travels on Interstate 84 in the Columbia River Gorge this Memorial Day weekend with the re-opening of lanes in two locations that were closed in recent weeks for improvements.  The Oregon Department of Transportation says both lanes re-opened this week in time to help ease the expected rush of travelers over the three-day holiday weekend.  One of them is the right westbound lane just east of Cascade Locks, which closed earlier this month to repair an embankment damaged by a slide.  This work was scheduled for completion in June, but finished ahead of schedule and re-opened Thursday.  An eastbound lane in Hood River, closed for repair and replacement of bridge decks on structures carrying I-84 over Hood River, fully re-opened earlier this week.  The work was part of a project to repair aging structures between Exits 63 and 64.  In June, ODOT says travelers should expect periodic nighttime eastbound lane and ramp closures as crews complete the project.