The Columbia Gorge Regional Airport in Dallesport has received a $225,000 federal transportation grant.  It will go towards reconstruction of the taxiway and to reconstruct the airport apron for parking.  Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley made the announcement of the grant, part of the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement program.  More than $2.7 million in federal transportation grants went to eleven Oregon airports.  Merkley said small airports connect rural Oregon to economic opportunity, health care services, and more.

The Mt. Hood National Forest has lifted all campfire, recreational shooting, and OHV use restrictions on areas west of Highway 35 north and south to the forest boundary.  Campfires, recreational shooting, and OHV use are still prohibited for all Forest Service System lands east of Highway 35 and north of Highway 26.  The eastern side of the forest is still very dry and has not had any measurable rain all summer long.  With the lifting of restrictions on the western side of the forest, campfires are now allowed for dispersed and developed camping.  Firewood cutters should take note of changes in Industrial Fire Precaution Level and consult the IFPL phone line or webpage for the most up to date conditions.

Volleyball Ridgeview def. Hood River Valley 25-13, 25-13, 25-23 Crook County def. The Dalles 25-8, 25-16, 25-23 Columbia sweeps Columbia Adventist 3 games to 0 Dufur def. Ione 25-8, 24-26, 25-10, 25-15 Sherman def. Echo 16-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-23 South Wasco def. Condon-Wheeler 25-8, 25-19, 25-11 Trout Lake def. Bickleton 25-15, 25-15, 25-20 Lyle-Wishram def. Klickitat-Glenwood 25-22, 25-11, 25-20 Granger def. Goldendale 25-22, 25-15, 25-20   Boys Soccer Hood River Valley 1, Franklin 0 Horizon Christian 2, Damascus Christian 0 Trout Lake 5, City Christian 0   Girls Soccer Mountain View 1, The Dalles 0 Hood River Valley 1, Franklin 1:  Mira Olson scored the tying goal for HRV in the 62^nd minute. Fort Vancouver 1, Columbia 0 Portland Christian 2, Stevenson 0 Granger 4, Goldendale 0   Boys Water Polo Hood River Valley 11, David Douglas 7   Girls Water Polo Hood River Valley 7, David Douglas 4

The just over one million pound windmill transformer headed for the Rock Creek Substation in the Goldendale area will be transported there on Monday and Tuesday nights.  The Washington State Department of Transportation says the massive piece of equipment will be moved over two nights.  Highway 14 between Roosevelt and the Highway 97 interchange will be fully closed from 10 p.m. Monday until 4 a.m. Tuesday.  There will also be intermittent closures with flagger-controlled traffic on eastbound Highway 14 near Dallesport and on both directions of Highway 97 between Toppenish and the Highways 14 and 97 interchange during those hours.  From 10 p.m. Tuesday until 4 a.m. Wednesday, both directions of Highway 97 between the interchange and Hoctor Road in Goldendale will have intermittent closures with flagger-controlled traffic.  WSP troopers in partnership with Klickitat County Sherrif’s Office will escort the trailer and transformer along the route.

September is National Preparedness Month, and emergency response agencies are reminding people to have a plan should an emergency occur.  Ian Stromquist of the Hood River County Health Department says when agencies talk about emergency preparations, the core is being ready for community isolation, ranging from roads being cut-off to loss of power.  He tells people to think about what they would need for a few days, comparing it to what you would take with you camping.  He also points out people should consider having copies of important documents ready to go, along with considering pet and medication needs.  This Saturday a number of different emergency service agencies will take part in Get Ready The Dalles on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue on 1400 West 8th in The Dalles.

Columbia and Washougal finished in a tie for first in the girls’ portion of a seven-school cross country meet at Trout Lake.  Goldendale’s Ellie Rising was the top area finisher in second place, while Columbia’s Joules Hope was third.  Washougal won the boys’ team title.  Trout Lake’s Justin Peck took second, and Columbia’s Jacob Lockman was fourth.   Stevenson’s boys finished third in a five-school race at Seton Catholic.  Julio Ramos was the top finisher for the Bulldogs…ending up in 11^th place.  The Bulldogs’ Isabella Spencer was seventh in the girls’ race.  

The operator of a commercial truck died as the result of injuries suffered in a single vehicle accident early Wednesday morning on eastbound Interstate 84 between Hood River and The Dalles.  According to the Oregon State Police, the accident occurred at about 1:50 a.m. near milepost 74.  A preliminary investigation showed the commercial truck was east bound in the right-hand lane when it drifted off the roadway, impacted a rock embankment, and caught fire.   The driver who died in the accident was identified as 50-year-old Leo Stratton of Portland.  The OSP was assisted by the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, Mosier Fire Department, Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, and ODOT.

One man died and another sustained critical injuries in a head-on collision Tuesday afternoon on Highway 26 at milepost 74 in Wasco County.  The Oregon State Police says a preliminary investigation revealed a pickup truck operated by 65-year-old Lanny Hawley of Gresham was traveling eastbound on Highway 26 at about 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday when for unknown reasons the truck crossed over the center line into westbound traffic and struck an SUV driven by 52-year-old Kyle Estes of Medford.  Estes was pronounced deceased at the scene due to injuries sustained in the crash.  Hawley was air lifted to a trauma hospital in Bend for critical injuries.  Highway 26 was closed for approximately six hours following the crash.

The Port of Hood River Commission has adopted a set of minimum standards for businesses that want to operate at the Ken Jernstedt Airfield.  It’s the first time such a set of standards has been put into place, and includes the types of businesses allowed and requirements like insurance, services offered, certifications, and other basic staffing requirements.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says the facility will remain a small, non-tower airport, but the standards are based on the expectation of future demand.  In addition, the Port Commission approved revisions to the ordinance that clearly define correct procedures for take-offs and landings at the airport.

We may be experiencing cooler temperatures and occasional rain showers in the Gorge, but that doesn’t mean fire season is over.  Kiel Nairns of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s The Dalles Unit says this has been a nice reprieve, but it will be at least another month before fire season can be declared over.  A heavy rain event will be needed to have fire season declared over.  As of Wednesday morning the ODF has reduced the hours of restriction for the mowing of dried grass, chainsaw use, and welding and cutting of metal on lands it protects in Hood River and Wasco counties to between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.  The current burn ban in the two counties remains in effect.