Local first responders continue to be dispatched to rescue hikers who disregard signage and barricades and trespass into closed and dangerous areas resulting from the Eagle Creek Fire.  Responders are placed at greater risk than normal when going into the burn-affected areas due to significant hazards, such as rockfall, landslides, and fire-weakened trees.  A number of state and local agencies have issued a reminder that hikers who trespass into closure areas will be held criminally liable for their actions by the Hood River and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Offices.  Wednesday night the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team was summoned to help two hikers who jumped a barrier and became lost in the Angels Rest area.  In February, the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office cited three juveniles for Criminal Trespass for hiking in the closed Herman Creek area and getting lost.  Six miles of the Historic Columbia River Highway between Bridal Veil and Ainsworth have been closed since Sept. 4, two days after the start of the fire.  Benson State Recreation Area, Shepperd’s Dell State Natural Area, Angel’s Rest Trailhead, trail and parking, John B. Yeon Trailhead, trail and parking, and Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail trailheads and trail between John Yeon and Cascade Locks all remain closed.  All National Forest System lands remain closed within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area south of Interstate 84, west of Starvation Creek, and east of Alex Barr and Thompson Mill Road with the exception of the Multnomah Falls lodge building, snack area, and plaza.

In its proposed Community Marketing Work Plan presented to The Dalles City Council last week, The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce included a new campaign for a “Maker’s District.”  Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says the concept has been developed in conjunction with several businesses in the downtown area, and it emphasizes anything actually made in The Dalles, starting with breweries and wineries but expanding out further to other handmade products.  Farquharson says the campaign is still being developed, but will retain a historic feel while including a fun exploration angle.  The Community Marketing Work Plan is being considered by the City as it goes through its 2018-19 budget process.

There will be a Port of Hood River Commission hearing Tuesday on the proposed administrative rules for accepting proposals relating to the replacement of the Interstate Bridge.  The rules are required by the state as the Port considers a public-private partnership to replace the bridge.  Project Manager Kevin Greenwood says they have worked with consultant Steve Siegel to develop the rules.  Tuesday’s Port Commission meeting begins at 5 p.m. at the Port Marina Center conference room, with the hearing to start soon after.

Baseball Wilsonville 7, Hood River Valley 3 Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat splits with Sunnyside Christian, losing game one 3-2 and winning game two 14-1   Softball Hood River Valley 11. Wilsonville 7 The Dalles 11, Bend 5 in game one, 3-3 tie in game two   Track and Field Brandon Montoya of Lyle-Wishram and Allison Gilliam of Goldendale won three events each at the Mullin-Leavitt Invitational in The Dalles.   Boys Soccer Highland 1, Columbia 0

The Pacific Crest Innovation Academy Owls won the high school division and Henkle Middle School the middle school division at the Google Wind Challenge on Saturday at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center.  39 middle and high school teams from the region built wind turbines at the contest.  Stevenson High School’s Bulldogs Maroon team was second and Team Cyclones from Life in the Gorge Homeschool Group third in the high school division.  Another Henkle Middle Schools group was second and Wind River Middle School Royals-Blue third in the middle school competition.

The Joan Burchell Fund of the Gorge Community Foundation is taking grant proposals for its annual funding cycle.  The Burchell Fund supports non-profit projects ranging from arts to social services, health care, and the environment.  This year’s grant cycle makes available $10,000.  Over $70,000 has been granted through the fund since its inception in 2010.  Deadline to apply is May 4, go to gorgecf.org for information.

A group put together by the Oregon Zoo will be studying how pikas in region are faring after last year’s Eagle Creek Fire.  American pikas are pint-sized mammals related to rabbits, known for their distinctive high-pitched calls.  They’re often found in rugged high-elevation mountain habitats, but pikas in the Columbia River Gorge are of particular interest because they live at a much lower elevation than any other pika population in the United States.  Cascades Pika Watch is a collaboration of organizations and individual pika researchers convened by the Oregon Zoo.   With a $24,100 Citizen Science grant from the Forest Service, Cascades Pika Watch will work closely with the agency to conduct surveys and collect information to find out how fire affects pika habitat and populations.

There will be a full closure of the Hood River/White Salmon Interstate Bridge for about 30 minutes on Wednesday morning beginning at 5 a.m. as Port crews perform a full-height lift of the bridge’s lift span for maintenance work.  The closure is expected to last approximately 30 minutes while crews grease cables, trunnions, and gears and lubricate the slide joints on the span guides.  Bridge users are encouraged to seek alternate routes and avoid the bridge between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Google held a grand opening for its new facility next to the Columbia Gorge Industrial Center in The Dalles on Thursday.  The first phase of the building has been completed, and Darcy Nothnagle of Google says employees will now start moving in.  Fifty new jobs will be created by the new building.  This is the third building Google has opened in The Dalles.  At the opening Google announced it was giving another $100,000 grant to North Wasco County School District 21 for technology projects, and $50,000 to The Dalles-Wasco County Library District to expand its internet hotspot lending program.

Three bills authored by Washington 14th District State Representative Gina McCabe were signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee on Thursday.  One was Erin’s Law, which requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish a coordinated program to provide age-appropriate information and training pertaining to the prevention of sexual abuse of students.  Another will explore ways to expand the availability of sexual assault nurse examiners in hospitals throughout Washington, and the third requires the Washington State Patrol to work with tribal law enforcement and organizations to conduct a study to increase state resources for reporting and identifying missing Native American women throughout Washington.