Repair of sections of Highway 14 through Stevenson, White Salmon and Bingen will get underway on Tuesday. Last summer, crews resurfaced those areas using a liquid-asphalt mixture and crushed gravel to fill in cracks and create a watertight bond to protect the highway. But over the winter, the Washington Department of Transportation observed that portions were not holding up well, resulting in loose rocks on the roadway, and heavy truck traffic during the detour of Interstate 84 during the Mosier oil train derailment led to more damage. On Tuesday crews will alternate traffic through a single lane west of White Salmon near the State Route 141 spur from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. The following two nights, crews will detour traffic on Second Street in Stevenson between First Street and Northeast Frank Johns Road from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Vehicles parked along Second Street after 6 p.m. each night will be removed. More nighttime paving and striping work will be scheduled near Bingen in mid-July.
A fountain depicting the Corps of Discovery Expedition setting out in a canoe will be dedicated during Fourth of July activities at Lewis and Clark Festival Park in The Dalles. The fountain was created by Dufur’s Jeff Stewart, and was made possible through a number of monetary and in-kind donations. Dedication ceremonies will take place at noon on Monday, immediately following the Fourth of July Parade through downtown The Dalles. Attendees should arrive early as parking will be limited and downtown streets will be blocked for the parade. Fort Dalles Fourth events will take place throughout the day in the park.
Preparations for the annual Eyeopeners Lions fireworks show on the Fourth of July will limit access to some Port of Hood River facilities over the weekend. The Port will close the Spit area at noon on Sunday until noon on Tuesday. Access to the Sandbar from the Event Site will be closed at 7 p.m. Monday to all users due to the fireworks. Kiteboard launching and landing from the Event Site grass is prohibited. The sandy area of the Marina Beach will be closed at 7 p.m. on July 4. Once the Marina Park parking areas are full, “closed” signs will be posted at the entrance and additional vehicles will not be allowed into Marina Park. Use of fireworks by the public is prohibited on all Port properties, including the Marina and Waterfront areas. People planning on watching the fireworks from the Marina and the Waterfront are reminded that the show’s conclusion usually brings very heavy traffic congestion. The Port urges patience and cooperation to help ease the pressure created by the large number of vehicles attempting to exit the area at the same time.
A division chief with Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue says the 15 Mile Fire east of The Dalles is being called under control, but not contained. Strong winds in the area during the night grew the fire to an estimated 3500 acres. MCFR Division Chief Jay Wood said this morning containment lines are not completed, but the fire is at 60-to-80 percent containment level. He said the fire has gone past Celilo Village, to where Interstate 84 and Highway 30 turn to the south. Wood said no structures have been lost and there have been no injuries, but farmers have lost some equipment along with grazing land, wheat, and possibly some cattle. Wood said five fire engines and a hand crew of 20 people along with other firefighters are at the scene today. He noted command of the fire is now being split, with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Land Management now taking command of the eastern portion of the fire, while MCFR will do patrol and deal with hot spots on Fifteen Mile Hill and along Interstate 84. Wasco County Emergency Management has confirmed all evacuation orders have been lifted, but caution is advised as firefighting efforts continue in the area and personnel and equipment are still present. The fire began at 5:35 p.m. Thursday near Interstate 84 in the vicinity of mileposts 90 and 91. A public information hotline for the fire has been established at 541-506-2792. Crews from Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, Columbia Rural Fire Protection District, Hood River County, Sherman County, Klickitat County, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Bureau of Land Management have been involved in fighting the fire Interstate 84 is open between The Dalles and Biggs, but motorists are being asked to use caution.
Courtesy Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue
Both the City Councils of The Dalles and Hood River have voted to put proposals for a three percent tax on recreational marijuana sales on the November ballot. State law allows municipalities to establish the tax with voter approval. Hood River City Manager Steve Wheeler says Hood River councilors want to use the proceeds in two areas: public safety funding and drug education. The Dalles City Council had similar thoughts, noting the potential increased law enforcement costs and a need to provide more education to the youth of the community.
City officials in The Dalles say they intend to take steps to improve relations with Native American tribes in the area. Mayor Steve Lawrence will act as the City’s emissary in those efforts to approach both the Warm Springs and Yakama tribes. Lawrence says the first step is to approach the tribes without any kind of agenda being involved. Lawrence indicated the hope of The Dalles is to emulate positive relationships like Pendleton has with the Umatilla tribe and Lincoln City with the Siletz tribe.
As the Fourth of July approaches, the Eyeopeners Lions Club is once again seeking donations to help defray the cost of putting on Hood River’s Independence Day fireworks show. Club President Russ Paddock says the cost of putting on the show increases each year, noting the cost of just the shells this year is $15,000, and there are additional equipment needs as well. Paddock adds with local volunteers producing the show, the cost is greatly reduced from having an outside party come in to put it on. To donate to the Eyeopeners Lions Fireworks effort, mail a check to Lions Fireworks at 1767 12th Street #136 in Hood River, zip code 97031, or go to the Eyeopeners Lions fireworks stand in Cascade Commons Shopping Center.
Fundraising for the Fort Dalles Fourth fireworks show is continuing. Matthew Klebes of The Dalles Main Street says the show by Western Display is billed as the largest in Oregon. He says the fundraising effort is going well at just over $23,000, with a goal of $25,000. Donations can be made at the Fort Dalles Fourth gofundme.com site, or mailed to 710 East 2nd in The Dalles. A complete schedule of Fort Dalles Fourth events is available at fortdallesfourth.com.
Hood River City Councilors discussed staff ideas in an attempt to move forward with zoning code amendments for short-term rentals, but once again there was no movement toward the four votes that would be needed to pass any changes. The concept from staff included allowing currently functioning STR’s in residential zones to continue with proper permitting until there is an ownership change, and as properties change hands it would move toward a cap on STR’s of 100. The Council, down two members for the issue, has been split between a municipal planning commission proposal to require short-term rental owners in residential zones to be primary residents, and a cap and density distribution plan. The subject will return to the Council on July 25.
The Dalles City Council reached decisions on a time, place, and manner ordinance for recreational marijuana businesses. Among the decisions: opting for a 500-foot buffer around schools and parks from retail marijuana outlets, and allowing processing and wholesaling in commercial and light industrial zones in addition to industrial zones recommended by the municipal planning commission. Mayor Steve Lawrence felt the ordinance was covering the ground the Council was looking for. A full ordinance will come to the Council next month. In addition, the Council voted to send a three percent tax on recreational marijuana purchases to the November ballot.
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