The Oregon Parks and Recreation District has awarded Hood River County a 470-thousand dollar grant to acquire 103 acres around Punchbowl Falls along the Hood River for development of a park.  The property will be transferred from the Western Rivers Conservancy to the County by the end of the year, and park improvements including a new parking lot, informational signage, portable toilets, and an enhanced trail system should be finished by next summer.  Western Rivers Conservancy had purchased the property over the last decade.  The full budget for the project to create the Punchbowl Falls Nature Park is over $1.2 million including the grant, $575,000 in donations from the Conservancy for property acquisition, $146,000 from the County, $5,000 from the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District, and in-kind matches from local volunteers.  A kickoff fundraiser is planned for next Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Hood River.

Firefighters have begun to demobilize from the Mt. Adams Complex on the west flank of Mt. Adams in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.  An infrared flight Thursday night showed no remaining heat in the Riley Fire in the complex, while a little heat was picked up on the northern perimeter of the Horseshoe Fire.  A squad of firefighters Friday will continue to mop up in that specific area and verify the fire will not threaten to move into adjacent unburned forest.  Crews are finalizing rehabilitation of the Riley Fire Friday.  Both fires will be placed in patrol status Saturday, and two crews will monitor both fires daily to ensure the fires remain within the containment perimeter.

The Columbia River will close to sturgeon fishing upstream of Bonneville Dam until further notice under temporary rules adopted by the states of Oregon and Washington.  The closure takes effect tomorrow and applies from Bonneville Dam to the Oregon/Washington border upstream of McNary Dam, including adjacent tributaries.   All sturgeon angling, including catch-and-release, and retention is prohibited until further notice in this portion of the river.  Fishery managers approved the closure after reviewing survey reports that showed increased sturgeon mortality as a result of the drought conditions in some of the mid-Columbia River reservoirs.  Normal fishing hours remain in effect for the mainstem Columbia and Snake rivers.  Fish biologists are appealing to anglers to adopt additional voluntary measures that will help reduce stress on the region’s fish.  Suggestions include fishing early in the day, moving to higher elevation lakes and ponds, shifting their focus from trout to warmwater species, using barbless hooks, and notifying authorities if they see mortalities or fish trapped in pools.

The search for a missing 63-year-old woman in the Reservoir Road area of The Dalles has been suspended, but the investigation of her disappearance is on-going.  According to the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, they received numerous tips that Lucia Flores was seen in The Dalles, but she has not been located.  Flores was reported as missing after her granddaughter said she did not return from a walk Monday afternoon.  The Sheriff’s Office reports interviews of potential witnesses included one report that Flores was transported by vehicle to the Reservoir Road area, and confirmed she was last seen standing near the main gate entrance to Wicks Reservoir, where she did not appear to be in any kind of distress.  Extensive searches of that area and several miles up and down Mill Creek have yielded nothing.  Flores was last seen wearing dark pants, neon pink and black tennis shoes, and a pink shirt, and was carrying a purse and a grocery bag.  If you have any information on the location or possible sightings of Flores please contact the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at 541-296-5454.

Firefighters on the Mt. Adams Complex are gearing up for a “subsidence inversion” forecast for tonight.  The inversion occurs when a widespread layer of air descends, usually at night, and compresses and heats due to increasing atmospheric pressure, leading to increased temperatures and decreased humidity that increases the potential for fire activity.  Firefighters have been preparing for the inversion by steadily mopping up the perimeters of the Riley and Horseshoe fires and extinguishing hot spots.  On the Riley Fire, firefighters continue to mop up and monitor activities with containment at 20 percent.  The Horseshoe Fire is at 90 percent containment, and fire officials say it has been “put to bed” but they are monitoring the area closely.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee on Wednesday signed the 16 billion dollar transportation package that includes funding for a new overpass on Highway 14 in Bingen to the Port of Klickitat.  The package allocates 22 million dollars for the project, and 14th District Representative Norm Johnson says it’s a necessary project for a growing Port of Klickitat.  The package does include an 11-point-nine cent increase in the Washington gas tax over the next two years.  Johnson says he doesn’t like to vote to increase taxes, but the state’s transportation needs are at point where they must be addressed.

Searchers are continuing Wednesday to look in the Reservoir Road area of The Dalles for a 63-year-old woman who apparently never returned home for from a long walk on Monday.  The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office says the granddaughter of Lucia Flores reported her missing, noting Flores sometimes goes on long walks but always returns home.  Wasco County Road Department employees reported they observed Flores walking Mt. Hood Street and later in the 5800 block of Mill Creek Road.  The Sheriff’s Office says additional information received Tuesday morning indicates Flores was seen walking southbound on Reservoir Road.  Wasco and Klickitat County Search and Rescue members continue to search the Reservoir Road and Wicks Reservoir areas.  Flores was last seen wearing dark pants, neon pink and black tennis shoes, and a pink shirt, and carrying a purse and a grocery bag.   Anyone who may have seen Flores or have any other information is asked to call the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at 541-296-5454.  (Photo courtesy of the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office)

It’s Fort Dalles Rodeo time.  The rodeo slack for excess entries for timed events will take place Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Milt Tumilson Arena.  The regular performances take place Thursday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m.  This is the 50th Anniversary of the rodeo, and Rodeo President Damon Hulit says they have put together a big show this year to mark the occasion.  Zac Grooms and Brewer’s Grade will perform after the rodeo on Friday and Saturday nights.  Tickets are available at The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce.

It’s going to take a couple of more days than originally expected to do mop up of one of the fires in the Mt. Adams Complex.  The 65-acre Riley Fire is on very steep ground on the west flank of Mt. Adams with green, fine fuels, and its perimeter is thick with snags.  Hazard trees must be removed before firefighters can mop up, so rehabilitation of the Riley Fire has been pushed back to Friday.  It’s listed as 15 percent contained.  The nearby 340-acre Horseshoe Fire continues to experience flare-ups in unburned internal fuels, with mop-up expected to be finished Wednesday night.  Both fires still contain hot spots, leaving fire managers concerned about upcoming drying through next week, potential increased fire activity, and low fuel moisture recoveries during the night.  Containment for the entire complex is 70 percent.

The Port of Hood River Commission approved a $285,200 dollar contract with a New Jersey company to create a support system for the existing software in use for tolling on the Interstate Bridge, and put in place a new package in use at other toll facilities to streamline the operation.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says the original designers of the current automated tolling system have retired, so they need the support system for its maintenance while a new streamlined operation is installed.  McElwee says the new package will be more reliable than what they currently have, with a less expensive transponder and allow customers to have the ability to manage their own account.  McElwee expects it will take over a year to get the new system ready…and the Port plans to run both systems during a transition period.