Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture for disaster relive for Columbia Gorge and Oregon pear growers, as bins of Oregon pears that cost $300 to grow may fetch nothing on the market as farmers confront the consequences of a disastrous 2025 season. Kotek’s letter notes pear growers face bin prices.of $0 to $150 on some varieties, owing to a weak market fueled in part by global competition. Kotek’s request comes at a crucial time for growers. Pears are harvested around August or September, but farmers aren’t paid for their crops until they are sold, often months after they’re stored in cold facilities. That means Oregon pear growers are waiting for final checks from the 2025 season as they push into the 2026 harvest, and Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers chair Lesley Tamura said in a statement that the combination of excessive heat, low snowpack and a destructive pest known as pear psylla cut grower revenue in half this year. She adds some growers don’t have enough money to cover their current production expenses. Kotek’s request to the USDA, if granted, could bring emergency credit to family farms, and help some growers reach the end of the 2026 harvest. Tamura’s statement says growing state regulations, including rules for farmworker housing and overtime, have further tightened orchardists’ fiscal margins.
Category: Uncategorized
Fire Near Antelope Burns 1,261 Acres
A fire one mile north of Antelope burned 1,261 acres in grass, brush, and sage. Central Oregon Fire Information says the fire started early Saturday afternoon, and led to a Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation advisory for the town of Antelope. By Sunday morning, firefighters had achieved an 80% containment level, and evacuation advisories were dropped to Level 1 “Be Ready.” As of Sunday, crews had established dozer line around approximately 90% of the fire and retardant had been dropped across the fire’s north flank. Firefighters focused on mopping up interior pockets of heat. The Dallesport area saw multiple fires over the weekend, including a ten-acre fire that sparked Friday afternoon north of Highway 14 near Crawford Oaks. Saturday evening there was a one-acre brush fire near the Columbia River, and a set of small fires near the old ferry dock.
Motorcyclist Taken To Hospital After Highway 14 Accident
A 64-year-old man from The Dalles was taken to a Vancouver hospital after an accident involving a motorcycle and a pickup on Highway 14 in Skamania County. According to the Washington State Patrol, the motorcyclist was eastbound on Highway 14 at milepost 24 west of North Bonneville on Sunday morning at around 11:15 when he crossed the centerline for an unknown reason. The motorcycle struck a westbound pickup head-on. The motorcyclist was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver for treatment of undisclosed injuries. The WSP says the pickup truck driver was uninjured.
4th of July Activities Throughout The Gorge
The Fourth of July will feature plenty of celebrations in the Columbia Gorge. In Hood River, the annual parade begins at 10 a.m. on the Heights from 12th and Pacific to Jackson Park, and then the annual fireworks show is at 10 p.m. at the Port of Hood River Marina.
Fort Dalles Fourth in The Dalles features the Hometown USA Days parade downtown at 10 a.m., the Main Street Community Celebration at 5 p.m., and the fireworks show is at 10 p.m. A complete list of activities is available at fireworksinthedalles.com.
The Pioneer Cemetery in White Salmon hosts a Liberty Tree dedication at 9:30 a.m., with White Salmon’s Fourth of July Parade beginning at 11 a.m., heading down Jewett Boulevard to Rheingarten Park, with music to follow.
In High Prairie, the Community Council Saturday Market hosts an Independence Day Kickoff from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. wit fire trucks, party favors, hot dogs, watermelon, lemonade, and kids’ games.
In Mill A, the Fourth of July parade starts at 11 a.m., ending at Mill A School for a potluck barbecue.
The Oregon Veterans Home in The Dalles hosts a Fourth of July Celebration with a barbecue at noon, games, and a band until 5 p.m.
Appleton’s July 4th Potluck and Picnic is at the Appleton Log Hall Park at 1 p.m.
And Fourth of July at the Skamania County Fairgrounds in Stevenson includes music by the Big River Blues Band at 7 p.m., and a fireworks display by Crazy Rays at 10 p.m.
Port of Hood River Closing Some Areas For Fireworks Show
Some areas of the Port of Hood River waterfront and marina will be closed during the holiday period as they prepare for the annual Fourth of July Fireworks show hosted by Hood River Fireworks. The Spit, where the fireworks are set up, will have the longest closure, from 9 p.m. Friday night to noon on Sunday. The sandbar and Marina Beach will close at 7 p.m. on the Fourth of July with no wind sport launching or landing. And the Marina Park parking lot will close on the Fourth of July when it is full. Fireworks of any kind are prohibited on Port properties. Expect heavy traffic and delays after the show, so please drive carefully and be patient. No overnight parking or camping is allowed, and Port parks will close after the Hood River Fireworks show.
Skamania County Searches Continue To Decrease
For the fourth month in a row, the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office says it has experienced a decrease in search and rescue missions compared to the mission numbers in the previous year. In the month of June, the Sheriff’s Office responded to seven search and rescue missions, a decrease of 42% compared to June 2025 numbers. The majority of these missions occurred on Mount Saint Helens, where climbers were unprepared for the conditions, became lost, or experienced issues while glissading down the mountain after summiting. The Volcano Rescue Team and the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team were the integral components of June’s missions, getting everyone who called for help returned safely.
One Arrested After Drug Search
The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest after executing a search warrant in Stevenson. In a social media post, the Sheriff’s Office said after several months of investigative efforts, a search warrant was granted for a residence located within the 40 block of Second Street. Sheriff’s deputies executed the warrant, locating Methamphetamine, Marijuana, unidentified pills, cash, and a firearm. A Stevenson woman was arrested during the warrant service and booked on charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.
Commissioners Still Undecided On Vacancy
Wasco County Commissioners Scott Hege and Jeff Justesen will wait until their next meeting July 15 before making a decision on how to proceed with filling the vacancy on the panel left by the passing of Phil Brady on May 19. But both indicated they were leaning toward not using an application process. Hege said with only six months left in the term to be filled, and the election in November, going through applications would probably take too much time, leaving either appointing someone without that process or leaving the seat open until the November vote as their options. Hege did say he and Justesen are covering all the work that needs to be done. Justesen said he will be ready by the July 15 meeting to move forward.
Wasco County Mulls Oak Ranch RV Park Direction
Wasco County Commissioners heard a staff presentation on the proposed finishing of a partially-built RV park that is part of the 159-acre parcel just west of The Dalles that the County purchased in 2022. The County received a $1,000,000 grant for the Oak Ranch RV Park two years ago from the Oregon Parks and Recreation District requiring an $884,900 match, but they have not moved forward as of yet. County Administrative Officer Tyler Stone told the Commission there initial attempt at receiving bids for the project were higher than what the grant would cover, so some value engineering has removed several amenities. He added time is becoming a factor, with the state pressing for the County to either start the project or return the grant to be used elsewhere. Commissioners Scott Hege and Jeff Justesen both said they have a lot of questions about the project, and they will discuss it again at a July 15 meeting before taking any action.
Locations To Accept Recycling Not Taken At Curbside
There are now locations in both Hood River and The Dalles to recycle materials not accepted in curbside recycling carts. The new RecycleOn centers are funded by paper and packaging manufacturers under Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act. They will be located at Hood River Garbage and The Dalles Disposal. Accepted materials include plastic bags and stretchy plastic, plastic lids and caps, plastic package handles, plastic buckets and pails, shredded paper in a paper bag, and aluminum foil and trays. Residents can find a complete list of accepted materials and site hours at RecycleOn.org/OregonCenters.