There are plenty of Fourth of July events going on in the area. In The Dalles, it’s Fort Dalles Fourth with a variety of activities. That includes a Kids’ Fair in City Park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., a free community breakfast in City Park at 8 a.m., a block party on 2nd and Monroe from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Hometown USA Parade starting at 10 a.m., a concert with the Gorge Winds Concert Band in City Park at 11 a.m., and the fireworks show on the Columbia River at 10 p.m. For complete details go to fireworksinthedalles.com. In Hood River, there will be a parade at 11 a.m. from 12th and Pacific to Jackson Park, with the community fireworks show at 10 p.m. at the Port of Hood River Waterfront and Marina. To prep for the fireworks show, the Spit will be closed beginning at 9 p.m. Thursday evening until noon on Saturday, while the Sandbar and Marina Beach will close at 7 p.m. Friday evening. The Port of Hood River also reminds those coming to the Marina or Waterfront for the show to expect heavy traffic and delays after the show. In White Salmon, there will be 4th of July parade at 11 a.m. down Jewett Boulevard to Rheingarten Park. In Cascade Locks, Marine Park will host music and food vendors followed by a fireworks show at 10 p.m. The Skamania County Fairgrounds will host Stevenson’s Fourth of July celebration with live music from the Big River Blues Band at 7 p.m. followed by fireworks at dusk. And in Goldendale the annual demolition derby and truck pull will take place at the Klickitat County Fairgrounds.
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Fire Southwest Of Dufur Burns Estimated 92 Acres
Forward progress of a fire southwest of Dufur was stopped at an estimated 92 acres. The Larch Creek Fire was reported just before 4 p.m. Thursday. Crews went into the night mopping up the fire. The fire was burning on a ridgeline, which create some problems for firefighters trying to access it. Aerial attack of the fire began fairly quickly, assisting crews in getting forward progress stopped. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office did issue some Level 1 and Level 2 evacuation advisories in the immediate area of the fire, and they remained in place through the night.
Fire Burns 100 Acres Near Arlington
Crews through the night worked on getting a 100 acre fire near Arlington fully contained. North Gilliam Rural Fire Protection District reported late Wednesday night that fire progression had been stopped. It is about two miles west of Arlington north of Interstate 84 towards the Columbia River. A social media video post by the Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office says the fire appears to be a re-ignition of a previous fire that North Gilliam Rural Fire Protection District responded to a few days ago. The fire did not jump the interstate. Traffic on Interstate 84 went into the night reduced to one lane each way.
Maupin Water Boil Notice Lifted
The City of Maupin announced its boil water notice for Upper Maupin has been lifted. Coliform and E. coli tests of its water system came back negative on Tuesday. The water has now been verified as safe to drink, allowing the boil water notice to be officially lifted. Maupin officials are asking residents to continue to be frugal with water use by limiting irrigation as much as possible. Maupin’s main water reservoir broke open on Saturday, causing a complete loss of water for a time to parts of Upper Maupin, including Canyon Rim Assisted Living, the Clinic, and all homes in the Troutman Addition. City officials are working with state and county representatives to move toward a permanent fix for the reservoir.
Next Rowena Fire MARC Event To Include Info On Debris Removal
Wasco County’s next Multi-Agency Resource Center event for those impacted by the Rowena Fire will include information about the state-led debris removal process. It will be held Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Gloria Center in The Dalles at 2502 West 7th. Those who cannot attend in person can access the event by Zoom. The link is available on the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. There will be information on the two phases of debris removal for those that have signed a Right-of-Entry form. Wasco County Emergency Management staff and the Department of Environmental Quality will be available to explain the process, answer questions, and provide a guide through the next steps in recovery. ROE forms grant the necessary permission for County and DEQ personnel to access property for cleanup. Forms will be available at the event.
Port of Hood River Waterfront Areas To Close For Fireworks
Several Port of Hood River waterfront properties will be closed to public access later this week, when Hood River Fireworks begins setup just west of the mouth of the Hood River. Most notably, the Spit will be closed beginning at 9 p.m. Thursday evening until noon on Saturday. Access to the Sandbar from the Event Site will be closed to all users at 7:00 p.m. on July 4 due to the fireworks display. Kiteboard launching and landing from the Event Site grass and beach will also be prohibited. The sandy area of Marina Beach will also be closed at 7:00 p.m. on July 4 and will be closed to kiteboard launching and landing at that time due to the fireworks safety perimeter. Once the Marina Park parking areas are full, “Closed” signs will be posted at the entrance, and no additional vehicles will be allowed into the park.
Fort Dalles Museum Foundation Fundraising For Grant Flag
The Fort Dalles Museum/Anderson Homestead Foundation is raising funds to restore an American flag that was made in 1868. The foundation’s Denise Dietrich-Bokum says the seven-foot by five-foot flag was sewn by the wives of members of what was known as the “Grant Club,” supporters of General Ulysess S. Grant for President. The flag has been part of the Fort Dalles Museum collection since local historian Lulu Crandall donated in the early years of the museum, but it has been storage ever since. The fundraising effort has a goal of $6,000 is to do professional conservation and suitable framing for the fragile flag. To donate, go to fortdallesmuseum.org, or mail a check to Fort Dalles Museum/Anderson Homestead Foundation at P.O. Box 591 in The Dalles, zip code 97058.
TD Government Academy Taking Applications
Applications are now open for The Dalles’ 2025 Local Government Academy. The City of The Dalles puts on the series of programs designed to educate community members about the operations, services, and programs of the City of The Dalles. Participants will engage directly with City staff and elected officials through classroom-style presentations, facility tours, and discussions with representatives from all City departments, including Police, Public Works, City Manager’s Office, City Attorney, Human Resources, Library, Finance, Community and Economic Development, and the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport. Sessions will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., beginning August 26 and continuing weekly through October 6. Eligible applicants must be residents of The Dalles, at least 18 years old, interested in future civic engagement, and available to attend all sessions. Applications are due by August 8, and are available at thedalles.org.
Transportation Package Failure Impacts Local Governments
The failure of the Oregon Legislature to reach agreement on a transportation package will continue the challenges city and county governments face to maintain roads. The lack of a package doesn’t change what local governments have now, but Wasco County Commissioner Scott Hege points out that going into the session a study by the Association of Oregon Counties showed the states’ counties needed an additional $834 million per year as a group to deal with roads. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek expressed her disappointment in the failure of the Legislature to advance a transportation package, and did not rule out calling a special session on the subject.
Registered Sex Offender Faces New Charges
Federal authorities along with the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Goldendale area man who is a registered sex offender on new charges. The Sheriff’s Office says Homeland Security Investigations and the Internet Crimes Against Children task force executed a search warrant last week at the home of Corbett Craig. Craig was not in the residence at the time, but was located by sheriff’s deputies a short time later in High Prairie. He was taken to the Klickitat County Jail on a local charge of possession of child pornography, and the next day was transported to Yakima to be held on federal charges. An adult female and a young child were found in the residence. The child was removed from the home.