The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge will close twice Tuesday to allow a marine vessel to pass underneath. The bridge is scheduled to close from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Tuesday, and again from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., as the vessel passes through. Federal regulations require the bridge to open for marine traffic when at least 12 hours’ notice is given. The bridge will reopen once the vessel has passed and the lift is complete, but unforeseen delays are possible. If either closure runs longer than scheduled, updates will be posted at PortofHoodRiver.com. Drivers should allow extra travel time during and after both closures as traffic clears.
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Multi-Agency Response To Early Saturday Morning Lyle Fire
Lyle Fire and Rescue says multiple RVs, a car, and surrounding grass caught fire early Saturday morning near Lyle Point, prompting a multi-agency response. Fire crews were dispatched just after one A-M following reports of loud explosions and flames several feet high near Cove View Lane, south of the railroad tracks. Officials say the fire spread across about two acres of grass and was moving east toward the Lyle Wastewater Treatment Plant. Firefighters from Lyle and several neighboring districts brought the blaze under control in about an hour and a half. Crews remained on scene for approximately three hours. Lyle Fire and Rescue reports no injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and several law enforcement agencies assisted at the scene.
Single-Vehicle Crash Sparks Brush Fire
Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue says a single-vehicle crash on Highway 30, about a mile west of The Dalles, sparked a brush fire Saturday night. Fire officials say the crash ignited dry vegetation, with flames spreading up a nearby cliff face. Firefighters used extrication tools to free the vehicle’s occupant, provided emergency medical care, and transported the patient. Crews also contained the fire before it could spread further. Highway 30 was temporarily closed during the response. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office and Dallesport Fire District assisted. MCFR reminds drivers that dry grass can still ignite in October from vehicle crashes, hot exhaust systems, dragging chains, or vehicle fires.
Agencies Consider The Dalles Waterfront Master Plan
The Port of The Dalles held a worksession recently to prioritize the goals that they have to narrow the focus of what agency staff is working on. One of them is to partner with the City of The Dalles, the Columbia Gorge Urban Renewal Agency, and the Northern Wasco Parks and Recreation District to develop a waterfront master plan from Rock Fort out to Lone Pine. Port Executive Director Andrea Klaas says it is a narrow strip of land, but there is the potential to expand the cruise ship dock to follow the design of the original Port Wharf in 1933, opportunities for expanded uses for Riverfront Park, and economic development options.
October 9 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Football
Hood River Valley 37, Gresham 12
Columbia 58, Mossyrock 16
Dufur 48, Knappa 14
Sherman 54, Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 8
Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 18, South Wasco 7
Volleyball
Toutle Lake def. Columbia 3-1
Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler def Horizon Christian 25-11, 25-14, 25-8
Cross Country
Hood River Valley’s Savina Davis finished 31st in the girls’ varsity championship division at the Rose City Championship Invitational in Portland
Pinchot Lifts High Lava Fire Closure
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest has lifted the closure related to the High Lava Fire. All roads, trails and trailheads within the closure area are now open to the public. That includes the West Crater Trail, West Crater Trailhead and Soda Peaks Trailhead. The fire was first reported July 23rd following a lightning storm. It has burned approximately 2,899 acres and is now 90 percent contained. Officials say the fire has not grown in several weeks, and post-fire suppression repair work is complete. However, visitors are urged to use caution in the burned area. Fire-weakened trees, hidden stump holes, loose rocks and unstable ground may still pose safety hazards. Meanwhile, warm and dry weather continues to keep fire danger at moderate levels across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Industrial Fire Precaution Level One remains in effect in all zones. Visitors should stay alert for changing conditions and any new restrictions.
Harvest Fest Weekend
It is Hood River Valley Harvest Festival weekend, getting started Friday down at the Waterfront Event Site. The three-day event celebrates the region’s fall harvest, featuring local produce, handmade goods, food, music and family activities. More than 80 regional artists, makers and craft vendors fill marketplace tents, while the farmers market offers seasonal favorites, including pears, apples and pumpkins. Visitors can also enjoy local food vendors, live music throughout the weekend, and a full bar featuring regional craft beers, ciders, wines and spirits. Families can head to the kids’ area for free pumpkin painting, games and bounce houses available for an additional fee. The festival runs Friday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10, and military members and seniors can get discounted admission today for $5. Tickets and additional information are available at visithoodriver.com.
October 8 Prep Sports Roundup
Football
The Dalles 20, Umatilla 0: The Riverhawks’ defense puts up a shutout as they get back to .500 on the season at 3-3.
Stevenson 40, Fort Vancouver 12: Bulldog quarterback Jude Travinski rushed for 183 yards and four touchdowns on just 13 carries.
Boys Soccer
Trout Lake-Horizon Christian 3, Columbia Christian 1
Girls Soccer
Columbia 4, Fort Vancouver 0
LaCenter 8, Stevenson 0
Trout Lake 7, Corbett 1
Volleyball
LaCenter def. Stevenson 3-0
Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat def. Trout Lake-Glenwood, 3-1
Sherman def. South Wasco 23-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-18
Cross Country
The Dalles won both team titles at the Mustang Invitational in Heppner. The Riverhawk girls had six of the top nine finishers, led by Flamingo Duyck in second. Trout Lake’s Melody Stock won the girls’ race. The Dalles’ Luke Sorenson won the boys’ run, with teammate Zeb Stelzer finishing fourth.
Boys Golf
Stevenson’s Cameron Engel shot a four-over-par 76 to finish fifth at the Trico League Tournament at Tumwater Valley. Teammate Brysen Campbell was eighth with an 81. King’s Way Christian’s Christian Harlow shot a six-under 66 to earn medalist honors.
Port of Hood River Postpones Steel & Coating Work
Steel and coating maintenance work on the Hood River–White Salmon Interstate Bridge scheduled for the next two weeks has been postponed until further notice, eliminating the need for overnight closures. Port of Hood River Executive Director Kevin Greenwood says they’ve paused the work as they realized their contractor did not have key personnel and equipment ready to do the work. Greenwood says they should have a better idea on when the project can actually take place in the next couple of days, adding when the work is rescheduled, the Port will provide the public with at least three weeks’ advance notice. This is the second major delay in the work, originally scheduled to begin in late September, and Greenwood says weather could play a factor on when it can actually take place.
Report Shows CGCC’s Economic Impact
Columbia Gorge Community College is touting a new economic impact study saying the school generated an estimated $65.2 million in added income for the Columbia Gorge region during fiscal year 2023-24. The report by the firm Lightcast says that contribution equals about two percent of the region’s gross regional product and supports approximately 830 jobs — roughly one out of every 43 jobs in the region. The college’s biggest economic impact comes from its former students. Their skills, earnings and productivity generated an estimated 51-point-3 million dollars in added income and supported 584 jobs. The study showed CGCC operations supported another 229 jobs, while student spending supported 17 more.