Wasco County Victim Services and HAVEN are expanding their partnership to provide more support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. An experienced HAVEN legal advocate will work about 25 hours a week alongside Victim Services staff in the Wasco County District Attorney’s Office. The advocate is bilingual and bicultural, adding capacity to help survivors who may face language, cultural or other barriers when accessing services or navigating the criminal justice system. Officials say the partnership brings together two different approaches to victim advocacy. District Attorney’s Office advocates help victims navigate the criminal justice process, prepare for court, understand their rights and access Crime Victims’ Compensation. HAVEN advocates work independently of the justice system, focusing on safety, individual needs, informed choice and self-determination. Officials say having the advocates work side by side will strengthen coordination, reduce barriers and improve responses to safety concerns, particularly in high-risk domestic and sexual violence cases.
Category: Uncategorized
CCHC Completes Purchase Of Apartments In Cascade Locks
A 51-year-old affordable housing complex in Cascade Locks is getting a major renovation. Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation has completed its purchase of Columbia View Apartments, a 12-unit affordable housing community. The nonprofit says preserving existing affordable housing is especially important in smaller communities like Cascade Locks, where replacing those homes can be difficult. Planned improvements include a new roof, siding, windows and exterior doors, along with new decks and stairs. Kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, parking and other site features will also be upgraded. One apartment will be converted into an accessible unit, with improved accessible routes throughout the property. CCHC expects construction to begin quickly and hopes all 12 apartments will be fully operational before the end of 2026. The project is being funded through a combination of public grants and loans, with support from Oregon Housing and Community Services, USDA Rural Development, Enterprise Community Partners and other project partners.
Progress Reported On Orchard Fire
Firefighters continue to make progress on the Orchard Fire, with no additional growth reported overnight. Updated mapping now puts the fire at approximately 155 acres. Crews patrolled the perimeter overnight, checking containment lines and addressing remaining hotspots. On Wednesday, firefighters will strengthen containment and conduct mop-up up to about 150 feet inside the fire perimeter, where terrain and conditions allow. Most of the containment is along existing roads and mechanically constructed dozer lines. Steep slopes, loose rock, debris and hazardous trees are limiting access in some areas. Fire crews will focus on safely extinguishing hotspots, reinforcing containment lines, removing hazards and monitoring for changes in fire behavior. Resources include a 20-person hand crew, seven engines, and overhead and command personnel. Fire investigators from the Oregon Department of Forestry, Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office are expected to complete their investigation today.
September 29 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Boys Soccer
Hood River Valley 4, Canby 3
Madras 2, The Dalles 1
Girls Soccer
Hood River Valley 2, Sherwood 0
The Dalles 8, Madras 0
Seton Catholic 8, Columbia 0
Kalama 8, Stevenson 0
Catlin Gabel 7, Trout Lake 2
Volleyball
St. Helens def. Hood River Valley 25-22, 25-20, 25-20
Seton Catholic def. Columbia 3-0
Kalama def. Stevenson 3-0
South Wasco def. Horizon Christian 3-0
Overnight Bridge Closures Delayed
Overnight closures of the Hood River–White Salmon Bridge have been canceled this week after a contractor postponed scheduled steel and coating maintenance. The delay could extend through next week, with the overnight work potentially moving to October 12-16. Those dates are tentative. The Port says it’s working with the contractor to confirm the schedule and will announce new closure dates and times as soon as they’re available. Additional maintenance requiring single-lane closures is expected after the overnight work. Those dates and times will be announced separately.
Klickitat County Commission Approves ADU Ordinance Amendments
Klickitat County Commissioners approved amendments to the County’s Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance, opting to keep in a six-month requirement for the property owner to live in either the main house or ADU to use the other as a short-term rental rather than removing it as the County Planning Commission proposed. There was some concern about whether they should move forward with work continuing on the County’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance, but Commission Todd Andrews noted that even while that is pending, there is still a conditional use permit required for an STR. The vote to approve the amendments was unanimous.
Grasshopper Fire Evacuation Zones In Wasco County Lifted
All evacuation zones in Wasco County within the Mount Hood National Forest have now been lifted as the Grasshopper Fire reaches 98% containment. The fire, which started July 23, burned nearly 94,000 acres. Officials say the cause was lightning. A closure area does remain in effect on the Mount Hood National Forest, and residents and visitors should continue to follow posted closure information.
Hood River URA To Ask Community How To Use Remaining Waterfront Funds
The Hood River City Council, acting in its capacity as the Urban Renewal Agency, plans to move forward with asking the community how to use $1 million in remaining funds before closing out the Waterfront Urban Renewal District. The Urban Renewal Advisory Committee picked out four options to consider, rather than sending the money back to taxing districts. URA Board Chair Doug Stepina pointed out that those districts have benefited from what the Waterfront District has already done. If the $1 Million was returned to districts, about half would end up out of the area in the state’s common school fund, and about $250,000 would go to the City, leaving only approximately $250,000 that would go to the districts. The potential projects include helping the Port of Hood River move forward with the Second and Riverside Roundabout, helping Columbia Area Transit with a proposed interregional transit hub, Waterfront Park Restroom and Playground renovation, or creating public art in the Waterfront with the Art of Community.
TD City Council Gets Overview Of Street Needs
The Dalles City Councilors received an overview of challenges to maintaining municipal streets as transportation revenues have not kept pace with the increasing costs of labor, materials, equipment, and construction. Public Works staff gave a detailed presentation showing that Oregon State Shared Revenue, the City’s largest transportation funding source, has remained relatively stagnant and has declined in purchasing power over time. Local transportation revenues have also faced limitations and declining trends. City Councilors asked staff to provide more information on what similar-sized cities are doing. Since 2019, the City has utilized the StreetSaver pavement management software to track the condition of the street network and evaluate maintenance and rehabilitation strategies. The City’s current overall Pavement Condition Index (PCI) is 68 out of 100. The City’s PCI goal is 80.
Orchard Fire Remains At 165 Acres
The Orchard Fire remains at about 165 acres after crews reported no new growth overnight. The unified command of the Oregon Department of Forestry and Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue says firefighters monitored the fire and patrolled the perimeter throughout the night. Tuesday, crews will continue strengthening containment lines and mopping up hotspots, working about 100 to 150 feet inside the fire perimeter where terrain and conditions allow. Most of the containment perimeter follows existing roads and mechanically constructed dozer lines. Today’s firefighting resources include six engines, a water tender, a dozer, and a 20-person hand crew, along with command and overhead personnel. Crews will continue locating and extinguishing hotspots, improving containment lines, removing hazards as needed, and securing the fire perimeter. Fire investigators will also continue their work today to determine the fire’s origin and cause. Weather conditions are expected to remain favorable for firefighting.