When school starts next week at Whitson Elementary, Stevenson Intermediate, and Henkle Middle schools in White Salmon, a new no cell phone policy will be in place. The White Salmon Valley School District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says if phones are brought to the schools, they must either be stored in lockers or turned in to the main office. Polkinghorn noted they are still formulating a cell phone policy for Columbia High School, and will work with parents and students to formulate it.
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Gorge Gleaning Collecting Unwanted Produce
Gorge Gleaning is into its tenth year of collecting fresh fruits and vegetables that would normally go to waste from backyard fruit trees, public and private orchards and backyard gardens. Hannah Ladwig of the Gorge Grown Food Network, which Gorge Gleaning is a part of, says the produce goes to food banks and other groups that help those with need. Statistics show nearly 40% of fresh foods in the United States are wasted, while Ladwig says one in three people in the Gorge worry about where their next meal will come from. Those who would have grown fruits and vegetables that might go to waste, or who would like to help gather it, can go to gorgegleaning.com for more information.
Applications For Energy Credits Available In Klickitat & Skamania Counties
Applications to receive a $200 energy credit for low-income residential customers in Klickitat and Skamania counties whose households have an Area Median Income of 150 percent or less are available. Washington Gorge Action Programs says Klickitat PUD hopes to assist 2,400 households with $491,000 in funding awarded recently through the Clean Energy Credits for Washington Families, a Washington State Department of Commerce program aimed at relieving some of the burden of energy costs for low-income families. In Klickitat County, those already enrolled in energy assistance programs since January 2022 will qualify automatically. Clients can reach out to the Goldendale office at 509-773-5891 or the White Salmon office at 509-493-2255 to ask if they qualify. Skamania County PUD #1 is also participating in the $200 energy credit program. Customers who have received assistance from their Low Income Rebate Program or Low Income Household Energy Assistance Program will automatically qualify. In Skamania County contact PUD #1 by phone at 509-427-5126 or stop by their office at 1492 Wind River Hwy in Carson. To confirm eligibility, customers can visit https://wacleanenergycredits.com with the name of their utility and their account number to see if they qualify for the $200 credit.
The Dalles Water Plan Discussion Continues
The Dalles City Council got an update from Public Works and consultants on progress on a Water Systems Master Plan set to be adopted by the end of the year, focusing on a capital improvement plan and rates necessary to pay for the work. Twelve different projects were identified as needing to be done in the next decade, including replacement and expansion of the Wicks water treatment plant and reservoir. Consultant Brian Ginter of Consor Engineering says Wicks tops the list for a number of reasons, including proceeding with aquifer storage recovery projects and delaying an eventual raise of the Crow Creek Dam. Rates were also discussed, with increases needed to pay for necessary system improvements, but how much would depend on other potential revenue sources. The Council is expected to receive a fully developed Water Systems Master Plan in the fall.
Williams Mine Fire Containment Up To 10%
The Williams Mine Fire northwest of Trout Lake moved up to 10% containment, with acreage burned also up to 11,696. Spencer Gregory with Northwest Complex Incident Management Team 13 Field Operations says they feel good about protection of the southern and eastern areas of the fire. To the north, Gregory says they are still looking for opportunities to add containment line in rugged terrain. One of the obstacles is dealing with large amounts of downed snags in a fire scar. The possibility of showers moving through the fire area is expected to run from this evening into Thursday, so conditions will not be conducive to fire behavior, though there will be smoldering on the surface that may create visible smoke.
Whisky Creek Fire Holds Steady
Size of the Whisky Creek Fire southeast of Cascade Locks in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness remains at 2,057 acres, while containment is still at 9%. Northwest Complex Incident Management Team 10 Operations Section Chief Cary Neu says crews continue to focus on the eastern perimeter of the fire. Significant progress was made on containment lines around spot fires near Black Lake, further increasing confidence those areas will hold. Mastication was completed on Forest Roads 630 and 650 was finished, while it continues to progress along Forest Road 2810. Firefighters scouted the terrain near Wahtum Lake for possible contingency lines.
Williams Mine Fire Stays At 5% Containment
The Williams Mine Fire northwest of Trout Lake remains at 5% containment, with 11,555 acres burned. Northwest Complex Incident Management Team 13 Field Operations Trainee Jon Campbell says they have made lots of good progress. He says much of their focus is on the northwest corner moving around to the south. Campbell added more direct line is being put in on the east side of the fire. Washington Department of Natural Resources managed lands near Trout Lake and Glenwood, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Tract D Recreation Area are closed due to the fire. Level 1 & 2 evacuations are in effect for the community of Trout Lake, and parts of Klickitat County.
Whisky Creek Fire Size Up To 2,057 Acres
Size of the Whisky Creek Fire southeast of Cascade Locks in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness has moved up by 84 acres to 2,057, while containment remains at 9%. Northwest Complex Incident Management Team 10 Operations Section Chief Cary Neu says crews have been focusing their efforts on the east and southeast areas of the fire. Hand crews are scouting the southern portions of the perimeter for opportunities to limit the size of the fire footprint. Heavy equipment operations continue on Forest Roads 630 and 2820. Neu added that while Saturday night’s heavy rains quieted down the fire somewhat, they did not get as much on the ground as they hoped, and fire activity could increase as conditions dry out.
MCCFL To Refocus Behavioral Health Response Due To OHA Changes
Mid-Columbia Center for Living says it will be refocusing its crisis response from emergency department behavioral health response to community response over the next two months. Center For Living executive director Al Barton says the change is occurring because of changes the Oregon Health Authority has made to the rules that govern Community Mental Health Programs. Under the new rules, those programs must provide two-person mobile crisis response teams available 24/7 to respond to behavioral health crises in the community. The two-person teams are supposed to provide more robust support for people in crisis while increasing the safety of responders and reducing the need for law enforcement involvement in non-violent situations. Hospitals will continue to be responsible to provide behavioral health treatment in hospital emergency rooms but will need to provide their own staff to perform behavioral health assessments and discharge planning. Barton says for individuals who are admitted to the emergency rooms, they plan to partner with hospitals to transition crisis evaluations, support, and safety planning to professionals employed by the hospitals.
Hood River Schools Look For Bus Drivers
As the Hood River County School District prepares to begin classes next week, there are still opportunities for those willing to drive a school bus or van. District Superintendent Bill Newton says they have a pair of driving needs: bus drivers and van drivers. Van drivers do not require a commercial drivers’ license. Newton says they have enough drivers for day-to-day transport to schools, but when extended field trips and school athletics get started, the district runs short. He says that leads them to use charters, which are more costly than using the district’s own buses. If you’re interested in becoming a school bus driver, contact the Hood River County School District to apply through the district website, hoodriver.k12.or.us, and click on jobs.