The Dalles Police Department has made an arrest in a robbery that occurred in late July. In a statement, the police department says a 34-year-old man from Troutdale was taken into custody at his place of employment in Troutdale on Tuesday on second degree robbery and menacing charges. On July 27, an elderly woman reported that someone wearing a mask and brandishing a firearm robbed her on 10th Street near Pomona at the west end of The Dalles. The case has been referred to the Wasco County District Attorney. The suspect remained in custody as of Wednesday morning at NORCOR.
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Washington Primary Election Counts Narrow Field
Tuesday was the deadline for ballots to be postmarked in the Washington’s top two primary election. Most local offices had only two candidates, and updated counts will be issued later Wednesday. There were seven running for Skamania County Commission District 2, with Rob Farris at 217 votes after last night’s count and Mary Repar at 155. Joshua Good is third 117, with four others all polling less than one hundred votes. In the Congressional races, 4th District incumbent Dan Newhouse was trailing another Republican, Jerrod Sessler, by over 3,000 votes, but had a similar lead over a third Republican, Tiffany Smiley, to get on the November ballot. Incumbent Democrat Marie Glusenkamp Perez and Republican Joe Kent were easily advancing in the 3rd Congressional District. In Washington State House District 17 for position 2, Democrat Terri Niles had over 48 percent of the vote to lead, while David Stuebe had a nearly 600 vote lead for second over fellow Republican Hannah Joy. In House District 14, for position 1, Democrat Chelsea Dimas topped the count with about 38 percent of the vote, while Gloria Mendoza had a 127 vote lead over the other Republican in the race, Andy Kallinen. The candidates for position 2 in District 14 are determined, with Republican Deb Manjarrez and Democrat Ana Ruiz Kennedy easily outpacing Eddie Perez, who listed no party preference. Home Valley Water District’s Maintenance and Capital Improvement Levy was being approved 45 to 28.
Whisky Creek Fire Grows To 1,352 Acres
The Whisky Creek Fire six miles southeast of Cascade Locks on the Mt. Hood National Forest has grown to 1,352 acres, with no containment figure. Jess Register with Northern Rockies Complex Management Team 2 Operations says the fire activity has been occurring at the southeast corner of the fire. To the west, crews are working around the Pacific Crest Trail to develop more containment lines. Register says to the northeast they continue to secure line along the Eagle Creek Fire footprint. He adds they have two to three days’ worth of mastication work to do, and they need the public to honor trail closures so that can continue uninterrupted.
Bennett Fire Evacuation Advisories Lifted; Containment 90%
The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has lifted all evacuation advisories in southern Wasco County as a result of a fire that was sparked by Sunday night’s lightning strikes. Antelope had been under initially Level 3 and then Level 2 advisories, while Shaniko had been in Level 1. The Sheriff’s Office says the fire is now 90% contained. The grass fire started Sunday evening, with dry lightning going through the area. It has burned 631 acres.
Smoke To Be Expected Along I-84 In Microwave Tower Area
Smoke can be seen from the cliffs along Interstate 84 in the area of the Microwave Tower Fire, but officials say it is nothing to be alarmed about. Brandon Cichcoski, a Special Operations Chief for both the Microwave Tower and Whisky Creek fires, says there will be small smokes in that area for a while, but the terrain is such they aren’t going to send personnel in to put them out. He notes the smokes are withing containment lines, and will burn out naturally. He says the smokes are most notable to westbound traffic on Interstate 84. Cichoski says people who see these smokes as they go through the fire area on Interstate 84 do not need to call 9-1-1. Fire crews know they are there, and are monitoring to ensure they don’t grow. The Microwave Tower Fire remains at 89% containment, and is 1,313 acres in size. Officials continue to emphasize the need for the public to stay out of closed areas so suppression activities can continue.
Primary Ballots Due Tuesday In Washington
Ballots need to be postmarked by today (Tuesday) in the Washington state primary election. Washington uses a top-two primary system, in which the top two vote getters in the primaries advance to November’s general election, regardless of party affiliation. Locally, County Commission races only have two candidates except for Skamania County District 2, with seven people seeking to advance to the general election. A number of area state legislative races have three candidates. Most statewide and Congressional positions have a large number of candidates seeking to advance.
Small Barlow Ridge Fire In Mop Up
A small lightning-caused along Barlow Ridge south of Highway 35 and east of Highway 26 in the southwest corner of Hood River County has a line around its perimeter. The Mt. Hood National Forest says the quarter-acre fire is in a mop-up phase. However, forest officials say it will take personnel several days to do patrol and mop up, and get the fire in a contained, controlled status. Fire personnel borrowed a helicopter from the nearby Whisky Creek Fire to drop water on the fire and keep it small. It was first reported early Monday morning, soon after lightning had passed through the area.
Fifty Storage Units Lost In Friday Fire
Fifty storage units burned in Friday’s fire that started in brush behind the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility in the vicinity of Webber and River Road in The Dalles. Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Division Chief Adam Cole says the storage units were a total loss. He added the fire caused more nearby damage as well. Two vehicles were burned at the UPS facility, and there was minimal damage to the grain silo. Cole said the investigation into what cause the fire is still underway, with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Oregon State Police involved in that. The fire started on Friday afternoon, with crews from MCFR, the Oregon Department of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, Oregon State Fire Marshal, and Wasco, Hood River, Klickitat, Sherman, Skamania, and Clackamas counties working into Saturday morning to extinguish the fire. Law Enforcement agencies from the region assisted and were prepared to evacuate NORCOR if needed.
Evacuation Advisories For Microwave Tower Fire Reduced
The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office on Monday morning reduced the lone remaining Level 2 evacuation advisory for the Microwave Tower Fire to Level 1, and all other advisories were lifted. The area from Highway 30 south to Hood River Road, east to Rock Creek and Huskey Road, and west to the Hood River County line has been dropped from Level 2 “Get Set” to Level 1 “Be Ready.” Containment of the fire west of Mosier moved up to 89%, with the size 1,311 acres. Northern Rockies Complex Management Team 2 Special Operations Chief Brandon Cichowski says they still have open line along the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. The Sheriff’s Office did point out that the Highway Trail and some marked trails in Hood River County remain closed due to fire operations. There has been an increase in recreational activity along these trails causing conflicts with heavy machinery. The Sheriff’s Office says when this happens, fire suppression work must be stopped for safety reasons.
Evacuation Advisory For Antelope Drops To Level 2
The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has reduced the evacuation advisory for Antelope as a result of a fire sparked by lightning in southern Wasco County on Sunday evening from Level 3 to Level2. The Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center says crews made good progress overnight on the Bennett Fire, and this morning put its size at 631 acres. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office says there is also a Level 1 “Be Ready” evacuation advisory for Shaniko. The grass fire started Sunday evening, with dry lightning going through the area. The Shaniko Schoolhouse was opened as a Red Cross shelter. The Sheriff’s Office says Washington Family Ranch, where a Young Life Camp is located, is not threatened by this fire. Washington Family Ranch and Clairno are still without power, but it should be tonight.