The Sherman County Sheriff’s Office says a 75-year-old man died this past weekend near Giles French Park in Rufus. The Sheriff’s Office says late last Saturday night, deputies responded to a report of a missing man. His boat was found adrift in the Columbia River with no one on board. An initial investigation suggested the man jumped into the Columbia River to recover an item. Deputies were able to recover the submerged body around midnight Saturday at the Giles French boat launch. The Sheriff’s Office says the medical examiner is continuing to investigate.
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Wasco County Commission Approves Water Project Contract
Wasco County Commissioners approved a contract with Crestline Construction to do the final phase of the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center Water System expansion project. County Administrator Tyler Stone describes where this section of line will be installed which will start at the roadway into the Discovery Center, go down to The Dalles Country Club, turning at the apartment complex that is located there, and across the golf course property to their irrigation. Crestline Construction was awarded the project with a bid of $274,720. Commissioners noted that completion of this project has been long awaited.
Hood River Fly-In This Weekend
The annual Hood River Fly-In is this weekend at the Ken Jernstedt Airfield and the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum. The museum’s Stephanie Hatch says they will have planes flying in from many different locations. Activities will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. WAAAM’s restoration shop will be open for visitors to see, and there are opportunities to take a ride in a vintage biplane or Ford Trimotor. For schedule information, go to WAAAMuseum.org.
Missing Ridgefield Man Found Deceased In Rural Skamania County
A missing Ridgefield man was found deceased on Monday in rural Skamania County. The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office says Krieg Kjer’s van was initially located on Saturday near Forest Service Road 25 by recreationists who recognized the vehicle as associated with a missing subject. After the Sheriff’s Office conducted multiple search efforts, Kjer was not located. But Kjer’s family assisted in search efforts on Monday and located Kjer outside of the original search area. The cause of Kjer’s death has not been determined at this time, but the Sheriff’s Office says the manner does not appear to be suspicious.
Suspicious Death Discovered At Local Motel Being Investigated
Police in The Dalles are investigating what is being termed a suspicious death at a local motel on Sunday morning, and a person of interest is in custody in Central Oregon. The Dalles Police say the deceased person is a 33-year-old woman from Portland. Her body was found in a motel at 609 Cherry Heights Road. Detectives determined a 32-year-old man, described as a resident of central Oregon, rented the room. That individual was taken into custody by Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputies on Sunday on charges unrelated to the death. The Dalles Police, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wasco County District Attorney’s Office are continuing to investigate.
MCCAC And Hood River Shelter Services Merge
The Mid-Columbia Community Action Council and Hood River Shelter Services have collaborated in recent years to provide shelter services in Hood River, and now the organizations will formally merge to provide coordinated services throughout the region. The merger was officially announced Tuesday. The boards of both organizations have been coordinating details to bring the two together in recent months, with the Hood River Shelter program brought under the MCCAC umbrella. Community Action Executive Director Kenny LaPoint said Community Action is committed to continuing to provide shelter services in Hood River County, and the shelter will be open at the same location on Oak Street for the coming winter season. Former Hood River Shelter Services director Sarah Kellems is taking on a new role as Community Action’s Development and Engagement Coordinator. The Hood River Warming Shelter was founded in 2009, and was under the non-profit umbrella of Gorge Ecumenical Ministries.
Lewis To Be Huckleberry Fest Grand Marshal
The Huckleberry Festival is this weekend in Bingen, and this year’s grand marshal is former White Salmon Valley School District Superintendent Jerry Lewis. Lewis retired from the job two years ago, but returned to the position on an interim basis this past spring to help the district deal with a major financial shortfall. One of the festival organizers, Chris Connolly, says Lewis is being recognized for his contributions to the community. Saturday’s Huckleberry Festival Parade will begin at 11 a.m., and run through the town from east to west.
Camp Creek Fire Containment At 16%
Containment of the Camp Creek Fire in the Mount Hood National Forest near the Bull Run Watershed has been increased to 16%. Size of the fire remains at 1,902 acres, as rainfall on Sunday slowed the growth and rate of fire spread. Warmer and drier conditions are expected for the remainder of the week, which may increase fire activity. But Operations Section Chief Matt Call says it will also allow crews to carry out firing operations that have been hampered by the wet weather. The fire is burning in heavy, dry fuels such as deep duff, rotten logs, and timber litter under a dense canopy. Current fire behavior includes widespread smoldering and creeping which will continue due to long term seasonal drying.
Cowlitz Complex At 8% Containment
Containment on the Cowlitz Complex of fires on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest has increased to 8%, with the size of the complex holding at 697 acres. The Cowlitz Complex is composed of several dozen relatively small fires spread acres across about 500,000 acres of the Pinchot. A handful of the fires were declared “out” on Monday, allowing resources to be moved to other fires in the complex. Very little smoke has been visible from these fires over the past week; however, a shot of sunshine Tuesday may result in some visible smoke production from the Grassy Mountain Fire. A break in the cloud cover Tuesday afternoon is expected to bring a period of sunshine, though another weak front was expected to pass through, bringing clouds and light drizzle. Temperatures will be 5 to 10 degrees warmer than yesterday.
Hydrant Flushing In Downtown The Dalles
The Dalles Public Works Department will be flushing fire hydrants in the downtown area this week. Fire hydrants are flushed in order to clean out deposits, sediments and rust from distribution pipelines, help minimize water quality problems, test fire protection water pressures, exercise hydrant valves, and identify hydrants needing repair or replacement. Motorists and pedestrians are asked to avoid driving or walking through the water coming directly from a hydrant while it is being flushed. If it is not possible to avoid the area, please proceed with caution. Occasionally main flushing causes water flowing from a tap to be discolored from stirred up sediment or milky white caused by tiny air bubbles. Although discolored water won’t make you sick, you can flush the pipe by running the water for several minutes before drinking or washing. If the water does not clear, please contact The Dalles Public Works office at 541-296-5401.