A recent poaching conviction in Umatilla County is the first significant application of new sentencing guidelines established by the Oregon Legislature in 2018 creating stiffer penalties and allows prosecutors to elevate poaching crimes from a misdemeanor to a felony. The Oregon State Police say 28-year-old Walker Erickson on Pendleton will pay $75,000 in fines and serve jail time after pleading guilty to 22 charges of killing numerous deer and elk near Pendleton in what officials called a wildlife crime spree. It was prosecuted by Oregon Department of Justice Wildlife Anti-Poaching Resources Prosecutor Jay Hall. Yvonne Shaw of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says Hall has experience with trying poaching cases, and his new position allows him to provide guidance to prosecutors and the OSP. A new website, ProtectOregonsWildlife.com, features tips on how to recognize poaching and report it.
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Low Pressure Pattern Helps Camp Creek Fire Effort
Officials on the Camp Creek Fire in the Mt. Hood National Forest northeast of Sandy near the Bull Run Watershed say higher humidity and rainfall have helped moderate fire spread, but the fire continues to burn steadily inside thick canopies of trees. Great Basin Incident Management Team 1 Commander Evans Kuo told a community meeting in Corbett on Tuesday evening that the current weather patterns are helping firefighters, even though there are some east winds forecast later in the week. Operations Section Chief Issac Powning did emphasize that even with some moisture in the area, the fire is burning actively. Size of the fire has increased to 1,969 acres, with no containment figure.
Fire Near Cottonwood Canyon Park Burns 4,000 Acres
A fire reported 17 miles southeast of Wasco adjacent to Highway 206 in the John Day River drainage burned 4,000 acres before the Bureau of Land Management declared it in mop-up. The fire was first reported near Highway 206 milepost 15 in Sherman County. The Sherman County Sheriff’s Office says it was about one mile south of Cottonwood Canyon State Park, on both sides of the John Day River, and grew rapidly to the east. It burned on BLM, state, and private lands. Firefighters on the ground were supported by four single-engine air tankers and two large air tankers.
Winslow Road Fire Burns 960 Acres
Firefighters on Tuesday evening were able to stop the forward progression of a fire southwest of Dufur without losing any structures. The Oregon Department of Forestry says the Winslow Road Fire was estimated at about 960 acres in size. The fire burned a combination of dry fuels, ranging from timber and brush to recently harvested wheatland, and was wind driven by 20 to 30 mile per hour sustained winds gusting to 45 miles per hour, which the ODF says made it fairly difficult to get a line around the fire initially. ODF’s fire bosses along with scoopers and a large air tanker from the Camp Creek Fire helped to assist ground operations in stopping forward progression of the fire. ODF crews were mopping up the fire Wednesday. Given the light fuels, the fire will be in patrol status for a couple of days. All evacuation advisories were lifted Wednesday morning. Crews from ODF, the Mt. Hood National Forest, Tygh Valley, Dufur, Petersburg, Wamic, Dallesport, a task force consisting of units from Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue, Hood River, and Mosier, and local landowers all took part in the firefighting effort.
Forward Progress Of Winslow Fire Stopped
Firefighters on Tuesday evening were able to stop the forward progression of a fire southwest of Dufur without losing any structures. The Oregon Department of Forestry says the Winslow Road Fire was estimated at about 950 acres in size. The fire burned a combination of dry fuels, ranging from timber and brush to recently harvested wheatland, and was wind driven by 20 to 30 mile per hour sustained winds gusting to 45 miles per hour, which the ODF says made it fairly difficult to get a line around the fire initially. ODF’s fire bosses along with scoopers and a large air tanker from the Camp Creek Fire helped to assist ground operations in stopping forward progression of the fire. Resources stayed on the fire overnight, and today crews will focus on mopping up the fire to ensure that all hot spots are extinguished. Given the light fuels, the fire will be in patrol status for a couple of days. Crews from ODF, the Mt. Hood National Forest, Tygh Valley, Dufur, Petersburg, Wamic, Dallesport, a task force consisting of units from Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue, Hood River, and Mosier, and local landowers all took part in the firefighting effort.
Cottonwood Canyon Fire Burns 4,000 Acres
A fire reported 17 miles southeast of Wasco adjacent to Highway 206 in the John Day River drainage burned 4,000 acres before the Bureau of Land Management declared it in mop-up. The fire was first reported near Highway 206 milepost 15 in Sherman County. The Sherman County Sheriff’s Office says it was about one mile south of Cottonwood Canyon State Park, on both sides of the John Day River, and grew rapidly to the east. It burned on BLM, state, and private lands. Firefighters on the ground were supported by four single-engine air tankers and two large air tankers.
Westside Urban Renewal District Gets Formal Approval
The Hood River City Council voted to formally authorize creation of the Westside Urban Renewal District. The district has been long discussed, and the approval allows tax increment financing to begin to be accrued when taxes are collected this November. Mayor Paul Blackburn says that will allow the district to begin to implement projects as opportunities become available. City Manager Abigail Elder says they will be working with their urban renewal consultant, Elaine Howard, on a five-year implementation plan.
Public Bathroom To Be Topic For The Dalles Council
When The Dalles City Council returns to its chambers September 11 after taking the month of August off, one of the topics of discussion will be whether to proceed with placing a 24-hour bathroom facility somewhere in the city. Mayor Rich Mays says they would be looking at a heavy-duty but easy to maintain facility. The two main issues to consider are the cost of somewhere around $185,000, and the location, with the city-owned parking lot on 3rd Street among the suggestion. Other location suggestions have included near The Annex on Second Street operated by Mid-Columbia Community Action.
HR Council Approves Parking Limits
The Hood River City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to prohibit vehicles from being parked on City streets for more than one week, and require them to be moved at least two blocks after that point. It’s to address issues in neighborhoods where vehicles are parked for long periods of time without being moved at all. Hood River Police Chief Neal Holste said officers needed the ordinance in order to be able to initiate conversations with people about moving the vehicles. While some on the Council were concerned about some of the details of the ordinance, Councilor Mark Zanmiller said it fills a hole in their laws. The ordinance will be read for a second time for final passage at the Council’s September 11 meeting. City staff will report on impacts of the ordinance after it has been in effect for 90 days.
Camp Creek Fire Reports Only Modest Growth
Crews on the Camp Creek Fire in the Mt. Hood National Forest near the Bull Run Watershed reported only modest growth to the south and east on Monday, away from the watershed. Firefighters continued to improve Forest Roads 12 and 14 to serve as primary containment lines and observed some backing and flanking fire spread despite the misty, cool conditions. Fire behavior analysts expect to see limited spread today with persistent burning due to how dry the large fuels are. Fire behavior may be moderated by the cool and moist conditions, but heavy tree canopy will likely prevent rain from wetting the understory, allowing fuels like logs and timber litter to smolder and creep due to long-term seasonal dryness. Size of the fire remains listed at 1,607 acres, with no containment figure.