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Crews Bring Steele Fire Under Control

Posted on by mbailey

Crews were able to get under control a late Thursday afternoon fire southeast of The Dalles in the area of the 2500 block of Steele Road.  Three single-engine scoopers were mobilized to help ground crews contain the fire driven by strong winds that forced evacuation advisories in the nearby area for a short time.  The fire also shut down a portion of Highway 197 and 8 Mile Road.  It was blown to the southeast by 25 to 30 mile per hour winds, but crews kept the fire west of Highway 197 and north of 5 Mile Road.  Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue said the fire will remain in patrol status through Friday.  The Petersburg Rural Fire Protection Association, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office, Dufur Fire, the Dallesport Fire District, and private landowners were all involved in the firefighting effort.

 

Treatment Plant Improving

Posted on by mbailey

Operations at the City of The Dalles Wastewater Treatment Plant are improving but are not yet back in compliance after a recent plant upset that resulted in discharge to the Columbia River of treated wastewater exceeding the plant’s limit for E. coli.  Samples were taken on Wednesday at five different locations in the Columbia River to determine the effect of the discharge on water quality in the river.  The five samples taken between River Mile 186.5 and 189.5 show that E. coli levels at the sample locations were well below bacterial criteria set by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for freshwater recreation.  City Manager Matthew Klebes emphasized on Thursday E. coli levels are exceeding DEQ limits only within the wastewater treatment plant.  As a precaution, signs will remain in place at locations of public river access until the discharge from the wastewater treatment plant returns to compliance.  Signs are posted on the Oregon shore of the Columbia River, from The Dalles Riverfront Park to West Mayer Park boat launch.

First Phase Of Rowena Fire Cleanup Finished

Posted on by mbailey

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office says the first phase of Rowena Fire cleanup, removing household hazardous wastes from fire impacted properties, has been completed, and the recovery effort is entering an interim phase to allow residents to return and survey their properties before Phase 2 cleanup operations begin.  During the interim period, property owners will have the opportunity to survey for any personal belongings or items they wish to preserve, document remaining debris, coordinate with insurance adjusters, and prepare for phase 2 that will focus on final debris removal and site cleanup, soil remediation, final safety clearances, and preparation to rebuild.  But when phase 2 will start is unknown.  County officials say it is contingent on funding approval, which they are advocating for.  They add phase 2 will begin as soon as the funds are secured.

Wasco County Commission Moves Forward For Design Of Substance Use Facility

Posted on by mbailey

The Wasco County Commission gave Administrative Officer Tyler Stone the go-ahead to sign contracts for the architectural designs for a substance use disorder facility in the aftermath of the Oregon Health Authority finding that a proposed Resolution Center to include behavioral health services could not proceed due to Medicare rules.  Commissioners made the decision to move forward contingent on Mid-Columbia Center for Living’s board doing the same.  Along with a sixteen-bed substance use disorder facility, Stone says a 23-hour crisis receiving center remains possible.  He notes the big issue is the lack of reimbursement revenue for the receiving center, making it more difficult to fund.  County Commissioner Phil Brady is also on the Center for Living board.  He said that group has not had to time to consider the options after the OHA ruling.

 

Wasco County Opts Out Of State Solar Power Project Siting Rules

Posted on by mbailey

Wasco County Commissioners approved opting out of recently adopted state rules on siting solar power projects to allow the County’s planning staff to analyze their impacts.  County Community Development Director Kelly Howsley-Glover told Commissioners a recent state Supreme Court decision found Oregon’s Energy Facility Siting Council can waive local regulations if there is no direct impact to statewide land use planning goals.  She says there have been two new pathways prescribed for solar permitting, but they are very confusing, even to planning officials.  Howsley-Glover says the opt-out will give her staff a chance to analyze the impacts of the new rules.  She says they can opt back in if it is found the rules would be a good fit for Wasco County.

College President Finishing 1500 Mile Run In Hood River

Posted on by mbailey

Clackamas Community College President Tim Cook will conclude his 1,500 mile run to bring attention to the needs of community college students around Oregon in Hood River on Thursday morning.  Community runners can join Cook in the final stretch of his run.  He will start from the CGCC campus on 1730 College Way in Hood River at 8 a.m. Thursday and follow Indian Creek Trail two-and-a-half miles to the finish line at Slackwater Beach.  He will finish the run off with a plunge into the Columbia River.  Cook has spent his summer running on a route that connected all seventeen of Oregon’s community colleges.  He wants to raise awareness and support for the basic needs of community college students.

Cruise The Gorge Weekend

Posted on by mbailey

The upcoming weekend is Cruise the Gorge weekend in The Dalles.  The Neon Cruise will take place through downtown The Dalles on Friday evening, with the Show in the Shade set for Sorosis Park on Saturday.  Steve Hudson of the Mid-Columbia Car Club says they are expecting car enthusiasts from the Northwest and beyond to take part, with the added attraction of Dennis Gage from the television program My Classic Car coming for the second time in recent years.  For information on the Cruise the Gorge schedule, go to midcolumbiacarclub.org.

Foster Parents Needed For The Next Door’s Therapeutic School

Posted on by mbailey

The Next Door is seeking more foster parents for students in its Klahre House Alternative School.  The school in Hood River provides high school-age students place their by the Oregon Youth Authority who are receiving therapeutic schooling that combines behavioral health and addiction treatment services with traditional education and a GED program.  School Administrator Tim Shampoe says they need more foster parents to provide a stable home-like setting some of their students have never had on a consistent basis.  Those interested in being a foster parent can contact The Next Door by email at fosterinfo@nextdoorinc.org.

Wasco Sheriff Notes Phase 1 Of Fire Recovery Nearing An End

Posted on by mbailey

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office says phase 1 of Rowena Fire recovery is nearing an end, and it’s an important time to take advantage of available recovery services while they are still accessible.  Free personal property recovery is available through Northwest Baptist Disaster Relief, which the Sheriff’s Office says is a vetted member of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters and offers specialized assistance to help fire victims sift through debris and recover personal belongings with the assistance of trained volunteers with specialized fire cleanup experience.  The service is available through Monday, and is free of charge to all those impacted by the Rowena Fire.  Call the organization’s Region 3 coordinator, Dave Hillison, at 503-789-6952.

Merkley & Dexter Introduce Bill To Protect Farmworkers From Heat & Smoke

Posted on by mbailey

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Third District Congresswoman Maxine Dexter have introduced a bill they say would put safeguards in place for farmworkers facing wildfire smoke and extreme weather dangers.  The Farmworker Smoke and Excessive Heat Protection Act would tequire employers to provide N95 masks or other National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-certified respiratory protection, along with training and education, to farmworkers exposed to hazardous air conditions.  It also directs the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to develop and publish an official standard to protect employees from wildfire smoke and extreme heat exposure.  Merkley and Dexter say during wildfire season, farmworkers must often work quickly in smoky conditions to harvest crops and protect them from smoke damage, and many do so without proper respiratory protection.

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