The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office says a human skull was found near the Sawtooth Berry Fields within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The Sheriff’s Office says a bear hunter contacted emergency dispatchers last Wednesday and said they had found the skull. A Sheriff’s detective responded to the coordinates the hunter provided and successfully discovered the skull, which was determined to be of human origin. The Sheriff’s Office says the identity of the remains is unknown and the case is under active investigation at this time. The skull will be sent for forensic analysis in an attempt to make positive identification. The Sheriff’s Office added there are no indicators to believe there is a public safety risk based on the circumstances of the discovery.
Category: Uncategorized
Minimal Growth On Whisky Creek Fire
The Whisky Creek Fire southeast of Cascade Locks in the Mt. Hood National Forest grew minimally on Tuesday. Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 12 says most of the activity was on the south flank in the headwaters of Herman Creek. Minimal growth is anticipated given forecasted weather conditions, and officials believe there is a high probability of confining the fire within its current footprint, but smoke from smoldering heavy fuels will persist. The fire is now listed as 3,047 acres in size, with containment remaining at 25%. Wednesday is the final day for Team 12 to be assigned to fire. A local Type 3 team will be taking responsibility for the fire.
Tuesday Quiet For Williams Mine Fire
Tuesday was another quiet day on the Williams Mine Fire northwest of Trout Lake in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, despite sunshine and periods of low relative humidity. Fire officials say the main area of concern in the Morrison Creek drainage west of the South Climb Trailhead showed minimal growth. Fire personnel continued to patrol and mop up on the fire’s edges, and worked on repairing damage caused by the suppression efforts. Officials say there is a 50% chance of a “wetting rain” today that is capable of making fuels wet enough to not be easy to ignite. While this will make fire activity decrease, it will not extinguish the fire. The 13,089 acre fire is 31% contained.
September 10 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Volleyball
Columbia def. Battle Ground 3-0
Stevenson def. Washougal 3-0
Mannahouse Academy def. Horizon Christian 25-6, 25-12, 25-7
Mannahouse Academy def. Trout Lake-Glenwood 25-20, 25-11, 25-11
Sherman def. Lyle-Wishram 25-13, 25-17, 25-7
Goldendale def. River View 3-2
Boys Soccer
Roosevelt 2, Hood River Valley 1
The Dalles 8, LaGrande 0
Girls Soccer
Stevenson 2, Corbett 0
Cross Country
Columbia was the boys and girls winner of a four-school Trico League meet at Strawberry Island. The Bruins dominated the girls’ run, taking four of the top five places led by individual winner Lilah Zimmerman. Stevenson’s Daisy Jones was second. CHS narrowly held off Seton Catholic and King’s Way Christian in the boys’ race. Noah Slayton was the top Bruin finisher in third, with Cole Wooding fifth.
Hood River URA Board Moves Ahead With Middle Housing Incentive
Hood River’s Urban Renewal Agency board unanimously voted to go ahead and make a middle housing construction incentive program a part of the Westside Urban Renewal Plan. The pilot program developed by URA Administrator Will Norris would rebate development fees paid in excess of 7% of a residential development’s construction value, with a home size cap of 1,200 square feet. How to finance the proposed $1.5 million for the program is an open question, with Norris saying they have an application before the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District’s Oregon Investment Board, and if that doesn’t pan out a loan from the City would be an option. Norris says there is a target to start the program in January 2025.
TD Council Going Forward With TLT Ordinance Revisions
The Dalles City Council directed municipal staff to move ahead with a plan to revise its Transient Lodging Tax ordinance, but potential impacts to the Northern Wasco Parks and Recreation District dominated the conversation. Currently, the district receives a percentage of TLT revenues that are outlined within the present ordinance. But the staff proposal is to remove that from the ordinance, and instead make the disbursement through the municipal budget process. That had parks district officials concerned about the stability of what they can expect on an annual basis, even though City officials said they had no intention of reducing their contribution. Councilor Darcy Long felt some kind of long-term arrangement can be developed outside of the ordinance. Councilor Dan Richardson said he wanted to see more options on how to ensure the funding for parks. The proposed ordinance revisions will come back to the Council for a vote at a later date.
Law Enforcement Releases Fugitive’s License Plate Number
Law enforcement officials have released the license plate number for the vehicle that a man accused of sexual abuse in both Wasco County and Alabama is believed to be driving. The Oregon State Police says 39-year-old Adam Renk is thought to be traveling in a converted Ford Ambulance that is now painted two-toned white over gray with Oregon license plate 353JWK. Renk went on the run after posting bond in Alabama for child sex abuse charges involving an 11-year-old. Since then, Renk was indicted in Wasco County in a similar case involving a 12-year-old. The two victims are unrelated. Renk is a white male, 6 ft. 1 in. tall, 175 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair. Anyone with information about Renk’s whereabouts or information about possible additional victims is asked to contact the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at 541-506-2580 or OSP Detective Cassie Bantz through dispatch at 800-442-0776 or by dialing *OSP on a mobile phone.
Water Drops Resume On Williams Mine Fire; Very Little Growth Monday
Clear skies on Monday allowed helicopters to resume water drops on the Williams Mine Fire west of the South Climb Trailhead. Fire officials say ground crews worked on removing more of the fuels along the access road and near the trailhead in preparation for fire reaching that area. Despite the dry weather and gusty winds, the fire on Monday did not grow much or make a run up the steep slope of the South Climb. Size of the fire went up by seven acres to 13,089, and containment is still at 31%. Fire managers indicated that with Tuesday night’s forecast for rain followed by a few days of cooler, humid weather, there is a good chance of holding the fire along the trail. On other parts of the fire, personnel continue to monitor for hot areas near the control lines that need to be extinguished.
Whisky Creek Fire Activity Moderates
Cooler temperatures and higher humidity moderated fire activity on the Whisky Creek Fire on Monday, with only slight growth in the headwaters of Herman Creek. Fire size went up by 42 acres to 2,977, while containment continues to be at 25%. Northwest Interagency Management Team 12 officials say a hose lay from Wahtum Lake to the southeast side of the fire was tested and completed. Crews will continue dozer line and hand line repair today and heavy equipment will engage in road grading on Forest Service Roads 2018 and 2810 up to Green Point Reservoir. Contingency planning is ongoing, identifying secondary fireline locations and developing a plan in the unlikely event a firing operation is necessary in the future.
Innovation Hub Kickoff Next Week
The Mid-Columbia Innovation Hub is getting going, with a kickoff event planned for next week. Mid-Columbia Economic Development District Deputy Director of Economic Development Andrew Danies says the mission is to be a connector for entrepreneurs to access a variety of needs. Danies says the focus on traded-sector goods that get made here and then leave the area eventually. The Mid-Columbia Innovation Hub will hold a kickoff party on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Ferment Brewing on 403 Portway Avenue in Hood River.