The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District is declaring the beginning of fire season on Monday morning (June 2) at 12:01 a.m. Starting Monday, the district’s fire danger level will be “Moderate”, and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level will be I in Hood River and Wasco counties. A decline in spring rain, rise in temperatures, and windy conditions, have led to fine fuels in the district drying significantly. Moderate fire danger level prohibits debris burning including piles and burn barrels, exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base. There is also no smoking while traveling through or working in any operation area. ODF says so far this year, the district has experienced 16 fires, of which half were escaped debris burns. Debris burning is the number one cause of human-caused fires in Oregon.
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May 29 Prep Sports Roundup
Trout Lake’s Sawyer Dean won the boys’ pole vault on the first day of the Oregon Class 1A Track and Field Championships at Eugene’s Hayward Field. Dean cleared a height of 15’ 6 ¼”. It was a strong day for the Mustangs, as Melody Stock finished second in the girls’ 3000 meters, Jayden Kusky fourth in the boys’ shot put, and Violette Anderson eighth in the girls’ high jump. South Wasco’s Bailey Udey was second in the girls’ triple jump, Sherman Renan Christiansen third in the boys’ shot put, and Horizon Christian’s Caleb Caldwell fourth in the boys’ 3000 meters. Horizon’s Bella Sperry was fifth and Hannah Adams sixth in the girls’ high jump, and Lyle-Wishram’s Jack Thiemann finished seventh in the boys’ triple jump. The meet concludes today.
Columbia’s Saylor Hague advance to the Class 1A girls’ 300 meter hurdles by finishing fourth in the preliminaries at the Washington high school track and field championships in Yakima. Goldendale’s Matthew Gray did the same in the Class 2B boys’ 100 meters with a fourth place effort in the preliminary. Emma Meagher of Goldendale was 15th in the 2B girls’ 1600 meters, while Lilah Zimmerman of CHS was 16th in the 1A girls’ 1600 meters. Day two of the three day meet is today.
Brush Fire Near Mosier Burns 2 1/2 Acres
A brush fire reported in the 300 block of Cherry Hill Drive in Mosier on Wednesday afternoon burned approximately two-and-a-half acres. Wasco County Public Information Officer Stephanie Krell says the fire was reported at 3:45 Wednesday afternoon, and led to some Level 3 and Level 2 evacuation advisories for residences in the immediate area of the fire. The fire was contained and went into mop-up within a couple of hours. Fire and law enforcement crews were deployed to the area from Mosier Fire, Mid-Columbia Fire Rescue, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon Department of Forestry, Wy’East Volunteer Fire and EMS Association, Wasco County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police. No structures were lost due to the fire and the cause is under investigation.
Zaragosa Sentenced To 25 Years For Boyer Killing
Noe Zaragoza, Jr. was sentenced in Wasco County Circuit Court on Tuesday to 25 years in prison on charges connected to the killing of Michael Boyer at a convenience store in The Dalles in June of last year. Zaragoza received the sentence as part of an agreement where he plead guilty to first degree manslaughter, third degree assault, and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon. Wasco County District Attorney Kara Davis said the sentence is the equivalent to a life sentence in Oregon, adding the settlement was reached after a day-long conference overseen by Judge John Olson and involving both Boyer’s widow and mother. Davis says the family was concerned the defense strategy at trial would be attack Boyer and his wife, adding that belief was not unfounded and she felt it was important to not re-traumatize the family with a trial, while at same time it was important to her that Zaragoza receive a murder-length sentence.
Dexter Visits Hood River Council
Oregon Third District Congresswoman Maxine Dexter paid a visit to the Hood River City Council this week. Dexter didn’t make a presentation on any one topic, choosing instead to take questions from Councilors. The Portland Democrat told the Council people are finding it difficult to trust in government and the people elected to serve them, particularly at the national level. She hopes that can be rebuilt in our communities. Dexter says the most durable policy is bipartisan, but in the current climate that’s not happening.
Klickitat County Commission Approves Increase In Dallesport Sewer SDC
Klickitat County Commissioners approved an increase in systems development charges for the Dallesport Wastewater System. The new SDC was set at $5,891, with a $100 application fee. That’s a jump from $4,602 and a $25 application fee. Commissioner Ron Ihrig points out in the past the SDC had been increased when monthly service rates were increased, but that had not happened in the last three years. Ihrig would like to see the County put together a five-year plan for the Dallesport sewer plant taking into account capital maintenance needs. The Commission also approved a 6% monthly rate increase for Dallesport sewer customers.
West 10th Improvement Work Begins On Monday
An improvement project on West 10th Street in The Dalles will start on Monday. Crestline Construction will be the general contractor for the project that will include sidewalks, storm drainage, signage, and pavement markings along with roadway. The project will take place on West 10th between Chenowith Loop Road and Snipes Street. Work will take place weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with completion scheduled for the end of August. Single lane closures with flaggers may take place, but delays are expected to be minimal as detour routes will guide traffic through or around the work zones as the project progresses. Foot and bike traffic are encouraged to stay on the west side of the street to avoid the work zone.
Butte Creek Fire 20% Contained
Central Oregon Fire Information says the Butte Creek Fire about nine miles north of Clarno and east of the John Day River is now 20 percent contained. Size of the fire remains at 1,776 acres, the same as Tuesday. Officials say firefighters are engaged in active fire suppression activities, and are working to construct a line around the perimeter. Resources on scene include two interagency hotshot crews, one wildland fire module crew, interagency engines, dozers, Wheeler County and South Gilliam County engines, and multiple aircraft. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. No evacuations or closures are currently in place. However, boaters are asked to not disembark on the east bank of the John Day River south of Basalt Beach Camp and north of Lower Clarno Rapids as that area is within the fire perimeter. Boaters in the general area are asked to use caution as helicopters continue dipping water out of the John Day River.
B.C. Man Injured In Highway 14 Accident
A British Columbia man was injured in a one-vehicle accident on Tuesday morning in eastern Klickitat County. The Washington State Patrol says the pickup driven by 27-year-old Parker Gaudet of Osoyoos, B.C. was westbound on Highway 14 at milepost 123 when the accident occurred at about 11 a.m. The WSP says the driver appeared to fall asleep, veered off the roadway to the right, struck rocks, rolled over, and came to the rest on the driver side. Gaudet was injured and transported to Klickitat Valley Hospital in Goldendale. The vehicle was totaled.
May 27 Prep Sports Roundup
Oregon Class 5A Baseball First Round
Summit 3, Hood River Valley 0: The Eagles could not generate consistent offense at the plate, even though Kingston McAdam and Maverick Hockett each had a pair of hits. Riley Via’s two-run double in the second inning for the Summit was the key hit of the ball game.
Oregon Class 4A Baseball First Round
Junction City 8, The Dalles 3: The Riverhawks jumped out to a two-run lead in the top of the first on three straight hits, but the Tigers scored four in the bottom of the first, and broke the game open with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Finley Corbin and Avery Schwartz each had two hits and a run batted in for the Riverhawks.
Oregon Class 5A Softball First Round
Eagle Point 4, Hood River Valley 2: HRV’s usually potent offense was limited to three hits by Eagle Point’s Brylee Leonardo, as Eagle Point scored a run in the first and then three in the fourth to take control of the game. Hood River’s Grace Rowan struck out 13 in the game.
Oregon Class 4A Softball First Round
Astoria 4, The Dalles 3: Astoria strung together three straight base hits in the bottom of the seventh inning to score three times and come back to win, with the tiebreaking run scoring on a wild pitch. Bryce Newby had given the Riverhawks the lead with a two-run homer in the top of the fifth inning.