A 39-year-old man who is currently a fugitive facing charges in Alabama was indicted in Wasco County on multiple sex crimes against a child under the age of 12. Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis announced that Adam Renk is charged with first degree unlawful sexual penetration, sodomy, and sex abuse. Ellis indicated the charges stemmed from actions that were ongoing in nature and began in Antelope in 2020. Renk has also been charged with several sex crimes in Alabama against an eleven-year-old victim. The victims in the two states are unrelated. Renk posted bond in Alabama and had been released from pre-trial custody. Ellis said when Renk learned he may be possibly charged with further crimes, he fled. Alabama police and federal marshals are attempting to locate Renk, who has ties to Oregon and to Wasco County in particular. He may be traveling in a trailer or a converted ambulance. If anyone has knowledge concerning Renk’s whereabouts, please contact your local law enforcement immediately. Information can be provided to the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office. Contact Detective Sergeant Jeff Hall at 541-506-2580.
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Oak Canyon Fire Now 75% Contained
The Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center says the Oak Canyon Fire along the Wasco/Sherman County line north of Highway 216 is now 75% contained. Acreage is listed at 15,170. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office says fire crews have been making significant progress on all fronts. Hand crews working on the northeast corner of the fire have focused on establishing fire lines and are confident in their work. The south perimeter of the fire also has good containment thanks to dozer lines that have been put in place. The Sheriff’s Office says while the fire has not burned any permanent residences, a few outbuildings have sustained damage. All campgrounds from Maupin to Shears Bridge are now open to overnight camping and recreation. Recreation and access along the lower access road including Buck Hollow to Max Canyon opened Thursday morning. The Sheriff’s Office says evacuation levels remained in place, but will be reevaluated on Thursday.
Klickitat County Gets Prelim Budget Report Showing Deficit
Klickitat County Commissioners learned on Tuesday that a preliminary budget for 2025 shows expected revenues are over $4.7 million below projected expenses. County Fiscal Manager Jenn Neil gave Commissioners those numbers in advance of the start of budget workshops, noting the budget assumes an 18% decrease in landfill revenues, and drops in sales tax and interest earnings. Commissioner Jacob Anderson says there will be some hard conversations needed over the next few weeks. Commissioners asked Neil for more detail on some of the cost drivers in the budget that have led to the expenses. The County has about $5 million in cash reserves along with another $5 million in emergency funds, but Commissioner Dan Christopher said he would be hard pressed to agree to dipping into those funds.
Wasco County Approves Contract For Wildfire Defense Projects
Wasco County Commissioners approved the contract with the U.S. Forest Service for Community Wildfire Defense Fund projects which will see the County receive $5.94 million for mitigation projects over the next five years. A key part of agreement will allow the County to recruit a Wildfire Coordinator. County Planner Kelly Howsley-Glover says they are already getting interest in that position. That coordinator will do much of the outreach work as the County seeks to increase its resiliency to wildfire. Howsley-Glover noted they will begin formal recruitment once the Forest Service signs off on the agreement.
Williams Mine Fire Size Slightly Up
Size of the Williams Mine Fire northwest of Trout Lake moved up to 12,661 acres according to an update from fire officials on Wednesday morning, primarily due to a new visual mapping flight. Containment remains at 31%. Fire officials reported activity was greatly reduced near Morrison Creek after extensive water applications by air on Monday and a few showers early Tuesday. Hot areas continued to burn, but at a lower intensity. Fire crews took advantage of that to complete improvements on the South Climb Trail, preparing it for use as a control line if needed. A helicopter reconnaissance flight on Tuesday saw a few areas with smoke, but most were in the far interior.
Not Much Change On Whisky Creek Fire
Not much change reported on the Whisky Creek Fire southeast of Cascade Locks. Acreage burned ticked up slightly to 2,097 acres, primarily with minor movement on the fire’s edge in the east fork of Herman Creek. Containment stayed at 25%. Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 12 Operations Section Chief Kurt Ranta said they are beginning some new work at the southeast edge of the fire. Light fire suppression repair continues while maintaining the integrity of the firelines that may still be needed this season.
CGCC To Continue In Metallica Scholars Program
Columbia Gorge Community College announced it will enter into its fourth year with the Metallica Scholars Initiative. Launched in ten colleges in 2019 in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges, the heavy metal band Metallica started the program to promote and support trades-based education. Unlike a traditional scholarship that provides money toward tuition, Metallica Scholars are given a kit containing a set of high-quality tools that they will need to start practicing their chosen trade. This year, the Metallica Scholars Initiative will have a presence in 60 colleges across all 50 states and Guam. CGCC Vice-President of Instructional Services Jarrett Gilbert says to date, over 100 CGCC students in Construction Technology, Electro-Mechanical Technology, Advanced Manufacturing & Fabrication, and Aviation Maintenance Technology have been awarded $157,305 in tools, protective gear, and other equipment.
TD Art Center To Observe 65th Anniversary On Saturday
The Dalles Art Center will observe its 65th anniversary this Saturday. Center Executive Director Ellen Woods Potter say their roots trace back to the official incorporation of The Dalles Art Club, which would eventually become The Dalles Art Association. Potter says a few years after that, the Center moved into its current home at 220 East 4th Street, a former Carnegie Library. This Saturday’s anniversary celebration will include the unveiling of the School of Fish paper salmon that kids in the community have worked on this summer, birthday cake, the “Swimming in Saltwater” exhibit by Pendleton artist Nika Blasser, and a raffle for a hand-blown glass fish by artist Andy Nichols. The celebration will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
September 3 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Boys Soccer
Hood River Valley 4, Mountainside 2
Girls Soccer
Hood River Valley 8, Pendleton 0
The Dalles 1, North Bend 0
Volleyball
Centennial def. Hood River Valley 25-14, 25-7, 25-11
Echo def. South Wasco 25-9, 25-18, 25-12
Heppner def. South Wasco 25-22, 25-16, 25-14
North Clackamas Christian def. Sherman 25-12, 25-15, 25-14
Oak Canyon Fire At 15,000 Acres; 25% Containment
The Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center says the Oak Canyon Fire along the Wasco/Sherman County line north of Highway 216 is now mapped at 15,000 acres, and is at 25% containment. The dispatch center said air resources were very effective on Tuesday. Four helicopters, one air attack, and four fire bosses and scoopers were used in the suppression effort. The center also said all containment lines are holding. Additional engines and a hotshot crew have been ordered. Two outbuildings were damaged by the fire. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday issued a Level 1 “Be Ready” evacuation advisory from the Tygh Ridge/Highway 197 intersection directly due east to 60833 Tygh Ridge Road to include Hulse Road. That joined advisories issued Monday including placing all of Conroy Road up to 1 mile east and the west side of Conroy Road north of Highway 216 on Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation alerts. The Macks Canyon Recreation Area on the Deschutes River is also at Level 3. Level 2 “Get Set” evacuation advisories are in place from the Canyon Road and Highway 216 junction due east to the Deschutes River and south to Oak Springs Road to the Deschutes, and milepost 1 to milepost 3 on the north side of Highway 216. The Bureau of Land Management has closed all of the land it administers on the east side of the Deschutes River from the intersection of the Lower Deschutes Access Road and Highway 216 downstream to Macks Canyon, and on the west side from Oak Springs Fish Hatchery downstream to Craft Canyon. All boating in segment 3 of the Deschutes River is closed, while it is allowed from segment 4 but with no launching from the Macks Canyon boat ramp.