Work started Monday as The Dalles City and Wasco County Public Works crews work together to chip seal approximately nine miles of street surfaces within the Urban Growth Boundary.   The immediate work sections will be signed the day before to request “no on-street parking” for the following day.  Chip sealing will begin at about 6:30 a.m. each day and finish by 6:30 p.m.  Flaggers and pilot vehicles will be present to help motorists navigate through the continually moving operation.  Work began on Bret Clodfelter Way today and is progress to the west as far as Pomona and Emerson Streets by Wednesday.   Work will continue to complete the project on Thursday.  Meanwhile, Court Street between East 3rd and East 4th will be closed to thru traffic on Tuesday between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 pm. for installation of a new water service line in preparation to repave the street.  Motorists are encouraged to use Union or Washington streets as alternate routes travelling North and South.   The alley between East 3rd and East 4th will be open.  

A pedestrian died Friday afternoon when she attempted to cross eastbound lanes of Interstate 84 near The Dalles.  According to the Oregon State Police, 47-year-old Eunice Spino died at the scene after being hit by a car driven by a 56-year-old John Day woman at around 3 p.m. Friday.  The OSP says the driver is cooperating with the investigation.  According to the OSP, the investigation is still continuing but early indications suggest alcohol use by Spino was a contributing factor to the crash.  I-84 was completely closed for approximately one hour and traffic was diverted through The Dalles.  The OSP was assisted by The Dalles Police, the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon Department of Transportation, and the Wasco County District Attorney’s Office.

The U.S. Department of Energy says wind energy prices have hit an all-time low and the cost of installing turbines has fallen 20 to 40 percent in the past five years.  The agency’s new report says last year’s wind-power price contracts with utilities averaged under two-and-a-half cents per kilowatt hour, down from seven cents in 2009.  That could mean a resurgence of interest and investment in wind farms.  The Energy Department report also says wind turbines are changing, allowing them to produce more power at lower wind speeds.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is joining with Google in its “Put Your City on the Map” campaign.  Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says it’s all about making sure businesses are listed correctly on Google maps.  The Dalles Chamber will use its Power Breakfast event on September 4 at Columbia Gorge Community College to help people update those listings.  Farquharson says wi-fi will be available at the event.  Sign up by calling the Chamber at 541-296-2231, and pre-registration is required.

The Skamania County Fair and Timber Carnival continues in Stevenson through the weekend. Admission is free. Activities Saturday include the Parade in downtown Stevenson at 11 and the annual Market Sale at 3. There is a church service scheduled for 11 Sunday morning. The Wasco County Fair is in progress at Tygh Valley this weekend. Highlights include the rodeo tonight and tomorrow and the crowd-favorite Demolition Derby on Sunday.

The Cougar Creek Fire, burning about 6 miles NW of Glenwood, grew to 18,000 acres overnight. A passing cold front from the West is expected to influence fire growth today. It is anticipated that the primary movement of the fire will be to the East, turning NE and North after the front passes. Additional resources have arrived and been deployed. Local ground resources and helicopters are also working on the fire. Aggressive suppression efforts are being focused along the South and East edges of the fire to protect structures, private land and timber resources. Strategies are being developed to attack other areas of the fire. The fire began Monday night sparked by lightning on lands protected by the Yakima Indian Nation, Washington Department of Natural Resources and the US Forest Service. With resouces stretched thin throughout the country, officials are urging the utmost caution in situations that could start new fires.

  The Cougar Creek Fire, which was started by lightning Monday night, continues to burn approximately 6 miles NW of Glenwood. It has grown to over 9400 acres. There is no containment at this time. It is on land that is protected by the Yakima Indian Nation, Washington Department of Natural Resources and the US Forest Service. Along with ground forces, fixed-wing tankers and helicopters are working on the fire. More resources are expected to arrive today. Firefighters are dealing with extreme fire behavior, long range spotting, treacherous terrain and heavy fuel loading from bug-killed timber. There are also remains from the Cold Springs and Cascade Creek Fires. Aggressive suppression efforts are being focused along the South and East edges of the fire to protect structures, private land and timber resources. There is a public meeting set for this afternoon at 5:00 at the Glenwood School Gym. They ask that those who can, please walk or carpool, as parking will be limited. The school is also being used as the base camp.

This weekend is Cruise The Gorge Weekend in The Dalles.  It all begins Friday evening with the Neon Cruise through downtown, with the Show In The Shade set for Saturday in Sorosis Park.  John Kiser of the Mid-Columbia Car Club says it is difficult to say how many cars take part in the event, but there are plenty of all kinds involved, particularly during Friday’s cruise.  Registration for the Show In The Shade begins at 5 p.m. Friday in the Burgerville parking lot, and continues Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Sorosis Park, with the Parade Of Champions at 3 p.m. Saturday.  Proceeds go to The Dalles Rotary Club scholarship programs.

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office reports some residents are receiving phone calls from a man who says they have warrants for their arrest for failing to show up for jury duty.  According to the Sheriff’s Office, the number the calls come from is 541-980-1361, and the person claims his name is Lt. Jones or William Ramsey with the “warrants division.”  Neither the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office or The Dalles Police Department has a “warrants division” and the calls are not being made by law enforcement, and officers would not call residents to inform them if they have warrants.  Do not respond to the calls if you receive them, and anyone who might have information about who is making these calls should call the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at 541-296-5454.

The Port of Hood River is planning to hold a public open house in September on conceptual plans for Lot 1 along the west portion of the Nichols Basin.  Consulting firm Walker Macy presented some conceptual diagrams to the Port Commission this week.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says the diagrams begin to merge Lot 1 ideas with already developed plans for the area.  McElwee adds those elements must be coordinated for pedestrian access, parking, and building mass.  The open house will be held in September on a date still to be determined.