A number of wildfires have been burning on Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands, including a couple in north-central Oregon.  The 21-acre Smith Hollow Fire is burning in grass and brush near Fossil but is 100 percent lined.   Cause is under investigation.   The 700-acre lightning-caused Harper Complex Fire is burning in timber, brush and grass about 8 miles southwest of John Day.  Approximately 10 residents are threatened.   A local Type 3 Team has been assigned to the Harper Complex.   And the Sugar Loaf Fire was reported is burning in grass and timber in central Oregon on BLM land 9 miles north of Dayville.   One outbuilding has been destroyed and 12 residences are threatened.   Fire size is estimated at 4,095 acres.

As the end of the Oregon Legislative session nears, the fate of a diverse set of tax credits may be the biggest issue that remains to be resolved.  House and Senate Democrats are struggling to reconcile proposals blending the tax credits, which without a deal would expire on January 1 of next year, with some revenue increases that would target corporations.  Republican 29th District Senator Bill Hansell says his party isn’t happy with plans to consider the credits and increases in one package, rather than separately.  Republican legislators argue the package is an attempt to skirt the three-fifths supermajority requirement for passage of revenue bills.

Majors Baseball Saturday:  The Dalles 10, John Day River 0 Hood River 12, Redmond 2 Sunday:  Bend North 8, The Dalles 2   10/11 Baseball Saturday:  Bend North 25, Hood River Valley 0 Sunday:  Hood River Valley def. Warm Springs Bend North 23, The Dalles 1 Monday:  Hood River Valley 13,  The Dalles 3   9/10 Baseball Saturday:  The Dalles 11, South Central 1 Monday:  Bend South 7, The Dalles 6   9/10 Softball Hood River Valley sweeps Warm Springs in best-of-three series for the championship Saturday:  Hood River Valley 11, Warm Springs 8 Sunday:  Hood River Valley 12, Warm Springs 2

Local health officials are reminding people to stay cool and stay hydrated with the current hot temperatures.  They are advising people to find air-conditioned shelter, avoid direct sunlight, wear lightweight light-colored clothing, take cool showers or baths, and do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device.  Drink more water than usual, don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink more fluids, avoid alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar, and remind others to drink enough water.  Excessive heat causes more deaths than all other weather related events in the country, and heat-related illness can affect anyone at any age.

Both the Mount Hood and Gifford Pinchot National Forests are increasing fire warnings with the arrival of extreme heat in the region.  The Industrial Fire Precaution Level is being moved from Level I to Level II in both forests.  For the general public that means chainsaw use is prohibited between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., and operators are required to keep a one-hour fire watch after any cutting.  Fire danger is considered high throughout the Mount Hood forest and moderate in the Gifford Pinchot.  As the summer season progresses with continuing warm dry weather, the public is encouraged to be careful with campfires in national forests.   Anyone tending a campfire is required to have a shovel and plenty of water on hand.   Before leaving a campfire unattended, the fire should be drowned with water, stirred, and be cold to the touch.

Hood River Fire and EMS is offering the community room and public access areas at its headquarters on 1785 Meyer Parkway as a cooling station during this period of hot temperatures.  Fire Chief Devon Wells says they have plenty of seating, air conditioning, wireless internet, and drinking fountains with special bottle fillers to refill water bottles.  If you don’t have a water bottle, there will be some available there.  The Hood River County Library is also open during regular business hours for use as a cooling station, and there are drinking fountains available at the new City restroom facility on State Street.

With the Fourth of July holiday just a week away, fire officials are reminding people once again to be safe if they choose to use fireworks.  Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Chief Bob Palmer says people need to make sure the fireworks are legal and used in a proper location, away from dry grass or any vegetation that could readily burn.  Oregon law prohibits any firework that explodes, flies into the air, or travels more than six feet on the ground or 12 inches into the air.  People who start a fire with illegal fireworks, or use legal fireworks in a negligent manner, are liable for the cost of extinguishing the fire.  Palmer also reminds parents to supervise their children when they use fireworks.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden is hailing today’s Supreme Court decision upholding nationwide tax subsidies in the Affordable Health Care Act.  Opponents contended a clause in the law demonstrated subsidies were to be available only to people in states that set up their own health care exchanges.  Wyden, a Democrat, says the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision affirmed Congress intended tax credits for all who qualified.  Republican House Speaker John Boehner says they will keep trying to repeal the law and replace it with what he calls “patient-centered solutions that meet the needs of seniors, small business owners, and middle-class families.”

The Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District held its first community meeting on what the public would like to see in a potential sportsfield and park development.  The district is negotiating to purchase eight acres zoned for light industrial use in the Guignard Drive area..  This parcel is much smaller than the 30 acres that were available in the proposed Barrett Park that did not receive county approval…but District Director Lori Stirn notes this is flatter ground.  Stirn says the early estimate puts the cost of development at $2,000,000, and the district does have $494,000 of grant money from the Barrett project available.  System development charges could also be used to pay for the project, but Stirn says they would have to build the project in phases and would be looking for community help.  Stirn says they are currently negotiating to require the land and develop a conditional use permit application.

There are still opportunities for high school graduates in the Mid-Columbia to take part in the Gorge Scholars program at Columbia Gorge Community College this fall.  The program waives tuition for eligible high school students for up to two years, and is open to anyone who graduated from a high school within the CGCC service area who earned a grade point average of 3.30 or better.  CGCC academic advisor Mike Taphouse says applications are being taken for this fall.  For application information go to the college website, cgcc.edu.