A road closure on Union Street in downtown The Dalles will be extended through Friday, September 4, as construction continues on the First Street Streetscape Project. Ajax Northwest says unforeseen water utility work has added to the project timeline. Union Street will remain closed between West First Street and East Second Street on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., through September 4. The road will reopen outside construction hours when it’s safe to do so. Drivers, pedestrians, businesses and visitors are asked to follow posted detours and allow extra travel time. Downtown access remains available through Second Street, while port access is available via Webber Street.
Work On Roundabout Murals To Start Next Week
Work is set to begin next week on the murals at The Dalles roundabout at the intersection of East Third Street, East Second Street and Brewery Grade. Starting the week of August 31st, contractors for The Dalles Art Center will refresh five sun-faded murals at the roundabout. Crews will also install new tile work and other features. The project is being funded through grant money secured by the Art Center. There will be no street closures during the work, but a safety zone will be marked with cones and tape around the roundabout. Sidewalks and pedestrian access will remain open. Work is scheduled from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on scheduled workdays. Drivers are urged to use caution and stay well clear of the marked safety zone until the project is complete.
Klickitat County Commission To Talk Child Care Tuesday
A busy Tuesday for the Klickitat County Commission will include a workshop to continue the discussion around creating more child care opportunities in the County. Commission Chair Ron Ihrig says they will be joined by guests from Garfield County on what they’ve done to assess the need for a child care facility. He says that county hired a half-time person to do assessment work. In the afternoon portion of Tuesday’s meeting there are four different public hearings listed, including continuation of the Dallesport Wastewater Rate hearing and another to discuss extending the moratorium on Battery Energy Storage Systems in some parts of the county. The child care workshop is scheduled during the 9:30 a.m. session in the Klickitat County Courthouse, with the hearings at 1:30 p.m. Agendas and live video are available at klickitatcounty.org.
Small Hydro Project Now Operating On Hood River Water System
A long-planned small hydro project at the source of Hood River’s municipal water supply is now functioning. Mayor Paul Blackburn says a small turbine has been put into place to make electricity, enough for about 50 to 70 homes. Blackburn says he sees this as a test for the possibility of bigger opportunities down the line, as the turbines become more common and widespread. The City received grant funding for the project. The City has an agreement with Pacific Power for the utility to pay for the power through what Blackburn said was a complicated formula. He adds this does not bring a significant amount of revenue to the City.
High-Speed Pursuit Ends In Crash
A high-speed pursuit through Hood River and Mosier ended in a crash and arrest Friday. Hood River Police say an officer first spotted a Dodge Charger speeding on I-84 near Exit 64. The same vehicle was later seen running a red light and driving recklessly through downtown Hood River, where pedestrians and patrons were nearby. Police say the driver fled when officers tried to stop the car, heading east on I-84 toward Mosier. The Charger was later spotted returning toward Hood River after the driver again refused to stop. An attempted spike-strip deployment was unsuccessful. An Oregon State Police trooper later spotted the vehicle in Hood River. The driver fled again before crashing near Country Club Road and Barrett Drive. An automated 911 crash alert from the driver’s cellphone also notified dispatch. Police found the driver a short distance away and took the person into custody. The driver faces charges including reckless driving, felony attempting to elude, DUII and driving while suspended. Police say no motorists or pedestrians were seriously injured.
MCFR Treating Saturday Fire As Suspicious
Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue is investigating a brush fire in The Dalles as suspicious. Firefighters were dispatched at about 3:27 p.m. Saturday to the Mill Creek Trail and drainage area between West Ninth and West Sixth streets. The fire was reported near the site of two other recent fires in the area. Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue responded with help from the Oregon Department of Forestry and Dallesport Fire District. Firefighters quickly contained the blaze, preventing it from spreading into nearby vegetation or threatening surrounding properties. No injuries were reported. Because of the fire’s location and circumstances, officials say they’re investigating it as suspicious. Anyone who may have witnessed how the fire started or saw suspicious activity in the area around the time of the incident is asked to contact the Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office at firemarshal@mcfr.org.
Hood River Named Best Small Mountain Town
Hood River has been named the Best Small Mountain Town in America for 2026 by Travel + Leisure. The community was recognized for its year-round outdoor recreation, growing arts scene, local food and beverage offerings, and range of lodging. Hood River is known worldwide for windsurfing, kiteboarding and wing foiling, along with hiking, mountain biking, skiing and waterfall trails. Visit Hood River CEO Katie Kadlub says the honor celebrates the people and small businesses that make the community unique. Travel + Leisure also highlighted Hood River’s restaurants, breweries, cideries, wineries, shops, live music and local artists.
Grasshopper Fire containment reaches 47 percent
Containment on the Grasshopper Fire has increased to 47 percent as firefighters continue strengthening and securing control lines ahead of an expected shift to warmer, drier and windier conditions.
Crews have made the most progress in the fire’s northeastern portion, where extensive mop-up has been completed and no new fire activity has been reported for several days.
On the northwest side, an unmanned aircraft system is supporting firing operations and using infrared technology to detect remaining heat. The technology is helping crews target mop-up efforts and eliminate unburned pockets between the fire and established control lines.
The fire area along Highway 35 remains secure. Crews are patrolling for isolated heat while falling modules address hazardous trees.
Along the northern boundary, firefighters continue to work on remaining heat and substantial mop-up needs. Structural resources remain active in Timber Gulch, Fifteenmile Road, Hix Road and Friend Road. National Guard personnel are assisting with structural mop-up in the Friend Road area.
On the eastern edge, hand crews are continuing to secure fire lines. An interior island of unburned vegetation remains active and is producing smoke, but the fire is burning well within the established perimeter. Smoke is expected to continue as the remaining fuels are consumed.
Crews on the southeast portion have made progress strengthening control lines, although additional work is needed to fully secure the area. In Shadybrook, firefighters continue structural preparation, protection planning and monitoring.
The southern edge of the fire remains contained. On the southwest corner, highline-capable equipment has been ordered and is expected to arrive in the coming days. Fire spread in the area remains slow as crews work to tie the fire into existing trail systems.
Weather conditions are expected to become more challenging overnight. Winds are increasing from the northwest Sunday evening as a drier air mass moves into the area around midnight. Relative humidity is expected to decline overnight and into Monday as temperatures rise.
An inversion is forecast for Monday morning, followed by a rapid drop in humidity as the inversion lifts. Terrain-driven winds could continue to test control lines.
Fire officials said crews have made significant progress strengthening containment lines ahead of the expected weather change.
Grasshopper Fire Update as of 9:30 a.m on August 16
Containment on the Grasshopper Fire has increased to 38 percent as firefighters strengthen control lines ahead of near-critical fire weather expected Monday and Tuesday.
Officials say the increase in reported acreage to 90,130 is primarily the result of updated mapping and does not reflect a corresponding increase in fire activity.
Rain Friday evening, along with cooler temperatures and higher humidity, helped limit fire activity Saturday and overnight. Those conditions, combined with increased containment, have allowed evacuation levels to decrease along the Highway 35 corridor.
The southeastern flank remained the most active area overnight, where firefighters focused resources on holding and strengthening lines. A spot fire south of Elliott Road was quickly caught and fully lined.
Today, crews will concentrate on the eastern flank, tying together existing lines and adding depth ahead of stronger northwest winds and worsening fire weather. Hotshots, dozers and wildland crews will work south of Elliott Road, while firefighters and structural resources continue protecting homes near Friend Road, Hix Road and Shadybrook Road.
Crews are also conducting mop-up along Forest Road 4421, Sportsman’s Paradise and Logging Gulch. Aircraft will assist when conditions allow.
The southern perimeter remains contained, although some fire continues to burn in steep terrain southwest of the fire. Along the northern edge, crews are continuing mop-up near Fifteenmile Road and fuels mitigation near Eightmile Campground and Dufur Mill Road.
Fire officials say crews are working with urgency while conditions remain favorable, with firefighter and public safety the top priority.
Grasshopper Fire Update as August 15 at 9:30 a.m.
The 86,974 acre Grasshopper Fire is now 30% contained. Containment increased along the Highway 35 corridor as crews strengthened control lines, while fire activity increased Friday afternoon and evening as the fire consumed unburned pockets of vegetation, including around Shadybrook. Despite increased activity along the eastern and southeastern portions of the fire, impacts to structures did not increase. Firefighters also completed a tactical firing operation near the northwest corner to strengthen the control line, with additional firing planned as conditions allow.
Southern and northern containment lines continue to hold, with mop-up extending 100 feet or more into the fire perimeter. Crews face particularly difficult terrain and heavy fuels on the southwest corner, where aircraft were unable to operate because of poor visibility; heavy equipment is expected to conduct a high-angle operation there in the coming days. Overnight rain along the Highway 35 corridor and northern edge provided some benefit by reducing the chance of rapid ignition in lighter fuels, although heavier fuels remain dry enough to support fire activity when conditions become warmer, drier and windier.
Firefighters are taking advantage of favorable weekend weather to strengthen containment lines before very high to potentially critical fire weather is expected early next week. Crews will continue direct suppression where conditions permit while reinforcing lines and protecting homes and other structures. Dozers and National Guard hand crews are supporting line construction around Friend Road and Shadybrook Road, while structural resources continue patrols and mop-up near Friend Road, Fifteenmile Creek Road, Sportsman’s Paradise, Logging Gulch and Camp Baldwin. Super Scoopers, helicopters and other aircraft will continue supporting ground crews, particularly along the southeastern edge. Planned firing operations and changing weather conditions could lead to increased smoke today.