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The Dalles Pavement Work Planned Wednesday & Thursday

Posted on by mbailey

Wasco County and The Dalles Public Works crews will be working on several pavement preservation projects on Wednesday and Thursday.  The chip seal projects will require short duration road closures between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at each location on the date work is scheduled to take place.  Detours will be in place during work hours.  On Wednesday, work is scheduled on portions of East 5th, 8th, 9th, 14th, Case, and Federal Streets.  Thursday the focus will shift to portions of East 20th and Lewis Streets, Wasco, Sherman, and Summit Ridge Drives, Lone Pine Boulevard, and Old Dufur Road North.  A full list of projects and a 2024 The Dalles Pavement Preservation Program map can be viewed at thedalles.org/summerstreetmaintenance.  If you have questions, contact The Dalles Public Works Department at 541-296-5401.

 

Hood River County Chip Seal Program Starts Monday

Posted on by mbailey

Hood River County’s 2024 Chip Seal Program construction is set to begin on Monday.  Frankton Road, Indian Creek Road, and Barrett Drive will receive a single layer chip seal, while Belmont Drive from Fairview to Country Club and Country Club from Barrett to Portland Drive will receive a double seal.  The chip seal work will reduce traffic to single lanes while construction crews are present.  Flaggers will be used to route traffic as needed to keep traffic flowing.  Some loose gravel may remain on the road for several days while the asphalt hardens.  To minimize potential damage to the chip seal and reduce the risk of loose gravel being thrown by tires, lower speed limits may be imposed temporarily, and bicyclists are advised to avoid those roads while loose rock is present.  Construction should be completed by June 28, unless there are weather-related delays.  Finish work will take place in July, then roads will be restriped.  Residents and businesses within the construction zones will have access, although there may be intermittent delays.  For more information, contact Hood River County Public Works at 541-386-2616.

 

 

Fire Season Officially Starts On ODF-Protected Land

Posted on by mbailey

The fire season in the Central Oregon District of the Oregon Department of Forestry officially began Monday.  That means lands protected by ODF goes into Industrial Fire Protection Level, requiring those doing work in those areas to have water and tools to put out a fire should one start.  Andy Dwyer of the ODF’s The Dalles Unit says currently fire fuel conditions in the area are wet, but those fuels are growing and will dry out as we head into summer.  That means now is a good time to take the preventative steps to keep your home and property safe in the event of wildfire.  Contact your local fire officials for information on how you can do that.

Wasco County Residents Asked To Take Short Survey On Google Funds

Posted on by mbailey

Wasco County residents are being asked to take part in a short online survey on how they would like to see funds used that will come from a Strategic Investment Program tax incentive abatement agreement the County and the City of The Dalles reached a few years ago with Google as that company constructs two new data centers.  City and County officials met last week in a joint meeting to discuss how some of the funds Google will pay as a result of the agreement could be used.  The survey has two basic questions:  What is the biggest opportunity or challenge facing the community, and how should the upcoming funds be allocated.  The survey can be accessed at wascocounty.org.

HR County & City Staff Begin Work On Annexation Questions

Posted on by mbailey

After a joint meeting between the Hood River County Commission and City Council one week ago, staff for both governmental bodies were tasked with gathering information for further annexation and associated housing talks.  County Administrator Allison Williams said there are two areas in particular that they will be researching:  strategic areas for potential annexation, and revisions to the urban growth area management agreement.  There is no specific timeline in place, but Williams noted the objective is for the two panels to meet again around three months from now, perhaps in early fall.

ODHS Seeks Help To Find Missing Foster Teen

Posted on by mbailey

The Oregon Department of Human Services Child Welfare Division is asking the public to help find a teenager in foster care who went missing from The Dalles last week, and authorities believe she is in danger.  ODHS says 16-year-old Scotlyne West was last seen in Salem but may be trying to travel to eastern Oregon.  West is 5-feet-4 inches tall, weighs 150 pounds, has dyed blond hair and blue eyes.  She wears glasses and has several tattoos, including one of a bull skull on her upper right arm.  ODHS says those who think they may have seen her are asked to contact 9-1-1 or local law enforcement.

Bridge Authority Seeks Quick State Funding Commitment

Posted on by mbailey

Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority representatives met with Oregon legislators and their staff last week seeking the commitment for the state to come through with $105 million for construction of a new Interstate Bridge quickly next session.  That would complete Oregon’s $125 million share for bridge construction.  Authority board member Mike Fox says they are stressing the importance of getting the money confirmed early next year.  He adds the challenge is without a commitment in early 2025, they won’t have a chance to start construction in October of 2025, and that will mean costs for the $520 million project will go up.  Fox says they have gotten great support so far, but there is a lot of pressure on the state budget.  He adds that’s why they will need local citizens later this year to attest to the importance of a new bridge for region.

No One Injured In Fire At Celilo Inn

Posted on by mbailey

No one was injured in a fire on the upper floor of a unit of rooms at the Celilo Inn in The Dalles.  According to Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, the fire was reported just after 11 a.m. Thursday.  It apparently started in a room on the upper floor, and spread to two other rooms and the attic before it was brought under control.  MCFR Chief Bob Palmer says the fire was caused by a mattress making contact with a propane heater.  Fire crews were alert to the hotel’s proximity to dry grasslands on the adjacent hillside, and prevented the fire from going into that area.  There were no injuries.  Crews from Dufur, Dallesport-Murdock, Wy’east, Mosier, the Oregon Department of Forestry Central Oregon District, and the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area all took part in the firefighting effort.

BiOp For Bridge Water Work Approved

Posted on by mbailey

The Biological Opinion for the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge has been approved by NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service.  Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority Commissioner Mike Fox says after four years of work they’ve received the sign off on that document, which is key to moving forward with water work in the Columbia River and heading toward getting the final Record of Decision that will allow the project to move into construction.  The biological opinion gives the criteria for design of all water work for the bridge.  It’s the second milestone for the bridge project in recent days.  Last week, the Bridge Authority received an investment grade credit rating that sets the stage for the project to receive a low-interest loan.

Wasco County & City Of The Dalles Discuss Google Funds

Posted on by mbailey

Wasco County Commissioners and The Dalles City Councilors talked about policy options for usage of certain Strategic Investment Program funds that Google will pay as a result of agreements reached in 2021 for development of two new data centers.  One idea presented by city and county officials that have done preliminary work on the topic is to create an endowment fund that could provide a funding source on an on-going basis.  County Administrative Officer Tyler Stone said with initial Google data center enterprise zone now on the tax rolls, and more to come over the next few years, all taxing districts are seeing financial benefits already.  Many of the Councilors and Commissioners noted they want to see what kind of valuations the state puts on the Google properties in the Strategic Investment Plan agreement, which has not happened yet.  A second joint meeting was set for July 23, with the intent to gather public input in the interim.

 

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