New signage recently installed at Lewis & Clark Festival Park in The Dalles alerts the public to the park’s new status as a tobacco- and vape-free facility. In all, five signs are placed throughout the park, including two larger ones at the entrance and on the building there, and three smaller ones throughout the park. The Dalles City Council in May passed an ordinance carrying a $100 fine for smoking or vaping in the park. Officials expect most people will comply with the new rule, but if police are called because someone is smoking or vaping, officers are expected to provide education on the ordinance first, and only issue a ticket as a last resort. The new ordinance brings the city’s park in line with the nine other smoke-free parks within The Dalles that are run by the North Wasco County Parks & Recreation District. The signs were paid for by the city and the North Central Public Health District.
Klickitat County Lifting Burn Bans On Monday
Klickitat County Commissioners are lifting burn bans throughout the County as of this coming Monday. Commissioners made the move on Tuesday thanks to current and forecast weather conditions throughout Klickitat County. The burn bans for all three of the zones used to make those declarations will no longer be in effect as of Monday. The public is directed to check with the appropriate authorities concerning burning restrictions within the corporate limits of any city or town. For clarity the zone boundaries follow fire district boundaries as much as possible. Maps detailing the zone boundaries are available to view and download on the Klickitat County Department of Emergency Management webpage.
Pinchot Prescribed Burning Planned For October
Gifford Pinchot National Forest fire managers will conduct prescribed burning south of Mt. Adams starting as early as October 7, and continue through Oct. 21, if the right conditions persist. The prescribed burn site is located about six miles north of Trout Lake and four miles south of the Mt. Adams Wilderness area that was planned as part of the Upper White Salmon River Restoration Project. Gifford Pinchot National Forest South Zone Fire Management Officer Loretta Duke says shorter days, elevated relative humidity, and recent rainfall in the prescribed burn area have helped create suitable prescribed burning conditions. The Upper White prescribed fire project calls for understory burning of 1,712 acres with the intent of creating a landscape more resistant and resilient to wildfire, insects, and disease. This season, the focus will be on the completion of a 288-acre portion of the project area. The other three units will be burned over the course of the next several years. Prescribed fire signs will be posted at both ends of the project area to increase public awareness. Smoke may be detected south of Mt. Adams in the towns of Glenwood and Trout Lake but is not expected to travel further. There will be visible smoke in the area for several days following the burn.
WAGAP Domestic Violence Shelter Passes One Year Since Opening
Washington Gorge Action Programs and Programs for Peaceful Living are marking one year since it opened a shelter for domestic violence in Klickitat County. WAGAP Executive Director Leslie Naramore says the shelter has three rooms with eight beds available, and it has been occupied just about every day since it opened in August of 2022. She says the shelter has helped provided domestic violence victims a better place to go rather than the hotel rooms they used in the past. If you are in crisis in Klickitat County as a result of domestic violence, call the Programs for Peaceful Living Crisis Line at 844-493-1709.
TD Outreach Team Back From D.C. Trip
The Dalles Community Outreach Team has returned from its semi-annual trip to Washington, D.C. to advocate for local projects with federal officials. One of the projects to be discussed is the effort by Columbia Gorge Community College to establish an early learning center with a 200 student capacity. The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says such a center would allow some people to re-enter the workforce, and there are funding opportunities that can be pursued. Farquharson says a study done last year showed no available vacancies for day care in The Dalles.
Wonderworks To Temporarily Close October 1
Wonderworks Children’s Museum of the Gorge says it is temporarily going to close its doors on October 1, citing a need to generate more fund donations. In a statement released on its website, the facility’s board of directors indicated that they were able to secure multiple grants to further their mission and make improvements to the museum. However, Wonderworks continues to rely on donations to cover operating costs, and needs to generate more to remain open. The board said it was ‘deeply committed” to ensuring the survival of Wonderworks. Donations can be made on-line at wonderworksgorge.org. The board did say all birthday party reservations are being honored.
Port of HR Gets $2 Million Federal Grant
The Economic Development Administration is awarding a $2 million grant to the Port of Hood River for utilities and transportation infrastructure improvements. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo made the announcement this week. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley indicated the grant will be used to help unlock the potential of the Lot 1 parcel on the eastern edge of the waterfront area and continue the waterfront’s economic success. Fellow Oregon Senator Ron Wyden added the federal investment will build on the Port’s strengths to continue generating jobs and support local businesses. The EDA says its money will be matched by $1.7 million in local funds, and is expected to create seven jobs and generate $390,000 in private investment.
September 26 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Volleyball
Hood River Valley def. Canby 25-20, 25-22, 13-25, 25-22
LaCenter def. Stevenson 25-12, 25-20, 25-17
Castle Rock def. Columbia 3-1
Dufur def. Trout Lake-Klickitat-Glenwood 25-8, 25-11, 25-17
South Wasco def. Horizon Christian at South Wasco 25-8, 25-8, 25-11
Trinity Lutheran def. Sherman 25-16, 25-7, 25-6
Bonanza def. Sherman 3-1
Goldendale def. Walla Walla Valley Academy 3-1
Boys Soccer
Hood River Valley 6, Canby 1
Girls Soccer
Canby 4, Hood River Valley 1
Columbia 1, Castle Rock 0
Cle Elum-Roslyn 9, Goldendale 0
Boys Water Polo
Hood River Valley 8, Summit 7
HR Council Doesn’t Take Action Toward Transportation Code Changes
The Hood River City Council decided not to take any action at this time towards code changes that would allow ride-share companies to operate in the City. Most of the discussion centered on increases in DUII activity in the community, and whether the options for people to get a ride when they are impaired and not get behind the wheel of a car are available. Councilor Mark Zanmiller said he would like the solutions to come from the local level. Local taxi company representatives told the Council they want to be a part of developing more awareness of the rides that are available during the late night hours.
TD Council Gets Update On Housing Needs Analysis
The Dalles City Council received an update on work being done on a housing needs analysis and buildable land inventory update required by state land use planning laws. Councilors did ask consultants working on the update to compile the number of lots over five acres in the City and how many are in different density zones. Mayor Rich Mays says this update faces the same issues those that were done for commercial and industrial lands a few years ago, most notably that they don’t account for lands not being available for development. The update will be going back through the municipal planning commission before returning to City Council later in the fall to be adopted.