The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area will conduct prescribed burning in the eastern Gorge starting as soon as early this week. This year’s activities will focus on select areas in Klickitat County east of Bingen between Courtney Road and Tracy Hill. The prescribed burns are planned between late September and January, as part of an ongoing fire and fuels management program. The actual day of ignition will be selected when factors such as humidity, wind speed and direction, temperature and moisture levels help ensure a well-controlled fire. Prescribed burning only occurs on days when the Washington State Smoke Management Office determines that weather conditions are met for smoke dispersal, and is used by fire managers to reduce ground vegetation and accumulated woody debris from the forest understory, and help restore historic vegetative landscapes in the eastern Gorge. Prescribed burns also help recycle soil nutrients, improve wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and increase resiliency to the effects of wildfire. Smoke may be visible on Washington State Route 14 and Interstate 84 at times during the prescribed burns. Those with medical conditions may request to be placed on a call list for advance notifications by contacting the National Scenic Area office at 541-308-1700.
NCPHD Recommends Steps To Prevent COVID & Flu
As people spend more time indoors with school starting and weather changing, North Central Public Health District recommends taking protective steps to prevent respiratory illnesses. NCPHD and Hood River County Health Officer Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg says the area is seeing a rise in COVID cases, which is coming with the start of flu season and RSV season. Van Tilburg notes although many do not become seriously ill, certain people are vulnerable to serious life threatening illness from these viral infections. He says the best protection is easy: wash hands, limit exposure to crowds in enclosed spaces, stay home when ill, and get vaccinated. Other protective options include wearing a well-fitted mask in crowded areas, and improving ventilation in your home or work area. Vaccines are available for all three of these infections. An RSV vaccine was approved in May for those 60 and older. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older, as is the updated COVID vaccine, which targets the predominant strain now in circulation. The federal government has also announced that every American household is again eligible to receive four free at-home COVID test kits delivered to their home. For more information, visit covid.gov/tests.
September 22-23 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Football
Hood River Valley 44, Forest Grove 37
The Dalles 15, Fort Vancouver 8
Elma 33, Columbia 8
Seton Catholic 59, Stevenson 0
Enterprise 46, Dufur 28
St. Paul 67, Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 0
South Wasco 55, Dayville-Monument 26
Goldendale 29, Columbia (Burbank) 15
Cross Country
The Dalles won the boys and tied for the girls team titles at the Bridget Nelson Invitational at Sorosis Park. Alana Casady was second for the Riverhawk girls, while Tyson Long led The Dalles boys with a third place finish.
Boys Soccer
Trout Lake 4, Willamette Valley Christian 0
Girls Soccer
Fort Vancouver 2, Stevenson, 1
King’s Way Christian 1, Columbia 0
Volleyball
Dufur def. Lyle-Wishram 25-11, 25-13, 25-3
Ione-Arlington def. Dufur 25-18, 23-25, 25-15, 25-23
Ione-Arlington def. Lyle-Wishram 25-7, 25-13, 25-2
Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler def. Horizon Christian 25-18, 22-25, 25-20, 25-16
Sherman def. Horizon Christian 25-14, 25-13, 25-11
South Wasco def. Condon 25-14, 25-13, 25-10
South Wasco def. Bickleton 25-12, 25-4, 25-9
Condon def. Trout Lake-Klickitat-Glenwood 25-18, 25-14, 25-13
Girls Water Polo
Hood River Valley 17, Bend 5
OSP Seeks Public Help In Poaching Case In Hood River County
The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is seeking public assistance in locating the person or persons responsible for the unlawful waste of two deer in Hood River County. The OSP says on September 3 at about 6:20 in the evening, a trooper responded to a call of a dead buck that was shot and left on Hood River County property not far from Odell. A second deer, a doe, which was also shot and left, was reported that evening in the same area. No meat was salvaged from either deer. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch at 1-800-452-7888 or *OSP, or email at TIP@osp.oregon.gov. Reference case number SP23-281043. The Turn in Poachers (TIP) program offers preference points or cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation, to a suspect, for the unlawful killing of wildlife, and or waste of big game.
MCFR Working With Landowners In Defensible Space Program
Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue was recently awarded a Defensible Space grant from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office to provide a free service to private landowners within MCFR’s district to perform fuel mitigation work on their property. MCFR’s Josh Beckner says under the program crews can limb up trees, trim brush and clear an area up to 100 feet around buildings and infrastructure. All residents and property owners in MCFR’s protection district are eligible to participate. Priority will be given to those in the Wildland Urban Interface areas on the West, North and East sides of The Dalles. Funds are limited so this program will run until the allotted funding runs out. To learn more, go to mcfr.org.
Cultural Groups Team Up For “As The Crow Flies”
Six cultural institutions in the Gorge region are teaming up for a series of October events and activities called “As The Crow Flies.” The Columbia Gorge Museum in Stevenson, Cascade Locks Historical Museum. Maryhill Museum of Art, Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, The Dalles Art Center, and the Goldendale Community Library will be involved. Lou Palermo of the Columbia Gorge Museum says there are a variety of activities planned. Schedule information is available at the websites of all six participating locations.
Camp Creek Fire Turned Over To Local Management Team
Command of the Camp Creek Fire in the Mount Hood National Forest near the Bull Run Watershed was turned over to a local Mt. Hood Type 3 Incident Management Team Monday morning, as firefighters have nearly completed all the work to secure the containment lines needed to protect nearby communities and the Bull Run basin. There is now 62% containment on the 2,055 acre fire that is generally staying within its existing footprint, but is likely to continue burning inside that area until it receives strong and sustained rainfall. No significant changes are expected to fire activity or fire spread, even along the eastern edge of the fire, which remains at a good distance from established fire extinguishers. Firefighters will continue to patrol and secure the fire extinguisher, extinguishing any heat spots to ensure the fire remains within the established containment lines.
DA Tells Commission Of “DUII Crisis” In Hood River County
Hood River County District Attorney Carrie Rasmussen told County Commissioners at their meeting this week that there is a “DUII crisis” in the County. Rasmussen said her office has already filed charges in 297 DUII cases this year, well above the 222 of all of last year, and she expects the number to reach 400 by the end of 2023. She also called the character of these cases different than they have seen before, with higher blood alcohol levels and more hard drugs like fentanyl and opiates. Rasmussen says Hood River County’s rate of DUII cases is well above that of other counties in the region. She said only 40 percent of the DUII cases involve local residents, noting the County’s status as a tourist playground compounded by being a neighbor of Multnomah County. Rasmussuen said her office is becoming overwhelmed by the caseload.
Wasco County Moves Forward With Grant App For RV Park
The Wasco County Commission voted to go ahead with an application for an Oregon Parks and Recreation Department grant for rehabilitation of the RV park at Hunt Park. County Public Information Officer Stephanie Krell told Commissioners the application is for the 2024 grant cycle, and outlined the goal of the project to upgrade and expand the existing RV park, and add restrooms and other park facilities typically in overnight campgrounds. The County is applying for a $262,312 grant, that would have a 25 percent match requirement of $87,437. The match would like come from the County’s building improvement fund.
White Salmon Schools Enrollment Down From Last Year
Early school-year numbers show the White Salmon Valley School District’s enrollment is down a bit from last year, but it is higher than what it originally projected. New Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says their current enrollment is 1,065 students, and they had budgeted for 1,040. Polkinghorn notes the district has been seeing a downward trend for a few years, with a lack of affordable housing hurting the numbers at the younger grades. Polkinghorn noted that the White Salmon district had over 1,100 students last year. He added that until this trend began, each grade would have an average of 75 to 80 students.