Westbound Interstate 84 east of Biggs Junction has reopened as work to recover two semi-trucks that went into the Columbia River in separate incidents over the weekend has been completed. Westbound lanes were closed from Biggs Junction to Celilo while special equipment gets the trucks out of the river. The Sherman County Sheriff’s Office says the drivers of both trucks made it to safety after the accidents occurred late Saturday night. The Oregon State Police are investigating the crashes.
Vaught Picked For D21 Board Seat
Joel Vaught was picked by the North Wasco County School District 21 Board to assume the vacant zone 5 seat during their meeting on Thursday evening. Vaught was picked from a pool of five candidates that members of the board said were all strong options for the position. The Zone 5 seat represents a portion of The Dalles south of 7th Street between Trevitt and Mt. Hood streets to the west and Jefferson, Madison, and Kelly to the east. Vaught assumed his seat on the board immediately at the meeting.
Hood River Businesses Holding Event For Maui Support
Retailers in the Hood River area have come together for an all-day event Saturday in support of efforts to help those affected by the wildfires in Maui. Participating retailers will donate a percentage of their daily sales to World Central Kitchen’s Emergency Response Team. That organization is on the ground to support food and water needs for first responders, evacuated residents, and tourists. A list of participating business is available at visithoodriver.com.
“Touch-A-Truck” At Wonderworks On Saturday
Wonderworks Children’s Museum will host its “Touch-A-Truck” event this Saturday in front of their location on Madison Street in The Dalles. They will have police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks, dump trucks, military vehicles, excavators, bucket trucks, and more on location for youngsters to explore. Krysta Youngquist of Wonderworks says it should be a fun and engaging experience for families. Oregon Safekids will be onsite for free bike helmets, life jackets, and car seat checks. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday outside Wonderworks at 206 Madison in The Dalles. It’s a free event, but donations to Wonderworks are welcomed.
CGCC Taking Fall Applications Through September 18
Columbia Gorge Community College is accepting applications for fall term through September 18. Classes begin on September 25. CGCC Vice President of Student Services Mike Espinoza says they still have openings in a number of their most popular programs of study. Espinoza also says applications are still being taken for space in the Chinook Residence Hall. Information is available at cgcc.edu.
Brownfield Program Subject Of September Meeting
The City of The Dalles is planning to hold a public meeting on September 12 to highlight the Brownfield program. The program helps defray the cost of assessing property conditions for buried and forgotten fuel tanks, asbestos, other regulated building materials and other potentially hazardous substances. Administered jointly by the City of The Dalles, Wasco County, Port of The Dalles and Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, The Dalles Economic Development Officer Dan Spatz says the program is an important tool to help properties be redeveloped. Loans are available to private parties for site clean-up. The program is made possible through funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and BusinessOregon. The meeting will be on September 12 at 4 p.m. in the Council chambers in The Dalles City Hall, followed by a walking tour of downtown properties that have taken advantage of the Brownfield program.
WAGAP Brings Back “El Grito” During September
Washington Gorge Action Programs is bringing back “El Grito” during September. It will be in White Salmon’s Rhinegarten Park to kickoff Hispanic Heritage Month. WAGAP’s Sasha Bentley says after a successful inaugural event one year ago, they have a bigger festival planned this year. “El Grito” will feature live music, family activities, free food, cultural vendors, and community organizations sharing resources. It will run from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on September 17 at Rhinegarten Park.
HR County Approves Westside URA To Move Forward
Hood River County Commissioners adopted a resolution to allow the City of Hood River’s Westside Urban Renewal District to move forward. Commissioners were for the most part supportive of the district. Commission Chair Jennifer Euwer did say she was concerned about the revenue the County will forego through tax increment financing for the district, and also said they can’t control the open market, and that there is a need to be realistic about the affordable housing that this will stimulate. Hood River City Councilors will be the next to make a decision on the Westside district. In an associated motion by Commissioner Arthur Babitz, the County will ask the City to take part in an effort to study the costs and benefits of the City annexing all remaining properties within the urban growth boundary.
HR County Commission To Hold Carbon Credit Project Hearing
The Hood River County Commission is planning to hold a public hearing on a proposed carbon credit project on the County Forest as soon as its next meeting in September. Commissioners discussed the potential sale of carbon credits through The Climate Trust for about 90 minutes on Monday, including what would happen if a catastrophic event on County forestlands such as fire could impact such a deal, which would commit the County to continuing to manage forestlands in the manner they have been for the next 40 years. Commissioner Les Perkins says the public should like that future commissions won’t be able to change practices that citizens have approved of. Commissioner Arthur Babitz noted this is a complicated deal, and it will important to explain it to Hood River County citizens.
SafeSpace Working With School Districts In Erin’s Law Training
SafeSpace Child Advocacy Center of the Gorge is working with school districts in the area to help them meet training requirements under Erin’s Law. Erin’s Law requires every child in public schools to receive four one-hour “bodily harm awareness” classes each year from kindergarten to 12th grade. SafeSpace prevention coordinator Amanda Holste says her organization is acting as a partner with schools to find effective ways to meet that goal. Holste says bullying and teen dating violence get covered in their trainings as part of the effort. She adds SafeSpace also is providing child abuse prevention trainings to organizations of all types.