Full containment of the Newell Road Fire in east Klickitat County was achieved over the weekend. The size of the fire was placed at 60,551 acres. Northwest Incident Management Team 8 turned over operations control of the fire to local agencies on Sunday. Some smoke will likely remain visible for some time. Klickitat County Emergency Management says if the public notices active fire in the coming days to call 9-1-1 or the County’s non-emergency line at 509-773-4545. Emergency Management also said there are currently two areas with evacuation notices within the fire area. A level 2 “GET SET” is in place for the northern most area, and a level 1 “GET READY” advisory remains around the level 2 area. Recovery and damage assessment activities have begun and the public should monitor the Klickitat County Department of Emergency Management webpage or Facebook page for information on reporting damage due to the Newell Road Fire.
Sanitary Sewer Main Installation Taking Longer Than Expected
Installation of a sanitary sewer main on Chenowith Street in The Dalles between Cherry Heights and West 6th is taking a few days longer than expected. The Dalles Public Works Department says crews have encountered difficult conditions. Construction has been extended with a new expected completion date of this Wednesday. Phase 1 requires a full closure of Chenowith between Cherry Heights and West 8th Place. Phase 2 requires Chenowith to be closed between West 8th Place and West 6th. Driveway access to the construction zone is closed to vehicles and bicycles. Work hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The sidewalk will remain open to pedestrian traffic during construction. Please proceed with caution in this area and observe all temporary traffic control devices. Those with questions can contact the Public Works Department at (541) 296-5401.
Newell Road Fire At 71% Containment
Containment of the 61,313-acre Newell Road Fire in east Klickitat County is now at 71 percent and is expected to continue to increase as suppression efforts continue. Dave Robertson of Northwest Incident Management Team 8 says fire activity has remained minimal with only a few interior smokes and hotspots to extinguish, with most attention remaining on the northwest corner of the fire. Although the strength of containment is going up, smoke coming from the interior of the fire, sometimes from miles inside containment lines, is likely to be visible. Air operations will be conducting an aerial reconnaissance over the fire this morning to provide ground operations information in support of suppression efforts, including identification of areas for future suppression repairs. Transfer of command of the fire back to local fire and agency resources is planned for Sunday morning.
Three Gorge Projects In Senate Appropriations Bills
Three projects in the Columbia Gorge are in line to receive funding through a pair of bills that have passed the Senate Appropriations Committee with bipartisan support. Senator Jeff Merkley’s office says the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, or THUD, bill includes $4 million to help replace the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge to cover early-phase costs of the project, including right-of-way acquisition and mitigation for impacts to tribal fishing access during construction. The THUD bill also contains $3 million for Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation to develop 75-untis of affordable housing in The Dalles on Chenowith Loop to provide housing and services to veterans, families, and households experiencing severe and persistent mental health issues. In addition, the Energy and Water Development bill features $500,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and The Dalles Lock and Dam to fund continued work toward the creation of a Villages Development Plan for multiple sites along the Columbia River. The two bills now go to the Senate floor for a full vote before they can be conferenced with its counterpart bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
HR County Fair Continues Through Saturday
The Hood River County Fair is underway at the fairgrounds in Odell, and will continue through Saturday. It features appearances today by Wildlife Wendy, Godfrey the Magician, and Not Your Average Joe Balloon Guy. There will also be Mutton Bustin’, Sea Lion Splash, Pony Rides, 4-H and FFA events, and much more. Friday features the annual 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction in the barn area beginning at 5:30. It culminates with a concert by country star Morgan Evans on Saturday night. Complete schedule and ticket information is available at hoodriverfairgrounds.com.
Scam Jam Planned For August 4
Registration is now open for Scam Jam next Friday, August 4. It’s a free event put on by the Oregon Department of Justice, AARP Oregon, and the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. DOJ Director of Outreach Ellen Klem says the event offers practical advice on how to recognize all kinds of scams and schemes. Scam Jam will take place from 9 a.m. to noon next Friday at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. It’s a free event, but seating is limited. Register in advance by calling 877-926-8300, or going to events.aarp.org.
Sherman County Accident Claims Life Of Hermiston Man
The Oregon State Police say a Hermiston man died in a single-vehicle accident this past Friday afternoon on Highway 97 in Sherman County. According to the OSP, the accident happened at about 4:16 p.m. near milepost 26. The preliminary investigation indicated a car operated by 29-year-old Nicholas Demos of Hermiston was traveling southbound on Highway 97 when it left the roadway and rolled over. Demos was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased at the scene. The highway was impacted for approximately 1 hour during the on-scene investigation. The OSP says speed and lane usage are suspected as the main contributing factors to the crash.
WAGAP Sees Food Bank Demand Increase
Like other food pantries in the Northwest, Washington Gorge Action Programs’ food bank has seen an increase in demand in recent months. WAGAP serves Klickitat and Skamania counties with mobile and in-building food banks. WAGAP’s Jennifer Pauletto says there are a variety of factors involved, including decrease in SNAP payments with pandemic-related increases expiring, and the rising cost of food. The cost of WAGAP acquiring food has also increased. WAGAP Food For All will hold a fundraising concert, wine tasting, and picnic on August 12 at 5:30 at AniChe Cellars in Underwood. For information go to wagapfoodforall.com.
Sturgeon Fishing To Be Prohibited Between The Dalles & Priest Rapids
All sturgeon fishing including catch-and-release will be prohibited in the mainstem Columbia River from The Dalles Dam to the Priest Rapids Dam starting Saturday through September 15. Oregon and Washington fishery managers say the decision was made due to increased mortality among adult sturgeon attributed to warm water temperatures. Approximately 24 adult sturgeon mortalities have been reported recently with most occurring in the John Day Pool. High water temperatures and lower dissolved oxygen have been shown to stress and kill sturgeon. While only catch-and-release fishing is allowed this time of year, closing all fishing will help reduce stress from capture and handling and give sturgeon some relief until water temperatures cool off in September. While the lower and mid-Columbia River white sturgeon populations are not considered to be in danger, the population is not at desired abundance, especially in some of the reservoirs where recruitment of young fish is sporadic. ODFW will continue to coordinate with other fish managers to monitor sturgeon mortality in the Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day reservoirs.
Forest Service Expects Fire Restrictions To Increase
The Forest Service says fire restrictions are likely to increase in the coming weeks. Low spring rainfall has resulted in abnormally dry conditions as hot temperatures persist across the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Region. The Northwest Coordinator Center Predictive Services Outlook shows the Northwest has experienced drier-than-normal conditions over the past several months. This dryness, combined with record and near-record heat, has resulted in excessively dry vegetation in many areas. To mitigate risks, the Forest Service is encouraging the public to help prevent human-caused wildfire starts. To report a wildfire, call 911. Keep an eye on smoke forecasts and plan outdoor recreation accordingly, and stay informed of fire restrictions and closures before heading out