The Port of Hood River is looking for two new members to join its Airport Advisory Committee. The panel advises the Port Commission on issues at the Ken Jernstedt Airfield and is asked to provide input on planning, development, and other airport related items. The committee is made up of 7 members of the public, as well as the Fixed Based Operator, a representative of the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum, and two Port Commissioners. Members serve 3 year terms and must be approved by the Commission. For application information, call 541-386-5116.
BLM Opens New Facility In Maupin
The Bureau of Land Management has opened new facilities in Maupin for the agency and partners, including regional Tribes, to coordinate management of the area’s natural resources. The new facilities include an office, workshop, and seasonal housing, and will serve as the operations center for recreation staff on the Lower Deschutes Wild and Scenic River. The BLM manages the Lower Deschutes in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, the State of Oregon, and several local government entities. The agency says the facilities are critical for infrastructure management along the river and will assist with multi-jurisdictional coordination among partners for emergency response and services including wildland fire and search and rescue efforts. The project was made possible through partial funding by the Great American Outdoors Act. Since the act was signed in 2020 about $45 million has been invested in public lands managed by the BLM in Oregon and Washington.
Burn Ban For West Klickitat County Starts June 15
The
western portion of Klickitat County will enter into a ban on open burning on
June 15. The County’s Burn Ban Zone 3 is
defined as lands between the western boundaries of Klickitat County fire
districts 4, 12, and 15 then north on the Klickitat River to north county line
and to the west county line. Lands under
the ban are those outside the jurisdiction of the Yakama Nation, Washington
Department of Natural Resources, and the Washington State Parks and Recreation
Commission. It prohibits the issuance of
burn permits except for authorized agricultural burning. Residential barbecues will be allowed. The ban goes into effect beginning next
Thursday.
Sorosis Park Fundraising Ramps Up
Fundraising for the latest stage of improvements to Sorosis Park is underway. Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation District director Scott Baker says they are seeking to raise $347,000 to finish landscaping, upgrade the walking path, and build a new pavilion. Baker says they have already received some large anonymous donations to give them $165,000 for the project at this point. To donate…go to nwprd.org. Donations will also be taken at Sorosis Park on Thursday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturday at The Dalles Farmers Market.
Pride Alliance Observing Pride Month
The Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance is celebrating Pride Month in June with a number of events in the Mid-Columbia. The Alliance’s Nik Portella says the organization’s efforts are focused on making those in the LGBTQ+ community feel as much a part of the Gorge as anyone else. A list of Pride month events is available on the Alliance’s Instagram page, which is cgpridealliance. The Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance is a part of The Next Door.
Westside Urban Renewal Survey Open Thru Friday
The City of Hood River has is keeping its Westside Urban Renewal District information session survey open until midnight on Friday. A recording of the session outlining plans for establishing the district and the survey are now available at cityofhoodriver.gov. They are also available in Spanish. The session gave some details of the City’s plans to create a new urban renewal district on the west side of Hood River, with the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed projects. A timeline from City officials aims to get the Westside district established by the end of summer.
Kayaker Missing After Falling Into Klickitat River
Search crews over the weekend were unable to locate a woman who had fallen out of her kayak and went over the low head dam on the Klickitat River near the Glenwood Fish Hatchery. Klickitat County Search and Rescue teams searched the banks and along with raft and kayak teams floated the river from the fish hatchery to Leidle Park both Saturday and Sunday before the search was suspended. The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office identified the missing woman as 29-year-old Sandhya Sridhar. At the time of her disappearance she was wearing a pink-hooded sweatshirt and gray yoga-style hiking pants. The Sheriff’s Office says she was not wearing a life jacket when she fell out of her kayak. The Sheriff’s Office added the Klickitat River is running swiftly at this time of year with snow runoff, and the steep terrain posed serious safety concerns for search teams.
YouthThink Conducting Community Youth Assessment
YouthThink is in the midst of a community youth assessment in The Dalles. YouthThink executive director Debby Jones says they’ve hired an outside contractor to meet with several different groups of youth to find out what it’s like for them to live in The Dalles. She says responses so far have been interesting, including a perception that it is difficult to find things to do. Jones said many respondents indicated that they know they spend too much time on social media, but don’t necessarily know how to stop. Jones says a report on the assessment will be put together and presented to the public later this summer.
Pitch Fest Picks Finalists
The Wasco County Innovation Initiative has picked six finalists for the first Gorge Pitch Fest coming up next week. The six are receiving training on giving an effective pitch for funding, which they will do before a panel of judges next week. Carrie Pipinich of Mid-Columbia Economic Development District says the six entrepreneurs chosen from 28 entities represent a range of different business opportunities. The chosen group will give pitches to a panel of four judges next Wednesday, June 14, at 5:30 p.m. at the Granada Theater in The Dalles, with the grand prize winner receiving $7,000. Tickets to attend Gorge Pitch Fest are free, just go to mcedd.org to register.
White Salmon Asks For Water Conservation
White Salmon residents are being asked to conserve water. Municipal public works director Andrew Dirks says the conservation notice comes as the City’s slow sand filter plant is off-line after a scraping of filter bays there. The plant can’t be put back online until the results of water sample tests are received from the Washington Department of Health. Dirks says their two water wells are running, but the faster than expected warming of temperatures led to the City’s reservoirs not being as full as normal as the wells try to keep up with demand. White Salmon residents are being asked to hold back on using water for irrigation and other outdoor uses for the time being. Dirks says they hope to have the sample test results later today or tomorrow, and will put the sand filter plant back on line when they receive them.