The Hood River Urban Renewal Agency board voted to move forward with having staff draft contracts with consultants MIG to develop a final Heights Streetscape design using Alternative 3 as the preferred alternative.  That alternative was a mix of two others that went through a public process over the first part of the year.  In the next phase of work, MIG will produce a more specific design along with a project implementation strategy.  Board member Mark Zanmiller pointed out there will still be opportunities for more public input as the process continues, noting this alternative will still be refined with more detail.  The URA board is made up of the Hood River City Council and two Port of Hood River representatives.

Matt Dumolt appears to have grabbed the second spot on the November general election ballot for District 2 Klickitat County Commissioner.  The latest vote count released by the County late Monday showed Dumolt with 599 votes, to 571 for William Morris.  Lori Zoller was the top vote-getter with 1,073 votes, while Rick Essacson received 313.  The County will release one more set of results next Monday, but the latest returns indicated only two more ballots remained to be counted.  Ballots only had to be postmarked last Tuesday, and the County has until August 16 to complete the count and August 19 to certify the results.  In Monday’s results reported, the County reported a turnout of 51.6 percent of registered voters.

Due to dry and hot conditions, campfires are prohibited across the Mt. Hood National Forest, beginning Wednesday.  All campfires, charcoal or briquette fires, pellet fires, or any other open fires will be prohibited, including in developed campgrounds.  Portable cooking stoves, lanterns, and heating devices using liquefied or bottled fuel, such as propane, are still allowed as they can be instantly switched off.  Additionally, target shooting is temporarily prohibited because of the risk of wildfire.  While the Forest enjoyed a wet and cool spring, dry July and August conditions have resulted in low moisture levels in vegetation, increasing the risk of wildfire.  With the current dry and warm long-range forecast, any wildfire start poses a greater threat to firefighter safety, public safety, and personal property.

The Dalles Public Works Department will be painting the center and side lines on several streets throughout the community next Monday through Thursday, 2022 beginning at 6:00 a.m. each day, weather permitting.  Motorists are asked to watch for the crews and avoid driving on the wet paint.  The paint truck will be preceded and followed by warning vehicles, with signs calling attention to the wet paint.  The trucks will be spaced according to the necessary drying time of the paint. Attempting to pass or drive between the trucks will result in a messy striping job and paint damage to the motorist’s vehicle.  The purpose of this project is to provide clear lane and bike path designations for the safety of the traveling public.  Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the wet paint because it cannot be easily removed from vehicles.  

Wasco County Commissioners have approved sending a letter to the Columbia River Gorge Commission on that panel’s draft climate change action plan.  The letter says the County appreciates the Gorge Commission staff being willing to work with them through the process, but added several of the recommended policies could have far reaching impact on a number of economic sectors and resource protections.  It also asked for the plan to coordinate with regional efforts addressing climate change.  Commissioner Scott Hege penned the letter, saying it’s important for the Commission to register the comments and stay engaged in the process.  Commission Chair Kathy Schwartz had also prepared a draft letter, but said she thought Hege’s letter was acceptable.

Investigators continue to sift through the damage from last week’s fire in the Port of The Dalles Marina.  Port Executive Director Andrea Klaas says the number of properties damaged in this fire was less than in a blaze that occurred at the Marina thirteen months ago.  Klaas says investigators brought in by various insurance companies are visiting the site.   Once that is complete the area will be released to the Port to begin cleanup.  Klaas noted a joint fire investigation with all of the parties will take place August 17, and any release of the area to the Port would occur after that date.  

Work to get the Kingsley Reservoir Campground reopened has been slowed by a labor shortage in the Hood River County forestry department.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says they have been in the final push phase to get the campground opened, but they have a backlog of detail work that needs to be done, and the loss of a worker has slowed progress.  Hecksel said the tasks include getting fire rings and picnic tables put together and rolling gravel out.  Hecksel could not give an estimate on when the campground will be open.  He did say it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they will unable to open the facility this season.

Work on the Miller Road Fire in south Wasco County began to wind down on Sunday, as task forces and other resources began to be progressively demobilized back to their home agencies.  Containment of the fire Monday morning was listed at 98 percent, while total acreage was adjusted down to 10,847 acres.  Hand crews have been focusing on mop-up operations along the 25 miles of the fire’s perimeter and around structures with the goal of establishing a cold black containment line preventing any lingering interior fire from escaping.  The Northwest Incident Management Team that has been managing the fire will begin demobilizing resources today as the need for fire personnel decreases.  A smaller incident management organization will remain on the fire comprised of two hand crews and engines will take over patrolling the fire and continue mop-up.  Officials stress firefighters will remain vigilant on the fire line as the weather is predicted to become hotter and drier for the next couple of days.  The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday afternoon lifted all evacuation advisories for the fire.

Hood River Police arrested a driver over the weekend after finding drugs and weapons in his vehicle during a traffic stop.  According to a statement from the department, upon making contact with the driver an officer observed signs of impairment and a concealed firearm, and was eventually arrested the person for driving under the influence of a controlled substance.  Further investigation found over 79 grams of cocaine and over 11 grams of methamphetamine.  Along with drug possession charges, the driver is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, silencer, and brass knuckles.  Scales, vials, and $500 in cash were also seized.  The driver was booked into NORCOR.

Matt Dumolt continued to hold a narrow lead over William Morris for the second spot in November’s general election for Klickitat County Commission position 2.  Dumolt now has 574 votes to 562 for Morris.  Lori Zoller remains the leading vote getter in the four-person race for the two general election spots with 1,044, while Rick Essacson is fourth with 304 votes.  Klickitat County will be releasing a new set of vote counts late today, estimating 264 votes remain to be counted.  The County reports a turnout rate of 49.6 percent for the primary.  In a vote count that may indicate a close race in November, incumbent Sheriff Bob Songer was narrowly leading challenger Garique Clifford, 3,858 to 3,797.  As the only two candidates on the primary ballot, they both will advance to November’s ballot.