Wasco County’s next Multi-Agency Resource Center event for those impacted by the Rowena Fire will include information about the state-led debris removal process. It will be held Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Gloria Center in The Dalles at 2502 West 7th. Those who cannot attend in person can access the event by Zoom. The link is available on the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. There will be information on the two phases of debris removal for those that have signed a Right-of-Entry form. Wasco County Emergency Management staff and the Department of Environmental Quality will be available to explain the process, answer questions, and provide a guide through the next steps in recovery. ROE forms grant the necessary permission for County and DEQ personnel to access property for cleanup. Forms will be available at the event.
Port of Hood River Waterfront Areas To Close For Fireworks
Several Port of Hood River waterfront properties will be closed to public access later this week, when Hood River Fireworks begins setup just west of the mouth of the Hood River. Most notably, the Spit will be closed beginning at 9 p.m. Thursday evening until noon on Saturday. Access to the Sandbar from the Event Site will be closed to all users at 7:00 p.m. on July 4 due to the fireworks display. Kiteboard launching and landing from the Event Site grass and beach will also be prohibited. The sandy area of Marina Beach will also be closed at 7:00 p.m. on July 4 and will be closed to kiteboard launching and landing at that time due to the fireworks safety perimeter. Once the Marina Park parking areas are full, “Closed” signs will be posted at the entrance, and no additional vehicles will be allowed into the park.
Fort Dalles Museum Foundation Fundraising For Grant Flag
The Fort Dalles Museum/Anderson Homestead Foundation is raising funds to restore an American flag that was made in 1868. The foundation’s Denise Dietrich-Bokum says the seven-foot by five-foot flag was sewn by the wives of members of what was known as the “Grant Club,” supporters of General Ulysess S. Grant for President. The flag has been part of the Fort Dalles Museum collection since local historian Lulu Crandall donated in the early years of the museum, but it has been storage ever since. The fundraising effort has a goal of $6,000 is to do professional conservation and suitable framing for the fragile flag. To donate, go to fortdallesmuseum.org, or mail a check to Fort Dalles Museum/Anderson Homestead Foundation at P.O. Box 591 in The Dalles, zip code 97058.
TD Government Academy Taking Applications
Applications are now open for The Dalles’ 2025 Local Government Academy. The City of The Dalles puts on the series of programs designed to educate community members about the operations, services, and programs of the City of The Dalles. Participants will engage directly with City staff and elected officials through classroom-style presentations, facility tours, and discussions with representatives from all City departments, including Police, Public Works, City Manager’s Office, City Attorney, Human Resources, Library, Finance, Community and Economic Development, and the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport. Sessions will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., beginning August 26 and continuing weekly through October 6. Eligible applicants must be residents of The Dalles, at least 18 years old, interested in future civic engagement, and available to attend all sessions. Applications are due by August 8, and are available at thedalles.org.
Transportation Package Failure Impacts Local Governments
The failure of the Oregon Legislature to reach agreement on a transportation package will continue the challenges city and county governments face to maintain roads. The lack of a package doesn’t change what local governments have now, but Wasco County Commissioner Scott Hege points out that going into the session a study by the Association of Oregon Counties showed the states’ counties needed an additional $834 million per year as a group to deal with roads. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek expressed her disappointment in the failure of the Legislature to advance a transportation package, and did not rule out calling a special session on the subject.
Registered Sex Offender Faces New Charges
Federal authorities along with the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Goldendale area man who is a registered sex offender on new charges. The Sheriff’s Office says Homeland Security Investigations and the Internet Crimes Against Children task force executed a search warrant last week at the home of Corbett Craig. Craig was not in the residence at the time, but was located by sheriff’s deputies a short time later in High Prairie. He was taken to the Klickitat County Jail on a local charge of possession of child pornography, and the next day was transported to Yakima to be held on federal charges. An adult female and a young child were found in the residence. The child was removed from the home.
Paddleboard Found Deceased In Columbia River
A paddleboarder was found deceased in the Columbia River at Viento State Park on Saturday morning. The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Dive Rescue and Recovery Team came to the scene at the request of the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office after a report a 40-year-old woman had fallen off her board and went under. Seven divers carried out the search, and she was located deceased about 150 feet from shore in about fifteen feet of water. The dive team indicated the woman was not wearing a life jacket. They added even strong swimmers can get overwhelmed by cold water, so life jackets are a must. The dive team encourages people to wear a life jacket when on the water, always monitor children, and not to consume alcohol, marijuana, and other substances that can affect swimming.
Teen Dies In Fall
A 17-year-old woman from Happy Valley died after falling at Falls Creek Falls north of Carson. The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office says the teen fell about 30 feet into Falls Creek on Friday afternoon. She was extricated from the creek and taken by ambulance to an awaiting Life Flight helicopter. The Sheriff’s Office says the hiker succumbed to her injuries at a Portland-area hospital. The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team was involved in responding to the fall, along with Skamania County Emergency Medical Services, Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Crag Rats, Skamania County Fire District 1 and Skamania County Fire District 2.
Body Of Man Missing Since November Found in Swift Reservoir
The body of a 72-year-old man missing since last fall has been recovered in Swift Reservoir in Skamania County. The Sheriff’s Office says David Brinkmeyer went missing in November while hunting near the Muddy River. Investigators say Brinkmeyer attempted to cross the Muddy River in an innertube affixed by a rope system to access his hunting camp. The tube overturned, and Brinkmeyer was swept away in the fast-moving water. An extensive search at the time did not locate the man. The recovery of Brinkmeyer’s body was about 12-and-a-half miles away from where he was last seen.
Right-Of-Entry Forms Available For Rowena Fire Property Owners
The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office says a Right-of-Entry form has been developed for property owners affected by the Rowena Fire. The form gives permission to the county and state to access your property for the purpose of cleanup activities. Without a signed ROE, a property may not be eligible for cleanup activities. Copies of the ROE forms are available to be emailed. Those who would like one or have questions can call Wasco County Emergency Management at 541-980-0200.