Fire burned a three-to-four acre area west of Maupin on Smock Road on Tuesday afternoon. The fire was reported at around 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, but was brought under control a couple of hours later. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office said the fire forced a Level 3 evacuation advisory soon after the fire was reported due to strong winds in the area, but that was removed fairly soon afterward. A Level 2 evacuation advisory in the immediate vicinity of the fire remained in place overnight as a precaution, but that was lifted Wednesday morning. Crews from Wamic, Dufur, Juniper Flats, Tygh Valley, the Oregon Department of Forestry, and the U.S. Forest Service responded to this fire.
The Dalles Library HVAC Replacement Moves Forward
The Dalles City Council approved moving forward with replacement of the HVAC system at The Dalles-Wasco County Library in a 50-50 split with the library district as called for in their Intergovernmental Agreement, with the intent for the system to be installed this fall. City Manager Matthew Klebes says the HVAC system at the library has been in need of being replaced for a long time, adding this is part of an effort for the City to reduce the amount of deferred maintenance that needs to be done. The company AirX was awarded the contract of $423,640 to do the project, and the Library District was awarded a $115,000 state grant. Klebes said the City had budgeted for the project in the upcoming fiscal year.
Columbia River Salmon & Steelhead Fisheries
Oregon and Washington fishery managers have finalized preseason planning for 2025 Columbia River summer recreational salmon and steelhead fisheries. For the summer season, retention of jack hatchery Chinook and hatchery steelhead will be open starting June 16 from the Astoria-Megler Bridge upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco, WA. Due to the low summer Chinook forecast of 38,000 adults and allocation guidance, adult Chinook retention will be closed in summer season fisheries downstream of Priest Rapids Dam. Retention of sockeye will be allowed June 22 to July 6. The daily adult bag limit is two salmon/steelhead, but only one may be a hatchery steelhead and only one may be a sockeye. When sockeye retention is closed during the summer season, the daily adult bag limit is one hatchery steelhead. Anglers must stop fishing for jack salmon after taking a daily limit of adult salmon or steelhead. Hatchery steelhead retention will be allowed through July 31 from the Astoria-Megler Bridge upstream to The Dalles Dam and through Aug. 31 from The Dalles Dam upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco, WA with a reduced bag limit of one fish.
Turtle Hatchlings From Gorge Now At Oregon Zoo
Seventeen northwestern pond turtle hatchlings, each about the size of a walnut, are making themselves at home at the Oregon Zoo this summer. Zoo conservationists are “head-starting” the endangered reptiles, caring for them until next spring when they’re big enough to have a fighting chance in the wild. Last month, the turtle hatchlings were retrieved from sites in the Columbia Gorge, transporting them to the zoo conservation lab. With heat lamps and plentiful food, the turtles experience summer year-round so they don’t go into hibernation. Once they reach about 50 gram, they are returned to their ponds and monitored for safety. Guests can watch the tiny turtles grow at the conservation lab inside the zoo’s Nature Exploration Station. The American bullfrog, native to the eastern United States but considered invasive here, can tip the scales at more than a pound and has been driving pond turtles and a host of other small, vulnerable aquatic species to the brink of extinction. The northwestern pond turtle, also known as the western pond turtle, is listed as an endangered species in Washington and a sensitive species in Oregon.
Dutton Pleads Guilty In Agreement; Relinquishes Law Enforcement Certifications
Former The Dalles City Police Officer Jeremy Dutton has plead guilty to charges of official misconduct after reaching a plea agreement with the Wasco County District Attorney’s Office. D.A. Kara Davis says the agreement includes significant restitution and Dutton relinquishing his law enforcement certifications. Davis says Dutton paid restitution of over $8,000 to the City of The Dalles representing money he received after submitting falsified time cards, which the City agreed to accept as part of a civil compromise. She adds as part of his probation, Dutton has agreed to resign from The Dalles Police Department and surrender his Oregon Bureau of Public Safety Standards and Training certifications. Davis noted Dutton is a combat veteran, and her office’s policy extends any veteran without a previous record the offer of a civil compromise or diversion if available for the charges. She said while Dutton was extended that courtesy, it was equally important that this case not be disregarded, which is why a conviction for official misconduct was pursued. Davis says The City of The Dalles and the Police Department felt the plea agreement was a fair resolution of the case.
The Dalles Council Approves Tourism Promotion Contract With Chamber
The Dalles City Council approved a three-year tourism promotion services contract with The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce, coming after an ad hoc committee evaluated proposals from five applicants. City Manager Matthew Klebes told the Council the committee that did the evaluation work noted it was an opportunity to assess how tourism recruitment and destination management should occur in The Dalles. The contract calls for the Chamber to hire an Executive Tourism Director, and for the City and Chamber to create a Destination Development Plan. In other business, the Council approved moving forward with replacement of the HVAC system at The Dalles-Wasco County Library in a 50-50 split with the library district as called for in their Intergovernmental Agreement, with the intent for the system to be installed this fall.
Suspect In Vehicle Theft Sought
Law enforcement is looking for the driver of a stolen vehicle that collided with a semi-truck on Highway 97 in Klickitat County on Sunday. According to a statement from the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle going over the speed limit. During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle went off the road and then collided with the semi-truck traveling in the same direction. That damaged the vehicle that eventually came to a stop off the roadway with the suspect running from the scene. The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office says the suspect vehicle was found to be stolen out of Yakima County, and items from a Klickitat County burglary were recovered from it. The suspect remains at large.
Klickitat County Taking Property Insurance Survey
The Klickitat County Department of Emergency Management is asking County residents participate in the 2025 Klickitat County Wildfire Property Insurance Survey. County officials say this survey is designed to gain information and feedback from Klickitat County residents in regards to homeowners or renters wildfire property insurance denial, reduction in coverage, non-renewal, or a significant increase in premiums over the past 36 months. The survey is to provide information that Klickitat County officials can use in their efforts to seek a solution to property insurance issues, and assistance when contacting Washington State officials and offices. Residents can complete the survey using a link that can be found on the Klickitat County Deaprtment of Emergency Management website at klickitatcounty.org and the Klickitat County 911 Dispatch / Emergency Management Facebook Page.
YouthThink Hosting Gaming Discussion
YouthThink in Wasco County will host an event Wednesday at Chenowith Elementary School revolving around gaming. YouthThink’s Debby Jones says they’ve partnered with The Dalles High School’s e-sports club to host the program revolving around their slogan “Good Gaming.” Those students will make up part of a panel discussion. There will also be gaming consoles set up so kids can play some of the games the e-sports club competes in at the state level. Jones says it will run from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, and it’s open to kids and their families.
Wildfire Preparation Publication Available
A number of agency partners, including Hood River County Emergency Management and the Oregon State University Extension Service, have come out with a new publication called “Before Wildfire Strikes.” It’s a guide to improving wildfire preparedness and living with fire in Hood River County. County Emergency Management Director Charles Young says it lists actions citizens can take regardless of whether they live in a rural or urban setting. Along with tips for preparing your home and property to withstand fire, the publication also includes a checklist of what you should prepare in case of the need to evacuate. “Before Wildfire Strikes” is available at fire stations and city and county buildings, and online at most county fire department websites.