A 25-year-old Vancouver man drowned on Wednesday after falling or being swept over the Lower Lewis River Falls in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.  According to the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office, divers located Benjamin K. Jones in fourteen feet of water just west of the main pool.  The Sheriff’s Office says Jones had been in the area with friends on a hiking trip.  Jones was last seen on a ledge just west of the falls when his party lost sight of him.  Witnesses at the bottom of the falls observed a person in the water yelling for help.  The Sheriff’s Office says witnesses attempted to reach Jones, but he went under and did not resurface.  Skamania County Search and Rescue and Dive Rescue Unit, North Country EMS, and the Volcano Rescue Team all responded to the incident.  The Sheriff’s Office noted the accident is a reminder to use established overlooks and stay on trails when visiting the Falls.

Healthcare executive Anthony Masciotra, Jr., has been elected to the board of trustees of Mid-Columbia Medical Center.  Masciotra is the chief executive officer of the Oregon Health & Science University Practice Plan, a 2,100-member group of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other licensed independent providers involved in all aspects of clinical care at OHSU.  He also serves as Chief Ambulatory and Professional Practice Officer at OHSU Health and is a member of the School of Medicine senior leadership team.  Masciotra is a member of the Academic Medical Group Leadership Roundtable and the Group on Faculty Practice of the Association of American Medical Colleges and is a member of several professional organizations including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Medical Group Management Association and Healthcare Financial Management Association.

The Oregon Health Authority reported a Hood River County death related to COVID-19 in its Wednesday update.  The OHA said a 64-year-old man from Hood River County who tested positive on September 15 and died on September 28 at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital.  The OHA indicated he had underlying conditions.  On Wednesday the number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon was at 811, which is 11 fewer than Tuesday.  There were 235 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit beds, which is two fewer than Tuesday.  The OHA reported 2,011 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, bringing the state total to 328,184.  26 cases were reported for Wasco County, 11 in Hood River County, and one each in Sherman and Gilliam counties.  There were 21 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 3,771.

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office and Crime Stoppers of Oregon is asking for the public’s help to solve the disappearance and homicide of a woman whose remains were found over eighteen years ago in a remote location of a forest road in Hood River County.  Earlier this year, the Oregon State Medical Examiner identified the remains as Tisha Ann Dyer, who had been missing since 2002.   At the time of her disappearance, Dyer was 36 years old, approximately 5’5” tall, and weighing 130 pounds.  She was thought to be living the Portland area at the time of her disappearance.  According to the investigation, Dyer was not known to be involved in hiking or any other outdoor activities that would have taken her to a remote location on Mount Hood.  Crime Stoppers of Oregon offers cash rewards of up to $2,500 cash for information reported to them that leads to an arrest in any unsolved felony crime, and tipsters can remain anonymous.  Anyone wishing to submit a secure and anonymous tip regarding any unsolved felony crime should visit crimestoppersoforegon.com or visit the App Store and download P3 Tips for your smart phone or tablet.

North Central Public Health District’s Health Officer says COVID-19 cases in Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties seemed to have plateaued, but they are not going down quickly.  Dr. Mimi McDonell says the virus is circulating enough through the population that the number of new cases in the area remains steady.  She says the district still sees some days with cases numbering above 30.  McDonell did say there is an improvement in the hospitalization numbers, but she adds those facilities still have staffing issues that have not gone away.

After a year’s absence, the Hood River Hops Fest returns on Saturday.  The beer festival will run from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday in the Columbia parking lot downtown.  Hannah Settje of the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce says they will have 40 brewers on site with beers to sample, plus food vendors and musical entertainment.  She says attendees will need to wear masks and have proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to the event.  There will be rapid testing on site.  Settje added ticket sales are running ahead of the pace from previous years.  For ticket information, go to visithoodriver.com.  

Forest Service fire officials have recommended the elimination of public use restrictions in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area with a reduction in fire danger.  Effective immediately, fire danger levels in the Scenic Area will be lowered from extreme to high, and campfires are now permitted.  Fire officials ask people to continue to be cautious with any and all potential ignition sources.  Vegetation, especially in the eastern gorge, remains dry and is susceptible to sparks.  Human-caused wildfire starts can exhaust local firefighting resources as many firefighters remain engaged in fighting fires across the west.

Boys Soccer The Dalles 3, Pendleton 1 Hood River Valley 8, Crook County 0   Girls Soccer Hood River Valley 6, Crook County 0 Pendleton 4, The Dalles 2 Goldendale 4, Cle Elum-Roslyn 4   Volleyball Pendleton def. Hood River Valley 24-26, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23 Redmond def. The Dalles 25-14, 25-21, 25-23 Castle Rock def. Columbia 25-18, 25-15, 25-5 South Wasco def. Horizon Christian 25-9, 25-12, 25-11 Echo def. Sherman 25-16, 25-23, 25-13 Adna def. Stevenson 3-0 Goldendale def. Highland 25-14, 25-6, 25-16

Due to the poor returns of steelhead to the Columbia River Basin, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is extending steelhead fishing closures on the Deschutes River through the end of the year.  The current forecast for steelhead above Bonneville Dam indicates that this will be one of the lowest runs on record.  ODFW monitoring shows and the Deschutes run is mirroring those elsewhere in the Columbia River Basin.  Closing steelhead fishing will provide protection for wild steelhead and ensure that hatchery broodstock and fish reintroduction programs needs are also met.  ODFW is also closing angling for coho salmon early.  This will help to reduce angling impacts when fishing with similar gear types.   These species overlap significantly, spatially and temporally in the Deschutes River.  Angling will remain open for trout in the Deschutes River from Moody Rapids upstream to the Pelton Regulating dam.

Beginning Monday, The Dalles Public Works Department will replace a damaged fire hydrant and fire hydrant valve at the intersection of E 10^th St. and Laughlin St.  The work is expected to be completed in three days.  A full road closure on E 10th St. between Federal St. and Jefferson St. will be in effect during work hours from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  All traffic can detour to E 11th St. via Federal St. and Jefferson St.  The sidewalk will remain open to pedestrian traffic during construction.  Upon completion of the project the main will be flushed through the new fire hydrant.  Occasionally main flushing causes water flowing from a tap to be discolored from stirred up sediment or milky white caused by tiny air bubbles.  Although discolored water won’t make you sick, you might want to flush the pipe by running the water for several minutes before drinking or washing.  If the water does not clear, contact the Public Works office at 541-296-5401.