North Central Public Health District officials announced one additional positive COVID-19 cases in Wasco County on Tuesday, running the County’s total for the pandemic up to 69.   There were once again no new cases reported in Hood River County on Tuesday, leaving that number at 88, with County officials reporting on its getreadygorge.com website that 87 of those had recovered.  Statewide, the OHA reported 181 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Tuesday with three deaths also reported, running Oregon’s total to 8,656 cases, and 207 deaths.  At the start of the week…the OHA said epidemiologists are using a new method for reporting daily cases.  The new method assigns a date to each case when the case is first known to the state or to local health department as confirmed or presumptive.  The agency says it is a better representation of the number of cases reported on any given day.  The Washington Department of Health reported that as of Tuesday Klickitat County was at 59 positive cases, with County officials saying 45 are listed as recovered, and Skamania County five.  The statewide total for Washington is now at 32,824 cases, with 1,332 deaths.

Wasco County Commissioners did approve a second letter of agreement for the enterprise zone for Design LLC for the Google construction project at Taylor Lakes, including square footage numbers that determines the fees Design LLC will pay to the County and the City of The Dalles over the next fifteen years.  In the complex agreement, the County and City will receive a nearly $1.2 million payment for tax year 2019-20, over $1.2 million in 2020-21, and over $1.8 million annually for the next 13 years.  County Administrator Tyler Stone said except for a warehouse, this project is complete.  The Dalles City Council will also be receiving the letter for its approval.

Recreation officials will be watching the upcoming Fourth of July holiday weekend closely.  Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Manager Lynn Burditt says what’s actually open is fairly status quo, but the Independence Day weekend has always tend to bring people to the area.  Burditt adds they are continuing to consider how to proceed with some opening of the Historic Columbia River Highway in the western part of the Gorge and Multnomah Falls Lodge, and there may be some news on that in the next week.

Fire officials are reminding all those headed out to public lands this Fourth of July weekend to leave fireworks at home and take other precautions to prevent wildfire.  Fireworks are prohibited on national forests at all times, regardless of weather or conditions.  Fireworks are also prohibited on other public lands managed by Oregon State Parks, and Washington State Parks, as well as most county and city parks.  Violators can be subject to a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine and/or up to six months in jail.  Anyone who starts a wildfire can be held liable for suppression costs.

Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue crews dealt with a pair of brush fires in the west part of The Dalles alongside Interstate 84 on Monday afternoon.  According to MCFR, firefighters were originally dispatched to a fire behind the Jack In The Box restaurant, and then had to deal with a nearby second fire behind Fred Meyer and the Super 8 Motel.  MCFR was assisted by crews from Dallesport and Mosier to put the fires out.  Jay Wood of MCFR says a power line arc due to high winds probably started the original fire, with embers carried by the wind starting the second fire.

The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District, including lands it protects in Hood River and Wasco counties, will enter into a Regulated-Use Closure beginning Wednesday in an effort to prevent fires in dry wildland fuels.  Open fires are prohibited except in designated areas, chainsaw use and the mowing of dried grass with power driven equipment is prohibited from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., use of motor vehicles is prohibited except on improved roads or by landowners and their employees, smoking is prohibited while traveling except in vehicles on improved roads, and the use of fireworks and blasting is prohibited.  So far ODF’s Central Oregon District has seen 35 fires, 10 started by lightning and 25 human caused, burning a total of 33 acres.  Recent precipitation has helped keep fires small, but the weather is transitioning into warm and dry summer conditions/  For additional information go to ODFcentraloregon.com.

Containment was up to 90 percent at the end of Monday on a 14-acre fire near Rowena.  On Monday firefighters focused on mopping up interior hot spots and extinguishing visible smokes.  Crews also worked to grid within the fire area, exposing the trapped heat, and then dousing with water.  Firefighters from the Oregon Department of Forestry’s The Dalles Unit will complete the remaining mop-up work Tuesday then place the fire in patrol status.  The fire was initially reported Sunday afternoon burning in grass, scrub oak and ponderosa pine near Rowena.  Sandy soils and light flashy fuel conditions in the fire area allowed it to burn through quickly and trap minimal heat.  Air resources were critical in slowing the spread of the fire in difficult terrain.  The fire was human caused and under investigation.

A 73-year-old Welches woman died in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 26 in Wasco County on Monday morning.  According to the Oregon State Police, a preliminary investigation showed an SUV operated by Kathy Rayborn was traveling eastbound when it crossed into the westbound lanes and collided with a motor home operated by 76-year-old Richard Rydman of Vancouver.  The OSP says Rayborn suffered fatal injuries.  Rydman and his passenger, 73-year-old Janice Rydman of Vancouver, were taken to St. Charles Hospital in Madras.  The OSP says the accident happened at about 11:40 a.m. on Highway 26 near milepost 85.

High winds are just adding to concerns about fireworks safety.  Jay Wood of Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue says the strong winds that can blow embers long distances makes it more important than ever for Oregonians to use legal fireworks, which in Oregon are those that cannot fly in the air.  Wood adds if people are going to use fireworks during the Fourth of July holiday period, they need to do it safely, remembering to not be in the vicinity of flammable materials and to have water or a fire extinguisher on hand.  Wood points out statistics show fireworks in Oregon over the last five years have led to 573 fires with five million dollars in losses, 36 injuries, and one death.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has awarded a $90,000 grant for improvements to the Granada Theatre in The Dalles.  The Dalles Main Street program had applied for the funds.  The grant will help install new fire doors, a new heating and air conditioning system, and new awnings.  There is a $22,500 match required for the grant.