A fire reported early Sunday afternoon burning in grass, scrub oak and timber near Rowena burned approximately fifteen acres before spread was stopped.  Containment was estimated at 40% on Sunday with a combination of fireline to mineral soil and fire hose with “wetline” around the perimeter.  Two Fireboss Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) from Washington Department of Natural Resources and a federal Type 1 helicopter were used to check the spread of the fire and allow firefighters on the ground to make progress digging handline and wetting fuel on the perimeter of the fire.  Additional resources arrived Sunday evening to complete handline around the perimeter and begin mop-up work on the interior of the fire.  Resources on scene include five wildland fire engines, one Scenic Area crew, several overhead personnel and engines from Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, Mosier Fire Department and Hood River Fire Department.  The fire burned in steep rugged terrain near a scar from a fire in 2014.  Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, Oregon Department of Forestry and US Forest Service Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area are in Unified Command working to suppress the fire.  The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 1 Get Ready Evacuation advisory from 6090 Hwy 30 to 5220 Hwy 30 as a precaution.  The cause of fire is under investigation.

The Oregon Health Authority reported five new positive COVID-19 cases in Wasco County over the weekend, two on Saturday and three on Sunday, to run the County’s total for the pandemic to 63.  There were no new cases reported in Hood River County during the weekend, leaving that number at 88.  Statewide, the OHA reported 247 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Sunday running Oregon’s total to 8,341, but no deaths, leaving that number at 202.  The Washington Department of Health reported that as of Sunday Klickitat County was at 59 positive cases and Skamania County four.  The statewide total for Washington is now at 31,752 cases.

A 76-year-old Appleton man died in a one-vehicle accident early Friday morning on Highway 14.  According to the Washington State Patrol, the pickup driven by Roger Macy was westbound on Highway 14 at milepost 74 when it went onto the westbound shoulder and struck the guardrail.  The truck then overcorrected, crossed both lanes of the highway, went onto the eastbound shoulder, struck the guardrail and went over it, coming to rest on its top in Chamberlain Lake.  The WSP says Macy was deceased at the scene.  The accident occurred at about 3 a.m. Friday.  

City of Hood River officials are asking the public to use caution in regard to fireworks and Fourth of July celebrations.  In a statement, City officials noted the area’s recent history of wildfires and the COVID-19 virus make this year particularly risky for the public and challenging for emergency responders.  A 2018 fireworks ordinance adopted by the Hood River City Council permits the sale and use of fireworks within City limits only from June 23^rd through July 7^th.   City Ordinance 2047 specifically prohibits the discharge of fireworks after July 15^th until November 15^th.  From November 16^th to July 14^th, use of fireworks are allowed with exceptions for fire emergencies or burn bans as declared by the City of Hood River Fire Chief.

DNA and Investigative Genetic Genealogy has determined the identity of a 1977 murder victim in the Everett area was a woman who was born in Hood River.  The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office says Elizabeth Ann Elder was born in 1959 in Hood River, and was adopted around the age of two and named Elizabeth Ann Roberts.  She went by Lisa Roberts, and was raised in Roseburg.  The woman was reported as a runaway on July 25, 1977 when she was 17, and was murdered 15 days later after being picked up while hitchhiking in the Silver Lake area of Snohomish County.  The DNA used for the identification was obtained from Lisa’s hair using a new scientific technique.  Firebird Forensic Group used public genetic genealogy websites to build a family tree to identify the biological parents, and further investigation found a biological half-brother, whose DNA was used to verify he matched to Lisa’s maternal DNA profile.  Adoption records were then obtained from the Oregon Health Authority.   Arrangements are currently being made for Lisa’s memorial service and her remains will be buried in a family plot in Hood River.

The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center is going to be open on weekends only until further notice.  The museum did a soft open last Saturday, and executive director Carolyn Purcell says they had about 60 people come in the doors.  She says the Discovery Center board decided this week they weren’t ready to go to their regular daily schedule, .and they will stick with weekends for at least a month.  Safety measures include directing visitors through the Center on a certain path, hand sanitizer stations located throughout the building, touching of exhibits is not allowed, the Kids’ Explorer Room is closed, and the regular live raptor programs will not take place tp avoid people congregating, even though the raptors will be on display from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The Discovery Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Access to Cherry Heights Road in The Dalles from West 2nd Street will be closed to westbound traffic on Monday and Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  It’s to allow concrete crews to construct a new turn lane.  Motorists heading westbound on West 2nd will need to detour via Webber Street to West 6th or take West 6th from downtown.  Vehicles coming off the eastbound freeway ramp, or going eastbound on West 2nd will still be able to turn onto Cherry Heights.  Those heading out of Cherry Heights onto West 2nd will only be allowed an eastbound, right hand, turn.

The Klickitat County Board of Health unanimously voted to apply to move the County into Phase 3 of reopening in the state of Washington.  County Commissioners, who also serve on the Board of Health, will have to approve the application at their meeting this Tuesday before it goes to the state.  Commissioner David Sauter says even though they vote to submit the application they still have plenty of concerns including mixed messaging, pointing out that if they move to Phase 3 it will be more important than ever for people to practice physical distancing and to wear face coverings.  The county will have to meet five criteria to advance to Phase 3, including having no more than five cases per week over a two week period.    

While Hood River County is under Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s directive to require face coverings in indoor public places, that doesn’t mean people have to wear a mask all the time.  County Health Officer Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg says you don’t have to put a face covering on in the morning and leave it on all day.  He says simply wear it when going into public indoor locations like the grocery store or the pharmacy.  North Central Public Health District Health Officer Mimi McDonell recommended to the Wasco County Commission that they opt-in to the Governor’s face covering directive, and that panel will consider it at a meeting this coming Wednesday.  The state of Washington has a similar directive from Governor Jay Inslee starting on Friday.

In a discussion with Wasco County Commissioners on Wednesday about receiving assistance from the state during the coronavirus pandemic, out-going North Central Public Health District Executive Director Teri Thalhofer said she’s never encountered a public health response as politicized as what is currently taking place.  Thalhofer said during the H1N1 crisis a little over ten years ago, the Governor’s office didn’t weigh in much, but it’s different this time in respect to who is doing what, how things get framed, and what the information is.  She added some items have gone to legislative committees before being released.  Thalhofer is retiring and leave her position at the end of the month.  Shellie Campbell will serve as interim director while the search for a permanent replacement takes place.