In a letter to Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said the agency was authorizing Walden’s request to grant emergency grazing to Wasco and Sherman County ranchers and flexibility for wheat producers whose crop was impacted by the wildfires.  Walden wrote to Perdue last month requesting assistance from the Department of Agriculture for wheat farmers and ranchers impacted by the Substation Fire.  In response to Walden’s request, Perdue stated that USDA will authorize emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program land, and will grant necessary flexibility to summer fallow wheat producers.   Walden also requested in August that UDSA approve the state of Oregon’s disaster declaration after the fires.  Perdue stated the agency is currently compiling reported losses, recommendations for counties as disaster areas, and additional information to complete the review process before making a determination on the disaster declaration.

Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have urged federal officials to use more accurate, timely, and science-based measurements in determining whether Oregon farmers and ranchers have access to drought disaster aid programs.  The pair wrote Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue that the U.S. Drought Monitor’s measurement criteria and process for Farm Service Agency disaster programs are unfairly treating Oregonians battling wildfires and water shortages created by prolonged hot, dry weather.  Wyden and Merkley cited as examples of outdated measurements those that only rely on precipitation and lean heavily on reservoir storage and capacity.  They urged the use of newer and better drought metrics that include temperature, “snow drought” or reduced winter mountain snowpack, shutoffs to senior water rights, increased irrigation demand due to extreme temperatures, soil moisture levels, lack of livestock water in pastures, ecological stress on forests, wildfire activity and danger, and streamflows.

The Aluminum Man Triathlon returns to The Dalles on Saturday.  Last year’s event was cancelled due to smoke from the Eagle Creek Fire.  Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation District executive director Scott Baker says they have over 100 entries so far, with many more expected to sign up on Saturday morning.  Individual and team entries are accepted for the event.  For registration information go to nwprd.org.  Day of event registration will be from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Riverfront Park in The Dalles.

The annual Huckleberry Festival is this weekend, centered in Daubenspeck Park in Bingen beginning Friday evening and continuing through Sunday.  Chris Connolly says they will have plenty of huckleberry pies and the always popular bratwurst.  She adds the festival parade through downtown Bingen will take place Saturday morning, with lineup at 120 East Steuben at 9:30 a.m. and the parade itself starting at 11 a.m.  The grand marshal will be retired White Salmon-Bingen Police Chief Tracy Wyckoff.  Music and entertainment is planned throughout the festival in the park, along with kids’ activities.  For complete schedule information go to huckleberry-fest.com.

Volleyball Camas def. The Dalles 25-12, 19-25, 25-10, 25-7   Girls Soccer Fort Vancouver 6, Stevenson 4   Cross Country Stevenson’s Isabella Spencer was seventh in the girls’ race and the Bulldogs’ Julio Ramos  ninth in the boys’ race at the LaCenter Jamboree.

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office was unable to locate a cougar Wednesday afternoon that was in the area of Lois Drive and Holly Drive on the west side of Hood River.  Hood River County Sheriff Matt English said officers searched the area thoroughly, and notified residents in the immediate area, but could not locate the animal. English added two people saw the cougar early this afternoon in a grassy area between Lois Drive and Holly Drive.  He also said it was the deepest a cougar has been reported in a residential area of Hood River in some time.  English said if you see a cougar, call Hood River County dispatch at 541-386-2711, or call 9-1-1 if the situation is life threatening.  He adds if you encounter a cougar, keep calm.  Make yourself look as large as possible and back away slowly, keeping the cougar in view, and allowing a clear exit for the cougar.  Pick up children and small pets immediately.  Never run or turn your back- sudden movements may provoke an attack.  Westside Elementary School was placed on lock down and parents of students who would normally ride their bikes or walk home from school were advised to pick their children up.  Hood River County School District Superintendent Dan Goldman says they were notifying parents of the situation, and said Westside Elementary buses will operate as normal Thursday.  He added if parents do not feel safe having their kids walk or bike to school or wait at a bus stop, they should drive the students in to the school.

Helping Hands Against Violence, which supports survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and abuse, and stalking, is seeking more volunteers to help man their crisis line.  Executive Director Stephanie Irving says they will be starting a series of training sessions later this month.  Irving says one of the most important skills someone can bring is the ability to listen, adding much of the training revolves around recognizing trauma.  To take part in the training and become a crisis line volunteer, call Helping Hands at 541-386-4808.  Trainings start on September 26.

YouthThink will present a special screening of a movie called “Suicide:  The Ripple Effect” at The Dalles High School this coming Monday.  The film chronicles the story of Kevin Hines, who at age 19 attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge.  Since then Hines has been using his story to help others find recovery and stay alive.  The film also features some of the world’s leading suicide prevention experts and shines a light on people who are using personal experiences with suicide to help others find the hope they need to stay alive.  The movie will be shown at 6:30 Monday evening at The Dalles High School, with a discussion to follow.

The Next Door is looking for more people to serve as therapeutic foster parents in Hood River and Wasco counties.  Amy Lindley of The Next Door says they would like to find five to ten more families in the two counties as they collaborate with a number of agencies across the state in a recruiting effort called “Foster Plus.”  Children in the program are six to 18 years old, and come from a background of abuse and neglect.  For more information on being a foster parent, call Lindley at 541-308-2207.

Boys Soccer Hillsboro 2, Hood River Valley 0 Milwaukie 2, The Dalles 0 Horizon Christian 8, Life Christian 0   Volleyball Sherman def. Spray-Mitchell 25-3, 25-11, 25-13 Irrigon def. South Wasco 3 sets to 0 Goldendale def. Columbia 3 sets to 1