An estimated fire of less than two acres in size along Canyon Road near Odell on Wednesday afternoon forced the evacuation of five homes in the Wy’East Road area between Davis Dr. and Central Vale.  The fire was reported on Canyon Road at 2:51 p.m. Wednesday.  It burned in grass, brush and timber terrain. Five homes were evacuated within the 3600 block of Wy’East Road while the road itself was shut down between Davis and Central Vale.  A wet line was put around the fire perimeter and fire crews were in mop-up stage just over an hour after the fire started.  Fire crews from Wy’East Fire Department, Oregon Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service actively worked the fire, with logistical support from Hood River Fire Department.

Searchers found a 79-year-old California man who was reported missing on the Pacific Crest Trail out of Trout Lake.  The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office received the report Monday evening that Michael Manchester of Marina Del Ray was overdue.  Manchester was part of a group of eight hikers that were hiking the PCT from the Cultus Creek Trailhead on Monday, and Manchester was last seen at about 5:30 p.m.  The group without Manchester continued to their destination at the Falls Creek Trailhead.  One hiker went back to look for Manchester and ran into another hiker who said Manchester was still walking south and appeared to be in good health.  A search was initiated by the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office…and an officer found Manchester at the PCT/USF 560 Road intersection.  He was out of water but in good health.  Manchester was reunited with his hiking group in Trout Lake.

The North Wasco County School District 21 Board has approved placing a measure on the November ballot authorizing the district to issue 235 million dollars in bonds over the next 20 years to replace most of the district’s buildings.  D-21 Chief Financial Officer Randy Anderson says the bonds would be sold every five years.  The first project would be to construct a new high school at the Wahtonka campus, and future projects would include replacement of the district’s three elementary schools.  The district also wants to modernize classrooms and improve safety and security in the schools.

Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue has declared a condition of “extreme fire danger” exists within the district.  Under that designation, open fires are prohibited, including open pile burning, burn barrels, campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires.  The use of commercially manufacture fire pits with screens, barbeques and devices using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.  Smoking should be limited to areas where no combustible materials are present.  Chainsaw use, cutting, grinding, and welding should be avoided between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., and those involved in those activities need to have firefighting equipment readily available and provide a fire watch for at least one hour following the use of any equipment.  Mowing of dried grass with power driven or other mechanical equipment should not be conducted until the extreme fire danger conditions have significantly decreased, and do not use fireworks, exploding targets, tracer ammunition or sky lanterns.  The Oregon Department of Forestry, Mt. Hood National Forest and Private Timber Company lands all have additional prohibitions.  Individuals who fail to follow the prohibitions or conduct activities which could contribute to the ignition or spread of a fire could be liable for all costs associated with the suppression of a fire.

        A small brush fire was reported in the Canyon Road area of Odell this afternoon. According to the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, the fire was contained at about 2 acres. Three houses along Wy’east Road were evacuated as a precaution. Mop-up activity was underway a little after 4:00 this afternoon.  

A 48-year-old Fairview man is believed to have died of a medical issue before his truck and trailer crashed into trees on West 6th in The Dalles early Tuesday morning.  The Dalles Police Captain Jamie Carrico said city and state police officers attempted CPR after removing Richard Boggs from the truck, but it was unsuccessful.  Carrico said Boggs is thought to have had a medical issue prior to the accident, and the medical examiner has ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.  The accident occurred at about 2:45 a.m. Tuesday morning.  No other vehicles were involved, and there was no passenger in the truck.

The containment level for the South Valley Fire edged up to 65 percent.  On Monday night a strike team of engines utilized handheld infrared cameras to scour the landscape along the perimeter of the fire for any threatening hot spots that night crews then worked on, and will be double checked by today’s shift.  Officials say the “pick and shovel” work is necessary to keep the fire from rekindling later this summer.  Crews are continuing to mop up all smokes within 150 feet of structures located within and adjacent to the fire.  Fallers are working to fall all dangerous trees within 300 feet of the fire line for safety and to prevent spotting outside the fire perimeter.  Full containment of the 20,026 acre fire is projected for Friday.  Estimated cost to fight the fire is $4.53 million.

The Hood River County Commission approved a resolution to put a three percent tax on the retail sale of recreational marijuana on the November ballot.  The three percent tax is the maximum allowed by the state.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says the County would not realize much revenue from the tax.  Hecksel says an important reason to consider it is to create a level playing field with establishments in the City, where the tax is already in place.

Tuesday is primary election day in Washington.  The ballot features top two primaries for the U.S. Senate seat held by Maria Cantwell, the Third District Congressional seat occupied by Jamie Herrera-Beutler, and both 14th District seats in the Washington State House.  In addition, Klickitat County Fire District #8 in the Glenwood area has a property tax levy increase to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value on this ballot.  Ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, or delivered to an official drop box location.  Lists of drop boxes are available at both the Klickitat County and Skamania County auditor’s websites.

North Wasco County School District 21 elementary schools will be registering students next week.  The registrations will take place Tuesday through Thursday of next week.  D-21 Superintendent Candy Armstrong says getting registrations done early is especially important for new students.  Registrations will also take place at The Dalles Middle School next week.  For hours when each school will be conducting registration activities, go to the D-21 website, nwasco.k12.or.us.  Armstrong says The Dalles High School registrations can be done on-line beginning this week.