It appears the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Department is willing to provide funding to repair the North boat ramp at Pine Hollow Reservoir.  Wasco County Commissioner Scott Hege says he got word of that at a meeting Tuesday in Wamic with the Oregon State Marine Board, which is funding work on the South ramp.  Hege says work on the North ramp has been recommended by a committee to the full state Fish and Wildlife board, and approval is expected.  Both ramps at the popular fishing and water sports location have been in need of repair, and the recently formed South Wasco Parks and Recreation District has been working with the County to obtain the state funding.

A 46-year-old Washougal man has died as the result of injuries suffered earlier this month in a motor vehicle accident on Highway 14 in Skamania County.  The Washington State Patrol reports that Robert S. Herington died early Tuesday morning at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver.  The accident occurred on June 10 on Highway 14 at milepost 29 about three miles west of Skamania.  According to the WSP, Herington was driving eastbound when he tried to pass another vehicle and lost control when merging back into the eastbound lane.  His car struck a tree on the eastbound shoulder, and then rolled.  

A wildfire that reached the southwest edge of Rufus on Monday night is estimated to be about 95 percent contained today.  Sherman County Sheriff’s Sergeant James Burgett says the fire that started around 9:15 p.m. was “right at people’s backyards.”  Burgett said as of this morning there were a couple of small areas of fire remaining, but all threats to homes and structures have been dealt with.  People were evacuated in the area of the Rufus RV Park during the peak of the fire, but they have been able to return to their homes.  Power is out in Biggs as a result of the fire, and Pacific Power reports crews are working on restoring electricity to that area, estimating restoration before 9:30 p.m.  Size of the fire is now estimated at 485 acres.  The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating to determine the cause of the fire.  Burgett says there were no major injuries as a result of the fire, but there were some reports of smoke inhalation.  North Sherman Fire, South Sherman Fire, Klickitat County fire departments, and the Bureau of Land Management were involved in the firefighting effort.

Cooler weather on Monday helped firefighters continue to build and improve containment lines on the Boxcar and Jack Knife Fires.  Estimated containment for the Boxcar Fire has increased to 60% and for the Jack Knife Fire to 80%.  The Boxcar Fire is now 99,500 acres in size, with more than 100 miles of containment line on the fire being monitored by firefighters who mop-up hotspots as they are found.  Emphasis is still being directed in the Deschutes River Canyon, where steep, rocky, inaccessible terrain is a challenge for firefighters in this area.  On Monday afternoon some active fire between Highway 197 and Bakeoven Road was suppressed with helicopter water drops, but smoke in the fire area was minimal in comparison to past days, with a few sources well within the fire’s perimeter.  The Jack Knife Fire remains at 14,772 acres.  Firefighters continued to search for hotspots yesterday, but little to no heat or smoke was found within the fire perimeter.  Fire officials say this will be a relatively benign weather day, with opportunity to complete firefighting tasks.

Volunteers were able to finish construction on the play structure at Hood River’s Children’s Park over the weekend, and now only the “poured-in-place” rubber surfacing must be installed before it can be opened.  Mayor Paul Blackburn said it was a tremendous community effort to finish the build portion of the project.  City Manager Steve Wheeler says the park can’t open until the soft rubberized surfacing is installed, plus there is clean-up work to do.  Wheeler says July 28 is the tentative grand opening date for the park.

North Central Public Health District is reminding residents of Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam Counties to take precautions to avoid illness during periods of wildfire smoke inhalation.  Visit the Oregon Smoke Blog and the DEQ Air Quality Index websites to monitor air conditions.  DEQ air quality monitoring data is updated hourly and is color-coded for easy to read information, with a permanent monitor located in The Dalles.  Avoid working or exercising outdoors when air quality is poor, stay indoors and close doors and windows during smoky periods, and drink plenty of water.

With the Fourth of July coming soon, that means fireworks, and fire officials are reminding those who use them to do so safely.  Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Chief Bob Palmer points out laws regarding to fireworks differ between Oregon and Washington, but adds they all can cause fires if not used properly, and can also result in injuries as well.  When using fireworks have water nearby, put pets indoors, clean up fireworks debris, and have adults light them.

The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission has endorsed a plan to build a 570-foot tunnel and trail through Mitchell Point that resembles the tunnel that existed on the Historic Columbia River Highway before it was destroyed in 1966.  The Historic Columbia River Highway Advisory Committee had recommended the plan last month.  Oregon Department of Transportation officials say the plan is to balance open-air experiences and views with the appeal of a tunnel that nods to the past.  Adequate light within the tunnel and protection for potential falling rocks remain top challenges for engineers.  Design work for the Mitchell Point Crossing will continue through 2019 and includes acquiring a Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area permit.  The tunnel plans currently include one arched window, and the design consultant will explore adding more windows to the tunnel, further mirroring the historic 1915 tunnel with its five arched windows.  The crossing will connect to western segments of the Historic Highway State Trail and east to Hood River and The Dalles.

Building on Hood River’s Children’s Park play structure are continue through Saturday.  The structure was 85 percent complete at the conclusion of seven days of work in early June. and the goal is to finish this week.  Work is continuing today (Friday) until 8:30 p.m., and will also take place Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and volunteers are needed.  For more information go to cityofhoodriver.com.  

There was still smoke Thursday night from a small fire in the Mitchell Point area west of Hood River, but crews expect to mop that up today (Friday).  Christie Shaw of the Oregon Department of Forestry said crews had hoped to finish mop up of the one acre fire on Thursday.  But steep and inaccessible terrain slowed work.  Shaw said ropes are being used to reach those locations.  The fire that was sparked during Wednesday evening’s lightning in the area burned about one acre.