Volleyball North Marion def. The Dalles 25-14, 25-17, 25-20

Hood River City Councilors Monday night will discuss a request from Key Development to lower the City’s in-lieu of fee for residential parking in the Central Business District to allow the developer to move forward with a proposed mixed use development on State Street that would include 71 market rate apartments along with commercial space.  In a letter to the Council, Key Development president Jeff Pickhardt points out that seven years ago the City lowered the in-lieu fees for commercial and industrial development when it was found they were acting as a de facto development moratorium, and wants the same for residential projects in that area, noting there has not been any large market multi-family apartments constructed in Hood River in the past three decades.  Key Development’s proposal is in a pre-application review phase, and a formal land use application has not been received. This evening’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. in Hood River City Hall.

The size of the Indian Creek Fire in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness increased slightly over the weekend to 335 acres.  Mount Hood National Forest officials report that on Sunday there were four Super Scoopers, fixed wing aircraft, and two Type-2 helicopter including an Oregon Department of Forestry ship dropping water on the fire.  The Washington Department of Natural Resources provided support with an air attack fixed wing aircraft to coordinate the rotation of aircraft over the fire.  On Monday two additional Type-2 helicopters will be added including one from Washington DNR.  A Red Flag Warning is in effect through Monday evening for hot, dry and unstable conditions.  Forest officials say over the weekend a hiker went beyond the closure fence and signage on Eagle Creek Trail at High Bridge and was issued a violation notice with significant fine.  They emphasize it is critical that Eagle Creek hikers comply with closures related to the fire, so firefighters can focus on the fire rather than responding to individuals who enter the closed area.

Beginning Tuesday the City of The Dalles Public Works has scheduled pavement crack sealing on several roadways.  They include West 10^th between Walnut Street and Cherry Heights Road, West 9^th between Cherry Heights and the Mill Creek Bridge, Riverview Street between East 13^th Street and East 17^th Street, and Vey Way between West 8^th Street and West 10^th Street.  Rolling road closures will move through the project areas throughout the week.  Proceed with caution in those areas during the short duration road closures and observe all temporary traffic control devices.  If you have questions, contact The Dalles Public Works Department at (541) 296-5401.

Volleyball South Wasco went 4-4 in a tournament at Country Christian in Molalla.   Water Polo Hood River Valley Tournament Boys Hood River Valley 17, Sunset 4 Hood River Valley 12, Lincoln 10 Lincoln 11, Hood River Valley 10   Girls Hood River Valley 14, Sunset 2 Hood River Valley 11, Lincoln 3

Cooler, more humid weather on Thursday helped calm the Indian Creek Fire on the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness west of Hood River.  Two “medium” helicopters and four Super Scooper airplanes made repeated water drops on the fire, concentrating on hot areas along the north and west edges.  The fire produced much less smoke than a few days ago, showing that the fire was burning with less intensity.  The fire did gain three acres and is now 327 acres in size.   Firefighters are bracing for warmer, drier weather in the coming week, so officials say they plan to continue dropping water on the fire with aerial resources, cooling as much heat as possible.  This will also raise the humidity and make fuels harder to burn.  While aerial water applications won’t put out the fire, they can help keep the fire from growing too quickly.  The goal is to keep the fire in check until the fall rains extinguish it.

It’s a big weekend for fairs in the region, with the Klickitat County Fair in Goldendale, Wasco County Fair in Tygh Valley, and Sherman County Fair in Moro all continuing through the weekend.  An important event at all of these fairs is the 4-H/FFA Livestock Auctions.  Zach Harvey of the Wasco County Fair stresses the importance of supporting the youngsters involved in the programs. The Sherman County Fair holds its livestock auction at 3 p.m. on Saturday, the Klickitat County Fair at 3:30 Saturday, and the Wasco County Fair does it on Sunday morning at 9:30.

The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and the U.S. Forest Service are improving habitat on a mile of Hamilton Creek in Skamania County.  The project will increase the amount of habitat needed by juvenile salmon and increase the sediments necessary for adult salmon to spawn.  Construction began in mid-August, and heavy equipment such as excavators and dump trucks are on-site now.  Local access may be closed for the next four weeks until the work concludes.  The stretch of Hamilton Creek where work is being done has been damaged by wildfires and timber harvesting.  To restore the area, crew members will add 200 pieces of large wood to the creek and plant 9,000 conifers and willows.

Volleyball Hood River Valley swept four games from PIL schools at a jamboree at Roosevelt High School in Portland. HRV defeated Cleveland 25–15, Madison 25–20, Franklin 25–17, and Jefferson 25–10. Shae Duffy led HRV on offense with eight service aces and 15 kills, while Katie Kennedy was close behind with five service aces and 12 kills on the night.   Imbler def. Dufur 26-24, 25-12, 16-25, 25-12 Weston-McEwen def. Dufur 25-14, 25-27, 25-17, 25-14

The Indian Creek Fire in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness west of Hood River was much quieter Wednesday than in recent days.  Although the fire continued to burn actively in several places, it did not make a big run or gain much acreage.  An infrared flight early this morning shows the fire is now 324 acres in size.  No spot fires were found east of Eagle Creek or west of a small, unnamed drainage to the northwest of the fire.  A smoky inversion covered most of the fire Wednesday, limiting aircraft operations.  The weather forecast for today and Friday is for cooler temperatures and higher humidity.  Fire personnel hope the change in the weather and aerial applications of water will cool many of the remaining hot areas.  In the interest of public safety, more of the Eagle Creek Trail has been closed.  The new trail closure is at High Bridge, 3.3 miles south of the Eagle Creek Trailhead near Interstate 84.  Punch Bowl Falls will remain open.