A 66-year-old man from Brookings died Monday afternoon when the motorcycle he was operating crashed while he was attempting to avoid lumber that had spilled onto Highway 35 in Hood River County.  According to the Oregon State Police, David Bruce Hall was traveling north bound on Highway 35 near milepost 62.  A preliminary investigation found a Forest Service employee was driving a pickup with a load of lumber southbound on the highway and while negotiating a curve the lumber spilled out onto the road, partially blocking both lanes of travel.  The OSP says Hall attempted to avoid the lumber, which resulted in a crash.  Hall was wearing protective equipment and lifesaving efforts were made, but Hall succumbed to his injuries.  The accident occurred around 12:50 p.m. Monday.  The investigation is on-going.  The OSP was assisted on scene by the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, Parkdale Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Oregon Department of Transportation.

Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler says two insurers have agreed to offer plans next year in Klickitat County.  Kreidler said Monday that Molina Healthcare of Washington and BridgeSpan Health Company will offer plans inside the state’s health exchange in Klickitat County.  14th District State Representative Gina McCabe’s office said BridgeSpan will also offer non-exchange plans.  McCabe noted plans inside the exchange, known as Washington Healthplanfinder will make qualifying consumers eligible for premium subsidies.  According to Kreidler’s office, more than 80 percent of Klickitat County residents enrolled in the exchange receive an average monthly subsidy of $369.  Klickitat County had previously been the only one in the state where no health insurance companies had offered plans for 2018.  All rates, health plans, and coverage areas are under review by Kreidler’s office and may change before the plans are certified by the Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board on September 14.  Open enrollment for the 2018 individual market starts November 1.

The Oak Springs Fire on the Deschutes River north of Maupin is almost out.  The Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center says this morning that resources were being released from the fire that began on Saturday, and those who remain on the scene are focused on mop-up and line patrol.  No containment figure for the 375-acre fire on the west side of the Deschutes River Canyon was available.  Firefighters on Saturday evening and Sunday morning worked to take advantage of favorable conditions knowing hot temperatures Sunday afternoon would bring significant drying of fuels, and those efforts seem to have paid off.  The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.  Fire officials are reminding the public to be aware that given hot weather conditions fuels continue to dry out rapidly, and over the next couple of days the potential for lightning with little moisture makes the possibility of additional fire starts very high.

With the Fourth of July approaching, fire officials are reminding people to be very careful if they choose to use fireworks.  Hood River Fire Chief Leonard Damian points out fire danger is high as we enter into July, with springtime precipitation helping grow flammable fuels.  Damian points out those who use fireworks should do so on concrete or asphalt and away from flammable fuels like grass, and have water available to extinguish any potential sparks.  Keep in mind state laws.  In Oregon fireworks are limited to items that fly no more than 12 inches off the ground and six feet through the air.

Both The Dalles and Hood River City Councils will meet Monday evening.  A light agenda for The Dalles Council is highlighted by a presentation on the façade renovation project for Cascade Square.  That meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in The Dalles City Hall.  In Hood River the Council agenda is busier, and includes interviews to fill a vacancy on the municipal planning commission.  The Hood River meeting begins at 6 p.m. in City Hall.

The Oak Springs Fire on the Deschutes River north of Maupin held within lines on Sunday, remaining at 375 acres in size.  The Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center says firefighters on Saturday evening and Sunday morning worked to take advantage of favorable conditions knowing hot temperatures Sunday afternoon would bring significant drying of fuels, and those efforts appeared to pay off. The fire is on the west side of the Deschutes River Canyon.  Resources on the fire included rural fire protection resources from Oak Springs, two helicopters, a 20-person hand crew, the Prineville Hotshots, and three engines.  The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.  Fire officials are reminding the public to be aware that given hot weather conditions fuels continue to dry out rapidly, and over the next couple of days the potential for lightning with little moisture makes the possibility of additional fire starts very high.

The Crystal Springs Water District has a 48-hour boil water notice In effect for upper areas of Odell after a large truck ran over a fire hydrant and damaged the main line.  Fred Schatz of Crystal Springs says the accident caused a large amount of water to come out of the main line and drain water supplies in the area of Odell to the point where state regulations mandate a precautionary boil water.  Areas  under the boil order include Shute Road…Gilhouley Road…Kollas Road…Furrow Road…Willow Flat Road from the 4200 address to 4500…Chamberlain Road from 4300 to 4600…and Summit Road from 4100 to 4600.  Schatz said the boil order will be lifted once they receive results from water samples submitted for testing.

An Oregon Department of Transportation culvert repair project at Indian Creek in Hood River will begin on Monday, leading to periodic single lane closures on 12th Street between Nix Drive and College Way.  ODOT advises lane closures could take place from 6 p.m. Sunday to 3 p.m. Friday, from 6 p.m. Friday until 9 a.m. Saturday, and from 6 p.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Sunday.  The Indian Creek Trail next to the culvert will be closed during construction, and trail users should follow detour signs and respect all closure areas for their safety.  Most work will take place during the day, but those living near the work zone may experience some nighttime noise.  A 24-hour noise hotline is available at 503-412-2317.  Some on-street parking near the work zone, such as on Nix Drive, will be temporarily restricted during construction.  Construction is expected to last through September.  ODOT says the culvert that carries Indian Creek below 12th Street has become damaged over time, leading to the need for the repair project.

Beginning Monday and continuing through Thursday, the City of The Dalles and Wasco County public works department will be working to chip seal and fog coat many areas in The Dalles.  The immediate work sections will be signed the day before to request “no on-street parking” for the following day.  Speeds will be reduced to 15 or 20 miles per hour to keep vehicles from dislodging the cover rock and reduce the instances of loose flying rock as the treatments cure.  Early morning street sweeping will occur Tuesday and Wednesday in order to remove rock for the “fog” seal coat.  After loose rock has been swept from the streets, the fog coat of oil will be applied to the City streets involved.  Flaggers and signs will be present to help motorists safely navigate through work areas.  Work on 10^th Street between Thompson and Dry Hollow has been postponed until late August to allow trucks hauling fruit for the cherry harvest to have uninterrupted passage.

Burnout operations have increased the acreage burned by the Rhoades Canyon Fire east of Clarno to 14,000 acres, but containment has increased to 50 percent.  The Central Oregon Interagency Coordination Center said today that firefighters were continuing to construct fireline as well as hold and improve existing containment lines.  Increasing temperatures, low relative humidity, and afternoon winds that typically come through the area remained concerns.  The cause remains under investigation.  The fire is south of Highway 218 and east of the John Day River.  The river remains open and the Clarno boat launch is not affected, but boaters should be aware that helicopters may be using the river to dip buckets.  A pilot car is being used on Highway 218 when needed, with delays expected at less than 20 minutes.