Starting July 14th, the intersection of 12th & Thompson will be closed for demolition and ADA construction. The intersection will be closed during working hours and reopened during the night. Closures are expected to be periodic as the phases of work commence.

As residents return to areas impacted by the Rowena Fire, safety remains a top priority. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM), Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and Wasco County strongly recommend that property owners not perform cleanup themselves because of the serious toxic hazard threats posed by burned homes and outbuildings.

Firefighters slow the fire’s move toward Highway 197 but the highway remains closed at this time. Forecasters are calling for slightly cooler temps and decreasing winds on Thursday, July 11, which will help as multiple agencies and landowners work to control the blaze.

Initial attack crews worked through the night putting in dozer lines and burnouts along the east and west flanks from the north down to the unsecured south. The Central Oregon Type 3 Interagency Fire Management Team as well as the Green Incident Management Team from the Oregon State Fire Marshal are in place at the Dufur High School.

Level 2 GET SET Evacuations have been upgraded for the areas east of Hwy 197, east to the Deschutes River, north to Hulse Rd, and south to Hwy 216. All other evacuation areas remain the same.

Zoologist, animal behaviorist, and wildlife educator Karl Anderson, also known as the "Bird Man," captivated a room full of children at The Dalles Wasco County Library with his collection of exotic birds.

Pine Hollow Reservoir has been to the public so that aircraft have access to quickly and efficiently continue fighting the fire.

D21EA President Jodi Ketchum emphasized that the unions now face a critical choice: move forward with the tentative agreement or reopen bargaining.

Last reported resources: 8 engines, 20-person hand crew from USFS Mt Hood, 4 dozers, local landowner resources, and multiple air resources. A type 3 Central Oregon Fire Management Service team has been ordered and is in route. The forecast calls for a high near 96 today, July 10.. Northwest wind will be 7 to 12 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.

Think about what freedoms you cherish and which ones we don't care about. Maybe, in the future, instead of lighting fireworks we'll get a bang out of dinner parties and street dances. Rather than the sounds of a war zone, we'll hear music. Let's start with 'Give Peace  A Chance.'