Jamie Parke of TD and Todd Nunn of Goldendale are long time friends. Parke has been pit crew for Nunn in demolition derby contest for the past decade. But all bets are off on Sunday at the Wasco County Fair as the friends look to smash each other as Parke takes the wheel for the first time in the crushing battle.

Minimally, what we are looking for is the official name of the vessel in the foreground. Send your answers to tom@cccnews.com by Sunday, Aug. 18 by 4:21 p.m. No messages in bottles. Those sending correct answers will be entered into a raffle for a $25 gift certificate to Shannon’s Ice Cream. The winner will be announced Monday, Aug. 19.

North of Trout Lake, crews and equipment continue to strengthen primary direct containment lines, and additional resources are on the scene to assist with secondary alternate lines, in the event they are needed. Ongoing mop-up operations, where firefighters search, dig out, and extinguish hotspots, will continue through the next several days on the southern perimeter.

Pacific Northwest Team 10 is taking over the incident today as Northern Rockies Team 2 prepares to head home. Both teams will be working hard today to ensure a smooth transition of command. Weather remains mild and crews continue to establish more direct handline around both fires resulting in increased containment.

The Beautification & Tree Committee proudly honors Sharron Allen and Cameron Larson with the August Beautification Award for their outstanding garden at 412 West 2nd Place.

Family Free Day brought a lot of smiles at the Wasco County Fair on Thursday, Aug. 15. 4-H youths made their showings, tryouts for the next Wasco County Fair Queen were held and games and challenges abounded. That's just the start as the Rodeo starts tonight at 7:30 p.m.

The upcoming Wasco County Fair is set to shine even brighter this weekend, thanks to a drone light show sponsored by Google. The high-tech spectacle, accompanied by music, will take place on both Friday and Saturday nights, offering a stunning and safe alternative to traditional fireworks.

Heavy focus remains on the southeast edge of the Whisky Creek Fire where crews have been able to perform fire suppression activities more directly. The Dozer line has been completed and firefighters are continuing to construct the handline.

Bohn's Printing and Office Supply, Inc., a cornerstone of The Dalles community, is proud to announce the celebration of its 120th anniversary. As one of the oldest family-owned businesses in Oregon, Bohn's Printing has served the community since 1904, providing quality printing and office supplies to generations of residents and businesses.

The evacuation level in the Trout Lake area was also dropped on Wednesday, Aug. 14 from a Level 3 GO NOW to a Level 2 BE SET.  Former Level 2 evacuations are now at Level 1. The 11,000-acre fire burning in heavy timber is now estimated 2 percent contained.

The Dalles Planning Commission will get detailed information about parking this evening as they decide an appeal of the Basalt Commons site plan. The 116-unit apartment building with commercial space would be built at the former Griffith Motors lot, 523 E. Third Street, and would utilize public parking lots and on-street parking for more than 100 vehicles of future residents.

A fire broke out early Wednesday morning on Lincoln Street, prompting a swift response from local emergency services.

Today, on both the Whiskey Creek Fire and Sandstone Fire, crews will continue holding and securing line. On the Whisky Creek Fire, construction of indirect line around spot fires in the southeast corner of the fire is ongoing and mop up is happening to the northeast and southeast of the fire.

471 personnel are now battling the blaze in heavy timber in the Mt. Adams Ranger district. A community meeting will be held tomorrow, Thursday, August 15, at 7:00 pm. at the Trout Lake Volunteer Fire Department, 2415 WA-141, Trout Lake, WA 98650. This meeting will be recorded and posted to the Williams Mine Fire Facebook for those unable to attend.

The Wasco County Fairgrounds will be hopping today as check-in for 4-H animals begins. Local kids have been working and learning for months in preparation for showing and selling their animals at the fair, which opens to the public on Thursday, Aug. 15 with Family Free Day. Temps are looking favorable, in the 80s the rest of the week, as the fair runs Aug. 15-18 in Tygh Valley.

Modern folk artist Sage Christie is set to captivate with story songs at the Bargeway Pub’s Waterfront Wednesday. We’ve rolled up all the gigs, events, art, movies and even magicians in this tight entertainment guide.

The City of The Dalles is launching the second round of its Residential Tree Grant Program, offering grants to residents for planting trees and enhancing property beautification. Managed by the Beautification and Tree Committee (BTC), this program aims to improve the urban forest, increase property values, and provide essential environmental benefits.

Crews responded to yesterday's increased fire activity by continuing to construct and improve the direct containment line on the north and east sides of the fire. Today crews will resume mop-up operations and proceed to scout for spot fires across the containment line.

90 new personnel and 6 engines are brought in as the Williams Mine Fire is now estimated at 11,000 acres burning in thick timber 3.5 miles from Trout Lake, Wash. Scooper planes continue to dip out of Swift Reservoir and the Columbia River between Memaloose Island and Lyle, Wash.

The Williams Mine Fire burning 3.5 miles northwest of Trout Lake, Wash., more than doubled in size over the weekend to an estimated 10,000-plus acre fire which is burning in thick forest in the Mt. Adam’s Ranger district.  Firefighters may get an assist from the weather this week as cooler temperatures and higher humidity are predicted.