It’s likely to be a hazy day. Smoke from Californian and Washington wildfires will be rolling over western Oregon and Washington Friday, and possibly into Saturday. And areas local to the White River Creek Fire will continue to be impacted.

The following is an email from Cameron Curtis addressing the recent decision by The Dalles City Council to uphold an appeal by local residents that stopped progress on Legacy Development’s 80-unit subdivision. I asked Cameron and Emily if they intended to move forward on their development.

Community clean-ups have been announced. Events will be held on the second Saturday of each month in The Dalles.

Today Mid-Columbia Center for Living held a private meeting to discuss the end of MCCFL’s contract with the state to act as our local Community Developmental Disabilities Program. Center for Living noted that this was due to current operating costs exceeding state funding.

Military Vehicles in The Dalles on August 27th, 2020, 11:00 AM.

Mid-Columbia Center for Living is handing back the Community Developmental Disabilities Program to the Oregon Department of Human Services due to funding. There is concern over how this will affect those in need of disability services. Employees are also concerned about layoffs.

South Wasco County School District #1 is asking taxpayers to pass a $4-milliion school bond in the Nov. 3 general election to do major renovations to the schools and district buildings in Maupin. Essentially, taxpayers will get a 50 cent match on the dollar should they choose to approve the bond.

Rain saved this year’s soft white wheat crop. And quality is excellent. The Pacific Northwest appears to be having a good year. But price per bushel has fallen off 70 cents in the past three months and traders are hoping for a big buy out of Portland.

The Dalles City Council will hear the appeal of an 80-unit subdivision on 6.92 acres in east The Dalles at 5:30 p.m. this evening, Aug. 24, 2020.

Ron Holmes, president of the Northwest Public Power Association presented Rep. Greg Walden with the Homer T. Bone Award this morning, July 18, 2020, for his 30 plus years of representing the people of his district on the issue of power.

The Powell Brothers band is set to hit The Dalles this Friday, Aug. 14, at the Bargeway Pub, and the Kingwood Texas Trio plan on laying down some licks with their original set. Free of charge.

The American Red Cross reports that 31 evacuated Mosier residents sought shelter with the American Red Cross at Shilo Inn in The Dalles. Numbers are approximate because evacuees began showing up at Shilo Inn before Red Cross arrived.

“Wondering why the firefighters hadn't arrived, I tried to call 911. No service.” “I got in my car and drove until I could get through to 911 and explain the situation. That's not exactly accurate. I kind of yelled that we needed help right away, that old people couldn't put out this fire, and that the helicopter needed to dump water closer to the house. The nice dispatcher said he'd send help. I think I was in a bit of a panic.”

Update August 21st, 2020 10:00 AM

The Mosier Creek Fire is fully contained.

The highest number of positive cases by age group shows that the 20's-50's age group had the highest number of cases. "We noticed a spike in some of our younger ages" Mimi McDonnel explained.

Prices for cherries were fairly strong as local growers saw higher demand as Washington cherries were hit with a late freeze in the Tri Cities, according to Ashley Thompson, Oregon State University extension agent.

Steve Palmer has had a busy week. The tow truck driver was dispatched to Freebridge Road at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday and found two fishermen with an Enterprise Rental car that had gone over the edge of the road about 200 yards from the bottom in a tight turn. Freebridge is no ordinary road.

Whatever you are doing right now. Stop. Don’t you know what day it is? It’s National Chicken Wing Day. And it’s time to get medieval about it. Five restaurants, six kinds of wings. No limits. Unbuckle your belt and take a flavor vacation.