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About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (June 9, 2021)
INDEX Classifieds History KidScoop Obituaries Opinion PoliceLogs PublicNotices SeniorLiving Sports What'sHappening Commission to consider bi-state ownership of Hood River Bridge — A13 B8-9 B6 B1 A7 A4-5 B5 B10-12 B3 B13-14 B5 Sports — B13-14 Horizon Christian senior awarded Ford scholarship — A15 Weather Coolerandcloudythrough theweek;Gorgehighof73 Fri.Weekendtoreachmid- 80swithpossibleshowers. The Dalles High School senior heading to University of Chicago — A12 Columbia Gorge News HOOD RIVER | THE DALLES | WHITE SALMON Wednesday,June9,2021 Volume2,Issue10 $1.00 Armed man arrested following pursuit, standoff Class of '21 A The Dalles High School senior's mortarboard speaks to future suc- cesses and blessings during com- mencement ceremonies at Sorosis Park. The morning ceremonies were live streamed on the school district Facebook page, then students re- ceived their diplomas in the compa- Graduating seniors at Columbia High School drive a “reverse parade” through campus Thursday night as teachers, coaches and ny of their families throughout the school staff greet them from the sidewalks and roadside in this photo by teacher Kelsey Lemon. Pictured are, left to right, Olivia afternoon. More photos page A15. Nye, Sydney Thornton and Josey Cobb. The graduation ceremony was June 5. Contributed photo Mark B. Gibson photo Gov. Brown sets June 21 target to end COVID-19 limits in Oregon Gary A. Warner ■ By Oregon Capital Bureau Nearly all COVID-19 restrictions could be lifted in as early as just over two weeks, Gov. Kate Brown said Friday. The state is about 127,000 adults short of the goal of getting at least one shot of vaccine into 70 percent of eligible residents. Once the state crosses the threshold, Brown said she would lift masking, business capacity, event size, social distance and other limits that Oregonians have dealt with for more than a year. “We can fully reopen — we can all look forward to that,” she said. Local health officials would then take over the daily decision-mak- ing and operations in counties from the Oregon Health Authority. Brown said even very large events, such as the Pendleton Round-Up in September, would be good to go once the state hits its target vaccina- tion rate. On Wednesday, Brown visited Oregon Health Authority SeeCOVID-19,page8 SeeSTANDOFF,page10 By Jacob Bertram ■ Columbia Gorge News Sandy Chilate of One Community Health, at left, prepares to administer a COVID-19 vaccine to Jill Reitz, 15, as Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, at far right, looks on. Brown was at the Hood River clinic June 2 to promote the state's vac- cination campaign. On Friday, Brown announced the state could reach a 70 per- cent vaccination rate of eligible residents by June 21, at which time "we can fully reopen," she said. Mark B. Gibson photo Fire burns 170 acres west of The Dalles Mark Gibson & Kelsie Cowart ■ By Columbia Gorge News Interstate 84 was closed both directions as the fire jumped the THE DALLES — In what fire offi- highway, burning toward the Port of The Dalles. cials warn may be a prelude to the Neighborhoods in the immediate summer fire season, the Mile Post vicinity of the fire were evacuated 85 fire Wednesday, June 2, closed Interstate 84 and forced the evacua- for much of the afternoon. Among those evacuated was HAL tion of nearby communities. on River Road, which was declared “We are experiencing an early completely evacuated only six min- start to the wildland fire season,” said Fire Chief Bob Palmer of Mid- utes after receiving the evacuation Columbia Fire & Rescue. “Based notice. on the rapid growth and intensity The evacuation, issued be- of this fire, the outlook for this cause of fire spotting in nearby summer is leaning towards a fairly Chenowith Creek, where a foot- active fire season. We ask that the bridge was damaged, was issued at public please be extremely careful 3:25 p.m. and the shelter was de- around dry vegetation and be espe- clared completely evacuated at 3:31 p.m., according to a timeline on the cially vigilant.” Ignited just east of Pinewood Columbia Gorge Wildland and Fire Information Facebook Page. Mobile Manor on Old Highway Steven Drynen, HAL chief exec- 30 west of The Dalles, the fire is estimated to have burned 170 acres utive officer, said shelter manager and was 70 percent contained as of Brittany Hopkins orchestrated the Friday, according to Palmer. speedy evacuation, assisted by “a The fire spread rapidly, pushed bunch of volunteers.” by strong winds and burning in Around a dozen cats and kittens grass, brush and scattered timber. and 20 dogs were evacuated to Initial damage assessment from Lana’s Kennels in The Dalles. the fire includes Bonneville Power Drynen said Cascade Pet Camp in Administration and Public Utility Hood River also offered to house Department infrastructure, two some of the animals, but couldn’t road culverts, a water pump house because the freeway was closed at Pinewood Mobile Manor as well during the fire. as fencing, shrubs and landscaping All the animals were returned to at both Google data centers, and HAL the following morning. the wooden bridge along riverfront “We’re so proud that everyone trail near Home At Last animal stepped up,” said Drynen, “(there shelter (HAL), Palmer said. were) so many people (to help) that WISHRAM — An armed The Dalles man was arrested May 31 following a pursuit and standoff with police that ended in Wishram, Wash., east of The Dalles. Brandon Fallis, 38, of The Dalles, was booked into the Klickitat County Jail for unlawful posses- sion of a firearm second degree; attempt to elude police vehicle; intimidating a public servant; malicious mischief second degree; hit and run (attended vehicle); unlawful discharge of a firearm; criminal trespass second degree; obstructing or delaying train and resisting arrest. Body of missing woman recovered Nineoutof10deathsare currentlyamongpeoplewho havenorecordofvaccination. One Community Health in Hood River to highlight the state's vacci- nation campaign, and praised the county for their high vaccination rates. "We need to be taking health care into the community, we are very close, we need to work col- laboratively like they are doing in Hood River," Brown said in a video interview with KOIN TV. "We can make this happen, we can reopen and have these COVID-19 safety requirements behind us." The governor was on hand as the clinic conducted scheduled vaccinations of youth ages 12-17, who were treated to ice cream and Mark Gibson ■ By Columbia Gorge News Traffic heading east on Interstate 84 passes Mile Post 85, still smoldering along the roadway. These trucks and cars were “parked” just west of Rowena State Park for almost an hour as the interstate was shut down due to the fire. Mark B. Gibson photo they were turning them away at the checkpoint on River Road … we are full of gratitude for it.” Drynen said HAL wanted to thank the firefighters, as well as everyone who came to assist them in their sudden evacuation. Firefighters from Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, Mosier Rural Fire District, West Side Fire Department, Klickitat County Fire Department, Parkdale Fire Department, Wy’East Fire District, Cascade Locks Fire and EMS, Hood River Fire Department, Oregon Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service were able to stop the forward progress of the fire on the evening of June 2. The fire is now fully contained. The cause of the fire is under investigation. On Thursday, crews and engines from Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, Oregon Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service continued to check for residual heat and extinguish them (mop-up op- erations) focusing on areas around the Pinewood Mobile Manner, Taylor Lake and Chenoweth Creek. Fire officials anticipated having SeeFIRE,page2 WHITE SALMON — A search and rescue team last week recov- ered a body, which is believed to be a Husum woman missing since May 24. Husum resident Ruth Elsasser, 42, had been missing since the morning of Monday, May 24, after it was believed she had gone on a hike, run, or a walk on one of the trails around her house. County prosecuting attorney and coroner David Quesnel confirmed to Columbia Gorge News that the county recovered a body last week, and that there are "reasons to believe it is the missing person out of the west side of the county," citing identifiers consis- tent with information provided to investigators, such as articles of clothing and a ring that belonged to Elsasser. By Monday morning, the family had been informed of the discov- ery. Elsasser’s sister, Amy Elsasser Morel L’Horset, shared the news of her loss on Facebook: “I am shattered. “We all grieve in different ways. I am finding the most comfort by immersing myself deeply with those who were closest to Ruth,” Elsasser Morel L’Horset said. The nursing program Elsasser worked with as an instructor, Frontier Nursing University, also shared the news of Elsasser’s passing. “Please join us in honoring the mother, wife, educator, mentor, and wonderful person she was. We give our utmost condolences to her loved ones,” Frontier Nursing University said in a statement. SeeRUTH,page3 Contact Us at 541-386-1234 541-296-2141 delivery: Subscribe@gorgenews.com news tips: News@gorgenews.com place an ad: Sales@gorgenews.com Stay connected Facebook.com/columbiagorgenews Twitter.com/gorge_news