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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
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