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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 2015)
A2 Hood River News, Wednesday, January 14, 2015 G REATER G ORGE Crash into Columbia River near Arlington prompts spill clean-up On Jan. 5, at approxi- mately 6 a.m., Oregon State Patrol troopers from The Dalles Area Command were dispatched to Interstate 84 approximately 10 miles east of Arlington to check on a male subject who was re- ported to be walking down the middle of the freeway. The area was checked, but no one was located. Several hours later, OSP dispatch received a report of a car in the water near the same location. Respond- ing troopers located a white, 1997 Chevrolet Blaz- er, submerged in the waters of Willow Creek along the westbound lanes of I-84 near milepost 148. A check of the vehicle found no one was inside, however, oil and gas leaking from the vehicle resulted in a slick covering approxi- mately 300 feet of the Wil- low Creek Waterway. An OSP Fish & Wildlife trooper specializing in the investi- gation of environmental in- cidents responded to assist with the investigation. A team from NRC Environ- mental Services also re- sponded and contained the fluid spill to prevent further contamination before the vehicle was removed. Emergency and environ- mental cleanup crews were Photo courtesy of OSP A CHEVY BLAZER was found submerged in the waters of Willow Creek along the westbound lanes of I-84 near milepost 148 by OSP troopers last week. The wrecked vehicle leaked oil and gas that cre- ated a 300-foot slick before the spill could be contained. on scene for approximately seven hours investigating the crash and clearing the scene. OSP was assisted at the scene by the Oregon De- partment of Transportation and the Gilliam County Sheriff ’s Office. New management plan for Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a new management plan for C o n b o y L a ke N a t i o n a l Wildlife Refuge. This new plan, known within the agency as a comprehensive c o n s e r vat i o n p l a n , w i l l guide management of the refuge for at least the next 15 years. The new plan calls for a variety of management ac- tions, ranging from wetland habitat improvement for threatened Oregon spotted frogs to tree thinning for improved forest habitat. In- frastructure for water man- agement and control of in- vasive wetland plants will provide better breeding and wintering conditions for frogs. Active creation of snags from living trees will Time to renew burn permits As of Jan. 1, all burning permits issued by Oregon Department of Forestry in the 2014 calendar year have expired. ODF requires a burn per- mit year-round for all burn barrels and debris piles. People who want to renew a permit or did not get a permit last year and would like one, can make a request via phone, e-mail, fax, or regular mail. If you live within the boundary of Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, Mosier Fire District, or any Hood River County rural or city fire department, you must obtain a permit through the agency. All per mits issued by these entities will be accept- ed by ODF. Although winter weather reduces the risk of fire spread through wildland fuels, ODF says special cau- tion still needs to be taken around structures and other combustible materi- als. Residents may be held li- able for suppression costs associated with a fire on their property. For that reason, they are asked to read, understand, and follow all of the infor- mation they receive with your permit. And consider alter natives to bur ning, such as composting or tak- ing yard debris to thelocal transfer station. Most sites take yard de- bris for a small price and some offer free drop off dates during certain times of the year. To submit a permit request online, or for more informa- tion visit ODF’s website at http://www.oregon.gov/ODF /centraloregon. provide food sources and nesting sites for woodpeck- ers and other birds that rely on dead standing trees. For visitors, the popular Willard Springs Trail will be realigned, lengthened and given a new interpre- tive emphasis. New inter- pretive exhibits will be in- stalled at the refuge head- quar ters and along the Willard Springs Trail, the Observation Overlook and the Whitcomb-Cole Hewn L o g H o u s e. A d d i t i o n a l areas will be opened to the public for recreation.5 SDS Lumber Company Local Sales Outlet Visit Our Website www.sdslumber.com #2 & Btr, KD, DF, S4SEE 2x4 – 6' thru 16' • 2x6 – 6' thru 20' • 4x4 – 8' treated posts • 4x4 – 8', 10' posts • Tonkin buys Bob Stone Dealership The Ron Tonkin Family of Dealerships, which has served Portland for half a century, recently acquired Bob Stone Freeway Auto Center in The Dalles. The business at 2222 W. Sixth Street will be known as Tonkin Subaru & Tonkin Chevrolet Buick GMC. “Bob Stone’s Freeway Autocenter is built on long- standing community-mind- ed values,” commented Ed Tonkin, co-president of the Portland-based company. “As both dealers and com- munity members, we per- sonally look forward to con- tinuing this dealership’s ac- tive involvement within this outstanding region.” Stone’s has been provid- ing a selection of Subaru, Chevrolet, GMC and Buick vehicles to customers from The Dalles, as well as the surrounding Columbia Hearing on subdivision Wednesday A public hearing regarding a subdivision proposed for the west side of Hood River will be held Wednesday. Kristi Chapman has made an application to the Hood River County Planning De- partment for an eight-lot sub- division for single-family dwellings refer red to as Alpenglow Meadow. The de- velopment is to be located on the east side of Country Club Road approximately half mile north of Barrett Drive on a 19.55-acre parcel zoned rural residential. The hearing will take place Wednesday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m. in the Hood River County Board of Commissioners meeting room located in the County Business Administration Building at 601 State Street, Hood River. For more information, call Eric Walker, principal plan- ner, at 541-387-6840. Gorge area since 2000. The business was honored in 2007 for being the “Best Place in America” to buy a Subaru. Additionally, in 2012, Stone was the first dealer- ship in Oregon to earn Sub- aru Stellar Care Award sta- tus, which was given to the dealership again in 2013 and 2014. “I have known the Tonkin family for 15 years,” said Stone. “I truly believe the Tonkins are a wonder- ful family, company and or- ganization, and it’s ab- solutely my pleasure to turn over the ownership of this dealership to the Tonk- ins.” Ron Tonkin, founder of the family dealership, claims he was born with gas in his veins. Because of that passion, the company has been providing Port- land families with cars and trucks for more than 50 years. Ron started the car busi- ness in 1960 with one Chevy store and the Tonkin family now owns 18 auto dealer- ships and one exotic Italian motorcycle store. Brands sold include Acura, Audi, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ferrari, FIAT, Honda Hyundai, In- finiti, KIA, Lotus, Maserati, Mazda, Nissan, Scion, Sub- aru and Toyota, along with Aprilia, Ducati, and MV Agusta. Today, the Tonkin Family of Dealerships is Oregon’s 17th largest private employ- er and was voted one of the “Best 100 companies in Ore- gon to Work For.” Three generations of family members are in- volved in the daily opera- tion and management of the company. Making Memories Last a Lifetime ... 0% INTEREST PAYMENTS SEE STORE FOR DETAILS 503 E 2ND ST • THE DALLES 541-397-0253 H o o d R i v e r R o t a r y & M t . H o o d M e a d o w s PLYWOOD WE CARRY STOVE PELLETS STUDS www.hoodrivernews.com 3/8" thru 3/4" • CDX, ACX, T&G & SANDED PANELS • • LANDSCAPE MATERIALS Bark Dust • ¾-Gravel •Yard Mulch • Chips Sawdust • Shavings • Railroad Ties Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Located at SDS Lumber Co. • Bingen,WA • ( 509 ) 493-2751 WEEKLY SUDOKU This week’s Sudoku presented by: Y OUR B USINESS N AME Answers on Page A8 R o t a r y S k i N i g h t J a n . 1 9 t h M L K I n S e r v i c e D a y 2 - 9 p . m . $15 in advance $20 day of Fill in all 81 squares on the puzzle with numbers 1 to 9. You can use each number 1-9 only once in each nine square section, in each horizontal line of nine squares, and in each vertical column of nine squares. The puzzle is completed when you correctly fill every square. Advertise Your Business or Service Here call 541-386-1234 Fundraiser for Local Scholarships & Community Needs visit https://www.skihood.com/rotary-night