Newsbriefs

Port

moves

ahead with

project

Grant County Port District 7 has advised its engineering firm, USKH of Spokane, to proceed with the bid specifications for its new dump truck/snow plow and a 30x40 foot building to house it in. Port commissioners stated that they expect an advertisement for bids in mid-August. The $290,000-plus project is being funded by the Federal Aviation Administration and the State Department of Transportation (airports). The port will pay about 5% of the total cost of the project.

Man

pleads

not guilty

An Electric City pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned July 22 on multiple charges, including second-degree rape. Grant County Prosecutor Angus Lee said initially that bail for Michael Berry, 29, was set at $75,000, but then was reduced to $50,000. Other charges pending include unlawful imprisonment, interfering with the reporting of domestic violence and obstructing justice. Berry was still being held on Monday. The incident allegedly occurred July 14.

Smoke

from

wildfires

hazing up area

Forest Service firefighters are fighting four fires ignited as a result of a lightning storm on July 28. All four fires are in the upper portion of the Lake Chelan Ranger District. The largest of the four blazes is the Moore Point fire located about seven miles southeast of Stehekin. An estimated 40-50 acres was burning Tuesday morning.

Near Wenatchee, the Colockum Tarps fire has burned 66 square miles and burned five homes.

The Mile Marker 28 fire outside of Goldendale in Klickitat County has burned for more than a week, scorching 35 square miles.

Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark has banned all outdoor fires on lands protected by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

Hot and dry conditions have made the potential for wildfire unusually high on both sides of the Cascade Mountains. Significant demands are being placed upon fire suppression resources from both regional and statewide firefighting efforts. This ban is now in effect through Sept. 30 and prohibits campfires in developed campgrounds and other recreational fires. The ban also prohibits prescribed burns.