PORTLAND, Ore. - One of four barges being transported by a tugboat through the Columbia River ran aground near the mouth of the Hood River in Oregon Thursday.
Coast Guard Sector Portland received a report of the grounding from the crew of the Tidewater tug Chief at 3:48 a.m.  The crew of the tug was transporting four barges through the river when the barge ran aground.  Of the four barges being transported, three are empty, while the fourth is laden with gasoline.
Sector Portland has dispatched an incident management team and an investigation and inspection team to check for possible pollution and to determine the cause of the grounding.  The Tidewater tug Ruth is en-route to the area to assist with removing the barge.
There is no report of any sheening/pollution from the barge at this time.

OLYMPIA - Washington drivers are spending less time stuck in traffic despite growing vehicle volumes during peak commute periods in urban areas, according to a national study released to news media today. WSDOT's own data crunchers attribute the trend to the declining economy, but contend that smart transportation investments and operational strategies are what will keep travel times reasonable well after the economy recovers.  

The 2009 Urban Mobility Report, a national study released today by the Texas Transportation Institute, announces that congestion is declining or leveling off across the country, and attributes the cause to rising gas prices and the declining economy. WSDOT agrees that commutes are improving, but draws other conclusions as to the cause.

OLYMPIA - Jason Bodine, a first-year law enforcement officer for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), was honored today by the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington. After participating in a successful all-night search to locate two equestrians lost in Capitol State Forest on June 14-15, Bodine helped rescue one of the rider's horses which had become trapped in a ravine after falling down a steep hillside.

"There is nothing in Officer Bodine's job description that requires him to go down a mountainside and into a hole with a chainsaw to cut through brush and downed logs to get a trapped horse out, but he did, and we are all grateful," said Darrell Wallace, vice president of the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington.

ASTORIA, Ore. - The Coast Guard rescued a 19-year-old man from a cliff on Humbug Mountain near Port Orford, Ore., Tuesday.

Coast Guard Group/Air Station North Bend, Ore., received a call from the Curry County Sherriff's Department at approximately 6:20 p.m. requesting assistance for a Klamath Falls resident was trapped on a cliff face after injuring his arm while climbing.  An HH-65 helicopter crew was dispatched to the scene where they were able to hoist the man into the helicopter and deposit him safely on the beach where he was met by members of the sheriff's department and taken to Curry County General Hospital by a waiting emergency medical team.

Representative Lynn Kesler is inviting Grays Harbor residents to a Community Meeting to discuss "What's next for Lake Sylvia State Park? Your turn." Wednesday evening at the Montesano City Hall, from 6 pm until 7:30 residents will be able to offer their ideas and opinions on the state park recently saved by the 5$ opt-out car licensing fee, along with nearly 40 others that were on a state chopping block this budget cycle.

The WeLuvLakeSilvia group reports:

Remember when Lake Sylvia State Park was going to be closed?  Remember when we wrote to Rep. Lynn Kessler and promised we'd "do anything" to keep it open?  Now is our chance to show Rep. Kessler just how serious we are about our Park!  She will be directing the meeting, will answer our questions and will expect us to offer our time to help.