Columbia Community Connection was established in 2020 as a local, honest and digital news source providing meaningful stories and articles. CCC News’ primary goal is to inform and elevate all the residents and businesses of the Mid-Columbia Region. A rising tide lifts all boats, hop in!
All in Environment
Columbia Gorge Community College was just selected to receive a $1.97 million Department of Energy grant to develop a dedicated additive manufacturing training space, curriculum, and manufacturer assistance program that will promote sustainable manufacturing and material efficiency to the area's small and medium-sized manufacturers
An infusion of $10 million federal dollars will go toward constructing showers, fish cleaning stations, clean drinking water, and sanitary sewer systems at Indian fishing sites along the Columbia River after a massive collaborative effort that was buoyed by the bipartisan infrastructure bill.
Linda & Kenny McMurry deliver a knock out with their home on 11th Street in The Dalles. The stunner has put a few heads on a swivel as this botanical beauty recently landed a solid punch of color and captured the coveted Beautification Award for September.
Some are furious over the $14-million Larch Creek Fire that put residents and their stock in peril and burned thousands of acres of property. Yet the man who allegedly caused the blaze is out of jail on bail and is not likely to do much jail time.
As of July 25, more than 1 million acres are estimated to have burned in Oregon as megafires at more than 100,000 acres are burning in three locations in the eastern part of the state.
There is no quit in Hood River legend Peggy Lalor. The Gorge Games founder has fought her way back from a near-death experience when she was hit by a car while riding her bike in Calgary in 2010. The physical challenges of recovery seem to have made her even more steadfast as she pushes forward on her goal of improving the planet.
Wasco County Commissioners declared April 2- 8, 2024 as dark sky week in Wasco County, in honor of International Dark Sky Week. The proclamation calls Oregon’s dark skies a “significant natural resource” and draws attention to the importance of mitigating light pollution.
“Who is Dolores Huerta? One of the most important, yet least known activists of our time.” —PBS.org.
The Columbia Gorge Food Security Coalition sold out a free community screening of “Dolores”, an inspiring documentary that explores the life and legacy of Latina community organizer, labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta on Thursday, Feb. 29.
ODFW’s recreation report shows steelhead being caught on the Hood River and also announced initial dates for the Columbia River Spring Chinook season.
The March 17 deadline to enter your best photos into Friends of The Gorge’s ninth annual photo contest, "GorgeGram: Framed in Beauty," is quickly approaching!
After years of negotiations and a decades long court battle over dam operations, a historic partnership agreement has been signed by President Joe Biden, the Governors of Washington and Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Yakama, Umatilla, and Nez Perce, to restore wild salmon populations, expand clean energy production, and reinforce the economic benefits of the Columbia River system.
“Give for the Gorge was created to help ensure that the Columbia River Gorge and its communities are preserved for future generations of visitors and residents,” said founder and project manager, Sandi Scheinberg. “It will provide a much-needed, ongoing source of funding to eight incredible Gorge-area nonprofits focused on the three areas of greatest need in the Gorge: housing, food security and the environment.”
Artists are invited to compete in one or all three of ODFW's 2025 stamp art competitions. The winning artist in each contest receives a $2,000 award and winning artwork is used to produce collector's stamps and other promotional items with sale proceeds benefitting Oregon's fish, wildlife, and their habitats.
The first class series in the Seed to Supper gardening classes begin this week on Feb. 22 in Sherman County! Seed to Supper is a free, comprehensive beginning vegetable gardening curriculum designed for adults gardening on a budget. The course highlights practical, low-cost techniques for building, planning, planting, maintaining and harvesting a successful vegetable garden.
The Thunder Island pedestrian bridge that spans the historic lock channel at the Cascade Locks Marina will be closed to public access for several weeks while crews make repairs to the damage caused by the Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge excursion vessel breaking free of its moorings in high winds and blizzard conditions on January 13, 2024.
Friends of the Columbia Gorge in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service is moving forward on their plans to build a new trail that would connect the communities of Mosier and The Dalles.
Winter can bring some unusual birds to your bird feeders! Have you seen any of these birds this winter?
As Hurricane Hilary alters atmospheric conditions, residents of various Gorge regions are urged to remain cautious and vigilant due to the impending influx of smoke from Canadian wildfires. The National Weather Service has forecasted "areas of smoke" across the Gorge until Sunday night, with relief expected as winds change direction on Monday.
The Put the Scenic Back in Sorosis fundraiser led by Annette Beyers, has successfully raised over $200,000, of their $347,000 fundraising goal. With less than a month left in the fundraiser, the park still needs to raise some $142-$147k to push phase sne of the park's rehabilitation project over the finish line.
