Election Day: Will TD stay old school?
Randy Anderson, Dan Boldt, and Finnish Exchange student Lahja Laaksonen of Turku were ready to take ballots at the drive through on Fifth Street next to the Wasco County Courthouse this morning.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., Nov. 7, 2023 - Things were pretty quiet this morning at The Wasco County Courthouse.
It’s election day. And the fate of a new high school in The Dalles hangs in the balance.
Voters are being asked to approve a 30-year, $140 million bond to construct a new high school on the southeast corner of the Wahtonka High School Campus.
If the measure gets a majority, the new high school could open as soon as 2027. It would replace the current high school which is in its 82nd year. The bond will also pay for renovoations to the original high school, which would then house district offices and possibly other education-related agencies.
This morning, The Dalles Rotary Club was ready to accept drive-up ballots before the polls close at 8 p.m. tonight.
A jovial Dan Boldt, and Randy Anderson worked the booth with Finnish Exchange student Lahja Laaksonen of Turku taking ballots.
But traffic was slow, to say the least.
“We’re here ‘til 8, so come and vote,” Anderson said.
Maybe voters are spent.
“At the end of Monday, Nov. 6, we have received 5581 ballots back from our 14,624 eligible voters for a 38.16% participation rate,” reported Wasco County Chief Deputy Clerk Chrissy Zaugg. “Returns have slowed a little, at this time. In the 2022 General Election, we were at a 45.21% turnout. We're curious to see what the returns are like on Tuesday with Rotary.”
“Our office is open until 8 pm tonight, including through lunch hour. The Dalles Rotary is hosting our Drive-Thru Ballot drop-off service on 5th Street in front of the Wasco County Courthouse until 8 pm.
Ballots must be dropped in an official drop box no later than 8 pm today. If you choose to mail your ballot, please ask the post office for a hand cancellation stamp to ensure a valid postmark,” she said.
If you have questions, call 541-506-2530 or stop by our office at the Courthouse, Room 201.
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