Tony’s Town & Country may be gone. But the legends live on, and Tony Foote is in the center of them. Foote found customer service in wheeling and dealing and creating a little action around everything he did. Would he be sorry if the store is eventually leveled. Nah, he had his time.

Clyde Rosa and Barry Springer move a table outside at Mama Janes this afternoon, Thursday, April 29. A high-risk rating for COVID-19 in Wasco County triggered the elimination of indoor dining starting tomorrow, Friday, April 30.

The new light poles will be installed from Second and Webber streets - near Casa El Mirador restaurant - to the I-84 on-ramp to provide drivers better visibility at night.

North Central Public Health Officer Miriam McDonell announced this morning that Wasco County will move to the high-risk level for COVID-19, requiring restaurants and health facilities to reduce capacities for indoor dining and activities.

CMH Construction owner Cliff Hill said on Wednesday that a brisk construction market was keeping him and his crew busy, but he wondered if the surge in demand was sustainable. Lumber and other materials are also skyrocketing in cost with demand and supply-chain slowdown.

A third surge of COVID-19 cases has begun in Wasco County, threatening to curtail gatherings, in-door dining and shopping, among other group activities, according to local health officials.

The westbound lane of Second Street is closed and vehicles were detoured onto Cherry Heights Road at The Dalles Skatepark this morning, Tuesday, April 13. Businesses such as Point S and Columbia Gorge Affordable Homes can still be reached by driving east from Webber Street.

Major change for The Mid Columbia and especially The Dalles are on the horizon if data centers and power infrastructure push ahead in this era of big projects, coupled with the demand to reduce carbon and stabilize the electrical grid and ultimately save the planet.

Good Jobs await skilled workers. Thus CGCC has put together an advanced manufacturing class for this summer. Students will learn blueprint reading, manufacturing processes, technical mathematics, tube and pipe fabrication and repair, stainless steel welding, design processes, aluminum welding, sheet metal fabrication, basic machining practices. Learn more here.

The Dalles City Hall reopening and making certain hours available starting Monday, April 5.

Dirth Hugger composting has expanded again. And they’re not gassing us. They are actually eliminating 55,000 tons of green waste from being dumped at local landfills. If not diverted, that much tonnage could produce massive amounts of methane, a significant contributor to greenhouse gasses. Methane is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide, according to the EPA.

Columnist Robin Allen dives deep this week with Jennifer Phipps, founder + owner of Satori in downtown The Dalles. ‘Not only did we talk about how she is crushing it as a business woman of color in a small community, but she also shared how her business was able to survive 2020 as well as revealing the key secrets to her growing success.’

Urban Renewal is bent on creating nice spaces downtown The Dalles in an effort to rev up the local economy through increased tourism and trade. But do they need to teardown Tony’s Town and Country at 401 E. 2nd St. to get it done? Read more here.

Contractors worked on the Oregon Cherry Grower’s new site for a warehouse and transfer station at the corner of Three Mile and Steele Roads in east The Dalles this morning, Wednesday, March 24. The site is intended to improve the efficiency in transferring cherries once harvest gets underway in months to come.

Vision can determine a lot - like a child’s ability to read or develop well-coordinated movement. Dr. Janessa Hartman has opened Sunflower Vision Care, offering therapies to children experiencing difficulties in overall development, including posture, movement, balance and behavior, as well as drawing, reading and learning. Learn more here.

RBR Construction out of Hood River was getting trusses in place and finishing the framing on this duplex on the 2600 block of 14th St. this afternoon, March 18. The company is quickly adding housing stock to The Dalles. Read more here.

From Fair Planet Advisors: Turns out what’s good for the planet and society also makes for a good investment. Evidence that business strategy focused on material Environmental, Social and Governance issues is synonymous with high-quality management teams and improved returns. Learn more about it here.

THE DALLES, OR — Offering empowerment through education, the Columbia Basin Care Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for students pursuing healthcare careers.

The $2,500 scholarships support health-related studies in a variety of areas, such as nursing, food and nutrition, public health, social services, and more.

“Orchard View looks for premium flavor, size and harvest timing to create a seamless supply of top quality cherries,” commented David Ortega. “We are continually looking for innovative ways to enhance our consumers’ experience, which is why we are excited to participate in the Cherry Quality Summit.”

Steve Delaere of Grandview Builders in Hood River is requesting approval to partition one 12,480 SF parcel into three parcels of 4,260 SF, 3,600 SF, and 4,620 SF respectively for three townhouses on Old Dufur Road in The Dalles. Read more.