“I think my advice is, ‘don’t be afraid to just try.’ It’s the same advice I’d give my kids. There’s no harm in pursuing these things because you never know what’s going to click and really resonate with you. Whether it’s a male-dominated field or not, I feel like that’s been my mantra about a lot of things; you might absolutely hate something, but you might just really love it.”

New Urban Renewal grants intend to kickstart the economy, redevelop buildings and add jobs to the central business core in The Dalles. Grants range from $10,000 to $700,000 depending on the project. Property owners are required to match from 30 to 50 percent. “There some real energy coming to downtown and it’s really exciting,” said Renewal Chair Darcy Long.

The stabilization work has been ongoing since 2015 in an effort to prevent the embankment to the north of Scenic Drive road from falling. Stabilization Improvements to an approximate 1/4 mile segment of between Jefferson Street/Terrace Drive and Esther Way are mostly complete. Project Engineer Mike Bosse said the latest phase will be completed by the end of October in four areas in the ¼ mile stretch with four different sections measuring, 110, 45, 40, and 70 feet.

Country Insurance and Arturos Jewelry Repair as well as multiple other shop spaces near Sahara Pizza in The Dalles were destroyed in a heavy blaze that started around 1 p.m. this morning, May 11. It was the second fire at the location in the past 3 and a half months.

Just a fledgling business some 12 years ago, Dirt Hugger now boasts 32 employees, a retail and industrial site, and it is pulling 55,000 tons of green waste from local landfills, providing major reductions in the greenhouse gas emissions through a reduction in methane in the Gorge. If you’re not buying their products, maybe, you should be.

Samantha Wageman and Tavita Seufalemua had nine lives and then some when it came to the egg they were tossing on Monday, May 9th. The pair pulled off some miraculous bounces and epic rolls to the roar of a crowd that celebrated them as much as each other during National Skilled Nursing Care Week.

More than 30 downtown businesses in The Dalles are pairing up with food and beverage businesses tonight, May 6, to bring locals a Taste of the Gorge. Beer, wine, meats, cheese, guitars and even hat contests are on tap as TD comes alive for First Friday in its second rendition. Grab your appetite and a lust for fun. And see you there!

KIWANIS PROGRAMS: Kiwanis meetings are held every Thursday at noon at Spooky’s and visitors are welcome. This week’s events include:

PowderPures’ Will Parkki told Councilors that COVID and labor shortages had led the plant to operate at 28 percent capacity. The Company has turned over 34 employees in the last year. He also pointed out that the company currently offers $26.44 an hour and offers 401k matching, dental and health benefits.

TD Councilors will look at community fee disbursements, tax abatements for PowderPure, Code Enforcement, green-lighting a contract for Dog River Pipe Replacements and will also hold an executive session to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection.

Julien Whitney, 23, of Yakama was up and at ‘em this morning, April 21, setting the stage for Rainier Amusements carnival on First Street downtown The Dalles. The carnival will be running Friday through Sunday for Cherry Fest.

Vegetable and nut oils brought fierce flames at the Azure Standard warehouse and main office in Dufur on Monday, April 18th, when the building caught on fire for reasons that are yet unknown.

Katie McCloud of The Dalles is shining on the Oregon North Coast. She was recently awarded for her outstanding social media campaign. McCloud spent a decade working in The Dalles and parlayed her experience and skill set from The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce to come up with a Rise To The Challenge campaign in Seaside that was recognized statewide.

Everything in life is vibration…Everything is energy and that's all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality.” - Albert Einstein

TD City Council approved $500,000 in funding for houseless navigation center, $400,000 for Sorosis Park, purchased property to provide infrastructure and additional land for housing, heard the first presentation on an Expanded Chamber Marketing contract and landed a deal with it’s new City Manager.

The grant will enable faculty support for the Medical Assisting program. It supports the college’s plans to offer nursing students a part-time option, creating a three-year program in addition to the current two-year program. And it will jumpstart the college’s development of paramedic and EMT training.

Bees have returned to the orchards around The Dalles after a historic snowfall on Monday, April 11. Orchard View Farm’s Mike Omeg was right. They’re showing up for work.

Sal Reyes, 35, of The Dalles cuts through an 8” x 6” beam this morning in the Port of The Dalles. The Framer was working on the RBR Construction’s fourplex. Rain, Schmain. Reyes kept on working. Weather prognosticators are calling for more rain through the weekend with temps never jumping out of the 50s.

Conservation District is ready to unveil Farm Tool Library in White Salmon on April 20, just in time for Earth Day. The collection of tools will be loaned out to spur small-scale agriculture in the local area.