The Dalles Main Street has decided to cancel their downtown Halloween trick-or-treat event due to social distancing precautions. If your plan was to take the kiddos to downtown fear no more, there are many other alternatives to supply your children with a fun and safe Halloween celebration! Community members of The Dalles express their dynamics of celebrating Halloween this year.

Incoming Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis said the recent Oregon Supreme Court decision that puts District Attorney Eric Nisley back in office is welcome news. It’s clear now. Nisley will hold the office until Ellis takes the reins on January 1.

Ben Chandler of Carson took his dad to a medical appointment and found himself amidst a two-vehicle accident on Seventh St. in The Dalles this morning, Monday, Sept. 28. A Red Ford SUV and a Black Honda 4-door collided when one t-boned the other as it turned into the county offices at 419 E. 7th St.

A recent newsletter mailed to some 57,000 constituents by State Representative Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, has local Debie Ferrer calling foul. Bonham maintains he did nothing wrong nor intended to circumvent house rules governing state representatives on newsletters.

Recycling has always had its struggles, and China’s “National Sword” policy, enacted in January of 2018, has continued to place more limitations on local recycling facilities. The Dalles Disposal Service Center receives between 2,500 to 3,000 pounds of recyclables a day, so where does it all go? Jim Winterbottom is the district manager of Waste Connections. He takes us over the pitfalls of recycling in our community, and how we can work together to better improve it.

On Monday, the 21st, Bill Byrum was riding his motorcycle when he took an exit going eastbound off I-84 to enter The Dalles. It was his second day riding his new bike, so he was still adjusting to it. Bill lost control and hit a car leaving him severely injured. He was taken by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland.

It’s that time of year again; the leaves have begun changing colors and the air is getting crisper. Fall is nearing and winter is to follow. Already thinking spring and the sunshine to come? Read on to learn how to best prep your garden for the winter months ahead.

The mystery of SC 6-6-79 is solved thanks to Dianne Epsy. Last occupant tells the final tale.

Happy First Day of Fall Ya'll!

Here is a video of one of our readers using a drone to clear their driveway of leaves!

Thirty cases of COVID-19 reported at Flagstone Senior Living Thirty cases of COVID-19 were reported Sunday among residents and staff at Flagstone Senior Living in The Dalles.

The driver who hit a power pole and rolled over in an SUV, was released from the hospital after being taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center by LifeFlight on Sunday, Sept. 20. He is doing well, according to his father.

Edited to include comments from NWASCO School Board Chair John Nelson on September 21st, 2020 12:00 PM

Colonel Wright Elementary School may be getting a new name! And it's about time, as many former students will tell you learning to spell “Colonel” correctly at any age is difficult. But even worse for many community members is the history attached to the name of the elementary school. For years community members have expressed discomfort over the name of the school, saying it honors a legacy of bloodshed instead of learning, growth, and community.

A slight rain on Friday in The Dalles and a steady dropping of suspended particulate matter have helped both visibility and air quality to some extent. The Air Quality Index put the Dalles at 74 this afternoon at 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 18, according to the World Air Quality Project website.Columbia Community Connection serving Wasco, Gilliam and Sherman Counties, The Dalles, Dufur, Tygh Valley, Maupin, Goldendale, Wishram, Dallesport, Lyle, White Salmon, Hood River

Pine trees make up 80% of the tree species in Sorosis Park. But sadly they soon will all be cut down. The Ips Beetle is to blame for this destruction, quickly taking over the pine trees in the park and killing all of them in a short 3-year span. Columbia Community Connection serving Wasco, Gilliam and Sherman Counties, The Dalles, Dufur, Tygh Valley, Maupin, Goldendale, Wishram, Dallesport, Lyle, White Salmon, Hood River

The Ruins: News Update from facebook and Friends

Dianne Espy informed CCC News that her friend, Steve Curtiss, was the gentleman who carved his initials into the stone foundation. Look for an updated story on Monday once we get the chance to sit down and chat with Steve. Many folks on facebook also had the following interesting facts to add about the ruins.

Overgrown and dilapidated stone buildings sit in the hills of Brewery Grade - they are at the front entrance to The Dalles when taking the Interstate 84 exit near the Sunshine Mill. What were they? Columbia Community Connection serving Wasco, Gilliam and Sherman Counties, The Dalles, Dufur, Tygh Valley, Maupin, Goldendale, Wishram, Dallesport, Lyle, White Salmon, Hood River

On Wednesday the 16th the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded $2 million in grants to improve the ecology of the Columbia River Basin. Locally, Columbia Riverkeepers received $91,991 for projects to improve water quality and fish habitat in Hood River and Wasco counties.

Lindsay LeBreton is a long-time resident of The Dalles where she lives with her husband Ryan and is raising her family. But she grew up in the small town of Estacada where her parents, Jon and Debbie Kling still reside. The ongoing heartbreak of the Oregon wildfires has recently made way into her hometown of Estacada. CCC News spoke with Lindsey regarding her family’s struggle to leave behind their home and flee to safety.

Starting to exercise or beginning a healthy meal plan can be challenging. It’s easy to slip up and go back to your old ways if you don’t have people to hold you accountable. The best way to get started is to have someone, or a group of people, who are ready and excited to start on their health journey with you.