Responsibly caring for your fall yard debris can lead to improved City safety and better soil quality!

It started to drizzle as the varsity girls were at the starting line of the Valiant Invitational. Striding out, jogging back: palms upheld to test their suspicion. “Rain makes you faster,” I told them as they peeled off sweats and checked the knots on their shoelaces.

Columbia Community Connection is Thrilled to present the 2021 Halloween Event Roundup! Think of it as a One Stop Trick or Treat for All Things Halloween, whether you’re a Ghost, Ghoul, or Goblin.

It looks fairly unanimous as The Dalles City Council is leaning heavily in favor of a deal to abate taxes for two new Google data centers. They are slated to decide on Monday night. Economist David Swensen differs in opinion when it comes to the overall benefit a data center brings to a community.

On October 23rd, Chelan Harkin will have her first-ever in-person poetry reading and book signing event to celebrate the release of her second mystic poetry book “Let Us Dance! The Stumble and Whirl With the Beloved”.

The Howards Haven Animal Sanctuary will host its 4th annual Pumpkin Patch event on October 23rd and 24th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 37 Monogan Howard Rd in Lyle. The event is free to attend although donations to the animal sanctuary are encouraged.

The Dalles High School Varsity Soccer Team is in the hunt for a playoff berth as the teaming is starting to jell and getting outstanding play from Freshman phenom Hulises Najera. The team needs to beat Redmond on Tuesday, Oct. 26, to punch their ticket for the playoffs.

Total Wasco County Property Tax Assessments increased $1.2 million when compared to the 20-21 tax season, according to the latest report from the Assessor’s Office. Real market values continue to trend upward for most residential properties in Wasco County. Many commercial properties saw a correction and downturn in real property values.

With this grant, Advanced Manufacturing students now have a welding jacket, angle grinder, a ball-peen hammer, vice grips and clamps. Construction Technology students receive a hardhat, headlamp and other safety equipment they’ll need for class and job site. Plus, all the students receive $160 to purchase work boots.

An agreement to cut property taxes nearly in half for two new Google data centers jumped its first hurdle on Wednesday, Oct. 20 when Wasco County Commissioners unanimously approved it at their regular meeting at 2 p.m.

TD Riverhawk Sports Notes by Billy Brost - Oct. 19 Athletic Director Billy Brost gives us a rundown on all things Riverhawk Athletics. On Saturday, Oct. 16, our competition and defending state champion cheer program went to Sherwood, and came home with a HUGE win in their 5A Large Division for Gameday Championships. Volleyball, Cross Country and Soccer are in action Thursday, Oct. 21.

If you put your ear to the floor of The Dalles Civic Auditorium, maybe you can hear those footsteps. Hundreds of thousands, maybe millions. So, it brought Steve Lawrence great joy this week to show off the place. He and hundreds of others are realizing the completion of its renovation that started 30 plus years ago.

Wasco County Commissioners are set to consider a deal on Wednesday, October 20, to abate some $147 million in taxes on two new Google data plants. Ultimately, the question is do local leaders believe the taxes and fees set against Google will be enough for the community good. Will they give as much as they take in community resources?

The Centennial Celebration took place in the Civic Auditorium’s ballroom, where local Kiwanis held their first charter presentation over 100 years ago.

Columbia River Gorge Quilters’ Guild announces the winners of its annual quilt show. Quilters from around the gorge brought their best work from their sewing tables for judging this year.

When it comes to live music, Jim Drake can get you plugged in. Our local columnist for entertainment Gorge-wide has a good sampling of coming shows and events, including Katie Pearlman, Cornhole, Chicken $#it Gamblers, Al Hare, Dead Lee, Night Harvest, Sasquatch, Thunder Island, Discovery Center

If you have not had the chance to check out the new dormitory at The Dalles Columbia Gorge Community College, you should. It’s pretty cool.

The Dalles Riverhawks football team played against the Ridgeview Ravens last night in Redmond at 7 PM. It was the 6th game of the season for the Hawks and they, unfortunately lost 49-12.

Brad Johnson, Justin Riede and Pete McKearnan, above, are burning the midnight oil tonight, Oct. 15 as they paint a rodeo queen at the Oregon Motor Motel at 200 E. Second Street, The Dalles.