Races for Wasco County Commissioner will soon be heating up for the May Primary. There are two seats up for grabs and five candidates running. The filing deadline is March 8. The Dufur Recreation District will also ask voters to pass a three-year $165,000 operating levy.

As a part of the strategic planning process, the North Wasco County School District has partnered with Public Consulting Group to facilitate focus groups with community members to gather input. Focus groups will begin next week, March 7th. They will be held virtually via Zoom. Learn how to join a group here.

The North Wasco County School Board will interview three candidates at a work session on Monday, March 7, and could appoint a new board member to fill the position of Rebecca Thistlethwaite, who departed in January. Read about each candidate here.

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 Ukraine Food, Warrant, Winger, Outer Orbit, Bridgid’s Crossing, Chasing Ebenezer, Reddy Black Trio, Kenny O3, Albert Nicholas, Gary Pryor, Animal Planet, Pigs on The Wing, Take 3, Big Rap Show, Gorge Music Fest.

The Dalles boys basketball team will be playing in the first round of the playoffs this Friday, March 4th at 6 p.m. in Eugene against 2nd seed Churchill Lancers. The last time the Hawks played in the playoffs, they lost in the first round to the first seed Lancers.

Laura Matzer has education and leadership experience in cultural and art museums in the United States and the Middle East. Her work has included the Oman Botanic Garden’s opening. Matzer also led in the development and opening of high-profile museums for Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi.

Get the highlights from the recent March 2nd, 2022 Wasco County Commission Meeting.

While facility improvements could eventually enter the conversation, the School District on Tuesday began a holistic approach to gather information and find what is needed to provide a good education to local students. And it’s waiting for input from the community to guide those decisions.

Both Shilla Kim and our Ukrainian contact are on edge as the imminent strikes of Russia threaten to harm family and friends, and Vladamir Putin appears to have politically gambled much on the success of this war.

Smoke Wring BBQ at 801 E. 2nd St., The Dalles is looking to sauce things up a bit as partners in the business are in the process of developing a food cart pod at the sight.

On March 9, 2022, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. the City of The Dalles will host a virtual community town hall to share highlights from The Dalles Vision 2040 community survey and invite public input to help refine and prioritize initial vision ideas.

The Dufur School District has been awarded a $125,000 revitalization grant from the Oregon Department of Education to further enhance and develop their career and technical education (CTE) training program for the students of Dufur School, Ranger TECH.

What investments should The Dalles make to ensure that we turn out well-rounded critical thinkers who can see a career path to ensure their employment and purpose? D21 is set to find out on March 1 at a strategic planning meeting set for 6:30 p.m. CCCNews.com, Columbia Community Connection

Get a sneak peek at the upcoming Wasco County Commission Meeting without having to read through 62 pages of agendas and board packets. The Wasco County Commissioners Meeting will hold their regularly scheduled meeting at 9 a.m. on March 2nd, 2022.

This week’s question of the week is a timely question that asks us how we handle conflict and how resolving conflict can bring us closer together.

North Wasco County School District is pleased to announce the selection of Sandra Harris as the next Human Resources Director for the District. Harris, who has been serving as the Principal at The Dalles Middle School since 2015, will take the reins on her new role this coming July.

New members of North Central Public Health District’s board of health include a former county commissioner from The Dalles, a former head of emergency services in Sherman County, and a retired science teacher who lives in Maupin.

Oregon will lift mask requirements for indoor public places and Oregon’s schools on March 19, Oregon Health Authority announced today. Feedback from school districts around the state indicated that preparations for the transition could be completed earlier.

The Columbia Gorge Community College Board of Education seeks interested district electors in Hood River and Wasco Counties for consideration to be appointed to a three-year term as a Budget Committee member.