The City of Maupin and more specifically several rafting guides from competing rafting companies will be featured in a new series on Discovery Plus, slated to air on Wednesday, March 30. And it looks raucous from the trailer. Check it out here.

“Oh!” exclaimed Karen Murphy, laughing, when I asked her what her and Steve Murray are planting this year. “How much time do you have?”

On March 25th, 2022 protesters gathered in Hood River, OR, and cities across the world to denounce government inaction on fighting climate change. The protests were inspired by Fridays for Future, a youth lead environmentalist movement founded by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. The Hood River protest was led, in part, by several youth activists who said they wanted to do something “other than tweet and retweet” about climate change.

“We recognize that food insecurity is a big issue in our town and we’re more than happy to do our part to help alleviate that in any way we can,” said Rachel Carter, Marketing Coordinator for Columbia Gorge Toyota.

Gorge robotics students from The Dalles took top honors at the Oregon State VEX Robotics Championships recently and will advance to the World Finals in Dallas, Texas, May 5-7.

The Gorge Youth Mentoring program at The Next Door has persevered through the pandemic and is changing youths lives for the better.

CyberMind Gaming is exactly what it sounds like… a haven for PC gamers from around the Gorge. “I wanted to have a safe place where my kids, and other youth in our community can play games together, have fun, and stay out of trouble,” said Tyler Smith, Owner.

The Dalles City Council officially hired Matthew Klebes as the new City Manager of The Dalles this evening, March 23.
Klebes, who is the current Wasco County Administrative Services Director, will start with the City on May 16.

Wasco County, the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, and the Link Public Transit will present recommendations and future opportunities for public transportation in Wasco County through an on-line open house March 28th – April 8th.

Downtown The Dalles will be "Alive after Five" with multiple businesses partnering and hosting local makers and artisans in their spaces for. "Love Where You Live" is the theme for the first scheduled "1st Friday" in Downtown The Dalles. This ongoing event kicks off on April 1st from 5p.m.-8p.m.

Coming shows and events at The Ruins, Granada, Last Stop Saloon, Zim’s, Route 30, TD Civic Auditorium, Riverside Community Church, Mosier Company, Working Hands Beer, Everybody’s Brewing, Grateful Vineyard, TD Wasco County Library, TD Eagles, The Pines, TD First Friday.

Ryan Christopher Manciu, 44, of The Dalles was indicted on March 17, on five counts of second-degree sex abuse that allegedly occurred between Feb. 1 and March 13 of 2022 in Wasco County, according to Wasco County Court Records.

“In order to best understand how to address houselessness we need to have solid data that assists with our decision-making,” said Kenny LaPoint, Executive Director of Mid Columbia Community Action Council. “We are grateful for the many partners and community volunteers who came together to make the 2022 Count a success.”

Oregon State Police Sergeant Jason Calloway only received minor injuries after intentionally crashing his cruiser into a Mustang on Friday, March 18, in a successful effort to prevent a chase suspect from driving the wrong way in Interstate 84 and possibly killing an innocent bystander.

“I went from making fifty grand plus a year and taking care of my kids just fine, to having nothing,” said Jaime Gehrig, a guest at Mid-Columbia Community Action Council shelter in The Dalles. In 2018 Jaime got sick, lost her leg and her ability to work. Then, last October, doctors told Jaime she had one year to live. But she’s still kicking. And thanks to MCCAC she’s getting connected to the services she needs to move forward.

Recycling cans and bottles may not be the most glamorous work. Especially when you lift a garbage bag full into a truck and the accumulated liquid of old beer soda, and who knows what, leaks down your arm or hits you in the face. But, darn, if it doesn’t pay well for our furry friends

The Wasco County Commissioners Meeting held their regularly scheduled meeting at 9 a.m. on March 16th, 2022. Highlights from the meeting included a presentation by Mid-Columbia Community Action Council on rates of houselessness in Wasco County, and public comments on MCACC’s Navigation Center.

The Dalles City Council authorized Mayor Rich Mays and City Attorney Jonathan Kara to offer the city manager job to the Council’s top candidate and enter into an employment contract with that candidate during a short open meeting on Thursday, March 17.

City and County Officials must come to terms with Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue as time is running out on brokering a deal on how to split future Google Community Service Fees that could be worth $37.5 million over 20 years. Locals could lose control to the state if negotiations fail. They are slated to meet again tonight, March 17.

“This would be a commercial facility,” said Dan Spatz, Capitol Project Director for Columbia Community College. “Such a facility would provide an essential service for test runs and small batches for mid- and large-sized brewers. In concert with the AA in Food Science & Fermentation, this facility could also provide students with valuable and necessary hands-on experience.”