Council will hear about or consider items that total more than $1.9 million tonight, April 11th, at their regular meeting. The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce’s budget, a new contract for future City Manager Mathew Klebes, and money requests from Parks and Rec. as well as Mid-Columbia Community Action Council are in the mix.

Darcelle XV & Co. will perform two evening drag shows at Route 30 in The Dalles on Monday, April 11th, to sold out crowds.

This week’s local poetry spotlight features a poem by Rebecca Sonniksen, which was inspired by her daughter Sofia.

In this weeks question of the week we take a stroll through White Salmon on a windy, rainy day to ask our neighbors about their ideal vacation destinations.

The Wasco County Commissioners Meeting held their regularly scheduled meeting at 9 a.m. on April 6th, 2022.

“It has helped me to process things when I’ve submitted my own stuff,” Colleen Ballinger said about her occasional contributions to the Poetree, which change in response to seasons and current events and depending on the amount of work she receives from others, including strangers.

Swift action and an inclusive cleanup process were the two main takeaways from a meeting between the Yakama Nation and officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Army Corps of Engineers about the Bradford Island Superfund Site. At yesterday’s meeting, EPA and the Army Corps committed to finalizing a federal facilities agreement within a year, expediting cleanup actions where possible, and fully engaging the Yakama Nation in all processes.

Columnist Jim Drake takes you through music, culture and entertainment options at Zims, Route 30, The Pines, TD Civic, 64 Taphouse, Granada, HR Library, Bargeway Pub, Thunder Island, Everybody’s Brewing, MoCo, Double Mountain, Grateful Vineyard, Easter Bunny, River City Saloon, Wine Tasting, TD Eagles, Cider Fest.

Cary Lowe’s love of flight now has his family also elevating the vehicle that was at the center of so many great family memories. His 1963 Piper Cherokee 235 is being passed on to local college students for the expansion of their mechanical minds in the wake of Cary’s passing.

Mid-Columbia Community Action Council has helped Colton Perry, a shelter guest at MCCAC shelter get access to employment and healthcare services and Colton says he couldn’t be happier to be back on his feet. “I’ve been able to stand tall again.” said Colton Perry.

State laws protecting victims of sexual assault vary but are improving. In the past few years, Washington State has had several bills signed into law and funding included in the budget that supports victims and survivors of sexual violence. One example includes dealing with a backlog of over 6,000 untested sexual assault kits and reducing the time it takes to process kits to 45 days.

Many stopped by the “Love Where You Live” First Friday event to meet local artists, bakers, musicians, jewelry makers, artisan foods and photographers who “popped up” inside downtown shops, restaurants, and bars for the evening to sell their goods and chat with customers.

Across the state and in the Columbia Gorge, boys outnumber girls roughly three to one in engineering-related courses. Students of color are similarly underrepresented in those courses. Now over $200,000 of investment is headed to Hood River County and South Wasco County school districts in the Gorge to diversify access to engineering, computer science, and advanced manufacturing courses.

Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story is as emotionally captivating as it is breathtaking to behold. The singing, dancing, acting, and direction all come together in a nearly perfect union to bring an old story into the present.

Alright, you jokers. What do you got? Find out in this installment of Question of The Week: What’s your best April Fool’s Joke. Looks like we got a lot of people getting smart out there. Keep it up TD!

Imma Royal and Theo Ward cut the ribbon at Nana I Ke Kumu today, Friday, April 1st. It was long-awaited. But given the flow of things, they waited on their ribbon cutting until the downtown was bubbling with energy once again. And boy is it bubbling. It’s easy to name a half dozen new businesses in town.

This April 1st, downtown will be alive after five for their very first FIRST FRIDAY! Thirty small businesses in downtown The Dalles have teamed up with their favorite makers and artisans for a night of local art, shopping, wine, food, connection and more. Over 60 small businesses open extended hours this Friday night from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Things are popping this weekend as live music and First Friday events in both The Dalles and Hood River offer up some fun entertainment and dance opportunities. So, no singing the blues; put on your dancing shoes.