In the early morning on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2024, local authorities received a call from Amy Cardoza. The 56-year-old reported setting a residence on fire at 109 E. 7th St. with a lighter in the kitchen of a duplex at approximately 3:36 a.m.Cardoza admitted to the 911 dispatcher that she used a lighter to ignite the blaze, according to The Dalles Police log. She also said the house was used as a methamphetamine production site and that is what motivated her to light it up.

The Dalles Police said a vehicle pulling a trailer was at fault when it drove south across the intersection and the van collided with it.

Pitts was seen earlier in the week at the laundry at Cascade Square. He said he was going to see his girlfriend in Hood River, a 40-year-old male, also houseless, told CCCNews under the condition of anonymity today, Feb. 1. “He was a nice guy; I never had a problem with him,” he said.

The work was being performed by or for another agency. Northern Wasco County People’s Utility District was neither involved in the work nor aware of the work taking place. Our team is investigating the incident to learn what happened and take steps to limit the possibility of it happening again.

The pedestrian was reportedly walking in the westbound lane near milepost 76 when the semi struck the male wearing dark clothing. 

You Gotta Love a Valentine’s Dinner at Bargeway Pub in TD. Your Gorge-Wide Giggin Guide is Hillstomopin’ with action this week. Keep reading here as we’ve got all the jams, art and film. Put that in a bottle!. We did. All that nectar is in this entertainment guide. Bottoms up!

With our hearts full of gratitude as this year comes to a close, we would like to touch on a couple of different topics. All of us at KCEMS1 would like to express our appreciation to all the first responders who dedicate their time, energy, and resources to helping their neighbors and visitors of Klickitat County during a variety of emergencies.

Friends of the Columbia Gorge in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service is moving forward on their plans to build a new trail that would connect the communities of Mosier and The Dalles. 

With winter in full force, partners throughout the region have been pooling resources together to help houseless community members cope with potentially life-threatening conditions. To keep this and other efforts going, Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative is extending an open invitation for individuals and organizations to learn more about its members’ work over the past year and their plans for 2024 at its next quarterly meeting from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. on February 13 via Zoom.

The players were ineligible because they were attending North Wasco County’s alternative high school, Innovations Academy, which did not have OSAA membership, a requirement for eligibility.

Arturo Leyva writes his first food Column for CCCNews. He speaks about a new food truck, what makes Mexican food authentic, and memories of sopitos in his hometown.

The Dalles was hit by a wave of burglaries and one robbery during the last two days, with police investigating potential connections between these incidents, according to The Dalles Police log. The number of thefts has some local merchants worried and guarded.

Goldendale was coming off a win at the Eastern Washington Athletic Conference Champions held on Thursday, Jan. 24, and the team rode that momentum as they earned dual wins over The Dalles and Washougal. Mike Salsbury brings us another stunning photo essay as teams are headed toward the postseason.

February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Teen dating violence doesn’t just affect teens. It also affects parents, teachers, friends, and communities. Around 12% of adolescents report being a victim of physical violence in their dating relationships, according to WhiteHouse.gov, highlighting why it is important for youth to understand how setting boundaries early on can be a great start to a healthy relationship.

The 14th annual Eagle Watch drew over 500 people the The Dalles Dam Visitor Center on Saturday, Jan. 27. Visitors swapped their favorite bird watching stories, photographed the eagles, participated in live raptor education demonstrations, hands-on learning activities, and more.

The annual PIT Count is a federally mandated survey of people experiencing houselessness in communities across the country. The count, which occurs in late January of every year, plays a critical role in determining the level of state and federal funding communities receive to address houselessness. It also provides key insight into the needs of those impacted by houselessness.

Board Member Judy Richardson told a packed crowd at the regular Board Meeting on Thursday, Jan. 25 that another bond attempt was not prudent for such an early date.  Future high school build costs will continue to rise as inflation continues to push up prices on labor and materials. The consumer price index during the past four years averaged 4.8 percent and is estimated to be 3.2 percent in 2024, according to the Consumer Price Index.

The result could lead to the loss of an attorney in the prosecutor’s office, which means there would be fewer people to handle cases if Wasco County does not backfill the funding. 

As the Bridge of the Gods reaches its 98th year in service connecting the Oregon community of Cascade Locks with Stevenson and North Bonneville in Washington, the Port of Cascade Locks is thinking about its future. Despite its age, the bridge is in good working order and not in need of a full replacement like the Hood River Bridge and the I-5 Interstate Bridge. However, as with any aging piece of infrastructure, the bridge would benefit from a few key upgrades to improve safety and resilience and extend its usable life.

Former Haven Director Tara Koch’s settlement hearing has been rescheduled for August 6, 2024 at 9 a.m. In Hood River County Court Room 2 after her prior hearing date, which was set for Jan. 12, was canceled.