A local man was apprehended on Sunday night, Aug. 21, but not before 28 miles were covered in pursuit and spike strips were deployed.

A plea hearing for former Haven Executive Director Tara Koch who is accused of 26 charges related to the theft of more than $96,000 has been scheduled for Aug. 22nd, 2022 at 9:45 a.m.

Most of the work - 88 percent - will be performed in Bingen, according to the announcement.

Performing since he was 14 years old, Hogan’s life and musical journey has taken him from the rockabilly swinging 1960s of England to a communal lifestyle in southern Oregon in the 1970s. He’s a pioneer of Seattle’s underground music scene. Hogan says “he was there” when bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden became Grunge Gods and put Seattle on the map as a source of new music culture.

Our friend Jeff Carrel hits the Last Stop Saloon in TD tonight, Aug. 2. He is just one of a few local legends making headlines in this week’s guide for entertainment. Our man Jim Drake is laying out the schedule for the next few days and weeks to come in this comprehensive listing. You can’t go if you don’t know.

$100,000 will to the Ken Jernstedt Airfield in Hood River for the installation of weather reporting equipment.

"The Visiting Authors Program meets the cultural needs of our students, many of whom have never met a contemporary author, much less one of their culture or who speaks to their concerns," Wendy Patton explained. “This project selects diverse authors and integrates their work into existing courses. We will be inviting the wider Gorge community, recording and archiving the visits so people will benefit from this project well into the future.”

TDAC is proud to announce a new open call for artists of all mediums in the Columbia Gorge Region. With the diminished opportunities for artists unaffiliated with galleries, we are excited to provide artists from the area a space to exhibit their work collectively.

Al Barton was recently selected as the new Executive Director for the Center for Living after serving for a year as an interim in that position. Barton is picking up the pieces since Dr. June Gower tendered her resignation a year ago. Her tenure of fewer than two years was marked by financial challenges, union organization and substantial loss of employees. “I feel super fortunate,” said Barton on Friday, July 29. “There is plenty to do, and it’s a good time to be doing it.”

"Two years ago, in the middle of the pandemic, Oregonians and the ag industry came to us when they couldn’t move their meat products due to a shortage of inspection services,” said ODA Director Alexis Taylor. “After much hard work, collaboration, and determination, we designed a program that creates additional opportunities for producers and processors to grow and satisfy local demand.”

U.S. Army Corps technicians found the damage to a lower guide wheel July 25, and closed the lock to river traffic. Engineers and operations staff initiated limited lockages on July 26 in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard. “At this point, we’re unsure of what caused the damage to the guide wheel, but our main focus will be getting the lock back into full service,” said Col. Mike Helton

With temps to go triple digits for the next few days, some 10 Wasco County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers who previously helped at vaccine clinics will now, for the first time, help at Mid-Columbia Community Action Council’s (MCCAC) cooling center. Here is a complete list of cooling shelters in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Klickitat and Skamania counties.

Multiple agencies respond to a complicated house fire that included trailers, brush and ammunition in South Hood River on Wednesday night, July 20 at about 10:45 p.m.

Music is in play. Check out this week in entertainment, including venues Working Hands Beer, Wasco County Fair & Rodeo, Ruins, Double Mountain, Columbia Center for the Arts, Zim’s, TD Library, CG Bluegrass Festival, Lavender Daze, Granada, The Pines, Mid Columbia Concert Association, Taphouse, White Salmon Library, Jackson Park, Tilly Jane’s, Everybody’s Brewing, TD Eagles, Stave and Stone, Jacob Williams, Sunshine Mill, Arlington, Grateful Vineyard, HR Library, Gorge Gear sale, Klickitat Canyon Days, Kickstand Coffee

Crews were out early this morning excavating and setting the forms for the foundation on the 33rd Columbia Gorge Habitat for Humanity home at 800 E. 13th Street in The Dalles.

“There was such an outpouring of responses about impacts of the bridge closure, as well as questions and feedback about the bridge project itself,” said White Salmon Mayor Marla Keethler on her Facebook page. “We're hoping to address some of those concerns and give you an idea of where things stand…

A grass fire that took out some trees near Mosier on Wednesday, July 13, set the Fire Boss scooper planes into action for the first time this fire season. The planes, stationed at the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport in Dallesport, are fitted with pontoons that can scoop water from the Columbia River and then make quick strikes on fires. The blaze near Mosier did not have a chance.

Zach Ryan pays a tribute to Waylon Jennings tonight, July 14, at the Bargeway Pub in The Dalles. It is just one of many great music options this week as art and music is alive and well in the Mid-Columbia. Venues featured this week include Ruins, Everybody’s Brewing, Granada, Double Mountain, TDAC, Zim’s, TD Library, Taphouse, TD Eagles, Stave & Stone, Mt. Hood Winery, WS Library, Jacob Williams, Sunshine, Arlington, TD United Church of Christ, Route 30, Working Hands Beer, River City Saloon, Solera, Grass Valley, White Buffalo, Grateful Vineyard, MC Senior Center, HR Library, HR Elks, Klickitat Canyon Days, Skamania Lodge, Kickstand Coffee

A crash on Interstate 84 near milepost 61 on Saturday, July 9, highlights the need to really cinch loads down when hauling items in vehicles through the windy and gusty gorge.

Bringing Jennifer Batten, lead guitarist for Michael Jackson for four world tours, to The Dalles for a fundraiser. That’s just being a Smooth Criminal. Doing it all in the Backyard of the Bargeway Pub this Friday night while supporting The United Way of the Columbia Gorge? Cue the pyrotechnics. And that’s a go on the guitar solo!