Hood River Farmer’s Market will be open on the 1st & 3rd Saturdays, of December through April, from 10 a.m. - noon.

The Hood River Bridge across the Columbia River from Interstate 84 to SR 14 in Washington was closed at 5 a.m. this morning due to a malfunction during a lift test and then reopened at about 11:30 a.m. 

Firefighters called to 2-alarm fire early this morning to find several buildings engulfed at mill site on Frankton Road in Hood River. Employees diverted to secondary business in Dallesport. The cause of fire still under investigation.

In November, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 7,300 jobs, following a revised loss of 4,300 jobs in October. November’s losses were largest in professional and business services (-2,900 jobs); construction (-1,700); leisure and hospitality (-1,500); financial activities (-1,300); and information (-1,000). The only industry growing substantially in November was health care and social assistance, which added 2,400 jobs.

Comunidades and Hood River Latino Network hosted a free International Migrant Day celebration on Monday, Dec. 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the White Salmon Grange.

A fire was reported at milepost 50 on I-84 near Cascade Locks on Sunday, Dec.17, at 4:18 p.m.  Cascade Locks Fire and EMS were dispatched to the area and discovered a large cache of railroad ties on private property had caught on fire. 

The Hood River City Council convened on Monday, Dec. 11. Councilors heard a presentation from the Hood River Lions Club on expanding playground facilities, as well as a presentation from Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) on new facilities projects to support the effort to end homelessness in the region.

The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Replacement Project is moving into the design phase for the new bridge and is seeking members of an advisory committee to help guide this work. The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Aesthetics Committee will have the opportunity to generate ideas and concepts for new bridge aesthetic treatments (aka design features) that will be compiled in an Aesthetics Guidance Memorandum.

The Hood River Christmas Project will kicked off a week of volunteering and giving back today. Volunteers filled the community room at Hood River Fairgrounds from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, December 11, 2023 to participate in the program which is celebrating its 100th year of giving back to Hood River County.

Mt. Hood Meadows has announced the temporary suspension of their operations through Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, due to warm temperatures and rain causing water oversaturation on the slopes. The resort will reassess conditions on Wednesday and hopes to resume operations as soon as the snowpack sets up.

Tonight Rock Violinist Aaron Meyer will perform at the 12th Annual Rock the Holidays Benefit Concert to support United Way of the Columbia Gorge! There will be two concerts on Sunday, December 10th in the Gorge Room at the Best Western PLUS Hood River Inn.

Providing an overview of the upcoming winter season for the Mid-Columbia region and North Central Oregon, the forecast aims to deliver concise and practical insights starting today. As of now, precipitation levels hover between 110% and 130% of normal, with temperatures averaging 1 to 3°F above the seasonal average.

The Steering Committee of the Tri-County (Hood River, Sherman, and Wasco) Hazardous Waste & Recycling Program will hold a meeting on December 13th, from 9 AM to 11 AM. The meeting can also be accessed virtually upon request.

Oregon News Exploration is working with local news outlets and community leaders to get a sense of where Gorge residents get the local information they need.

As the Hood River County Christmas Project (HRCCP) gears up for its 100th year, the spirit of giving is more vibrant than ever. This year's project is set to serve 1,008 households, a first in Christmas Project history and a marker of how this organization continues to strive for new heights in community support and volunteerism.

On December 7th at 11:00 a.m. PST, one local family from the Columbia Gorge will receive the gift of transportation thanks to The United Way of the Columbia Gorge’s partner Underriner Ford and Nissan of The Dalles.

This year the Gorge-to-Mountain Express(G2M) seasonal service will begin on Saturday, December 16th. The G2M bus connects Hood River, Pine Grove, Mt Hood/Parkdale, Mt. Hood Meadows, and Teacup Nordic Center 7 days a week up to 6 times a day.

As the winter months quickly approach, Insitu, Washington Gorge Action Programs, and The Next Door Inc. are teaming up to host a coat drive for local area youth and we need our community’s help! Now through February, you can donate new or like-new outerwear ranging in all sizes from toddlers to teens, with an urgent need for coats and boots for older kids from 12-18 years of age. 

Sense of Place, will feature Mountaintop to Backyard: The Beauty of the Gorge’s Native Plants on December, 13th, 2023. This event will be offered in person at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River, Oregon, and via livestream. 

With severe weather hitting the region, the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council and its partners are ensuring our most vulnerable community members can access shelters, emergency lodging, and street outreach resources.