A photo of a destroyed OSP patrol vehicle hangs on the wall. It’s a reminder, he said. A reminder of why he does the job. A reminder of the sacrifice it takes. A reminder of what a trooper must be prepared to do to keep people safe.

Hood River County District Attorney Carrie Rasmussen announced today that she will not seek reelection in 2024 and has thrown her support behind Matthew Ellis to fill her position.

The vehicle crossed Westcliff Drive and went over an embankment coming to an uncontrolled rest in the parking lot for the Columbia Cliff Villas Hotel in Hood River on Saturday, Jan. 6.

This month, we're highlighting several important community initiatives and programs. From new opportunities for youth and adults to essential training for healthcare workers and resources for families, there's valuable information available for all. We encourage you to read on and find out how you can participate in or benefit from these offerings. Stay informed and get involved in making our community a better place for everyone.

As 2023 comes to a close, The Next Door Inc. (TNDI) is thrilled to announce Lars Reierson as the recipient of our Philanthropist of the Year award! This recognition celebrates Lars’ exceptional generosity, significant community involvement, and outstanding philanthropic impact on The Next Door and the Gorge communities we serve. 

Sense of Place will feature Salmon at a Crossroads on January 17th, 2024. This event will be offered in person at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River, Oregon, and via livestream. In recent years, sockeye salmon in the Columbia and Snake rivers have experienced devastating mass die-offs, because water temperatures were too hot. The Little White Salmon River and nearby tributaries in the Gorge have also experienced tragic losses.

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.