The Wasco County Commissioners Meeting held their regularly scheduled meeting at 9 a.m. on March 16th, 2022. Highlights from the meeting included a presentation by Mid-Columbia Community Action Council on rates of houselessness in Wasco County, and public comments on MCACC’s Navigation Center.

The Dalles City Council authorized Mayor Rich Mays and City Attorney Jonathan Kara to offer the city manager job to the Council’s top candidate and enter into an employment contract with that candidate during a short open meeting on Thursday, March 17.

City and County Officials must come to terms with Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue as time is running out on brokering a deal on how to split future Google Community Service Fees that could be worth $37.5 million over 20 years. Locals could lose control to the state if negotiations fail. They are slated to meet again tonight, March 17.

“This would be a commercial facility,” said Dan Spatz, Capitol Project Director for Columbia Community College. “Such a facility would provide an essential service for test runs and small batches for mid- and large-sized brewers. In concert with the AA in Food Science & Fermentation, this facility could also provide students with valuable and necessary hands-on experience.”

TD City Council will interview four candidates for The Dalles City Manager on Thursday, March 17. Two are currently working in The Dalles. “I think it is the most important decision this Council will make,” said Mayor Rich Mays late last week. Read here about all 4 candidates. And plan to meet them in person on Wednesday, March 16.

This week Wasco County Commissioners will be asked to approve the sale of three tax-foreclosed properties, a new printer fleet agreement, Mid-Columbia Economic Development District grant agreements, and hear an update on the increased number of individuals experiencing houselessness in Wasco County.

The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency Board will meet on March 15th, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. Meeting highlights will include a presentation of the agency’s 2021-2022 accomplishments, proposed goals and priority projects for 2022-2023, and the draft of a new incentive program that would award grants to commercial, mixed-use, and new residential developments.

Housing Developers in East the Dalles will be looking at increased fees for sanitary sewer services if The Dalles City Council approves a reimbursement district at its regular meeting set for 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 14.

In response to climate change, local governments in the Columbia River Gorge are passing resolutions to decrease carbon emissions. It’s a start.

Improved schools, more trails and paths, a dog park, a sports complex, second-story apartments and upgraded commercial space downtown are just a few of the ideas that sprang forward as 118 people contributed to a virtual town hall for The City of The Dalles on Wednesday night, March 9.

Have you had a supernatural experience in the Columbia River Gorge? Folks in the Gorge are being encouraged in radio ads and storefront signs,to file paranormal reports at Margie's Outdoor Store in Bingen, Washington.

“Supernatural occurrences have always been a part of life in the Gorge, but now they are on the rise, and for good reason,” said James Szubski, Owner of Margie’s Outdoor Store. “Tracking these events has become more important than ever, so Margie's has signed on to help gather information for our local Warden & Protector.”

Time is running out to direct the future of The Dalles. City Council is set to host a virtual town hall on March 9th that will help decide the fate of millions of dollars of City investments for the next 18 years. But does anyone care? Not many so far. Only 439 people of some 16,000 TD citizens participated in a recent survey. Read here to learn how you can get involved.

“This place gave me my hope back.” - Janice Coder

Janice Coder, army veteran and sexual assault survivor from Goldendale shares her story of losing hope while living on the street and how Mid-Columbia Community Action Council is helping her get her hope and her life back.

Back in September of 2021, Nick Freeman wasn’t expecting to find an owl. Let alone capture, rescue, and release it five months later.

Feeling stressed? We have a webinar for that! This free online therapeutic forest bathing session led by licensed professional Counselor Zoë Presley helps you manage the negative emotional effects of the pandemic by finding strength in nature.

As a part of the strategic planning process, the North Wasco County School District has partnered with Public Consulting Group to facilitate focus groups with community members to gather input. Focus groups will begin next week, March 7th. They will be held virtually via Zoom. Learn how to join a group here.

The North Wasco County School Board will interview three candidates at a work session on Monday, March 7, and could appoint a new board member to fill the position of Rebecca Thistlethwaite, who departed in January. Read about each candidate here.

The Dalles boys basketball team will be playing in the first round of the playoffs this Friday, March 4th at 6 p.m. in Eugene against 2nd seed Churchill Lancers. The last time the Hawks played in the playoffs, they lost in the first round to the first seed Lancers.

Get the highlights from the recent March 2nd, 2022 Wasco County Commission Meeting.