A 33-year-old man was arrested after Oregon State Police said he intentionally set his Jeep on fire along Interstate 84 near The Dalles, causing flames to spread into roadside brush and toward a nearby railroad.

The Dalles Public Library will offer crafts, games, family programs, a virtual Smithsonian presentation, and a live flamenco fusion performance during the first full week of August.

Firefighters battling the Grasshopper Fire are shifting from direct attack to a broader containment strategy, constructing backup fire lines while strengthening defenses around Pine Hollow and Sportsmans Park as the wildfire remains more than 21,000 acres and 0% contained.

Adventist Health Columbia Gorge has finished reopening clinics in the Water’s Edge building, located at 551 NE Lone Pine Blvd in The Dalles, Oregon. The most recent reopenings include Rehabilitation Services, Cardiology, and Orthopedics. Columbia Gorge ENT, Internal Medicine, and the Sleep Clinic already reopened in the space in June.

The City of Wasco is seeking contractors to replace 140 residential and commercial water meters as part of a public works project, with sealed bids due by 4 p.m. Aug. 28.

The Grasshopper Fire expanded to 18,136 acres Tuesday, but firefighters successfully held containment lines protecting Pine Hollow and Sportsman's Park as more than 230 personnel continued battling the blaze under gusty afternoon winds.

Fire activity intensified across Wasco County on Tuesday as the Grasshopper Fire expanded to 13,612 acres, prompting continued Level 3 evacuations near Wamic, Pine Hollow and Sportsman's Park. Meanwhile, FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to help cover firefighting costs, while improving conditions on several other regional wildfires allowed evacuation levels to be reduced or lifted in parts of southern Wasco County and the Hay Creek Complex.

Applications are now open for the 2026 Local Government Academy, a free program that gives community members an inside look at how the City of The Dalles operates.

The Gorge Giggin’ Guide wraps up the last week in July and We’re Not Slowing Down! Get ready for Dancing, Open Mic and Jams, Stage Performances and Music from just about every Genre you can think of!
Get Out There!

Firefighters made significant progress Monday on two major wildfires burning in and near Wasco County, holding critical containment lines on the Grasshopper Fire while increasing containment on the smaller Eightmile Fire west of Dufur.

The Dalles Public Library has a full lineup of free programs for adults, children, teens and families during the final week of July and the start of August. Registration is required for select events.

A Banks-Vernonia trail advocate says community persistence, partnerships and historic preservation transformed an abandoned railroad into an economic asset, offering lessons for the Deschutes railbed.

Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) is celebrating a joyful addition to The Annex: a brand-new playground on the facility's family side, made possible through generous donations from Google, Granite Construction, and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company.

A 28-year-old motorcyclist was airlifted to a Vancouver hospital after crashing along State Route 14 near the Chamberlain Rest Area in Klickitat County. Washington State Patrol said the crash remains under investigation.

No doubt about it - The Gorge Giggin’ Guide is in Fair and Festival Mode! Whether you’re at the County Fair, the Bluegrass Festival, or one of the special benefit shows coming up this week - You're Gonna Have A Good Time! Get Out There!

National Industrial Training and Assessment Centers network honors CGCC with the Manufacturing Outcomes Award for outstanding real-world support and engagement with small and mid-sized manufacturers

Wildfires sparked by last week's lightning storm continue to burn across the Mid-Columbia, with new evacuation notices issued Sunday in Wasco and Gilliam counties as firefighters battle several large fire complexes.

The Dalles City Council is scheduled to consider two special ordinances at its July 27 meeting, including the annexation of property within the city's urban growth boundary and the approval of a non-exclusive telecommunications franchise for Q-Life Intergovernmental Agency. The proposed ordinances will be available for public review in the council agenda packet beginning July 20, and members of the public may register to testify before the meeting.

The Dalles Public Library has a full week of family-friendly activities, crafts, games and performances scheduled July 19–25, along with opportunities for children and teens to get involved through hands-on learning and creative programs.

The City of The Dalles will apply fog seal to streets treated with chip seal last month, requiring temporary daytime closures on dozens of streets July 20-22.