Columbia Community Connection is Thrilled to present the 2021 Halloween Event Roundup! Think of it as a One Stop Trick or Treat for All Things Halloween, whether you’re a Ghost, Ghoul, or Goblin.

Total Wasco County Property Tax Assessments increased $1.2 million when compared to the 20-21 tax season, according to the latest report from the Assessor’s Office. Real market values continue to trend upward for most residential properties in Wasco County. Many commercial properties saw a correction and downturn in real property values.

The 2020 crop year is one to be celebrated by the 37,200 farms and ranches that make up Oregon’s diverse agricultural community. Oregon is home to more than 225 commodities, everything from cattle to cherries to hazelnuts and wheat. And Production was great in 2020, according to the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

The Dalles Main Street’s volunteer Walldogs subcommittee will be hosting a voting and public input event* at The National Neon Sign Museum on Oct. 15th from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. The group is seeking votes and public input in deciding 15 new themes for historical murals to be painted in downtown The Dalles next summer. The recent release of themes, images and descriptions of proposed murals has led to an outpouring of concerns from local organizations and community members. Concerned citizens pointed to a lack of diversity in the mural topics and the inclusion of individuals and enterprises that were directly responsible for the murder of hundreds of indigenous peoples. Also brought up was the omission of marginalized community members voices in the mural topic selection process and a lack of collaboration with local organizations and artists.

LPSCC has submitted a $50,000 grant proposal to the Oregon Health Authority to pay planning costs of a Columbia Gorge Resolution Center. The Resolution Center would lower mental and behavioral health related incarcerations and improve access to mental and behavioral health services in the Wasco, Sherman, and Hood River Counties.

How much water does Google need to cool two new data plants in The Dalles? They're not spilling any details, "trade secrets," they say. But their request, which could be in the billions of gallons, has City Councilors looking at a massive potable water infrastructure upgrade that would increase water production capacity by 75 percent in the near future - billions of gallons per year.

The Dufur Rangers play their second game of the season tonight at 7PM.

Over Labor Day weekend trees and brush were clear-cut from Port of The Dalles property between Riverfront Trail and the Columbia River just north of Klindt Cove Park.

COVID Schmovid! Girl Scout Leader Chrissy Zaugg and her troop persevered to produce a video on free elections and transparency last fall when the pandemic killed social gatherings. The video got rave reviews. And last week, the Oregon Secretary of State awarded Zaugg the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award for her efforts.

With a rise of COVID cases and the return of masks in public places, shoppers in The Dalles sounded off on Tuesday, Aug. 17 about having to strap one back on over their ears. Love ‘em, hate ‘em, the embrace and the chafe. Read what they said about it here.

At times, we all need a little help. Here in our communities, there are many people who have developmental and intellectual disabilities who have jobs and live independently. But they can't always do it alone. Oftentimes a personal support worker or a job coach is needed to help them in daily or work-related tasks. Is this the job for you? It’s a nice way to earn some extra cash, even get health benefits. Oh, and change a life.

We’re about to have a world-class athletic complex near us. That’s unheard of for a place like the Columbia Gorge. The Maupin Deschutes River Athletic Complex is being built right now. World-class athletes like Usain Bolt could go and set records at that track.

Honu Hawaiian Shave Ice brings a taste of island living to Tygh Valley in Wasco County.

This year’s Wasco County fair will feature a rodeo, demolition derby, 4-H livestock and small animal showings and auctions, Kid’s Day, Farmer’s Fun Day, Cook’s Racing Pigs aka “the fastest bacon in the west”, old fashioned horse-drawn carriage rides, local artisans, agriculturalists, ClockTower Ales beer garden, and live music from Smock Dogs and The Rock Doctors.

600 goats descended on Maupin on Aug. 4th in an effort to restore Bakeoven Creek in its first two miles. Maupin’s Randy Klettke was able to build a team around the idea, bringing the Goat King from Pendleton and some pretty amazing Peruvian goat herders and their trusty guard and herding dogs. It’s the beginning of a long process, but one that could restore salmon spawning beds.

“It’s been a hard year for the growers. We had some labor shortages early on because California’s harvest went later than usual, then we had several rain events that were scary, thankfully those events didn’t do too much damage to the crop. And then we had this heat event that really did damage to the crop,” said Ashley Thompson, Assistant Professor of Horticulture at Oregon State University.

Electric Bikes are a new phenomenon and are quite exciting. You’d imagine that everyone including the bike community would love them. That isn’t true at all. There are some bicyclers who aren’t a big fan of them for many reasons.

A second heatwave is hitting the Gorge today, July 29, with temperatures in in the region to cap 100 degrees for the next three days, according to weather forecasters.

Only two days left to enter livestock!

Shellie Campbell, who has been interim director since July 2020, was named director by the NCPHD board of health on July 13. The board is made up of elected officials and citizens from Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam counties, the area served by NCPHD.