TDAC is proud to announce a new open call for artists of all mediums in the Columbia Gorge Region. With the diminished opportunities for artists unaffiliated with galleries, we are excited to provide artists from the area a space to exhibit their work collectively.

Al Barton was recently selected as the new Executive Director for the Center for Living after serving for a year as an interim in that position. Barton is picking up the pieces since Dr. June Gower tendered her resignation a year ago. Her tenure of fewer than two years was marked by financial challenges, union organization and substantial loss of employees. “I feel super fortunate,” said Barton on Friday, July 29. “There is plenty to do, and it’s a good time to be doing it.”

"We cannot stress enough how grateful we are to all the volunteers who have come out for Clear the Cans events this year," said Steve Drynan, Executive Director of Home at Last Humane Society. "We need our entire community to come together to help keep this shelter funded and provide high-quality animal management services to our region."

"Two years ago, in the middle of the pandemic, Oregonians and the ag industry came to us when they couldn’t move their meat products due to a shortage of inspection services,” said ODA Director Alexis Taylor. “After much hard work, collaboration, and determination, we designed a program that creates additional opportunities for producers and processors to grow and satisfy local demand.”

More than a dozen wheat trucks were lined up this morning, July 27, at Mid-Columbia Producers as the soft white wheat harvest is underway locally and regionally. First glances are noting that yields in some fields are bringing a crop that is 25 to 40 percent above average likely due to the extra rains in May and June.

U.S. Army Corps technicians found the damage to a lower guide wheel July 25, and closed the lock to river traffic. Engineers and operations staff initiated limited lockages on July 26 in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard. “At this point, we’re unsure of what caused the damage to the guide wheel, but our main focus will be getting the lock back into full service,” said Col. Mike Helton

Veterans who have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, and Coast Guard can at times need assistance in accessing benefits they earned while working to further the interests of the United States of America. These two gentlemen are here to assist in those efforts.

With temps to go triple digits for the next few days, some 10 Wasco County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers who previously helped at vaccine clinics will now, for the first time, help at Mid-Columbia Community Action Council’s (MCCAC) cooling center. Here is a complete list of cooling shelters in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Klickitat and Skamania counties.

For your convenience, we are offering drive-up service (no call necessary) one hour per day the week of July 25-29. Just pull up to the Annex C building, as you enter the parking lot at 419 E. 7th St. and someone will bring you a couple of boxes of self-tests.

Music is in play. Check out this week in entertainment, including venues Working Hands Beer, Wasco County Fair & Rodeo, Ruins, Double Mountain, Columbia Center for the Arts, Zim’s, TD Library, CG Bluegrass Festival, Lavender Daze, Granada, The Pines, Mid Columbia Concert Association, Taphouse, White Salmon Library, Jackson Park, Tilly Jane’s, Everybody’s Brewing, TD Eagles, Stave and Stone, Jacob Williams, Sunshine Mill, Arlington, Grateful Vineyard, HR Library, Gorge Gear sale, Klickitat Canyon Days, Kickstand Coffee

Crews were out early this morning excavating and setting the forms for the foundation on the 33rd Columbia Gorge Habitat for Humanity home at 800 E. 13th Street in The Dalles.

Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is partnering with Mid Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) and other agencies and nonprofits to provide Emergency Cooling Shelters and relief from unhealthy air quality events for vulnerable populations during this summer’s expected extreme conditions.

The City of The Dalles Wastewater Treatment Plant discharged effluent (liquid waste or sewage discharged into a the Columbia River) on July 12th that exceeded the plant’s limit for E. coli (Escherichia coli) due to incomplete disinfection. The event has lead to several beach closures in The Columbia River Gorge.

A grass fire that took out some trees near Mosier on Wednesday, July 13, set the Fire Boss scooper planes into action for the first time this fire season. The planes, stationed at the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport in Dallesport, are fitted with pontoons that can scoop water from the Columbia River and then make quick strikes on fires. The blaze near Mosier did not have a chance.

Zach Ryan pays a tribute to Waylon Jennings tonight, July 14, at the Bargeway Pub in The Dalles. It is just one of many great music options this week as art and music is alive and well in the Mid-Columbia. Venues featured this week include Ruins, Everybody’s Brewing, Granada, Double Mountain, TDAC, Zim’s, TD Library, Taphouse, TD Eagles, Stave & Stone, Mt. Hood Winery, WS Library, Jacob Williams, Sunshine, Arlington, TD United Church of Christ, Route 30, Working Hands Beer, River City Saloon, Solera, Grass Valley, White Buffalo, Grateful Vineyard, MC Senior Center, HR Library, HR Elks, Klickitat Canyon Days, Skamania Lodge, Kickstand Coffee

Cherry Harvest has been a difficult thing to forecast this year due to cold and wet weather which resulted in later harvest dates. But according to Northwest Cherry Growers we are now one-third of the way through cherry harvest. And at the rate things are going this might be the latest running crop on record.

Bringing Jennifer Batten, lead guitarist for Michael Jackson for four world tours, to The Dalles for a fundraiser. That’s just being a Smooth Criminal. Doing it all in the Backyard of the Bargeway Pub this Friday night while supporting The United Way of the Columbia Gorge? Cue the pyrotechnics. And that’s a go on the guitar solo!

White River Falls is a vision of beauty and brute strength, and one that has taken multiple lives over the years for those that choose to swim illegally or are enticed to hike past the safety boundaries into its upper reaches. Saturday, July 9th, was slightly different. It came with a much happier ending. And it highlights the need for those exploring the park to use their best judgment.

HAVEN from Domestic and Sexual Violence, in The Dalles released an official statement today about the secret indictment of former HAVEN Executive Director, Tara Koch. Koch was arrested Thursday, July 7th, 2022 in Washington County on 26 counts including theft, identity theft and forgery. HAVEN alleges that Koch stole more than $96,200* from HAVEN. Koch will be tried in Wasco County on all 26 charges.