Columbia Community Connection was established in 2020 as a local, honest and digital news source providing meaningful stories and articles. CCC News’ primary goal is to inform and elevate all the residents and businesses of the Mid-Columbia Region. A rising tide lifts all boats, hop in!
All in Wasco County
Metallica rips in this encore that brings $100,000 in local scholarships to students in career-technology training at Columbia Gorge Community College.
A local man was apprehended on Sunday night, Aug. 21, but not before 28 miles were covered in pursuit and spike strips were deployed.
The residents of Shaniko got a wake-up call on Sunday night, Aug. 21, when a semi truck ran into the local ice cream shop and bashed its way through the entirety of the building.
No plea occurred at the Tara Koch plea hearing proceedings which took place today, August 22nd, 2022, at 9:58 a.m. due to a lack of an available public defender.
The Northwest MuralFest is this week! Get the latest on the street festival, road closures in The Dalles, and more!
A plea hearing for former Haven Executive Director Tara Koch who is accused of 26 charges related to the theft of more than $96,000 has been scheduled for Aug. 22nd, 2022 at 9:45 a.m.
Wasco County is set to finalize the purchase of a 154.73 acre property valued in the range of $1.3 to $1.5 million on the west end of town near Chenoweth Creek and Foley Lakes this week of August 17th, 2022. The property falls within the National Scenic Area boundary and will require working with the Gorge Commission in order to be developed.
The Oregon Reptile Man, Richard Richey delivered a fun and educational hour-long program featuring over a dozen different reptiles including an alligator, de-venomized diamondback rattlesnake, a king cobra and a burmese python named Julius Squeezer, at The Dalles Wasco County Library on August 9th, 2022.
The Wasco County Commissioners will host their regular meeting on August 3rd, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. via zoom to hear a Secure Rural Schools Funding update, approve a Parenting Program Letter of Agreement, get an update on an MOU pursuant of HB 4123, listen to a climate change presentation and more.
MILLER FRE now renamed to ignited August 2nd east of Maupin and Tygh Valley. With heavy wind and dry fuels, has increased in size dramatically to more than 10,000 acres, This story continues to be updated as information is available.
Our friend Jeff Carrel hits the Last Stop Saloon in TD tonight, Aug. 2. He is just one of a few local legends making headlines in this week’s guide for entertainment. Our man Jim Drake is laying out the schedule for the next few days and weeks to come in this comprehensive listing. You can’t go if you don’t know.
During the fire, people could also be seen swimming around and near the blaze, and civilians had hooked up garden hoses to fight the fire on their own. Others also picked up firefighter hoses that were not being utilized to douse the blaze.
A fire at The Dalles Marina had destroyed several houseboats as of 9:30 p.m. this evening, Aug. 1, and it did not appear to be slowing as the tightly placed vacation homes can easily ignite neighboring properties.
"The Visiting Authors Program meets the cultural needs of our students, many of whom have never met a contemporary author, much less one of their culture or who speaks to their concerns," Wendy Patton explained. “This project selects diverse authors and integrates their work into existing courses. We will be inviting the wider Gorge community, recording and archiving the visits so people will benefit from this project well into the future.”
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
