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
“When you lie to me, I look at the person that is supposed to be a leader of our officers and wonder, where did I fail? Disappointment is huge.” - Former TD Police Chief Jay Waterbury to Former Police Officer Jeff Kienlen in 2011. Oregon State Bar’s recent opinion dismissing the ethical violation complaint against Eric Nisley and Leslie Wolf also notes that Nisley should have disclosed the above statement in its entirety in regard to former TD police officer Jeff Kienlen.
A “last-minute” rule change to Oregon’s Fish Passage Law has environmentalists, Tribes and fishers concerned.
We’ve all had them - that teacher that made us work harder, think deeper and push for something more than we thought we could achieve. That person not only taught us numbers but character, respect and understanding that the system can be changed from within by embracing the rebelliousness of our ideas and applying them with a thoughtful and strategic approach. Honor Them. Name Them. Nominate Them.
Neal Creek Forest Products, a local provider of premium firewood, landscaping materials, and snow removal services, has announced the opening of its second location in The Dalles, Oregon. The grand opening celebration will take place on Friday, March 3, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST, with ribbon cutting festivities with The Dalles Chamber of Commerce taking place from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. PST.
Two members of the Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative (MCHC) have been awarded nearly $2 million in support of the effort to address houselessness. Over the next three years, Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) will receive $969,600, and Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) will receive $809,603.
The Wasco County Commissioners have declared a state of emergency to address the growing issue of homelessness in the region. The decision was made during a meeting on February 15th, 2023, after the presentation of the Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative's five-year strategic plan to address houselessness in the area. The declaration has been sent to The Office of Emergency Management for further processing.
This Week in Gorge Entertainment: Musician Tony Furtado and Comedian Adam Pasi give locals two great picks this weekend in TD. Furtado plays multiple instruments including some phenomenal slide guitar and banjo hits The Dalles Art Center on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. And just down the street, comedian Adam Pasi will bring his unique flavor of humor to The Granada on the same night. Check out this week’s most comprehensive listing of local entertainment here.
Congratulations to our cheer team, for bringing home a 3rd place finish at the State Cheer Championships in Oregon City this past weekend! We also want to congratulate the Riverhawks swim team on a phenomenal showing at the District Swim Meet in LaGrande this past weekend!
The stolen Dodge Charger from The Dalles traveled more than 60 miles and was pursued for about a half hour on the backroads off Wasco County and then through The Dalles before spikes were deployed to blow the front tires on Sunday, Feb. 12.
If you haven’t gotten your booster yet, but are interested, there’s a free, walk-in, 3-day vaccine clinic. It runs from Thursday, Feb. 16 through Saturday, Feb. 18. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, and it will be held at 523 E. 3rd St., which is the former Griffith Motors building, across from Sawyer’s and Grinders Coffee.
Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative has released their 2022 report which offers a snapshot of the affordable housing and houselessness situation in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Skamania, and Klickitat Counties.
Locals are kicking off some parties this afternoon as the 57th Superbowl is set to start at 3:30 p.m. And if our totally unscientific analysis of 9 people means anything, the Eagles are favored to win this year’s Championship. But there is a lot of music, drinks and chili to get through first.
Show love to your loved ones and your community by celebrating love locally this Valentine’s Day.
The Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) has acquired the Oregon Motor Motel, located on the edge of downtown The Dalles, Oregon, with the aim of converting it into transitional housing and shelter. The $3.25 million acquisition was made possible through a $4.27 million grant from the Project Turnkey 2.0 program, which MCCAC applied for at the end of the summer of 2022.
With several key aspects of the renovation now complete, the vision of a true Community Food Center is finally coming to fruition — offering a significant boost to efforts to end hunger and its root causes throughout Sherman, Wasco and Hood River counties.
Columbia Gorge Community College board members agreed Tuesday, Jan. 31, to engage a professional search firm as the college prepares for the departure of Dr. Marta Yera Cronin, CGCC’s president in June.
We are coming down the home stretch for the Winter Sports season, as we have teams preparing for the postseason as early as this week, while other programs are finishing their final couple of weeks of regular season play with the hopes of qualifying for state competition!
Leads on the possible identification of this individual were received by the Sheriff’s Office in the following days and weeks; numerous reporting parties indicated they believed the remains to be that of David West, Jr., a man who had disappeared from Sherman County trying to cross the John Day River during a large flooding event in 1964.
CyberMind Gaming, a PC gaming and eSports center in The Dalles, which opened it’s doors in March of 2022 will close it’s doors on February 17th, 2023.
When an active shooter incident began in Hood River this past week, Hood River County School District was ready to respond immediately to maintain student safety. While the threat was on Cascade street, one mile from the closest public school, the district immediately placed lower valley schools in “secure status” and notified parents via email and text messages.
