As 2023 comes to a close, The Next Door Inc. (TNDI) is thrilled to announce Lars Reierson as the recipient of our Philanthropist of the Year award! This recognition celebrates Lars’ exceptional generosity, significant community involvement, and outstanding philanthropic impact on The Next Door and the Gorge communities we serve. 

Tacos Del Rio, a family Mexican restaurant known for their $1.50 Taco Tuesday specials, closed unexpectedly last month after more than ten years of operation at their downtown location at 421 Union St. in The Dalles.

Oh, ho, ho, ho. The Season is merry with the wishes of our local children!

Santa has sent us their letters from local 1st-, 2nd- and 3rd-graders to help us rekindle the magic of this holiday season through their innocent and hopeful writings to Santa.

In November, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 7,300 jobs, following a revised loss of 4,300 jobs in October. November’s losses were largest in professional and business services (-2,900 jobs); construction (-1,700); leisure and hospitality (-1,500); financial activities (-1,300); and information (-1,000). The only industry growing substantially in November was health care and social assistance, which added 2,400 jobs.

January brings the peak season for bald eagle migration in the Columbia Gorge. This January there will be two events celebrating the bald eagle migration: Wings Over the Columbia Gorge, a free webinar featuring eagle experts on January 4th followed by the 14th annual Eagle Watch at The Dalles Dam on January 20th, featuring live raptor demonstrations, eagle watching, and educational activities.

A Housing Needs Analysis  presented to The Dalles City Council on Monday, Dec. 11, shows a slow down in the rate of future population growth resulting in the projected need for 505 new housing units in The Dalles by 2043. 

Cookies, Cocoa and Photos with Santa organizers presented Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) with a check for $2,700 on Monday, Dec. 11. 

I don’t think I was more surprised by any movie this year than The Holdovers. I found its initial trailer to be off-putting (I’m just about done watching trailers!), but decided to give it a try anyway after being letdown by several big movies that were out. And I couldn’t have been happier to be wrong!

Multiple Oregon school districts, including Central Linn, Cascade, Colton, Corbett, Condon and Arlington, faced bomb threats on Monday, Dec. 11. In addition to the schools being threatened, two Portland-area synagogues, Neveh Shalom and Beth Israel and some airports were also targeted. FBI agents did not identify which airports had been targeted. Portland International Airport confirmed that they did not receive any threats.

The Dalles City Manager Matthew Klebes has announced changes to the City’s zoom meeting policies following an anti-Semitic “zoom bombing” incident that occurred at the last City Council meeting. Klebes shared that the incident is under FBI investigation and is a part of a recent slew of zoom-bombing and hate speech incidents which have been occurring during online public meetings state-wide.

On December 11, 2023 at approximately 11:30 a.m., Arlington School District received an email advising of a bomb threat. Shortly after, Condon School District received a similar email advising of a bomb threat.

Sign contractors for the Oregon Department of Transportation are working to replace aged and non-compliant freeway signsto increase safety and improve the driving experience for the traveling public on I-84 between exits 82 and 83 today, December 11, 2023.

Mt. Hood Meadows has announced the temporary suspension of their operations through Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, due to warm temperatures and rain causing water oversaturation on the slopes. The resort will reassess conditions on Wednesday and hopes to resume operations as soon as the snowpack sets up.

This past weekend, Dufur transformed into a winter wonderland as the Frontloading Hometown Christmas swept through the town, leaving behind a trail of magic and festive joy. From the Dufur Market to the Balch Hotel, the entire community came alive with a myriad of Christmas-themed events, making it an unforgettable experience for locals and visitors alike.

Tonight Rock Violinist Aaron Meyer will perform at the 12th Annual Rock the Holidays Benefit Concert to support United Way of the Columbia Gorge! There will be two concerts on Sunday, December 10th in the Gorge Room at the Best Western PLUS Hood River Inn.

The Friends of White Salmon Library hosted a holiday quilt reception and open house at White Salmon Library from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 9. 

Providing an overview of the upcoming winter season for the Mid-Columbia region and North Central Oregon, the forecast aims to deliver concise and practical insights starting today. As of now, precipitation levels hover between 110% and 130% of normal, with temperatures averaging 1 to 3°F above the seasonal average.

Underriner Ford and Nissan of The Dalles was filled with tears and laughter on Wednesday as the Mott family gratefully received the gift of free gently used Ford Edge, with a trunk full of Christmas presents, including a $250 gas card.

The Steering Committee of the Tri-County (Hood River, Sherman, and Wasco) Hazardous Waste & Recycling Program will hold a meeting on December 13th, from 9 AM to 11 AM. The meeting can also be accessed virtually upon request.

In the early morning hours of December 7, 2023, an adult in custody at Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facilities (NORCOR) was found deceased.