Looking for a special way to celebrate this Valentine’s Day? CCCNews has you covered. 

Each year, the Mid Columbia Health Foundation’s (MCHF) Women’s Giving Circle, donates their dues to local nonprofits. Since it began in 2019, the group has raised over $46,000 for community organizations. For their 2023 annual donation, the Women’s Giving Circle generously selected The Next Door Inc. (TNDI) and the Community Backpack Program as their two recipients! 

The Columbia Gorge Resolution Center is asking citizens to sign a letter of support that will be presented during an upcoming legislative short session in which Wasco County and Mid-Columbia Center for Living will request $36.1 million in funding to build a 16-bed secure mental and behavioral health residential treatment facility (SRTF) and stabilization center on 10th and Walnut in The Dalles, OR.

A Wasco County grand jury indicted local chiropractor, Andrew Houck on two counts of first-degree sex abuse on Jan. 24. CCCNews contacted Houck by phone at his business number for comment on Friday, Feb. 2. “I don’t have any comment,” he said.

Friends of the Columbia Gorge in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service is moving forward on their plans to build a new trail that would connect the communities of Mosier and The Dalles. 

With winter in full force, partners throughout the region have been pooling resources together to help houseless community members cope with potentially life-threatening conditions. To keep this and other efforts going, Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative is extending an open invitation for individuals and organizations to learn more about its members’ work over the past year and their plans for 2024 at its next quarterly meeting from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. on February 13 via Zoom.

Arturo Leyva writes his first food Column for CCCNews. He speaks about a new food truck, what makes Mexican food authentic, and memories of sopitos in his hometown.

February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Teen dating violence doesn’t just affect teens. It also affects parents, teachers, friends, and communities. Around 12% of adolescents report being a victim of physical violence in their dating relationships, according to WhiteHouse.gov, highlighting why it is important for youth to understand how setting boundaries early on can be a great start to a healthy relationship.

The 14th annual Eagle Watch drew over 500 people the The Dalles Dam Visitor Center on Saturday, Jan. 27. Visitors swapped their favorite bird watching stories, photographed the eagles, participated in live raptor education demonstrations, hands-on learning activities, and more.

The annual PIT Count is a federally mandated survey of people experiencing houselessness in communities across the country. The count, which occurs in late January of every year, plays a critical role in determining the level of state and federal funding communities receive to address houselessness. It also provides key insight into the needs of those impacted by houselessness.

Board Member Judy Richardson told a packed crowd at the regular Board Meeting on Thursday, Jan. 25 that another bond attempt was not prudent for such an early date.  Future high school build costs will continue to rise as inflation continues to push up prices on labor and materials. The consumer price index during the past four years averaged 4.8 percent and is estimated to be 3.2 percent in 2024, according to the Consumer Price Index.

The result could lead to the loss of an attorney in the prosecutor’s office, which means there would be fewer people to handle cases if Wasco County does not backfill the funding. 

Former Haven Director Tara Koch’s settlement hearing has been rescheduled for August 6, 2024 at 9 a.m. In Hood River County Court Room 2 after her prior hearing date, which was set for Jan. 12, was canceled.

The Mid-Columbia Human Trafficking Task Force in partnership with Haven hosted their second annual human trafficking awareness walk event on January 11, 2024. During the event Karen Shultz, Victim Advocate Coordinator for the Wasco County District Attorney’s Office, and trafficking survivor, bravely stepped forward to share her story to help raise awareness of human trafficking in the gorge.

Looking for bald eagles and fun activities to to this weekend? Look no feather — The Dalles Dam invites the public to their 14th annual Eagle Watch event on Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Looking for something to do amid yet another snow day? Here are 8 ideas to keep you sane, entertained, and riding a sweet mental plane.  

Winter can bring some unusual birds to your bird feeders! Have you seen any of these birds this winter?

The City of the Dalles, The City of Hood River, and Wasco County Offices are closed today due to inclement weather as a winter storm has brought ice, snow, and freezing rain to large swaths of the Northwest.  Tough driving conditions look to continue as heavy snow and ice will move toward thawing and freezing as temps reach above freezing during daytime hours.

Hood River County District Attorney Carrie Rasmussen announced today that she will not seek reelection in 2024 and has thrown her support behind Matthew Ellis to fill her position.

College. Come January, it’s on the minds of teens across the country as student applications roll out and college letters start rolling back in. In an effort to guide this year's seniors through the exciting yet challenging transition to college life, recent TDHS graduates returned to The Dalles High School (TDHS) to share what they've learned from navigating the real world experience of attending college.