Free Local News ⭑ The Dalles, Hood River, Dufur, Columbia Gorge, White Salmon, Goldendale & More — Columbia Community Connection News

If you’ve suffered excessive livestock death losses and grazing or feed losses due to recent wildfires, you may be eligible for disaster assistance programs through the USDA Farm Service Agency.

Jul 17

Jul 17 Soft White Wheat Harvest kicks into gear in TD and east; Kernels full so far

Tom Peterson

Farm & Ranch, Home Page, Wasco County, The Dalles

The annual harvest is a major cash crop for the four-county area including Wasco, Gilliam, Sherman, and Morrow counties, which produces close to half of the 50 million bushels of wheat in Oregon. Cody Darnielle reported that 150 deliveries were made on Monday, July 15, in The Dalles as harvest moves into full swing.

Jul 12

Jul 12 Grand Jury finds Deputies and Officer involved in shooting was justified

Upon the conclusion of the presentation of evidence, the grand jury returned a not true bill today, finding that the use of force by Wasco County Sheriff’s Deputies Tyler Williams and Joshua Augustus, and The Dalles City Police Officer Jeremiah Dutton that resulted in Law’s death was justified and not criminal under Oregon law. Sheriff’s Deputy Kanyon Reams and The Dalles City Police Officers Nolan Randall and Ezequiel Pitones were also on the scene during the incident, but the latter three did not discharge their firearms.

Jul 10

Jul 10 Larch Creek Fire Update July 10: More accurate mapping places fire at 7,100 acres

Joshuah Albert

Initial attack crews worked through the night putting in dozer lines and burnouts along the east and west flanks from the north down to the unsecured south. The Central Oregon Type 3 Interagency Fire Management Team as well as the Green Incident Management Team from the Oregon State Fire Marshal are in place at the Dufur High School.

Jul 10

Jul 10 Meet the Travel Trainer Who’s Changing Lives for Gorge Residents

Home Page, The Dalles, Wasco County, Skamania County, Positive News

Navigating public transit in the Columbia River Gorge can be daunting for many, but Sara Crook, a dedicated ‘Travel Trainer’ with the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) and Columbia Area Transit, is on a mission to change that, one rider at a time.

Jul 10

Jul 10 Unions and D21 Confront Clerical Error in Tentative Agreement; grievance filed

Ken Park

D21EA President Jodi Ketchum emphasized that the unions now face a critical choice: move forward with the tentative agreement or reopen bargaining.

Jul 3

Jul 3 Celebrate Independence Day in The Dalles: A Day Packed with Fun, Fitness, and Fireworks!

Join The Dalles community on Thursday, July 4, for a full day of festivities celebrating Independence Day. Start your morning with the Rocket Run along the scenic Columbia River, followed by a free community breakfast and yoga session. Enjoy the charm of the Hometown USA Parade, a concert in City Park, and a lively block party. Cap off the evening with a spectacular fireworks display over the Columbia River. Don’t miss out on this day filled with fun, fitness, and patriotic pride!

Jul 1

Jul 1 Photo Gallery: Pride in The Dalles

Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance (CGPA) celebrated LGBT Pride Month in downtown The Dalles on Saturday, June 29. Hundreds flocked to the event to enjoy celebrating LGBTQ resilience and the fight for equal rights.

Jul 1

Jul 1 City of TD Seeks Community Input on Tourism Vision and Transient Room Tax Use

City of The Dalles

The City of The Dalles is seeking community input on tourism and the use of Transient Room Tax (TRT) revenues via a survey available on the City’s website and Facebook page, accepting responses until July 15th at 5:00 PM.

Jun 28

Jun 28 Grand Jury Indicts Noe Zaragoza, Jr. On Murder in the Second Degree

Washington Gorge Action Programs

Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis announced the grand jury indicted Noe Zaragoza, Jr. (23) for Murder in the Second Degree, two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon With a Firearm, Menacing, and Assault in the Fourth Degree. Zaragoza, Jr. was indicted on Wednesday, June 26.

Jun 28

Jun 28 WAGAP announces leadership changes

Home Page, Hood River County, Klickitat County, Wasco County

In a move planned nearly two years ago, the Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) Board of Directors announced that Jennifer Pauletto will be the new executive director as of July 1, 2024. Juan Reyes has been selected to join her as the new associate director.

Jun 27

Jun 27 Houseless Collaborative preps cooling resources

Washington Gorge Action Programs

Home Page, Hood River County, Klickitat County, Wasco County

In anticipation of this summer’s dangerously hot temperatures and wildfire smoke events, Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative partners will have free cooling kits available for houseless residents. They have also compiled lists of local sites where people may seek safety when life-threatening conditions set in.

Jun 26

Jun 26 TDHS Rocket Run is July 4th!

Joshuah Albert

Wasco County, The Dalles, Home Page

This Fourth of July, The Dalles High school will host a Fourth of July Rocket Run, on July 4th at 7 a.m. at Bargeway Pub & Catering! (Day of registration open at 6:30 a.m.) This all-day celebration not only commemorates Independence Day but also fosters community spirit and health.

Jun 22

Jun 22 Fatal Shooting in The Dalles June 22; Suspect Identified and At Large

Police are searching for a suspect involved in a fatal shooting that occurred early Saturday morning , June 22 in The Dalles, OR. The suspect has been deemed armed and dangerous, according to a press release from The Dalles Police Department.

Jun 22

Jun 22 Gorge Festival of Nations Returns to Cascade Locks

The Dalles, Wasco County, Home Page, Hood River County

The Columbia River Gorge Festival of Nations returned to Cascade Locks Port in Marina Park after a 14 year hiatus on Saturday, June 15. More than 1,000 people traveled from across the region to celebrate the traditions and culture of the Columbia River tribes.

Jun 21

Jun 21 Names Released in Officer Involved Shooting in The Dalles

The City of The Dalles Police and Wasco County Sheriff’s Office released the names of the officers and suspect involved in the stolen commercial boom truck incident that ended in a fatal shooting on June 18.

Jun 21

Jun 21 Fire Weather Watch Issued for Lower Columbia Basin

The National Weather Service (NOAA) has issued a Fire Weather Watch for the Lower Columbia Basin on Sunday, June 23, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Jun 21

Jun 21 The Dalles Downtown Tree Project Update

City of The Dalles