Community clean-ups have been announced. Events will be held on the second Saturday of each month in The Dalles.

The Dalles City Council will continue taking testimony this evening, Aug. 30, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. on an 80-unit high density subdivision that is being planned for East The Dalles. The hearing is a continuation of an appeal by community members who believe the subdivision will create safety issues because surrounding infrastructure is substandard.

District 21 Teachers and support staff in asked for and received additional days to prepare for the upcoming school year, which is set to begin in The Dalles, Thursday, Sept. 3., 2020. Interim Superintendent Theresa Peters said the decision was made after speaking with multiple teachers who were overwhelmed with preparations for starting the year with on-line classes.

Today Mid-Columbia Center for Living held a private meeting to discuss the end of MCCFL’s contract with the state to act as our local Community Developmental Disabilities Program. Center for Living noted that this was due to current operating costs exceeding state funding.

Military Vehicles in The Dalles on August 27th, 2020, 11:00 AM.

Mid-Columbia Center for Living is handing back the Community Developmental Disabilities Program to the Oregon Department of Human Services due to funding. There is concern over how this will affect those in need of disability services. Employees are also concerned about layoffs.

South Wasco County School District #1 is asking taxpayers to pass a $4-milliion school bond in the Nov. 3 general election to do major renovations to the schools and district buildings in Maupin. Essentially, taxpayers will get a 50 cent match on the dollar should they choose to approve the bond.

With a decrease in COVID-19 cases during the past several weeks, Wasco County is stepping closer to being able to open some schools if trends continue. Of course, each school district will ultimately make their own decision on when they can open up safely. But, recent health news is a good sign we are moving in the right direction.

Rain saved this year’s soft white wheat crop. And quality is excellent. The Pacific Northwest appears to be having a good year. But price per bushel has fallen off 70 cents in the past three months and traders are hoping for a big buy out of Portland.

The Dalles City Council took testimony for three hours tonight, Aug. 24, on an appeal of an 80-unit subdivision in east The Dalles. Attorneys for Legacy Development and the neighbors appealing the subdivision both made arguments and answered questions as councilors are being asked to balance the safety of The Dalles citizens and the need for housing.

Crestline Construction is putting some big moves on Columbia Gorge Community College.
Crews have already leveled the building site for the College’s new skill center and infrastructure is going in for the new dormitory as well. CGCC board members will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 22, to line out the construction contracts.

The Dalles City Council will hear the appeal of an 80-unit subdivision on 6.92 acres in east The Dalles at 5:30 p.m. this evening, Aug. 24, 2020.

Dufur School is nearing completion on upgrades on school buildings, the football field, parking and sidewalks. An $8-million bond approved by 68 percent of voters in 2018 made it possible. Check out the photos and progress here.

Pictured: A rainbow, accompanied by summer storm clouds and blue skies spotted above Mosier on August 20th, 2020. Want to have your photo featured on CCC NEWS? Email photo submissions to news@columbiacommunityconnection.com

Columbia Cinema in The Dalles is going to show its first movie in five months on Friday, Aug. 21, according to theater owner Bruce Humphrey. Unhinged starring Rusell Crowe will hit the screen at 3:30 p.m., he said, thanks to a smaller film company, Solstice Studios, which put the film out to test the waters.

So when she arrived on Monday, Aug. 17, to climb Adams at 12,276 feet with friend David, well, it gave me hope - that we can all fall and get back up, maybe a little stronger.

Joel Hart immediately knew it was strange - the smell of smoke in August on the family homestead three miles south of Mosier. It was a Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020 and the tiny-home builder said the smell got his back up. “I was thinking, ‘man, who is burning this time of year. They can’t be burning?’”