The ability to monitor and house people with mental imbalances has been “ripped out of the communities at a local level by the state and never been restored.” As a result, people are breaking down on city streets. They’re breaking laws, impacting the economy, and have local leaders flummoxed as the State of Oregon has failed to fund their treatment.

Taxpayers within the Northern Wasco County School District 21 may have seen a decline in their property tax bills this year. Wasco County Tax Assessor Jill Amery points this out in the following document detailing the tax roll, and the retirement of the Middle-School bond.

David Sendejas, 28, Keith Bright, 28 and Chance Sendejas, 26, said it was pretty cold last night. Temperatures dropped a couple of degrees below freezing. The houseless men were resting on Pentland Street next to The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce this morning, Tuesday, Oct. 27. Dalles City Council held a workshop on Monday night bringing in voices from three different counties to discuss the current status of the houseless and those needing mental health assistance.

The Next Door is holding its annual Stories of Hope event to raise money and spread awareness to support over two dozen programs aimed at supporting and empowering people with health promotion services, family services, youth services, economic development services, and treatment services in Wasco, Hood River, Skamania, Klickitat, Sherman, Gilliam, and Wheeler counties.

As of this morning, 7,560 of 18,403 ballots for the Nov. 3 general election had been returned in Wasco County, according to Wasco County Clerk Lisa Gambee. These numbers include ballots dropped off over the weekend but not all of the mail, she said.

Are you thinking of knitting a Christmas stocking for the holidays, but haven’t quite mastered the skills? Columbia Gorge Community College has just the answer. “Knitting a Basic Christmas Stocking” is a series of CGCC Community Education classes, starting Wednesday, Nov. 4, and continuing each Wednesday through Dec. 9.

Assistant Manager Maria Bartlett was messin’ with Squatch at the West Second Street Market across from Casa El Mirador this morning, Monday, Oct. 26. The new mural, painted by Samantha Bates was completed last week. The market is run by Hattenhauer Distributing Company.

The low water level on the Columbia River near the Union Street underpass reveals pilings from the past this Sunday Morning, Oct. 25. Their symmetrical placement and sheer number beg the question of what stood here at one point. If you know, please tell us about them in our new forum feature.

Renaldo Cruz, owner of Tacos Del Rios at 421 Union St., The Dalles, and friend Ignacio Torres work on the last of the season’s peppers on Friday afternoon. Del Diablo peppers, habaneros, and some others that are so hot they that if you write the name down it catches on fire were plucked from plants that saw their last days.

On Sep. 10th state officials and food providers released a statement saying food insecurity has been increasing statewide in Washington and Oregon. Due to the pandemic, this trend is expected to carry on for months ahead. The Lyle Good Food Pantry teamed up with Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) to provide meals to local families and community members. Their efforts in curbing the food insecurity in our region have supplied an average of 50 local families with a food box each month.

The Parade must go on! The Starlight Parade will look a little different this year with a little role reversal. Floats will be parked on 3rd street and the public will drive past to view the decorated floats.

Almost a third of ballots had already been returned to Wasco County this morning, Friday, Oct. 23, according to Wasco County Clerk Lisa Gambee.

Clinics in Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam counties, and Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles, have recently received rapid COVID-19 tests that produce results in just 15 minutes./ Las clínicas en los condados de Wasco, Sherman y Gilliam, y el Centro Médico Mid-Columbia en The Dalles, han recibido recientemente pruebas rápidas de COVID-19 que producen resultados en solo 15 minutos.

Columbia Community Connection News presents a new weekly roundup of honest local news. Featuring The Dalles' own Yahaira Alvarez, CCC's newest video journalist.

The Dalles Artist Chris Pothier began installation of the All Together The Dalles Mural at 811 E. Second Street this morning. The mural is a painting of a photomontage of iconic buildings in The Dalles area that are stacked into a mountain within the landscape of The Dalles. Everything seems out of place giving our historic places and landscape an entirely different look and, perhaps, appreciation.

The Hood River Police Department which is currently located in the daylight basement of City Hall, is engaged in new facility planning. The new facility could also potentially house Columbia Gorge Children’s Advocacy Center and a Hood River County Courthouse, although planning around including CGCAC and the County in the project is only in the preliminary stages. The Voter Approved General Obligation Bond which would fund the new facility building project won’t be on ballots until after preliminary design and costs estimates have been made.

Oregon reports 373 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 11 new deaths.

Whispering Pines Estates is requesting City approval to re-plat lots 27, 28, and 29 at 2428, 2434, and 2440 W. 14th Street, The Dalles. in the Whispering Pines Subdivision Phase 3. The re-plat will combine the three lots and divide the combined lot into two separate lots of 9,648 SF and 10,297 Square Feet respectively.

Kaila Garwood is selling the last of her dahlias as frost’s wicked fingers are threatening her pedals. The mother of two has been selling the bouquets from her front porch during the past several weeks. But freezing temperatures will soon have her out of business. She is located at 520 E. 7th St., The Dalles. Forecasters are calling for a low of 27 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday and 23 degrees on Sunday. Oh, snap!

Al Hare is gigging through the virus, but he has had to flex his style. He now focuses on solo and duo performances to accommodate changes at music venues. He has also christened The Dalles “Little Music City” based on the high ratio of music venues per capita in his hometown.