Locals sound off about their health care as well as the state of the health care system this week. There is no lack of dialogue on this topic. It’s an issue that touches every resident, every American, and every person on this planet we found out.

More than 30 downtown businesses in The Dalles are pairing up with food and beverage businesses tonight, May 6, to bring locals a Taste of the Gorge. Beer, wine, meats, cheese, guitars and even hat contests are on tap as TD comes alive for First Friday in its second rendition. Grab your appetite and a lust for fun. And see you there!

The Dalles Booster Club will hold its 2nd Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 14th at The Dalles Civic Auditorium. Athletes from several generations will be inducted. From Donita Huskey to Johnny Lundell. Read about them all here.

Last week, however, at The Dalles’ final home meet and at the Dean Nice invitational in Gresham on April 29 - all eyes were on Zoe Dunn’s outstanding triple jump, which smashed her personal record by nearly three feet and obliterated the school record set by Sharon Engle in 1998.

First arriving units reported smoke coming from the structure and encountered a group of local musicians removing their equipment from the pavilion. Firefighters used forcible entry tools to gain access to the interior of the building where they found fire in the wall

Elections are happening across Oregon on Tuesday, May 17 and the deadline for citizens to register to vote or change party affiliation is Tuesday, April 26. All Wasco County residents are encouraged to participate by registering or updating their current voter information. Click her to find out how.

Watch for the first Cherry Fest queen at the annual parade slated for 10 a.m. in The Dalles on Saturday, April 23. The parade starts at Sixth and Webber streets (Burger King) and flows east down Third Street in downtown before heading north on Monroe Street at Optimist Printers and then returning west on Second Street to the U.S. Post office.

The Dalles High School’s National Honor Society visited St. Peter’s Landmark on Tuesday to help volunteer Alan Eagy with some weed pulling around The Dalles’ most Iconic building.

Vegetable and nut oils brought fierce flames at the Azure Standard warehouse and main office in Dufur on Monday, April 18th, when the building caught on fire for reasons that are yet unknown.

The Dalles City Council recognized three employees on Monday, April 11th, for their commitment to the City and excellence in the performance of their duties. Their nominations were reviewed by the City Manager, Human Resources Director and Mayor Richard Mays. Find out more here.

Strong, confident people are not born. They are raised and nurtured and mentored and loved. Case in point: Gabriella Haskins - 2022 Distinguished Young Woman for Wasco County. Her path trails back to when she was a toddler watching her older sister on the balance beam and the strong girls that surrounded her.

Tough Enough? Mike Omeg said neither he nor any of his workmates can remember a snow when cherry trees were in blossom in the past 50 years. Local cherry trees hit with snow during the blooming season avoided freezing temperatures. Omeg said that bodes well for this summer’s crop. But it’s a long road to June.

Taylor Morehouse clearing the bar at 14'. The Dalles High School Senior is on a tear besting his state performance a year ago by increasing to 14’ 10” of late. And there is a whole lot more where that came from. Check out what’s happening with track and field athletes before they hold their final home meet on Wednesday, April 13 at 3:30 p.m. It’s senior night.

Things are popping this weekend as live music and First Friday events in both The Dalles and Hood River offer up some fun entertainment and dance opportunities. So, no singing the blues; put on your dancing shoes.

Varsity baseball plays host to Forest Grove Tuesday, March 29, at Bob Williams Field at the Q, first pitch is slated for 5 p.m. We’d also like to welcome our new volunteers to the Riverhawks’ baseball family, as Ray Bustos is serving as our PA announcer, and TDHS Ski Coach Dane Klindt will be running scoreboard.

The Dalles City Council will hear an update on the City’s buildable lands inventory at its regular meeting this evening, Monday, March 28, starting at 5:30 p.m. The buildable lands inventory is used in guiding decisions and requests affecting local employment and the economy.

Coming shows and events at The Ruins, Granada, Last Stop Saloon, Zim’s, Route 30, TD Civic Auditorium, Riverside Community Church, Mosier Company, Working Hands Beer, Everybody’s Brewing, Grateful Vineyard, TD Wasco County Library, TD Eagles, The Pines, TD First Friday.

Coming shows and events at The Ruins, Everybody’s Brewing, Grateful Vineyard, Bargeway Pub, Granada, River City Saloon, Zim’s, Columbia Center for the Arts, Mid-Columbia Community Concert Association, The Dalles Wasco County Library, The Dalles Eagles, Working Hands, The Pines, Downtown The Dalles, Bingen Theatre, Gorge Blues and Brews, Route 30, Cider Fest, Stone Hedge Gardens.

Housing Developers in East the Dalles will be looking at increased fees for sanitary sewer services if The Dalles City Council approves a reimbursement district at its regular meeting set for 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 14.

The Batman brings us back to Gotham—albeit a more squalid, rainy and corrupt version—where Batman (Robert Pattinson) is only in his second year as the caped crusader and finds himself squaring off against The Riddler (Paul Dano), The Penguin (Colin Farrell) and Carmine Falcone (John Turturro).