Columbia Community Connection was established in 2020 as a local, honest and digital news source providing meaningful stories and articles. CCC News’ primary goal is to inform and elevate all the residents and businesses of the Mid-Columbia Region. A rising tide lifts all boats, hop in!
"The Visiting Authors Program meets the cultural needs of our students, many of whom have never met a contemporary author, much less one of their culture or who speaks to their concerns," Wendy Patton explained. “This project selects diverse authors and integrates their work into existing courses. We will be inviting the wider Gorge community, recording and archiving the visits so people will benefit from this project well into the future.”
TDAC is proud to announce a new open call for artists of all mediums in the Columbia Gorge Region. With the diminished opportunities for artists unaffiliated with galleries, we are excited to provide artists from the area a space to exhibit their work collectively.
Teodolinda Tapia has dreamed of being the owner and cook of her own restaurant for decades. Well, it’s finally coming true as she will bring new life to the defunct Tijuana Restaurant near Dinty’s in east downtown The Dalles. The native of Michoacan, Mexico, intends to enchant locals with her Chili Rellenos in weeks to come.
— Aug. 4, City Manager Matthew Klebes addresses his new job. — Aug. 11, Eliott Gloeb, OSU Extension Faculty Research Assistant for Wasco County. — Aug. 18, Zoom meeting (no meeting at Spooky’s) Allison Specter from Project Lemonade. — Aug. 25, Business meeting in preparation for the Sept. 8 Kiwanis Steak Feed.
Al Barton was recently selected as the new Executive Director for the Center for Living after serving for a year as an interim in that position. Barton is picking up the pieces since Dr. June Gower tendered her resignation a year ago. Her tenure of fewer than two years was marked by financial challenges, union organization and substantial loss of employees. “I feel super fortunate,” said Barton on Friday, July 29. “There is plenty to do, and it’s a good time to be doing it.”
What was the first car you ever owned? Locals told us the good, the bad and the fugly. For example, Jonathan Alvarez didn’t always own a Dodge Challenger Hellcat. He started humbly with a Mazda 626 that he sold behind his Dad’s back to get a Honda Civic, a move his girlfriend and now wife appreciated.
Looking for some fun free activities to do this August? The Dalles Wasco County Library has you covered!
Some locals in The Dalles may think they’ve had enough cherries to last a lifetime. But the Baldwin Saloon is breathing new life into this familiar fruit. The result? A loving celebration of local foods that satisfies your summer cravings.
"We cannot stress enough how grateful we are to all the volunteers who have come out for Clear the Cans events this year," said Steve Drynan, Executive Director of Home at Last Humane Society. "We need our entire community to come together to help keep this shelter funded and provide high-quality animal management services to our region."
"Two years ago, in the middle of the pandemic, Oregonians and the ag industry came to us when they couldn’t move their meat products due to a shortage of inspection services,” said ODA Director Alexis Taylor. “After much hard work, collaboration, and determination, we designed a program that creates additional opportunities for producers and processors to grow and satisfy local demand.”
More than a dozen wheat trucks were lined up this morning, July 27, at Mid-Columbia Producers as the soft white wheat harvest is underway locally and regionally. First glances are noting that yields in some fields are bringing a crop that is 25 to 40 percent above average likely due to the extra rains in May and June.
U.S. Army Corps technicians found the damage to a lower guide wheel July 25, and closed the lock to river traffic. Engineers and operations staff initiated limited lockages on July 26 in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard. “At this point, we’re unsure of what caused the damage to the guide wheel, but our main focus will be getting the lock back into full service,” said Col. Mike Helton
East Scenic Drive will be the focus of bank stabilization work that started today, July 27th. The work is estimated to last a month to complete and the road will be closed to thru traffic for the duration of the work.
TDHS Grad Emily Peterson hits midpoint on Pacific Crest Trail on her way to the Canadian Terminus. 1,325 miles down. 1,325 miles to go. Trail magic, chocolate cake, and hope of seeing Oregon in August fuel hiker’s feet.
Veterans who have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, and Coast Guard can at times need assistance in accessing benefits they earned while working to further the interests of the United States of America. These two gentlemen are here to assist in those efforts.
Impending infrastructure failures push Council to make expenditures to repair water and sewer systems now rather than later.
The Dalles Mayor Rich Mays and Council honored Zora Richardson at The Dalles City Council meeting on Monday, July 25 for her contributions to the local community as well as for representing Wasco County and the City through the Distinguished Young Woman Scholarship program.
DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE WATER LOSS, THE CITY IS ASKING ALL PROPERTIES SERVICED BY THE CITY TO CONSERVE WATER. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM WATERING LAWNS AND FLOWERS, WASHING CARS, FILLING POOLS, ETC.
With temps to go triple digits for the next few days, some 10 Wasco County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers who previously helped at vaccine clinics will now, for the first time, help at Mid-Columbia Community Action Council’s (MCCAC) cooling center. Here is a complete list of cooling shelters in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Klickitat and Skamania counties.
North Wasco County School District is pleased to announce the hire of Dr. Lauren Merklin as the new Director of Teaching, Learning and Assessment. Merklin, holds both a masters and doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and Administration brings an extensive background in leadership, professional development, and school strategy to the District team.
