Columbia Gorge Community College celebrated Native American Heritage Month with eight-time Grammy Award nominees the Black Lodge Singers at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center, in The Dalles, OR on November 17th. Plus other ways to celebrate Native American Heritage in the Gorge this month.

Fentanyl continues to flow through Oregon. Oregon State Police seizes 12 pounds of the pills near Albany and major busts have been on the rise along with a spike in overdoses from the highly potent synthetic opioid.

Keeping children warm in cold weather is a goal of local winter clothing drives throughout the region. Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) partners with the efforts of Coats for Kids and Skyline Health’s Winter Outerwear Drive to keep kids safe.

MCEDD is now seeking public input on opportunities to create a regional transit system in the Gorge with an online public open house – open now through November 27, 2022. The online open house includes a map that includes new and expanded services and destinations. The survey gives residents the opportunity to add to or modify that map.

Crews were drilling at the corner of Crates Way and River Road on Thursday, Nov. 17, as 12 new power poles will be erected in the Port of The Dalles in weeks to come. The Power poles lead to Google’s new data center site at 3500 River Road.

UPDATE NOV. 17th 2022 at 11:11 p.m.: As of November 17th, 2022 at 11:11 p.m there is an estimated 1 vote left to count in Klickitat County and the voter turnout in Klickitat County is at 72.52%. Klickitat County will certify the election results on the 29th and then send them to the Washington Secretary of State’s Office,. The Secretary of State Office has until Dec. 8th to certify the statewide results.

It’s that plush time of year - holidays on the horizon and great music to be had everywhere. Check out this week’s listing of great arts and entertainment throughout the Gorge. Carrell, Johnson on tap for Saturday, Nov. 19 at Bargeway

From the Columbia River Gorge Commission:

For the first time in the history of the Columbia River Gorge Commission, a member of a federally recognized tribe will lead the organization. During the November 8, 2022, Commission meeting, Carina Miller, of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, was elected as Chair of the Commission.

I-84 is closed in eastern Oregon eastbound between Exit 216, six miles east of Pendleton, and Exit 265 east of La Grande, and closed westbound between Exit 302 in Baker City and Exit 216. The closures are due to multiple truck crashes and icy conditions west of La Grande.

The Oregon Secretary of State’s office notified OSP that Ballot Measure 114 will go into effect at 12:00 a.m. on December 8, 2022.

The Dalles City Council voted in favor of settling a lawsuit with the Oregonian in regard to a public record request about the water usage of the first three google data centers in The Port of The Dalles on Monday, Nov. 14 at about 8 p.m.

Lake Taco, an authentic family Mexican restaurant run by Maria and Enrique Ortega located at 1213 June Street in The Heights of Hood River, is in danger of closing its doors forever. But this family run business isn’t going down without a fight. Lake Taco has started a Kickstarter to help them raise $40,000 to get their business up and running at their new location (606 Oak St.) in downtown Hood River.

Join local author Heidi Burke for a Q & A at The Dalles Library to celebrate her newest book, "A Superhero for Christmas," on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 5:30 p.m.

Riverside Community Church, United Church of Christ, with the support of community partners, will host a free meal from 12-3 PM on November 24th, Thanksgiving Day. All are welcome.

North Wasco County Parks and Recreation Executive Director Scott Baker said he was pleased to report that NWCPRD has installed new irrigation, reseeded the lawn, and completed some tree plantings at Sorosis Park as a part of phase one of the Sorosis rehabilitation project.

Columbia Bank is poised to sell off several bank branches to First Security Bank of Washington, including two branches in the Gorge, including branches at 202 West Main Street, Goldendale and 390 Northeast Tohomish Street in White Salmon, according to prnewswire.com on Nov. 7

Turkey Trot in The Dalles on Thanksgiving could bring a lot of gravy to The Dalles Backpack Program. Columbia Gorge Motors will match all proceeds dollar for dollar this year and give it to the volunteer program that sends backpacks of food home with local students each week.

North Central Public Health District will host a free 3-day vaccine and flu shot clinic at 523 E. 3rd St in The Dalles on November 17th, 18th, and 19th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The clinic will have JYNNEOS vaccines against monkeypox, Pfizer, Moderna, and the Novavax COVID-19 vaccines, and regular flu shots not specially formulated for seniors.

Tár and The Banshees of Inisherin, two of the year’s best films, examine the power and cost of art to sublime ends, admittedly through very different lenses. And both films will undoubtedly be strong contenders for the upcoming awards season.

I believe it is the first time I have attended any sort of Veteran’s Day celebration and it is hard to imagine a program being better organized and meaningful than the one I witnessed on Thursday. - JIm Dunnigan on the Dufur School‘s assembly to honor Veterans.