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!
Comedy, music, a fundraiser for a friend. It’s all happening in the Gorge. Check out our latest listings here.
If you are looking for a way to make a difference in your community, you might want to consider becoming a volunteer with Circles of Care to help older adults in your area. Circles of Care will host an informational meeting for interested volunteers on Tuesday, January 10th at 1:00 p.m. at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center in The Dalles, OR.
Winter sports are underway at The Dalles High School. Senior Wrestler Maisie Bandel Ramirez won the 130 lb. title at Girls Pendleton Red Lion Invitational on the December 21st and TDHS’s girls and boys varsity basketball teams both won their games against Pendleton yesterday, January 4th.
Another move downtown has the commercial district shaking. The Salvation Army is headed east to a leased building on Second Street and their old digs are up for sale for $1.65 million. The 0.29-acre lot with 24,000 square feet of building space and 10,000 square feet of parking provides a lot of potential to a would-be investor. Housing, restaurants, food carts? Who knows. Time will tell.
Welcome the new year by checking out the newly soft-opened Hot Wok Roadhouse Restaurant and Lounge located at 600 State Street in Lyle, WA.
Nancy Turner, local hiker and columnist shares a lesson in the proper use the words “further” and “farther” on the trail.
A driver who fell asleep at the wheel on New Year’s Day drove a Subaru Forrester through a brick wall and into two different rooms at Spencer, Libby & Powell at 1100 Kelly Avenue in The Dalles. In an AAA survey, nearly all drivers say that drowsy driving is a serious safety threat, yet 3 out of 10 respondents admitted to driving when they were so tired they had a hard time keeping their eyes open on at least one occasion in the past month.
Justin Moore is stoked with his new role as Executive Chef at the Last Stop Saloon. He said he gained his passion for cooking from his father, Jeffrey Clyde Moore as their large family played host to large family gatherings over the years. Moore was most recently working at the Baldwin Saloon before its closure last fall.
The Four Rivers Early Learning Hub is excited to announce its new Director, Shira Skybinskyy. Shira has served as Interim Director since July 2022 and was named Director of Four Rivers Early Learning Hub last month.
Community Advisory members and the North Wasco County School District in The Dalles met for the fourth time on Wednesday, Dec. 14 as they consider building a new high school to replace the current 1940 facility.
The discussions have been ongoing since June as community stakeholders advise the School District on the matter of a bond measure for school facilities.
There are some tough decisions to make.
CGOA’s Stages Musical Theatre is gearing up for this season’s production of Little Shop of Horrors, one of the most popular Broadway musicals of all time. Auditions for the May, 2023 performances are Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 7 and 8 at 1 p.m. at the Bingen Theater.
It’s time to blow the doors off 2023. Jim Drake gives us a nice little tour of what is happening in the Gorge to ring in the new year. Check out the shows and parties coming up this Saturday, Dec. 31.
Falling Trees take the lives of two in separate highway fatalities on Tuesday, Dec. 27
Santa has sent us letters and drawings from local 2nd and 3rd graders to help us rekindle the magic of this holiday season through these innocent and hopeful writings. Santa has quite a group of pen pals from The Dalles, Dufur, Mosier and Lyle. Check them out here.
Winter weather is in full force this weekend.
A winter storm warning is in effect for the Columbia River Gorge 4p.m. December 22nd to 4 a.m. on December 25th.
With a major uptick in flu cases, the U.S. Center for Disease Control has sent out a Health Advisory to healthcare providers regarding the importance of prescribing antiviral medications for patients with the flu this year. Flu shots are available. Click here to find out more.
The Dalles Wasco County Sheriff partnered with Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) staff and volunteers and anonymous donors from the community to deliver some Christmas magic to two families in need on Wednesday December 21st.
“We love to hear people say they drove by our house and they loved the decorations or that their kids really like Frosty,” said Stephanie Hoffman. “I would miss coming home in the evening or leaving in the morning and seeing the lights. I would miss watching cars slow down to look at the lights. I believe the decorations help people get in the Christmas spirit. As a kid, my parents used to drive us around to look at lights. It was one of my favorite things to do.”
With freezing rain, snow, and wind chill temperatures projected to be as low as -15 to -25 degrees in the coming days, Mid-Columbia Community Action Council is opening a temporary warming center using St. Vincent de Paul’s building at 315 W. 3rd St. in The Dalles beginning 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 21st, 2022.
“It’s kinda hard for me to do this—it’s a lot of work—but I do enjoy doing it, and I do it because the kids come by and they like seeing everything. I have people who will pull up in front of the house at night and stay for 5 minutes just taking it all in,” said Dorothy Waters. “Some years I think, Well, maybe I shouldn’t…But I always do. Recently a neighbor said, Boy, I’m glad you do this every year, it’s so nice to look at.”
