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!
Congratulations to our cheer team, for bringing home a 3rd place finish at the State Cheer Championships in Oregon City this past weekend! We also want to congratulate the Riverhawks swim team on a phenomenal showing at the District Swim Meet in LaGrande this past weekend!
Knock at the Cabin is a tense thriller about—maybe?—the end of the world, where four strangers invade the vacation rental of a gay couple and their daughter. What follows is a muddled, pseudo-philosophical exploration on the nature of belief and what one would do—or wouldn’t do—to stop the world from ending.
The stolen Dodge Charger from The Dalles traveled more than 60 miles and was pursued for about a half hour on the backroads off Wasco County and then through The Dalles before spikes were deployed to blow the front tires on Sunday, Feb. 12.
Montira’s Thai Cuisine at 302 W. Second Street in The Dalles is currently closed due to labor shortages, according to its owners. “We’re closed for now. We just don’t have the people to work,” said owner Ken Sommerfelt this afternoon, Feb. 13. Sommerfelt was unable to comment further.
If you haven’t gotten your booster yet, but are interested, there’s a free, walk-in, 3-day vaccine clinic. It runs from Thursday, Feb. 16 through Saturday, Feb. 18. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, and it will be held at 523 E. 3rd St., which is the former Griffith Motors building, across from Sawyer’s and Grinders Coffee.
The Dalles City Council will hear more about the recent purchase of the Oregon Motor Motel and plans for it to be converted to transitional housing for houseless people living in The Dalles. Mid-Columbia Community Action Council Exec. Director Kenny LaPoint will provide information on Project Turnkey 2.0 at their regular meeting scheduled for 5:30 p.m. tonight, Monday, Feb. 13. The meeting will be held at City Hall, 313 Court Street.
Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative has released their 2022 report which offers a snapshot of the affordable housing and houselessness situation in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Skamania, and Klickitat Counties.
Cupid has nothing on Claudia Leash, who lays claim to being one of the oldest working business owners downtown at the age of 80. And she is keeping busy at her Sigman’s Flowers. Leash said they had some 250 deliveries set for Valentine’s Day as their walk-in cooler was filled with fresh bouquets.
Locals are kicking off some parties this afternoon as the 57th Superbowl is set to start at 3:30 p.m. And if our totally unscientific analysis of 9 people means anything, the Eagles are favored to win this year’s Championship. But there is a lot of music, drinks and chili to get through first.
“Through this business deal, Adventist will become the new owner of MCMC,” according to the notice summary posted by the Oregon Health Authority “...Adventist says that MCMC will continue to provide its existing health care services, including reproductive health care.”
The Columbia Gorge wine region grew from one winery in 1980 to 40 in a 20-year period. Much of the credit for this growth is due to the work of Saturday’s speaker, Lonnie Wright.
The Dalles City Manager Matthew Klebes announced today that the City would be taking over the Hospitality role for the Cruise Ships beginning March 1, 2023.
An odd phone call from a concerned citizen led to the quick reporting of a stolen pickup from Camp’s Plumbing in The Dalles, today, Feb. 8. Police pursued the vehicle on Interstate 84 this afternoon even after spike strips were deployed and the tire of the vehicle was punctured. The pickup hit a semi 12 miles east of Pendleton and a man was arrested on allegations of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Show love to your loved ones and your community by celebrating love locally this Valentine’s Day.
The renovation project on The Dalles Bridge over the Columbia River is nearing its completion. ODOT has announced that full weekend closures, which extended into the winter months due to falling behind schedule, are expected to end by the end of February 2023, pending any winter weather delays.
The Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) has acquired the Oregon Motor Motel, located on the edge of downtown The Dalles, Oregon, with the aim of converting it into transitional housing and shelter. The $3.25 million acquisition was made possible through a $4.27 million grant from the Project Turnkey 2.0 program, which MCCAC applied for at the end of the summer of 2022.
This Saturday night, Feb. 11th celebrates the return of Tommy and Saundra O’Sullivan to Old St. Peter’s Landmark. Currently, on a west coast US tour, the O’Sullivans bring songs and stories from the west coast of Ireland.
Pearls abound in this week’s most inclusive listing of music, entertainment, comedy and literature in the Mid-Columbia as more shows have been announced and a bevy of Cupid-inspired activities are on tap.
With the recent devastating earthquake striking Turkey and Syria, local Lora Helmer is calling out to anyone that can contribute to providing shelter food, and other necessities for people in those countries finding themselves houseless and lacking food and water.
With several key aspects of the renovation now complete, the vision of a true Community Food Center is finally coming to fruition — offering a significant boost to efforts to end hunger and its root causes throughout Sherman, Wasco and Hood River counties.
