With winter in full force, partners throughout the region have been pooling resources together to help houseless community members cope with potentially life-threatening conditions. To keep this and other efforts going, Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative is extending an open invitation for individuals and organizations to learn more about its members’ work over the past year and their plans for 2024 at its next quarterly meeting from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. on February 13 via Zoom.

The players were ineligible because they were attending North Wasco County’s alternative high school, Innovations Academy, which did not have OSAA membership, a requirement for eligibility.

Arturo Leyva writes his first food Column for CCCNews. He speaks about a new food truck, what makes Mexican food authentic, and memories of sopitos in his hometown.

The Dalles was hit by a wave of burglaries and one robbery during the last two days, with police investigating potential connections between these incidents, according to The Dalles Police log. The number of thefts has some local merchants worried and guarded.

Goldendale was coming off a win at the Eastern Washington Athletic Conference Champions held on Thursday, Jan. 24, and the team rode that momentum as they earned dual wins over The Dalles and Washougal. Mike Salsbury brings us another stunning photo essay as teams are headed toward the postseason.

We are excited to roll out a new auction-style event for The Dalles Booster Club! Our Riverhawks Gathering event will be on Friday, March 7th at 5 pm. The location this year will be at The Dalles Readiness Center. If you know of any individuals or teams worthy of being added to the hall of fame, it can be from Wahtonka or The Dalles High or any combination of the merger era,  please submit your nominations before the end of February 2024

February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Teen dating violence doesn’t just affect teens. It also affects parents, teachers, friends, and communities. Around 12% of adolescents report being a victim of physical violence in their dating relationships, according to WhiteHouse.gov, highlighting why it is important for youth to understand how setting boundaries early on can be a great start to a healthy relationship.

The 14th annual Eagle Watch drew over 500 people the The Dalles Dam Visitor Center on Saturday, Jan. 27. Visitors swapped their favorite bird watching stories, photographed the eagles, participated in live raptor education demonstrations, hands-on learning activities, and more.

The annual PIT Count is a federally mandated survey of people experiencing houselessness in communities across the country. The count, which occurs in late January of every year, plays a critical role in determining the level of state and federal funding communities receive to address houselessness. It also provides key insight into the needs of those impacted by houselessness.

Board Member Judy Richardson told a packed crowd at the regular Board Meeting on Thursday, Jan. 25 that another bond attempt was not prudent for such an early date.  Future high school build costs will continue to rise as inflation continues to push up prices on labor and materials. The consumer price index during the past four years averaged 4.8 percent and is estimated to be 3.2 percent in 2024, according to the Consumer Price Index.

The result could lead to the loss of an attorney in the prosecutor’s office, which means there would be fewer people to handle cases if Wasco County does not backfill the funding. 

As the Bridge of the Gods reaches its 98th year in service connecting the Oregon community of Cascade Locks with Stevenson and North Bonneville in Washington, the Port of Cascade Locks is thinking about its future. Despite its age, the bridge is in good working order and not in need of a full replacement like the Hood River Bridge and the I-5 Interstate Bridge. However, as with any aging piece of infrastructure, the bridge would benefit from a few key upgrades to improve safety and resilience and extend its usable life.

Former Haven Director Tara Koch’s settlement hearing has been rescheduled for August 6, 2024 at 9 a.m. In Hood River County Court Room 2 after her prior hearing date, which was set for Jan. 12, was canceled.

Google just received the green light to build the second of two data centers at 3500 River Road in the Port of The Dalles within the past two years. 

The project is a continuation of the utility upgrades on West 2nd and for The Port of The Dalles area in general, allowing for expanding developments that produce larger flow amounts in both sewage and storm runoff. This latest contract will continue the work started in Spring 2018.

The Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District is hoping to put a five-year levy on the ballot in May of 2024. The levy would pay to build a new aquatic center, develop Westside Park, and purchase Parkdale Park. But first, they need to secure land for a new aquatic center.

Public Works Director Dave Anderson told Councilors that the Oregon Department of Transportation did an inspection and report on the structure crossing Mill Creek Near Safeway and recommended replacement.

The Mid-Columbia Human Trafficking Task Force in partnership with Haven hosted their second annual human trafficking awareness walk event on January 11, 2024. During the event Karen Shultz, Victim Advocate Coordinator for the Wasco County District Attorney’s Office, and trafficking survivor, bravely stepped forward to share her story to help raise awareness of human trafficking in the gorge.

Stop in Bargeway for music from Al Hare, Great Deals, Great Music, and Great Drinks, and leave the cold weather outside! Not enough? Need more? Keep reading here as we’ve got all the gigs including energetic folksters Fox and Bones in the Gorge’s most inclusive guide.