Thoughts from the Tractor Seat: A Timeline of Trouble, How Our Farms Got Here

From designing solar ovens and folding paper airplanes to creating original characters and exploring ceramics, this week’s library events invite families and individuals to learn, play, and discover together. With special guest programs and off-site movie nights, there’s something for every age to enjoy.

Police say they have seen a sharp increase in micromobility traffic—especially e-bikes ridden by juveniles—and growing confusion about the rules. After a short period of outreach to students, parents and visitors, officers will begin citing violations.

The proposed Dallesport Community Park would sit on a 5.5-acre parcel at Sixth Avenue and D Street, land originally deeded to Klickitat County in 1946 with the intention of becoming a park. That promise stalled for generations, but since 2022, local residents have been organizing to bring the site to life.

Opening Celebration September 6 for Our New Exhibition, A Sense of Place, Exploring the History and Evolution of the Imperial Stock Ranch - Where Sustainable Sheep Ranching from the High Desert of Central Oregon Meets the World of High Fashion and the Olympics.

For the fourth year in a row, the Washington side of the Gorge will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month with El Grito, a cultural celebration open to all community members. Admission is free and the event will be held on Sunday, September 14, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Rheingarten Park in White Salmon. 

The Portland Trail Blazers are bringing Rip City to the Gorge next month as part of their 11th annual Rip City Rally, with a community celebration scheduled in The Dalles on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

With the start of school right around the corner, we are racing to allow traffic to pass through W 10th St for access. Paving is scheduled for the main reconstructed area between Hostetler and Floral on September 2nd; on this day, the street will remain closed, allowing for paving following the attached traffic control plan.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible businesses, private nonprofits, and residents in Oregon of the Sept. 15 deadline to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans to offset physical damage caused by the Rowena Wildfire occurring June 11-19.

Neighbors will take the stage to share poems and stories during a community reading at the Wasco County Public Library on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Click here to see the featured poets.

The opening night street celebration on Aug. 22 will feature live music by Los Renegados, a performance by local Hispanic Dancing Horses, food vendors serving tamales and empanadas, wine from Tierra De Lobos, cultural booths and children’s activities.

The City of The Dalles Public Works Department will be painting the center and side lines on streets throughout the community on Monday, August 18, through Thursday, August 21, 2025, beginning at 6:00 am each day, weather permitting.

Crews are racing to pour new sidewalks and crosswalks near Chenowith Elementary and Wahtonka High — all part of a $1.5M project to make routes to school safer. School and City officials hope to have much of the work done before students return Sept. 3.

Effective September 13, 2025, The Link will introduce redesigned bus routes in The Dalles, known as the Blue and Red Deviated Fixed Routes. Operating weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on an hourly schedule, this new bi-directional design will provide a faster, more efficient route within The Dalles by eliminating stops on the outskirts and offering travel in both directions. The Link will continue to serve Water’s Edge and Port of The Dalles through our Dial-a-Ride service.

New! Gorge Gigging Guide Highlights gives you a quick look at the week ahead in music, comedy, performance, festivals, and more! It’s a Great Way to get a handle on planning for the Best in what The Gorge has to offer! 

From learning the timeless art of storytelling to sipping herbal tea you’ve blended yourself, this week’s events at The Dalles Public Library are packed with creativity, entertainment, and community connection. Whether you’re here for movies, music, or meeting a few live “decomposers,” there’s something to spark curiosity in every age group.

It pains me to read about people starving in countries in Africa and in Gaza. News is overwhelming. Besides human suffering, many pets are devastated. Local posts on Facebook and other social media do a noble job of alerting us to lost pets or those needing new homes.

The Wasco County District Attorney's Office announced a significant partnership with the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) to enhance efforts in combating drug crime within the community. This collaboration will leverage the Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) program, a key initiative designed to strengthen federal and local law enforcement efforts.

Construction is set to begin the week of August 18 (delayed from the intended start day of July 28) on critical water infrastructure upgrades along Spring Street and North Main Avenue. This work marks the start of the North Main Booster Pump Station Project, a major investment in White Salmon’s water system designed to improve both everyday water service and emergency fire flow capacity for residents in the North Main/Simmons Road pressure zone.

The project is often described as the companion and connecting piece to the Federal Street Plaza which is scheduled for construction in 2026. It aims to bolster an event area and pedestrian friendly atmosphere for both locals and visitors while spurring economic growth in the historic downtown corridor.