Thoughts from the Tractor Seat: Why FFA Still Matters — Right Here in Our County

For many people, FFA is easy to misunderstand. Some still think it’s just about farming or kids who plan to stay in agriculture. That view misses the point — especially here in our county, where we see firsthand what FFA really does.

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Home Page, Business, Education Robin Home Page, Business, Education Robin

Column: Tax Breaks, Water Use, School Cuts: The Real Cost of Hosting Google in The Dalles - $2,764 Per Student, Per Year

For years, we’ve been told this is the deal: give the biggest corporation in the room a break, and the rest of us will come out ahead.

But at some point, “incentive” turns into “subsidy,” and “partnership” starts to feel like permission. Permission to take more than you give, to grow faster than a community can support, and to call it success as long as the buildings look ‘beautficationed’ from the highway.

The Dalles deserves better than being a bargain-priced host. We’re not anti-business. We’re pro-fairness. Pay what you owe, tell the truth about what you use, and invest in the schools and systems that keep this town alive.

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Home Page, Wasco County, The Dalles Columbia Community Connection Home Page, Wasco County, The Dalles Columbia Community Connection

Columbia Gorge STEM Hub Launches Little Free Libraries Project to Boost Youth Literacy and STEM Skills in Five-County Region

The Columbia Gorge STEM Hub, a department of the Columbia Gorge Education Service District, is launching a new Little Free Libraries project designed to increase equitable access to literacy resources while providing hands-on, career-connected learning opportunities for local students. 

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