Two-year-old Kolotea Laulualo of The Dalles was transfixed with the scoops and beads in this blue bin at the Play & Learn booth on Saturday, May 18 at the Children’s Fair at The Dalles City Park.

Bingen City Council gives Craig Trummel the nod to fill the vacant council seat. The insurance underwriter has a background as a private practice lawyer and currently works for WFG National Title Insurance. Trummel expressed his interest in the city’s street and water systems, praising the recent work done on Humboldt Street and noting the unique relationship between the Bingen and the City of White Salmon.

Jennifer mentions that a lot of their pieces are handmade, and this is where our conversation really takes off. A self-proclaimed Hot Glue Queen (a title I’m sincerely jealous of), she and Steven keep busy year-round with endless arts & crafts projects that span mediums. For the past two years, Steven has tended his new passion for woodturning. And that angel on the northernmost end of their yard? They made it.

I looked to my left and saw the most precisely placed array of lights and light-up figures, everything red and white and orbiting a singular more colorful centerpiece, an electric tree, the lights of which seemed to move in all directions. I’d found my first winner.

Esperanza came to the United States as a young child and was eventually granted temporary permission to live and work legally in the US through the Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Every two years, she's required to renew her DACA application to maintain her eligibility. And every renewal period, she faces several financial burdens.  

Crestline Construction is under contract with Maul Foster & Alongi (MFA), we will be installing a 36” storm line across Klindt Drive and River Rd. Construction will be periodic from January 2nd, 2024 through January 31st, 2024, and between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:30 pm. This work will take place on weekdays, Monday to Friday.

The Dalles Public Library hosted its gingerbread house-making event for children and families, witnessing a significant turnout. This year marks the second successful run of the event, with all preordered gingerbread houses being claimed before the event started.

Whenever we consider a change in our lives, even a positive one, we encounter the paradox of transformation. On one hand, we are on familiar ground. It may not be the best, but it’s what we’re used to. When we think of making a change, we run the risk of losing our stable ground. We tend to settle for what is familiar. Why rock the boat?

Preparations for operating the Skamania County Emergency Warming Shelter in Stevenson are in progress. An opening date has not yet been announced, but when it opens, it is expected to be available through mid-March. The shelter is located near the Hegewald Center and is operated by Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP).

In November, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 7,300 jobs, following a revised loss of 4,300 jobs in October. November’s losses were largest in professional and business services (-2,900 jobs); construction (-1,700); leisure and hospitality (-1,500); financial activities (-1,300); and information (-1,000). The only industry growing substantially in November was health care and social assistance, which added 2,400 jobs.

A fire was reported at milepost 50 on I-84 near Cascade Locks on Sunday, Dec.17, at 4:18 p.m.  Cascade Locks Fire and EMS were dispatched to the area and discovered a large cache of railroad ties on private property had caught on fire. 

Mike Salsbury offers this Christmas Card from Goldendale with the sights and thoughts of locals as they have come together to celebrate their town, their people, and being together.

There was a live nativity scene in Sorosis Park this weekend, with lively music and even hot chili being served. This year marks their 46th year hosting this fundraiser, but it will be the 3rd year using live actors. This production was hosted by The Last Days of Jesus Inc., there were also many Churches that helped with the event.

The Hood River City Council convened on Monday, Dec. 11. Councilors heard a presentation from the Hood River Lions Club on expanding playground facilities, as well as a presentation from Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) on new facilities projects to support the effort to end homelessness in the region.

The Gorge Technology Alliance (GTA) held its eleventh annual awards program on December 12, 2023, recognizing the Tech Leader and STEM Educator of the Year and honoring all finalists for the two awards. Steve Olson and Jordan Holt, founders of SightLine Applications, were honored as the TechLeaders of the Year.

The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Replacement Project is moving into the design phase for the new bridge and is seeking members of an advisory committee to help guide this work. The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Aesthetics Committee will have the opportunity to generate ideas and concepts for new bridge aesthetic treatments (aka design features) that will be compiled in an Aesthetics Guidance Memorandum.

In a significant move towards addressing local housing needs and community concerns, The Dalles City Council approved General Ordinance 23-1404 during their December 11, 2023, meeting. The ordinance amends the city’s comprehensive plan related to housing and adopts a housing and residential lands needs assessment along with a buildable lands inventory update.

In Oregon, there are 5,386 kids in the foster care system and counting. Despite such a tremendous need for foster homes, there is an ongoing shortage of foster families in our communities, our state, and nationwide. This year, The Next Door, Inc. (TNDI) has returned to our roots and stepped up to fill our local need by purchasing a home in The Dalles to provide a safe, nurturing home for displaced youth.

This past weekend, Dufur transformed into a winter wonderland as the Frontloading Hometown Christmas swept through the town, leaving behind a trail of magic and festive joy. From the Dufur Market to the Balch Hotel, the entire community came alive with a myriad of Christmas-themed events, making it an unforgettable experience for locals and visitors alike.

Providing an overview of the upcoming winter season for the Mid-Columbia region and North Central Oregon, the forecast aims to deliver concise and practical insights starting today. As of now, precipitation levels hover between 110% and 130% of normal, with temperatures averaging 1 to 3°F above the seasonal average.