The concern is that changes, such as rising air and water temperatures, are impacting weather patterns, affecting habitats for plants and animals, and increasing wildfire risk. “This Action Plan is the first of its kind for the National Scenic Area” stated Jessica Olson, Senior Natural Resources Planner who co-authored the plan. “With your help, we will add new information and ideas to improve the plan over time. Please share your comments and creative ideas with us. Where possible, specific suggestions and references to sections of the Management Plan are especially helpful.”

Heat, wildfires, night hiking and finding a treasure of Natural Light beer buried in the desert. What more could our intrepid hiker want? Well, a slack line for starters, and how about some cool mountain lakes. It’s all on deck, as Emily Peterson surpasses mile 600 on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Opinions range from steadfast opposition to agreement peppered with concerns about traffic and future users of the park. Developers point out that an RV park has been needed in The Dalles for years.

Howard Gonser was first elected to the Northern Wasco County PUD Board of Directors in 1987. During his 35 years of service, he served as president of the board seven times, as well as president of the Oregon PUD Association twice. Over the past three decades, many improvements were made to the PUD’s electrical infrastructure.

”This is going to be a fun, free and family-friendly event for all,” said Mural Fest Committee member Rachel Carter. “We will have appetizers from Bargeway Pub, music by Brian Greeley, live art being created by Denae Manion and a historical scavenger hunt for visitors to engage in The Dalles history.”

Summer Solstice Celebration at Goldendale Observatory State Park will be on Tuesday, June 21, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. This unique fundraiser combines art and astronomy and will feature solar viewing through the Observatory telescope, a presentation on the history of the Observatory, food, beverages, raffles, and a display of prize-winning solar-themed artworks from the Chamber’s recent art contest.

While she got to the lake early, it was still another 4 miles to the campground after hiking 18 miles. “It was awesome and terrible at the same time. Those last four miles take twice as long because you are just beat. I wanted to jump in so bad,” she said. “But you don’t want to hike wet. You don’t want soggy feet.”

Kiwanis meetings are held every Thursday at noon at Spooky’s and visitors are welcome. This month’s events include several presentations on the foster care program from varying points of view.

Not one but two perpetrators were caught on video cameras stealing aluminum cans and bottles at Home At Last humane society on May 25, and the tapes have been handed over to The Dalles Police Department, according to police reports.

The Columbia Gorge Food Bank recently announced the expansion of several hunger relief programs and nutrition services across the region thanks in part to a new $100,000 grant from Google, which operates data centers in The Dalles.

As teens turn into young adults, it is their time to enter society, be independent, and make their way. How can we expect them to succeed and contribute to society if they have not had a good foundation that many of us take for granted?

“He told us he used to be the mascot for the Dodgers and he met celebrities Zach Efron, Larry David and Matthew McConaughey. He was this really tall dude in this Prius. And he had BadAss Billy’s Beef Jerky, and he would sell it to hikers while Ubering. He sold some to my hiking buddy.”

The stabilization work has been ongoing since 2015 in an effort to prevent the embankment to the north of Scenic Drive road from falling. Stabilization Improvements to an approximate 1/4 mile segment of between Jefferson Street/Terrace Drive and Esther Way are mostly complete. Project Engineer Mike Bosse said the latest phase will be completed by the end of October in four areas in the ¼ mile stretch with four different sections measuring, 110, 45, 40, and 70 feet.

“There is no way you can do this without coming out completely changed,” she said, repeating a mantra she has heard on trail. “They’re right,” she said.

On Monday May, 9th, Yakama Nation Fisheries and Glenwood High School’s Zoology class released twenty tagged adult lamprey into the White Salmon River at the BZ Corner launch site for the first time ever. The tags will enable biologists to track the fish's movements up and down stream.

Thanks to Raices (the Spanish word for roots), Juan and Monika found the strong, supportive community they were looking for, with the added bonus of being able to grow their own vegetables and fruits.

Country Insurance and Arturos Jewelry Repair as well as multiple other shop spaces near Sahara Pizza in The Dalles were destroyed in a heavy blaze that started around 1 p.m. this morning, May 11. It was the second fire at the location in the past 3 and a half months.

Just a fledgling business some 12 years ago, Dirt Hugger now boasts 32 employees, a retail and industrial site, and it is pulling 55,000 tons of green waste from local landfills, providing major reductions in the greenhouse gas emissions through a reduction in methane in the Gorge. If you’re not buying their products, maybe, you should be.