Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) is seeking interested candidates for openings on the MCEDD Board of Directors, particularly those involved with Agriculture, or the Food and Beverage Industry.

A passion for helping others, and seeing the life-changing work done in both the public health and non-profit sectors guided the career path of recently retired North Central Public Health District Director Shellie Campbell.

Ben Mitchell is selected to take the seat held by the late Tim Counihan. Lawsuit brings ammendment after City’s short-term ordinances is hit with allegations of discrimination towards property owners living out of state.

Candidate filings are still being accepted for Hood River Mayor and three City Councilor positions. The filing deadline is no later than 5 p.m., Tuesday, August 27, 2024, and voters will choose in the November 5, 2024, General Election. Paul Blackburn is currently the Mayor and Mark Zanmiller, Megan Saunders, and Gladys Rivera hold the Council seats that are in play.

As of July 25, more than 1 million acres are estimated to have burned in Oregon as megafires at more than 100,000 acres are burning in three locations in the eastern part of the state.

Heavy equipment was brought in to assist with clearing roads and creating fuel breaks reopening an Eagle Creek Fire contingency line. Conditions were also favorable for an infra-red flight allowing for better mapping of the area and a more accurate number of acres burned.

After 7 long years, Special Olympics Oregon offered the SUMMER STATE GAMES at Oregon State University July 12-14th.  

“Yeah, I buried the nose twice today,” 14-year-old Angelo Fasulo said. “Yeah, I death rolled.”

Through its annual Community Investment Grant Program, Visit Hood River announces the award of $39,278 in matching funds to seven local organizations.

Due to dry and hot conditions, campfires are prohibited across the Mt. Hood National Forest beginning Friday, July 12, 2024.

Hood River will host its annual 4th of July festivities, starting with a parade at 10 a.m., organized by the Hood River Lions Club. Fireworks will follow at 10 p.m. on the Hood River Waterfront.

The Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge reopened on Sunday, June 30th, three days after a semi-trick accident that resulted in significant damage to its span lifts.

In a move planned nearly two years ago, the Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) Board of Directors announced that Jennifer Pauletto will be the new executive director as of July 1, 2024. Juan Reyes has been selected to join her as the new associate director.

A semi-truck crashed on the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge this morning, Thursday, June 27, 2024, closing the bridge until further notice. The incident occurred when a semi-truck, pulling an excavator on a flatbed, failed to lower the excavator's arm sufficiently. As the truck crossed the bridge, the excavator's arm struck the span lifts, causing severe damage. 

In anticipation of this summer’s dangerously hot temperatures and wildfire smoke events, Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative partners will have free cooling kits available for houseless residents. They have also compiled lists of local sites where people may seek safety when life-threatening conditions set in.

The Columbia River Gorge Festival of Nations returned to Cascade Locks Port in Marina Park after a 14 year hiatus on Saturday, June 15. More than 1,000 people traveled from across the region to celebrate the traditions and culture of the Columbia River tribes.

Hundreds of Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) members from six Providence hospitals including Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, have participated in a three-day strike that began early Tuesday, June 18. At some hospitals, picket lines began forming at 6 a.m. Nurses are striking for adequate paid leave, fair labor practices, affordable health insurance fair market wages, and smaller patient-to-nurse ratios.

The City of Hood River Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on July 1, 2024, to consider amendments to the City’s Transportation System Plan (TSP). The hearing will focus on transportation improvements recommended in The Heights Streetscape Plan, a transportation refinement plan that reflects three years of community input and public meetings.   

The affordable housing development at 780 Rand Road has secured the final pieces of funding needed to move forward. Community Development Partners (CDP) and Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation (CCHC), the City of Hood River’s chosen developers for the project, have been awarded $36.4 million in private activity bonds and a 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credit allocation of $3.2 million by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS). 

Over 250 people attended Black in the Gorge’s (BIG) 2nd annual Juneteenth celebration at Jackson Park in Hood River on Sunday, June 16. The event featured food, fun, and performances from Boka Marimba Band, dance lessons from African Dance Instructor Ebenezer “Ne” Amartey, the Gorge Freedom Choir, and a DJ.