The money gap in the Oregon Second Congressional District Republican primary keeps growing.  Continue reading “Walden Fundraising Outpaces Challenger”

It is Northwest Cherry Festival week in The Dalles.  Continue reading “Cherry Fest Week Arrives”

Baseball Hermiston sweeps The Dalles 6-2 and 4-1 Continue reading “April 18-19 Prep Sports Roundup”

A 61-year-old man from The Dalles is facing numerous sex abuse charges after being arrested Thursday evening.  Police reports indicate Robert Stephen White is being charged with 360 counts of sexual abuse involving a number of victims over a period of years.  White was taken into custody at Mid-Columbia Medical Center after being treated for what was described as what appeared to self-inflicted wounds.  White was questioned by police at his home, and was taken to MCMC a short time later by ambulance.  He has now been lodged at NORCOR on nine million dollars bail.  Wasco County District Attorney Eric Nisley indicated he has not yet gone to the grand jury with a formal indictment to allow prosecution to proceed.

A large crowd witnessed the dedication of the new Fort Dalles Readiness Center inside its large assembly hall on Thursday.  The Center adjacent to the campus of Columbia Gorge Community College will also serve as the school’s Workforce Training Center.  Continue reading “Readiness Center Dedicated”

Wasco County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on a draft ordinance to impose a one-year moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries at a meeting on April 29. Continue reading “Wasco County To Hold Dispensary Hearing April 29”

The traditional Hood River Valley Blossom Festival weekend is this weekend.  Continue reading “Hood River Tourist Season Starts With Blossom Fest”

Hood River City Councilors decided during a worksession against having municipal staff draw up an ordinance for a medical marijuana dispensary moratorium.  Mayor Arthur Babitz said in the end they didn’t see any solid reasons to delay implementation of the dispensary program approved by the Legislature in 2013, noting Oregon voters themselves approved medical marijuana in 1997.  Councilors decided the mechanism the Legislature put in place were adequate and preferable to the alternatives.  Babitz also noted they didn’t see enough benefit to a moratorium to delay giving patients safe access to a legal medication.  The Oregon Health Authority has approved an application for establishment of a medical marijuana dispensary in Hood River.

The Dalles City Council voted to enact a moratorium against medical marijuana dispensaries through May 1, 2015 so it can further study issues surrounding the establishments.  The Oregon Legislature directed the Oregon Health Authority to develop rules for he dispensaries in 2013, but during the recent session this past winter authorized cities and counties to establish the one-year moratoriums provided they were enacted by May 1.  Councilors said they felt the City needed more time to potentially develop rules to establish “time and place” for the dispensaries, with Councilor Dan Spatz adding direction to staff that they need to take the initiative to address those issues so the moratorium could be rescinded before next May.  Most who testified during the Council hearing were against the moratorium, including the ownership of Mountain View Naturals, which has applied to the City to establish a dispensary in the central business district.  Those against the moratorium said those who use medical marijuana want a simple and safe way to be able to acquire it.  All four Councilors in attendance voted for the moratorium, with Carolyn Wood absent.

The Dalles City Council authorized allocating 20-thousand dollars to the Fort Dalles Fourth committee as that group continues to organize a Fourth of July celebration that would include a large fireworks show on the Columbia River, parade, and music festival.  Committee member Doug Kirchhofer said the money will allow them to focus on promotion targeting the entire Northwest.  The Council vote was 3-1 with Tim McGlothlin dissenting, even though he said he would personally donate time and money to the event.  McGlothlin questioned providing the funding when constituents told him it would be better spent holding the line on other increases, adding he felt the funds should come from the transient room tax rather than general fund.  City Manager Nolan Young noted TRT revenues end up in the general fund, and Mayor Steve Lawrence pointed out those revenues were going up by about $50,000 this year.