The Dalles City Council approved a franchise agreement with the Chenowith Water PUD to formalize the district’s continued occupancy and use of the City right-of-way. City officials said the two parties have been working on the agreement for months. The agreement does not require the District to build its water system to City water-system design standards, but addresses work that takes place in the municipal right-of-way. City Manager Matthew Klebes says the agreement will take effect July 1, and will gradually increase the percentage of gross revenues the Chenowith district will pay the City, starting at 1% in the upcoming fiscal year, and going up to 5% over the next five years. The City Council approved the agreement unanimously, and the Chenowith Water PUD board approved it last week.
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Symposium To Discuss Tree Fruit Economics
Oregon State University will host a day-long symposium on the economics of the tree fruit industry on April 8 at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. OSU Associate Professor of Horticulture Ashley Thompson says expert speakers and panels at the symposium will cover the wide range of financial challenges that orchardists and all farm operations are facing. The symposium will include talks on national trends, understanding cost structures, crop insurance, agricultural overtime, and land market trends. There will also be grower panel discussions about cost management strategies and market diversification. To sign up for the April 8 symposium, call the OSU Extension in Wasco County at 541-296-5494.
Final Cherry Fest Plans Released
The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce released the final plans for next month’s re-imagined Northwest Cherry Festival. The festival has had to move off of First Street while City renovations take place, moving the carnival to Lewis and Clark Festival Park and moving other activities around downtown, including Fourth Street. Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says all of the usual parts of the festival have been accounted for, but many will be in different locations. Entries are now being taken for the Cherry Festival parade and the window decorating contest, along with nominations for the Little Royals contest. Details are available at NorthwestCherryFestival.com.
Reports Finds Non-Profits Feeling Strain Of Federal Changes
A year of federal funding and policy changes have strained southwest Washington nonprofits, according to a new report published by the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington. The “Finding Ways Forward” report presents data from the organization’s 2025 nonprofit survey, which polled more than 100 nonprofit leaders across Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania Counties. The responses reveal a sector navigating major financial challenges and growing uncertainty. Acute concerns include staffing reductions, program closures, additional administrative burdens and a rising demand for services. Larger organizations carry the greatest financial exposure, with cause areas like early childhood education, food security, and physical and mental health most reliant on federal funding. Because of this, leaders across the sector — including those insulated from federal changes — anticipate ripple effects that will increase competition for philanthropic resources and weaken essential community services. 60% of respondents feel insecure or worse about the state of the sector. Nonprofit leaders emphasized creativity and collaboration, including efforts to diversify revenue streams, strengthen partnerships and invest in shared infrastructure.
March 23 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
West Point (AZ) 5, Hood River Valley 3: A seventh inning Eagle comeback fell just short, as a four-run fifth inning for the Dragons proved to be the difference. Bodie Stuben and Nick Tuttle each drove in a run for HRV, which lost for the first time this season as they start a four-game stay in Arizona.
The Dalles 4, Sweet Home 3: The Riverhawks scored a pair of runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings, then held on as the Huskies plated two in the top of the seventh, and had a runner in scoring position to end the game. Thatcher Dray had a pair of hits and drove in a run for The Dalles.
Softball
Dallas 20, Hood River Valley 1
Eagle Point 5, Hood River Valley 1: Honey Wampler-Bryan had an RBI in the first game and joined Gracyn Hanshaw with two hits each in the second game.
The Dalles 12, Crook County 1: Maddy Sagapolutele had a homer and four runs batted in while Ainslee Eiesland also hit a home run and had three RBI.
The Dalles 10, Ridgeview 3: Eiesland had two hits and drove home two runs in the nightcap for the Riverhawks.
Stevenson sweeps Goldendale 21-7 and 32-12: Chloe White drove in four runs for Stevenson with game 1, while Lily Wilkerson had four RBI in game two.
Boys Soccer
Columbia 8, Onalaska 0
Toledo-Winlock 15, Stevenson 0
Recycling Service In The Dalles To Expand
The Dalles Disposal, in partnership with Circular Action Alliance Oregon, will launch expanded curbside recycling service for the City of The Dalles next Monday. The Dalles is the first Oregon community to expand curbside recycling access using producer funding available through the state’s Recycling Modernization Act. Nearly 5,000 new 90-gallon recycling carts are being delivered to customers by The Dalles Disposal. The carts are about six times larger than the previous curbside recycling bins, providing more room for the expanded list of recyclables that took effect in August 2025. The service expansion is supported by Oregon’s Extended Producer Responsibility program for paper and packaging, which requires brands and companies that supply packaging and paper products to help fund improvements to the state’s recycling system. CAA, the nonprofit Producer Responsibility Organization selected by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to implement the program, provided more than $200,000 to The Dalles Disposal to purchase the new recycling carts. Residents will receive information directly from The Dalles Disposal about what’s changing and how to recycle correctly.
Sign-Ups For White Salmon-Bingen Yard Sale Map Underway
The Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce is taking registrations from those who want to be a part of the White Salmon-Bingen Community Wide Yard Sales and Business Sidewalk Sales the weekend of April 10. The Rotary Club of White Salmon-Bingen also sponsors the event leading into the community cleanup later in the month. Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tammara Tippel says registering will put your sale on the map to be available in print and online that weekend. To submit your sale for the map, email it to info.mtadamschamber@gmail.com. For more information, call the Chamber at 509-493-3630.
Spring Break Not A Barometer For Summer Travel
Spring break often means travel for many people, but it doesn’t necessarily provide tourism officials a barometer for what to expect in the summer. The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says unless there are specific events going on, spring break tends not to bring large numbers to The Dalles area. Farquharson says the Oregon Coast tends to get more visitation during the spring break period. She says The Dalles will be helped by a pair of high school baseball and softball tournaments bringing in visitors this week.
Mendoza Sponsored Apple Heritage Bill Signed Into Law
A bill sponsored by Washington 14th District State Representative Gloria Mendoza to preserve Washington’s rare and historic apple varieties was signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson during a ceremony at Yakima’s Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences. House Bill 2525 establishes a statewide heritage orchard program to identify and register historic orchards and catalog rare or “lost” apple varieties across Washington. The new law defines a heritage orchard as one containing at least five apple trees more than 74 years old or an orchard that includes at least one tree of a rare or lost apple variety. The program will be administered through Washington State University. Washington produces more than 60% of the nation’s apples, but many historic varieties have disappeared from commercial production over time as the industry has focused on fewer, high-demand apples. Mendoza said the registry program will help ensure those unique varieties are not lost.
Prep Sports Roundup For March 20-21
Baseball
Hood River Valley 7, Pendleton 2: Kingston McAdam and Trevor Jacobs drove in two runs apiece as the Eagles won their second straight game to start the season. McAdam and Tyson Harjo had two hits each, as the Eagles fell behind 2-0 after two innings but immediately scored three in the top of the third, two on a McAdam double, and never trailed from there in HRV’s final game before heading to Arizona for four games over spring break.
Stayton 10, The Dalles 2: Stayton scored runs in each of the first four innings to get out to a 7-0 lead and cruise from there. Sawyer Dray and Hunter Bustos drove in runs for the Riverhawks.
Softball
Pendleton 7, Hood River Valley 5: The Buckaroos scored three runs in the fifth inning to take the lead and held on from there. Honey Wampler-Bryan had three doubles to spark the Eagle offense, while Isa Rivera also had three hits and drove in two runs.
Sunnyside 14, Columbia 4
Columbia 19, Sunnyside Christian 7: Joella Posini went four for five and drove in three runs, Hailie Kock went four for six with four RBI, and Danica Herman brought home three runs as the Bruins split a pair of games over Yakima on Saturday.
Track and Field
Stevenson’s boys earned three first place finishes at the Wildcat Relays at LaCenter. They came in the 4 by 100, 4 by 200, and in the sprint medley relay. The Bulldogs finished third in the both the boys and girls team standings, and Columbia was fifth in both.
Trout Lake’s Melody Stock won the girls’ 3,000 meters at the Molalla Invitational, while teammates Jade McLean was second in the pole vault and Ellie Rubesh was second in the triple jump. Jayden Kusky was second in the boys’ shot put for the Mustangs.
Boys Soccer
Kalama 13, Stevenson 0
LaCenter 1, Columbia 0
Girls Flag Football
Ida B. Wells 59, The Dalles 22
Central Catholic 56, The Dalles 0