The Dalles Police Department, the Wasco County Sheriff’s Department and the Oregon State Police made 56 traffic stops on Friday evening during an impaired driving emphasis operation. The four hour operation resulted in 40 warnings, ten citations, and two arrests. In December TDPD alone has arrested ten individuals for driving under the influence. The Dalles Police remind everyone that driving impaired is never acceptable, and TDPD has a zero tolerance policy towards drunk or drugged driving. Please call a friend, spend the night or walk home.
Former Tony’s Site To Be A City Priority In 2026
One of the priorities for the City of The Dalles during 2026 will be to move toward getting the former Tony’s Town and Country site in the downtown area redeveloped. It will be used as a staging area for the Federal Street Plaza project during the early part of the year, but Mayor Rich Mays says they want to set the stage to receive proposals for how to use the now vacant lot. There have been various proposed projects for the property in the past years that have not gotten past the drawing board stage, most recently for a fermentation hub.
December 22 Prep Basketball Scoreboard
Girls Basketball
North Medford 34, Hood River Valley 29
Dufur 42, Perrydale 41
Heppner 67, Sherman 30
Boys Basketball
Dufur 53, Perrydale 41
Heppner 66, Sherman 29
21 Units At The Annex To Become Permanent Supportive Housing
Mid-Columbia Community Action Council is partnering with Mid-Columbia Center for Living to convert 21 units at The Annex in The Dalles into permanent supportive housing. Permanent supportive housing combines affordable housing assistance with support services to address the needs of chronically homeless people. The services are designed to build independent living and tenancy skills and connect people with community-based health care, treatment, and employment services. Local contractor CMS Construction is doing the conversions, which will include the addition of custom kitchenettes to each of the 21 units. Community Action says current Annex guests will most likely be the ones to occupy the PSH units, ensuring that no one is displaced during this transition. The work will be completed in phases, with the first clients expected to enter the program in February, with the entire project anticipated to wrap up sometime in the spring.
Meadows To Open Tuesday
Mt. Hood Meadows says it will open on Tuesday with at least three lifts in operation. In a statement on Monday, the ski area says it will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the Ballroom Carpet, Buttercup, and Easy Rider lifts, with the possibility Daisy could open as well. The terrain is limited, so skiers are asked to stay on the groomed runs and watch for unmarked obstacles. The ski area said there will be no night skiing as the snow cannot handle 12 hours a day of riding, but Night Pass holders can ski from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. until night operations cam begin. If you already purchased tickets for Tuesday or Wednesday, they will be valid. Due to the limited terrain, Meadows is sold out of daily lift tickets until Christmas Day. Highway 35 is still closed between Parkdale and Meadows due to a landslide, so make sure to check on road conditions before heading to the mountain.
December 19-20 Prep Sports Roundup
Boys Basketball
Barlow 55, Hood River Valley 52
The Dalles 55, Crescent Valley 37
Madras 72, The Dalles 61
Stevenson 71, Klickitat-Glenwood 62
South Wasco 71, Imbler 39
South Wasco 62, North Clackamas Christian 55
Horizon Christian 50, C.S. Lewis Academy 35
Horizon Christian 44, Crow 34
St. Stephen’s Academy 68, Trout Lake 19
Girls Basketball
Lake Oswego 43, Hood River Valley 23
Ida B. Wells 46, Hood River Valley 19
Mountain View 37, The Dalles 32
Crook County 52, The Dalles 37
Trout Lake 66, St. Stephen’s Academy 11
Stevenson 30, Hudson’s Bay 25
C.S. Lewis Academy 51, Horizon Christian 25
Horizon Christian 25, Trinity Academy 23
Dufur 53, Ione-Arlington 27
Imbler 60, South Wasco 20
North Clackamas Christian 73, South Wasco 31
Boys Wrestling
Copeland Louis finished fourth at 132 pounds to lead the Hood River Valley effort at the Larry Owings Invitational at Canby.
Quinn Brenner, Adrian Miramontes, and Harley Scott all had third place finishes for The Dalles at the White Buffalo Invitational at Madras
Girls Wrestling
The Dalles’ Ivy Arguello won the 110 pound division at the White Buffalo Invitational at Madras
Hood River County Forest Closed
Hood River County forest roads, trails, and parks are closed to the public due to downed trees, washed-out roads, and landslides resulting from this week’s storm activity, as crews continue to assess damage.
County Forester Doug Thiesies told County Commissioners during a special meeting this afternoon that some roads, stream crossings, culverts, and trails have been compromised, and they expect to find more damage.
Sheriff Matt English said that because crews are focused on repair and recovery efforts, signage for the closure probably won’t be installed immediately.
Thiesies added gated forest roads had already been closed before this week’s storms.
Two Hood River County Roads Remain Closed
Hood River County Public Works Director Cori Wiessner told County Commissioners that two of the road closures resulting from last night’s storm could last for awhile.
NW Natural crews were working on an exposed gas line at Barrett Drive between Country Club and Markham, and Wiessner says County crews can’t go in there until that pipe is secured.
And Woodworth Drive between Allen and Highway 35 will remain closed until an assessment of damage from a water breach that was eroding the shoulder.
Wiessner says there will also be long-term concern for wind gusts and rains leading to tree falls and landslides around the County, as soils are saturated.
Country Club Road between Frankton and Post Canyon has reopened, while Highway 35 remains closed by landslides from Highway 26 to about halfway to Hood River
County campgrounds have suffered damaged, but the extent won’t be known until water recedes.
Wasco County Jury Finds Man Guilty Of Assaulting Six-Year-Old Girl
A Wasco County jury convicted a 30-year-old man of assault and criminal mistreatment that led to serious injuries to a non-verbal, autistic six-year-old girl.
Wasco County District Attorney Kara Davis says evidence presented during the trial revealed a pattern of abuse by Edwin Diaz II, who was in a relationship with the girls’ mother when the incidents occurred in November 2022.
Diaz claimed the girl was injured when a door fell on her while playing hide-and-go-seek, but the extent of her injuries was inconsistent with that explanation.
Days later, following a violent argument between Diaz and the girl’s mother, the child was found to have suffered a broken femur.
Diaz was taken into custody, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 70 months in prison with no possibility for early release or reduction.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 30.
Davis said the victim is doing well and is a happy and healthy little girl.
December 18 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
The Dalles 71, Elma 58
Kalama 76, Columbia 69
Fort Vancouver 95, Stevenson 36
Mannahouse Christian 48, Dufur 41
Girls Basketball
The Dalles 42, Sutherlin 38
Fort Vancouver 43, Stevenson 18
Dufur 57, Mannahouse Christian 12