HOOD RIVER — Four years ago, the community asked a simple question: what if every child had the opportunity to walk or bike to school? Today, the City of Hood River, Hood River County, and Hood River County School District are celebrating a series of major wins that move that vision from planning into implementation.
HOOD RIVER — When we think of the arts, we think of a limitless range of human expression: bright colors, abstract shapes, hands-on activities, performing, and so on. But these practices don’t just exercise our creative side; they bridge to other disciplines and help us become more connected, well-rounded humans.
WISHRAM — As students traversed an inflatable obstacle course and enjoyed root beer floats inside Wishram High and Elementary School last Wednesday evening, Superintendent Tye Churchwell got word that a grass fire sparked about five miles west, just south of State Route 14.
Young artists attended a ribbon-cutting for a new mural they helped paint at Sunshine Mill Winery on Aug. 11. Local artist Denae Manion organized the class as part of The Dalles Art Center’s summer art camp. The youth painted salmon, sturgeon and lamprey, all fish important to local Indigenous nations; one of the summer’s highlights was a visit from real, live lamprey brought over by the tribal fisheries program.
WHITE SALMON — Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn began the Aug. 27 White Salmon Valley School District (WSVSD) board meeting by remembering District Network Administrator Jeff Augustus, who died unexpectedly on Aug. 17.
Free news: Gorge Native American Collaborative held a back-to-school cultural event and health fair at Columbia Gorge Community College’s The Dalles campus last month.
THE GORGE — This summer, Djuli Lomboy walked over 200 miles up the Big River, a prayer walk done in protest of the Hanford Nuclear Site and other industrial impacts, and a project she says was given to her by the land. Now she’s organizing others on behalf of the river.
MILL A — Mill A School, a K-8 located in unincorporated Skamania County, just northwest of Underwood, is completely surrounded by woods. But there’s one patch of trees that’s particularly meaningful: the Little Interpretive Forest (LIF), which serves as an on-campus outdoor classroom and natural space for students.
HOOD RIVER — Piloting a road-legal, solar-powered racecar they built from scratch, a flock of Eagles took Texas in July, securing a third-place trophy at the annual Solar Car Challenge. Led by founding captain Isabel Ulland, the traveling club team — dubbed the Solar Storms — included 11 students from Hood River Valley High School (HRVHS).
Free news: White Salmon Valley School District (WSVSD) successfully completed the public sale of $55 million in bonds on July 21.
Free news: The small community of Trout Lake in Klickitat County is home to two in-progress solar projects, one at Trout Lake Fire Hall and the other at Trout Lake’s only school building, both funded from clean energy grants.
Free news: Hood River County School District (HRCSD) hosts its annual Ready, Set, Learn! District and Community Resource Fair on Thursday, Aug. 13 from 5-6:30 p.m. at Hood River Valley High School.
THE DALLES — Columbia Gorge Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing and Fabrication program was named the U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC) Center of the Year for Manufacturing Outcomes at the annual ITAC Directors Meeting in Park City, Utah. The award recognizes CGCC’s leadership in delivering direct, measurable support to manufacturers through technical assistance, engagement, and applied problem-solving, said a news release.
The White Salmon Valley School District (WSVSD) Board of Directors unanimously passed the 2026-2027 budget after a public hearing held July 23.
ONLINE ONLY: Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn gave the White Salmon Valley School District (WSVSD) board an update on a recent work trip attended by himself and six staff members at the July 23 meeting.
Free news: Columbia Gorge Community College Board seeks interested district electors in Hood River County for consideration to be appointed to fill the remaining portion of the Position 4 vacancy. Deadline for consideration is Aug. 17.
Free news: Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) will again participate in the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI), created by the members and management of Metallica.
Free news: Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) is expanding opportunities for local residents with two new academic programs designed to meet urgent workforce needs in the Columbia Gorge: an Initial Early Childhood Education certificate, and an Additive Manufacturing Processes certificate.
THE GORGE — “It’s a real wake-up call to just be you and strip away anything that’s not you. I feel like cancer was the gift that gave me the permission to do that,” said co-author of “Cancer, the Gift” Kate Houston, a Hood River local and librarian at the White Salmon Valley library.
Free news: Trout Lake School District has a new superintendent. Doug Dearden was sworn in by Chair Laurie Sherburne at the June 24 school board meeting.
Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn laid out the expected bond-funded, unified campus project timeline at the June 25 White Salmon Valley School District (WSVSD) board meeting.
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