Part 1 of 2
Compiled by Trisha Walker
Columbia Gorge News
THE GORGE — The more things change, the more they stay the same.
While 2024 was perhaps one of the more “normal” years since the COVID-19 pandemic burst on the scene in 2020, themes that span across the years were still prevalent on the pages of Columbia Gorge News: Houselessness, affordable housing, healthcare, childcare, school funding (and lack thereof), wildfire, mental health, and the environment.
We also saw elections — a special election in Washington Feb. 13; Aug. 6 in Washington and May 21 in Oregon for primary elections; and again for both states with the Nov. 5 general election — that inspired many (many) letters to the editor in support or against candidates and bond measures.
What will 2025 bring? For now, we can only speculate — and hope for the best.
The following is a condensed version of the news carried in our 52 editions this year. Thank you for continuing to support our mission of bringing local news to our region; we appreciate all of you.
January
St. Vincent de Paul in The Dalles announced it was voluntarily and indefinitely closing its facility on Pentland as it worked with the city and other stakeholders to address some of the neighborhood impacts associated with the services it provides. The facility reopened to the public three days a week beginning May 15.
In Cascade Locks, the Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge caused significant damage to a foot-bridge spanning the old lock channel when it broke free of its moorings Jan. 13. It also destroyed a fishing platform owned by a local family. It was ultimately moored downriver near Bonneville Dam and Lock. High winds and blizzard conditions were cited as the cause.
Snow and ice covered much of the Mid-Columbia through mid-January. Nearly all Gorge schools were closed for the week and many residents relied on neighbors and other family or friends to make it through the frigid temperatures.
On a lighter note, Dancing with the Gorge Stars celebrated its 10th anniversary with contestants DeAnn DePaepe, Joel Lane, Randy McMurrin, Ryan LeBreton, Yvonne Pepin-Wakefield and Judy Ford — ultimately the mirrorball champ.
February
Lyle High School held a pre-game ceremony to celebrate the hanging of the Yakama Nation and the Warm Springs Confederated Tribes flags in the school gym. Tribal council members and representatives from the Lyle and Wishram school districts were in attendance.
Longtime Hood River County Commissioner Les Perkins announced he was not seeking reelection in May, and that Gov. Tina Kotek had named him as her public utility commissioner nominee. He was confirmed by the full Senate Feb. 8. Perkins was first elected as the District 4 representative in January 2001. Chad Muenzer took over the seat in an interim capacity, and was later elected in the May primary. He will be sworn in in January.
On Feb. 22, West Klickitat Regional Fire Authority (WKRFA) planning committee met for the first time as a new entity. The previous November, constituents within the City of White Salmon and the Klickitat County Fire District 3 (KCFD3) voted to establish the authority — combining the White Salmon department and KCFD3.
The installation of a traffic light at Second an Oak in Hood River began this month and was completed May 23. The City of Hood River began the project to help with travel efficiency through the busy intersection, which attracts a high number of pedestrians as well as vehicles traveling to and from the freeway.
March
Home At Last shelter in The Dalles came under new management this month as Central Oregon Animal Friends stepped back from shelter operations. Columbia Gorge Humane Society now operates the shelter.
SafeSpace, a nonprofit and the Gorge’s only child advocacy center located in Hood River, hosted an open house at its new facility March 20. The facility has expanded and improved services for Columbia Gorge children and youth who are suspected victims of child abuse, neglect, and maltreatment.
Construction of The Gloria Center in The Dalles was completed this month after a year of construction. The center was designed to serve as a one-stop resource hub working towards eliminating poverty, houselessness and housing instability in the region. Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) celebrated the grand opening of the center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the new building on May 31.
April
Columbia Gorge News celebrated its fourth anniversary April 1 (yes, of course we’re going to mark that in our end of the year review). The City of Bingen celebrated its centennial birthday April 13 with a day-long party that included the opening of a time capsule. Several events were planned throughout the spring and summer.
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) held an “informational picket” April 10 outside Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital in an effort to improve healthcare practices, increase wages and reduce nurse-to-patient ratios. Ultimately, the Hood River nurses began to strike June 18 after contract negotiations broke down, returning June 23.
Fire Departments from the Mount Hood area and beyond responded to a three-alarm fire at historic Timberline Lodge April 18. The fire was quickly suppressed.
The Hood River County School District Board of Directors named Bill Newton its permanent superintendent April 23. Newton had previously served as interim superintendent. Sean Mailey was offered the permanent athletic director (AD) position at Hood River Valley High School; he had been serving as interim AD.
May
The City of White Salmon’s top government official, Mayor Marla Keethler, launched her campaign for State Senate in Washington’s 17th Legislative District this month. Her announcement came via LinkedIn and she shared a website link that gives voters a look into her vision and priorities. She ultimately lost against Republican Paul Harris in the Nov. 5 general election; Harris received 22,930 votes (51.2%) to Keethler’s 22,287 (48.7%).
Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer held an unmoderated town hall at the Goldendale Grange May 25. Faced with a barrage of questions about his department’s budget, Songer was defended by his numerous followers.
Bristol Hospice of Hood River organized a kite festival May 18 at the Hood River Waterfront event site to honor friends and family members who passed away. With help from professional kite flyer Kevin Cole, more than 250 kites were flown.
Columbia Gorge News reported on the 280 Earth Project this month — a prototype for a new kind of direct air capture facility is being fine-tuned on land purchased from Port of The Dalles. The company began as “Green Machine,” a project of Alphabet’s company X, formerly Google X, and is pioneering a new technique for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, an important element of climate change mitigation.
June
Hood River Latino Network’s Immigration Help Center held its grand opening June 15. The center serves as a cultural resource center and training and event hub with a focus on community leadership development.
One person was killed by police gunfire at the end of a short vehicle pursuit on Sixth Street in The Dalles early on June 18. Three law enforcement officials fired on the truck after it rammed a patrol car off the roadway and continued aiming itself toward officers. The driver was wounded by police gunfire and died at a local hospital. No law enforcement personnel were injured.
About 50 people attended the Rally for Reproductive Freedom, held at The Dalles City Park June 24 to mark the second anniversary of the Dobbs decision that ended Roe v. Wade, or the legal right to an abortion under the Constitution. The event was organized by Protect Oregon’s Progress (an Indivisible group in The Dalles), Columbia Gorge Women’s Action Network (an Indivisible group in White Salmon and Hood River), Hood River County Democrats, and Gorge Abortion Access Collective.
On June 27 at approximately 10:15 a.m., the arm of an excavator struck at least six locations on the north and south support tower and lift span of the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge, causing a three-day closure.
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Part 2 will run in the Jan. 1 edition of Columbia Gorge News.
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