Christmas came a little early Friday at Chenowith Elementary in The Dalles as local car dealership Tonkin of The Gorge arrived to provide some early holiday cheer with each student receiving a set of Y-ties—curly, elastic, no-tie shoelaces—along with other holiday treats.

Aaron Carter first came to The Dalles years ago on a visiting high school football team. Now he’s moving his family here for his new post as managing partner at the new Columbia Gorge Toyota and Columbia Gorge Honda dealerships, formerly Griffith Motors.

David Griffith still has plenty on his plate, with posts on several community boards and a sideline in auctioneering, but he has retired from the auto dealership business.

The day he turned 15, Tim Urness was camped out in front of the Department of Motor Vehicles to get his learner’s permit because he had been waiting all his life to drive, at least legally.

Many of the Ron Tonkin’s 21 dealerships have sold to a Spokane-based company, but not the automotive business in The Dalles, or several others. “Nothing is going to change locally,” said Steve Ross, general manager of the West Sixth Street business.

Tim Urness of C.H. Urness Motors in The Dalles has been named president of the Oregon Automotive Dealers Association and will serve through June 30, 2017.

Nissan owners and enthusiasts have a new space to call “home” in The Dalles, with dedicated teams to meet their needs as owners — or prospective buyers — of Nissan vehicles.