Tuesday, Feb. 3

Little Music City was founded in The Dalles, Oregon by a group of individuals passionate about music and their community. www.littlemusiccity.com/

Tuesday, February 3

7:00 PM Reddy Black Trio at Zim’s Sports Bar & Grill

Wednesday, Feb. 4

Thunder Island Events

Thunder Island Brewing in Cascade Locks presents live music, trivia nights and more.

We love our community, believe in giving back, and celebrate the organizations that bond our communities. Join us for our Community Night on the first and third Wednesday of the month. We will donate $1.00 of every beverage sold between 5pm and close to a featured non-profit organization.

This week's Launch Party and Troll Hunt Community Night will be benefiting a local non-profit, Main Street Cascade Locks! This event is open to the public and all are welcome to join.

This Launch Party and Troll Hunt (with prizes) will kick off the community-wide centennial of The Bridge of the Gods in October 2026. Main Street Cascade Locks is coordinating with businesses, government agencies, tribal governments and non-profit organizations to present a spectacular festival of events.

Live Music at Tabby’s Hole in One

Tabby’s Hole in One Clubhouse at the Hood River Golf Course presents live music with local and regional bands.

Wednesday, Feb. 4, Open Mic with Kerry Williams, 6-8 p.m.

The Secret Salsa Society is your place for Salsa Dancing in the Gorge! Join the weekly dance at a fun, local venue. Expect to hear Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Cha Cha Cha, Timba, Cumbia, and more. Suggested donation $3 per person. All Ages event and Beginners are welcome! Beginner lessons at 6:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, Feb. 4, Crush Cider Cafe (Hood River), 7-9 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 5

Little Music City was founded in The Dalles, Oregon by a group of individuals passionate about music and their community. www.littlemusiccity.com/

Thursday, February 5

6:00 PM Al Hare at Bargeway Pub

7:00 PM Jeff Minnick at Last Stop Saloon

Music with David Ramirez/Sharon Silva

Live Music at Trout Lake Hall

The Trout Lake Hall in Trout Lake, Washington brings live music and community events to its historic venue. www.troutlakehall.com/

Thursday, February 5th, 2026

$19 Advance // $23 Day Of Show
6pm Doors / 7pm Show
All Ages

DAVID RAMIREZ

David Ramirez took a little time to get back to himself, and now he’s dead set on making music for himself—for the sake of the music, and nothing else. “I love all the records I’ve made in the past,” says Ramirez. “But in making them, there was always the thought in the back of my mind of where and what it could get me. I made both creative and business decisions with a goal in mind; a goal that often never came. This time it was all about just the joy of making it, about having fun with it.”

The Austin, TX-based singer-songwriter—whose career has seen six full-length studio albums, three EPs, countless collaborations, and an illustrious supergroup project in Glorietta—spent a season of rest away from his focus on writing songs. In the wake of the end of a long relationship, he wanted to prioritize processing his grief as a human, not as an artist bleeding onto the page.

SHARON SILVA

Sharon Silva is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter known for her emotionally resonant lyrics and powerful, expressive voice. As a founding member of the indie-folk band The Wild Reeds, Silva helped shape their signature harmony-driven sound before stepping into her solo career.

Friday, Feb. 6

The Quick & Easy Boys w/ Gold Souls

The Ruins in Hood River

Friday, Feb. 6

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

13 Railroad Street

Doors at 5:30pm. Indoor venue. All-ages.

Tickets are $15 in advance (click here,) or $20 at the door.

(Please note: Advance purchase tickets stop being available at 11:59pm the night before the show and then are only available at the door on the day-of. Pets not allowed.)

The Quick & Easy Boys are a power trio out of Portland, Oregon, who create their own blend of rock and roll. Imagine the Minutemen, the Police, and Band of Gypsy’s rolled into one.

Live Music at Trout Lake Hall

The Trout Lake Hall in Trout Lake, Washington brings live music and community events to its historic venue. www.troutlakehall.com/

Friday, February 6th, 2026

$15 Advance // $15 Day Of Show
6pm Doors / 7pm Show
All Ages

THE. MUDDY SOULS

Born in the belly of Eugene, Oregon, The Muddy Souls are a progressive bluegrass band emerging from the Pacific Northwest. Formed in 2018, the band has produced four original albums and played over 300 shows across the US, Canada Europe, and beyond. Through intricately woven arrangements, meaningful lyrics, vocal harmonies, and improvisational jams, this band is sure to get you grooving on the dance floor. The Muddy Souls will take you on a musical journey, opening hearts and nourishing souls.

SKILLETHEAD

ORIGINAL, TRADITIONAL, MODERN

Setting roots in the high and dry Central Oregon desert, Skillethead calls forth the best of bluegrass old and new. They ground themselves firmly in the bluegrass traditions of driving fiddle tunes, layered harmonies, and single mics, all the while weaving in inspiration and originality gleaned from genres far and wide. You can expect to hear a Stanley Brothers number right alongside a stirring original or a rollicking rock cover done in Skillethead's own unique fashion. The spectrum reaches far and wide, the bluegrass universe is expanding, and Skillethead is on that ride!

Live Music at The Pines

The Pines Tasting Room in Hood River hosts live music featuring local and regional musicians.

Friday, Feb. 6, SuperNova (rock), 6-9 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7

An Evening With Shafty (Phish Tribute)

Sat, Feb 07 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

The Ruins in Hood River

Doors at 5:30 p.m. Indoor venue. All-ages.

Tickets are $20 in advance (click here,) or $25 at the door.

(Please note: Advance purchase tickets stop being available at 11:59pm the night before the show and then are only available at the door on the day-of. Pets not allowed.)

Shafty: What began as essentially a goof – a chance to throw down some familiar dancy beats and jam for whoever felt like listening - ultimately lit a spark under the off-the-radar powder keg of Phish fans in the Portland, Oregon music scene. More time was spent talking about the possibility of putting a Phish tribute together than actually practicing, prior to their first performance at local basement pub The Goodfoot Lounge, in February of 2012.

Event by Gorge Roller Derby

The Dalles Readiness Center

Public  · Anyone on or off Facebook

Gorge Roller Derby Presents

A GRD DOUBLE HEADER FEBRUARY 7TH

GRD ALL STARS VS. ?MYSTERYTEAM? 4PM

GRD BLOOD N GORGE VS. Emerald City Roller Derby 6PM

All ages – Wheelchair Accessible – 6 & under free

Fort Dalles Readiness Center 402 E Scenic Dr. The Dalles, OR
97058

Doors Open at 3:00PM Bout starts at 4:00PM

LIMITED Tickets are available at the door Regular $15 Students $8

Little Music City was founded in The Dalles, Oregon by a group of individuals passionate about music and their community. www.littlemusiccity.com/

Saturday, February 7

6:00 PM Chic Preston at Bargeway Pub

7:00 PM Second Hand Jam at Zim’s Sports Bar & Grill

8:00 PM Al Hare at Last Stop Saloon

Sunday, Feb. 8

Little Music City was founded in The Dalles, Oregon by a group of individuals passionate about music and their community. www.littlemusiccity.com/

Sunday, February 8

7:00 PM Rich & Blonde at Last Stop Saloon

Black Infinity House: Art Exhibit

Exhibit runs Feb 07 - March 1,
WED-SUN, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Avenue, Hood River

“The Black Infinity House art exhibit is focused on highlighting the visions, expressions, experiences and imaginations of local, black artists across multiple mediums.

The premise of the show comes from a concept I grasped when reading The Black Aesthetic II. The early pages of the book’s discussion illuminate the fact that Blackness is infinite. People may try to define what it means to be black; but it comes in all different forms, especially as we, as a people, constantly create new spaces and phenomenal forms of culture in order to to express ourselves and own our incredible power in safe environments —specifically made for us, by us.

This artists’ showcase is an experiential exhibit with three quadrants in the gallery that together are meant to demonstrate black art through the process of its creation, consumption and cultivation. Art will be displayed in three sectors called The Studio, The Living Room, and The Porch, respectively.”
There is no charge for admission.

Monday, Feb. 9

Everybody’s Brewing in White Salmon brings local and regional music to the stage.

Monday, Feb. 9, Reb Conner (Soul, Country, Jazz, Pop), 6-8 p.m.

Little Music City was founded in The Dalles, Oregon by a group of individuals passionate about music and their community. www.littlemusiccity.com/

Monday, February 9

7:00 PM Al Hare at Last Stop Saloon

Coming Up: Tien Hsieh
Mid Columbia
Community Concert

The Dalles Civic Auditorium, 323 E 4th St, The Dalles

Tuesday, Feb 10

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Tien Hsieh is a formidable virtuoso and also a magnetic musical persona.

TICKETS:

www.midcolumbiacommunityconcerts.com/events/tien-hsieh

About The Event

As one reviewer from the San Francisco bay area recently quoted, "Serious, composed, tiny and full of music, Tien Hsieh lets her artistry on the piano express a warmth and freshness of ideas that surely none but a poet could explain". Another reviewer said she "...delivered electrifying performances of music of monumentally heroic difficulty. Works by Messiaen, Beethoven and finally Liszt's Rhapsodie Espagnole were breathtaking in their technical quality and interpretive maturity." Her Schumann Humoresque, Op. 20 was described as 'Grand, relentless, madness explained, love caught through fingertips and galloping hooves trailing off to pastoral dreams.'

Thanks for Reading! If you enjoyed Gorge Giggin’ Guide Highlights please check out our Local Calendar for a deeper dive into what’s happening in The Gorge! You can even Upload your own event - Subscribe to Stay in the Know!

By Tom Peterson

THE DALLES, Ore., Feb. 2, 2026 — Work is underway at the former Staples building next to Safeway in The Dalles as preparations continue for the arrival of a TJ Maxx clothing store.

This morning, Chris Cruz of Dickerhoof Construction said they expect their portion of the project to take about two months. The work includes shoring interior walls to accommodate changing rooms, installing a new water main, and creating plumbing stub-outs for a restroom at the rear of the building.

The 24,477-square-foot space was gutted last year following the closure of Staples in March 2025. The current phase marks the start of tenant improvements needed before TJ Maxx can begin its own interior build-out.

The project is being managed by Riviera Enterprises LLC and Dickerhoof Properties, which own and lease the building. Earlier plans called for exterior and interior upgrades, including a redesigned facade to give the store a distinct presence within the shopping center.

Developers have previously said the goal is to open the store later this year, potentially in time for back-to-school shopping, though an exact opening date has not been announced.

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, conducted an operation in the Parkdale area Tuesday morning in an effort to locate a fugitive wanted on multiple local felony charges, according to an announcement on facebook.

The report makes no mention if anyone was arrested.

Locals in Hood River this morning reported seeing the law enforcement officers at the Sheriffs’s Office on Sherman Street and tactical vehicles were observed driving too and from the Parkdale area.

CCCNews has reached out to the Hood River County Sheriff’s office and will report additional information once it is received.

Sheriff’s officials said the operation was focused on locating and apprehending a potentially violent suspect believed to be in the area.

The sheriff’s office also addressed community concerns about possible immigration enforcement activity, stating that it does not assist with immigration enforcement, as prohibited by Oregon state law.

THE DALLES, Ore., Feb. 2, 2026 — A 35-year-old man remains hospitalized following a stabbing last week in Cascade Locks, as investigators continue to seek information and family members raise funds to help cover medical costs.

Andrea Anderson of Astoria said her son, Kevin Anderson, was “jumped and stabbed 8 times” on Thursday, Jan. 29, and is being treated at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland. One of the stab wounds punctured his lung, she said.

“He’s not out of the woods,” Anderson said in an interview today. “Yes, he is conscious, but he is still being treated.”

According to an Oregon State Police incident log, troopers received a report of an assault at 11:02 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, in Cascade Locks. Police said two individuals suffered stab wounds. One person was taken to a local hospital, while the other was transported to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, a Level I trauma center, indicating potentially life-threatening injuries.

Oregon State Police are assisting the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation, which authorities described as a multi-agency response due to the severity of the injuries.

Investigators listed two people as persons of interest: Kevin Paul Anderson, 35, of Carson, Washington, and Joseph James Sampson, 34. Authorities emphasized that a person of interest is not the same as a suspect and does not imply guilt or that charges have been filed, but rather that investigators are seeking additional information.

As of Friday, police had not announced any arrests, charges or a possible motive. Officials have not released details about the relationship between those involved, the weapon used or the precise circumstances leading up to the stabbing.

Andrea Anderson said she has not received additional details from law enforcement about the incident. She said the stabbing occurred at a shack near the river in Cascade Locks and may have involved mental health issues.

Kevin Anderson works at the WKO sawmill in Carson, Washington, according to his mother. She said he had been preparing for a court process related to visitation with his daughter prior to the stabbing.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover medical bills, medication and other expenses not covered by insurance. Andrea Anderson said the full extent of her son’s recovery needs is still unknown.

“He has a long road ahead,” she said, adding that community support will help ease the financial strain while he focuses on healing.

CCCNews has reached out to the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office for additional comment and will report updates as more information becomes available.

The Dalles, Ore., Feb. 1, 2026 — From hands-on playdates and STEAM activities to author talks, crafts, and teen programs, The Dalles Public Library is offering a full slate of free events for all ages during the week of Feb. 2–7.

Monday–Saturday, Feb. 2–7

Pint-Sized Playdates, all day. The Dalles Public Library. Ongoing hands-on play activities for preschool and school-age children, featuring themed tabletop stations such as crafts and engineering challenges. This week’s theme is “Bites & Beats,” exploring music- and food-themed activities. Children must be accompanied by an engaged adult; drop-offs are not permitted.

Wanted: Kid Librarian of the Month, all day. The Dalles Public Library. Children ages 7–11 may apply to be Kid Librarian of the Month by submitting an application at the children’s librarian desk. Selected participants will enjoy a special breakfast with their family and the children’s librarian and create a personalized book display in the children’s wing. Applications are due by Saturday, Feb. 7. Children must be accompanied by an adult; drop-offs are not permitted.

Monday, Feb. 2

Spice Kit Take and Make, 10–10:30 a.m. The Dalles Public Library. Take-home spice kit activity for teens and adults.

Dream Study Group: Gifts from Our Subconscious, 5–7:30 p.m. The Dalles Public Library meeting room. A guided discussion exploring dreams as symbolic messages from the subconscious, led by Nancy Turner, M.Ed., retired psychotherapist. This is a four-class series meeting Mondays Feb. 2, 9, 23 and March 2; no class Feb. 16 due to the Presidents Day closure. Registration required.

Temporary Tattoo Parlor, 5:30–7 p.m. The Dalles Public Library children’s wing. All-ages event offering a variety of fun temporary tattoos.

Tuesday, Feb. 3

Little Learners Lab: Kids in STEAM, 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. The Dalles Public Library children’s wing. Hands-on, play-based STEAM activities for toddlers and preschoolers focused on curiosity, creativity, and exploration. Children must be accompanied by an engaged adult; drop-offs are not permitted.

Wednesday, Feb. 4

Heart Garland Craft, 2:30–3:30 p.m. The Dalles Public Library teen room. Teens will create heart-shaped garlands using recycled book pages and simple craft techniques.

Thursday, Feb. 5

Playdough Storytime, 10:30–11:15 a.m. The Dalles Public Library children’s wing. A preschool storytime combining early literacy activities with hands-on playdough play. Materials are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Children must be accompanied by an engaged adult; drop-offs are not permitted.

Swashbuckling Heroines and High Seas Adventures with Novelist Vanessa Riley, 4–5 p.m. Virtual event hosted by The Dalles Public Library. Online discussion with author Vanessa Riley about her novel “Fire Sword and Sea,” inspired by the legendary pirate Jacquotte Delahaye. Registration required.

Friday, Feb. 6

Fun Fridays for Teens (11+): Ice Cream Sundaes, 3:30–4:30 p.m. The Dalles Public Library teen room. Ice cream sundae social for teens.

Fun Fridays: The Great Fort Build-Off, 3:30–4:30 p.m. The Dalles Public Library children’s wing. School-age participants will work in teams to design and build creative forts.

Much Ado About…What, Exactly? A Shakespeare Class, 4–6 p.m. The Dalles Public Library makerspace. A six-week introductory Shakespeare class focusing on “Much Ado About Nothing,” covering Shakespearean language, performance and interpretation. For ages 13 and older. Registration required.

Winter 2026: Olympic Games, 5–5:30 p.m. The Dalles Public Library main library. A series of short games inspired by the Winter Olympics. Additional sessions are scheduled for Feb. 13 and Feb. 20.

Saturday, Feb. 7

DIY Book Window Bookmark Holder, 2:30–4:30 p.m. The Dalles Public Library meeting room. Arts and crafts workshop for teens and adults. Participants must attend the first two sessions, Jan. 17 and Feb. 7; later sessions are optional. Registration required.

The Dalles, Ore., Jan. 31, 2026 — At the recent Northwest Ag Show in Salem, agricultural leaders said out loud what many farm families have known for years: Oregon agriculture is in crisis.

According to reporting by Capital Press, nearly 70% of Oregon farms are operating at a net cash loss, and the state is losing about one farm a day. Those numbers aren’t political. They’re arithmetic. And they match what rural communities are watching happen in real time.

Out here, the crisis doesn’t arrive with headlines. It comes quietly — in delayed repairs, postponed replanting, and conversations about succession that never quite happen because the margins no longer allow for it. Eventually, it ends with land being sold that was never meant to leave the family.

Much of today’s pressure comes from a growing disconnect between agricultural policy and agricultural reality. Farming is a biological system. Crops and livestock don’t follow office calendars, and labor needs don’t arrive evenly throughout the year. Regulations designed without regard for seasonality and timing increase costs while reducing flexibility — often hurting both farmers and workers in the process.

Most farmers want fair treatment for the people who work alongside them. We live in the same communities, send kids to the same schools, and depend on one another year after year. But when policy ignores how farming actually works, good intentions collide with biology — and biology always wins.

What’s most concerning isn’t just the loss of farms, but which farms are disappearing. Oregon isn’t losing agriculture altogether; it’s losing family-scale operations — the middle layer that supports local schools, equipment dealers, packing houses, and rural economies. Those farms don’t simply close. They’re absorbed, consolidated, and restructured.

Once that middle disappears, it doesn’t come back.

Some farms are turning to agritourism or direct sales to survive, and those efforts can help keep land in production. But diversification is a lifeline, not a replacement for a functioning agricultural economy. Food still has to be grown, harvested, and moved — and that requires viable farms and local infrastructure.

As Oregon leaders head into the short legislative session beginning in February, it’s critical that agriculture — and the working families tied to it — remain in sharp focus. Decisions made in short sessions still carry long consequences. For farmers, those consequences show up quickly and don’t fade easily.

Credit is due to farm leaders for acknowledging the severity of the situation. Saying it out loud matters. But acknowledgement alone won’t stop the losses.

If Oregon wants agriculture to remain a living system — not a nostalgic talking point — policy must reconnect with reality. That means recognizing farming as seasonal and biological, understanding that when margins disappear stewardship disappears with them, and accepting that losing a farm a day isn’t progress. The question now is whether anyone in power is willing to look.

About the Author

I was born in 1961 into a second-generation farm family in The Dalles. I grew up on a tractor seat, moving irrigation pipe with my sisters before school, and spent my summers picking cherries alongside the children of migrant families who returned year after year. My wife, children, and parents have all worked the same land. I’ve served as county Farm Bureau president, sat on the county fair board, and continue to support 4-H and FFA. I’ve seen firsthand what happens when farmers are squeezed out—not just of business, but of the conversation.

By Tom Peterson with assistance from Aaron Girdham

The Dalles, Ore., Jan. 30, 2026 — A Wasco County jury found Jason McCollum guilty on Friday of all nine charges in a violent 2021 home-invasion robbery that left 73-year-old Donald “Donny” Lewis severely injured and stripped of what he described as his life savings.

The verdict came after jurors deliberated for roughly three and a half hours following closing arguments in Wasco County Circuit Court. The jury began deliberations around 10:30 a.m. and returned its decision shortly after 2 p.m., prompting Judge Janet Stauffer to reconvene court.

The jury — made up of eight women and four men — confirmed the verdicts were unanimous.

McCollum, a 50-year-old Portland man, entered the courtroom wearing new Levi’s, white Adidas shoes with black stripes and a black jacket with a faux-fur collar. He sat facing forward and showed little visible reaction as Stauffer read the verdict aloud.

McCollum stood trial on charges including first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and first-degree assault stemming from the Jan. 22, 2021, beating and robbery of Lewis.

Following the verdict, Wasco County District Attorney Kara Davis asked the court to immediately take McCollum into custody, arguing he posed a flight risk and faced a lengthy prison sentence.

“He almost killed a man,” Davis said. “He’s looking at a decade and a half. This was a brutal crime and it is appropriate to take him into custody.”

Defense attorney Per Olson asked that McCollum remain released until sentencing, telling the court his client was employed street sweeping, complying with electronic monitoring and continuing substance abuse recovery efforts.

Stauffer remanded McCollum into custody.

After deputies handcuffed McCollum and escorted him from the courtroom, Olson said the defense would focus on mitigation at sentencing and pursue an appeal.

“We look forward to sentencing where we will bring forward mitigating information about Mr. McCollum,” Olson said.

John Lingo, who is a friend of Lewis, attended the entire trial. He initially thought jurors might be divided.

“I thought the jury might be 60/40 because they didn’t get to see everything,” Lingo said. “They did a good job. It was tough sitting there for a week and having to listen to what happened to Donny...”

Lewis said he felt relief following the verdict.

“I’m relieved and glad McCollum is off the street,” Lewis said. “I’ve had a lot of anxiety he was out there and still beating up old people.”

Lewis praised investigators and addressed The Dalles Police Capt. Jamie Carrico across the courtroom.

“The Dalles Police Department should be applauded for their efforts,” Lewis said. “They went way beyond to get these guys. It’s five years later, and this is what it takes.”

Turning toward Carrico, Lewis added: “Tell ’em all they can go home early tonight. Society appreciates it. It’s been five years, but they kept going.”

Carrico later said the verdict affirmed the investigation.

“The justice system worked,” Carrico said.

Davis added: “We’re glad we could get justice for Donny.”

Victim’s advocate program director Karen Shultz said the trauma Lewis endured was immeasurable and that she could see relief when the verdict was read.

“When the guilty verdicts were read, you could see the relief,” Shultz said. “It was finally over.”

The trial capped five days of testimony that included graphic details of the assault, surveillance evidence tied to a rented vehicle and testimony from a cooperating accomplice who said he was forced to participate in the robbery under threat of violence.

Lewis testified the attackers zip-tied him, beat him unconscious and stole a safe containing $150,000 in cash, rare coins and family military medals. He underwent multiple surgeries and told jurors he continues to suffer long-term injuries.

Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.

Read CCCNew’s story about trial days two and three here.

Read CCNews’ story on opening statements here.

From Empowered Movement Aerial:

By Arwen Ungar

Bingen, Wash., Jan. 30, 2026 — From the wreckage of a ship tossed by a mighty storm, a magical adventure lifts into the air. Through playful aerial movement and imaginative theater, performers swing, climb, and soar as they explore a strange new world shaped by the sea. 

Silks become waves, masts, and secret pathways, guiding the characters as they meet curious sea creatures, friendly sky beings, and unexpected helpers along the way. With every twist, tumble, and flight, the journey becomes one of bravery and self-discovery, reminding young audiences that even after getting lost, amazing things can happen—and sometimes the greatest treasure is discovering how strong and capable you already are.

Featuring original aerial and theater, this performance will inspire and delight students of all ages. Barnaby King, world-renowned clown and performer, leads the audience on an epic adventure from the wreckage of a ship tossed by a mighty storm, a magical adventure lifts into the air. Through playful aerial movement and imaginative theater, performers swing, climb, and soar as they explore a strange new world shaped by the sea. 

Silks become waves, masts, and secret pathways, guiding the characters as they meet curious sea creatures, friendly sky beings, and unexpected helpers along the way. With every twist, tumble, and flight, the journey becomes one of bravery and self-discovery, reminding young audiences that even after getting lost, amazing things can happen—and sometimes the greatest treasure is discovering how strong and capable you already are.

Empowered Movement Aerial, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is announcing its annual aerial and theater performances on Feb 21 at 7 p.m. and Feb 22 at 2 and 5:30 p.m. at the Bingen Theater. 

THE DALLES, Ore., Jan. 30, 2026 — Two people were stabbed on Thursday in Cascade Locks, and the Hood River Sherrif’s Office called in the Oregon State Police Portland Major Crimes Detectives to inform then of the serious assault.

According to an Oregon State Police incident log, troopers received the report Jan. 29 at 11:02 a.m. in Cascade Locks. Two victims suffered stab wounds. One was transported to a local hospital, and the other was taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, a Level I trauma center, indicating potentially life-threatening injuries.

OSP is assisting the Hood River County Sheriff’s office in the investigation.

CCCNews has reached out to the Sheriff’s office for comment and will report back when additional information becomes available.

OSP identified the incident as an assault and confirmed the investigation involves a multi-agency response due to the severity of the injuries.

Investigators listed two people as persons of interest: Kevin Paul Anderson, 35, of Carson, Washington, and Joseph James Sampson, 34. Authorities emphasized that a person of interest is not the same as a suspect and does not imply guilt or that charges have been filed. But more importantly, the men are being sought to provide additional information.

As of Friday, police had not announced any arrests, charges, or a possible motive. Officials have not released details about the relationship between those involved, the condition of the victims, the exact location of the stabbing within Cascade Locks, or the weapon used.

OSP Major Crimes detectives typically respond to cases involving extreme injuries, potential homicide risk or complex felony investigations. Authorities said the case remains active and additional information will be released when available.

The Dalles, Ore., Jan. 30, 2026 — A 16-year-old Hood River juvenile has been arrested, and another suspect is being sought in connection with a Jan. 17 shooting that left a 21-year-old man dead, according to the Hood River Police Department.

Officers responded to reports of shots fired around 1695 Oak St. on Jan. 17 and found Yahir Castillo-Alvarez, 21, of Hood River, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Providence Hood River Hospital with serious injuries. Despite lifesaving efforts, Castillo-Alvarez later died at the hospital.

On Jan. 28, investigators arrested a 16-year-old male from Hood River. The juvenile was lodged at NORCOR on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, menacing with a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, reckless endangering, disorderly conduct and a probation violation.

Police are still searching for Noel Hernandez, 30, of Hood River, who is wanted on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Authorities warned the public not to approach Hernandez and to contact law enforcement with any information about his whereabouts.

The Hood River Police Department said the investigation is being conducted by the Columbia Gorge Major Crimes Team, which includes the Hood River Police Department, Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, The Dalles Police Department, Wasco County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Ben Oka of the Hood River Police Department at 541-387-5257 or by email at b.oka@cityofhoodriver.gov.

Police extended condolences to the family and loved ones of Castillo-Alvarez, calling the shooting a tragic incident. The investigation remains ongoing.

The Dalles, Ore. Jan 29, 2026 — Mid Columbia Community Action Council is expanding services for people experiencing housing instability as demand continues to grow across Wasco, Hood River and Sherman counties, director Leslie Naramore said during a recent podcast interview.

Naramore, executive director of Mid Columbia Community Action Council, said the Gloria Center — a navigation hub that opened one year ago — has significantly increased access to coordinated services. The center operates as a one-stop location where residents can connect with multiple agencies without traveling across town.

Six partner organizations work onsite, including Center for Living, Oregon Human Development Corporation, Chenowith Housing, the Department of Human Services, Bridges to Health and the local health council. Services include housing assistance, case management, utility support, emergency supplies and behavioral health connections.

The Gloria Center also houses an emergency shelter using pallet units that can serve up to 36 people during extreme weather or community emergencies. The shelter opened following the Rowena fire, during hotel shortages tied to major events and during a recent cold spell that sheltered 28 people and three pets.

Mid Columbia Community Action Councils larger annex shelter remains full and averages a four-month stay per household. Officials are converting 21 single-occupancy units into permanent supportive housing while maintaining transitional shelter capacity. A separate family shelter wing will remain unchanged.

Naramore said a new low-barrier resource center will operate on the last Friday of each month, allowing residents to access showers, laundry, meals and social support without formal paperwork. Volunteers are being recruited to assist with the effort.

Data from the agency shows rising need among low-income residents, particularly seniors aging into homelessness. Naramore said Social Security income often no longer covers rent, forcing older adults into housing insecurity.

Mid Columbia Community Action Council is also leading disaster case management following the Rowena fire and has housed 27 displaced households since the incident.

The agency receives most of its funding from state grants, with smaller portions from federal sources and private donations. Naramore said she hopes to build stronger financial partnerships with local governments as housing pressures continue.

More information and annual data reports are available at MCCAC.com

By Tom Peterson

The Dalles, Ore., Jan. 28, 2026 — Jurors in the trial of Jason McCollum heard detailed testimony Tuesday and Wednesday challenging both the state’s investigative decisions and the credibility of its cooperating accomplice witness as a defense attorney pressed police witnesses on lack of evidence. and prosecutors presented surveillance-video testimony and graphic firsthand testimony from the victim Donald Lewis of a violent 2021 home invasion.

McCollum, a 50-year-old Portland man, is charged in Wasco County Circuit Court with nine counts: first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, first-degree aggravated theft, first-degree theft, unlawful use of a weapon and menacing. Judge Janet Stauffer is presiding. He could face more than a decade in prison if found guilty at the trial.

The state alleges McCollum was a participant in the Jan. 22, 2021, home-invasion robbery and beating of “Donny” Lewis in West The Dalles. Three other men — Christopher Allan Jaha, Christian Dlouhy and Jeremy Lee Anderson — have previously been convicted in crimes associated with the home invasion. Anderson is currently serving a 100-month prison sentence after a mid-trial pleading of guilty to beating and robbing Lewis. Dlouhy received 25 months prison time for first degree solicitation of robbery. Jaha awaits sentencing in February.

District Attorney Matthee Ellis told jurors on Monday that investigators determined the suspected robbers used a rented Dodge Charger to travel from the Portland area to The Dalles and back. Police obtained a search warrant for GPS data from the rental vehicle, which Ellis said showed the car leaving Portland area, stopping at Lewis’ home at the time of the crime, and returning to Portland area nondescript auto shop approximately two hours later.

Ellis said the GPS data allowed detectives to gather surveillance video of one occupant of the vehicle at multiple locations in The Dalles. He told jurors that evidence led police to Jaha, who later cooperated with investigators.

Cooperating accomplice testifies under plea agreement

Christian Allan Jaha testified Tuesday that he was forced to participate in the Jan. 22, 2021, robbery of Donald “Donny” Lewis under threat of violence and said his role in the crime stemmed from fear rather than intent.

Jaha entered the courtroom in a wheelchair wearing orange jail sweats and was pushed by a Wasco County deputy. After being sworn in, Jaha testified that he knew Jason McCollum, who was seated at the defense table, and Jeremy Lee Anderson, who is currently serving a 100-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to beating and robbing Lewis.

When asked how he knew Anderson, Jaha said, “We were in prison together.”

Jaha testified he was addicted to methamphetamine at the time of the crime but has been clean since being incarcerated at the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility in The Dalles. He described himself as a career criminal and told jurors his associations at the time were largely limited to drug users and gang members, including individuals affiliated with the Portland-based Brood Gang, also known as the Krude Rude Brood.

During questioning by Wasco County District Attorney Kara Davis, Jaha was asked whether he was nervous about testifying. “Extremely,” Jaha responded. When asked why, Jaha told the jury that inmates who testify against others face serious retaliation. “I could get stabbed, severely beat, killed, Jaha said.

Jaha testified that he had borrowed a rented a gray Dodge Charger and drove to Southeast Portland, where Monica Moulton lived in a four-plex. Jaha said he, McCollum and Anderson met in an RV parked outside the buildings.

According to Jaha, Anderson and McCollum forced him to go along with the robbery. Jaha testified Anderson struck him in the head with a gun. He told jurors Anderson threatened him, saying, “You help me or chew on a bullet.”

Jaha testified he drove himself, McCollum and Anderson in the Charger toward The Dalles believing he would be shot if he refused to help. He said the group arrived in The Dalles in the afternoon and waited until after dark to carry out the robbery. During that time, Jaha testified he stopped at a convenience store to buy beer and other locations in The Dalles.

When asked why he did not alert the clerk or seek help, Jaha testified, “I didn’t want to be a rat. I thought it would be bad for me. People get beat up, pistol whipped. That’s the way it is.”

Jaha testified they drove to Lewis’ home after dark and parked the Charger in Lewis’ front driveway off Pomona Street. He said he remained in the vehicle while Anderson and McCollum entered the house to commit the robbery.

“Anderson came out with the safe,” Jaha testified. “He had me move the car. He carried it over to the car.”

Jaha testified Anderson and McCollum had previously took his cell phone, wallet and key fob to prevent him from fleeing. He said Anderson removed a black glove to retrieve the key fob from his pocket, then struck him in the head again.

Earlier in the trial, The Dalles Police Sgt. Josh Jones testified a black glove was recovered from the driveway at the crime scene. Jaha identified the glove in a photograph shown to him by prosecutors and testified gloves had been taken from the Charger’s glove box before Anderson and McCollum entered the house.

Jaha testified that after the robbery, the group immediately drove east on Interstate 84 toward Portland, stopping briefly to throw Lewis’ wallet over a guardrail.

He testified they returned to an auto shop at 4118 South Macadam Avenue in Portland, across from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building. Jaha said McCollum had a sleeping area at the shop and kept clothing, a motorcycle and personal belongings there. He described the shop as equipped with vehicle lifts, jacks and tools, including grinders and crowbars used to open safes.

Jaha testified McCollum and Anderson broke open Lewis’ safe at the shop while he was in a bedroom with a woman. He said thick envelopes of cash were found inside, along with gold, silver and collectible coins.

They filled a five-gallon wastebasket partially full, Jaha testified. “It was mostly silver.”

Jaha testified Anderson later allowed him to leave and that McCollum separated the coins because he knew where to sell them. Jaha said he and McCollum later returned to Moulton’s residence and then traveled to Willamette Park, where they dumped a different safe in a dumpster, before Jaha returned to his home in Longview, Washington.

Jaha also testified he later saw McCollum driving a Maserati purchased after the robbery. After being shown a photograph by prosecutors, Jaha identified the vehicle.

“That’s the one he bought,” Jaha testified. He said McCollum told him he purchased the car using cash and coins from the robbery and estimated the purchase price at between $40,000 and $60,000.

During questioning by Wasco County District Attorney Kara Davis, Jaha acknowledged he entered into a plea agreement requiring him to testify. He testified his anticipated 60-month prison sentence could increase or decrease depending on his participation but said he was not required to secure convictions and was required to testify truthfully.

Asked whether he was nervous to testify, Jaha responded, “Extremely.”

When asked what could happen to inmates who testify against others, Jaha testified, “I could get stabbed, severely beat, killed.”

On cross-examination, defense attorney Per Olson questioned Jaha about inconsistencies in his statements to police, including differing accounts of where he was struck with a gun and his initial insistence that he had nothing to do with the robbery. Jaha testified he later recanted and said confusion from drug use contributed to inconsistencies, adding that detectives “twisted my words all around.”

Olson also questioned Jaha about his plea agreement, noting he originally faced multiple Measure 11 charges carrying mandatory prison sentences. Jaha acknowledged he could face more than 90 months in prison if convicted at trial and agreed he could argue for a lesser sentence by providing truthful testimony.

“I’m hoping to get 60 months, obviously,” Jaha testified. “I’d like less, but I doubt it.”

Defense presses police on evidence and investigative choices

Defense attorney Per Olson cross-examined The Dalles Police Detective Sgt. Austin Ell, attempting to poke holes in the investigation and highlight what the defense contends are missing links between McCollum and the crime.

Ell testified investigators swabbed multiple interior surfaces of the rented gray Dodge Charger — the steering wheel, gear shift, glove box and door handles — for DNA. The defense has argued and prosecutors agree there is no DNA from the crime scene or vehicle that matches McCollum’s.

Ell testified detectives discussed obtaining a search warrant for the auto shop at 4118 SW Macadam Ave. in Portland — the same shop where surveillance video later showed the Dodge Charger about two hours after the robbery. Ell told the jury they believed the location had gone “stale,” meaning it likely no longer contained evidence related to the crime by the time the auto shop became known to investigators.

Olson asked whether boots worn by Lewis’ assailants or tools used for opening a safe could have been at the shop.

“It was a consideration,” Ell testified.

Olson then keyed in on the GPS mapping evidence, pressing Ell that GPS points tied to the Charger did not match the address where prosecutors say the group met in Portland before traveling to The Dalles — Monica Moulton’s residence on Southeast Division Street. Ell agreed the GPS data did not match that address. However, on redirect examination, Ell testified the GPS location was in very close proximity to Moulton’s address.

Olson also pressed Ell on the state’s cooperating witness, Jaha, as he continued to show inconsistencies between his testimony and what he told detectives in 2021. Olson highlighted that Ell agreed Jaha repeatedly insisted he had nothing to do with the robbery. On redirect, Ell testified it is common for a criminal suspect to initially deny involvement during an interview.

Olson also hammered away at Jaha’s story that he was pistol whipped by Anderson during the planning of the crime and coerced into doing the robbery.

Olson also questioned Jaha about where Lewis’ stolen safe was discarded. Jaha testified he and McCollum dropped the safe near Skyline Boulevard off Highway 26 near the Portland Zoo. When Olson stated police later recovered the safe in The Dalles, Jaha responded, “That’s impossible.”

Prosecutors later presented testimony from Sgt. Ell, who told jurors the safe was recovered in a Safeway parking lot in The Dalles on May 19, 2021 - the very same day that Jaha told a grand jury in The Dalles that McCollum, Anderson and Dlouey were complicit in the robbery.

Ell also testified detectives were never able to determine how Lewis’ stolen safe ended up in the Safeway parking and no fingerprints were lifted from the safe because of its exposure over time.

“The prints were likely gone,” Ell said.

Video evidence at Macadam auto shop

Homeland Security narcotics investigator Nathan Bresee testified to the validity of surveillance video of the Dodge Charger at the auto shop across from the ICE building on South Macadam Avenue. In the video, three men can be seen getting out of the Charger and entering the auto shop. Jaha has testified the men were himself, McCollum and Anderson.

Coins taken from McCollum on unconnected arrest

During testimony Tuesday, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office property technician Jeremiah Calvin told jurors he handled Jason McCollum’s intake at the Multnomah County Justice Center on Feb. 23, 2021 - one month after the robbery in The Dalles. Calvin testified that McCollum possessed 11 silver dollars, 11 half dollars and 13 gold coins at the time of his booking. Prosecutors inferred the coins were the same as those Lewis reported stolen from his safe during the January 2021 home-invasion robbery.

Lewis describes attack, injuries and stolen safe contents and who knew about his money

Donald Lewis testified Wednesday about how Christian Dlouhy learned of his safe and personal holdings years before the robbery.

Lewis told jurors that Dlouhy and her mother, Dede Carter, stayed on his property several years earlier after the gas pump on their vehicle failed. Lewis testified he allowed the two to remain on his property in their trailer while the vehicle was repaired.

Lewis said Carter offered to clean his house in exchange for the help, and he agreed. Lewis testified that during that time Carter and Dlouhy became aware that he kept a safe in his home and had significant personal property.

Lewis said the women left after their vehicle was repaired a day or two later.

Lewis, who has been watching the trial with a few friends this week, was called to deliver testimony today about the attack on him. He told the jury he was cooking dinner on Jan. 22, 2021, and expecting a neighbor to visit when he heard a knock at the door.

Lewis testified that “two guys dressed in black with guns kicked in the door.”

“They said they were police,” Lewis said. “But the .45 he was holding had a rusty barrel. I knew it was not the police. I tried to run but they grabbed me.”

Asked by District Attorney Kara Davis whether anyone had been wearing a high-visibility coat, Lewis testified, “No.” Prosecutors asked the question because, earlier in the trial, jurors heard testimony that Jaha was seen wearing a high-visibility green-and-orange coat in videos taken around The Dalles in the hours before the robbery.

Lewis testified both men were taller than him. Lewis testified he is 5 feet 6 inches tall. “I had to look up,” he said.

Lewis testified he was on the floor when he pulled his .38-caliber handgun from the right waist of his pants, but the assailant holding the .45 grabbed the cylinder and prevented him from firing.

“He twisted it out of my hand,” Lewis testified. “My hand hurt for months after that. They fell on top of me.”

Lewis testified the men forced him face down, zip-tied his hands behind his back and zip-tied his ankles.

“When I was laying there they kicked my face with new steeltoed boots until I passed out,” Lewis said.

Lewis testified he regained consciousness and attempted to move away using his toes and his forehead. He testified the assailants caught him, beat him again and dragged him down the hallway.

“They used my arms like suitcase handles,” he said.

Lewis testified it took a year for him to regain enough mobility in his arms to dress himself after the attack.

Davis showed gave Lewis a police photo of his bedroom closet. Lewis testified the closet photograph showed where his safe sat before it was stolen.

Lewis testified the safe contained $150,000 in cash in 15 envelopes.

“I was going to travel with it in my retirement,” Lewis testified.

Lewis testified the safe also contained a satchel of 1897 silver dollars and silver 50-cent pieces, as well as coins from around the world, arrowheads, and military medals belonging to his father and grandfather.

Lewis testified the assailants covered his head with his seabag and tied the drawstrings to his hands. He testified that after the attackers left, he feared he would not be found.

“I was afraid that nobody would find me. Afraid I might possibly die,” Lewis testified.

Lewis testified he was in the hallway and could see the assailants had dumped pocketknives and scissors from a drawer onto the floor. He said he used his forehead and feet to move to the bedroom and tried to cut the zip ties on his hands, breaking scissors in the attempt.

Lewis testified cutting the restraints was difficult because every time he moved his hands, the drawstring on the bag around his head and neck tightened and choked him.

Lewis testified he eventually got a saw blade in a knife opened and was able to cut through the zip tie on his wrists.

Lewis testified he then pushed pots of burning food off the burners in his kitchen and made his way to a neighbor’s house across the street. He testified the neighbor did not recognize him because his face was so damaged and the neighbor called police. The neighbor retrieved rose shears and cut the zip tie around his ankles, he said.

Lewis testified Carolyn Layson convinced him to go to Mid-Columbia Medical Center, where doctors discovered multiple fractures and breaks in the bones of his face. He testified he was transported to Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, where he underwent five surgeries that night.

Five weeks later, Lewis said he had a bone fragment removed from under his eye.

During recovery, Lewis told the jury he had to be careful not to cough or sneeze for fear of blowing his eyeballs out.

Lewis said eating remains difficult because of loose teeth, requiring soft foods. “I have not eaten in public since,” he said, adding that he used to regularly get french toast and bacon at Mama Jane’s in The Dalles.

Lewis testified Detective Sgt. Ell later brought coins for him to examine that were recovered during the investigation. Lewis testified the coins were from his jewelry box, including a unique mix of coins from Vietnam and Hong Kong, as well as 1897 silver dollars and half dollars.

Cooperating witness contradictions remain central

Defense attorneys have argued the case against McCollum depends heavily on testimony from Jaha, who has testified he is a career criminal with an extensive record and that he entered a plea agreement requiring him to testify truthfully.

The defense has emphasized contradictions and inconsistencies in Jaha’s accounts, including his repeated early denials of involvement and conflicts in his statements regarding key locations and details surrounding the robbery and the movement of the stolen safe.

The trial is scheduled to continue on Thursday morning.

By Tom Peterson

The Dalles, Ore., Jan. 26, 2026 — A three-day jury trial began Monday in Wasco County Circuit Court for Jason McCollum, a 50-year-old Portland man charged in connection with a violent home-invasion robbery that left Donald “Donny” Lewis of The Dalles severely injured and hundreds of thousands of dollars in rare coins, jewelry and cash stolen.

McCollum faces nine charges: first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, first-degree aggravated theft, first-degree theft, first-degree unlawful use of a weapon, and menacing. Janet Stauffer is presiding over the trial.

The State of Oregon is prosecuting the case through Wasco County District Attorney Kara Davis, with assistance from Hood River County District Attorney Matthew Ellis, who originally prosecuted the case following the January 2021 crimes and is serving in a special prosecutor capacity.

In opening statements, Ellis told jurors the case stems from a brutal home invasion at the residence of Lewis in West The Dalles during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ellis said Lewis was home on the evening of Jan. 22, 2021, preparing supper when there was a knock at the door. It was dark and cold, Ellis said, when “two large men barreled into the room with guns.”

According to Ellis, Lewis attempted to defend himself by reaching for his own .38-caliber handgun, but the intruders took it from him and used it to pistol-whip him. Ellis said Lewis was repeatedly kicked in the head with heavy boots before the assailants moved directly to a back bedroom. and ransacked it, dumping out drawers and turning over the bedspring and mattress.

Ellis told jurors the men took cash, jewelry and rare coins, and dragged a safe from Lewis’ closet. He said Lewis hands and ankles were zip-tied and a rope was placed around his neck and tied to his ankles.

During testimony, Davis showed jurors photographs taken shortly after the attack depicting Lewis with a bloodied face, severe injuries, blackened eyes and a fractured eye socket.

“He is still affected by the injury today,” Ellis said earlier.

The State alleges McCollum was the third participant in the assault and robbery. Two other men — Christopher Allan Jaha, and Jeremy Lee Anderson — have previously been convicted in crimes associated with the home invasion. Anderson is serving a 100 month term and Jaha is awaiting sentencing set for February. Christian Dlouhy has also been convicted in connection with the crime.

Charges were also initially brought against Marshall McFarland of Happy Valley but were later dismissed.

Ellis told jurors investigators determined the suspects used a rented Dodge Charger to travel from the Portland area to The Dalles and back. Police obtained a search warrant for GPS data from the rental vehicle, which Ellis said showed the car leaving Portland area, stopping at Lewis’ home at the time of the crime, and returning to Portland approximately two hours later.

Ellis said the GPS data allowed detectives to gather surveillance video of one occupant of the vehicle at multiple locations in The Dalles. He told jurors that evidence led police to Jaha, who later cooperated with investigators.

“I’m not asking you to like Jaha,” Ellis said. “He’s a criminal.”

Ellis told jurors that Jaha identified Anderson and McCollum as participants in the crime. He said McCollum did not know investigators also had surveillance video from Portland showing three men exiting the Dodge Charger approximately two hours after the robbery. According to Ellis, the video was recorded from cameras in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility at 4310 S. Macadam Ave. and will be presented at trial.

Defense attorney Per Olson argued in his opening statement that the State’s case relies entirely on Jaha’s testimony, a criminal who was trading testimony for leniency at his own sentencing.

“All video points to Jaha,” Olson said, adding that while it is undisputed a crime occurred and Lewis was victimized, Jaha was “in the middle of it.” Olson also argued that surveillance video showing three men exiting the Dodge Charger on South Macadam Avenue does not establish McCollum’s presence.

Olson told jurors there is no physical evidence tying McCollum to the crime such as DNA evidence placing him at the scene. He further told jurors that DNA recovered from a glove found outside the home did not identify McCollum, saying testing showed the presence of Lewis’ DNA, Jaha’s DNA and that of Marshall McFarland, whose case related to the incident was dismissed in 2023.

Charges were initially brought against McFarland, who was arrested about a month after the robbery and assault. Prosecutors have said McFarland became a key figure early in the investigation after GPS data from the rented Dodge Charger placed the vehicle near his residence in Happy Valley around the time of the crime.

Testimony began Monday with The Dalles Police Sgt. Josh Jones, who was assigned to night patrol and had 19 years of service at the time of the attack.

During Jones’ testimony, Davis entered approximately 70 photographs into evidence showing the crime scene and Lewis’ injuries as they appeared shortly after the assault. Jones testified to the accuracy of the photographs and the location of key eveidence such as the glove, shoeprints and tire tracks and described a large bloodstain found in the hallway of the home.

Jones also identified pocket knives and scissors found at the residence. Items said Lewis used to cut the zip ties binding his hands and feet after the assailants left. Jones said Lewis partially freed himself, crossed the street to a neighbor’s home and neighbors called for help, at which point police were sent to the crime scene.

During cross-examination, Olson questioned Jones about details surrounding the Dodge Charger, focusing on where the vehicle was allegedly parked in relation to the house and emphasizing uncertainties in the evidence of where the car was actually parked during the assault.

The trial is scheduled to continue through Wednesday as additional police testimony and verifications of evidence were expected today.

Tuesday, Jan. 27

Little Music City was founded in The Dalles, Oregon by a group of individuals passionate about music and their community. www.littlemusiccity.com/

Tuesday, Jan. 27, Reddy Black Trio at Zim’s Sports Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 28

The Secret Salsa Society is your place for Salsa Dancing in the Gorge! Join the weekly dance at a fun, local venue. Expect to hear Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Cha Cha Cha, Timba, Cumbia, and more. Suggested donation $3 per person. All Ages event and Beginners are welcome! 

Beginner lessons at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 28, Crush Cider Cafe (Hood River), 7-9 p.m.

Hood River Brewing Co. in Hood River features live music onstage at the taproom from local and regional acts.

Wednesday, Jan. 28, Open Stage, 5:30-8 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 29

The Ruins in Hood River presents National and Regional touring musical acts, films, and other community events. www.theruins.org

Hot Buttered Rum

Thursday, Jan 29 | Hood River

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Doors at 5:30 p.m. Indoor venue. All-ages.

Tickets are $22 in advance (click here,) or $27 at the door.

Hot Buttered Rum gets its hands dirty planting songs with roots in Appalachia and branches in California. Five-string banjo and five-alarm fiddle dovetail with doghouse bass to frame the voices of the sextet’s two busy songwriters. Twenty years in, with fresh mud under its fingernails, HBR’s driven, danceable music continues to find its way into the hearts of fans nationwide.

Ring in the new year with an evening of art, music, and community at the opening party for Elemental: Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Spirit on Wednesday, January 29 at The Dalles Art Center. Enjoy live music, complimentary refreshments, and small bites as you explore a dynamic open exhibition inspired by the forces that shape our world.

This event is free to attend and is a wonderful way to kick off the year while supporting local artists.

Guests who become TDAC members during the opening party will receive a special thank-you: a print of their choice from our discount bin!

Friday, Jan. 30

The Pines Tasting Room in Hood River hosts live music featuring local and regional musicians.

Friday, Jan. 30, Tracy Klas & Bob Voll Band, 6-9 p.m.

Hood River Brewing Co. in Hood River features live music onstage at the taproom from local and regional acts.

Friday, Jan. 30, Friday Night Jazz with Andy Lade, 7-9 p.m.

Little Music City was founded in The Dalles, Oregon by a group of individuals passionate about music and their community. www.littlemusiccity.com/

Friday, Jan. 30

Walk Through Fire at Bargeway Pub, 6 p.m.

Miles From Nowhere at Zim’s Sports Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 31

The Boys Are Back In Town DJ night - Spinning Wheels Brewing Project in Hood River, 7-11 p.m.

DJ Phil in the Blank, DJ Mexi, and coming in from Seattle DJ Travor with some deep house. The new DJ Hole will be in use (yes we actually made a DJ booth by cutting a hole in the wall). Fun shall be had.
Little Music City was founded in The Dalles, Oregon by a group of individuals passionate about music and their community. www.littlemusiccity.com/

Saturday, Jan. 31

River City Rhythm at Zim’s Sports Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 1

Live Music at Trout Lake Hall

The Trout Lake Hall in Trout Lake, Washington brings live music and community events to its historic venue. www.troutlakehall.com/

Sunday, February 1

FREE!
All Ages
Doors at 5 p.m.
Sign up by 5:30 p.m.
Open Mic 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Open Mic Night with Lincoln Crockett every 1st Sunday

Join us in bringing the good times to the Hall every month! Historic room, great sound, supportive audience. Early and fun. Upright piano available! We want to hear you! Come be a part of it.

Bring your songs or come to listen. We hear sung and instrumental originals and covers by rockers, campfire folkies, bluegrass pickers, blues hounds, country stalwarts, even had spoken word poetry that went over gangbusters. Music knows no bounds and over its 100+ years this room has heard it all.

'INTO THE WOODS' AUDITIONS

Presented by The Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association

Kids, living in a foster home, sneak upstairs and into the attic where storybooks, old treasures and their imaginations take hold. Come play with us as we create Into the Woods....

Auditions

Location: Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave, Hood River

Sunday, February 1, 2026 from 1-4 p.m.

Monday, February 2 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

●     Ages 18 and older are welcome to audition.

●     Please prepare two minutes of a song that you are comfortable with and that shows your range.

●     Also please share a funny story, a meaningful experience or your favorite joke with us.

●     Please be prepared to move and do some fun improvisation.

●     You may be asked to sing some songs from the show.

●     This is a true ensemble piece; everyone is on stage the whole time. 

●     Cast will be 10-14 people, many playing multiple roles. The performance will be May 8-23, Fri & Sat evenings and Sunday matinees. We look forward to creating with you!

●    Callbacks are on Wednesday, Feb 4, at 6:30 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 2

Thunder Island Events

Thunder Island Brewing in Cascade Locks presents live music, trivia nights and more.

Monday, Feb. 2, Bluegrass/Oldtime Acoustic Jam, 5-8 p.m.

Thanks for Reading! If you enjoyed Gorge Giggin’ Guide Highlights please check out our Local Calendar for a deeper dive into what’s happening in The Gorge! You can even Upload your own event - Subscribe to Stay in the Know!

From Mid-Columbia Community Action Council:

By Leslie Naramore

The Dalles, Ore., Jan. 26, 2026 — Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) is pleased to announce the opening of a monthly drop-in center for houseless community members at MCCAC’s The Gloria Center, located at 2505 W. 7th St. in The Dalles. The drop-in center will open the last Friday of each month from 9 am to 3 pm, beginning Friday, January 30, 2026.

The drop-in center will provide essential services and support to community members experiencing houselessness in a welcoming, dignified environment. Services available include a hot meal, showers, laundry services, basic needs supplies, and connections to additional community resources.

More details can be found on the Drop-In Center & Severe Weather Resources page of the MCCAC website.

"We're excited to create this monthly opportunity for community members to access critical services in one location," said Liz Leon, MCCAC Regional Shelter Manager. "The drop-in center is designed to meet immediate needs while also connecting people with longer-term resources and support. We want everyone who walks through our doors to feel welcomed and supported."

The drop-in center is part of MCCAC's ongoing commitment to serving the most vulnerable members of our community. By offering these services on a regular monthly schedule, MCCAC aims to provide consistent support and build trust with houseless community members throughout the region.

In late December, MCCAC hosted our first drop-in center. Based on the success of that first drop-in center, the MCCAC team decided to make this a monthly event to meet the ongoing community need. 13 community members accessed the first drop-in center, with many requesting that this be a consistent program.

MCCAC is committed to keeping the drop-in center a low-barrier service. Participants aren’t required to go through any sort of intake process to utilize the service.

Community members interested in volunteering, donating supplies, or making a financial contribution to support the drop-in center can reach out to MCCAC at info@mccac.com.

For more information about MCCAC's services and programs, visit www.mccac.com or follow MCCAC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mccactd.

###

MCCAC is the Community Action Agency serving Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman Counties. MCCAC’s mission is to build a better future for our community through partnership and equity-centered programs that prevent and eliminate poverty and houselessness.

The Dalles, Ore., Jan. 18, 2026 — The Dalles Public Library will host a full slate of late-January programs, including a winter reading challenge, hands-on activities for kids, teen clubs, author talks, and family events, many of them free and open to the public.

Monday, Jan. 26–Friday, Jan. 31
Pint-Sized Playdates, all day. The Dalles Public Library. Free. Open to preschool and school-age children with accompanying adults. A hands-on play program featuring themed tabletop activities. This week’s theme is farms and orchards. Adults must remain with children; drop-offs are not permitted.

Monday, Jan. 26
Maker Monday: Ribbon Wreath, 5:30–7 p.m. The Dalles Public Library Makerspace. Free. Open to teens and adults. Participants will create a small ribbon wreath. Attendees are welcome to bring extra ribbon to use or share.

Tuesday, Jan. 27
Little Learners Lab: Kids in STEAM, 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. The Dalles Public Library Children’s Wing. Free. Open to preschoolers with accompanying adults. A hands-on, play-based STEAM program encouraging curiosity, creativity and discovery. Adults must remain with children.

Tuesday, Jan. 27
Sci-Fi Book Club: Annie Bot by Sierra Greer, 5–6 p.m. The Dalles Public Library meeting room. Free. Open to adults. A discussion of Annie Bot, a science fiction novel exploring artificial intelligence, identity and relationships. Light refreshments will be provided. Copies of the book are available at the library.

Tuesday, Jan. 27
Puppet Workshop, 5:30–6 p.m. The Dalles Public Library Children’s Wing. Free. Open to preschool and school-age children with accompanying adults. A brief musical puppet show followed by a make-and-take puppet activity and group storytelling. Adults must remain with children.

Wednesday, Jan. 28
Minecraft Club, 3–5 p.m. The Dalles Public Library teen room. Free. Open to teens ages 11–17. Registration required. Teens will play Minecraft on library iPads and servers while completing challenges and collaborative builds. Light snacks will be provided.

Wednesday, Jan. 28
Secrets and Second Chances with Liz Moore (virtual), 4–5 p.m. Free. Open to teens and adults. Author Liz Moore will discuss her novel The God of the Woods during an online event. Registration is required. This is a virtual program.

Thursday, Jan. 29
Playdough Storytime, 10:30–11:15 a.m. The Dalles Public Library Children’s Wing. Free. Open to preschoolers with accompanying adults. A storytime focused on early literacy using hands-on playdough activities. Materials are limited. Adults must remain with children.

Thursday, Jan. 29
WaFd Bank Presents: Financial Literacy – Managing Debt, 5:30–6:30 p.m. The Dalles Public Library Makerspace. Free. Open to adults. Registration required. Part of a three-week series focused on practical money management, including debt, credit use and financial planning.

Thursday, Jan. 29
Family Lego Pizza Night, 5:30–7 p.m. The Dalles Public Library meeting room. Free. Open to all ages. A monthly family program featuring Lego building and pizza. Food allergy notice applies.

Friday, Jan. 30
Fun Fridays for Teens: Treasure Planet Movie Showing, 3:30–5:30 p.m. The Dalles Public Library teen room. Free. Open to teens. A movie screening with snacks provided.

Saturday, Jan. 31
Family Fort Night, 5–6:30 p.m. The Dalles Public Library. Free. Open to all ages. An after-hours celebration to wrap up the Winter Reading Program, featuring a family storytime and blanket fort building inside the library. Snacks will be provided. Adults must remain with children.

The Dalles, Ore., Jan. 23, 2026 — Organizers of a new downtown music festival say The Dalles is poised to host a major regional cultural event when The Dalles Hoot debuts March 6–8.

Riann Beach and Marcus Swift, members of the nonprofit The Dalles Overground, outlined plans for the three-day, multi-venue festival during a recent podcast interview, describing it as an all-ages, walkable celebration of original music, arts and community engagement.

The festival will take place across four downtown venues — the Granada Theatre, Wines on 2nd, River City Saloon and Historic Herbring House — with performances scheduled from late afternoon into the night. All shows are free, with advance registration required only for the two headlining nights at the Granada due to capacity limits.

Swift said more than 330 people had already registered within the first two weeks, with the majority traveling from more than 100 miles away, including visitors from Texas, Minnesota, Colorado and Idaho.

Organizers said the festival is designed to activate downtown during an otherwise quiet time of year while showcasing local businesses, artists and public spaces. Planned activities include stage pounding events , pop-ups, coffee with songwriters, historic walking tours and partnerships with downtown merchants offering specials throughout the weekend.

Musical acts span multiple genres, including Americana, rock, punk, folk, Latin music, Indigenous funk and dance-driven pop. National and regional performers such as the Vandoliers and Robert Francis will headline the event, alongside local and emerging artists.

Swift said the festival reflects a broader effort to strengthen the cultural fabric of The Dalles by creating accessible, family-friendly events that bring residents and visitors together while supporting economic activity downtown.

The Dalles Overground was incorporated in early 2024 and has previously hosted pop-up block parties and fundraising concerts. Organizers said The Hoot could grow into an annual signature event if successful.

Additional information and registration details are available at tdoverground.org/hoot.

From the Confederated Tribes of the Yakama Nation:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Issues a License for the Goldendale Pump Storage  Project in Major Setback for Protection of Sacred Sites and Treaty Resources  

Toppenish, Wash., Jan. 23, 2026 – On Thursday, Trump-appointed FERC Commissioners in Washington, D.C.,  praised foreign and developer-based interests in the largest and most expensive pumped storage  project proposal in Washington State. The so-called the Goldendale Pump Storage proposal  would be located adjacent to the Columbia River and the John Day Dam at a polluted aluminum  smelter site.

The proposed project’s water storage reservoirs target the destruction of sacred sites  that have great significance to food and medicinal gathering practices. Project developers have  benefited from Trump-era rollbacks of federal clean water act protections and pulling-out of  discussions with the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation on destructive  impacts to traditional cultural properties. 

“Today, federal agencies are rewarding bad actors who have spent years finding loop-holes to  target a new wave of industrial development on top of indigenous sites that have religious and  legendary significance to the Yakama People and many others who don’t have political  connections or deep pockets” said the Yakama Tribal Council Chairman Gerald Lewis. He  continued, “Elected Yakama leadership have met with tribal leaders in Oregon who face similar  challenges – regulators in D.C. that do not hold private developers accountable to the laws that  are meant to protect the environment, our foods, or important historical sites, and instead issue  incomplete licenses with only an afterthought of losses and destruction to Yakama resources.” 

Yakama Nation and aligned environmental non-profits have submitted written comments to state  and federal agencies for years to advocate for the higher environmental consideration along the  Columbia River. Two Environmental Impact Statements have found that the proposed project  will lead to detrimental resource impacts. Corporate investors have contracted with local  municipalities and unions to pay for some development impacts, but continue to ignore and  downplay the harm identified by Yakama Nation.

“They know it’s wrong, if a small Christian  shrine sat on this site the decision-makers would understand what ‘sacred’ means. During his last  days in office, Governor Inslee encouraged FERC to consider damage costs of $25 million but  developers rejected all specific commitments and hope to keep building the energy grid on still  more sacrifices to the Yakama way of life” stated Chairman Lewis.  

Information about project impacts are available at: https://yakamafish 

nsn.gov/goldendalewaterpumpproject .

From Weinstein PR:

The Dalles, Ore., Jan. 22, 2026 — Rye Development, a leading U.S. developer of pumped storage hydropower, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), on behalf of its Flagship Fund CI V, today announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a 40-year license for the Goldendale Energy Storage Project, according to the press release.

Once operational, the project, located on private lands at the site of a former aluminum smelter near Goldendale, Wash., will store electricity for up to 12 hours and generate 1,200 megawatts of on-demand electricity—enough to power about 500,000 homes.

“This is a landmark moment for the Pacific Northwest,” said Erik Steimle, Rye Development’s chief development officer. “With electricity demand and energy costs on the rise, this license represents a huge step toward a more reliable grid and affordable energy prices for the region.”

Electricity demand in the Northwest is expected to grow more than 30% in the next decade, along with increasing electricity prices for residential and commercial customers. Pumped storage hydropower helps keep electricity costs more affordable by providing large-scale, dependable energy storage—even during extreme weather events.

The Goldendale Energy Storage Project is a significant investment, and is expected to create more than 3,000 family-wage jobs during its four- to five-year construction period, as well as dozens of permanent jobs. Once completed, the project is expected to generate more than $10 million annually for Klickitat County, supporting schools, public health, roads, emergency services and other essential needs.

“The Goldendale Energy Storage Project is a win for middle-class, family-wage jobs and rural communities,” said Heather Kurtenbach, executive secretary of the Washington State Building & Construction Trades Council. “We’re excited to collaborate with Rye Development on what will be one of the largest construction projects southeastern Washington has seen in decades.”

With a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to build the project under a labor agreement with the Washington State Building & Construction Trades Council and the Columbia Pacific Building & Construction Trades Council, all Goldendale contractors will be required to hire union workers. Per the MOU, they will prioritize hiring local workers. Given the four- to five-year construction timeline, apprentices would have the opportunity to learn a trade while earning a competitive wage.

New Life for a Former Aluminum Smelter Site

The Goldendale Energy Storage Project is sited on private land at the former Columbia Gorge Aluminum smelter, transforming the former brownfield site into an energy project providing family-wage jobs. The project, which is also located within the Tuolumne Wind Farm, could use existing roads and transmission lines. The entire project area is located within Klickitat County’s Energy Overlay Zone—a designation aimed at streamlining energy development.

“Redeveloping the Columbia Gorge Aluminum smelter into a clean energy resource has been a longtime vision of this community,” said Richard Foster, economic development director for Klickitat County. “The project revitalizes our community with good-paying jobs, stimulates local economic growth, and enhances our leadership in renewable energy.”

From CCCNews reporting:

What Comes Next

Before ground can be broken, the project must still complete several additional permitting, compliance, and development steps at the state, federal, and local levels. These include securing remaining environmental permits related to wetlands, stormwater, and land disturbance, as well as approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for any work affecting waters of the United States.

The developer must also complete site-specific requirements tied to the former aluminum smelter property, including environmental cleanup coordination and remediation planning required by state regulators, before large-scale construction activities can begin.

In addition, detailed engineering and final design work must be completed and approved. This process typically includes submission of construction plans, safety and dam-engineering documents, cultural and historic resource protections, and environmental mitigation measures required under the FERC license and state law.

Beyond permitting, the project must finalize key commercial and infrastructure agreements, including financing arrangements, power purchase or market participation agreements, and grid interconnection approvals needed to connect the facility to the regional transmission system.

Only after those steps are completed — and any remaining permit conditions are satisfied — can full construction move forward. Developers have previously indicated that the project remains several years away from major construction, with timelines dependent on regulatory approvals, market conditions, and financing.

Several Columbia Plateau tribes have formally opposed the Goldendale Energy Storage Project thus far, arguing it would cause irreparable harm to culturally significant lands, treaty resources and traditional use areas. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Nez Perce Tribe, the Yakama Nation and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have each raised concerns during the federal review process, citing impacts to archaeological sites, first foods, sacred landscapes and treaty-reserved fishing, hunting and gathering rights. Tribal leaders have stated that the project site sits within a broader cultural landscape that cannot be mitigated through standard environmental measures, and they have criticized the licensing process for what they describe as insufficient protection of tribal sovereignty and treaty obligations, even as federal regulators moved forward with approval.

CCCNews has reached out to the Yakama Nation tribes in regard to the announcement for comment, but has not heard back at the time of this publication. 

A public meeting to discuss hauling contaminated sediment from the Portland Harbor Superfund site to the Wasco County Landfill will be held this evening at the Columbia River Hotel (formerly the Shilo Inn) next to The Dalles Bridge at 5 p.m. tonight, Jan. 22.

The dredged material proposed for removal contains polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, which are known to be carcinogenic or cancer causing.

The Portland Harbor Superfund cleanup plan involves dredging contaminated sediment from the Willamette River, with a significant portion (millions of cubic yards) potentially transported to Wasco County's landfills (like the Wasco County Landfill near The Dalles) for disposal via barge/truck or rail, causing community concerns about increased truck traffic and local pollution, with the EPA working on final agreements, though plans are still evolving.