By Joshuah Albert

The Dalles, Ore., March 1, 2026 — The Dalles Public Library will host a wide variety of free programs and activities for all ages throughout early March, including hands-on crafts, wellness classes, gaming, educational workshops, and family events.

Monday, March 2
Spice Kit Take & Make (all day). The Dalles Public Library. Free. Teens and adults.

Monday, March 2
Maker Monday: Catalogue Night, 5:30–7 p.m. The Dalles Public Library makerspace. Free. Browse crafts and STEM projects, choose a project, and create in the makerspace. School-age, teens, and adults.

Wednesday, March 4
Humor, Heart, and Reflective Rural Stories with Michael Perry (virtual), 11 a.m.–noon. Adults. Registration required. Conversation with author Michael Perry. Presenter views are their own; appearance does not imply endorsement.

Thursday, March 5
Mat Pilates with Shannon Red Cloud, 9–10 a.m. The Dalles Public Library meeting room. Free. Strength, flexibility, and balance class with modifications for different fitness levels; participants should be able to move from standing to the floor. Adults.

Thursday, March 5
Shopping on a Budget, noon–1 p.m. The Dalles Public Library meeting room. Adults. Registration required; closes at noon on March 5. Nutritionist Kathleen Boxx shares tips for planning and shopping to reduce grocery costs; food will be served. Allergy notice: ingredients may have come into contact with allergens.

Thursday, March 5
Latin-Inspired Dance Lessons, 4–4:45 p.m. The Dalles Public Library meeting room. Adults. Registration required; closes at 4 p.m. March 5. Part of a six-week swing and Latin dance series taught by Don Slusher.

Thursday, March 5
Hook Club, 5:30–7 p.m. The Dalles Public Library near New Books. Free. Crochet-along and book chat; yarn provided. Teens and adults. More information: aphelps@thedalles.gov.

Thursday, March 5
Family Storytime Sweetshop & Coloring Cafe, 6–7 p.m. The Dalles Public Library main library. Free. Family read-aloud with desserts and coloring. Allergy notice: food may have come into contact with allergens. All ages.

Friday, March 6
Sound Bath Meditation, noon–1 p.m. The Dalles Public Library meeting room. Free. Guided sound bath session; bring a mat or blanket. Materials are limited; first-come, first-served. Adults.

Friday, March 6
Fun Friday: The Cupcake Challenge, 3:30–4:30 p.m. The Dalles Public Library children’s wing. Free. Teams stack and frost cupcakes to build a “cake tower.” School-age.

Friday, March 6
Fun Fridays for Teens: DIY Pizza Bagel, 3:30–4:30 p.m. The Dalles Public Library teen room. Free. Teens.

Saturday, March 7
Craft Store Desert Craft Supply Exchange, 10 a.m.–noon. The Dalles Public Library meeting room. Free. Trade new or gently used craft supplies. Drop off supplies at 10 a.m.; early access at 10:30 a.m. for those who brought items; doors open to all at 11 a.m. Unclaimed items must be retrieved by 11:45 a.m.; remaining supplies will be donated. Adults.

Saturday, March 7
Share & Show: Central Oregon Rock Collectors, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. The Dalles Public Library children’s wing. Free. Hands-on show-and-share with geoscientists, plus a rock hunt and dig site. All ages.

Saturday, March 7
Intermediate Guitar Lessons with Aaron Israel, 1–2 p.m. The Dalles Public Library teen room. Teens and adults. Registration required; closes at 1 p.m. March 7. Six-week intermediate series runs Saturdays, March 7–April 11. Not for beginners.

Thoughts from the Tractor Seat by Ken Polehn

The Dalles, Ore., Feb. 28, 2026 — If you grew up in The Dalles, summer wasn’t theoretical.

Teachers managed crews. High school students drove tractors. College kids came home to earn tuition in the orchards and on processing lines. The river moved quietly below, but the hills hummed with work.

And for a long stretch of our history, processing was the backbone.

Cherries went into the brine and cans. Pears moved through syrup lines. Fruit that didn’t meet fresh cosmetic standards still had value. Processing contracts created predictability. Banks understood them. Growers relied on them. A portion of every orchard had a destination that wasn’t dependent on perfect size or flawless skin.

That structure shaped the Mid-Columbia economy.

Fresh fruit was always present. Refrigerated rail cars carried cherries east. Later, trucks widened the market. But processing provided ballast. It absorbed variability. It extended employment beyond harvest. It distributed risk across more than one outlet.

Then consumers changed.

American diets shifted toward fresh produce. Shelf-stable fruit lost ground. Retail expectations tightened. Appearance mattered more. Sweetness mattered more. Packaging mattered more.

And so we evolved.

The transition wasn’t sudden. It happened field by field, block by block, decade by decade. Packing houses modernized. Cold storage expanded. Variety selection sharpened. Forklifts replaced hand trucks on receiving docks. Lug boxes gave way to buckets and macro bins.

Processing didn’t vanish overnight. It simply ceased being the primary anchor.

Fresh precision took its place.

By the early 2000s, Mid-Columbia had largely aligned itself with premium fresh markets. Our cherries grew larger. Our pears are cleaner. Our harvest windows are tighter. Export relationships strengthened. The fruit that once might have been buffered by processing now depended more directly on quality, labor timing, and logistics.

It was not decline.

It was adaptation.

But adaptation carries trade-offs.

Processing spreads risk differently than a fresh-dominant system. In heavy crop years, it absorbs surplus. In off-grade situations, it provides an outlet. In volatile markets, it cushions impact.

Fresh markets reward excellence — but they expose weakness more quickly.

Urban readers often see only the visible result: beautiful fruit stacked in June. What they don’t see is the generational recalibration that made that fruit possible.

The Mid-Columbia didn’t abandon its backbone. It outgrew it.

Processing built the foundation. It stabilized the community. It trained labor. It financed orchards. It carried the region through decades when fresh markets were smaller and less global.

Then we evolved alongside consumer expectations.

From brine barrels to clamshells.

From syrup tins to export cartons.

From volume-driven contracts to precision-driven markets.

The river still flows past the orchards. Blossoms still bloom every April. But beneath that familiar landscape lies a food system that has reinvented itself without losing its roots.

Processing was our backbone.

Fresh precision is our present.

And the Mid-Columbia story is not about losing one or the other — it is about how a community along the Columbia River adjusted, generation by generation, to meet the expectations of the tables it feeds.

From The Dalles Swim Team:

By Ann Goodman

The Dalles, Ore., Feb. 26, 2026 — The Dalles Swim Team sent three 10-and-under swimmers to the Arena OSI state championship meet this past weekend, February 21-22, in Springfield, Oregon.

Hanah Anslinger, age 9, competed in the 50-yard backstroke, 100-yard backstroke, and 50-yard butterfly, with top 15 finishes in the backstroke events (14th in the 50 back and 11th in the 100 back, both with substantial time improvements).

Harlan Lawrence, age 7 and competing against 8-year-olds, competed in a maximum number of  6 events:

50-yard breaststroke: 16th place

50-yard butterfly: 14th place

100-yard Individual Medley (IM): 10th place

25-yard butterfly: 12th place

25-yard breaststroke: 10th place

25-yard freestyle: 12th place

Holten Lawrence, age 9 and older brother to Harlan, also had a full schedule of six events:

200-yard freestyle: 2nd place

50-yard backstroke: 1st place

100 Yard Individual Medley (IM): 1st place

50-yard freestyle: 2nd place

100-yard backstroke: 1st place

100-yard freestyle: 3rd place

Holten has qualified in all events for the Northwest Regional Age Group Championship meet to be held in Federal Way, Washington, March 19-22.

This was a large championship meet, and all three TDST swimmers rose to the occasion, posting personal best times and placings. There were fast swimmers from all over the state, and they represented The Dalles well!

The next meet is the 11-14 Arena OSI State Championship meet, with three swimmers qualified to compete: Elijah Bachman, Sebastian Powell, and Silas Vaught. That takes place March 6-8 in Beaverton

Kaiya Doty, 16, and having just completed a successful high school season, has qualified to compete in six events at the Oregon Regional Championships, also to be held at Tualatin Hills in Beaverton, March 19-22.

The last team swim meet for the winter season is March 14-15 in Newberg, with 14 swimmers competing at the John Haring Memorial B/C meet.

It's been a busy and successful championship season! 

From The Next Door Inc.:

By Jordan Flores

Hood River, Ore., Feb. 26, 2026 — The Next Door is thrilled to invite the community to join us for an unforgettable evening at Celilo Restaurant on Sunday, April 19th at 5 p.m. Five top local chefs will come together to create a superb five-course dinner featuring locally and sustainably sourced ingredients, paired with Analemma wine and pFriem beer generously donated in support of the evening. 

This marks the third year in a row that chefs Aaron Baumhackl of Solstice Pizza, Ben Stenn of Celilo, John Helleberg of Ruby June Inn, Kathy Watson of Nora's Table, and Lindsay Gott of Gâteaux have generously donated their time and talent to host this special evening in support of a local nonprofit. The Next Door is honored to be this year’s beneficiary, with proceeds supporting our Raíces Cooperative Farm, a program cultivating opportunity and leadership for Latino farmers. 

"This event is a powerful reminder of what's possible when our community comes together to support one another," says Anna Osborn, Department Manager of Economic Development Services. "The generosity of these chefs and dinner guests will help create opportunities for Latino families in the Gorge and support farmers in growing fresh chemical-free food for their families and our community." 

Seating for this fundraiser will be limited to only 50 guests at $250 per plate. Tickets are expected to sell out quickly, so be sure to reserve your plate early here:  https://givebutter.com/bignightinasmalltown 

About Raíces Cooperative Farm 
Founded in 2009 from a Latino leadership development course, Raíces began as a community garden idea and has grown into a thriving cooperative of more than 25 Latino families in Hood River County. Today, Raíces operates across four farm locations in Hood River and Odell, Oregon, providing families with access to land and the tools, training, and support needed to grow organic fruits and vegetables.  

From City of The Dalles Public Works Department:

By Jill Hoyenga

The Dalles, Ore., Feb. 26, 2026 — This year, the City is asking citizens to make a special effort to prevent unsightly damage to street trees that have low-hanging branches. Trimming branches before collision breaks branches is healthier for trees. Tree trimming also prevents damage to tall vehicles like package delivery vans, recreational vehicles, garbage trucks, and school buses.

Property owners or occupants are responsible for caring for trees in The Dalles. City staff only takes care of City-owned trees in the Downtown Area. When branches block safe passage, the property owner or occupant is responsible to reduce the hazard. This is the case whether the tree is on their property or on the right-of-way next to their property.

Early spring is a good time of year to trim trees and shrubs. Check the height of trees and shrubs that extend over sidewalks, streets, and alleys. Trim deciduous plants before they leaf out to maintain safe clearances while preserving the beauty of mature plants.

Proper pruning is important for the health of your trees and shrubs. The Arbor Day Foundation offers a series of “Ask an Arborist” how-to videos to show you the ABCs of pruning. Other resources can be found on the internet or by consulting professionals.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the most common tree trimming accidents are electrocution, falling from a tree, or being struck by trees or limbs.

When in doubt about safely trimming trees, hire a professional arborist.

For more information about trimming trees and shrubs for traffic safety, visit thedalles.org/trimtrees or contact the Public Works Department at (541) 296-5401.

From the History Museum of Hood River County:

Hood River, Ore., Feb. 25, 2026 — The History Museum of Hood River County is proud to present Gorge Youth Speaks, a new youth speaker series launching this spring. Event dates are March 18 and April 22 at The History Museum and May 13 at The Ruins in downtown Hood River.

Gorge Youth Speaks will create a space for young people to share their hopes, ideas, and vision for the future of the Gorge, our country, and the world. Centering youth voice, civic engagement, and community storytelling, the series will explore topics such as the environment and climate change, democracy, belonging, and the changes young people want to see. This spring’s events invite youth to reflect on what America250 means to them and how we can strengthen our shared “pursuit of happiness” in the Gorge and beyond.

Tickets for each of the three Gorge Youth Speaks events are $10 for adults (students are free) and will be on sale at the museum and online soon (hoodriverhistorymuseum.org). Events are all Wednesdays at 7pm (doors at 6:30): March 18 & April 22 (at The History Museum) and May 13 (at The Ruins, 13 Railroad St, Hood River).

The first speaker event on Wednesday, March 18 will feature photos and stories from the Pacific Crest Trail, told by Madeleine Jones who hiked the entire 2600-mile PCT in 2025. Zane Yinger will speak about the experience of learning the Chinuk Wawa language and why they think the revitalization of this language is relevant to everyone in the Gorge and part of a larger movement toward collective healing and connection. Both Madeleine and Zane graduated from HRVHS, class of 2019. Both are back living in Hood River temporarily, before embarking on the next phases of their lives.

The second event on Wednesday, April 22, at the museum, will focus on the environment in honor of Earth Day. The final event on Wednesday, May 13 at The Ruins, will be a larger open mic/ storytelling-style event on a variety of topics that are important to young people in our Gorge community.

ABOUT THE HISTORY MUSEUM OF HOOD RIVER COUNTY

The History Museum is a vibrant center for engaging all people in a better understanding of the community’s heritage that preserves the past, relates it to the present and shapes our future. Led by the non-profit Hood River County Heritage Council, the Museum brings the region’s past and present to life through permanent displays, temporary exhibitions, and programs.

VISITOR INFORMATION

Beginning March 7, 2026, the History Museum of Hood River County is open Monday-Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm. Admission is $8, $6 for honored guests 65+ and veterans, free for members, children 10 and under and currently serving military personnel and families. The Museum is located at 300 E. Port Marina Drive, Hood River, OR 97031. For further information, call 541.386.6772, email info@hoodriverhistorymuseum.org or visit www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org

The Dalles, Ore. Feb. 25, 2026 — The Cherry Stomp Dance storms back into The Dalles Civic Auditorium on April 25 at 7:00 p.m. — bringing the music, the memories, and the magic back to The Civic for one unforgettable night.

For longtime locals, Cherry Stomp isn’t just a dance. It’s a feeling. It’s packed floors, big guitars, friends singing at the top of their lungs, and the kind of electric energy that only happens when a community comes together.

This year’s return carries special meaning. The event comes back with the blessing of Randy Haines, whose name became synonymous with unforgettable live entertainment in The Dalles and legendary nights at The Civic.

Event organizer Tiffany Hardin, Operations Manager of The Dalles Civic and a lifelong local, shared:

“I grew up in The Dalles knowing that if Randy Haines was attached to a show, it was going to be good. Even as a kid, you just knew. I may have been too young to attend his events, but everyone talked about them. Later, I had the opportunity to visit with Randy while promoting events on his Friday morning radio show, and it was such a gift to connect with him and hear the stories of the great Randy Haines. He has an incredible history with The Dalles and with The Civic itself. It truly is an honor to bring the Cherry Stomp Dance back with his blessing and carry on this tradition. Randy told me he may not be able to be there physically, but he’ll absolutely be there in spirit, rockin’ the night away with all of us.”

Providing the soundtrack for the night is the high-energy, live band “Icons of Rock - Tribute Show,” delivering powerhouse tributes to legends like Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett, and Shania Twain, along with more iconic hits guaranteed to keep the dance floor moving all night long. Expect big vocals, blazing guitar riffs, fist-in-the-air anthems, and nonstop dancing.

A full bar and food will be available for purchase, setting the stage for the ultimate night out with friends. Whether you’re reliving the glory days of Cherry Stomp or experiencing it for the very first time, this is your chance to be part of a revived local tradition.

The Cherry Stomp Dance is proudly sponsored by Explore The Dalles and Copper West Real Estate.

Event Details

Cherry Stomp Dance
April 25, 2026
7:00 PM
The Dalles Civic Auditorium

Tickets are $25 and available online or at the door if still available. Early purchase is strongly encouraged — this nostalgic, high-energy comeback is expected to draw a strong crowd.

Dust off your dancing shoes. Call your friends. Make your plans.

The Cherry Stomp is back — and it’s ready to rock.

By Joshuah Albert

Lyle, Wash., Feb. 23, 2026 — A Lyle man was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson after a barn fire at a Klickitat County sheriff’s deputy’s home last week, according to statements released by the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office and additional information provided by the Washington State Patrol.

All details regarding the fire, investigation and arrest were initially released by the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office. Additional timeline and operational clarification was provided by the Washington State Patrol.

According to the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office, the fire was reported at approximately 10 p.m. Feb. 17, when an off-duty deputy returned home with his wife and young children and noticed a strong gasoline odor. The sheriff’s office stated the deputy was attempting to determine the source of the smell when a barn on the property erupted in flames. Deputies and firefighters responded and extinguished the fire.

The sheriff’s office said its K9 unit tracked a scent from the burned barn to a neighboring residence. Authorities attempted contact with someone inside the home but received no response, according to the sheriff’s office. The deputy’s family was relocated to a motel while investigators processed the scene.

The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office said arson investigators and Washington State Patrol detectives assisted in developing probable cause for a search warrant at a neighboring property located at 6 Lyle-Snowden Road.

In its press release, the sheriff’s office stated Washington State Patrol SWAT had been requested to assist with executing the warrant, but said permission to execute the search warrant was not granted by Washington State Patrol supervisors.

However, the Washington State Patrol disputed that characterization.

Chris Loftis, director of public affairs for the Washington State Patrol, said the request for SWAT assistance was received near the end of the day Feb. 18, and was not denied.

“Any inference that we arbitrarily denied a request for assistance is inaccurate,” Loftis said.

According to Loftis, the warrant had not yet been signed during the initial consultation, and Washington State Patrol SWAT personnel were completing a full-day training operation on the western side of the state.

Loftis said mobilizing SWAT immediately would have required travel across mountain passes and resulted in extended operational hours exceeding 24 consecutive hours, which he said would have created safety concerns.

“Our SWAT unit was still in the process of a day-long training operation on the western side of the state,” Loftis said. “An early Thursday mobilization with the necessary travel across the passes to the east side would have also been tactically impractical and operationally unsafe.”

Loftis said the Washington State Patrol offered to assist either later Thursday or during the day Friday, but Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office personnel decided to proceed with a locally directed operation Thursday.

“KCSO was made aware of WSP’s timing and travel constraints and on-scene KCSO planners decided a locally-directed Thursday operation would be the better option,” Loftis said.

According to the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office, deputies served the search warrant Feb. 19 at the Lyle-Snowden Road residence.

During the operation, the sheriff’s office said a pickup truck driven by 35-year-old Kiva Dobson approached deputies from the rear of the property. The sheriff’s office alleged Dobson attempted to flee in the vehicle, disregarded commands to stop, and collided with a patrol vehicle.

The sheriff’s office reported Dobson exited the vehicle and resisted arrest. Deputies took him into custody after a struggle, according to the agency.

The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office said two deputies were injured during the arrest, with one sustaining a sprained wrist and another suffering a compression fracture to the spine.

Dobson was transported to the Klickitat County Jail and faces charges of first-degree arson, residential burglary and first-degree reckless burning, according to the sheriff’s office. The allegations have not been independently verified in court, and Dobson had not been convicted of the charges as of Monday.

The Washington State Patrol said it was “glad that the suspect was apprehended” and expressed hope that the injured deputies would recover, while also stating it was “happy that the deputy and his family that were originally targets of the suspected arson were unharmed.”

Both agencies said multiple personnel assisted with the investigation, including sheriff’s deputies, detectives, arson investigators, and fire personnel.

From Washington Gorge Action Programs:

By Jennifer Pauletto

Bingen, Wash., Feb. 23, 2026 — Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) today announced the departure of Executive Director Jennifer Pauletto after years of dedicated leadership and service to communities throughout the Columbia River Gorge region. The organization’s Board of Directors has initiated a comprehensive recruitment process to identify the agency’s next Executive Director.

Pauletto has served WAGAP since 2022, first as the Associate Director and then as the Executive Director. She guided the organization through expanded programming, strengthened community partnerships, and found ways to sustain services in a challenging funding climate. During her tenure, WAGAP deepened its impact across housing stability, food security, energy assistance, and supportive services for families and individuals facing economic hardship.

“Jennifer has been an incredible asset for WAGAP and will be sorely missed,” said David Quesnel the Chair of WAGAP’s Board of Directors. The Board is committed to a smooth transition for the staff and community.

Under Pauletto’s direction, WAGAP enhanced cross-sector partnerships, advanced strategic initiatives, and made difficult decisions that positioned the organization for long-term sustainability. Her work has helped ensure that critical services remain accessible to those who need them most across Skamania and Klickitat counties.

“It has been an honor to serve this community alongside an extraordinary team of staff, volunteers, and partners,” Pauletto said. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together and confident that WAGAP will continue to thrive in its mission to eliminate the causes and conditions of poverty in our region.”

WAGAP’s Board of Directors has launched a formal search for the organization’s next Executive Director. The Board is seeking a collaborative and visionary leader who is deeply committed to community action principles, collaboration, and partnership-driven solutions.

The next Executive Director will build upon WAGAP’s strong foundation, guide strategic growth, foster staff development, and strengthen relationships with community partners, funders, and stakeholders.

A detailed position description, qualifications, and application instructions will be posted on WAGAP’s website and distributed through local and regional nonprofit networks. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply and share the opportunity within their professional networks.

#  #  #

Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Community Action Agency that helps individuals, families, and communities. WAGAP addresses basic human needs, including food, shelter, energy assistance, and more, in Skamania and Klickitat Counties. For 60 years, WAGAP has helped people help themselves and reach self-sufficiency. Learn more at wagap.org, or contact WAGAP at (509) 493-2662 or info@wagap.org.

From Overwatch Imaging:

By Stephen Babcock

Hood River, Ore., Feb. 24, 2026 — Overwatch Imaging, a developer of autonomous airborne imagery intelligence systems, is honored to announce a donation of $10,000 to strengthen STEM education in the Columbia River Gorge ecosystem.

At Overwatch Imaging’s 10-year anniversary celebration on Feb. 19, founder and CEO Greg Davis presented the donation to the Gorge Technology Alliance (GTA), an organization dedicated to connecting and supporting the local tech community. The funds will sponsor programming for the Columbia Gorge STEM Hub, a department of the Columbia Gorge Education Service District that provides dedicated programming for science, technology, engineering, and math.

“As Overwatch Imaging marks a decade of innovation, we are proud to make this donation to strengthen the connection between the local technology ecosystem and our community,” said Greg Davis, founder and CEO, Overwatch Imaging. “As a business with deep roots in the Gorge that employs many graduates of local schools while also attracting top talent from throughout the region and nation, we truly believe in the importance of a strong local community, and we value the educators, coaches and mentors who provide excellent training for the next generation of engineers, builders, and problem-solvers.”

This donation ensures that the STEM Hub’s robotics programming will be offered to families throughout the Gorge for the 2026-2027 school year. Now in its fourth year, the robotics program has served over 500 students across 12 schools.

“We’re grateful to Overwatch Imaging for providing funding that will support the students, parents, and coaches of our competitive robotics program,” said Julie Cucuel, Director, Columbia River Gorge STEM Hub. “In the Columbia River Gorge, we see over and over again that industry shows up for education with time, resources, and expertise. With their generosity, Overwatch Imaging is making an important commitment to ensure the youth in our community are STEM-literate and future-ready.”

Strengthening STEM education is a key focus area of GTA’s work to bolster the Gorge as a hub of innovation for aerospace and imagery intelligence. Serving as a connecting point between industry and education, the GTA routinely provides connections to mentors, teachers, and speakers for the STEM Hub’s programming.

“Education is foundational to the continued flourishing of our local ecosystem,” said Jason Hartmann, Project Manager, Columbia Gorge Tech Alliance. “As successful businesses like Overwatch Imaging continue to grow, programming provided by the STEM Hub will provide a pipeline for homegrown talent that will help our local economy thrive.”

The donation was announced at the Overwatch Imaging 10-year Anniversary Celebration, which drew about 75 people to the Ruins in Hood River. In addition to the presentation of the check, Davis provided a history of Overwatch Imaging, charting its evolution from a bootstrapped startup to a global provider of AI-enabled sensor autonomy deployed across six continents. The Gorge ecosystem played an important role in the company’s journey from day one, and the company continues to value its role as a longstanding local employer and steward of its rich technology lineage.

About Overwatch Imaging:

Overwatch Imaging is an imagery intelligence technology company working to bring sensor autonomy to time-critical airborne search, detection, tracking and monitoring missions. Our Automated Sensor Operator (ASO) software, native to our own line of purpose-built Smart Sensors and as an upgrade for airborne video gimbal platforms, brings Superhuman Vision and Workload Reduction to users of real-time imagery intelligence systems. We fundamentally believe that modern edge processing and AI-enabled autonomy can perform an important set of time-critical imagery intelligence missions better, faster and more safely than humans can alone.

Founded in 2016 in Hood River, Oregon, we support private sector companies as well as federal, state and local agencies around the world with missions ranging from wildfire mapping and disaster response to law enforcement, border security, maritime domain awareness and tactical intelligence.

About Columbia River Gorge STEM Hub

The Columbia Gorge STEM Hub is on a mission to ensure all Gorge youth are STEM-literate and future-ready. The Hub accomplishes these goals through a Collective Impact model, partnering with schools and districts, community-based organizations and STEM industry leaders to increase access to quality STEM learning experiences for youth. The Hub is supported by the Oregon Department of Education and local donors.

About the Gorge Technology Alliance

The Columbia River Gorge Technology Alliance (Gorge Tech Alliance, GTA) is a professional organization composed of local tech businesses in the bi-state Columbia River Gorge region. Since 2005, the GTA has worked to help start, grow, expand and sustain high-tech companies in the Gorge. By bringing the tech business community together for educational and networking events, the Alliance promotes connections between business, education and government.

Tuesday, Feb. 24

Mt. Hood Stories at Mt. Hood Town Hall

Gather with neighbors and friends this winter to share and listen to true stories on monthly themes. All storytellers are welcome!

Tuesday, Feb. 24, Stories of Love, 6:30-8 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/

Tuesday, February 24

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

Wednesday, Feb. 25

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

Wednesday, Feb. 25, Open Stage, 5:30-8 p.m.

The Lightwell Hotel in Hood River hosts live music in the lobby and other community events.

Live Music with The Lobbyists⁠ - Wednesday Nights, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.⁠

Next Stop - A Comedy Show at Solera Brewery in Parkdale 

Next Stop Comedy brings top stand-up comedians to your favorite local venues! Each show features a novel line-up with acts seen on TV and heard on your favorite podcasts.

For tickets check out: nextstopcomedy.com

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. 25, Crush Cider Cafe (Hood River), 7-9 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 26

The Mother Hips w/ Lewi Longmire

Thursday, Feb 26

The Ruins in Hood River

6-9 p.m.

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

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

Based in Northern California, The Mother Hips headed to New Mexico, spending time at Ghost Ranch before settling in at Jono Manson's Kitchen Sink studio in Santa Fe for sessions in late 2021. Self-produced, When We Disappear features nine new tracks co-written by co-founders Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono – collection of lit-pysch rock songs inspired by psychology and literature – as well as a raw, garagey cover of Buffy St. Marie's 1964 addiction song "Codine."

Friday, Feb. 27

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

Friday, February 27

6:00 PM Tracy Klas at Bargeway Pub

7:00 PM Crawdaddies at Zim’s Sports Bar & Grill

8:00 PM Tyson Huckins at Last Stop Saloon

Tarwater Tavern in White Salmon brings local and regional music to the stage.

Friday, Feb. 27, Live music with Richard Tillinghast, 6-8 p.m.

64 oz. Taphouse in Hood River brings live music to the stage.

Lisa Mann Trio (Blues),  7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 28

The Granada Theater in The Dalles presents 

Syco Billy’s String Band w/Tuesday String Band, 7 p.m.

Syco Billy’s are more than just a band; they are the embodiment of a musical movement that celebrates the timeless beauty of bluegrass while forging a path into uncharted territory. With their exceptional talent, camaraderie, and ability to ignite the stage, this 5-piece new grass string band promises an unforgettable experience that leaves a lasting impression on anyone lucky enough to witness their performance.

Tickets at:

granadatheatrethedalles.com/events-and-buy-tickets/2-28-syco-billys-and-tuesday-string-bands/

Vintage Soul at The Ruins

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

Sat, Feb 28

A concert brought to you by Black In The Gorge, in celebration of Black History Month!

Doors at 5:30 p.m. Indoor venue.

Tickets are $25 in advance (click here,) or $30 at the door.

Featuring Oregon Music Hall of Fame inductee Brian Fowxworth and an assortment of Portland's finest Jazz/Soul players, Vintage Soul come to The Ruins for a night of 'That Feel Good Music', as part of Black In The Gorge's Black History Month celebrations.

Sunday, March 1

Phelps Creek Vineyard in Hood River 

Sunday, March 1, The Honeyjays, 5-7 p.m.

Open Mic Night at Trout Lake Hall

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

FREE! Open Mic Night every 1st Sunday of the month

hosted by Lincoln Crockett

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

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.

Monday, March 2

Open community bluegrass jam at Hood River Brewing Co., 5:30-8 p.m.

Everybody’s Brewing in White Salmon brings local and regional music to the stage. Monday, March 2, The Last Call (Adventurous Classics and Originals), 6-8 p.m. 

Bluegrass/Old-Time Acoustic Jam at Thunder Island Brewing in Cascade Locks. Come enjoy the Bluegrass/Old-Time Acoustic Jam  the 1st Monday of every month from 5-8 p.m. and share acoustic bluegrass and old-time music with friends. ACOUSTIC stringed instruments only - guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, bass, dobro, ukulele or other traditional acoustic instruments.

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. 23, 2026 — Dayna Wynn-Elledge has resigned from the North Wasco County School District 21 Board of Directors, stepping down from the Zone 2 position she had held since her appointment in 2023.

Wynn-Elledge declined to discuss the reasons for her departure.

“It is not anyone’s business,” she said Monday. “It was my choice.”

Her resignation creates a vacancy on the seven-member board, which governs policy, budgets and leadership decisions for the district serving The Dalles and surrounding communities.

The district is now seeking applicants to fill the vacant Zone 2 position through an appointment process. Interested residents must be registered voters who have lived within the district and Zone 2 for at least one year. Applications will be accepted through March 27 at 4 p.m., with interviews to be conducted prior to a regular school board meeting and open to the public.

The Zone 2 boundary map is included below, but the map & zone description may also be found on the NWCSD Website, www.nwasco.k12.or.us, under School Board & Board Members.

The appointed position will run through June 30, 2027, completing the remainder of the current term. The seat will then appear on the May 2027 special district election ballot for a full four-year term.

Wynn-Elledge was appointed effective July 1, 2023, to fill the unexpired term of Dawn Rasmussen, who resigned earlier that year. At the time, district officials said Wynn-Elledge brought extensive parent and community involvement to the role, including serving as a parent representative at Brier Terrace Middle School and working as a swim instructor for local youth.

In announcing her appointment in 2023, the district said Wynn-Elledge was committed to helping ensure students developed essential academic skills and emphasized fairness and careful consideration in board decision-making.

School board members in Oregon serve as the governing body of their districts, setting policy, approving budgets and hiring and evaluating the superintendent.

The district has not yet announced when the appointment to fill the Zone 2 vacancy will be made.

The Dalles, Ore., Feb. 23, 2026 — Beneath the calm surface of Klindt’s Cove in the Port of The Dalles, Jo Cruz descended into cold, murky water and emerged numerous times, dragging with him an accumulation of roughly '“150 pounds of garbage” pulled from the bottom.

Working alone and paying for the effort himself, Cruz said he coordinated with Northern Wasco Parks & Recreation before beginning the cleanup dive. He recovered discarded cans, metal hardware and even entire garbage cans partially buried in the sediment. Cruz said abandoned fishing gear, including broken lines and ghost nets were also present. He said ghost nets continue trapping and killing fish long after they are lost, noting many exist between Klindt’s Cove and The Dalles Dam.

“Maybe if people see me doing this, they will do something too,” Cruz said.

Cruz said he has also conducted cleanup dives in the Columbia and Deschutes rivers, removing fishing lures, lines and other debris that threaten fish and wildlife. For him, the effort is about protecting the river and setting an example — restoring the water one dive at a time.

By Tom Peterson

The Dalles, Ore., Feb. 23, 2026 — A cold, steady rain fell across The Dalles this morning, dripping from eaves, pooling along curbs and turning construction sites into slick patches of mud and steel as low clouds swallowed the Columbia Hills and temperatures hovered in the low 40s.

For many residents, the gray skies signaled another drab winter day. But for the crews working beneath them, it was simply Monday.

Across the city of roughly 16,000 people, construction workers climbed in and out of trenches, operated heavy equipment and leaned into the damp chill, continuing projects that could not wait for clear skies. Rainwater beaded on hard hats and ran in rivulets down freshly exposed pipes as the steady rhythm of backhoes and jackhammers echoed through neighborhoods.

At the hospital, Northwest Natural Gas crews completed trench work as the provided maintenance on a gas line that ran several hundred feet through the parking lot.  

Across 19th Street, J&J Construction workers replaced a driveway in the 1600 block, using a backhoe to peel away asphalt and a jackhammer to fracture aging concrete, sending sharp cracks through the damp morning air.

On Laughlin Street in the 400 block, City of The Dalles Public Works crews worked ran pressure washers in the rain to locate and eventually install underground infrastructure for a vacant property, including connection for stormwater connection and two sewer connections. The work, essential but largely unseen once complete, will allow future development to safely tie into the city’s wastewater and stormwater systems.

On First Street downriver of Union Street dock and outside Pacific Coast Producers on First Street, contractors secured a temporary above ground sewer line designed to reroute sewage during daytime construction. The bypass ensures uninterrupted service while permanent improvements are completed beneath the soaked pavement. Nearby, Gary Funderberg and Chris McPherson of Crestline Construction moved between equipment and trench lines, continuing their work despite the steady drizzle.

Just upstream a bit, a man who did not want to be identified, worked on removing items from a houseless encampment near the Fort Rock Campsite. 

His pickup quickly filled with items ranging from copper pipe to blankets. 

Elsewhere across town, similar scenes played out.

The rain is expected to continue through Tuesday, possibly mixing with snow overnight before tapering off midweek, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters expect improving conditions by Thursday, with mostly sunny skies and highs near 50 degrees.

Until then, the work continues.

For those whose jobs unfold outdoors, the wet cold is not an obstacle but a constant companion — another reminder that the city’s progress is built not in perfect conditions, but in the steady, daily toil of workers willing to meet whatever weather arrives.

By Carolyn Wood

The Dalles, Ore., Feb. 32, 2026 — Kiwanis March Thursday Lunch Programs:

March 5: Danette Utley (Program Coordinator) and Mike Glover, (Assistant), Cherry Blossom Adult Day Program at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center.

March 12: Eve Elderwell, The Next Door

 March 19: Dr. Ken Lawson, Columbia Gorge Community College

March 26: Business Meeting

By Tom Peterson

The Dalles, Ore., Feb. 22, 2026 — The Dalles City Council on Monday will consider adopting a long-range employment land strategy as city planners report a shortage of large industrial sites needed to support future employers.

The City’s updated analysis projects The Dalles could add approximately 2,800 jobs over the next 20 years and estimates between about 46 and 147 acres of employment land will be needed to accommodate that growth. While the City has about 205 acres of buildable employment land remaining within its Urban Growth Boundary, officials say most of the larger parcels needed for major industrial or technology employers have already been developed.

Much of that development has occurred over the past two decades at the Port of The Dalles. According to Wasco County property records, Google and its affiliated entity Design LLC own approximately 175 acres of industrial land at the Port, where the company has constructed multiple data center facilities. Those projects were approved by local governments beginning in the early 2000s, when officials sought to attract new economic investment following the closure of the region’s aluminum smelter.

As a result, city planners report that while smaller industrial parcels remain available, no sites currently exist in the 30- to 60-acre or 60- to 100-acre range typically required for large industrial developments.

The aluminum smelter that previously operated at the Port of The Dalles employed approximately 500 workers at its peak, according to local historical records. Today, Google’s data center operations employ roughly 200 people locally. City planners note that modern data centers require significantly fewer employees than traditional manufacturing, even as they occupy large industrial sites.

CCCNews covered this point during negotations for two new data centers in the Port of The Dalles back in October 2021 in this story.

From that story:

Economist David Swensen differs in opinion when it comes to the overall benefit to a community for offering huge property tax breaks for companies building data centers. 

He watched it and studied it in West Des Moines, Iowa.

He said of the proposed $1.2 billion Google is willing to spend, a small fraction would go to benefit the community.

He said they should not be given tax breaks unless they produce a lot of high-paying jobs.

Swensen is an award-winning community economics research specialist at Iowa State University and has a Masters’ Degree in Urban and Regional planning. He’s studied data plants in The Dalles.

“These companies come in with a huge number for investment, but it is a red herring,” he said. “The amount of increase it produces in the economy is not in relation to the geographic footprint they create. The leverage they exert over the community is disproportionate to the contribution they commit.”

The City’s industrial land supply is further limited by geographic and regulatory constraints. The Dalles’ Urban Growth Boundary, established under Oregon land-use law and influenced by protections under the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act, restricts outward expansion and makes industrial land a finite resource.

City officials say adopting the updated employment land analysis will incorporate current land supply, employment projections and development patterns into the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The analysis, required by the state, does not approve new development or change zoning but provides the planning framework used to guide future economic development and land-use decisions.

Strategic plan

Councilors will also consider adopting the City’s first formal three-year Strategic Plan, covering 2026 through 2028.

The plan identifies five primary focus areas: economic development, housing, historic preservation, tourism and downtown vitality, and transportation improvements. City officials say the shift from annual goal setting to a multi-year strategic plan is intended to provide greater continuity in decision-making and align long-term priorities across city departments.

The plan was developed through strategic workshops involving City Council and staff, along with employee surveys and consultant facilitation. While adoption does not authorize immediate spending, it will guide future budget decisions, infrastructure investments and policy priorities.

Next Door Inc. grant

In a separate agenda item, councilors will review a proposal to provide up to $19,000 in grant funding to The Next Door Inc. to support counseling services for children and families experiencing impacts related to federal immigration enforcement activity.

The funding would come from existing City Manager budget authority and is intended to provide services for families who do not qualify for Oregon Health Plan coverage.

City staff have also taken additional steps following the council’s January resolution addressing community concerns, including publishing informational materials, translating city forms into Spanish and coordinating with local service providers.

Sewer repairs, airport contract

Council members are also expected to approve a $412,995 contract with Vortex Services LLC to rehabilitate sections of the city’s sanitary sewer system using trenchless cured-in-place pipe lining technology. The project was budgeted at $600,000, with the selected bid coming in $187,005 under budget.

Councilors will also consider extending the City’s airport management agreement for up to one year at a cost of $153,900, allowing continued airport operations while officials evaluate longer-term management options.

Mayor Richard Mays has also recommended reappointing Donna Lawrence and Forust Ercole to the Urban Renewal Budget Committee.

Executive session

Following the public meeting, councilors will enter executive session to conduct labor negotiations discussions as permitted under Oregon law.

The Dalles City Council will meet Monday, Feb. 23, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 313 Court St.

Click here to read the agenda and background information.

Agenda references: Employment Opportunities Analysis (Ord. 26-1425); Strategic Plan adoption; Resolution 26-002 grant update; Contract No. 2025-016 sewer lining project.

The Dalles, Ore., Feb. 22, 2026 — From LEGO pizza night to Bluey visits and book clubs, The Dalles Public Library offers free February events for all ages, including crafts, classes and games.

Monday, Feb. 23

Maker Monday: DIY Book Light, teens at 3:30 p.m., adults at 5:30 p.m. The Dalles Public Library makerspace. Free. Teens and adults will create a DIY book lamp using paper crafting and conductive tape to build a working light.

Tuesday, Feb. 24

Wellness To-Go Kits for Teens, 4 p.m. The Dalles Public Library. Free. Teens can pick up a kit filled with tools and tips to support mental and physical health. Available while supplies last.

Sci-Fi Book Club: “Recursion” by Blake Crouch, 5–6 p.m. The Dalles Public Library meeting room. Free. Open to adults. Join fellow science fiction readers for discussion. Books are available at the front desk, and light refreshments will be provided.

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Wiggles & Giggles — Special Visit with Bluey and Bingo, 10:30 a.m. The Dalles Public Library. Free. Open to children. Enjoy Bluey-themed games, snacks and photo opportunities.

Mah Jongg Class, 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The Dalles Public Library. Free. Open to teens and adults. Registration required. Corliss Marsh will teach the basics of Mah Jongg in celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Minecraft Club, 3–5 p.m. The Dalles Public Library. Free. Open to tweens and teens. Registration required. Participants will play Minecraft together on the library’s devices and complete challenges.

Thursday, Feb. 26

Family LEGO Pizza Night, 5:30 p.m. The Dalles Public Library. Free. Open to all ages. Enjoy pizza while building creative LEGO projects in a relaxed, family-friendly environment.

Friday, Feb. 27

Fun Fridays, 3:30 p.m. The Dalles Public Library. Free. Open to teens. Weekly activities include crafts, games, trivia and snacks.

Shakespeare Class: Much Ado About … What, Exactly?, 4–6 p.m. The Dalles Public Library. Free. Open to teens and adults. Registration required. This ongoing class explores Shakespearean language, performance and “Much Ado About Nothing.”

The Tea Nook, 5–5:45 p.m. The Dalles Public Library. Free. Open to adults. Explore teas from around the world, learn tea facts and enjoy refreshments in a social setting.

Saturday, Feb. 28

Dr. Seuss Birthday Party, 1–3 p.m. The Dalles Public Library. Free. Open to all ages. Celebrate Dr. Seuss with themed activities, snacks and costumes.

By Tom Peterson

The Dalles, Ore., Feb. 21, 2026 — A baby grand piano built in 1915 and carried through generations of one Oregon family has found a new home inside Old St. Peter’s Landmark in The Dalles, where its music will once again be heard starting on St. Patrick’s Day.

The five-foot-four-inch Lehr baby grand was delivered Jan. 8 to Old St. Peter’s Landmark Preservation, the nonprofit that maintains the historic church and oversees its use for concerts, weddings and community celebrations. The donation connects more than a century of personal and musical history with one of The Dalles’ most recognizable landmarks.

For Lynne Allen, a docent at the landmark and retired oncology nurse practitioner, the decision to gift the piano was rooted in both memory and purpose.

“A musical instrument needs to be played,” Lynne said. “The music from it needs to be shared.”

The piano had been part of Lynne’s family since the early 1900s. It was originally played by her aunt, Ava Steiger, a Baker City musician who studied classical piano and traveled to New York in pursuit of becoming a concert pianist.

“She played beautifully,” Lynne said. “When I was in junior high … one of the sisters at St. Francis school in Baker said, ‘Oh, are you related to Ava Steiger?’ … ‘She played so wonderfully.’”

Over the decades, the piano moved with the family, eventually making its way from Baker City to the Tri-Cities and then to Lynne’s home in The Dalles when she relocated in 2014 to work at Mid-Columbia Medical Center.

In recent years, however, it had fallen silent.

“I felt very sad that no one’s been playing it for a long time,” Lynne said.

When Lynne began volunteering at Old St. Peter’s Landmark, the idea of donating the piano slowly took shape.

“I love St. Peter’s,” she said. “I thought, ‘Wait, I have this baby grand piano.’ It could get played down there and people will enjoy it.”

Linda Miller, president of the Old St. Peter’s Landmark Preservation Board, immediately recognized the instrument’s value. Linda herself took piano lessons as a child on a baby grand inside St. Mary’s Academy in The Dalles in the late 1950s.

“Well, I didn’t want to get rid of it,” Lynne said. “I just wanted it to have a better home.”

Moving the piano into the historic structure required careful coordination.

Alan Eagy, treasurer of the Old St. Peter’s Landmark Preservation Board, said Lester Moving Company handled the delicate task of maneuvering the baby grand piano up a long ramp, through the entrance, and into the main seating area of the historic church. After placing the donated piano upstairs, the crew then removed an older piano from the main floor and carefully carried it down two flights of stairs into the basement.

Alan said watching the movers handle both instruments in the tight, historic space required skill and precision.

“Everybody said you got to get Lester’s,” Alan said. “They did such a wonderful job.”

“It was a great addition,” Alan added. “The next step, we’re going to get it tuned.”

Once restored, the piano is expected to serve both performers and visitors. Old St. Peter’s Landmark hosts concerts throughout the year and already has nine weddings scheduled in 2026 — five more than last year. Volunteers say the instrument will provide a warm and welcoming presence for ceremonies and community events.

“It might be some nice light warm-up music as people are entering,” Alan said.

The piano will make its public debut during the upcoming “St. Pat’s at St. Pete’s” concert featuring the Cascade Singers, part of a long-standing tradition at the landmark.

For Lynne, the donation ensures the instrument will continue doing what it was meant to do — bring people together.

“Music is universal,” she said. “Music is connecting. I think we need everything we can have to connect to one another.”

By Tom Peterson

The Dalles, Ore., Feb. 20, 2026 — Wasco County Circuit Court Judge Janet Stauffer sentenced a Portland man convicted at trial of the home-invasion robbery, beating and kidnap of Donald “Donny” Lewis in 2021 to nearly two decades in prison.

Jason McCollum, 50, stood as Stauffer handed down 19 years and 7 months after District Attorney Kara Davis argued the man “had a lack of remorse” and deserved a longer sentence, requesting consecutive sentences for first-degree assault and first-degree kidnapping.

Davis played phone and video calls taken from NORCOR jail this week where McCollum spoke with friends. In the phone calls, McCollum could be heard in a nostalgic conversation about a past crime where one man was killed and another was hit in the head with the claw side of a hammer.

As the call was played, McCollum clenched his right hand, held it with his left and rested his chin on them, his eyes slowly blinking.

The video phone call between McCollum captured him stating that he frequented a Chinese restaurant and bar in downtown The Dalles while on release during his recent trial, spending hundreds of dollars on drinks and gambling with family.

Davis argued that McCollum felt no remorse while his victim, who was bound with zip ties during his beating, still struggles daily from the beating he took during the robbery. McCollum also showed disregard for the law by entering a bar when he was prohibited from doing so in his post-prison supervision from other crimes.

She also pointed out that home invasion robberies are rare, and the Portland men who perpetrated the crime targeted Lewis specifically due to him being elderly.

“This was an extremely horrific crime in our community,” she said, then requested a 230 month sentence.

His defense attorney, Per Olsen, said the calls were a display of old friends who came from a life of drug addiction and crime but were also on their way to recovery and were being supportive of each other as they worked to better their lives.

Olsen pointed out that McCollum had graduated drug treatment in 2016, he had recently been moved to a halfway house, found a job, got his driver’s license and intended to get his commercial driver’s license.

“He’s caught between two worlds,” Olsen said. He asked the judge to give McCollum consecutive sentences and access to drug treatment, education and work programs, which would have kept his prison time to a decade.

Last month Olsen said that he planned to appeal the case as McCollum maintained his innocence at trial, even though his associate Christopher Allan Jaha fingered him at trial.

Stauffer, as was evidenced by her later comments, did not buy it.

Lewis, who still suffers from loose teeth and a floating bone that blurs his vision due to the beating to his face the night of the robbery, chose not to give a victim impact statement.

But his friend David Wilson, an imposing taller man with a long beard, did.

“I saw Donny right after the incident. We didn’t know if he was going to live.”

Wilson said he had known Lewis 35 years and met with him regularly at Mama Jane’s in The Dalles.

“I’ve seen him change. It’s hard for him to express himself. It’s impacted all of his friends.”

Wilson then pointed at McCollum with a finger and said:

“Everyone in this town would like to have 5 minutes with him. Anybody that would kick an old man in the head is a sick son of a… I would like to take care of him.”

Judge Stauffer in her sentencing told McCollum that he had left Lewis “for dead.” She then said she had decided to run consecutive sentences, stating that they had committed a second separate crime when they left Lewis in his home alone, bleeding and bound, with no one aware of his condition.

“It could have been days before he was discovered,” she said, later adding that McCollum was aware of Lewis’s age, an aggravating factor that opened the door to additional time behind bars.

“I did read the letters from family and the report on sobriety,” she said. “But I doubt that after reviewing the video and jail calls.”

She then had McCollum stand in front of the 22 people in the courtroom and gave the scruffy man dressed in orange NORCOR scrubs 235 months in prison with no chance of early release and or access to programs.

She also ordered him to pay restitution of $150, 436 — $150,000 in money stolen from Lewis and $436 for medical bills and repayment to the victim’s compensation fund.

Stauffer left the courtroom and Wasco County Sheriff’s deputies moved near the jury box where McCollum laid his hands on the rail, surrendering.

Manacles were secured to his ankles and wrists as Lewis and his supporters, McCollum’s family, and The Dalles Police Chief Tom Worthy watched in silence while deputies led him from the courtroom to jail.

Read CCNews’ story on opening statements here.

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

Read CCCNew’s finding of guilty here.