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Anita Anthony Ordway and Karl Vercouteren were honored on Saturday
May 3 at the annual luncheon of the Wasco County Pioneers
The Association preserves and retains hundreds of historical photos that demonstrate how Wasco County has evolved through transportation
business and social change since the westward movement
Information and Photo courtesy Carolyn Wood
From the Wasco County Pioneers Association:
2025 — Local historians added a couple of names to the pantheon of great ones on Saturday
May 3 as the Wasco County Pioneers honored two of their top volunteers and most valuable players
The Association named Karl Vercouteren and Anita Anthony Ordway the 2025 Pioneers of the Year at it’s annual luncheon held at the St
Attendees had the opportunity to view 30 of the association’s collection of over 250 historic picture boards
The meeting was opened by president Steve Conover after a traditional salmon luncheon
This year’s Pioneer Man Karl Vercouteran followed the trail to Oregon by auto not covered wagon
He came to The Dalles in 1977 from Kentucky to be the pastor of the United Church of Christ
His ancestors migrated from Holland and Germany and he and his two brothers were raised in Sheboygan
He majored in history nearby at Lakeland University and graduated from UCC Theological Seminary in Minneapolis
He wrote for the newspaper; “he wrote for people to understand.” He focused on Pacific Northwest history and found a lot of it in The Dalles
With his love of history he joined the Original County Courthouse and scheduled the February Saturday Lectures series each year for 48 years
He researched and wrote the Blog that became the text of the two books “All Together The Dalles” & “Too” for the architectural montage at 811 E
He was one of the historians researching and selecting the fifteen mural subjects for the Mural Fest of 2022
He also researched and wrote “Now Playing at the Vogt: The Dalles Forgotten Opera House” in 2017
An active Kiwanian Vercouteran organizes the parade lineup for the parades and plans the decorations for the Kiwanis train engine float
He plays Christmas songs on the melodica for the Salvation Army donation kettle at Christmas
He also promotes information about music events and history happenings to a long list of friends and others by emails
He is a highly respected community leader
emcee and gardener and the go-to-guy for questions on local life
They like to travel to music festivals and back to Wisconsin to visit family
They have 2 children Kris and Jacob and one grandchild
Pioneer Woman of the Year Anita Anthony Ordway
This year’s Pioneer Woman of the Year Anita Anthony Ordway is a 5th generation Oregonian
came to America from Ireland and then traveled around Cape Horn by ship to Oregon
Grant’s troops on horseback to Fort Dalles
They met here and married then homesteaded near Cushing Falls south of Seufert Park on 15 Mile Creek
William married Josephine Kneble and enlarged the Cushing Ranch
Anthony married Elizabeth Cushing; he helped on the farm and worked for the railroad and telegraph office
James Anthony was a farm equipment mechanic repairing tractors and combines for local farmers
He married Viola Oades from Pleasant Ridge
Wagonblast and Metteer families all early settlers of North Wasco County
graduated from The Dalles High School 1960 and attended Beauty school in Walla Walla
She married her high school sweet heart Gayle Ordway; he began a career in the Navy in submarines
They followed his military career and raised 3 children
They returned to the Willamette Valley in 1980 where the children finished school
She worked as a secretary for the Tualatin School District and he pursued a career as electrical technician in the telecommunications commissioning telephone systems
Upon retirement they returned to The Dalles to live on her grandfather’s farm on Pleasant Ridge where her mother grew up and she has so many fond memories
The Ordway’s joined the Pioneer Association and Anita with her expert secretary skills has been the secretary of the Pioneers Association for nearly 10 years
She also is a DAR member and is an expert historic costume designer and seamstress
She likes all things historic and keeps track of her large extended family and 9 grandchildren
Wasco County Pioneer Association holds their annual meeting the first Saturday in May
Anyone with an interest in history of Wasco County may become a member
For more information contact The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center or the Fort Dalles Museum
Lead Editor here at Columbia Community Connection
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Northern Wasco County PUD (NWCPUD) has announced the recipients of its Board of Directors’ Scholarship Program: Zachariah Banks
who will attend George Fox University to study mechanical engineering; Madison Brock
Hood Community College to study business; and Benjamin Dahl
who will attend Oregon State University to study artificial intelligence
pictured above with board vice president and scholarship committee member Scott Taylor
THE DALLES — Northern Wasco County PUD (NWCPUD) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2025 Board of Directors' Scholarship Program
Board Vice President and Scholarship Committee Member Scott Taylor announced the three exceptional local students at The Dalles High School Scholarship Awards Night on April 29
receiving scholarships to support their pursuit of education in fields related to the utility industry
who will attend George Fox University to study Mechanical Engineering
who will attend Oregon State University to study Artificial Intelligence
“The future of the utility industry depends on talented individuals from all educational backgrounds,” said Roger Kline
and Benjy have demonstrated exceptional promise in their respective fields
and we're excited to support their academic pursuits
These scholarships represent our commitment to developing local talent that may one day strengthen our workforce and community.”
The NWCPUD scholarship program awards each recipient a total of $10,000 distributed over two years to support students pursuing fields of study that could benefit the utility industry
The program is designed to promote interest in utility careers while supporting local students in their educational journeys
The scholarship program is part of Northern Wasco County PUD's broader goal to support educational opportunities within its service territory
By helping local students pursue careers that could benefit the utility industry
the program invests in both their futures and the long-term vitality of the community
The NWCPUD Board of Directors remains dedicated to fostering the next generation of innovative professionals who will help shape the future of utility services in the region
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Kaylee Wasco is a fully licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and joined the Mental Health and Performance (MHAP) team with UVU athletics in January 2025
coaches and individual athletes to provide support around mental health and sport performance needs within athletics
Wasco worked with teens and families doing individual therapy
Kaylee made the professional transition to working in athletics because she wanted to support athletes in a way she wished she had access to while playing Division I collegiate basketball
During her time playing ball at Binghamton University in New York
Wasco received her bachelor’s degree in human development and a master’s degree in public administration
She then went on to get her master’s in social work at the University of Michigan where she also worked as an academic mentor for student athletes
though has resided with her spouse in Utah since 2023
adoring her two cats (Penelope Garcia and Prince) and binge watching television series of various genres
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Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall.
another hospitalized after crash near Lemooreby BakersfieldNow Staff
(KBAK/KBFX) — Speeding is believed to be a factor in a crash near Lemoore that left a 20-year-old Wasco man dead and his passenger hospitalized late Sunday night
The California Highway Patrol said on April 20
an officer was on routine patrol near Lemoore
when he came across a solo-vehicle crash on Houston Avenue over Highway 198
The officer immediately requested additional resources and attempted to render aid to the people in the crashed vehicle
it was determined a 20-year-old man from Wasco
approaching a right-hand curve in the road
the driver was unable to safely negotiate the curve in the road and lost control of the vehicle
The errant sedan left the road in a northwesterly direction and struck a concrete barrier on the overcrossing
suffered severe injuries and was taken to Kaweah Health Medical Center in Visalia
It’s currently unknown if the use of alcohol and/or drugs was a factor in this crash
Wasco city staff and community members celebrated the one-year anniversary since the department was activated
and the completion of the department's PAL building
It's another milestone for Wasco PD as they celebrate their one-year anniversary on the day that they hold their ribbon cutting for the Police Activities League building
this has been something on Wasco PD's mind since before they even started
"It's a generational change that we're taking on here
I think we're ahead of schedule as far as building trust with the community at large
which we're getting called where we weren't before."
According to Assistant Police Chief Alecio Mora
the hope behind bringing a Police Activities League to Wasco is to continue building the department's relationship with the community
a goal that the department and staff have worked on continuously throughout the last year
"This building is going to do a lot more than us showing up to work
We're going to be able to network with kids
and our ultimate goal is to gain their trust
We have to be able to work together and trust each other."
we spoke with a handful of Wasco residents who said they've seen a significant change for the better regarding public safety since the police department went active just over a year ago
"When you first heard about the Wasco Police Department
but it's been great overall," said Wasco Resident Sal Gutierrez
"What changes have you noticed over the last year?"
Assistant Chief Mora says there are a few things left to iron out ahead of the program
there will be a place for kids in Wasco to go to after school
From North Wasco County School District #21:
2025 — North Wasco County School District 21 (NWCSD) is excited to announce that Kindergarten registration for the 2025–2026 school year will open online on May 5
Registration is available for incoming kindergarten students at Chenowith
families may also submit interest forms for the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program at Chenowith Elementary
This program offers students the opportunity to become bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish
Parents or guardians must provide the following documentation during the registration process:
Proof of Age: A certified birth certificate confirming the child will be five (5) years old on or before September 1
Proof of Residence: Two (2) documents showing current residency within the district boundaries (e.g.
Immunization Records: Documentation of required vaccinations
● Vision Screening Certification: Proof of a basic vision screening or eye exam
● Dental Screening Certification: Per Oregon House Bill 2972
children age seven (7) or younger must complete a dental screening before entering school for the first time
Open House Events Families are invited to attend Kindergarten Open House events at each elementary school to meet staff
and learn more about the curriculum and programs:
from 5:00–6:00 PM Dual Language Immersion Program (DLI)
The DLI program at Chenowith Elementary promotes academic excellence and bilingual proficiency
Interested families should complete the DLI Interest Form available on our district home page
Enrollment may be determined by a lottery if applications exceed available space
No prior Spanish language experience is necessary
THE DALLES — Northern Wasco County PUD (NWCPUD) has announced a strategic realignment of its Power Resources Division (PRD) to address increasing regional growth and prepare for future energy challenges
The reorganization includes the appointment of Michael Deen as manager of policy and rates
the promotion of Jen Kelly to power operations manager
and the continued leadership of Damon Pellicori as power planning manager
The division has also expanded its data analytics capabilities through Energy Data Analyst Keith Michaels
who has developed and deployed advanced analytical tools
“These innovations have enhanced the PRD’s ability to process and analyze complex energy data
making the department more agile and responsive to changing market conditions and customer needs,” said a press release
NWCPUD Assistant General Manager Kurt Conger emphasized the strategic importance of bolstering the department
“By strengthening our Power Resources Division with these specific roles and talented individuals
we’re enhancing our analytical capabilities and expertise in crucial areas like policy
“This team structure allows us to better navigate complex regional issues while optimizing our power resources division for all of our customer-owners.”
Deen joins NWCPUD as the new Manager of Policy and Rates from the Public Power Council (PPC)
where he served as policy director since 2013
“With extensive experience in power supply
Deen brings valuable analytical skills to his new role,” said the press release
“His background also includes work as an expert witness on power supply and regulatory policy issues for large industrial customers at Regulatory and Cogeneration Services (RCS) and previous roles at McCullough Research
Deen holds an MBA in Business Analytics from Oregon State University and a BA in psychology from Reed College
has been promoted to Power Operations Manager
where she worked in the hydroelectric project resources department and on the energy trading floor
“Her extensive experience in analytical positions within the electric utility industry makes her ideally suited for this new role,” said the press release
Kelly holds a master of science in fisheries science from Penn State University and a bachelor of science in natural resources from the University of Michigan
who joined NWCPUD in January as power planning manager
came to NWCPUD from NorthWestern Energy in Helena
where he served as senior energy supply analyst managing a diverse portfolio of wind
His decade of experience at the Bonneville Power Administration provided him with expertise in power system optimization
and real-time operations of the federal hydropower system
Pellicori holds a Master’s degree in Geoscience from Montana Tech and a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Montana
“This realignment represents a critical step in positioning NWCPUD for the future energy landscape,” said General Manager and CEO Roger Kline
“As our region continues to grow and energy markets evolve
we’re building the team we need to ensure we can meet tomorrow’s challenges while maintaining our commitment to reliable
(KBAK/KBFX) — The death of an inmate at Wasco State Prison on Friday is being investigated as a homicide after he was allegedly attacked by two other inmates
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials said on March 14
Castro and Darnell Rodas allegedly attacking inmate Angel Carrasco
quelling the attack by using chemical agents and non-lethal weapons
Officers immediately took life-saving measures on Carrasco and called 911
Carrasco was taken to the prison’s triage and treatment area and then to an outside medical facility
A hospital physician pronounced Carrasco dead at 3:51 p.m
Officers recovered two improvised weapons at the scene of the attack
Officials have limited movement in the location where the attack happened to facilitate the investigation
Rodas and Castro have been placed in restricted housing pending an investigation by the WSP Investigative Services Unit and the Kern County District Attorney’s Office
The Office of the Inspector General was notified
and the Kern County Coroner will determine Carrasco’s official cause of death
was received from Tulare County on December 31
He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder and discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle at a person
with enhancements for a street gang act and intentional discharge of firearm causing great bodily injury/death
was most recently received from Los Angeles County on February 28
He was sentenced to four years for second-degree robbery as a second striker
was received from Los Angeles County on January 13
He was sentenced to 21 years for voluntary manslaughter with an enhancement for the use of a firearm
— There are several contested races on the May 20 special district ballot
Columbia Gorge News begins our election coverage with candidate Q&As
NOTE: Incumbent Joel Vaught did not file for reelection
North Wasco County School Board zone 7 candidates
Wasco County Commissioner candidate Jeff Justesen talks to CCCNews about how working on the Juvenile wing of the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility (NORCOR)
and his experience coaching has prepared him for the role of Commissioner and made him passionate about supporting services and infrastructure that support youth in Wasco County and being a voice for small rural communities in South County.About the Interviewer: Robin is an award-winning filmmaker and a founding member of CCCNews
During election season she consults with and creates media for candidates to bring their platforms to voters
lobbying them towards honest and authentic campaign media
She limits her campaign work to candidates who use verifiable facts in their campaign material and often fact-check the claims they make.Sponsored Content: This content was paid for by Jeff Justesen for Wasco County Commissioner
For more on Jeff Justesen read: Meet the Candidates: Wasco County Primary 2024 May Primary
(KBAK/KBFX) — A Kern County jury on Tuesday convicted a man of first-degree murder in the 2021 stabbing death of Jose Aleman in Wasco.Aaron Garcia was also found guilty of personally using a knife and acting with a high degree of cruelty toward the victim
Garcia and two friends were walking south on Broadway Street after leaving the Broadway Market in Wasco
A vehicle driven by Aleman brushed against one of Garcia’s friends
causing him to fall but leaving him uninjured
Aleman stopped his car immediately after the accident
and upper body as Aleman attempted to crawl away toward the passenger side
bleeding from the numerous stab wounds inflicted by Garcia
Deputies from the Kern County Sheriff’s Department and medical personnel responded to the scene
Aleman was transported to Delano Regional Medical Center
Detectives found a knife sheath on the road next to Aleman’s driver's door and a blood trail leading away from the scene
Surveillance video from residences along the blood trail showed Garcia and a friend leaving the area
DNA testing by the Kern Regional Crime Lab linked evidence of the crime to Garcia
Aleman over a minor traffic accident was cruel and senseless
The complete disregard for the value of Mr
Aleman’s life that Garcia acted with is tragic and warrants the severe punishment he will receive," stated Kern DA Cynthia Zimmer
the court found that Garcia had a prior "strike" conviction for assault with a deadly weapon
and Garcia faces a sentence of up to 51 years to life in prison
Explicit Content Warning: This podcast contains mentions of sexual violence
Gilliam County District Attorney and Special Deputy District Attorney in Wasco County joins our team to talk about her campaign and platform for her election
Join in as we listen to her story and find out how she intends to bring experience and expertise to the office of the District Attorney in Wasco County
About the Interviewer: Robin is an award-winning filmmaker and a founding member of CCCNews
She limits her campaign work to candidates who use verifiable facts in their campaign material and often fact checks the claims they make
Sponsored Content: This content was paid for in part by the Friends of Kara Davis
For more on Kara Davis read: Meet the Candidates: Wasco County Primary 2024 May Primary
Columbia Gorge News begins our election coverage with candidate Q&As
Juniper Flat Rural Fire Protection District
Tygh Valley Rural Fire Protection District
Northern Wasco County Parks and Rec District
Summary: The Dufur Recreation District will use the tax revenue from this measure to continue to operate the district at its present level of service
The taxes needed for three years total $165,000
which will be imposed in equal amounts of $55,000 each year
The taxes will be used for operating purposes
Passage of this Local Option Tax would permit Dufur Recreation District to continue operating at its current level
Summary: White River Health District’s operating funds for Deschutes Rim Health Clinic partly come from taxes assessed on South Wasco County property
The district’s permanent tax rate of $0.25 per $1,000 of assessed value is among the lowest for a health district in Oregon
insufficient to support quality patient care given low reimbursement from payors
The 2019-2024 five-year levy of $0.50 per $1,000 assess value expired on June 30
Renewing the levy in May 2025 will provide funding starting July 1
This is critical to sustain clinic operations
the clinic will be challenged financially and unable to maintain services
The levy will allow renewal of past services
Based on the current value to compute tax rate
the proposed levy of $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value will raise approximately $251,320 in 2025-2026; $258,860 in 2026-2027; $266,626 in 2027-2028; $274,625 in 2028-2029; and $291,116 in 2029-2030
the last year the operational levy was in place
Actual amounts may vary due to property tax abatements in the district
Ballots will be mailed to local voters beginning April 30. All Wasco County election information can be found online at www.co.wasco.or.us; click the Services tab
Election coverage will be updated online at columbiagorgenews.com through May 20
THE DALLES — At its April 24 regular meeting
the North Wasco County School District (NWCSD) board gave a statement on the evaluation of Superintendent Carolyn Bernal for the 2024-2025 school year
the board assessment of Bernal included her own self-evaluation
evidentiary documentation of progress towards the superintendent’s goals and the school board’s direct observations and experiences with Bernal
“This year’s evaluations focused on the eight professional standards of performance for Superintendent’s in the state of Oregon and three Superintendent goals,” Board Chair David Jones read in the meeting
the board determined that Bernal’s performance was either “accomplished or effective” in the standards of visionary district leadership ethics and professional norms
inclusive district culture and culturally responsive instructional leadership and improvement
effective organizational management and effective financial management
the board’s evaluation found that the performance of Superintendent Bernal on eight professional standards was ‘effective,’” said the statement
The board also determined that Bernal was “accomplished or effective” in her work and progress towards the goals of Academic Excellence
Educational Innovation and Student Engagement and Well-being
“With the completion of this successful evaluation
the superintendent’s contract is extended through June 30
The statement also noted the board will continue to worth with Bernal over the next several months to develop new goals for the district
“We are looking forward to working together to make our district successful,” Jones read
The entire April 24 meeting is available for viewing on the District 21 Media Channel on YouTube
(KBAK/KBFX) — A former UFC fighter is being held at Wasco State Prison after being sentenced to five years
42-year-old Cain Velasquez was sentenced to five years for a vigilante shooting spree that hurt an unintended person and sprayed bullets near a school
According to the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office
Velasquez fired a handgun multiple times at a truck carrying three people
including a man accused of molesting Velasquez’s relative
District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a release
“One man’s decision to take the law into his own hands left an innocent man wounded and endangered schoolchildren
If you want to do justice in Santa Clara County
Velasquez started shooting at the victims at an intersection in Morgan Hill
he rammed their vehicle and fired more rounds at them
hitting the driver in the arm and right flank
high-speed chase that followed into San Jose
Velasquez fired multiple rounds with his registered .40 gun
Velasquez was stopped and arrested by Morgan Hill police
The DA’s office said a search of Velasquez’s phone found searches for “sexual assault case where victims [sic] family fights back" and "sexual assault cases where victims [sic] family retaliates."
continues to face pending felony child molestation charges
Goularte is out of custody after a judge released him on the supervised own recognizance release program with GPS monitoring over the District Attorney’s objections
According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, as of April 7
Velasquez is currently being housed at Wasco State Prison
It was not released where Velasquez would be going to
A parole eligibility date listed on the CDCR website said March 2026
“The Parole Eligible Date displayed above is subject to change.”
has been sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervised release for her role in a long-running credit card fraud scheme
stole personally identifiable information (PII) for more than 125 victims
primarily from patient files at healthcare providers in Kern County where Arceo worked
They used the stolen PII to open thousands of fraudulent credit cards and made hundreds of thousands of dollars in purchases across Fresno County
The fraudulent purchases included home appliances
Arceo and Leyva also resold many of these items for cash
They further used stolen checks from companies in Kern County to make fraudulent payments towards the credit cards
causing a total actual loss of more than $825,000
Arceo's sentence was enhanced due to text messages showing she was the leader of the scheme
She would pull stolen PII from her cloud account and send it to Leyva
coaching him on making fraudulent purchases
Leyva was previously sentenced to 65 months in prison
Arceo submitted a letter from Leyva attempting to minimize her role
but the court rejected this argument."The defendant used patient healthcare files to commit fraud and identity theft instead of treating those files with the care and sensitivity they deserve," stated Talbert
"Let this case serve as a warning to those who consider abusing such access to patient files: my office will work tirelessly with the FBI and our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute fraud and identity theft crimes committed with sensitive patient information."
FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel stated
"Arceo violated her employer’s trust by abusing her access to personally identifiable information
greed-driven scheme that she and her partner enjoyed until they were taken into custody."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(KBAK/KBFX) — According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) website
a major traffic collision involving a rollover was reported near railroad tracks in Wasco on Saturday afternoon (Feb
The incident was first reported around 2:26 p.m.
and the collision involved a silver Nissan Sentra that rolled over near the tracks
The Wasco Police Department confirmed the vehicle was not on the tracks
and BNSF Railway stopped all trains in the area as a precaution
Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after the crash was reported
CHP says at least one person suffered major injuries in the collision
CHP and the Wasco Police Department are now investigating what caused the accident
Why should residents consider you for NWCSD 21 school board zone 4
I have a great deal of experience that directly relates to the job at hand
I have been a D21 board member for 12 years
having taught as an elementary school teacher in public schools for 24 years
I have also owned and operated two daycare centers in Oregon
I offer my personal experience and vision to promote excellent educational outcomes
What do you see as the school district’s greatest challenge going forward
The greatest challenge for the school district
promotion and investment in the process of passing a school bond to repair our aging facilities or build new ones
I believe the decisions should be reflective of the community’s input into the process
The district has created policy that gives structure to the type of committee that allows for community members to help guide the process
build trust and advise the school board of the way to move forward and effectively pass a school bond
What changes do you think the district needs to make to any of its policies
There are a few responsibilities that belong solely to the board
One of those is to adopt new policies and changing or repealing existing policies
Keep in mind the basic responsibility for recommending new policies rests with the superintendent
New policies or changes to existing ones may be proposed by any board or community member
but all final policy recommendations to the board are made by the superintendent
Adoption of policy is solely a board responsibility
I support all of the policies we have adopted at present
How will you support the district’s mission of “Educating each student to the highest standards while motivating them to reach their fullest potential and graduating them to be college
I am supporting the superintendent in engaging her school staffs to carry out programs that are designed to address that mission
One such endeavor is the engagement of students at all schools in deeper learning with instructional activities that are designed to be experiential and hands on
The students are encouraged to become personally involved and take ownership of their learning
I’m running because I believe every student deserves a strong foundation in the basics — reading
I know firsthand the importance of discipline
I want our schools to be places where kids feel like they can win at learning
and where parents know their voices matter
North Wasco County students can achieve more — but we need leadership that’s focused on results and willing to ask the hard questions to get us there
Our biggest challenge is academic underperformance
Oregon already ranks in the bottom 10 nationally
and our district ranks near the bottom within the state
honest look at what’s holding students back — especially in reading and math — and we must hold ourselves accountable for improvement
That includes understanding why some schools are outperforming others and making strategic changes to replicate success
We need to focus less on bureaucracy and more on student outcomes
and ensure that every dollar spent is helping students grow
I also believe competition breeds excellence — we should look at how high-performing models
I’ll support this mission by pushing for excellence at every level — setting high expectations
and making sure no student slips through the cracks
I’ll advocate for programs that identify and support students’ unique needs early
And I’ll always keep the focus on equipping students with the skills they need to thrive beyond graduation — not just check the boxes
Note: incumbent Judy Richardson did not file for reelection
Why should residents consider you for NWCSD 21 school board Zone 7
Being a D21 mom gives me unique perspective on the district’s successes and shortcomings
I have served on Dry Hollow’s PTA (Parent-Teacher Association)
I have attended or watched online nearly every board meeting for 4 years
I have leadership experience professionally in medical staff services and in volunteer capacity serving several local non-profits including The Dalles Little League
I have participated in the Ford Institute Leadership Program
Historical knowledge of D21 operations gives me a solid foundation for the additional training I would receive if elected
the district’s greatest challenges include financial uncertainties
D21 needs to evaluate the effectiveness of student conduct policies and procedures
D21 schools have not implemented the same practices and therefore have different outcomes
Students should have reasonable expectations
to create the best possible learning environment for their peers and a safe space for all
This also supports the district’s mission to have high standards
motivate students to reach their fullest potential and be life ready
which sets the standard for staff and students
I will work with my peers on the school board to ensure D21 hires and retain exceptional staff
Working together we can facilitate operational integrity which should maximize student-facing resources
I attended school from kindergarten to high school here
My family is full of educators; father was a high school teacher for 30 years
grandfather and uncle were college professors and my daughter is a kindergarten teacher in Ashland
I created the first after school daycare program housed at a school in Portland
I have served on numerous local and national non-profit boards
acted as parliamentarian for a national charity
served on the state advocacy board for developmental disabilities
negotiated labor agreements and acted as a mediator
My six years as mayor included working with state and national elected officials
dealing with budgets and helped to fund the skills program at our community college
District 21’s greatest challenge is raising the skill levels in reading and math and improving graduation rates
Budget deficits need immediate attention and a strong plan for improving facilities is critical
Community access of school facilities needs to be improved
The school system needs to be more the center of the town
As far as the plethora of policies currently in place
I think it would be presumptive to recommend change without knowing how well each is implemented
not implemented or whether it gets in the way of good education
The school district needs to have many and varied avenues to developing and preparing each student for success in whatever career or life endeavor they aspire to
Increasing access to community college programs in alternative classes such as construction skills
Gonzalez was shot multiple times while walking in the 1200 block of Iris Street in Wasco
RELATED: KCSO: Man in critical condition after shooting in Wasco, no suspect information
Anyone with information regarding the murder of Michael Prendez Gonzalez is urged to call the Kern County Sheriff's Office at (661) 861-3110 or the Secret Witness Hotline at (661) 322-4040
2024 — Wasco County Commissioners voted to delay a Code Compliance hearing until March 20 after revisions of the document were met with pushback at the Board’s Regular meeting on Feb
Revisions have been underway for months as the county is dealing with some specific complaints about properties in higher-density areas about code violations concerning non-running vehicles and piled-up materials
Landowner complaints about some neighbors are nearing a decade old without resolution
the hearing was in essence about one neighbor complaining about another’s property and the way it is being used
code violations and enforcement are about promoting “public health
and general welfare; to promote safety from fire and natural disaster; to assist in rendering adequate police and fire protection; to conserve
and protect property values; to encourage the most appropriate use of land; and to preserve and enhance community livability,” according to planning staff
County residents testified and took issue with fairness
They said the code ordinance hearing was not well advertised
and the revisions lacked detail on enforcement
and it was also confusing on whether it applied to farms or forest land
they were delivered with civility and what appeared to be a good-faith effort for both sides to come to a better understanding of the issue
One citizen from Antelope said the county had “used our tax money to create all this regulation… to pass these laws on us is to control us… beat us over the head with our own tax money.”
“…the codes are an overreach,” said Mary Beth Richmong
“They are extremely menacing to your constituents’ rights.”
County residents were worried they were going to lose the ability to use historical uses of their property - such as farmers keeping equipment on their property that they only use once every eight years
or landholders concerned about being fined for having piles of logs
fill dirt or building materials on their property
The enforcement portion of the ordinance is confusing
said Chuck Ashley who asked for a townhall meeting so that people could better understand how the law would work
He asked about grace periods and timelines once a complaint was received
He also asked that the code specify references to applicable fire code
“Will the County do their own enforcement or is this complaint driven,” asked Bill Ketchum
Commissioner Scott Hege later said that zoned farm and forest property will continue to enjoy their protected uses as mandated by state planning law
and also pointed out the Oregon Right to Farm Act needed to be better referenced in the code revision
County staff said code issues are typically in dense residential areas
and Hege asked County staff to work on citizen concerns about the ordinance as well as come up with a plan for providing additional education to the public about the changes
They will be updated on the progress in March
“That will give you guys better ability to take comments and bring a document back that is more supportable,” Hege said
To read the code revisions, click here and start on page 68.
said the Kern County District Attorney's Office.Aaron Garcia was found guilty of using a knife with extreme cruelty in the murder of the victim
Aleman attempted to escape toward the passenger side but fell to the gutter
Kern County Sheriff's deputies and medical personnel responded to the scene
and Aleman was transported to Delano Regional Medical Center
Investigators discovered a knife sheath near Aleman's driver's door and a blood trail leading away from the scene
Surveillance footage captured Garcia and a friend leaving the area
prosecutors said.Kern County DA said at the time of Garcia's conviction
Aleman’s life that Garcia acted with is tragic and warrants the severe punishment he will receive.'"
The court also noted that Garcia had a prior "strike" conviction for assault with a deadly weapon
The facility will offset costs Kern County already has on its books
eventually leading to millions in savings over time while reusing organic waste to create commodity for the community
The Shafter-Wasco landfill is nearing the end of some pretty big changes
the compost facility that we started talking about back in October 2023 is almost ready to come full circle
The project is comprised of a handful of larger components
one of them being this air curtain which takes large pieces of wood that previously would have either sat for decades or been buried
Lee also noted there are a few other ways that the county built out this facility to reduce
"We have 10,000 gallons worth of containers here on site
which is derived from the decomposition process of the organic material
we're going to recirculate that leachate right into the composting facility," said Lee
closed-loop concept of recovering and recycling your organic material and then also having a beneficial use on the back end
Kern County Public Works is looking to bring its composting in-house to not only provide a service
but save money on something they're already doing
When you look at the cost savings associated with owning and operating our own facility
you can internalize a lot of those costs so we have equipment that's hooked up to the grid
There's a lot of cost savings that the county can do by keeping everything internal."
the new Public Works Manager leading this project and was one of the integral parts in helping get it off the ground
"The fact that we are mere months away from actually finishing construction and having an operational compost facility
but as a resident of Kern County that can bring their material to this facility and realize that eventually
the material you're generating in your house is going to become a finished compost in the future."
Ron Wyden today announced he will hold town halls later this month in Wasco
The Wasco County town hall will happen at 1 p.m
Although this was the largest venues available for the town hall on that date
Doors will open one hour before the town hall start times for attendees
backpacks and large bags will not be allowed in the town hall
“I promised Oregonians in every nook and cranny of our state that I would always make myself available to answer questions and hear their concerns and opinions,” Wyden said
“That in-person connection has always been essential
and it’s more crucial than ever now during these unprecedented challenges to continue those direct conversations so all parts of Oregon are heard.”
(KBAK/KBFX) — A multi-department probation task force arrested 14 people over the weekend during a Street Interdiction Team (SIT) operation in the cities of Shafter and Wasco
aimed to ensure compliance with the terms of release for individuals on Post Release Community Supervision and other forms of searchable probation
a collaborative effort of law enforcement agencies throughout Kern County
resulting in seven felony and seven misdemeanor arrests
Charges included possession of methamphetamine
possession of over 30 grams of methamphetamine
possession of a stun gun by a prohibited person
Approximately 75 law enforcement and probation officers carried out over 50 compliance searches across the two cities
The Shafter Police Department expressed gratitude to its law enforcement partners for their assistance in maintaining community safety
Residents are encouraged to report any suspected gang or narcotics-related activity to the Shafter Police Department at 661-746-8500
The Kern County Coroner’s Office has identified the 18-year-old man killed after a crash amid foggy conditions on Kimberlina Road as Luis Jesus Rios of Wasco
A GoFundMe for Rios said he was on his way to work at the time of the crash
(KBAK/KBFX) — The Kern County Coroner’s Office has identified the 18-year-old man killed after a crash amid foggy conditions on Kimberlina Road as Luis Jesus Rios of Wasco
The California Highway Patrol said an investigation revealed that at around 7:30 a.m
Rios was driving a GMC Sierra pickup truck was heading eastbound on Kimberlina Road near Root Avenue in dense fog
Rios was reportedly driving at an unsafe speed for the conditions and was unable to slow down or stop in time
resulting in a crash with the right side of the implement
RELATED: Driver dies in high-speed crash with tractor amid foggy conditions: CHP
Kern County Fire personnel extricated Rios from the vehicle and took him to Kern Medical Hospital in Bakersfield
The driver of the John Deere tractor was not hurt
A GoFundMe was created for Rios
"Luis was a hardworking young man who did everything he could to support his family
and joy to those he loved—even on the toughest days."
If you would like to donate, click here.
Calif KBAK/KBFX — Well the Dodgers shut down all of Los Angeles on Friday with their World Series parade
Many people across the Central Valley may not have been able to make the trip
That’s why the Dodgers’ fan base in Wasco decided to throw their own World Series parade
The celebrating continues across California as the Dodgers won the World Series
Wasco Dodger fans wanted to celebrate a parade of their own
we have to root for the Dodgers,” said Angela Medina
Fans within the Wasco community had a parade going down Palm Ave
Saturday to locally celebrate the Dodger’s World Series win
“I think it's very nice to support the Dodgers,” said Jose Medina
Jose Medina also raised his kids to be Dodger fans as well
His daughter and granddaughter knew that if the Dodgers won
“I think it's a big accomplishment for the Dodgers
we've been waiting,” said Jose Medina’s daughter
“For those who didn't go to la or couldn't go to la or make the games
“It's pretty important because not everyone got to make it to Los Angeles,” said granddaughter
and it's just really nice that Wasco Dodger fans got together.”
Louis Romero remembers Dodger games as a kid
and is getting to live out his childhood dream
“I’m sure they were watching Dodger games before I was born
I've seen three championships in my lifetime
The Dodgers have an off season full of celebrating but the fans in Wasco would love to have another parade this time
Voters elected Jeff Justesen in as the new Wasco County Commissioner
Justesen wins commissioner seat; Magill still sheriff; Richardson retains TD Council seat
2024 — Jeff Justesen won his bid for Wasco County Commissioner according to initial results released this evening shortly after 8 p.m
Justesen was leading Brian Lauterbach after 12,147 votes were returned by the end of polling this evening
Justesen had 57 percent or 5,761 votes in his favor compared to Lauterbach’s 42.4 percent or 4,290 votes
Wasco County Sheriff Lane Magil easily won another four years in his bid with 81 percent of the vote as write in candidate Mark Scott received just 1,777 votes to Magil’s 7,656
Incumbent Dan Richardson retains his seat on The Dalles City Council
Incumbent Dan Richardson had captured 3,809 votes compared to challenger Debra Gomez who received 2,015 votes
Councilor Rod Runyon was also reelected as he ran unopposed and received 3,809 votes
Ben Wring who also ran unopposed had 3,674 votes in his decision to take the seat of outgoing Councilor Darcy Long in January
Two local measures in Wasco County were split at the polls
Voters in Wasco County voted against the Columbia Gorge Community College bond for a $13-million bond that would have cost 27 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value for properties falling within its district
the vote was also held in Hood River as the College district serves both counties
The overall vote was 53.44 percent yes and 46.56 percent no with 11,715 votes in favor and 10,206 against it
The Hood River vote was able to swing a victory for the bond
The bond is a continuation of the bond amount that has been in place since 2012 when voters approved the funding for both The Dalles and Hood River campuses
Voters to the south shot down the White River Health District bond that would have cost 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value for properties falling within its district
White River Health District asked voters to continue to pay the 50-cent rate as the operating levy for the Deschutes Rim Health Clinic ran out in June of 2024
The bond was defeated by 350 votes as 764 people voted against it
Chrissy Zaugg who ran unopposed for Wasco County Clerk won her election 6,894 votes
Incumbent Elijah Preston who ran unopposed won his bid for Wasco County Treasurer with 6,719 votes
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has made his first move into the California prison system after his conviction and sentencing following a no-contest plea on multiple charges including attempted murder
Velasquez was handed a five-year sentence following his conviction
and he’s currently being housed at Wasco State Prison just outside Bakersfield
The prison sits just over three hours away from Velasquez’s home in San Jose
but Wasco is a set up as a reception center before inmates are transferred to longterm housing at a different facility
and evaluate new inmates both physically and mentally to determine a security level for housing before being transferred to one of California’s primary prison facilities like San Quentin or Folsom State Prison
Velasquez comes eligible for parole for the first time in March 2026
but that date could change based on the retired UFC heavyweight knocking off additional time for good behavior
While Velasquez was issued a five-year sentence he immediately had three-plus years knocked off due to time already served after he spent eight months behind bars following his initial arrest when he was denied bail several times
he was placed under house arrest and wore an ankle monitor so that time was also removed from his sentence
Velasquez could potentially go home as early as March 2026
Velasquez was convicted after he engaged in an 11-mile
high speed chase going after a car containing Harry Goularte
who is accused of molesting Velasquez’s son at a daycare owned by his mother
Goularte faces charges of his own related to that case
but he was released from custody against the advice of the prosecution
Velasquez fired several rounds from a handgun at the car but ultimately it was Goularte’s stepfather Paul Bender who ended up being shot while sustaining non-life threatening injuries
Velasquez was eventually arrested without incident and hit with a multitude of charges
The next court date for Velasquez comes on April 16 when he faces restitution for his crimes
which is where a judge issues a financial penalty that is due to the victims in the case
therapy and counseling and even insurance deductibles
2025 — The South Wasco Health Collaborative
is launching a series of community meet-and-greet events aimed at connecting local families with local health and support services
will provide an opportunity for parents to meet June
the region’s dedicated Community Health Worker (CHW)
while children enjoy a variety of activities in a welcoming and relaxed environment
April 10 | 3:00–5:00 PM – Parents of children ages 0-5
April 15 | 4:00–6:00 PM – Parents of children ages 6-11
April 24 | 4:00–6:00 PM – Parents of teens ages 12-18
“These events are an opportunity for parents to ask questions
and learn about the resources available to them,” said June
“We know that navigating healthcare and supportive services can be overwhelming
and we’re here to help make those connections easier.”
A Community Health Worker (CHW) serves as a trusted liaison between healthcare providers, social service agencies, and the community. Their role is to help individuals and families access essential services, including Oregon Health Plan enrollment, mental health resources, food assistance, and medical appointment coordination. You can learn more about this work here: https://www.southwascoalliance.org/chw
families attending the event will enjoy complimentary food and beverages
and music to keep children and teens entertained
The gatherings will also serve as a pilot program to determine interest in making these meet-ups a recurring event
with the possibility of expanding to Tygh Valley
“These meet-ups aren’t just about providing information—they’re about building a sense of community,” said a communications representative from the South Wasco Health Collaborative
“We want parents to feel supported and connected to the resources that can help their families thrive.”
Attendees are encouraged to share feedback on scheduling
and activity preferences in advance to help organizers better meet community needs
For more information or to ask questions about the event location
contact June at 971-415-5831 or June@gorgehealthcouncil.org
About the South Wasco Health Collaborative
The South Wasco Health Collaborative is sponsored by South Wasco Alliance (SWA)
a grassroots organization committed to South Wasco communities’ well-being by fostering a sustainable economy
Through partnerships with local organizations and service providers
the collaborative helps bridge the gap between residents and the resources they need to lead healthy
You can learn more about this work by visiting their website: https://www.southwascoalliance.org/
2025 — North Wasco County School District (NWCSD) is pleased to announce it has been awarded two $40,000 grants through the Oregon Department of Education’s (ODE) Technical Assistance Program (TAP)
TAP supports Oregon school districts in planning for capital improvements and long-term growth
NWCSD will update its Facilities Condition Assessment and develop a Long-Range Facility Plan—critical tools for identifying infrastructure needs and planning for the future
future North Wasco County School District 21 Superintendent
“We’ve been working to renew our facilities reports over the past year
Superintendent of North Wasco County School District
“These funds will help us take a comprehensive look at our buildings and ensure they’re safe
and ready to support future generations of learners.”
NWCSD received grants in two of TAP’s four eligible categories: Facilities Condition Assessments and Long-Range Facility Planning
The district has previously received TAP funding in the other two categories—Seismic Assessments and Environmental Hazard Assessments
These assessments not only provide essential data on facility conditions
but also position the district for future funding opportunities
Both the Facilities Condition Assessment and Long-Range Facility Plan are prerequisites for applying to the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) Program
a key step in planning for a future school bond
Seismic Assessments are similarly required for Business Oregon’s Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program
which supports structural retrofitting of school buildings
TAP also plays a vital role in helping districts meet environmental safety standards
nearly half of Oregon’s school districts completed radon testing with TAP support
This award marks a significant milestone in NWCSD’s ongoing efforts to maintain safe
and welcoming learning environments for all students and staff
(KBAK/KBFX) — The Kern County Coroner’s Office has identified one of the three people killed in a crash on Elmo Highway in October
One of passengers killed in the crash was identified as 62-year-old Filamer Barayuga Simpliciano of Delano
RELATED: Three killed, one hospitalized in two-vehicle collision near Wasco
The California Highway Patrol said on October 14
officers were called to a report of a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Scofield Avenue and Elmo Highway
CHP said a preliminary investigation found that a 36-year-old Porterville man was driving a gray 2016 Ram 3500 eastbound on Elmo Highway
approaching at a stop sign at Scofield Avenue
A silver 1993 Toyota Camry was traveling northbound on Scofield Avenue
approaching an uncontrolled intersection for northbound and southbound traffic at Elmo Highway
the driver and the two passengers in the Toyota were pronounced dead at the scene
The driver of the Ram was taken to Kern Medical with minor to moderate injuries
Miguel Abesada works on this young cherry tree this morning
2025 — Miguel Abesada and Jose Misael Avalos were greated by a warm winter sun this morning in East The Dalles as they pruned cherry trees at Wade & Rufener Orchards just south of Adventist hospital
43 are working on a single family farm with 100 acres
a rarity anymore in the Cherry Industry that sees orchard operations managing acreages in the thousands
Wasco County is home to some 8,000 acres of cherry trees
according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service county profile for Wasco County
It is the leading producer of sweet cherries in the state
If there are 200 trees per acre (conservative estimate) that means there are 1.6 million cherry trees planted in the county
how many branches have to be pruned annually
You can expect 60 degrees Fahrenheit for a high for the next three days with dry sunny skies
Devon Wade
Miguel Abesada and Jose Misael Avalos were all smiles this morning as the sun poured down on the cherry orchard in east The Dalles
Voters must pick a new Wasco County Commissioner Position #2 as Steve Kramer has decided to retire after he finishes his term in December 2024
And they need to get this selection right at the Nov
The County is in the midst of an expanding budget with millions of additional Google dollars coming in the form of Gap payments - fees paid instead of property taxes that are not designated for anything
will make the call on how to best use or save this money.
Good decisions now will pay dividends to all of us in the future through a stronger economy
better services or even lower taxes.
four candidates vied for the open seat including Darcy Long and John McElheran
but it was Jeff Justesen and Brian Lauterbach who won the day.
They received the majority of votes forcing a runoff this fall.
Justesen received 1,878 votes or 29.7% and Lauterbach was 200 behind at 1,678 with 26.56 percent.
With 44 percent of the vote unaccounted for in this general election
keeping their rhetoric above the fray for this nonpartisan position - even sharing a car ride once to a candidate forum
the two will share a dinner together a day after the election.
What a breath of fresh air amidst the national discourse.
County Commissioners are paid for their service with an annual salary of around $50,000
and ensure that county operations such as planning
They hear citizen concerns while ensuring that federal and state requirements are fulfilled
Good Commissioners maintain communication with their constituents
and prepare before meetings that are held twice a month on Wednesdays
Character and work ethic are crucial.
About Jeff Justesen was born and raised in Grass Valley in Sherman County where his father
Ed helped farmers as a co-op employee and believed in service to his community
He moved to The Dalles in 1999 after attending college at Linn-Benton Community College and Willamette University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
He worked with the Wasco County Juvenile Department from 1980 to 2003
and he served as the Juvenile Detention Manager from 1990 through 2003
Justesen became the NORCOR Jail Executive Director and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2022.
Jeff is married to Dawn Sallee-Justesen who works for Mt
CCCNews: What are your thoughts on the Hospital building on the Kramer Field site
While I like the idea of it being centrally located
some places have about the location of a hospital that close to a railroad track
I don't know if that's a genuine concern or not
so I'd like to learn a little more about it
I'd also like to learn a little more about what kind of space the hospital has where they're at now
I know you can't just tear down an existing hospital and build a new one because you have to continue services while you're doing it
but I want to see what kind of land and space they might have up in the general area they're in
So while I will be open to options for a hospital relocation
I certainly like to explore all the options that they would have prior to making a strong opinion on it.
CCCNews: Do you generally agree we are due for a new hospital
I would absolutely agree that we're due for a new hospital
I mean without being an expert on the facility
The hospital (Adventist Health) they're kind of backing off and reviewing
from what kind of the plans there were before
Editor’s Note - prior to being sold to Adventist
Mid-Columbia Medical Center was advancing plans
of building a new hospital on the Kramer Field site.
CCCNews: Do you have any opinions one way or the other about whether Kramer Field should be maintained as a central location for sports and kids
I was President of the Little League board for several years and there was talk at that point about utilizing some of the county property
where the county owns the space and Kramer there
and up in that area for building a youth center
And then they discussed revamping the fields
the little LEAP fields and some soccer fields in there.
And I know that at that time the architect's plans showed the space was pretty tight there
And while I like the idea that it's fairly centrally located
I also wouldn't want to see that be the final decision
just the central location be the final decision to put something there and not build the necessary complex to accommodate all the users that we need… I'd hate to see us squeeze something in there and not have it be a great facility
I don't want to see the money spent on something that's not adequate
Justesen also pointed out that the central location of Kramer Field is not a determining factor in keeping it for sports fields
noting kids that walk or ride their bikes were “very few.”
CCCNews: What do you think about the county’s purchase of 154 acres in West The Dalles and the prospect of building a sports complex
I've heard a few things thrown around and again… you hear RV park
I understand that part of it's on a hillside so it's not necessarily without a lot of excavation
it's not necessarily feasible to use the entire property for something that needs a flat surface
… I've heard maybe a small music venue kind of thing or multi-use facility where you can bring in some music events from time to time
I know some people may feel that the county shouldn’t be in the land-owning business but there's a lot of opportunity there… where things can be to create revenue for the businesses in town
could attract a lot of softball tournaments or little league tournaments
and potentially some soccer events that bring people to the area who are eating at restaurants and staying in motels or staying at the RV park and create some revenue
CCCNEWS: You think it has a good chance of being a good revenue generator for the community if used in that way
if done correctly… I think there is some real potential.
Having been involved with youth sports for well over 30 years
and if a new high school is sited at the Whatonka Campus there was some proximity there that maybe some of the sports events wouldn't take up the space where the footprint of the Whatonka campus is and they'd be near enough that they could be utilized by the school as well and wouldn't need quite as much space for the sports on that campus
that's just picturing in my mind and ballparking it..
just thinking what it would look like if those things happened
CCCNews: How should Millions in Google Payments to the County which can be used for anything be spent
I understand that people have been waiting to see the benefits of Google for a long time… but there's also an idea out there that some of that money could potentially be put away… 10 or 12 years down the road there could be money that could come in perpetually forever in theory
I think that's a legacy that the county could create
That would benefit a lot of entities down the road… there's things that have to be spent
But if we spend a little here and a little there
But if we put it away we could potentially have that funding to work on those things year in and year out
There's plenty of stuff to spend it on right now but it's also an opportunity that we may or may not have again in our lifetimes to save some of that money for the future
So that’s just my thought… I have a lot more to learn about it
and I would certainly be open to hearing other suggestions
CCCNews: Do we need a new High School in The Dalles
What should the county’s role be in the School District’s push for a new high school
I'm of the opinion we need a new high school… after I retired from NORCOR I got a restricted teaching license to substitute and I get some substitute teaching at the high school
And it's my opinion that the facility needs replaced
I think the population has just outgrown the school that they have… kids are scattered… industrial arts
so there's busing issues to get them up there
I don't think the county's role is just to give the school district
money to potentially cover some of the cost of the bond
I think the impact is like I talked about earlier
Base and the ability for a lot of reasons to put in a sports complex close to the new school and this is just an example that may or may not happen
But put that in and allow the school to access it
Not having to build that may reduce the cost to the school therefore the county is it's something that benefits both the county and the school…
land use issues and zoning issues that the county can
I think there is a role for the county that
CCCNews: School District 21 is looking to get a bond for a new High school on the November 2025 ballot
Everybody needs to hear the same information
potentially a role for county leadership to help bring that together..
Lives just outside The Dalles City Limits
Lauterbach is currently a commercial and residential real estate agent with Windermere
He was born and raised in The Dalles and graduated The Dalles High School in 1979
He immediately enlisted in the National Guard and then went to work for Les Schwab
spending six years at the Dalles store before moving onto other stores in the Pacific Northwest in a management capacity.
Lauterbach spent 17 years with Schwab ending up in Auburn
a former Forest Service Crew Leader with a penchant for animals had fallen in love with Whitefish Montana while the couple were on a vacation
That spurred them to buy a tire store and rename it Big Mountain Tire in Whitefish.
he served on both the hospital and school boards
The father of two daughters lost his first wife
who was also born and raised in The Dalles in 2006.
Lauterbach returned to The Dalles after friend Mike Woodside
I was on the hospital foundation here for a lot of years
We talked about doing a new venture… a new tower on the original building
but that was before the new CEO (Dennis Knox who set up the sale of MCMC to Adventist Health)
they're (Adventist) getting their feet on the ground with what they have
I was also on that hospital foundation board in Whitefish Montana and in 2007
… at that time we did an internal study on having first responders and hospitals too close to our mainline train tracks and highways
If there was a toxic spill on the tracks or you know a truck turned over in the highway and it took out your first responders and our hospital staff right downtown
So (in Whitefish) we ended up building the new hospital and eventually the fire and the police stations too
We decided to move them away from anything that could happen that would take out our first responders
I think they need to build new (in The Dalles)
but I still believe that it is currently in a great location that has extra land
and I would support them staying where they're at
CCCNews: What do you think about the county’s purchase of 154 acres in West The Dalles and the prospect of building a sports complex?
The property is located in the scenic area
I actually think you know that it (sports complex) wouldn't be a bad location in proximity to
a new high school… that location and the potential high school location of being the old Wahtonka Campus would be a good marriage
But you know with all the commercial land that’s been bought up by Google
we don't have land to bring in a larger retailer of any size… another complex maybe like Cascades Square or another grocery store…
If we were able to move the sports complex out there
it would definitely free up some large chunks of commercial property (Kramer Field) to be able to develop
and I think that's a good thing because we currently are out of good large commercial spaces
We currently don't have access to land that we can offer businesses
Maupin I think is working on their potable water system and so is Shaniko and so is Pine Hollow
There's a lot of projects out there that could be helped by giving some grant money or
I like the idea of trying to get our infrastructure in order
to what's available through some Oregon initiatives
To help people buy their first home or help them to pay for rent…
You know my understanding is there's a lot of a lot of vouchers available in our area but there's no housing you know people lose their (housing) vouchers because they expire right because they can't find anything
So we need to encourage housing in those areas
But where are the builders or developers going to build those apartments or build the type of housing that the vouchers can be used for
We need to encourage developers somehow to build some of those
I think we're starting to see some of that
we're shy on big chunks of land to put apartment complexes
we talked about big chunks of property for retail
But we also need some chunks of land that are available to
What should the county’s role in the School District’s push for a new high school
I think we can all agree that we need new schools
I think we will need to find ways to get community buy-in and involvement of every age spectrum
I was on a school board in Whitefish for two terms
And we got a new school built and another one re-modeled
As schools get in some of this new money coming in
I think it would be a greater thing to do if they spent it on a strategic marketing plan
and maybe even go so far as to hire an architect to create
a community storyboard to really get it in the public eye more I think
It's hard to get people to come out and be a part of these meetings… I found when we were running to get a new school built in Whitefish
we created these storyboards and we put them in every bank in town
People had to walk by them and actually see these storyboards and have a vision of that school and what it looked like
and it kind of gave some meat to you know what it could be
instead of just having a bond… And I'm not bashing anything
I just think there are fresh ways to maybe look at putting it in front of the people that are going to be footing the tax budget
The Dalles, Ore., November 7, 2023 – Wasco County Commissioners have received a notice of intent to build an ambitious 8,075 acre, 800 megawatt solar project, valued at over $1 billion, called Yellow Rosebush Energy Center
The project is being proposed about 11 miles outside of Maupin
OR and could power as many as 182,000 homes
The proposed location will sit to the east side of Bakeoven road very near to the Bakeovern Solar Project
60 megawatt project which is currently under construction on the South side of Bakeoven Road towards Shaniko
Supporting facilities for the neighboring Bakeoven project include a 100 MW battery storage system
The facility site boundary includes approximately 10,640 acres
The location is being considered ideal for solar projects due to a number of reasons including its remote location
existing Bonneville Power Administration infrastructure which allows for ease of imputing power into the existing power grid and the low agricultural value of the land due to poor soil quality
Yellow Rosebush was sited to minimize possible environmental and habitat impacts and the development team is actively invovled with Oregon Department of Energy and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to adequately mitigate any identified impacts
Wasco County Commissioner Scott Hege said he saw the development of the land as an opportunity to build the tax base in south county to support schools and social services
“There’s always pros and cons to everything
The plus side of these projects is that they will bring a tax base to our County and to all of our taxing districts and it will create some jobs so that’s a positive,” said Hege
The project would also benefit regional energy consumers who want to lower their carbon footprint by purchasing renewable energy
Oregon’s renewable energy resources account for about 70% of the total in-state electricity net generation in 2022
The majority (51%) of that electricity comes from hydroelectric sources
Natural gas power accounted for the other 30% of the state’s total net generation in 2022
Oregon's renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) requires that at least 50% of the electricity sold in Oregon come from renewable-sourced generation by 2040
And the Clean Energy Standard calls for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 80% of baseline by 2030
that one of the downsides included the fact that some people view such projects as eyesores
Other concerns brought up at the Wasco County Commissioners meeting on November 1st
2023 included impacts to tribal nations cultural resources such as access to sacred first foods and environmental impacts.T he Yellow Rosebush team confirmed they have been in communication with impacted tribes to allow for input on the project
The project is only in its very beginning phases now
and its first public information meeting was held in Maupin on November 2nd
The project is hoping to be completed by the year 2028
and we were pleased with the local turnout
Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) detailed their Energy Facilities Siting Counsel (EFSC) permitting process
while the Savion team introduced the Maupin community to Yellow Rosebush Energy Center solar project,” said Jeff Watson
“It is the goal of the Yellow Rosebush team to be a good neighbor to the town of Maupin and the broader Wasco and Sherman Counties
We are still in the early stages of project development and welcome all feedback
and questions and concerns so that we can be as diligent as possible in our development efforts,” said Watson
To connect with the Yellow Rosebush Energy Center project team or to express opinions and concerns
residents can email info@YellowRosebushEnergyCenter.com
Cole Goodwin is a former writer at Columbia Community Connection and a longtime resident of the Columbia River Gorge
The proposed $631,000 in new funding would allow Wasco County to expand its wildfire defense work
SOUTH WASCO CO.—Wildfire preparedness took center stage at the Wasco County Board of Commissioners meeting on Feb
19 where county officials discussed the next steps in securing additional federal funding to enhance fire mitigation efforts
The Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG)
provides funding to communities at risk of catastrophic wildfires
The grant supports projects that help reduce fire hazards
strengthen emergency response infrastructure
and educate residents about fire prevention
which previously received $5.9 million in 2024 for fire mitigation efforts in south county
The new funding would allow the county to expand its wildfire defense work to include Mosier
“We’re requesting board approval to seek this funding opportunity,” said Melissa Napoli
“The funds will help us continue our work in high-risk areas by adding fire mitigation crews
and expanding community education efforts.”
Napoli and her team are finalizing the proposal and seeking letters of support from key partners
and the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office
The application deadline for the grant has been extended to March 15
Napoli informed the board that Wasco County qualifies for a cost-share waiver
meaning the county does not need to contribute matching funds for the grant
This makes it easier to secure funding without placing additional financial strain on local budgets
Columbia Gorge News reached out to Napoli and the planning department asking if ongoing federal cuts to USFS have the potential to impact CWDG
but has not received a response at the time this article was printed
The county’s proposal includes a two-person fire mitigation crew for the Mosier area
focused on creating defensible space around homes and properties
Defensible space is a buffer zone around a structure where vegetation and flammable materials are cleared to slow the spread of wildfires
the county plans to install four above-ground
12,000-gallon water cisterns in strategic locations throughout Mosier
they have one source to resupply their water tenders in a fire incident
and that source is at the Mosier school,” Napoli explained
“So when there’s a fire incident in the south part of that fire district
or really anywhere outside of Mosier city limits
they have to drive back to Mosier and then back to the incident site
It’s a lot of time spent driving to go resupply.”
The grant would also support Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue (MCFR) in Chenoweth
where a seasonal crew would be established to perform similar fire mitigation work
The focus area in Chenoweth includes Murray’s Addition
The proposal also includes funding for two community education events per year in the project areas
These events aim to help residents understand wildfire risks and teach them how to maintain defensible space around their properties
“That’s an important part of making these kinds of projects sustainable,” Napoli said
but they have a tendency to grow right back
So teaching folks about defensible space and how to do their own work to protect their homes is really key too.”
Commissioners agreed on the importance of education
emphasizing that reducing wildfire risk requires collaboration between local government
While commissioners expressed support for the grant proposal
concerns arose regarding areas left out of the current fire mitigation plans
and Chenoweth covered,” said Commissioner Scott Hege
the only area in the county that’s not covered and there’s a lot of density up there.”
“We are missing large swaths of land [in] Maupin and southward,” chimed in Community Development Director Kelly Howsley-Glover
“We’re also not able to address a lot of farmland to the east
so this project is another step to start to blanket the county.”
committing to speak with MCFR about this area
She pointed out that funding and personnel constraints make it difficult to expand beyond the grant’s current scope
“We don’t have exact boundaries yet,” said Planning Director Daniel Dougherty
The staff and commissioners discussed several recent fires and their starting points in these vulnerable
Howsley-Glover added that the CWDG dictates stringent boundaries for these grant-funded projects based on the income of residents
“One of the criteria that we looked at intently and discussed at length with the fire districts is really focusing in on our low income communities
and so the footprint really correlates to income pockets,” she said
Are you a resident of south Wasco County? The Wildfire Coordinator office is conducting a brief survey online at forms.gle/KNcYu6P6diTJifdB8
(KBAK/KBFX) — Although some people enjoy the fast-paced life of living in a big city
many prefer a small town's comforting and safe feel
Kern County is known for towns like these, however, according to a new study by WalletHub
some of them are the worst small cities to live in the nation
The personal finance company took an in-depth look at some of the best and worst small cities in America based on several factors
WalletHubcompared more than 1,300 cities in the United States with populations between 25,000 and 100,000
California and Kern County didn't do too well on the list
RELATED: Bakersfield ranks in top 10 of California's most dangerous cities, says PropertyClub
Wasco was ranked the third-worst in the study
The agricultural community received a total score of 38.31
with low ranks ineconomic health (1,316th)
also ranked pretty low (24th worst) on the "best small cities" list
The hub of farmworker organization efforts also fared low in economic health (1,271st)
quality of life (1,200th) and safety (1,207th)
Delano also ranked relatively low in affordability (1,081st)
The California coastal community of Isla Vista
It is the worst-ranked in affordability and economic health (both 1,318th)
Isla Vista did rank better than Wasco and Delano when it comes to education & health (552nd)
quality of life (195th) and safety (605th)
If you're curious about the best small city to live in California -- it's Los Altos
The Silicon Valley town had better rankingss in economic health (84th)
education and health (66th) quality of life (403rd) and safety (100th)
RELATED: Kern County cities make it to Niche's 2023 list of most affordable places to live in California
The best small cities to live in the U.S.?Carmel
which ranked at the top of the list (total score of 70.99)
2024 — Current Wasco County Clerk Lisa Gambee is set to retire when her term ends this December
who has been working in the Wasco County Clerk’s office for a decade is currently the Chief Deputy Clerk under Gambee
She has thrown her hat in the ring for Gambee’s position and her name will be on the Nov
Ballots will likely be delivered on Saturday
The job is the lynchpin to maintaining our democracy at a local level
The Wasco County Clerk is the chief elections official of the County
coordinates and conducts all elections in accordance with election law
and maintains voter registrations and election statistics
including the mailing of ballots.The Clerk's Office also records and preserves land records and liens; issues marriage licenses and domestic partnerships; is the liaison for the Statement of Economic Interest filing; and acts as clerk for the Board of Property Tax Appeals
Zaugg is a resident of The Dalles and was selected for the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award in 2021
“You were selected for this award as a Girl Scouts leader in The Dalles and as Wasco County’s Chief Deputy Clerk, for your creativity and resourcefulness in the pursuit of transparency in the democratic process.,” the Secretary of State wrote in a letter to Zaugg
Any experience that led you to this path of serving the public
10 years ago I was looking for a career change
A position opened up in the Clerk’s Office as Election Deputy and I was hired for it
My professional background is heavy in customer service and I enjoy working with people
disposition and unique strengths do you bring to the position
Can you give us an example or two of some fundamental lessons you've learned while on the job as Chief Deputy Clerk
I am a Certified Election Administrator through the Oregon Association of County Clerks
I thrive in an environment where my problem-solving skills are utilized
especially with community engagement and civic education
Having been in the Clerk’s Office for 10 years I have learned many lessons
and understand every aspect of our services
and your team is your greatest asset.
CCCNews: What are the three most pressing issues facing the County Clerk's Office and how do you plan to address them within your role
The potential of Ranked Choice Voting - If Measure 117 passes
and then educate the citizens of Wasco County
Funding for implementation and voter education is still unknown statewide and it's expensive
it will be the Secretary of State Elections Division who will have to tally the contests
the Clerk’s Office does an amazing job of promoting citizen confidence in Wasco County Elections through tours
and one one-on-one conversations with citizens
my plan is for our office to remain transparent and helpful and to continue to listen to the concerns of the public
The eventual move of our office to the 3rd St building - Communication will be even more critical with our eventual move to the 3rd St building.
CCCNews: Name a character trait that you have that will help you fulfill the mission of the County Clerk while explaining what that mission is
and fairness are all character traits I possess that will help me succeed in fulfilling the mission of the County Clerk
which is to carefully preserve the records of the past
and future and to honorably administer elections
My name is Kasey McCullough and I am a candidate for the Northern Wasco Parks and Recreation District Board
I am a 4th generation resident of the area
I was born and raised in The Dalles and Dufur
After pursuing an education at Oregon State University
I returned home to invest in our community by starting a successful small business.As an avid outdoorsman
I want to ensure we are managing our resources wisely and ensuring a strong and stable parks system for years to come
I also want to protect access to our parks and make sure groups like The Dalles Little League have safe and vibrant fields to utilize.I will bring independent
and steady decision making to the Parks and Rec District Board
I humbly ask for your support and your vote
Ballots must be returned by 8 pm on May 16.Sincerely,Kasey McCullough
Chad Martinez has coached the Wasco High School football team; effective Wednesday
In a release posted to the Wasco High Football Facebook page on Thursday
Chad Martinez announced his resignation as head coach of the Tigers football program citing a conversation he had with Wasco's Athletic Director Josh Huddleston earlier in the week where he was asked to resign
we're moving in a new direction," said Martinez
Martinez led the Tigers to their first Valley title in over a decade and their first state title game berth in school history
the Tigers never finished the regular season with a losing record
ending his Wasco coaching career with a 49-33 record
We reached out to Huddleston about Martinez's resignation
who said it was a personnel manner and all communication would come from district superintendent Kevin Tallon
In an email statement from Tallon to 23ABC
"We want to thank Coach Chad Martinez for his hard work and commitment to the Wasco High School football program
We are grateful for his service to Wasco High players and wish him well in future coaching endeavors."
Martinez said he harbors no ill will toward the decision and was thankful to have the opportunity to lead Wasco High football
While Martinez said he didn't get a chance to speak to all of his players directly after receiving the news
he said he sent them a note before posting his resignation letter on Facebook Thursday
I appreciate the ride," and hopefully my letter kind of said that to them
it was heartwarming," said Martinez starting to get choked up
Near the end of our interview with Martinez on Friday
we asked: "What's next for Chad Martinez?"
so I'm just gonna enjoy my family for the time being."
Late Thursday evening, Wasco High School football coach Chad Martinez announced his resignation in a press release posted to the Wasco High Football Facebook page
23ABC confirmed Martinez's resignation via text message on Thursday night
the tigers never finished the regular season with a losing record
Martinez finished with a record of 49 victories and 33 losses as the Tigers' head coach
Martinez says he is proud of the record and achievements that he and his staff accomplished
"I shall remember my coaching time here fondly
It is with profound sadness that my time as a coach has come to an end."
This story will be updated with more information as it becomes available
Delano and McFarland Neighborhood Reporter
Mental health activist Veronica Jacuinde has battled bipolar for almost two decades
It's because of this that she has worked with city officials to bring World Bipolar Day to Wasco
The streets of Downtown Wasco typically always have cars on the road
and it’ll be turned into the biggest art gallery the city has ever seen
It’s all part of one woman’s mission to break the stigma on mental health
I’ve lived with the bipolar condition for almost two decades and this event has given me the courage finally come out and say you know what I have bipolar and I want to let people know you can live a happy and healthy life,” said organizer Veronica Jacuinde
Jacuinde says through the World Bipolar Day Event
she wants to create a safe space for the people of Wasco when it comes to mental health
she says mental health is constantly stigmatized
With Wasco having a predominantly Hispanic population
she felt it was necessary to have the event here
there are very few organizations or clinics that address mental health clinics so that makes it even more difficult
there’s the language barrier as well,” said Jacuinde
However Jacuinde isn’t the only person involved in the making of this event
Wasco city council member Gilberto Reyna is a cofounder
Having been the mayor three times prior in his past
he tells me there is a definite need for this event in his community
“Mental illness is prevalent in our community because I speak to members of elementary school district and the high school district and they say that there are a lot of children suffering from some type of mental illness,” said Reyna
The five hour long event will feature an art gallery
murals painted by artists in honor of Van Gogh
multiple mental health resource booths including free depression and anxiety screenings and more
Jacuinde wants the community to know that even if they are struggling with a mental health illness
there is always something better out there
“Im so proud to say that I am the editor of the Wasco Tribune,” said Jacuinde
“If you’re ready to find that right team of support then you can absolutely have a successful life and you can absolutely dream and the world is your limit.”
Though this is Wasco’s first World Bipolar Event
organizers intend to make this an annual event and have it expand out to other cities
Columbia Gorge Community College Hood River Campus at 1730 College Way
2024 — Voters in Wasco County who were against the Columbia Gorge Community College Bond are wondering how voters in Hood River County helped pass the $13 million debt over 13 years
“Wait so Hood River County votes on taxation in Wasco County WTF??,” asked one person on Facebook
If you look at the vote as an “us and them” situation
voters in parts of both counties agreed to share the load when it comes to CGCC bonds many years ago.
Columbia Gorge Community College’s tax district includes portions of Wasco and Hood River counties.
Map of The Columbia Gorge Community College Taxing District
It spreads across portions of Wasco and Hood River counties
This was agreed upon in a measure that passed in 2008 when a Hood River Campus for CGCC was established.
the vote count from both counties has been combined when deciding if a bond passes or not
The Majority of Wasco County voters voted no on the CGCC Bond
The Majority of Hood River County voters voted Yes on the CGCC Bond
When the total number of yes and no votes from each county were combined
Click here to learn more about the bond and what it will pay for.
This is not the only tax district including Wasco County that works on cumulative vote counts from multiple counties
The NORCOR Jail tax district includes Gilliam
Wasco County Voters were able to kill a bond for the jail in 2017 when the majority of voters in the other three counties had a majority in favor
A fourth-generation wheat and cattle rancher in Sherman County
to Lawrence and Marguerite (Foss) Kaseberg
Larry grew up on the family ranch near Wasco
attended Wasco Grade School and Moro High School
He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Oregon State College
and joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps
He later served in the National Guard and Reserve
He graduated from OSC (now Oregon State University) in 1957 with a B.S
supported by the younger generations in the family
managing a 30-year cattle lease on Miller Island
and hosting OSU crop trials and soils classes
Little League and the Sherman County Historical Museum
He served on the boards of Wasco Electric Cooperative
He accompanied OSU scientists to seminars in Argentina
He and Sherry were inducted into the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences Hall of Fame
OSU named a soft white wheat variety for the family
and Christopher (Carrie); grandchildren: Wade
and Karolyn (Brandon Wenschlag); great-grandchildren: Jase
and Virginia Ball; Reagan and Adley Kaseberg; Olivia Lemo Kaseberg-Riley; and niece and nephew
Susan (Ralph Fisher) and Shawn Skiles (Peggy)