Mid-Columbia Today

In the first half of the show Mark talks with East Fork Irrigation District's Steve Pappas and Cindy Thieman from the Hood River Watershed Group about what this year's irrigation season may be like, and steps East Fork has taken in recent years to pipe its canals and significantly reduce water loss.  Then the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Nicholas Tenorio discusses the importance of reducing combustible materials in the five feet around your house to protect it from wildfire, as May is Wildfire Awareness Month in Oregon.

The show focuses on a pair of events today, as Mike Schend from the Hood River County Education Foundation talks about this Saturday's Columbia Gorge Wine & Art Festival, then it's Thomas Keolker from Bristol Hospice on their Kite Festival & Memorial this Saturday at the Hood River Waterfront.

Cindy Keever joins the show to talk about tomorrow's The Dalles Community Cleanup event, then Dr. Mike Foss from Alpine Veterinary talks about how dogs evolved to be our companions.

Today's show focuses on previewing events this weekend, first with Rob Miller on the Gorge Artists Open Studio Tour, then Bob Cushman on the Made For Mosier fundraiser for Mosier Community School.

The show starts with a conversation with Oregon State House District 52 candidate Scott Hege, then Mark chats with Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District Director Mark Hickok and board member Christy Christopher about the bond measure on the May 19 ballot to rebuild the Hood River Valley Aquatic Center and accompanying five-year operating levy for the district.

In the first half of the show, Mark talks with Oregon House District 52 candidate David Osborn, then The Dalles Mayor Rich Mays talks about road construction, the City having to pay for more archaelogical monitoring on the First Street project, and the upcoming budget process.

In the first part of the show Hood River Mayor Paul Blackburn and City Manager Abigail Elder discuss various topics, then Mark talks about parking, and shares a bizarre story out of California about an insurance fraud scheme involving someone dressing up as a bear acting like they are damaging luxury cars.

In the first half of the program...White Salmon Valley School District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn talks about taking part in an effort to research early childhood learning options for Klickitat County, then Jen Monroe and Sandi Rousseau from the Central Gorge Master Gardeners remind us about their annual plant sale coming May 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at OSU Extension Hood River County on 2990 Experiment Station Drive in Hood River.

Mark talks first with Wasco County Commission incumbent Phil Brady, then he is joined by Tom Penberthy of Columbia Gorge Community College on progress towards a Bachelor of Applied Science in Education program to help address Oregon's teaching needs.

In the first half of the program, Mark talks with Wasco County Commission candidate John Grant, then Rachel Johnson of Washington Gorge Action Programs discusses the Low Income Energy Assistance Program.

We start the show talking to Hood River County School District Superintendent Bill Newton about the continued work on the district's 2026-27 budget, and specificially the proposal to move early intervention programs from Pine Grove to Mid-Valley Elementary.  Then Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority board member Grant Polson joins us for a discussion on the project for a new Hood River-White Salmon Bridge, and waiting on a decision from the federal government on a $500 million funding request to the Bridge Improvement Program. 

On today's show, Mark starts by talking to Port of Hood River Executive Director Kevin Greenwood about the Port's upcoming work to revise its strategic business plan, and then The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson joins the program to preview the upcoming Northwest Cherry Festival.

In the first half of the show, Tammara Tippel outlines the Bingen-White Salmon Community Cleanup on April 24-25 (https://www.facebook.com/WAcommunitycleanup/), then Mark talks with Wasco County Commission candidate Dick Schaffeld.

It was an hour of candidates on Mid-Columbia Today this morning...first Mark talks to Wasco County Commission candidate Mike Urness, then it's Oregon House District 52 candidate Hank Sanders.

In the first half of the show, Mark talks with Wasco County Commission Candidate Robb Van Cleave, then he is joined by Jakob Lillvik of the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District about the upcoming Gorge Pitchfest 2026 (https://midcolumbiainnovationhub.org/gorgepitchfest26/).

To start the show Mark is joined by Hood River County Administrator Allison Williams and County Commission Chair Jennifer Euwer to talk about the upcoming election and the County's on-going evaluation of its operational needs, then Wasco County Commission Jeff Justesen discusses the recent decision by the County to purchase the land to allow the Basalt Commons project in The Dalles to proceed.

In the first part of the show Mark talks with Stephen Douglas of Mid-Columbia Center For Living on crisis intervention team training for first responders, then Andrea Klaas of the Port of The Dalles discusses the Port board's recent visit to Dufur and an update on the latest visit to Washington, D.C. by The Dalles Community Outreach Team.

In the first half of the show Mark vents on why he has never liked writing stories about Oregon's land use process, and then Columbia Gorge Discovery Center Executive Director Cheryl Ragar discusses the Center's recently released annual report.

The show begins with an interview with Wasco County Commission candidate Lisa Gambee, then Mark is joined by Providence Hood River orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Putnam.

In the first part of the show, Leslie Naramore and Elizabeth Fernandez of Mid-Columbia Community Action talk about the Roots and Reach Alliance,, a multi-agency effort to strengthen the region's response to houselessness from the ground up.  In the second half, Mark discusses with Daron Ryan of the Hood River County Health Department observing Public Health Week and continued concerns about measles outbreaks in the state of Oregon.

In the first half of the show, Hood River Watershed Group board member Greg Short and Executive Director Cindy Thieman talk about how fishing in the Hood River has changed in the last 40 years, and then Mark discusses on guiding youth dealing with social media with Debby Jones of YouthThink of Wasco County.

In the first part of the show, Sarah Fox talks about upcoming Sense of Place events, and the long-running series becoming its own standalone non-profit organization, and in the second half of the show Mark talks to Wasco County Commission candidate Nichole Biechler.

In the first half of the show we meet Oregon State Senate District 26 candidate Nicole Bassett, then Dr. Mike Foss from Alpine Veterinary in Hood River discusses pain management for our pets.

Today Mark talks to Oregon House District 52 candidate Nick Walden Poublon, and then is joined by Oregon State University Extension Forester Glenn Ahrens to discuss protecting property from wildfire and an upcoming presenation on the subject called Before Wildfire Strikes:  Improving Wildfire Preparedness in Hood River on April 29 at 6 p.m. at the Columbia Center for the Arts.

Today's guests include Grace Wesson from Hood River County 4-H talking about the upcoming Voices In Action Communications Contest for ages 5-18 on April 11 at Hood River Valley High School (signup until April 7 at beav.es/N4B), and The Next Door Economic Development Services Program Manager Laura Oropesa on the Raices Plant Sale on May 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Next Door's parking lot on 965 Tucker Road in Hood River.

Hood River County Library District Director Rachael Fox previews the April 11 Feast of Words Fundraiser to raise money to provide upgrades to the children's library, then with no guest Mark and Cameron talk about whether paying local City Councilors and County Commissioners is a good idea, and why Mark thinks earmarks need to return in their original form in Congress as a way to force people to reach across the aisle.

Today's guests include Oregon House District 52 candidate Bernard Seeger, who is one four hopefuls for the Democratic Party nomination, and Hood River Mayor Paul Blackburn talking about a revolving loan program from the state to encourage construction of homes targeted to moderate incomes.

Today's program focuses on the economic challenges facing agricultural producers in the Columbia Gorge, as Mark talks with local orchardists Ian Chandler and Lesley Tamura.

Today's guests include Gorge Recovery Executive Director Ari Gardner on that organization's efforts to locate a facility for those recovering from alcohol and substance abuse to be able to go for support and to socialize, and Columbia Gorge Community College Communications Director Tom Penberthy on CGCC keeping tuition costs the same in 2026-27.

On today's show Jim Winterbottom from The Dalles Disposal/Hood River Garbage talks about new recycling bins for The Dalles customers and changing guidelines for what can be recycled, Joanna Turner of Washington Gorge Action Programs talks about Grief Circles for those dealing with loss in their lives, and Juan Reyes from WAGAP joins in.

Today's guests include Oregon State University Extension's Ashley Thompson discussing an upcoming symposium on tree fruit economics on April 8 at 8:30 a.m. at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center (register at https://beav.es/GzK), and then The Dalles Mayor Rich Mays pays a visit to talk about City business.

Today's guests include The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson discussing the revised Northwest Cherry Festival plans, spring break as a preview of the tourism season, and whether a community needs a cohesive identity, and Klickitat County Commissioner Todd Andrews talking about the liability risks small counties in Washington have to protect themselves from on a constant basis.

On today's show, Tammara Tippel of the Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce previews the upcoming Community Wide Yard and Business Sidewalk Sales and the Bingen-White Salmon Community Cleanup in April, and Marti Dane stops by to talk about learning about what others experience.

In the first half of the show, Jacob Powell from Oregon State University Extension talks about an upcoming Free Farm Financial Planning Workshop in The Dalles and online (register at tinyurl.com/2026-TheDalles-Workshop) put on by OSU Extension and the Oregon Agricultural Trust.  In the second half, it's Hood River County Commission Chair Jennifer Euwer and Administrator Allison Williams discussing the on-going process to revise the County's Forest Management Policy, and consideration of a trail for side-by-side off-road vehicles in the Middle Mountain area.