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Asher Community Health Center CEO Albert Pacheco has given his resignation to the board and will depart by Christmas. Pacheco joined Asher Clinic in 2021 after serving as the leader of a federally qualified health center near Los Angeles for several years. Pacheco helped to navigate through the choppy waters of COVID, and oversaw an expansion of services in his tenure at Asher Health. As a federally qualified health center (FQHC), Asher Community Health gets a majority of its...
The Dalles, OR - The US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) announced that CGCC has been selected to join the Industrial Training and Assessment Centers (ITAC) network. The ITAC network trains energy and manufacturing workers while helping small- and medium-sized manufacturers improve productivity and lower their energy bills. "This grant enables us to build on several prior initiatives in CGCC's Advanced Manufacturing and...
SALEM, OR – On January 1, 2025, new laws will go into effect to make Oregon safer, cleaner, and more affordable. These changes will directly impact the day-to-day lives of Oregonians, covering everything from stopping drug use on public transportation and lowering the cost of prescription drugs to making it cheaper to repair electronic devices and increasing transparency in public education. "Oregonians aren't satisfied with the status quo, and neither are we. These changes in...
Avangrid, a provider of sustainable energy solutions, is integrating immersive virtual reality (VR) technology into its training programs for wind and solar technicians. The technology is being implemented at the company's National Training Center (NTC) in Sherman County, Oregon, to complement traditional hands-on training methods and prepare employees for complex real-world challenges. The VR modules offer trainees the opportunity to become familiar with various machines and...
Sherman County authorities responded early Sunday morning to reports of a vehicle crash in Wasco, with reported damage to the historic Wasco Train Depot. Deputy Sol Jacobsen of the Sherman County Sheriff's Office said he received a call at approximately 7:40 a.m. Sunday, and proceeded with caution to the crash site due to icy roads. The vehicle, a 2012 white Ford F250 pickup, crashed into the eastern corner of the Train Depot on Clark Street, Wasco's main thoroughfare, just...
There were high hopes when the Royal Stag opened in 2022. Owner Shawn Hawkins put a considerable amount of time and money into the venture. As co-owner of Tiger Town Brewing in Mitchell, Hawkins brought experience in the restaurant industry and a track record of boosting the profile of a small Wheeler County community. But just over two years later, Hawkins had to pull the plug on the venture. Employees of The Royal Stag were notified last week that the establishment was...
SALEM, OR – On December 5, 2024, the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) unanimously adopted the first set of rules the state will use to implement comprehensive, system-wide housing planning reforms to address Oregon's housing crisis. The adopted rules direct the approaches and methods local governments will use to reverse decades of underinvestment in housing production and meet community needs. They do this by: • Standardizing planning: Local gov...
A respected population study from Portland State University (PSU) was released last week and shows that Gilliam County had the fifth-highest growth rate in Oregon over the past four years. Sherman County grew, but at a slower rate, and Wheeler County's population decreased at the third highest percentage statewide. The study's estimates show that several counties in Oregon are experiencing growth while others are seeing population declines. Gilliam County grew at a rate of 2.1...
The Woolery Project, a 501c3 nonprofit organization with an all-volunteer board, led by Olex's Rod McGuire and Arlington's Julius Courtney, has been fundraising for several years in an effort to build an events and community center above Arlington. The Woolery has held events in Arlington and Ione in recent years, with auctions and dinners provided by McGuire's Paradise Rose Chuckwagon. Land was donated to the Woolery by the City of Arlington. Engineering plans were developed...
The Northern Oregon Regional Corrections (NORCOR) facility is grappling with significant funding and maintenance issues, Gilliam County Sheriff Gary Bettencourt informed the county court last Wednesday. Opened in 1999, the NORCOR facility has seen its infrastructure deteriorate over the years, with the roof requiring repairs for several years. The facility houses both adult and juvenile detainees, but operational and financial hurdles have sparked debates over its future....
ARLINGTON, OR - The Gilliam County Court approved a Capital Investment Grant request from the Arlington School District for $825,000 today, supporting the school's commitment to housing for its staff. Superintendent Larry Johnson, who addressed the court before they voted on the funding package, said that the school is well positioned for the future, with the exception of housing. "We have fourteen teachers in our district, six of whom will be retiring soon," Johnson said....
CONDON, OR - With the retirement of City of Condon Mayor Jim Hassing and Councilor Donald Jamieson, a collective 35 years of public and community service will leave the council chambers. They were honored for their long-time commitments to the city at the December 4 council meeting. The two will officially serve in their long-held positions until December 31. Mayor Hassing followed in the footsteps of his father, Tom Hassing, who served the City of Condon as mayor from 1975...
After being closed for six months, the Arlington Community Childcare Center has reopened. Temporary licensing is in place until December 31st, and permanent licensure is expected soon. Director Ashley Bayliss told the Gilliam County Court that after considerable work, the center has had its inspections and is now a certified center, not just a certified family home, as it was previously. "The daycare has its own status and is not dependent on a director," Ashley Bayliss told...
Gilliam County is taking steps to bolster its emergency response and wildfire management efforts, with updates on a promising grant opportunity shared during a recent county court session. Herb Winters, Manager of the Gilliam Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), informed the court about a FEMA grant that could reshape the county's approach to emergency preparedness. The court plans to apply for the grant, with Gilliam SWCD serving as the sub-grantee. A pre-application...
SALEM, OR – Today, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that it has approved Oregon's initial funding award of $9,947,586.17 under the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program to implement the digital inclusion initiatives outlined in the State Digital Equity Plan. Created and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Digital Equity Act provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs that promote digital equity a...
Pendleton, OR - Bank of Eastern Oregon (BEO) has opened a new full-service branch in Pendleton, Oregon, located at 800 SW Dorion Avenue. BEO, a rural community bank headquartered in Heppner, has 22 branches located in eastern Oregon, eastern Washington and Canyon County, Idaho. "It was time for us to open a branch in Pendleton," said President and CEO Jeff Bailey. "Our customers have been asking for this and when a building became available, we made the purchase." The new BEO...
FOSSIL, OR - Wheeler County Development Corporation is excited to announce the approval of a $60,000 loan aimed at promoting economic development in the region. This funding will support Haven House Retirement Center in remaining open and operational as it seeks grant funding and works towards achieving full occupancy. "Haven House would like to express their gratitude to Greg Smith, OHCA, and Judge Morley for providing us with the ability to keep Haven House operational...
Gilliam County is looking for a new DA. With the election of sitting DA Kara Davis to the Wasco County District Attorney's Office in November, Governor Kotek will appoint a new DA for Gilliam County in January. Davis is set to resign on December 31st. Two applicants have thrown their names into the hat. Ryan Rodighiero, Deputy District Attorney for Union County, has applied for the job. As has Dean Morgan, who hails from Hershey, Pennsylvania. Oregon law requires that at the t...
ARLINGTON, VA - The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) released the following statements in response to President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Brooke Rollins to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "Congratulations to Brooke Rollins on her nomination to serve as our next Secretary of Agriculture. NAWG members look forward to working together to foster public policy initiatives that will help wheat growers...
Chicago, IL – This December, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is spreading hope and holiday cheer across the nation and beyond. From small towns to major cities, Elks Lodges in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and the Panama Canal Zone are stepping up to serve their communities. Elk volunteers will deliver food baskets and gifts to thousands of struggling families, while hospitalized Veterans-our nation's heroes-will be honored with visits, gifts, and fe...
The Sherman County Education Foundation has funded countless projects in the community since its inception, all thanks to the generosity of its donors and endowment funds. The nonprofit organization was founded in 2017 and started fundraising in 2019 with a holiday newsletter celebrating its most recently funded projects at the time. Over the past five years, the foundation has raised about $130,000 and contributed over $63,000 to fund 70 different projects to promote...
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced this week that the City of Condon will receive $250,000 for street improvements. The Small City Allotment Advisory Committee and ODOT staff have announced the 2025 grant recipients. After evaluating 74 projects requesting a total of $17,226,108, the committee selected 24 projects totaling $5,735,959. Condon is among the cities selected. According to Gibb Wilkins, Public Works Superintendent for the City of Condon, the...
ARLINGTON, OR (December 4, 2024) – The Gilliam County Court approved a Capital Investment Grant request from the Arlington School District for $825,000 today, supporting the school's commitment to housing for its staff. Superintendent Larry Johnson, who addressed the court before they voted on the funding package, said that the school is well positioned for the future, with the exception of housing. "We have fourteen teachers in our district, six of whom will be retiring s...
THE DALLES – The spirit of innovation and teamwork was on full display at the Second Annual Regional Rube-a-Thon, held at Columbia Gorge Community College's Campus in The Dalles on October 25th. This year's challenge, titled "Feed a Pet", brought together 26 teams comprised of 127 seventh-grade students from eight schools across the region. The event celebrated student creativity, critical thinking, and engineering skills in a friendly competition to design complex Rube G...
The City of Arlington has paved the way for the first data center to come to Gilliam County. A purchase agreement between the city and Amazon Data Services, Inc. was first discussed in a public hearing on August 7, 2024. After meeting in executive session on August 7, the Arlington City Council agreed to sell 375.605 acres of property to Amazon Data Services, Inc. for $10,111,000 - with a deposit of $250,000. The data center will be constructed at 801 Airport Road, at the...
