Mid-Columbia Today

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.