Mid-Columbia Today

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.