During the 4/14 Skamania Board of County Commissioners meeting, we learned summer road construction is officially hitting the Wind River Highway, bringing a single-lane bottleneck and detours to Carson starting this May. Plus, we're breaking down a thirty percent drop in projected timber harvests for the county, and looking at why federal food assistance rules are suddenly straining our local support networks.

In This Episode:

• FEMA relief is finally unlocked for December's winter storm damage.
• WAGAP leadership transitions and a new tribal housing partnership.
• Commissioners voice frustration over a stagnant Homeless Housing Council.
• An early noxious weed season brings temporary staff to the county.
• Celebrating twenty-five years of service from Chief Deputy Clerk Paula Diaz.

Resources & Links:

• Read the full written Dispatch at skamaniadispatch.com
• View the BOCC agendas and Zoom links at the Skamania County Website
• SNAP Cuts in OBBBA/H.R. 1: Billionaires Win, Working Families Lose
• 2024 Columbia Gorge Community Health Assessment

Documenter notes are available for republishing under Creative Commons license CC by 4.0. With thanks to the Columbia Gorge Documenters, powered by Uplift Local: https://upliftlocal.news/columbia-gorge/columbia-gorge-documenters/

Stay Connected with the Gorge

The Skamania Dispatch and The Klickitattler are community-led projects of OpenGorge.org.

To stay updated on local news, governance, and community events across the region, you can sign up for both newsletters at SkamaniaDispatch.com. For real-time updates and to join the conversation, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/OpenGorge.

On this episode, we unpack the April 14th Klickitat County Board of Commissioners meeting, focusing on the mounting pressure facing our local emergency medical services. With 911 calls steadily rising, we look at how the county is managing the strain and why a dedicated non-emergency "day car" is suddenly on the table.

In This Episode:

• Addressing the severe childcare and preschool shortages in rural areas like Wishram and Bickleton.
• Debunking local rumors about billionaire land buyouts and identifying the county's actual major landholders.
• Construction funding updates for the Columbia Gorge Community College advanced manufacturing facility.

Resources & Links:

• Read the full written Dispatch at skamaniadispatch.com
• Klickitat County BOCC Portal & Meeting Agendas
• Columbia Gorge Community College Facilities Updates

Stay Connected with the Gorge

The Skamania Dispatch and The Klickitattler are community-led projects of OpenGorge.org.

To stay updated on local news, governance, and community events across the region, you can sign up for both newsletters at SkamaniaDispatch.com. For real-time updates and to join the conversation, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/OpenGorge.

Procedural gridlock is freezing Gorge housing policy. The Economic Vitality Committee missed its quorum for the second straight meeting, stalling crucial votes on Accessory Dwelling Units. We unpack the debate over short-term rentals, look at the reality of building on agricultural land, and review the agency's new media rules. This episode covers the April 8 Economic Vitality Committee and April 9 Communications Committee meetings.

In This Episode:

• Discussing ADUs and whether the fear of illegal use is just a "red herring"
• Testing the "Ag Income" Rule: Is it a filter for farmland, or a wall against development?
• The Rules of "Strategic Silence": New media protocols and social media limits for Commissioners.
• Permitting Delays: Why Klickitat County's new online portal is stuck waiting on the Oregon state budget.

Resources & Links:

• Read the full written Dispatch at skamaniadispatch.com
• View raw agendas and videos for the Economic Vitality Committee and the Communications Committee.

Documenter notes are available for republishing under Creative Commons license CC by 4.0. With thanks to the Columbia Gorge Documenters, powered by Uplift Local: https://upliftlocal.news/columbia-gorge/columbia-gorge-documenters/

Stay Connected with the Gorge

The Skamania Dispatch and The Klickitattler are community-led projects of OpenGorge.org.

To stay updated on local news, governance, and community events across the region, you can sign up for both newsletters at SkamaniaDispatch.com. For real-time updates and to join the conversation, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/OpenGorge.