Gorge Commission takes on fourth priority
The Gorge Commission last month created a list of three top issues to consider as it prepares for its maiden attempt at a collaborative problem-solving process.
Sermons: A research paper each week
Catholic priests follow three-year lecture cycle A local minister once likened writing a Sunday sermon to doing a school research paper every single week —— a daunting task, when viewed in that light.
Church news in brief
Speaker’s Forum The Mid Columbia Fellowship of Churches invites the public to its monthly Speaker’s Forum at The First United Methodist Church at 5 p.m. May 28. The speaker will be US Army Chaplain Daniel Thompson, who will be talking on “Partners in Care.”
Fire board Pos. 2: Carmen Gronquist, stepping back
Carmen Gronquist filed for an open position on the Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue District board, believing it is important to volunteer for the community.
Fire board Pos. 2: John Willer, an independent view
In his college days before medical school, Dr. John Willer was a volunteer emergency medical responder and firefighter in Ohio.
MCFR Board: Bill Wolfe, On-the-job training
Bill Wolfe retired last year after 37 years with the fire district, and is now seeking a post on the Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue District board.
MCFR Board: Harry Larsen, Business skills
Harry Larsen is seeking his fourth term on the Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue board, but this is his first time facing competition for the post.
Threats draw police to code enforcement office
Three police officers rushed to The Dalles City Hall Monday afternoon on a report that a man was threatening to get a gun and shoot the city codes enforcement officer.
Man struggles with schizophrenia: Mother critical of services
Mother is critical of mental health services For awhile he thought he was a grizzly bear. Recently, a sore on his back caused him to first think his spine had disappeared, and then that his mother had stabbed him.
National Day of Prayer arrives May 2
The National Day of Prayer, a presidentially proclaimed annual event since 1952, is set for Thursday, May 2, at 5:30 p.m. at Sorosis Park.
Fire district finishes strategic planning
Fostering positive working relationships at Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue is a priority objective of its just-completed five-year strategic plan.
Dufur Church livestreaming sermons
Thanks to having a tech-savvy minister, Dufur Christian Church has started streaming its worship services live on the Internet.
Church news in brief
Church news in brief
Support grows for new gorge program
Dual mission blends protection of resources with economic needs A program formed last year to boost the area economy — while protecting the environment as an economic recruiting tool — is collecting letters of support in an effort to seek funding.
SCALE SAVANTS: Slim Down "losers" win big
Sixty-two finishing competitors, 1,143 pounds lost and these folks found the way to win — and lose — at the Slim Down
Church news in brief
Events and news from area churches
Commission considers priorities
Commissioners plan to choose one project to exercise their collaboration skills The Gorge Commission is picking a topic to tackle with its new collaboration skills, and offered three top prospects Tuesday: urban boundaries, recreation overuse pressures, and reviving its “vital signs” monitoring program.
Pulpit Rock site of Easter sunrise service
The 89th annual Easter sunrise service at Pulpit Rock, this Sunday, March 31, at 6:30 a.m., rain or shine, has a new booster promoting it: the Mid-Columbia Fellowship of Churches.
Pathologist warns about colorectal risks
Local pathologists diagnose cases of colorectal cancer on a weekly basis. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths, said Dr. Vassil Kaimaktchiev, a pathologist at Mid-Columbia Medical Center.
Man has dream role in Last Days of Jesus
Since he was a little kid, Nick Lindskoog has loved to watch the Last Days of Jesus passion play in The Dalles. This year will be his third year as a member of the cast. He plays the Disciple Andrew, and he is the first developmentally disabled person to have a role in the play, said his mother, Connie Lindskoog.
Dual Purpose: Darren Nichols confident commission can respond to priorities
With a sometimes-bruising year under his belt as executive director of the Columbia River Gorge Commission, Darren Nichols is more optimistic than ever for the future of the gorge.
Calvary welcomes new minister
Calvary Baptist Church’s new senior pastor, Jeremiah Porter, hopes to get the church even more involved in the community by doing as Jesus would, and helping those in need.
Trainers share methods and tactics
Police recently revealed Newtown, Conn., mass shooter Adam Lanza picked a school for his killing spree because he wanted to surpass the body count of a Norwegian mass killer, and knew a school presented a high concentration of targets. With that introduction from a trainer, area law officers recently received daylong training in responding to “active shooter” calls, specifically focusing on a school shooting. Officers had a morning lecture, followed by an afternoon session of practical training with student role players. Lt. Mike Herbes, regional/advanced trainer for the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, led the course.
Preparing for the Worst: Emergency personnel practice response to deadly scenario
Three girls huddled in the corner of the classroom, screaming. Just feet away, two shooters were firing rounds. Drawn by the sound of gunfire, law officers burst into the classroom in a carefully orchestrated pattern, and soon both shooters were down.
‘Land use junkie’ on gorge commission
Part two of a four part series. Dan Ericksen, a “land use junkie,” orchardist and former Wasco County commissioner and judge, sought county-level appointments to the commission twice before winning a governor’s appointment.
Blair: opinion has moderated
The Columbia River Gorge Commission got four new members last year, and while their leanings can somewhat be discerned from their backgrounds, they have yet to make any major decisions.
Explosion startles citizen
A resident in the area of 12th and Quinton streets reported hearing a big boom late Monday night, and police found a plastic 20 oz. bottle wrapped in black electrical tape with Nazi symbols on it. A fuse hole was drilled into the cap of the bottle, according to the police log.
Running toward danger
Oregon State Police Det. Elijah Preston was driving by the Clackamas Town Center on I-205 last Dec. 11, when a call came over the police radio. There was a shooting in progress inside the mall.
Active shooter training set in The Dalles
Over 80 area law officers will receive day-long training in responding to “active shooter” incidents over the next four days at the vacant Chenowith Middle School. The training, which will see 20 officers a day getting trained between Feb. 18 and Feb. 21, is organized by the Oregon State Police and the state’s police academy, the Oregon Public Safety Academy.
Faith news in brief, Feb. 1
News in brief from the Faith page.
Dave Lapof joins MCFR staff
Dave Lapof brings plenty of experience to his new grant-funded job at Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue as its volunteer recruiter.
Saint Mary auctions coming soon
The 38th annual St. Mary’s Academy Super Auction, the largest fundraiser in the gorge, is set for Saturday, Feb. 2, at the St. Mary’s gym. The theme this year is “Denim and Diamonds.”
Time to shed extra pounds: Slim Down to begin Thursday
The Chronicle’s Slim Down Challenge 2013 is here, and entrants have until Thursday at 1 p.m. to register, either as individuals or with a team. The cost is $25 per person, with entrance fees, minus administrative costs, going to the cash prizes that will be awarded to the overall winner, the top male and female runners up, and the top team. Teams must have four members.
City Forager
AN ORNAMENTAL SHRUB becomes food for a winter-foraging deer, one of several that grazed through a west The Dalles neighborhood this week. Neita Cecil photo
Sanda convinced by faith healing trip
Clyde Sanda purposely didn’t read up on John of God, a famed faith healer in Brazil, before he went down to see him in September to mark his 60th birthday. He wanted to experience and evaluate for himself the healer made famous by Oprah. He came away convinced, noting that the three things he sought help on have all improved.