Open Gorge: The Skamania Dispatch & Klickitattler

[All-Gorge] 🍫 A Craving for "Snickers" - Gorge Commission May ‘26

A tense day for the Columbia River Gorge Commission as legal counsel issues a stern warning over public records, while state leaders from Oregon and Washington deliver a "cold shower" on the upcoming budget cycle. This episode covers the May 12, 2026, Commission meeting at Elk Ridge Golf Course. In This Episode: * The ADU Debate: A new working group is formed to look at Accessory Dwelling Units. * Climate Crosswalks: How the Gorge is aligning with new Executive Orders from Governor Kotek. * Vital Signs: Why the Deschutes River is losing its status as a cold-water refuge for salmon. * The "Data Center" Rhetoric: Residents and tribes push back against new transmission lines. Resources & Links: * Read the full written Dispatch at skamaniadispatch.com * Official Meeting Materials & Video [https://gorgecommission.org/meeting/may-2026-monthly-crgc-meeting-5-12-2026/] * The Vital Signs Data Hub [https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/fd1a793d0f2d495cb92514df52dcb783/] 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 [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://facebook.com/OpenGorge].

[Klickitat] 🧸 The Childcare Zoning Crisis - White Salmon April '26 Round-Up

In this episode, we dive into the April meetings for the White Salmon City Council and the White Salmon Tree Board. We’re looking at a growing push from residents for municipal childcare solutions, the rising costs of our water infrastructure, and why a procedural rule might accidentally doom a historic oak tree. In This Episode: * Water rates, reservoir cleaning, and the search for new infrastructure funding. * How new state mandates are forcing changes to police body camera public records. * The city's strategic grant application for the Bluff Trail's southern trailhead. * The Tree Board's battle against a flat-fee loophole for developers cutting down mature canopy. * The delay on the Gaddis Park volunteer cleanup. Resources & Links: * Read the full written Dispatch at skamaniadispatch.com * White Salmon City Council Agendas & Minutes: whitesalmonwa.gov * White Salmon Tree Board Agendas: whitesalmonwa.gov * Documenter notes are available for republishing under Creative Commons license CC by 4.0. Please credit Columbia Gorge Documenters, powered by Uplift Local, and link in show notes to https://upliftlocal.news/columbia-gorge/columbia-gorge-documenters/ [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 [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://facebook.com/OpenGorge].

[Skamania] 📡 911 Internet Failures - North Bonneville April '26 Round-Up

This month at the North Bonneville City Council, a long-simmering frustration with failing internet infrastructure escalated into a full-blown life-safety crisis. We break down the stark warnings from residents about disabled fire alarms, and how a regulatory gap leaves the city with limited leverage to fix the problem. In This Episode: * Water System Risk: Why the city had to authorize an emergency withdrawal from its Money Market account for a critical well pump. * Fire Department Strain: Cascading vehicle failures and the ghost of a pre-COVID FEMA grant. * The Dais is Full(er): Jeff Blakeley is appointed to Seat #4, and why the council rejected a mayoral pay raise. Resources & Links: * Read the full written Dispatch with comprehensive metrics and jargon-busters at skamaniadispatch.com. * Join the next meeting: Stream or attend North Bonneville City Council on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. * North Bonneville City Website & Agendas [https://www.northbonneville.net] 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 [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://facebook.com/OpenGorge].

[Klickitat] 🌊The Great Downtown Flood & Red Rag Mystery - Bingen April ‘26 Round-Up

Bingen's downtown takes a hit as a contractor strikes an unmarked water main, flooding local businesses and forcing month-long closures. We dive into the major flood that swept through town, and our request to help solve the mystery of who is clogging the city’s water system with a distinctive item: red cotton shop rags! In This Episode: * The missing locate wire and the fallout for Carmen's Kitchen * Sewer plant upgrades and the expensive problem with red shop rags * The BNSF Quiet Zone diagnostic timeline and the Walnut Street hurdle * State-mandated middle housing friction on Lois Lane * The new Building Committee and Gorge Heritage Museum repairs * A forthcoming Immigrant Community Support Statement Resources & Links: * Read the full written text at skamaniadispatch.com * Water main break floods Bingen businesses, forces closures [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFbWwhNB4FY] * Bingen City Council Agendas & Minutes: City of Bingen Website [https://www.bingenwashington.org/] 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 [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://facebook.com/OpenGorge].

[Skamania] 🚁 Reckless Hiker Fines & The FYS Funding Crisis - 5/5 Skamania BOCC

In this episode, we dive back into the new proposal to fine reckless hikers $1000, including the legal strategy to keep that money local. We also cover the urgent bureaucratic "pinch point" threatening the Forest Youth Success summer program and how local businesses can access federal disaster relief. This episode covers the Skamania County Board of Commissioners meeting held on May 5, 2026. In This Episode: * The SAR Fine Debate: Why the Sheriff’s Office wants to bypass state revenue-sharing, and why rescue pros are worried it could make trails more dangerous. * The FYS Funding Crisis: A federal contract rejection has fifty-four local students in limbo. * SBA Disaster Relief: How to access up to two-million dollars in storm recovery loans. * Local Safety: A shout-out to the Crag Rats and where to find hiking safety essentials. Resources & Links: * Read the full written Dispatch at skamaniadispatch.com * Hiking Safety Essentials: The Ten Essential Systems [https://www.nps.gov/articles/10essentials.htm] * Apply for Disaster Loans [https://lending.sba.gov/search-disaster/] * Official Meeting Agenda & Packet [https://www.skamaniacounty.org/departments-offices/commissioners/agendas-minutes-meeting-audio] * Reach out to provide feedback or make a public comment at commiss@co.skamania.wa.us 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 [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://facebook.com/OpenGorge].