Open Gorge: The Skamania Dispatch & Klickitattler

Kate
  • 5.0 (2)
  • News

Welcome to Open Gorge, your audio bridge to local government, infrastructure, and community news in the Columbia River Gorge. Hosted by the founder of Open Gorge, Kate Bertash, this podcast brings the in-depth, civic-minded reporting of The Skamania Dispatch and The Klickitattler newsletters straight to your headphones. We break down the public meetings you didn't have time to attend, track local infrastructure projects, and decode the regional policy decisions that directly impact your daily life. Whether you are a Columbia Gorge resident commuting across the river, following local elections, or tracking where your tax dollars are going, we provide clear, factual summaries of what’s changing and what’s coming next. Our unified feed covers the entire Gorge. Check the title of each episode to see if we are covering Skamania County, Klickitat County, or regional issues that impact us all. Listen to what matters most to your neighborhood, or stay tuned for the full regional picture. Subscribe to the written newsletters and join the community at SkamaniaDispatch.com.

  1. 2h ago

    [All-Gorge] ⚡ Scoping Deadlines & Tribal Consults - EFSEC May '26

    The state's Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council hit a major procedural bottleneck this month regarding the proposed Cascade Renewable Transmission line. We break down the May 20, 2026, meeting where local leaders and state officials debated how to balance rigid public comment deadlines with expanding, sovereign tribal consultations. In This Episode Following the money: Corporate reshuffling and upstream financial accountability for Columbia Solar and Goose Prairie Solar.Ostrea Solar wrapping up its final construction obligations and pushing for full grid integration.A rare vandalism incident and subsequent physical security repairs at the Kittitas Valley Wind facility.A massive leadership transition and strategic overhaul inside EFSEC itself.Resources & Links Read the full written Dispatch at skamaniadispatch.comCascade Renewable Transmission SEPA Scoping PortalEFSEC Meeting Agendas and Complete Packets (efsec.wa.gov)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.

    3 min

  2. 1d ago

    [Klickitat] 🐟 Fish Windows & Budget Trapdoors - Klickitat BOCC 5/26 & 6/2

    Summer is bringing a wave of mandatory infrastructure repairs to Klickitat County, threatening to temporarily sever key recreational and emergency routes. Plus, we look at how statewide mandates and national labor trends are compounding severe local workforce shortages in public defense and 911 emergency dispatch. This episode covers the May 26 and June 2 Klickitat County Board of County Commissioners meetings. In This Episode The formal creation of the new Community Development DepartmentThe purchase of a new motor grader for the East EndA local resident's push to name "Schoolhouse Creek" and flag illegal fill dumpingUpcoming deadlines for fire districts on a potential fireworks banResources & Links Read the full written Dispatch at skamaniadispatch.comReview the raw agendas and minutes at the Klickitat County WebsiteLearn more about the Washington State Supreme Court Caseload Caps driving the public defense crisisRead up on the national push to reclassify 911 Dispatchers from "clerical workers" to first respondersStay 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.

    4 min

  3. 6d ago

    [Klickitat] 🏗️ The Multiplex Fight - White Salmon May '26 Round-Up

    In this episode, we dive into the growing friction between statewide housing mandates and local zoning codes playing out over a four-unit multiplex on Wyers Street. Plus, we cover infrastructure headaches for Snohomish Place residents, and how the City of White Salmon is pushing to modernize heritage months and establish a brand new tree fund. This episode covers the May meetings of the White Salmon City Council, Planning Commission, Community Development Committee, and Tree Board. In This Episode: City Council: Communication delays on major water line replacements, committee rule updates, and public frustration over Republic Services' waste management.Planning Commission: The Wyers Street multiplex debate, the push to review short-term rental policies, and a hard line from the city on shared water utilities.Community Development: Phasing out park reservation fees and revamping the city's approach to heritage month calendars.Tree Board: Drafting new fee-in-lieu ordinances for developers and planting the U.S. 250th Liberty Tree.Resources & Links: Read the full written Dispatch at skamaniadispatch.com for deep-dive context boxes and full meeting logistics.View all White Salmon meeting agendas, packets, and Zoom links at whitesalmonwa.gov.2023 White Salmon Housing Needs Analysis2024 WAGAP Community Needs AssessmentVisit the new Wildfire Ready Hub at wildfirereadyklickitat.org.Documenter notes are available for republishing under Creative Commons license CC by 4.0. With thanks to theColumbia 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.

    6 min

  4. Jun 3

    [Skamania] 🗣 Public Pushback Pauses $1,000 Rescue Fine - Skamania BOCC 5/27

    The Skamania County Commissioners pumped the brakes on a controversial ordinance that would have fined negligent hikers a thousand dollars. We look at why local search and rescue veterans pushed back during the May 27th meeting. In This Episode: Skamania joins a multi-county lawsuit against the state over new stream buffer logging rules.Bureaucratic red tape delays the Sheriff’s new radio equipment.The county transitions to a new financial system this July while keeping the 2027 budget process analog.Drone flight testing is headed to the Wind River Business Park.Resources & Links: Read the full written Dispatch at skamaniadispatch.comView the May 27th BOCC meeting materialsSubmit written public comment to the BOCC: emerson@co.skamania.wa.usStay 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.

    4 min

  5. Jun 2

    [Skamania] 🌶️A Spicy Mayorial Email - North Bonneville May ‘26 Round-Up

    Welcome to the May municipal round-up for the North Bonneville City Council and Planning Commission. In this episode, we unpack a highly misspelled email reprimand from the Mayor that exposes deep friction over meeting decorum, and we look at a massive new energy infrastructure project making waves at the state level. In This Episode: A clash of operational styles on the City CouncilUpdates on the Cascade Renewable Transmission (CRT) projectA "hard reset" on city finances following state auditsThe Planning Commission advances the Critical Areas OrdinanceResources & Links: Read the full written Dispatch at skamaniadispatch.comView meeting agendas and minutes at the North Bonneville City WebsiteTrack the CRT project at the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) Active Projects pageStay 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.

    6 min

  6. Jun 1

    [Klickitat] 🐓 More Clucking, Less Honking - Bingen May '26 Round-up

    In this episode, we break down the Bingen City Council meetings from May 5th and May 19th. We look at how the city is moving forward with a massive 2.2 million-dollar grant to silence train horns downtown, and why a recent water main strike has triggered new digging mandates for construction crews. In This Episode: The new "potholing" mandate for utility verification.The city exempts small backyard chicken coops from setback rules.Upcoming night shifts at the Bingen Point roundabout.A massive drop in the city's water system leakage rates.Resources & Links: Read the full written newsletter at SkamaniaDispatch.com.Read the raw agendas and minutes at the City of Bingen Website.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.

    3 min

  7. May 31

    [Skamania] 📧 The "Idiots" Email & Rec Parking Chaos - Skamania BOCC 5/19

    In this episode, we dive into a tense Skamania County Board of Commissioners meeting from May 19th. What was supposed to be a standard leadership handoff with the Friends of the Columbia Gorge quickly turned into a public confrontation over leaked emails, aggressive public relations tactics, and the ongoing struggle for our local tax base. In This Episode: A severe 21% cut to local public health funding handed down from the state.Exploding recreational traffic and dangerous, unsanctioned parking at Highway 14 boat launches.A major missing detail in the environmental review for the Storedahl Quarry expansion.The finalization of redline updates for county zoning rules under the Gorge Management Plan.Resources & Links: Read the full written Dispatch at skamaniadispatch.comSkamania County Agendas and Zoom Information: https://www.skamaniacounty.org/Skamania school district hails long-awaited reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools fundDocumenter notes are available for republishing under Creative Commons license CC by 4.0. With thanks to 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.

    4 min

  8. May 30

    [Klickitat] 🛑 RV Evictions & Unfunded Parks - Klickitat BOCC 5/12 & 5/19

    In this episode, we unpack the growing friction in Klickitat County over code enforcement and the reality of RV living in a housing-strained region. Plus, we look at why a federal grant for Dallesport Park was denied and what it means for future county projects. In This Episode: The upcoming June 18th workshop on code enforcement and RV fines.Why federal funders passed on the Dallesport Park project.Department consolidation: creating a unified Community Development Department.Sheriff's department tactical upgrades and jail maintenance contracts.The start of Burn Ban Zone 3.Resources & Links: WAGAP Community Needs ReportRead the full written Dispatch at skamaniadispatch.comReview agendas and minutes on the Klickitat County website.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.

    3 min
See All (36)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to Open Gorge, your audio bridge to local government, infrastructure, and community news in the Columbia River Gorge. Hosted by the founder of Open Gorge, Kate Bertash, this podcast brings the in-depth, civic-minded reporting of The Skamania Dispatch and The Klickitattler newsletters straight to your headphones. We break down the public meetings you didn't have time to attend, track local infrastructure projects, and decode the regional policy decisions that directly impact your daily life. Whether you are a Columbia Gorge resident commuting across the river, following local elections, or tracking where your tax dollars are going, we provide clear, factual summaries of what’s changing and what’s coming next. Our unified feed covers the entire Gorge. Check the title of each episode to see if we are covering Skamania County, Klickitat County, or regional issues that impact us all. Listen to what matters most to your neighborhood, or stay tuned for the full regional picture. Subscribe to the written newsletters and join the community at SkamaniaDispatch.com.

Information