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Dispatch Squatch

Dispatch Squatch

A mysterious cryptid who occupies the woods of Skamania county, and shares a love of Gorge Gossip.

📍 Skamania County

🧭 Gorge Commission Economic Vitality Committee Hears Skamania’s Case - 3/4/26

Skamania County made its case before the Gorge Commission’s Economic Vitality Committee on housing, sewer, tax base, and forest policy. But with no quorum, the committee could only discuss possible next steps, offering an early look at how it may approach the Scenic Area Act’s economic mandate.

🏠 Klickitat Feb '26 Cities Update: Water Projects, Tourism Grants & Housing Policy

From a $6M water loan in White Salmon to tourism grants in Goldendale and housing policy changes in Bingen, February meetings across Klickitat County tackled infrastructure, planning, and public safety.

🏥 Skamania County’s Board of Health - What It Does, Funding Pressures, & 3/10 Meeting Preview

Skamania’s Board of Health isn’t just about outbreaks. It touches septic, water safety, vaccinations, WIC, and even nuisance hazards. In 2025, board members openly asked “what are we doing here?” and began reshaping how the BOH works amid funding uncertainty.

💧 Sewer Pause & Water Warning: Feb '26 Skamania Cities Round-Up

Sewer penalties paused, a $500K water intake repair looming, administrator recruitment underway, and a hop-farm campground continued for revisions. February brought major infrastructure and land-use debates in Stevenson, plus foundational policy updates in North Bonneville.

⚡Infrastructure, Software Costs, STR Rules & the BESS Decision Ahead - Klickitat BOCC Feb '26 round-up

February’s Board of County Commissioners meetings were less dramatic than January’s headlines, but deeply consequential. Beneath routine approvals were major signals about land use policy, technology spending, administrative restructuring, and the county’s long-term infrastructure priorities.

🚤 Fed Dollars in Limbo, Boat Launch Rules in Flux - Skamania BOCC 2/3 & 2/10

Skamania faces uncertainty over federal Title III funding, debates a new grant writer position, and schedules WSDOT noise hearing. Meanwhile, potential state public health cuts, fishing guide restrictions at boat launches, ADU legislation signal bigger policy shifts ahead.

🌉 In-Water Drilling Starts & Funding Still Uncertain - HR Bridge Meeting - Feb '26

The new bridge enters in-water drilling as its first tribal agreement is signed. But $35M in contingency is already gone and new federal funding uncertainty looms. Here’s what changed, what escalated, and what it means for the 2027 construction timeline.

🏗️ Roads, Radio Silence & Regional Funding: Klickitat BOCC Update – 2/10/26

Klickitat County’s February 10 meeting covered road mitigation tied to renewable projects, airport financing shifts, legislative battles in Olympia, public records tracking, and a looming decision on the county’s battery storage moratorium.

🗣️A Student Speaks, Councils Decide - Klickitat City Govts Round-up Jan '26

From immigration testimony and school bond debates to Critical Areas updates, jail contracts, airport grants, and housing rules, January brought consequential decisions across Goldendale, White Salmon, and Bingen. Here’s what Klickitat’s city councils tackled to start 2026.

🏨 Vacation Rentals, Hotels, and Business Parks, Oh My! – Skamania Cities Round-Up Jan '26

January city meetings in Stevenson and North Bonneville focused on infrastructure planning, interlocal service agreements, and a major green light for the Cascade Business Park, signaling how Gorge cities are thinking about growth, costs, and the year ahead.