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Guess this week’s History Mystery | A5 TD boys split two games | A9 ▶ Weekend $1.00 January 11-12, 2020 The Dalles, Oregon www.thedalleschronicle.com Vol. 229, Issue 4 Backers hope TD in top 5 for show boost local businesses, said the TV appearance “kind of feels to me like we’re going to be in the top five. So we don’t know that for sure, we’re just very hopeful.” A watch party for the show will take place at 10 a.m. Jan. 14 at the National Neon Sign Museum, 200 E. 3rd, where backers hope to overfill the 300-person capacity ballroom. A recent phone call has local Since December, The Dalles has boosters believing that The Dalles been among 10 finalist towns across has made the top five for a chance the U.S. vying to generate the most to be featured on a TV show that social media buzz about their town would bring $500,000 in improve- and the show. Oregon City is also in ments to local small businesses. the running. Candidate towns are Don Warren almost didn’t an- swer the call from an unrecognized those that show potential to grow. The show’s tagline is that it’s “on number Tuesday afternoon. For some reason he chose to answer, he a mission to revitalize small towns, said, and the woman on the phone one small business at a time.” It is co-hosted by Ty Pennington introduced herself and asked if he would agree to appear Tuesday, Jan. of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and “Trading Spaces.” 14, at 10:15 a.m. on KATU’s Good The show runs over eight Morning Oregon. episodes, and will pick six local By 10:15 a.m. that day, Small businesses to make over, with help Business Revolution, a small busi- from business experts on everything ness makeover show that airs on Hulu, will have already announced from business branding to remod- the top five small towns in the eled space to business planning. Warren said the women he talked running to be featured in the show’s upcoming fifth season. to said, “‘You’re doing great. You’re Warren, who is president of The right up there, you have a good Dalles Main Street program, the chance to be in the top five.’” board of which seeks grants to Denae Manion, owner of Manion Broadcast aired at Neon Museum Jan. 14 Cecil ■ By The Neita Dalles Chronicle Pictured is one of five billboards donated by Chris Zukin of Meadow Outdoor Advertising to promote an opportunity for The Dalles to win $500,000 in makeovers for six local small businesses. Contributed photo Studios in downtown The Dalles and vice president of the Main Street board, was also invited to appear on the show, and has agreed to make the trip to the Beaverton studios of Channel 12. They asked for her to appear as well because she “is a small business owner with great presence and charm,” Warren wrote in an email announcing the TV appearance. “We definitely have as much or more buzz as would be necessary to put us in the top five,” Warren said. Once the top five are announced Jan. 14, voting takes place for one week, until Jan. 21. The vote tallies will help decide who wins the show. Also factored in will be the local interviews the show did with small business owners and civic leaders in The Dalles in early December. The winner will be announced Jan. 28. Online voting is being promot- ed through a local website called lovethedalles.com. Voters can vote once a day for their preferred town from as many unique devices as they can get their hands on. The last town to win the See SHOW, page A2 Vale Republican named to Dist. 30 vacancy Findley to finish term of former Senator Cliff Bentz Rep. Lynn Findley (R-Vale) was appointed Jan. 8 to the District 30 Senate seat, formerly held by Senator Cliff Bentz, who re- signed earlier this year to run for Congress. “With a background in fire and aviation management, Lynn brings a deep understanding of the agriculture and natural resource industries,” said Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertschiger Jr. (R-Grants Pass). “With seats on the Joint Committee on Tax Expenditures and the Joint Committee on Transportation, he is familiar with the collaboration it takes to serve his constituents in a legislature controlled by one party. Lynn will be a great addition to the Senate Republican Caucus, and I look forward to working with him.” Representative Findley gave the following statement on the appointment: “I am honored to be selected to serve the people of Senate District 30. It is my goal to positively impact not only my con- stituents, but Oregonians in every corner of the state.” Republican precinct committee officials met Jan. 4 at the Grant County Airport in John Day to nominate candidates to replace Bentz. Among those who applied for the vacancy was former Wasco County Commissioner and current The Dalles City Council member Rod Runyon. Votes on the appointment are based on county population: Deschutes County had the most votes with 17, followed closely by Wasco and Malheur counties, both with 16 votes. Jefferson County had 15 votes, Baker County 12, Grant and Harney counties each had five and Jefferson and Lake counties had a single vote. INSIDE The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Farquharson, left, talks with Kristen Slatt of the North Central Public Health District during Wednesday’s “Wired with the Chamber” event at Kainos Coffee & Pizza downtown The Dalles. The program serves as a networking and resource drop-in opportunity for the Chamber. Mark B. Gibson photo Getting ‘Wired’ with the Chamber Chamber event focuses on community connections Gibson ■ By The Mark Dalles Chronicle E 2nd St., The Dalles. “We developed Wired because I didn’t see a spot to just connect with the Chamber,” Farquharson said. “It’s a drop-in opportunity, an opportunity to explore member- ship, ask questions.” The Wired event began in August of 2018. Since it started, there have only been three days when no one Early every Wednesday morn- showed up, Farquharson said. On ing, Lisa Farquharson, president one day, eight people showed up in and CEO of The Dalles Area succession. Chamber of Commerce can be It isn’t just a way to connect to the found seated at the table of a Chamber, she emphasized during a downtown coffee shop, laptop in recent Wired session. hand and ready to help people In addition to questions regard- connect with the Chamber and the community. ing the Chamber, Farquharson “Wired with the Chamber” hap- provides advice and tools for pens every Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 9 businesses and nonprofits seeking a.m., at Kainos Coffee & Pizza, 418 to connect with the community, Opinion History Community calendar A4 A5 A2 especially in the realm of social media. The Chamber is the first place a business—or anyone interested in starting a business in The Dalles— should turn to, Farquharson said. Do you have a business plan? No? The Small Business Development Center at Columbia Gorge Community College can help. Do you have funding? Liability insur- ance? The Chamber can help with that as well. “It’s all about connections,” Farquharson explained. “The Chamber is the best place to start for any business. It is a real resource for connecting with resources. A lot of people don’t realize that.” Izetta Grossman, who works as a clerk for the City of The Dalles and Obituaries Comics Sports also as a volunteer Chamber am- bassador, is well aware of the value of the Wired with the Chamber opportunity. “Lisa is connecting with people all the time,” said Grossman, who attended in search of guidance and advice in regards to her work with the city’s Facebook page. She said the city, like other businesses and organizations, has to use Facebook and social media to connect with the community. “The notice on the door is no longer ef- fective,” she said. “When I post it on the door, it’s just a waste of paper.” Even newsletters are limited in their ability to communicate things like meeting notices, hearings and See WIRED, page A2 A7 A8 A9
