The Dalles City Council met last night. Councilors approved an order allowing the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport in Dallesport to contract the engineers and sub-contractors for a project to rehabilitate 100,000 square feet of the south apron and add 1400 linear feel to improve the taxiway. And the project is fully funded by a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration. Councilors also approved some budget adjustments, moving funds from one line item to another, and passed a resolution removing an encroachment on the city’s right of way on East 9th Street.
The council also honored a Deputy Alicia Talley, who works in corrections at NORCOR and who performed an heroic act when she was off duty on July 6 and heard someone shouting in distress in the Columbia River. President of the council Tim McGlothlin, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Rich Mays, described her actions on the day:
“With no regard for her own personal safety, herself recovering from a major surgery, she dove into the river. Fighting the strong currents and exhaustion for what seemed like an eternity, she was finally able to reach the young boy and bring him safely back to shore. On behalf of the city council and the citizens of The Dalles, please accept our gratitude for your selfless actions on July 6th, 2021.”
Sherman County Sheriff Brad Lohrey, who heads the four-county jail facility, added his own comments:
“I’m very honored to have the quality of deputies like we do with Deputy Talley, and I appreciate that the city of The Dalles recognizing the cood work. Thank you for reaching out and honoring her in this way. And it truly means a lot to us out here at NORCOR.”