$250,000 Grant Launches Hands-On Student Enterprise
Tygh Valley, OR · October 20, 2026
Clouds are hanging low over the canyon pastures this morning, keeping temperatures mild as the working week rolls forward. Grab a fresh cup of coffee and settle in for a quiet Tuesday across the valley.
The Lead
South Wasco County School District has landed a $250,000 Career and Technical Education Revitalization Grant from the Oregon Department of Education, establishing a brand-new student-run enterprise called Redside Solutions. Partnering with Arlington School District’s Honker Tech program, local educators will expand the high school shop into a full-scale regional business incubator.
Students will shepherd real manufacturing projects from concept to final delivery, gaining hands-on training in computer-aided design, metal fabrication, woodworking, 3D printing, and laser engraving. Rather than simply practicing basic welds, participants will write competitive bids, balance project budgets, consult with clients, and manufacture custom orders for area businesses.
Equipment installation and curriculum planning roll out across the coming weeks. The shop floor expects to take its very first community fabrication orders once the new workbenches and machinery are fully secured.
Today's Outlook
- High 66°F · Low 43°F — Overcast
- Keep a warm layer handy for an overcast day that stays cool throughout.
What's On Around Town
Today
Community Book Group The Riv Cafe (401 E 10th St), The Dalles, 9:00–10:00 AM Casual morning discussion and fresh brew to start the day.
Mark Nilsson: 50 Years of Art The Dalles Art Center (220 E 4th St), The Dalles, 11:00 AM–5:00 PM · Free Five decades of vibrant Columbia Gorge landscapes by a regional favorite.
Reddy Black Trio Zim's Sports Bar & Grill (604 E 2nd St), The Dalles, 7:00 PM Rhythm and blues melodies right along Second Street tonight.
Tomorrow
- Wired Morning Networking Brick City & Games (409 E 2nd St), The Dalles, 8:00–9:30 AM
Thursday
- Jeff Carrell Live Bargeway Pub (1535 Bargeway Rd), The Dalles, 7:00 PM
Spotlight & Story
- Bakeoven Road When a trader lost his pack horses to theft in 1862 while hauling flour to Canyon City prospectors, he did not abandon the cargo. Instead, he constructed a clay-and-stone oven on the spot, baking fresh bread for passing miners.
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