Snowden Community
The January 2025 SCC Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 08.
Latest News:
CENTURYLINK ACTION ALERT: CenturyLink (CL) is making a second attempt to be deregulated by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) so it can raise rates even more and/or more likely drop their rural customers entirely. The WUTC listened to public comments last year, and declined CL’s first attempt to be deregulated. Now CenturyLink is trying again to be deregulated; and the final day for a second round of public comments is January 09 (the day after the January SCC Meeting).
CenturyLink’s new petition to the WUTC offers more money and other assistance to some of their customers to help them move to another ISP. Many of us in Snowden – as well as all rural Klickitat County – do not have another viable alternative to CenturyLink, and that CL is making a bogus offer to the UTC. What do you think? Should CenturyLink be allowed to abandon their customers, leaving many of us without phone or internet access for from 2 to 4 years?
To submit a comment (Please reference WUTC docket #240029):
- Fill out the Online Public Comment Form
- E-mail comments@utc.wa.gov
- Call toll-free 1-888-333-WUTC (9882)
The following Short Plat Application was recently submitted by Ray and Amy Walker to the Klickitat County Planning Department. The 40+ acre property at 803 Snowden Rd. is to be divided into a 20 acre parcel and two 10 acre parcels. For more information see the PDF: Short Plat Application and Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance (SPL 2024-24; SEPA 2024-31).
Thanks to all who attended the December 4 SCC meeting, held via Zoom due to icy roads. Highlights of the meeting include:
- Shane Milburn and Melissa Kephart, co-founders of Klick-Net ISP, gave an update on the status of their pilot project to provide high-speed Internet in the Trout Lake area. They also outlined their plans to bid to receive federal grant money for providing rural Internet access to the two project service areas that cover Snowden. More details can be found on the Broadband Committee page.
- Steven Banks reported on the progress of the Community Wildfire Prevention Plan (CWPP) Working Group, which has drawn up a roadmap for developing the Plan. For details of their roadmap see CWPP roadmap document.
New Fall photo carousel available on the Photos page.
The seasonal burn ban has ended. Fire Danger: Low. More information about county burn bans, and what you can and cannot do during a burn ban is available on the KC Department of Emergency Management page.
Check out the new Emergency Preparedness page!
Information about upcoming community events can be found on the GorgeCurrent Events Calendar and also on the Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce Events Calendar.
Gorge MakerSpace offers classes for youth and adults in wood working and woodturning, laser cutting, 3D printing, blacksmithing, art, sewing, embroidery, painting on fabric, DIY & home repair, and robotics. For more info and to sign up see: Gorge MakerSpace.
Recommended Ways to Monitor Wildfire Status: Facebook Group for monitoring the latest wildfire info: Columbia Gorge Wildland and Fire Information Page. Free iPhone and Android app for monitoring latest wildfire info: Watch Duty. Website for monitoring wildfire activity: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/.
If you haven’t been able to attend any of the recent Wildfire Mitigation Workshops, you can learn about the Wildfire Ready Neighbors! Program, and sign up for an In-Person Visit By a Wildfire Expert, at the WA DNR website.
Underwood Conservation District also offers free, in-person Wildfire Resilience Assessments. See the UCD Wildfire Resilience Program page.
Additional information about Home Fire Safety can be found at the Firewise USA website.
For Essential Community Services (warming shelter locations, closed roads, food needs, domestic violence resources, info) dial 211 or go to https://search.wa211.org
