Columbus
Columbia County Spotlight
Bonamici bill would take Project Turnkey national
U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici says she is under no illusions that her legislation to take Project Turnkey national will result in immediate conversion of former hotels and motels that will get people off the streets and connected with services. But she said that the Oregon program has shown itself to be effective in helping formerly homeless people get what they need while many of them move on to permanent housing. The Oregon Community Foundation was the administrator of the program, which has resulted in 1,382...
Northwest leaders try again for more federal money for prescribed burns to prevent wildfire
Oregon and Washington leaders are using the start of the region’s wildfire season to once again ask Congress for more money for prescribed burns. The practice of strategically starting low-intensity fires across forests to improve soil and ecosystem health and prevent catastrophic wildfires has been common among tribes in the West for millennia. In recent years, it has gained more traction among the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the Oregon Department of Forestry as an urgently needed wildfire prevention tool. But...
Look for more signage at St. Helens parks, thanks to grant money
Park signage will be enhanced in St. Helens thanks to a $2,500 Oregon Parks Foundation Fund grant from the Oregon Community Foundation. The money is intended to enhance signage for trails and historical points in the city’s parks and nature preserves. “The St. Helens Parks and Trails Commission will work with the city’s Parks Division to create a list of improvements for consideration," according to the city. "Parks staff will...
Joe Elbis dominates in 3-0 Hops win over Tri-City
Death, taxes, and the Hops taking Game 1 of a series. For the fourth straight series, Hillsboro defeated their opponent in the first of a six-game set, this time beating Tri-City 3-0 on Tuesday, June 11, at Hillsboro Ballpark. Joe Elbis — the reigning NWL Pitcher of the Month — again dominated from the mound, allowing just three hits while striking out eight in eight shutout innings. ...
Tips to revitalize your garden
Gardening is a rewarding hobby that pays a host of significant dividends. Many people love gardening because it allows them to spend time outdoors, and that simple pleasure is a notable benefit of working in a garden. However, the National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture notes that gardening provides additional benefits, including helping people get sufficient exercise, reduce stress and improve mood. With so much to gain from gardening, it’s no...
13 Nights on the River off to a great start at McCormick Park in St. Helens
It took a bit of fancy footwork, but the city of St. Helens held its first 13 Nights on the River concert at McCormick Park seemingly without a hitch. The event Thursday, June 6, has been reconfigured and relocated this year due to all the construction taking place at the riverfront. City Administrator John Walsh was on hand to see the event unfold. ...
Motorists along the riverfront in St. Helens will need to pack a lot of patience
Road construction in downtown St. Helens is a fact of life lately, and beginning the week of Monday, June 10, motorists will face a new headache. Landis and Landis Construction is shifting their work area to the west side of St. Helens Street at the South First and St. Helens Street intersection. The city, in a news release, says a full closure of St. Helens Street on the west side...
Evanson: Caitlin Clark's problems are not of her doing, but rather a result of everything around her
Say what you will about the circus that’s become Caitlin Clark, but if there’s one person you can’t blame for the discourse surrounding the transcendent star — it’s her. Since the former Iowa standout arrived on the WNBA scene, it’s been seemingly open season on the 22-year-old. For reasons ranging from competitiveness to jealousy, further to pride, and further yet to the agenda-driven drivel of people weaponizing the rookie in the interests of their cause, players and pundits have and continue to go hard at...
It's not his first rodeo: Ivan McClellan shines light on Black cowboys and cowgirls
At rodeo events, Ivan McClellan has suffered a broken arm and cuts, and he has run from bulls and jumped over and ducked under fences. It ain’t easy being in rodeo — even for a photographer documenting the people living and playing in the western culture and lifestyle. The job can be perilous. “I’m taller than most people, and I always crouch down to get the shot from the angle I want,” he said. “That’s the most harmful thing I do.” ...
Scappoose-area teen readies for summer following strong showing at national spelling bee
She may not have grabbed the winner’s cup, but Scappoose-area teenager Rubina Wiedemer is ready to enjoy the summer after coming oh-so close to winning the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Wiedemer tied for 17th and made it to the semifinals, where she was eliminated in round 7 after incorrectly defining the word “shellacking.” That said, the 14-year-old Wiedemer is ready to leave the national media spotlight and focus on...
Climate change devastating to some marine species, OSU study indicates
Marine plants and animals on the Pacific Coast have been hit by an epidemic and devastating heat wave over the past decade, and some have not bounced back, a new study found. The research by scientists at Oregon State University has implications for the planet: A properly functioning ocean is crucial for a healthy planet, and an imbalance among marine species not only affects that ecosystem but also can touch people, they said. ...
2024 Infiniti QX60: Right-priced midsize luxury SUV
The 2024 Infiniti QX60 fooled me the first few days I drove it – in a good way. The midsize three-row luxury SUV is based on the affordable Pathfinder manufactured by Nissan, Infiniti’s parent company. I knew that because I had tested both the QX60 and Pathfinder when they were completely redesigned two years ago. But I had forgotten it and was surprised to rediscover that when researching the newest QX60 for this review. The Pathfinder is an excellent affordable SUV, but the QX60 is so much more sophisticated there is no comparison, despite sharing the same platform, engine, transmission,...
McCormick Park in St. Helens gets an electrical jolt of good news
Significant electrical upgrades at McCormick Park will now make it possible for the largest park in St. Helens to stage bigger events. The improvements were completed because of a $7,000 Columbia River People’s Utility District economic development grant awarded to the city of St. Helens. A news release from the city says the park previously did not have sufficient electrical capacity to host large-scale events that required a large power...
Oregon’s psilocybin industry, a year old, seeks customers
A year in, Oregon’s experiment with the first regulated psilocybin mushroom market in the world is short on customers. To attract them, advocates say the industry needs to get the word out about its benefits. “We think everybody knows that psychedelics can help them because we’re in this little bubble. But 99% of people have no idea what they could get out of a journey,” said Heidi Venture, founder of...
Colin Meloy 'excited' for The Decemberists' new album
Even with eight studio albums released by The Decemberists, lead singer Colin Meloy still gets excited about putting out new music. The ninth album, “‘As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again,” comes out Friday, June 14 via YABB Records. On the same night, the Portland band plays a show at Revolution Hall, “Rumpus at Rev Hall,” at 8 p.m. There’ll be an album signing event 2 p.m. June...
Oregon baseball eliminated by Texas A&M as bullpen surrenders nine-run seventh inning
Following Oregon baseball’s 15-9 loss to Texas A&M and subsequent elimination from the 2024 NCAA Baseball tournament, Mark Wasikowski took to the podium for his postgame press conference. Beside him were all seven of the program’s seniors: RJ Gordon, Logan Mercado, Kevin Seitter, Bradley Mullan, Bryce Boettcher, Justin Cassella and Brock Moore. The table, set up to hold perhaps half as many people as Oregon brought, was littered in name cards as chairs were pushed together and hanging over the ends. All still in uniform,...
Hops Weekly: Hops miss opportunity to gain ground on first place Spokane
For the third straight week, the Hops appeared poised to make serious strides in the NWL standings, but instead negated a fast start with a clunky finish to split with their weekly foe, in this case first place Spokane. After taking the first two games of their six-game set, Hillsboro managed to win just one of the final four and failed to gain any ground on the league-leading Indians. The...
Silently, Oregon State baseball's season ended at hands of Kentucky with 3-2 loss
Bottom of the ninth, two outs, a man on and trailing by one. It's the scenario every kid from Halifax, Canada, to Sydney, Australia, dreams about. Oregon State's pair of international born players, the Canadian Micah McDowell and Australian Travis Bazzana, both found themselves in the exact spot. Playing on the road at Kentucky and needing two runs to walk off the Wildcats and stay alive for another day. Bazzana...
Tenth inning rally leads Hops over Spokane 9-6
An inning after blowing a four-run lead, Hillsboro made right in a 9-6 win over Spokane on Saturday, June 8, at Avista Stadium. Jake Snider’s two-out grand slam in the ninth sent the game to extra innings, but the Hops responded with four runs of their own an inning later, getting the go-ahead hit from Andrew Pintar and later what would amount to the game-winner on a sacrifice fly to center from Christian Cerda. ...
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