Columbus
Columbia County Spotlight
Landon Sims is back, but still working to be better than ever
In the spring of 2022, Landon Sims was on top of the world. He was a year removed from helping Mississippi State University to its first College World Series championship, was the No. 13-ranked prospect in the 2022 draft class, and had just been elevated from the bullpen and into the Bulldogs’ three-man starting rotation. But after two outstanding outings and in just his third start, Sims tore his ulnar collateral ligament and, after undergoing Tommy John surgery, his season was over and his baseball...
William “Bill” Pengra
Bill was born in St. Helens, OR to Arthur and Ina Pengra in 1930. He grew up on a farm along with 2 brothers (Lu and Jack) and 3 sisters (Hazel, Betty Jean, and Cleo). He attended school through eighth grade. He met and later married Beverly Brown in 1951. Bill’s daughters, Marlene and Rhonda, were born in 1954 and 1958 respectively. Bill and Beverly were married almost 38 years when Beverly passed away in 1990. A couple of years later Bill became reacquainted with Ruby, a former school friend, and they began a new journey together until she died...
Worried about St. Helens' Halloweentown? City councilor seeks to calm nerves
What is the future of Halloweentown? Will 13 Nights on the River be held at its traditional Columbia View Park location next year? These are issues that have been gnawing in the thoughts of many in St. Helens as the city made the transition in events contracting from Tina Curry, of E2C, to Treadway Events & Entertainment. City administrator John Walsh said the contract has been signed, making the transition...
Meet Oregon's new Poet Laureate, Ellen Waterston
Oregon has a new Poet Laureate, as the tenure of Portland’s Anis Mojgani has come to an end. Gov. Tina Kotek named Ellen Waterston of Bend as the 11th Oregon Poet Laureate. It’s a two-year term, effective immediately. Waterston is a celebrated poet/writer, teacher and speaker who founded the Writing Ranch and the Waterston Desert Writing Prize in Central Oregon. Waterston succeeds Mojgani, who has held the post since 2020....
Chill out with The Horn Dawgs at 13 Nights on the River this week
So far, concert goers are adjusting to the temporary McCormick Park location of 13 Nights on the River. The concert series switched to the park location this year because of construction going on along the waterfront. On tap Thursday, Aug. 15, will be The Horn Dawgs, with music running from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The classic rock horn band hails from Scappoose. ...
Daredevil archeologist Indiana Jones to be featured at Movies by Moonlight this week
The always popular Movies by Moonlight series at Heritage Park in Scappoose is just about ready to wrap up its summer run. On the screen Friday, Aug. 16, will be “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” The movie follows “Archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history," in the 2023 film. ...
Measles resurfacing regionally as start of school looms
A highly contagious disease that was all but wiped out in America decades ago has returned, and public health officials across the state are closely watching outbreaks in three Portland-area counties. Among those monitoring the outbreaks in Multnomah, Clackamas and Marion counties are officials at Yamhill County Health and Human Services, especially as youngsters prepare to return to local schools in a few weeks. Officials there advise caution and taking action if parents or guardians suspect their child has been exposed to the malady. ...
Oregon Sen. Wyden praises big savings from Medicare negotiations with drug companies
Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, praised the Biden-Harris administration for negotiating lower drug prices for 10 prescription drugs in Medicare. The drug prices were the subject to negotiations between the federal government and the drug companies that manufacture them, Wyden said Thursday, Aug. 15. Medicare is the federal insurance program for people 65 and older, and for some with disabilities. ...
Jigsaw: Powell's
Can you help reshelve these novels at Powell's Books? Staff photo: Jonathan House
Quiet bats doom Hops in 5-1 loss at Eugene
Four hits won’t get you much, but it did get the Hops a 5-1 loss to the Emeralds on Wednesday night, Aug. 14, at PK Park in Eugene. The Ems got a home run, two hits and three RBI from Charlie Szykowny, then let starting pitcher Esmerlin Vinicio and the Eugene bullpen do the rest en route to a dominant four-run win. Vinicio allowed one earned run on two hits...
RURAL REFLECTIONS: Not just a pencil
The pencil was fat. Black and fat. The tablet was yellow lined with wide spaces to print the alphabet on. Shoes polished. New dress. Always clean underwear. It was August, and I was off to the first grade. School supplies. How we take them for granted. Were there children who did not have the basics for that first day? Was someone watching for the kids who might slip through the cracks? I never thought about it back then. ...
Our TV picks for Friday, August 16: Sixteen Candles; 20/20
Sixteen Candles AMC 8 p.m. According to these flicks, coming of age in the ‘80s was no small feat. First, Samantha (Molly Ringwald) sulks when her entire family forgets about her birthday in this romcom from 1984. Next airs “Pretty in Pink” and later, “Heathers.” 20/20 KATU 9 p.m. For hosts David Muir and Deborah Roberts, no story is off the table. From true crime to celebrity scandals, the duo explores the biggest stories enrapturing North America with the help of correspondents Juju Chang, John Quinones and Diane Sawyer.
Dog's death believed the result of a toxic algae bloom off Sand Island
A Scappoose woman is sounding alarm bells after her nearly 3-year-old Border Collie Jax died soon after ingesting water off the north point of Sand Island, which is located directly across from St. Helens. Tanya Bachman said her dog died following a boat trip to the island Sunday, Aug. 4. According to the Oregon Health Authority, it’s believed that the dog’s death was a result of cyanobacteria, a harmful algae. ...
Trail Blazers drop ROOT Sports, new broadcasting plans yet to be revealed
Watching the Portland Trail Blazers next season will look a little different for fans as the team announced Wednesday, Aug. 14 they'll be leaving ROOT Sports a year early for a to-be-announced plan. “Trail Blazers basketball will no longer air on ROOT Sports, but we thank ROOT Sports for years of great partnership,” the Blazers announced in a statement. “An exciting announcement on the future television home of Blazers basketball will be made soon.” ...
OPINION: Connecting potential with opportunity: 60 years of Job Corps
On Aug. 20, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Economic Opportunity Act, a centerpiece of his War on Poverty. Along with 10 other major programs, the act established a federal Job Corps program designed to increase the employability of young adults by “providing them with education, vocational training, (and) useful work experience.” The program was founded on an idea that still drives us today: There is vast opportunity in our nation’s workforce. Job Corps makes education and training available to everyone and...
Sherwood senior gets chance to touch the sky in 1940s biplane
While John Clouse spent 32 years in the U.S. Air Force — and once had been at the controls of an F-15 — he waited patiently on Tuesday, Aug. 13, for a chance to fly in an aircraft that would give him a new perspective on how it feels to fly. That’s because Clouse, who along with his wife, Lin, are new residents of The Springs Living at Sherwood, got a chance of a lifetime. It came in the form of flying in a circa-1942...
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek will join other Democratic female governors, actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus at DNC
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek will be sharing a stage with Julia Louis-Dreyfus at next week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The “Veep” and “Seinfeld” star will host a panel highlighting some of the country’s Democratic female governors on the third day of the four-day convention in Chicago in partnership with the Democratic Governors Association. Seven other Democratic women will share the stage, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Luian Grisham. Oregon Public Broadcasting is a news partner of this publication. Find the original story here.
3 tips for first-time home buyers
Real estate has garnered considerable attention since 2020, and for good reason. Though speculators and real estate professionals may point to several variables that have affected the home market in recent years, the pandemic certainly was among those factors. Real estate prices and mortgage interest rates increased significantly during the pandemic and have remained well above pre-pandemic levels. The spike in home prices and interest rates has significantly impacted young...
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