Choose your location
The Madras Pioneer
‘Life is communicating’
(CLACKAMAS / MILWAUKIE) — When Grace Saad graduated from college, she took a risk and moved across the country from Mississippi to Oregon to work for the United States Forest Service. She’d never been to the location she’d applied for and, in hindsight, laughed at the idea there was a time when she didn’t know anything about Timberline Lodge. “Timberline kind of just fell in my lap. It just happened...
Grandmother inspired Bill Wienert's life focused on giving
(MADRAS) — Inspiration by his maternal grandmother led Madras resident Bill Wienert to live a life of giving. Growing up, there was always a kettle on the stove, and Wienert’s grandmother never turned anyone away. The coastal town of Toledo, Oregon, on Yaquina Bay, was home. After working in the paper mill to earn money for college, he set off to Oregon State University for a bachelor's degree and later OHSU to study laboratory medicine. He earned a certificate as a Medical Technologist. He was...
Make your pond 'pop' by adding plants
Water features can be relaxing and eye-catching additions to outdoor spaces. According to the online gardening resource Garden Know-How, a water feature is any landscape enhancement that uses water and other materials to bring tranquility and beauty to a space. Thanks to their soothing sounds and aesthetic appeal, water features like ponds and fountains are often included in healing gardens. However, they can be used in any landscape. Homeowners can...
Our TV picks for Thursday, August 22: The Little Foxes; Alone; Christina on the Coast
The Little Foxes TCM 3 p.m. Bette Davis takes center stage of TCM’s Summer Under the Stars marathon with this classic 1941 film that sees Davis star as the greedy Regina of the ruthless and rich Hubbard clan. “Another’s Man Poison,” “The Letter” and more follow. Alone ...
PGE tax issue spreads
In July, it was reported that Portland General Electric had mistakenly overpaid taxes to Jefferson County, and that the 12 local districts that received tax dollars from Portland General Electric would have to refund the overpayment amount. Now, however, it appears that all taxing districts within the county, whether they received tax revenues from PGE or not, will have to pay toward the refund. County government informed all the 37...
National election forecaster predicts Democratic supermajorities in Oregon House, Senate
A national analysis group that correctly predicted the Oregon Legislature’s partisan split after the 2022 elections is now forecasting solid Democratic majorities. CNalysis, the country’s only elections forecasting group that forecasts legislative elections, is predicting a 39-21 Democratic majority in the state House and an 18-11 split in the state Senate. Those margins would give Democratic leaders breathing room as they try to negotiate a new transportation funding package during...
Look up! 24th annual airshow this weekend
Ready for the biggest weekend of the year? The 24th Annual Airshow of the Cascades hits the Madras Municipal Airport for Friday and Saturday shows Aug. 23-24. The U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team headlines the 2024 show, performing both days. This elite team of soldiers perform around the world for super bowls, the world series and presidential events returns to Madras to celebrate our 24th year. ...
Selling clothes, and supporting veterans
(GARDEN HOME) — Tanya Hawkins has spent the past 15 years helping people, including veterans, through her Gung Ho Ministries’ GHM Boutique in Beaverton. Sales of used clothing and other items go directly to veterans who have been assigned to her via Veterans Affairs. She has raised more than $100,000 each of the past two years, which goes directly to veterans. Hawkins, who lives in the Garden Home neighborhood, had...
Guiding high schoolers to better horsemanship
(ESTACADA) — Janeen Parries loves horses. She owns a ranch with a riding arena, rides as much as she can in her spare time and has spent 13 years as the volunteer coach of the young athletes on Estacada High School’s equestrian team. She started coaching the Ranger riding team when her daughter entered high school and continued volunteering after her daughter graduated. She finds it gratifying to help kids excel and fall in love with horsemanship. ...
Providing dental care across countries
(TUALATIN) — When she was young, Dr. Julie Spaniel recalls how her mother enjoyed traveling to developing countries. One of those places was Jamaica, where she remembers eating at a fancy restaurant on top of a mountain, complete with white tablecloths and chandeliers. “I remember as a second grader, I walked out on this veranda because we were waiting for our food to come, and everybody's all dressed up. And...
Party guy brings light, liveliness to Oregon City
(OREGON CITY) — After high school, the Marines and college, Cyrus Zamani moved to Oregon City. He became a DJ, spinning records for beer money while figuring out what to do. Almost 20 years later, his DJ gig has turned into one of Oregon City’s top event services and rental spots with the recent acquisition of the old Larsen’s Creamery building in Oregon City’s Trestle District. Zamani’s business, Party Factory, might pay the bills, but his true passion is the Oregon City community and working...
Being on call for fellow residents
(PORTLAND) — Looking at his own heart and motivation, Wesley Mahan talks about the evolution of why he wanted to be a good neighbor. Today, he lives in The Empress Building at 20 N.W. 16th Ave. in the Alphabet District, and Mahan has developed a reputation as the go-to neighbor—ask Wes, he’ll know, ask Wes, he could do it. Mahan will do household fixes and errands for people in the five-floor, 73-unit building, and the condominium owners learned to count on him, to the point...
The Mayor of Seminole Estates
(BEAVERTON) — When Judy Martinez moved to the Pacific Northwest from Texas, she hesitated to lay down roots. The cost of living is so much higher out here, she thought, and she didn’t want to settle for buying a house she didn’t love, and it rains all the time. She kept to herself inside her apartment for three years, working 60-hour weeks to distract herself. “I wasn’t fully invested in...
An 83-year-old difference maker
(WOODBURN) — Born in West Virginia and raised in northern Ohio, Sara Buckingham was the youngest of 8 children. By her teenage years, she became used to caring for elderly people in need. Today, the 83-year-old Woodburn resident still does. Buckingham is also a willing participant in taking care of a segment of local history or anything else that her hands can tend. ...
Portland man fosters a safe environment for kids and community
(PORTLAND) — Jay Williams is a dad of two girls, a football coach, a husband, and a "regular ol' guy." He wears multiple hats, but his servitude to the Portland community and its youths is the hat he wears with the most pride. "I'm a person who really doesn't need much. I would give the shirt off my back to other people so they would have," Williams said. "I'm not a material person. I'm someone who wants the best for everyone." ...
The Madras Pioneer
5K+
Posts
6M+
Views
The Pioneer has served Jefferson County since 1904. It is a member publication of Pamplin Media Group and is published weekly, distributed locally Wednesday mornings. The Pioneer, with a circulation of 3,600, reaches homes every Wednesday.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.