http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/index.php Portland and surrounding area community news and information http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336261574771700 2010-09-01 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336261574771700 en-us It was one of those quintessential lightbulb-over-the-head moments. Casey Dennis, under instruction from his brother, Mike Dennis, who owns Oregon Aero with his wife, Jude, was tasked with finding a new business venture for the manufacturer. The company is known for creating comfort and safety ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336395337588300 2010-09-01 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336395337588300 en-us The Columbia County Health District will have to wait another month for a decision from the Oregon Department of Health and Human Services regarding the district’s proposed hospital in St. Helens. Oregon DHS is still reviewing the district’s hospital application to determine whether it ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336822890057700 2010-09-01 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336822890057700 en-us One year after city officials in St. Helens decided to convert three of the city’s fleet vehicles to a compressed natural gas dual-fuel system — an untested-yet-costly gamble at the time — the pilot program continues to impress those closest to it. The program saves the city ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128337877093475400 2010-09-01 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128337877093475400 en-us The new Otto Petersen Elementary School celebrated its grand opening Monday with a community celebration. District staff, students and community members wandered the grounds of the new state-of-the-art school. ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336920998398900 2010-09-01 12:26:49 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336920998398900 en-us The county has postponed a hearing on the land-use appeal of kennel owners Liana and Todd Viken. The Vikens are attempting to obtain a conditional-use permit to operate an indoor kennel at their property in Scappoose Their original application, which included an outside kennel area, was denied ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336893169556900 2010-09-01 12:22:11 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336893169556900 en-us The Oregon Department of Education released last week its accumulated test results for the 2009-2010 school year in math, writing, reading and science, and for the Scappoose and St. Helens school districts, the results were generally favorable Statewide, there were slight improvements across the ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336861070658600 2010-09-01 12:16:50 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336861070658600 en-us It took less than a day of moving refrigerators, smokers and display cases into the building and already the new location for the Old Oregon Smokehouse smells of the sea. It’s a smell that should comfort the regular visitors who frequent the market and restaurant, seeking seafood chowder, ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336740167907900 2010-09-01 11:56:41 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336740167907900 en-us The city of Scappoose has closed on the piece of land near the Havlik Road extension they hope will one day house the long-discussed Scappoose pool. “The next step is for council to determine what it is they want to do,” said City Manager Jon Hanken. “That hasn’t been ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336714771067800 2010-09-01 11:52:27 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336714771067800 en-us Amidst a tiny throng of people, and over the din of honking car horns, supporters of political activist, perpetual United States presidential candidate and convicted felon Lyndon LaRouche collect signatures to impeach President Barack Obama. The signature gatherers, who would not divulge their ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336696179200800 2010-09-01 11:49:21 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336696179200800 en-us After an investigation, the Oregon Humane Society discovered more than 100 dead rabbits at what they believe is a commercial breeding operation in rural Clatskanie. Investigators, with help from Columbia County Animal Control, also seized 33 live rabbits from the property at 78802 Rantala Road. ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336661974313900 2010-09-01 11:43:39 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336661974313900 en-us The mini-Mt. St. Helens sculpture in the city of St. Helens, located in the Houlton Business District, was intended to draw visitors down to Olde Towne. What it’s drawn instead is ire from city councilors upset that it was installed without first going through the city’s Arts and ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336426742778700 2010-09-01 11:04:27 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128336426742778700 en-us A Clatskanie man has pleaded not guilty to allegations he strangled and attempted to kill his estranged wife after she began dating someone else. David Eric Kirkpatrick, 47, faces charges of attempted murder, strangulation, menacing, coercion and fourth-degree assault after a July 23 incident at ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128276544704605300 2010-08-25 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128276544704605300 en-us With complex stunts and elaborate gymnastics, cheerleading is one of the most dangerous athletic activities for females — an activity that accounts for 65 percent of all direct catastrophic injuries to female athletes in high schools across the country. This statistical danger hit close to ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128276753091665700 2010-08-25 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128276753091665700 en-us The candidates for the open City Council and mayoral positions in St. Helens and Scappoose are locked after the Aug. 17 filing deadline. In Scappoose, incumbent Mayor Scott Burge will run unopposed, while newcomers Mitchell Neilson and Mark J. Reed will vie for the open council spots against ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128277127457059100 2010-08-25 14:21:14 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128277127457059100 en-us There was little change to Columbia County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in July, according to a monthly report released by the regional economist for Columbia, Tillamook, Clatsop and Lincoln counties. The unemployment rate increased to 11.8 percent in July from 11.6 percent in ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128277060418604800 2010-08-25 14:10:04 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128277060418604800 en-us A change in the Scappoose city parks ordinance means a new sense of freedom for dog owners and their pups who were looking for a place to run free. Although an off-leash area in Veterans Park had already been approved by the City Council earlier this year, there is now an official spot open on ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128277049469205800 2010-08-25 14:08:14 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128277049469205800 en-us The brand new Otto Petersen Elementary School in Scappoose has scheduled an open house for all interested community members on Aug. 30. The open house will begin at 9 a.m., with a ribbon cutting ceremony following at 9:30 a.m. From 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. the school will be open for ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128277030789981900 2010-08-25 14:05:07 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128277030789981900 en-us When Marilyn Peterson started working for the city of St. Helens as a utilities specialist in 1972, city business was conducted with handshakes and backslaps. In other words: It was a boy’s club. Thirty-eight years later, and now as the city’s finance director, the longest serving city ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128277012856618200 2010-08-25 14:02:08 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128277012856618200 en-us The Columbia County Board of Commissioners has formally approved a request from local veterans to refer a five-year operating levy to voters in the November 2, 2010 general election. The levy would provide stable funding for the Columbia County Veteran Service Program, according to the ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128276974624732000 2010-08-25 13:55:46 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128276974624732000 en-us As promising as the first-quarter was for building supplies company USG Corp., during which time its stock value doubled, the company has seen its value plummet in the second quarter of 2010. In its second-quarter financial report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, USG Corp., ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128276920840155300 2010-08-25 13:46:48 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128276920840155300 en-us Come hell or high water, St. Helens resident Jim Pierce said he won’t willfully buy flood insurance. But due to new federal regulations and a city decision, he may have to do just that. The city has voted to adopt a Federal Emergency Management floodplain map, an updated version of ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128276814622154200 2010-08-25 13:29:06 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128276814622154200 en-us The foreclosure rate for Oregon ranks third in the country behind only Florida and Nevada, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury. And many of those homes are being lost locally in Columbia County. Foreclosures in St. Helens have increased by 25.9 percent in the past year, according to ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128276628704836300 2010-08-25 12:58:07 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128276628704836300 en-us The Department of Health and Human Services today announced it would further delay its decision on whether to grant the Columbia County Health District a certificate of need to build a small hospital in St. Helens. The decision will effectively decide whether the CHD can build the hospital, which ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128276579118812000 2010-08-25 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=128276579118812000 en-us The Columbia County Road Department plans to reopen the bridge on JP West Road in Scappoose to two lanes within the next two weeks, a county road official said Tuesday. The bridge has been restricted to one lane since last fall when safety concerns regarding its weight bearing capabilities were ...