http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/index.php Portland and surrounding area community news and information http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132812673740407400 2012-02-01 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132812673740407400 en-us After a successful “invasion” of St. Helens last year, the Portland Pirate Festival will return to the city’s historic waterfront in September. Although they plan to retain the Portland Pirate Festival moniker, organizers of the annual event say they have no interest in ever ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132813545040359600 2012-02-01 14:30:50 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132813545040359600 en-us Shannon Fitzgibbons, a city councilor in Columbia City, has apologized for miscategorizing Native American history in a city newsletter. In the recent edition of her “Flash from the Past” column, the councilor said she never meant to “hurt or denigrate another culture.” ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132813512738647700 2012-02-01 14:25:27 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132813512738647700 en-us For winter outdoor enthusiasts, there are few exploits as exciting as an adventure into the Cascades. But with the allure the Cascades offer, also comes no small amount of risk and a deep need for physical preparedness before tackling some of the range’s major peaks. As a close-to-home ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132813467413094500 2012-02-01 14:17:54 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132813467413094500 en-us Investigators say a malfunctioning electric blanket was to blame for a Jan. 29 house fire in St. Helens that caused $15,000 in damage and killed a family cat. The fire began just after 9 p.m. on Sunday at 34026 Bachelor Flat Road. Columbia River Fire and Rescue Division Chief Bill Goodwin said in ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132813453723275300 2012-02-01 14:15:37 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132813453723275300 en-us After a year of fundraising, the group behind Scappoose’s dog park has seen their plans to erect permanent fencing around the off-leash area come to fruition. The fencing was installed last week, replacing a temporary orange plastic mesh that had identified the north end of Veterans Park as ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132813436965263000 2012-02-01 14:12:49 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132813436965263000 en-us The mother of a man who was killed following a collision with the tail end of a long-load pole truck as it turned from Highway 30 onto Bennett Road is claiming a small victory following the Oregon Department of Transportation’s plans to install a sign at the intersection warning of such ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132806770223688600 2012-01-31 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132806770223688600 en-us Beaverton Democrat Suzanne Bonamici is headed to Congress after taking a commanding lead in the 1st Congressional District special election. About 50 percent of the district’s registered voters cast ballots, according to the Oregon secretary of state’s office. She defeated Republican ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132812906594834900 2012-02-01 12:44:25 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132812906594834900 en-us The Port of St. Helens green-lighted plans from two coal export companies to ship millions of tons of coal through the county during a packed public hearing Jan. 25. Following testimony from proponents touting the need for increased economic vitality in the region to opponents who proclaim coal to ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132812822649005700 2012-02-01 12:30:26 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132812822649005700 en-us The plaintiff’s attorney in a lawsuit that challenges the validity of a plan for how the Columbia Health District’s assets are to be disposed is expected to ask Columbia County Circuit Judge Ted Grove to rule on the facts of the case without going to trial. James Huffman, attorney ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132812801154381300 2012-02-01 12:26:51 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132812801154381300 en-us The St. Helens School Board directed Superintendent Mark Davalos to proceed with an effort to reconfigure the district’s five schools as a means to reduce student transfers, improve academics and, ultimately, cut down on operational expenses. The board is expected to formalize its direction ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132812708546727800 2012-02-01 12:11:25 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132812708546727800 en-us Following a six-month investigation, police raided two local smoke shops for allegedly selling “synthetic marijuana,” a lucrative herb-and-chemical compound banned in Oregon. On Jan. 25, Columbia Enforcement Narcotics Team investigators and a multi-agency team of officers served search ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752453130701100 2012-01-25 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752453130701100 en-us Citing the many complicated issues surrounding dissolution of the Columbia Health District, Columbia Circuit Judge Ted Grove on Tuesday granted a preliminary injunction that has the effect of halting any further conveyance of assets from the district. At its core, his decision has the effect of ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752431904371600 2012-01-25 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752431904371600 en-us St. Helens Police Chief Steve Salle is exploring a tax levy option to make up for losses in the city’s police force due to budget cuts and declining tax revenue from devaluation of the city’s industrial base. The St. Helens City Council authorized Salle to explore an operational tax ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752529312613300 2012-01-25 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752529312613300 en-us Efforts to cut down on energy costs have paid off nearly one year after the city of St. Helens installed solar-powered mixers in its wastewater lagoons. Since the SolarBee circulators and aeration controls were placed in the city’s primary and secondary wastewater lagoons — seven in ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752585606955500 2012-01-25 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752585606955500 en-us On Monday, the Columbia Land Trust finalized its purchase of 920 acres of land at the Columbia Stock Ranch near Goble, with the goal of permanently protecting the refuge for salmon, steelhead and other wildlife. It’s the largest purchase of riverside habitat in nearly 40 years. The land was ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752642573022000 2012-01-25 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752642573022000 en-us U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden is urging officials to “plan for the worst while hoping for the best” as millions of tons of debris caused by the devastating March 2011 earthquake in Japan and subsequent tsunami slowly moves through the Pacific Ocean towards our coast. Wyden said last week he has ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752810079345400 2012-01-25 13:48:20 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752810079345400 en-us For his dedication to public education in the state, the Oregon School Boards Association has honored Vernonia resident and school board member Greg Kintz for “School Board Recognition Month.” Kintz serves on the statewide association’s board of directors and is on the Vernonia ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752731998571500 2012-01-25 13:35:19 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752731998571500 en-us St. Helens city councilors and members of the city’s Arts and Cultural Commission are entering the final stages of a consideration to erect two new signs marking entrance into the city. The citys’ Entrance Sign Committee brought a proposal to the City Council last week to have artist ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752624323887100 2012-01-25 13:17:23 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752624323887100 en-us Local land developers with successful track records in Columbia County are focused on opening access, and hence expanding possibilities to attract new industrial clients, to a 53-acre property near Columbia City. Larry Olson, a St. Helens entrepreneur with significant holdings locally, ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752552039595500 2012-01-25 13:05:20 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752552039595500 en-us Opinions are split after the news that two coal export companies are looking at north Columbia County to build facilities, with proponents touting the need to create jobs and build industry, while environmentalists warn of the possible negative effects of shipping the fossil fuel through the ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752494417630500 2012-01-25 12:55:44 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752494417630500 en-us One year after David Durham went missing near the small coastal town of Waldport – after allegedly shooting and seriously wounding a Lincoln City Police Officer – there have been no verified sightings of the Sauvie Island man. That’s despite over 100 tips from all over the ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752400686004900 2012-01-25 12:40:06 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132752400686004900 en-us Like a cold, wet blanket, Columbia County woke up Jan. 18 to icy roads, chilly air and, in higher elevations, knee-deep snow. Some chose to stay warm at home, while others like 85-year-old Warren farmer John Vardanega braved the weather to clear paths in the snow. It will still take some time to ...