http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/index.php Portland and surrounding area community news and information http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126826179804420000 2010-03-10 14:56:38 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126826179804420000 en-us The picture Columbia Health District planners are presenting of the Columbia River Community Hospital to state regulators is one of a tightly packed health care facility with the ability to tackle anything flung at it, with one exception: critical emergencies. At least that would be the case in ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126826116578603300 2010-03-10 14:46:05 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126826116578603300 en-us Jerry Buxbaum likes playing with matchbox cars. The Scappoose resident does it not because he refuses to grow up – though that’s certainly true – but in order to plan vehicular stunts for the film industry. The puckish 53-year-old makes a full-time freelance living by ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765257604448100 2010-03-03 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765257604448100 en-us Mark H. Gift, the 72-year-old man accused of trying to run over and kill his son-in-law, was arrested last week while out on bail for reportedly trying to stab his grandson with a set of wire cutters. Gift was taken into custody on Saturday after St. Helens Oregon State Police officers report the ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765309652920900 2010-03-03 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765309652920900 en-us After eight months at the county’s animal shelter, the two once-condemned pit bulls belonging to convicted dogfighter Eduardo Ribaya have found a new home. The pair were sent last week to a life behind tall walls at the Olympic Animal Sanctuary in Forks, Wash. The move came on the heels of ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765564809313200 2010-03-03 14:34:08 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765564809313200 en-us The Columbia County Sheriff's Office arrested two people Friday related to the ongoing criminal investigation stemming from the arrest of Devin Wilmoth on Feb. 11 on charges of robbing a truck and trying to shoot the driver in rural Columbia County. Arrested were Ezra St. Helen, 23, of Rainier, ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765511686396800 2010-03-03 14:25:16 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765511686396800 en-us Lawmakers are mostly pleased with the efficiency of this month’s legislative ‘special session.’ Pondering myriad topics from unemployment, the budget, business incentives, to potentially dangerous chemicals in baby bottles, Rep. Brad Witt said many of the new laws will help Oregon ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765434869317900 2010-03-03 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765434869317900 en-us WARREN Island Days carnival coming Saturday On March 6, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., children can visit Island Days, the ninth annual Warren Elementary Carnival to play games, get treats and wander through the event’s popular maze. The fundraiser also features a silent auction and raffle. ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765351307960400 2010-03-03 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765351307960400 en-us With hundreds of farms, craftspeople and artisans in the Pacific Northwest, even Dorene Kirkingburg – while setting up her locally- made gift store in Olde Towne St. Helens – is learning of new regional products everyday. Kirkingburg, 50, is what you might call an expert on Northwest ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765286790836500 2010-03-03 13:47:47 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765286790836500 en-us The shadow being cast by a voter initiative aimed at repealing the 2004 hospital tax is driving down the confidence of the securities firm being enlisted to finance the hospital. And that lowered confidence translates into bigger bucks the Columbia Health District would have to shell out in ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765182671517200 2010-03-03 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765182671517200 en-us St. Helens resident John Krause loves biking. He commutes to work and takes long rides on the county’s back roads in his off-time. And as chair of the St. Helens Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission, he wants to make sure everyone, especially kids, has the opportunity to safely do the ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765173243421400 2010-03-03 13:28:52 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126765173243421400 en-us This Friday, people from 170 countries and regions around the globe will celebrate the World Day of Prayer, as will local church patrons. In its 90th year, the World Day of Prayer was founded on the premise that prayer and action are inseparable in Christian service to God, and each year a ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126703884260111000 2010-02-24 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126703884260111000 en-us A five-month-long internal affairs investigation into Scappoose Police Officer Shaun Barrett has ended, and he is now back on the force. The investigation was opened in September to examine his conduct regarding criminal charges against Barrett accusing him of being drunk and disorderly at Spirit ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126703907219105400 2010-02-24 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126703907219105400 en-us Columbia County is refunding NW Natural nearly $2 million plus another $1 million in interest following a Jan. 29 Oregon Supreme Court decision. The county is one of 16 affected by the court’s policy-setting finding that centrally assessed companies — utilities and similar entities ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126704160066888600 2010-02-24 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126704160066888600 en-us It’s been nearly a year since President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus plan was implemented, spreading dollars across the country and funding projects in Columbia County as far reaching as weatherizing the County Courthouse to fixing potholes on local side streets. But what do local ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126704143422373200 2010-02-24 11:57:14 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126704143422373200 en-us RAINIER City gets a new Web site after years without online presence After several years with no online presence, www.cityofrainier.com, Rainier’s new comprehensive Web site went live on Feb. 19. Rainier City Council member Judith Taylor spearheaded the 3-month-long effort on a $2,500 ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126704075291170500 2010-02-24 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126704075291170500 en-us Building on a theme of “One Community, One Voice,” the South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting and awards banquet at Scappoose Creek Inn on Thursday, Feb. 18. Guest speakers for the evening included local politicians and officials and Miss Oregon CC Barber, ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126704051407028300 2010-02-24 11:41:54 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126704051407028300 en-us Last week, the St. Helens City Council voted to temporarily cut a fee affecting new residential developments by half until 2011. The decision to cut “System Development Fees” for new residential developments by 50 percent was made after months of city discussion about how to best give ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126703999084684000 2010-02-24 11:33:10 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126703999084684000 en-us From selling state-of-the-art gas fireplaces to old-fashioned wood stoves to 50 cent lighters, Cindy Lorenz is an expert at starting fires. But don’t worry, there’s no need to call Smokey the Bear. She only wants to keep you warm. Lorenz has just opened up a new shop in Scappoose to ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126703938374986900 2010-02-24 11:23:03 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126703938374986900 en-us After 12 years of no rate increases, Columbia County commissioners will decide next month whether to raise garbage rates. The March 3 vote follows a public hearing and would affect the per-ton commercial and self-haul fees at the Columbia County Transfer Station. Any changes to the commercial fee ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126703920000394400 2010-02-24 11:20:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126703920000394400 en-us Scappoose administrator Sue Hays will finish the last 15 months of her contract not as high school principal but, effective earlier this week, as the district’s director of curriculum and instruction. The move happens nearly a year after the Scappoose School Board unanimously voted not to ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126703846493795800 2010-02-24 11:07:44 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126703846493795800 en-us A health checkup is in, and Columbia County has reason to celebrate. But not too much. There are still many areas in need of improvement, according to a new county vs. county healthiness ranking report – the first of its kind – that ranks our county as the 12th healthiest among 33 ...