Lessons learned in Mat Club case

 Though painful, there were some positives

The South County Spotlight Tue, May 6, 2008

If they can’t agree on anything else, Keith Meeuwsen and Craig Melton agree on this – they’re glad the investigations into the St. …

Opinion Column

The Fantastic Voyage Part II

Colonoscopy like science fiction ... in real life

By rick swart /
The South County Spotlight
Tue, May 6, 2008
Updated May 6, 2008

I was looking forward to the opening of Chuck Nakvasil’s new, state-of-the-art movie theater last week. I’m a big movie buff, and like …

Opinion Column

The buzz around the Spotlight's Web site

The South County Spotlight
Tue, May 6, 2008
Updated May 6, 2008

. Re: Letters to the editor Well, it must be election time, as the attack dogs are in full force. Re: Letters to the editor Much …

Editorial

Fisher a needed improvement

Voters have clear choice in comissioner race

The South County Spotlight
Tue, Apr 29, 2008
Updated Apr 29, 2008

One of the decisions that Democrats will have to make in the upcoming primary election is who to nominate for Position 1 on the Columbia County Board …

Guest Opinion

Bringing Earth Day home

By Janelle St. Pierre /

Tue, Apr 29, 2008

What does Earth Day mean beyond the cleanups and events? How do you bring this celebration of protecting the earth home to your community? While I …

Guest Opinion

Reflections on Citizenship Day

By Jeff Rogers /

Tue, Apr 22, 2008

We had a party at my office last week. We celebrated something that, when I thought about it, I’d never experienced before. One of my …

Opinion Column

A hundred ways to die on the river

By rick swart /
The South County Spotlight
Tue, Apr 15, 2008

One of the great benefits of living in Oregon is access to a limitless array of world-class waterways. The Oregon Coast, all 300 miles of it, is one …

Editorial

Parade of death continues on Cornelius Pass Road

The South County Spotlight
Tue, Apr 1, 2008
Updated Apr 1, 2008

The unavoidable question that lingers in the minds of many Columbia County residents in the wake of Lonny Friberg’s fatal automobile accident …

Opinion Column

Lady Luck left the building

By rick swart /
The South County Spotlight
Tue, Apr 1, 2008
Updated Apr 1, 2008

March was Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and addiction counselors across the country have been pulling out the stops to make people aware of the …

Guest Opinion

Time to follow Arizona's lead on illegal immigration

By Wayne Mayo /

Wed, Mar 26, 2008

Sorry to disappoint, Mr. Rodgers, the signs are not gone. What has been presented is a second enforcement measure imitating the newly implemented …

Opinion Column

Reining in the rogues of risk

By rick swart /
The South County Spotlight
Wed, Mar 26, 2008

One of the worst days of my life was the day my insurance company sued me. I can still remember the call from my attorney. “USF&G has …

Opinion Column

May is National Everything Month

By mikel kelly / The South County Spotlight
Tue, Apr 29, 2008
Updated Apr 29, 2008

There are all kinds of reasons we might choose to celebrate the month that begins next week. In this part of the country, May is the month it might …

Letters

Letters to the editor of the Spotlight

Tue, May 6, 2008
Updated May 6, 2008

. Out of control When I moved to Columbia County 10 years ago, places like Scappoose and St. Helens were being touted as the new “bedroom …

Editorial

Dickerson best choice for sheriff

The South County Spotlight
Tue, Apr 22, 2008

One of the most important things that employers do is hire the very best people possible. Volumes have been written about the top predictors of …

Opinion Column

The human face of Earth Day

By rick swart / The South County Spotlight
Tue, Apr 22, 2008

This week marks the 38th anniversary of Earth Day, which began in 1970 as a series of rallies aimed at focusing national attention on environmental …

Editorial

Sunshine law goes too far

The South County Spotlight
Tue, Apr 15, 2008

Mayors, city managers, city councilors, planning commissioners and hundreds of volunteers involved in public service from one end of the state to the …

Editorial

Oregon positioned to help shape global warming debate

The South County Spotlight
Tue, Apr 8, 2008
Updated Apr 8, 2008

It’s encouraging, finally, to see all the major candidates for president beginning to address what may well be the most important issue of our …

Opinion Column

The lost art of customer service

By rick swart / The South County Spotlight
Tue, Apr 8, 2008

I’ll probably be one of those people who raise their hand when Rick Olson, keynote speaker at the upcoming South Columbia County Chamber of …

Guest Opinion

Putting children's safety first

By Jeff Rogers /
Tue, Apr 1, 2008

By Jeff Rogers A father kidnaps his child and takes him out of the country in an attempt to thwart a custody decision and hide him from the …

Editorial

Free speech versus responsible speech

The South County Spotlight
Wed, Mar 26, 2008

Since the South County Spotlight rolled out online comments on our Web site (www.spotlightnews.net) a few months ago we’ve received a fair …

Guest Opinion

The church lady and her tainted computer cache files

By Bill Eagle /
Tue, Apr 22, 2008
Updated Apr 22, 2008

My neighbor reads our local newspaper from one end to the other. He retains what he reads, and as a result considers himself to be very well informed …