http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/index.php Portland and surrounding area community news and information http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133738343968404800 2012-05-18 16:23:59 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133738343968404800 en-us Police activated Columbia County's Major Crimes Team May 18 in hopes of finding a 91-year-old woman with severe dementia who appears to be missing from her Columbia City home. Columbia City Police Chief Michael McGlothlin said in a press release the "complexity" of Frieda Bahl's ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133728843095430300 2012-05-17 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133728843095430300 en-us Public schools in Oregon, including Scappoose High, will have five years to scrap their Native American mascots following a State Board of Education decision May 17. The rule change comes after months of debate from school officials, community members, lawmakers and American Indians, some of whom ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133719898205488000 2012-05-16 13:09:42 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133719898205488000 en-us The city of St. Helens received 71 applications for its vacant city administrator position. A planned public meeting for city council to pare the applicants down to 30 – with the eventual goal of interviewing five or six – was canceled due to scheduling conflicts. City Recorder ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133719825351795000 2012-05-16 12:57:33 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133719825351795000 en-us Scappoose’s own Caleb Pentecost won nearly $27,000 in cash and prizes during an appearance on Wheel of Fortune, which aired Monday. Pentecost, a senior at University of Portland, was competing during the show’s “College Week,” recorded in late March at the Oregon ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133719801574653700 2012-05-16 12:53:35 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133719801574653700 en-us A Vernonia woman was killed Thursday afternoon when the car she was driving traveled off the right shoulder of Highway 47 and crashed head-on into a tree. Rhoda Laura Buckner, 74, of Vernonia was driving her 1995 Honda Accord northbound on Highway 47 when it left the highway near milepost 55 for ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133719769724354200 2012-05-16 12:48:17 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133719769724354200 en-us The number of U.S. officers feloniously killed last year jumped by 22 percent over 2010, according to preliminary statistics released May 14 by the FBI. One of the 72 law enforcement officers killed in 2011 was Rainier Police Chief Ralph Painter, who was shot and killed answering a call of ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133719702516458600 2012-05-16 12:37:05 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133719702516458600 en-us In its formal response to land use advocates’ objections that Scappoose’s ongoing urban growth boundary proposal was based on faulty findings, the city stood behind its plans, saying there is “substantial evidence” showing a need for growth. Scappoose City Attorney Jeff ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133719655196502300 2012-05-16 12:29:11 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133719655196502300 en-us Some veterans and their supporters are feeling cast out after their discovery the longtime practice of using the St. Helens Post Office lobby to hand out “Buddy Poppies” as part of an annual Veterans of Foreign Wars fundraiser is no longer allowed. “The post office has always ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133719531722860300 2012-05-16 12:08:37 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133719531722860300 en-us By many accounts, Daniel Butts is troubled. But the question remains: Is the murder suspect mentally fit to face his charges in court? Butts’ competency to “aid and assist” in his defense – a legal requirement for trial proceedings to continue – will be determined by ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133719510978424200 2012-05-16 12:05:09 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133719510978424200 en-us Columbia County Commissioners Earl Fisher and Tony Hyde won the most votes in the May 15 primary election, but because they failed to secure a majority of nods for their respective seats, each incumbent will face a challenger in the November race. Unofficial results put Fisher (Pos. 1) and Hyde ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133659369797349600 2012-05-09 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133659369797349600 en-us Police are dismissive of criminal wrongdoing claims from two Columbia County commissioner candidates who filed a lawsuit this week against the Port of St. Helens president for what they allege was his unlawful removal of their campaign signs. At least four signs promoting Tammy Maygra and Brady ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133659657612115500 2012-05-09 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133659657612115500 en-us A state budget shortfall for judicial services is being cited as the cause behind several service reductions for Columbia County Circuit Court, including employee layoffs. On May 3, the Oregon Judicial Department sent out a press release announcing the cuts, which went into effect May 1. The cuts ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133659678981473700 2012-05-09 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133659678981473700 en-us An infected 10-year-old is Columbia County’s first reported case of whooping cough this year, a highly contagious bacterial disease that has reached epidemic levels in Washington with more than 1,100 sickened so far in 2012. The infected Columbia County child has been treated with ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133659948575418400 2012-05-09 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133659948575418400 en-us A Portland disc golf group is pitching the city of St. Helens to install an 18-hole course in McCormick Park. Stump Town Disc Golf representatives presented their idea to the city in February to bring the popular recreational activity to town. The St. Helens City Council will hold a public forum ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133660062284459800 2012-05-09 14:57:02 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133660062284459800 en-us Inspired by a former student’s efforts to aid children in India, Scappoose High’s Natural Helpers student group held a fundraiser to collect adhesive bandages and puzzle books for the kids. Natural Helpers was able to collect over 7,000 bandages and 100 books for former group president ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133659890810678000 2012-05-09 14:28:28 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133659890810678000 en-us Tony Hyde - Incumbent JOB: Columbia County Commissioner. Elected in 1996. BACKGROUND: Before being elected to the commission in 1996, Hyde served as the both a city councilor and mayor of Vernonia. The former logger has also been on the board of directors for the Association of Oregon Counties ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133659757260743300 2012-05-09 14:06:12 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133659757260743300 en-us Police believe a medical emergency may have caused a May 7 crash that resulted in the death of a 52-year-old St. Helens man on Highway 30. Robert Earl McKinney died at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Portland after veering off the right shoulder of the highway around noon near Columbia ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133659727958467200 2012-05-09 14:01:19 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133659727958467200 en-us When 17-year-old Taija Belwood died in an accident off Cornelius Pass Road on Dec. 31, 2007, her family made it a priority to see the busy thoroughfare become less dangerous and promote safe teen driving. Now those missions have become more realized, including recently secured state funding of ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133640918828325400 2012-05-07 00:00:00 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133640918828325400 en-us A Portland man arrested after a double shooting in St. Helens Sunday has been charged with murder following the death of one of his alleged victims. Vancouver, Wash., resident Dana Jovan Farnsworth, 32, died early morning on May 7 from a gunshot wound at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. The second ... http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133599102959101300 2012-05-02 13:37:09 http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=133599102959101300 en-us Earl Fisher - Incumbent JOB: Columbia County Commissioner. Elected in 2008. BACKGROUND: Fisher, a retired Clatskanie educator, has served on a number of county governmental bodies, including the Port of St. Helens commission, the Columbia County Commission on Children and Families and the ...