CLACKAMAS COUNTY NEWS

Oregon local news from Wilsonville, West Linn, Sandy, Oregon City and more

Cruise on over to The Oregonian's new commuting blog "Hard Drive" to get news on the drive and the culture of the commute throughtout the day.

Traffic remains what ODOT calls "moderate" on the morning commute as we reach the peak of the rush. Clear, chilly and a tad bit windy on the roads. But there are no serious accidents or major delays to report on the highways.

In other words, no big surprises.

Continue reading "Interstate 5 jammed up, but no big surprises on morning commute" »

The smell of fresh-baked pumpkin bread fills Kim Millen's home.

Her 21-year-old daughter, Andrea Millen, a senior at Warner Pacific College, decided to bake while home for the evening preparing for their mother-daughter art show that runs through Dec. 27 at the West Linn Public Library.

Continue reading "West Linn library show features works by mom, daughter" »

Mickey likes to make a fashion statement by wearing sweaters or jackets over his short red hair. This miniature pinscher/beagle, described as a "ton of fun in a small package," has folded ears and a long tail. He does need a secure yard since his little feet can climb fences.

To inquire about Mickey or other dogs available for adoption, visit Clackamas County Dog Services, 2104 Kaen Road, Oregon City. Adoption hours are 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Continue reading "This week's pet: Mickey, a miniature pinscher/beagle" »

Just before tape time at "91 News," floor director Taylor Jorgensen, a sixth-grader at Ninety-One School, counts down "five, four, three, two," then points to the news anchors: third-grader Sophie Rutz and sixth-grader Sarah Mathews.

Top stories on this edition of the student news program, which airs on Canby cable access, include the staff music assembly, the school track club and the volleyball team. Sophie previews future stories, including one about "our great new weather station."

The 2-year-old program gives second- through sixth-graders at the Canby School District school hands-on experience in all aspects of TV production, from camera work and audio control to floor directing and news anchoring.

Continue reading "Ninety-One School students learn the ins and outs of television production" »

Toy & Joy/Compassion in Action Clackamas County is accepting applications for holiday food and toy boxes. Applications are available through Friday, or until the quota has been reached, from any of the social service agencies within Clackamas County.

Applicants need to provide address, name, birth date and the last four digits of the Social Security number for all members of the household. Additionally, the electric account number for the household will be required when completing the application.

Continue reading "Apply at agencies for holiday food, toy boxes" »

Faced with falling revenue, rising costs and growing demand, Clackamas County plans to contract out more social services, a move officials acknowledge could reduce aid to some needy individuals and families.

The proposed reorganization grew out of a recently completed study to figure out how to make the most of money spent on programs such as mental and medical health care for the poor, job training for the unemployed and assistance to elderly, families and people with disabilities.

"The original goal was to maintain the quality of service," said Cindy Becker, Clackamas County Department of Human Services director.

Continue reading "Clackamas County moving social services to contractors" »

Anyone from classical quartets to a pair of friends willing to share their musical talents can brighten the holiday season of others while helping local food banks.

The annual Sing from the Heart will be Dec. 12-14 at all Haggen Food & Pharmacy stores in Oregon. The stores will donate $50 to a food bank for each hour a group presents holiday music. Participants may include organizations, bands, families or friends. Children's groups can register for 30-minute performances.

Continue reading "Show off your musical talents at Haggens" »

Oregon City will look nationwide, with a West Coast focus, for a police chief to succeed Gordon Huiras, who has held the post for a decade and will retire Jan. 31.

Current members of the department also will be eligible.

Continue reading "Oregon City to begin search for new police chief" »

Oregon City officials spent the holiday weekend surprisingly thankful about the city's finances.

While the city may still see belt-tightening in the future, last week it got news that its bond rating had been raised for the first time in more than a decade. Additionally, word came from CenterCal, the developer of Bridgeport Village in Tigard, that plans to build The Rivers, a mixed-use development twice the size of Bridgeport, are on track.

Standard & Poor's, an international bond ratings agency, raised the rating from A to AA.

Continue reading "Oregon City gets good economic news" »

The tanking economy has at least one winner: the city of Lake Oswego.

More construction companies, including some that focus on housing when that market is strong, are competing more aggressively for the few available public works projects. That's good for cities, such as Lake Oswego, which recently secured bids significantly lower than the engineer's estimate.

Most notable is the city's Kelok pumparound, a small portion of the $100million Lake Oswego Interceptor Sewer project, that engineers estimated at $2.8million. The winning bid to install the sewer pipe along Kelok Road came in at $947,000 -- a third of the estimate.

Continue reading "Lake Oswego: Public works projects benefit in tough times" »

As you might expect, pit bull owners are bullish on their pit bulls.

Also as you might expect, dozens of them responded to my Monday column about recent pit bull attacks in the Portland area.

Predictably, I heard from people who say the problem isn't pit bulls, or any dogs. The problem is caused not by the dogs but by the irresponsible media and irresponsible pit bull owners and breeders.

"I just read your recent article and I have to say, I'm quite embarrassed for you," wrote Ellena Thomas, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Pit Bull Rescue. "Why would someone write such an inflammatory piece, which holds no merit or shares no facts?

Continue reading "Andy Parker: Owners of pit bull are pit bulls defending dogs" »