Dozens of local artists throughout Washington County — including six from the Gales Creek and Banks areas — will open their studio doors to visitors on Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., as part of the free 2019 Washington County Open Studios Tour.

Local fire officials and community members gathered together last week to break ground on the future Hornshuh Creek Station in Buxton.

As written by deputies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office in Banks: The September 2019 police log

In a move to stem illnesses and deaths that the Oregon Health Authority and the Centers for Disaease Control has tied to vaping products, governor Kate Brown issued a 6 month ban on flavored vape products, among other efforts to halt severe lung illnesses.

Goodbye, Frontier: the company expects to be rid of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana customers by the end of the year, pending regulatory approval and final business negotiations as it sells operations in those states to WaveDivision Capital (This article is first in a series of many surrounding internet technology issues).

State, tribal, and local leaders will meet to discuss the further development of the Salmonberry Trail in Tillamook on Friday, Oct. 11 at 10 a.m.

Vernonia Route 6, opened this April as a three day a week service between Banks, Vernonia and Hillsboro, has just expanded to five days a week, according to Todd Wood, Transit Program Administrator with Columbia County Rider.

It's a full docket for the Banks Public library this month, with a book sale starting Thursday, Oct. 3, opportunities to read to Marlena the dog, and more!

Every Tuesday, check in for quick updates on news from Oregon's congressional delegation representing readers in our newspaper's territory, as well as other news of impact from the national stage. This week, we cover a series of town halls from Rep. Bonamici, reactions from Sen. Merkley to improve vaping safety, and reactions from Oregon's Congressional delegation on recently opened impeachment proceedings surrounding President Trump.

"Just give us the tools and watch what our rural fire district can accomplish," wrote the district in their application. Now, the Banks Fire District has won a $25,000 grant to purchase AEDs to be placed throughout the district.

Upcoming schedules, highlights, sports tidbits, rosters, and more for September 30 through Oct 6.

Oregon Health Authority, Washington County issue public health warning urging people to immediately stop vaping in the wake of second vape-related death in Oregon.

In this new column, we take a look at a sampling of newspaper clippings from the Washington County Hatchet, a precursor to the Forest Grove News-Times, examining news that came from the rural communities of Gales City, Glenwood, Mountaindale, Buxton, and more.

Early Tuesday morning, the Oregon Department of Forestry terminated fire season in the Forest Grove, Tillamook, and Astoria Districts, the earliest the agency has ended the official fire season in more than 20 years.

The Tillamook office, which is responsible for a network of smaller clinics in Oregon, including in Banks and Vernonia, has a new leader: Eric Swanson.

For those in the region with an interest in Irish heritage, an authentic Irish Ceili planned in Banks on September 28 offers a unique way to celebrate and learn more from two Irish nonprofit cultural organizations.

On Saturday, September 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Spiesschaert Farms, located at 3150 NW Thatcher Road on the outskirts of Forest Grove, is hosting a free, family-friendly event exploring the reintroduction of locally-raised whole grains, and introducing local artisans to the community.

As written by deputies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office in Banks: deputies discovered that two students had broken into the Banks High School and stolen a golf cart, which was later discovered in Timber. This and more in the August 2019 police log.

The Oregon Transportation Commission has chosen a new leader for the Oregon Department of Transportation: Highway Division Administrator Kris Strickler, who will take over as the head of ODOT pending contract negotiations and Oregon Senate approval.

A spokesperson with the Washington County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that the suspect wanted in connection to an attempted kidnapping near Banks on the morning of Tuesday, September 10 has been located and arrested and was en route to be interviewed by deputies in connection with the alleged crime as of 4:23 p.m.

The local National Weather Service branch located in Portland issued a flood advisory with potential thunderstorms this afternoon for Washington County, warning of the potential for minor flooding in poor drainage areas on Tuesday, September 10 from about 3 p.m. until 5:45 p.m..

Community Participation Organization 13 — usually abbreviated as CPO 13 — took a summer break, but the first meeting of the season will be Wednesday, September 11 at the Gales Creek Church of God, for a discussion on disaster and emergency preparedness.

Around 7:04 a.m., a truck driver called 911 to say he saw a man trying to force a woman into a vehicle near the Highway 47 and Highway 6 interchange in Banks. All Banks School District facilities as well as St Francis in Roy were placed on lockout, which has been lifted, while deputies used a K9 unit to attempt to find the suspect. Deputies do not believe there is a danger to the public.

Banks School District facilities have been placed in lockout as deputies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office search for a male suspect in a kidnapping attempt from the Banks area this morning.

In recognition of the Tillamook Forest Heritage Trust's supporters, donors, and contributors — as well as to celebrate Highway 6's recent designation as a scenic byway — the organization will host an event at the Tillamook Forest Center on Saturday, September 21.

For those who drive on Pihl Road, lane closures and delays stemming from a county project to repave the road have begun and will continue through October 11, according to a schedule of paving projects from Washington County Land Use and Transportation.

The Tillamook-based nonprofit Wilson River Cleanup Group (WRCG) is holding its annual river cleanup September 21, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and wants volunteers to help clean the banks of this popular destination.

The Labor Day weekend began with tragedy in far western Washington County, where a man died after crashing his vehicle at the Dennis L. Edwards Tunnel.

A deadly crash at the east end of the Dennis L. Edwards Tunnel has closed Highway 26 in both directions.

Five small wildfires have been confirmed and contained in Columbia County, with Oregon Department of Forestry officials sending an airplane to scout for more fires this afternoon in Clatsop and Columbia Counties. Anyone who sees smoke is asked to call 911.