2025 in review: The stories we wrote

Every year, we trot out the biggest hits of the last 12 months, and this year, we're doing the same! However, we're also adding a special section: a look forward to 2026. I've listed some broad-strokes themes I think we'll end up covering, between all the breaking news and things I haven't anticipated.

A reader asked me why I do this every year, and here are the top reasons: It's a fun tradition, and will make you remember things you've forgotten from the last 12 months; it showcases some of the work I'm most proud of; and it's actually a reminder to me to revisit some of the topics for a follow-up in the coming year.

A bonus reason: I save writing this feature for the time period between Christmas and New Year's Eve. That's because getting enough news while juggling holiday festivities and everyone being out of their offices is a challenge, so this sort of recap story is a perfect fit to let this journalist have a little break before we launch into a new year.

Without further ado, I give you some of the biggest, strangest, or just most impactful stories we wrote in the Banks and Forest Grove areas last year.

January

News in the Grove begins launch

News in the Grove begins a soft launch: An outgrowth of the Gales Creek Journal, News in the Grove began quietly publishing a weekly email newsletter in late January and publishing digital stories for our Forest Grove readers.

Banks High School teacher arrested on charges of sexually abusing student

According to a press release from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, deputies assigned to the city of Banks were notified by school staff January 8 that they were concerned a math teacher had sexual contact with a student.

Former Mayor Stephanie Jones is the newest Banks City Councilor

Former Banks Mayor Stephanie Jones' term as mayor ended on Dec. 31. Now, the former mayor is back, this time to fill the remainder of the city council term of the person who unseated her in November's election, Marsha Kirk.

February

Teaching assistant who worked at Neil Armstrong Middle School arrested on sexual abuse charges

A Neil Armstrong Middle School teaching assistant was arrested in January in Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border on allegations of sexual abuse, the Washington County Sheriff's Office announced in February.

Washington County residents pack town halls with Wyden, Bonamici

Sen. Wyden and U.S. Rep. Bonamici brought huge crowds to their town halls at the start of the year. News in the Grove asked four Forest Grove residents, and Rep. Bonamici, what their takeaways were.

Banks High School teacher accused of sexual abuse arrested again

A Banks High School teacher arrested on January 14 over sexual abuse allegations was arrested again in Yamhill County.

Initially arrested Jan. 14 on charges of sexual abuse in the second degree and luring a minor, Wymon Smith, 66, a Banks High School math teacher and former football coach was arrested again in Yamhill County Thursday, Feb. 6.

"Wymon Smith was arrested again after additional victims came forward, and a grand jury indicted him for new crimes," the Washington County Sheriff's Office said in a press release.

March

Stimson Lumber plans Hagg Lake mill expansion
Stimson Lumber's representatives hosted a community meeting to outline plans to build a new structure, an early step in a planned $50 million investment at their sawmill near Hagg Lake.

Gales Creek Church food pantry receives $500 donation
Jenniffer Kringelhede, a realtor with Partain Properties LLC, presented an oversize check for $500 to the Gales Creek Food Pantry, a program housed within the Gales Creek Community Church of God Wednesday, March 12.

Bob and Cherri Klaumann bid farewell to Lake Stop Grocery

For more than 50 years, Bob and Cherri Klaumann welcomed area residents and customers on their way to Hagg Lake. Now, as they pass the torch, they want to thank the community that supported their family-run store for decades.

Man arrested on rape charges near Banks
A man living in rural Washington County was arrested on rape charges near Banks, and detectives say he allegedly assaulted victims in and near Banks, Forest Grove, and Beaverton.

This case is still ongoing, with a jury trial scheduled for May 5, 2026.

Eagle Crest Apartment fire displaces 11

An apartment fire in Forest Grove displaced 11 residents, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue said in a press release.

April

Gales Creek, Banks-area residents head to "Hands Off" protests in Forest Grove, North Plains, Hillsboro

Local residents were at three "Hands Off" protests in Forest Grove, North Plains and Hillsboro on Saturday, April 5. We asked them why they were protesting.

Editor takes vacation
April was a bit of a quiet month for us: I was out of the office for much of the month, enjoying my first out-of-country vacation in Greece and Italy since I started a newspaper in 2017. Here is a picture of me with a cat I found in Mykonos.

Four people found dead in Cornelius home

A mother and her three young children were found dead in a Cornelius home. The case remains under investigation.

As part of writing this review of the year, I reached out to the sheriff's office to see if they can provide an update. Stay tuned for more information.

Banks City Councilor Don Giannetti resigns

Banks City Councilor Don Giannetti resigned in April, for personal, primarily work-related reasons, he said in a resignation letter. He was just four months into what would have been his first full term on the council.

Banks man accused of sexually abusing minors

A Banks man was arrested on allegations that he sexually abused minors and supplied them with alcohol and marijuana. The Washington County Sheriff's Office said Michael Wormington, 47, of Banks, was arrested after a monthslong investigation culminated in his arrest on April 8. The arrest was the fourth arrest in the Banks region over sex abuse of minors in the Banks area since January.

This case is still ongoing, with a jury trial scheduled for May 5, 2026.

Friends of Historic Forest Grove place 100th plaque on Tip Top Building

The Tip Top building tipped the group that tacks plaques to historic homes and buildings to top triple digits in total tributes at a ceremony in downtown Forest Grove.

It was the 100th such plaque the group has placed since the program launched in the 1990s, Friends of Historic Forest Grove's Melody Haveluck told News in the Grove.

We tagged along for two other historic home tours, too.

May

After more than two years, Timber Road has reopened

Timber Road reopened more than two years after a landslide closed the route linking Highway 6, Timber, and Highway 26.

Clean Water Services CEO resigns

Taniguchi-Dennis' resignation follows an investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive into the agency's use of luxury resorts for annual business trips to Hawaii. The sewer agency, which owns the Balm Grove property in Gales Creek and provides sewer and water treatment services in Banks and Forest Grove, has since launched efforts to reclaim public trust.

May Elections

May Elections saw Forest Grove voters elect representatives to the Forest Grove School Board and the Forest Grove Rural Fire Protection District.

I'm not going to link a single story here; we wrote more than a dozen about the results, so if you forgot who was elected to serve you, here they are.

Forest Grove voters reject bond for new police station

The city of Forest Grove will need to turn elsewhere if it wishes to fund the construction of a new police station.

Forest Grove Rural Fire Protection District

In Position 1, Dilley resident Benjamin Otto won a seat, while Position 3 saw Gales Creek resident Neal Hammond win a term.

Forest Grove School Board

Three positions were open on the Forest Grove School Board, all wide open seats after each incumbent declined to file to run for office again.

In Position 1, Brisa Franco led opponent Nicholas Hafez.

In Position 2, former Forest Grove Mayor Peter Truax saw a return to elected life after beating opponent Jodi Blue.

In Position 3, three candidates sought the seat. Alma Lozano won, defeating Madigan Shepherd and James Strother.

Banks Fire District

Two incumbents sought another term on the board, and neither attracted a challenger for their seats on the board that manages a sprawling rural fire district that provides services to Banks, Buxton, Timber, Manning, and Hayward.

In Position 1, John Wren won, while Position 3 incumbent Kevin Henning won another term.

Banks School Board

For most Banks-area voters, the outcome of the only contested race was clear.

Leslee Sipp was sworn into a second term.

Running for Position 1 on the Banks School Board, incumbent Leslee Sipp defeated challenger Jodi Hailey.

Two other candidates breezed to victory with no opponents in sight.

Corissa Mazurkiewicz, running unopposed for Position 2 secured another term, and incumbent Ron Frame in Position 4 won his race.

Local students learn tractor skills, safety for work, fun

In a safety class held in April, young drivers from Buxton, Manning, Hillside, and beyond got hands-on with tractors to prepare them for farm work and a hoped-for return of a tractor competition at the Washington County Fair.

Dog, bird killed in house fire in Banks

A dog and a bird died in a house fire in Banks, while a family cat, expecting kittens, was saved along with several other pets.

June

Strawberry Festival returns for 55th year

Gales Creek's Strawberry Festival returned to downtown Gales Creek for a 55th year, featuring famous strawberries, dozens of vendors, live music, and new this year, a giant chess set. Here's a photo gallery!

'Please pick up' your pet poop in parks, city pleads
The city of Banks said an uptick in pet poop in parks prompted their plea to "please pick up after your pets."

Banks Historical Society launches effort to save district building

The Banks Historical Society launched a campaign they dubbed the "Save the Historic Banks Union High School," joining an informal effort by local and county residents who hope to stop the planned demolition of the former Banks Union High School.

Home damaged in fire, nine cats killed, two rescued

A home was significantly damaged and nine cats died from smoke inhalation, while two more were rescued in Forest Grove. A massive response from neighboring fire agencies was due to the fire inadvertently being upgraded to a 2nd alarm.

Six-year-old pedestrian struck, killed in parking lot near Forest Grove Dollar Tree

Asix-year-old pedestrian was killed after being struck by a vehicle in a parking lot near the Forest Grove Dollar Tree, Forest Grove Police Chief Henry Reimann told News in the Grove.

July

Gales Creek resident absent from fire board oath to fight wildfire

Gales Creek resident Neal Hammond was set to take his seat on the Forest Grove Rural Fire Protection District Board in early July. Instead, he was on wildfire duty. He'd joined a task force with his employer, Clackamas Fire District, to fight the fast-growing Cold Springs Fire burning near Hermiston in Umatilla County.

Washington County also sent a task force. Forest Grove Fire & Rescue sent a Type 6 brush rig, a firefighting vehicle built on a pickup truck frame with two personnel, according to Forest Grove Fire & Rescue Public Information Officer Matt Johnston. Banks Fire District sent Brush Rig 13 with Lt. Julie Kemper, a veteran of such deployments, and Firefighter Tommy Sill.

Chief Geering urges rural fire district to take ownership of board duties

During a Forest Grove Rural Fire Protection District meeting, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue Chief Jim Geering said he would be encouraging the board to take additional ownership of their own agenda.

The Forest Grove Rural Fire Protection District contracts with the city of Forest Grove to provide fire services, and shares ownership of properties and apparatus. As a result, the two entities have become joined at the hip, and some activities of the board have traditionally been handled by staff from Forest Grove Fire & Rescue.

So much so, in fact, that Chief Geering is hoping to give some of the tasks back to the board.

"When I came on almost four years ago, it was apparent to me that Chief Kinkade had […] taken over the affairs and the workings of the board," he said.

Chief Michael Kinkade retired in January 2021 after 12 years of service as Forest Grove Fire & Rescue's chief.

Geering said his intent was not to describe Kinkade's work with the affairs of the board as harmful in any way.

"In other words, he did everything," he said.

"He did the finances, he wrote the minutes, he wrote the agenda, he thought of things for the agenda," Geering said.

"And when I got here, I wanted to sort of unwind that and allow the board positions—president, treasurer, secretary, the members at large—to do their work and run the board and the district as elected officials, not the fire chief," he said.

Forestry officials urge firearm safety in Tillamook Forest after five firearm-related fires

People shooting exploding targets and firing hot lead into dry vegetation in the Tillamook Forest got predictable results: Five wildfires since May. "These fires are all preventable," said Acting Forest Grove District Forester Stephanie Beall.

Banks mayor alters council appointment process, sparking transparency debate

Banks Mayor Marsha Kirk’s abrupt change to a process to fill a vacant city council seat in Banks sparked controversy, leaving one applicant to wonder about the future of her own political career.

Mayor’s move to block council candidate overturned by city council; April Cannon appointed

Banks Mayor Marsha Kirk's plan to remove one of two applicants for a vacant council seat from consideration failed after the city council overturned her decision and chose the applicant Kirk had earlier removed, April Cannon.

Welding believed to have sparked four-acre fire north of Forest Grove

According to Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, about four acres of grass field and some adjacent brush were burned near the intersection of NW Thatcher Road and NW Kemper Road. The cause appeared to be a welding job in the middle of a dry field that went predictably awry, the agency said.

August

Gales Creek brush fire draws fire, hazmat response to Cox Road

A 2-alarm brush fire, which also burned a shipping container and a junk pile, drew a multiagency response to the Gales Creek Valley, including a hazmat team, law enforcement and state fire resources.

Forest Grove's 2-218th returns from yearlong deployment to Iraq, Syria

Hundreds of National Guard soldiers who train and work in Forest Grove returned from a yearlong overseas deployment to Iraq and Syria.

Jeff Duyck is 2025 Combine King, and Candice Duyck is believed to be first woman to compete in derby

Jeff Duyck, driving the Hulk, took first place in the Banks BBQ combine derby, and his wife Candace Duyck made history with her entry into the male-dominated derby in 'Wonder Woman'

Gales Creek church goes Catholic for film

For two days in August, part of Gales Creek's downtown was transformed into Indiana, and the Gales Creek Community Church of God converted to Catholicism. That is, for a film being shot in the area.

Forest Grove veteran of three wars turns 100

Master Sergeant Tom Baker turned 100 on Monday, and the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veteran was honored by Forest Grove American Legion Post 2 with a ceremony in front of friends, family, fellow residents, and staff of the Marquis Assisted Living Center.

Gales Creek Journal merges with News in the Grove

Online, when you read or watch or listen to News in the Grove, you’ll see news and events from Gales Creek, Dilley, Verboort, Forest Grove, Hillside, Glenwood, Watts, Kansas City, and all the other rural dots on the map.

Soon, you'll get the same in print. Stay tuned for print expansion plans in 2026!

September

Forest Grove teacher and Cornelius City Councilor resigns from city council post after Kirk remarks

A Neil Armstrong Middle School teacher and Cornelius City Councilor suspended by the Forest Grove School District over remarks made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk resigned from his city council position. Ultimately, the school district kept him in his job, and refused to disclose if he had faced any disciplinary measures.

Tuality Plains Outpost plans for trail, meeting place, living history at Forest Grove's edge

Lyle Spiesschaert is setting aside about 25 acres of his family farm with a vision of a heritage center and event space celebrating and honoring rural western Washington County's agricultural industry and the community's history.

October

Thomas Weightmann goes missing, search centers on Gales Creek area, search suspended

The search for Forest Grove resident Thomas Weightman, missing since Tuesday, Oct. 14, was suspended Sunday, Oct. 19, the Forest Grove Police Department said.

"Over the six-day search, approximately 800 personnel responded and assisted in attempting to locate Thomas. The incident has been turned back over to Forest Grove Police Department Detectives. This is standard procedure and foul play is not suspected," the Forest Grove Police Department said.

"Anyone who sees Thomas is asked to call 911. Anyone with information that is not time sensitive is asked to call non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111," the department said.

Weightman was reported missing by his family the evening of Tuesday, October 14 after he went for a walk that morning and did not return.

One detained by ICE in Forest Grove as enforcement activity rises

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained at least one person in Forest Grove on Oct. 17, Adelante Mujeres confirmed to News in the Grove.

The Parson Road spiderman has made it to Google Maps

The Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, the neighborhood in this case being the Balm Grove neighborhood in Gales Creek, has been spotted in the area of Parson Road, often on foot or on his Spider-Bike, for much of this year. Now he's on Google Maps.

Banks is a two-stoplight town now
The city of Banks now has two stoplights.

The city of Banks and Washington County said the stoplight at the north end of town would be lighted in late October, doubling the amount of active traffic signals in Banks.

November

Washington County declares emergency over food insecurity, ICE activity, taps reserves for funds

The Washington County Board of Commissioners voted to declare two separate states of emergency in response to federal actions, one over food insecurity and the other over a sharp increase in ICE activity in the county.

Forest Grove declares emergency over increased ICE activity

The Forest Grove City Council declared a state of emergency Monday night because of a surge in federal immigration enforcement in Forest Grove.

Library, sheriff's office levies on track to pass
Renewal levies for the county's library system and the Washington County Sheriff's Office passed during the November election.

'Hit list' of Forest Grove High School students and staff prompts police investigation

Forest Grove High School officials were made aware of a list of 43 Forest Grove High School students and Forest Grove School District staff members on a "hit list," officials said. There is no active threat, according to police.

Sunset Park officials 'cautiously optimistic' amid financial headwinds

Sunset Park officials are "cautiously optimistic" about the next steps to safeguard the nonprofit private park's future after getting hit with a massive tax bill this month and running into other financial headwinds.

December

Hundreds of FGHS students take part in walkout to protest ICE

More than 300 students from the Forest Grove High School left the school campus and walked nearly five-miles round trip to the flagpole east of Safeway and back to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Washington County.

Pacific University eyes merger with Willamette University

Pacific University and Willamette University are pursuing a merger. News in the Grove spoke with the presidents of each university to see what could be next.

Forest Grove police officer sentenced to probation, required to resign from department

Resignation, probation, diversion: A Forest Grove police officer pled guilty to official misconduct and will resign from the city's police department by court order.