October 17, 2025, Volume 1, issue #2.

Good afternoon, Banks! We have our regular newsletter with this week's stories and dozens of events below this introduction, but I wanted to give today's update on the search for a man who went missing on Tuesday after walking out of his home in Forest Grove.

The search for Thomas Weightman entered day 4 today. I don't have much of an update, other than a note from the Washington County Sheriff's Office on why they've said they don't need the general public to join search parties.

They're still asking Gales Creek and Hillside-area property owners to search their properties, however.

"We know there is a desire for the community to help with searching on foot. Right now Search and Rescue is asking property owners to search their properties, but are asking that community members avoid the area where they are working," the Forest Grove Police Department said Friday morning.

News in the Grove reached out to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, who are now coordinating the search, for more information

"There are a couple reasons that we are not utilizing community members to search," Detective Shannon Wilde told News in the Grove. "The terrain is very challenging in some places. Our SAR folks have the equipment, training, and experience to safely navigate these challenges," Wilde said.

It's also a matter of staffing.

"Using untrained community members would require more deputies. The experienced SAR teams can independently complete their search areas, while untrained searchers would need deputy supervision," Wilde explained.

"We always appreciate the community offering to help but it would create other challenges," the detective added.

Yours, Chas Hundley, Founder, Banks Post

🚓 Banks September 2025 Police Log

🔍Sheriff's Office asks Gales Creek, Hillside residents to search their properties for missing man

🚒 Banks Fire log September 2025

...plus more stories and events!

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On to the Banks-area news.

Sheriff's Office asks Gales Creek, Hillside residents to search their properties for missing man

As the search for Thomas Weightman entered a third day, search and rescue teams asked property owners in the Gales Creek and Hillside areas to search their properties for the missing man. See the full map and more details in the story.

Banks City Council October report

A quick recap, with links to the agenda and audio, of Tuesday night's city council meeting.

Banks Fire log September 2025

Statistics from September, and tips for Halloween safety are in this month's fire log from the Banks Fire District!

Banks September 2025 Police Log

"Parties were again notified and counseled to try to solve their differences or separate for a while and to not unnecessarily utilize law enforcement for their relationship struggles," and other items in this month's police log for the city of Banks.

Column | 1925 in Banks: Banks man faces perjury charges over booze stash

Robert Carlson of Banks arrested again after allegedly lying about the booze that totally wasn't hidden in his woodshed during Prohibition and other tidbits of life in 1925 in Banks and beyond.