Washington County Sheriff’s Officers on scene in Roy. Photo: Forest Grove Fire and Rescue A residence and local landmark in Roy was damaged during a fire on Wednesday evening, according to Forest Grove Fire and Rescue, with no injuries reported for the home’s residents or pets, including a cat and[Read More…]
Chas Hundley
Grant opens for small businesses in unincorporated Washington County
Face masks. Photo: Chas Hundley Washington County announced on Tuesday, December 8 that a new round of small business grants for businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic had been opened. The program is targeted at businesses with 100 or fewer employees that are in the hospitality industry or were shut[Read More…]
School sports calendar shifted back due to COVID-19
Sports fields in Banks on August 5, 2020. Photo: Chas Hundley The Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) Executive Board announced on Monday, Dec. 7 that school sports would be pushed back to start season 2 practices in February. “The OSAA Executive Board was hopeful that the state’s landscape was going[Read More…]
County commissioners to host COVID-19 town hall December 12
Face masks. Photo: Chas Hundley On December 3, Washington County was one of 25 Oregon counties placed in the “Extreme Risk” category under a new COVID-19 risk classification system unveiled by Governor Kate Brown, and it is this topic and more that will be discussed by the Washington County Board[Read More…]
Ride Connection plans public transit expansion in rural western Washington County
A Ride Connection bus drives through Banks on July 11, 2018. Photo: Chas Hundley In early 2021, the nonprofit organization Ride Connection plans to expand their offerings of rural public transit options, which includes bus routes in Banks and North Plains that connect to the wider TriMet service territory, door-to-door[Read More…]
Oregon’s reported coronavirus deaths surpass 1,000 as cases climb
Face masks. Photo: Chas Hundley More than 1,000 Oregonians have died in Oregon after contracting the novel coronavirus, the Oregon Health Authority announced Friday, December 4. The total deaths attributed to COVID-19 number 1,003 as of Friday. Friday’s report said that 30 more Oregonian’s had died, the fourth day in[Read More…]
Banks Christmas ‘parade’ still on for December 12
Santa was present at the inaugural parade in 2019. Photo: Stewart Monroe The Second Annual Banks Christmas Light Parade is still on, according to event organizers. Questions were raised regarding the parade after a similar event in Forest Grove was cancelled due to Governor Kate Brown’s “Freeze” order, but in[Read More…]
Washington County in ‘Extreme Risk’ category under new restrictions beginning December 3
A graph from the Oregon Health Authority showing county risk categories as of November 23 In a new framework announced Wednesday afternoon, Governor Kate Brown unveiled restrictions that will begin on December 3, continuing many of the restrictions from the “freeze” that began on Wednesday, November 18 and ends December[Read More…]
Inside the new Buxton fire station
The front of the building and parking lot at at Hornshuh Creek Fire Station #14 on October 28, 2020. Photo: Chas Hundley Crafted with locally-milled logs on the exterior, the new Hornshuh Creek Fire Station #14, located near Buxton along Highway 26 across from Hornshuh Creek Road, opened this month[Read More…]
Free parking at Stub Stewart, other state parks day after Thanksgiving
The entrance to Stub Stewart State Park. Photo: Chas Hundley While so many traditions have been upended by the coronavirus pandemic, there’s one that will return the day after Thanksgiving: Free parking at the 25 state parks that normally charge a $5 parking fee for day-use on Friday, November 27[Read More…]