CHRISTINE DRAZAN: Give voters the final say
By CHRISTINE DRAZAN, State Senator, District 26 — As I begin my role representing Senate District 26, I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunity to serve this district of hardworking families, neighbors who help one another, and communities who care for each other. I am excited to begin meeting with people across the district to […]
Desperately seeking George Bailey
By MIKE WILEY, Publisher — I’m not a fan of superhero movies. Why? Because they paint a deceptive picture of what the world needs. Unrealistic, fictional characters with superhuman or magical powers? No. Our world and communities today really need more George Baileys. George Bailey is the main character in the classic holiday movie, “It’s […]
Christmas: The Invasion of Hope
By MIKE WILEY, Publisher Some time ago, I read a book about the meaning of life by Canadian professor and psychologist Jordan Peterson. The book, which was a huge best-seller, is called 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos.One thing I quickly discovered is that you really have to put on your big boy […]
BEN WEST: County year in review
By BEN WEST, Clackamas County Commissioner, Position 5 — As the holiday season blankets Clackamas County in a gentle frost and twinkling lights adorn our neighborhoods, I find myself reflecting on the past year with a heart full of gratitude. As your County Commissioner, it’s my privilege to serve this vibrant community, and what better […]
Voters turn down Oregon Trail District bond measure
By MIKE WILEY, Publisher — The bond measure, which would have hiked local property taxes, was defeated by an overwhelming margin — In the November 4 Special Election, voters in the Oregon Trail School District decisively rejected a proposed $172.2 million infrastructure bond, handing district officials a sharp defeat and complicating plans for long-planned upgrades […]
COVER STORY: “What Christmas Means to Me”
— Local friends and neighbors share what Christmas and the Holiday Season means to them — Sally Macklin — For me, Christmas has always been about the celebration, in the darkest, coldest part of the year, of Christ’s birth, and the miracle of God becoming man, to dwell among us… and to teach us how […]
Referendum to require vote on increased gas taxes off to fast start
By MIKE WILEY, Publisher — The effort to require a vote on higher fuel taxes and increased fees reportedly gains over 150,000 signatures by late November — During late-November, a strong citizen-led effort reportedly gathered over 150,000 signatures in an effort to refer a large tax increase bill — HB 3991— to Oregon voters. The […]