Brit Allen

When Susan “Phoenix” Lane was found last year, and her death ruled a result of domestic violence by those who love her, people on the mountain reached out — to the county, the state, legislators, and anyone who would listen — requesting better resources to help those experiencing abuse in their community. It wasn’t the first time Mount Hood residents had professed a need for this kind of support, but the circumstances and media coverage of Phoenix’s death helped emphasize their plea. Clackamas W

We’ve all been there: dragged down the rabbit hole by curiosity over some random topic we find fascinating, whether it’s Wikipedia-ing your favorite artist’s life story or searching the depths of the internet for that discontinued product you have to have. For John Hasbrouck, his rabbit hole was the history of rum, and from that deep dive came the award-winning business: Just Rum. According to his master distiller Jonathan Crosby, before that long night on the internet, Hasbrouck was a whiskey g

When Hans Wipper and Tiffany Vanek opened Wippersnappers Kids Play Place in 2015, their own little whippersnapper was only seven years old, and loved helping her parents design the play structures that she — and hundreds of other kids — would get to traverse. Now their daughter Anika is 17 and helping out with the family business behind the counter, and the family business will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Nov. 26. “It’s come full circle from her playing here to working here,” Wipper said.

The Sandy and Hoodland Libraries have been raising funds to defer costs to outfit a new mobile library vehicle for several months. With the vehicle, the staff plan to facilitate programs like their storytime and 1,000 Books before Kindergarten at daycare centers, preschools, and kindergarten classes; provide STEM activities at schools; and offer technology classes at senior centers and retirement communities."Access to technology and proper instruction empowers seniors to stay connected, informe

As temperatures drop and fall settles in, come enjoy an evening of fairytales with more than a dash of dark humor from the Sandy High School Drama Department. “Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon,” written by Don Zolidis, opens Friday, Nov. 14, and runs Nov. 15, Nov. 20-Nov. 22. All performances are at 7 p.m. and will be on the Sandy High main stage, 37400 Bell St., Sandy. “This production is like if you took the original ‘Brothers Grimm’ stories before Disney got their hands on them and made it into

When people learned of Susan “Phoenix” Lane’s disappearance last November, the mountain community was shaken, even more so when she was found murdered eight days later on Nov. 29, and her husband Michel Fournier was taken into custody. Unfortunately, it wasn’t because something like this has never happened on the mountain, but because of what Lane was to so many — a mother, a sister, a friend. Dozens of people joined the search to look for her, adamant that she wasn’t a “missing hiker,” as law e

For nearly 50 years, Brightwood resident Nathan Mills has lived with an imbalance. At birth, his right leg was shorter than his left. And even after surgeries in his youth to keep his left leg from outgrowing his right, Mills was left with a four-inch difference between the two. This has required creativity — such as specially lifted shoes — and years of pain management. Even so, Mills operates with a very positive mentality in his daily life, choosing to “focus on the things you can control.” “

As children awaited the arrival of Santa Claus, Mount Hood ski resorts and hydrologists alike were hoping and waiting for the arrival of the next big winter storm. As of Dec. 15, Timberline Lodge, Meadows, and SkiBowl were all still waiting for enough snow to open, and USDA supervisory hydrologist Matt Warbritton and his team were likewise looking for some lower temperatures and wintery precipitation to hit the Hood, Sandy, and Lower Deschutes region (and other parts of the state). Early season

For this season at the Mt. Hood Community College Theatre Department, the sky is the limit. In keeping with their theme of “elevate,” the department will produce Laurel Ollstein’s “They Promised Her the Moon,” highlighting the story of lesser-known aviator and trailblazer Jerrie Cobb. Cobb was trained and meant to be the first female astronaut on the moon, but that dream was never actualized. “The theme is obvious in the idea of someone wanting to go to space,” said Director Zach Hartley. “It’s

With the festivities of Sandy Music Fair and Feast done again for the year, Executive Director Khrys Jones and the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce aren’t hitting pause.