The Astorian · Cannon Beach, OR
Family wants people to be aware — and wary — of crossing paths with wild animals Experiencing the majestic sight of the Roosevelt elk is as much a part of the Cannon Beach experience as taking in Haystack Rock or zooming in on darting Tufted Puffins. However, while the other sightings are relatively carefree activities, coming across the local herds of elk can be anything but. Cannon Beach city officials even passed an ordinance on Aug. 6 to increase visitor awareness and caution when encountering the local wildlife. The ordinance states that the elk, which are wild animals, “can be aggressive without warning.” People are to give the animals a wide berth: “to ensure the safety of both people and elk alike, no person shall willfully approach within 100 feet of an elk located within city limits.” Around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov.
West Linn Tidings · Astoria, OR
Nearby: Astoria, ORFeelings about Astoria’s housing predicament were laid bare by the campaign for Measure 4-247 and the reaction against it. Measure proponents approached the issue with admirable conviction. Despite Oregonians’ deep aversion to new taxes, nearly four out of 10 Astoria voters supported a levy on owners of homes occupied less than half the year, with exceptions for certain circumstances. That says something about how urgently many residents want action. Beyond a simple anti-tax impulse, the campaign revealed considerable discomfort with peering too deeply into when and why people choose to be away from their Astoria homes. That discomfort can coexist with a gnawing worry that the town is becoming too precious and expensive to preserve its working-class, bohemian character.
Chinook Observer · Ilwaco, WA
Nearby: Ilwaco, WAThe conclusion of the season for a van full of Ilwaco student-athletes nearly ended in disaster. Head Coach Sarah Taylor and the Fishermen cross country squad had an uneventful 322-mile journey to Eastern Washington and were looking forward to competing in the WIAA 2B state championship race at the Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco. Once in the Tri-Cities, their itinerary the day before the race included detouring to an off-site location to collect their official registration paperwork and bib numbers. That’s when the engine noise of the Ocean Beach School District van signaled a problem. Eventually the 9-seater van coughed to an inauspicious halt at the side of the road. Various calls for help linked the supervisors with the Kennewick School District. The Ilwaco staff praised the host district for going beyond anything they could have expected. A driver showed up in a new van, rescued the students, loaded their kitbags, then took them to their hotel, making sure all was well.
Chinook Observer · Ilwaco, WA
Nearby: Ilwaco, WANov. 2 — Disturbance: Nesadi Drive, Ilwaco. Police responded to a report of possible gunshots. A reporting party said the sounds resembled centerfire gunshots but could have come from a nail gun. An officer checked a nearby residence without making contact and searched the area without finding a source. Another person reported hearing similar sounds over the previous three days while working on a house on Sahalee Drive. Nov. 2 — Harassment: Washington Street South, Long Beach. A reporting party said a woman claiming to be his landlord delivered eviction papers, cursed at him and waved her hands in a manner he considered threatening. An officer advised him to contact the court about the eviction notice. The woman had left before police arrived. Nov. 3 — Assault: Long Beach Tavern, Long Beach. Police responded to a report of two men fighting. Both had left before officers arrived. The bartender said he had not witnessed much of the incident but had asked both men to leave.
The Banks Post · Tillamook, OR
Nearby: Tillamook, ORThe Tillamook Forest Center will hold its annual Rain Festival Saturday, Nov. 14, and Sunday, Nov. 15, with a salmon hike, rain-related crafts and a photo booth for showing off rain gear, the center said on Facebook. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days at the center, 45500 Wilson River Highway, according to the center's website. "Join us at the Tillamook Forest Center as we plunge into the world of surging rivers, spawning salmon, and the inner workings of watersheds to celebrate the ways in which rain transforms our forests," the center said in its event listing. A Rainforest Salmon Hike is set for 11:30 a.m. each day, with a chance to see spawning salmon. Other activities include rain-related crafts and displays, "a special typewriter with a forest view," an outdoor salmon migration game and a rainy fashion photo booth. Visitors can pick up a passport in the lobby and get it stamped at each activity to win a Smokey Bear poster. Admission to the center is a suggested $5 donation.
Chinook Observer · Long Beach, WA
Nearby: Long Beach, WAPacific County Sheriff’s Office Nov. 1 Ocean Park: A 911 caller, possibly a child, said there was a “monster outside.” The dispatcher could not clearly understand what the caller was saying. A reporting party said a friend had been assaulted by her boyfriend several days earlier and was receiving threatening messages from him. A reporting party said her husband and occupants of two other vehicles had been threatened by someone brandishing a firearm. The suspect allegedly threatened to run them over with a vehicle. A reporting party said a woman was experiencing withdrawal symptoms after changes in her medication, was combative and had possible dementia. A reporting party who purchased a vehicle in Louisiana without receiving its title requested assistance from an officer in obtaining the necessary inspection.
The Banks Post · Banks, OR
Nearby: Banks, ORThis week: Megan Blake led City Councilor Pearcia Bogroff by 21 votes for Banks City Council Position 5 in Friday's results; Kent Bond received the 2026 Banks Citizenship Award; and Banks Taphouse celebrated its grand opening on Main Street with a ribbon cutting.
The Banks Post · Banks, OR
Nearby: Banks, ORMegan Blake's lead over City Councilor Pearcia Bogroff in the race for Banks City Council Position 5 grew to 21 votes in Washington County's unofficial 4 p.m. Friday results, and Commissioner Nafisa Fai's lead over Commissioner Pam Treece in the race for county chair widened to 460 votes, too wide for an automatic recount if it holds through the certified count. Blake had 369 votes (50.83%) to Pearcia Bogroff's 348 (47.93%), with 9 write-in votes. Since Tuesday, when Blake led by 20, Blake gained three votes and Pearcia Bogroff two. Pearcia Bogroff led by 30 votes in the first results on election night and by four at midnight. The two were tied at 227 votes each in the Nov. 4 count, and Blake led by 18 in the Nov. 6 count. Under state law, a recount would be automatic only if the certified count shows a tie or a margin of no more than one-fifth of 1% of the votes for the two candidates. In a race this size, that means a tie or a one-vote margin.
Forest Grove News Times · Banks, OR
Nearby: Banks, ORStudents in the Hillsboro and Forest Grove school districts saw mixed results in math, science and English test scores during the 2025-26 school year, while Banks and Gaston reported improvements across all three subjects. That’s according to the Oregon Department of Education, which released results of the Oregon Statewide Assessments in late September, showing statewide proficiency rates on the rise for the second consecutive year. Statewide, proficiency increased by 1.4 percentage points in math, 0.8 percentage points in English language arts and 0.6 percentage points in science compared to the previous school year. Despite those improvements, fewer than half of Oregon students who took the assessments demonstrated proficiency in each of the three subjects. “These results give us reason to be encouraged, but also reinforce how much more there is to accomplish,” Oregon Department of Education Director Charlene Williams said in a release.
The Banks Post · Banks, OR
Nearby: Banks, OR“Just Another High School Play” at the Banks High School, a Dairy Creek history talk at the library, the St. Francis Christmas Bazaar in Roy and 14 more events this week.
The Banks Post · Banks, OR
Nearby: Banks, ORKent Bond, an assistant coach on two Banks Braves state championship baseball teams, received the 2026 Banks Citizenship Award at the Banks City Council meeting Tuesday, Nov. 10. Joey Bonin nominated him. "Kent Bond is the owner of Impact Physical Therapy of Banks, and he exemplifies the Banks values of hard work, service, and commitment to the community," Bonin wrote in the nomination, which was read aloud at the meeting and printed on the city's award sheet. "Kent regularly volunteers his time and expertise, providing free treatment to BHS athletes, and serving as the on-field trainer/triage personnel at football games," Bonin wrote. "This past year, he stepped up to the interim baseball coach after an unexpected vacancy, having already contributed to the Banks culture of excellence, leading the 2019 Braves to a state championship," the nomination said.
The Banks Post · Banks, OR
Nearby: Banks, ORThe year is 1976. Hagg Lake is brand new, and the water is rising. In Forest Grove, Poppio’s is still slinging slices, and over in Banks, the newly remodeled Brown Derby is serving breakfast until 2 a.m. Welcome to a snapshot of life in western Washington County exactly 50 years ago. This week, we dive into the archives of the Washington County News-Times from November 10, 1976, uncovering the stories that had our neighbors talking, from major civic changes to the rhythms of rural life. A Note on Historical Context: We present these clips as they originally appeared. Please be aware that newspapers of this era often contained language or viewpoints that are racist, sexist, or otherwise unethical by modern standards.
The Banks Post · Banks, OR
Nearby: Banks, ORBanks Taphouse celebrated its grand opening Friday evening, Nov. 6, with a ribbon cutting held by the Banks Chamber of Commerce at the new family-run taphouse on Main Street in downtown Banks. Brent VanLoo held a megaphone and addressed the crowd, and with a snip of a very large pair of scissors, the Banks Taphouse ceremonially joined the downtown Banks business community. Banks Taphouse opened on Halloween after a friends-and-family soft opening, and the ribbon cutting kicked off a grand opening weekend that ran through Sunday, Nov. 8, according to its Facebook page and website. "We're just doing this as a family," VanLoo, a Gales Creek resident who runs the taphouse, said in an interview the day before the ribbon cutting. "My daughter's been a cook and a chef for years." His daughter Nikki VanLoo has had her own food truck, the Nacho Witch, and some of the taphouse's fusion tacos and nachos are inspired by it, VanLoo said.
The Banks Post · Banks, OR
Nearby: Banks, ORMegan Blake's lead over City Councilor Pearcia Bogroff in the race for Banks City Council Position 5 grew to 20 votes in Washington County's unofficial 4 p.m. Tuesday results, and Commissioner Nafisa Fai moved ahead of Commissioner Pam Treece in the race for county chair. Blake had 366 votes (50.76%) to Pearcia Bogroff's 346 (47.99%), with 9 write-in votes. Since Friday, when Blake led by 18, Blake gained 24 votes and Pearcia Bogroff 22. Pearcia Bogroff led by 30 votes in the first results on election night and by four at midnight, and the two were tied at 227 votes each Wednesday. Under state law, a recount would be automatic only if the certified count shows a tie or a margin of no more than one-fifth of 1% of the votes for the two candidates. In a race this size, that means a tie or a one-vote margin. Washington County added Tuesday's update "in recognition of the public interest surrounding several close races," it said in a news post Monday. Another update is expected Friday.
The Banks Post · Banks, OR
Nearby: Banks, ORThe Banks Fire Log is written by the Banks Fire District. The Banks Post does not write, edit, or alter the contents of the fire log.
Columbia County Spotlight · Banks, OR
Nearby: Banks, ORIt was a good day to be a Scappoose Indian at the 4A State Cross Country Championships. Led by freshman Katherine Kessi, who won the individual championship, the Scappoose girls placed fourth in the team competition, scoring 101 points — nine points behind third-place Banks, 21 points behind second-place Philomath and 50 points behind winner La Grande. “I would definitely rate the girls race as one of the top races of the year,” Scappoose head coach Corey Hedger said. “They ran so tough, made some really strong moves in the middle of the race, pushed themselves to help separate from Klamath Union and get close to Banks. Our girls ran really tough, and I am super proud of them and the performance. The girls met the moment and met the expectation and then some.” Kessi — who splits time with the Indians’ girls soccer team — won the race with a time of 18:14.3.
The Banks Post · Banks, OR
Nearby: Banks, ORThis week: Megan Blake pulled ahead in the Banks City Council Position 5 race and Jimmy Bogroff led Mayor Marsha Kirk in Friday's election results; Banks High School drama students stage "Just Another High School Play" Nov. 12-14; and Banks Billiards is for sale at $900,000.