Sandy Post

Fall rains begin soon, as do the midterm political campaigns and elections, which are not as welcome but as necessary as the rains. This year’s slate of candidates presents interesting choices. I am focused on two races: Governor and HD 52. Governor Kotek has proven to be just another party-line apparatchik.

A new wellness center has opened its doors in the Columbia River Gorge, revitalizing a historic structure that had sat vacant for years following a devastating fire. The Healing Order, a holistic health retreat, is now welcoming day guests to its location in Corbett, 40301 E. Larch Mountain Rd. The goal is to bring together various healing elements for a coordinated model of care and relaxation.

A community meeting has been scheduled for this weekend to update folks on the state of a trio of wildfires burning in Clackamas County to the southeast of Estacada. The fire update will be made at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at Estacada High School’s gym, 355 N.E. Sixth Ave. (to the far right when facing the school). The meeting will have presentations about current suppression efforts, evacuation information, and planned operations.

That frustrating slowdown in the Columbia River Gorge just hit a major construction milestone, which means normal traffic patterns on Interstate 84 is nearly here. The Oregon Department of Transportation said the massive steel beams that form the structural backbone of the new I-18 McCord Creek Bridge were successfully placed. The steel reinforcement grid (rebar) was built across the span of the bridge deck, which provides the necessary strength for the span to handle heavy highway loads.

As the Oregon Department of Transportation faces potential staff cuts, some raise concerns about state’s ability to respond to severe weather and growing backlog of maintenance projects As fires scorched through a record 2.5 million acres this summer, mostly in eastern and central Oregon, many of the state’s transportation maintenance crews traded patching potholes and cleaning culverts for wildfire response.

A new business has opened in Gresham, offering a bevy of ways to be creative, work with your hands, and have plenty of family fun. The Hot Spot Gresham is in the middle of its soft opening. Owned by Ame Williams, the business opened its doors Monday, Aug. 10, and has already been excitedly welcoming folks in — whether they want to paint pottery, craft candles, or dive into other artistic ventures. “The first thing we do when people walk in is greet them and make them feel welcome,” Williams said.

An annual event returns this month that will showcase classic cars and raise funds in support of senior programming. The 8th annual Gresham Senior Center Car Show rolls into town from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, at the east parking lot, 600 N.E. Eighth St. The event will have a quilt raffle, games and prizes, food and entertainment. There will also be dash plaques and trophies awarded to entrants. If you want to showcase your car it is $20.

Public health experts and mental health advocates working on proposals to curb cannabis use among youth Karma Clarke, a Douglas County mother, thought marijuana was harmless in 2014 when she voted in favor of the ballot measure legalizing recreational cannabis in Oregon. She believed that until six years later, when her then-20-year-old son began smoking marijuana regularly.

NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RentRedi, the go-to property management software for independent landlords, has been named 2026 Rental Management Platform of the Year in the sixth annual PropTech Breakthrough Awards program.

Wildfire response goes far beyond the front lines — it takes a whole village to battle fires and keep communities safe. The response to the Grasshopper Fire, which is still burning in the Mount Hood National Forest in Wasco, Clackamas, and Hood River Counties, took more than 1,700 people from across the globe. “Behind every engine, hand grew, and operational decision is a team of people working around the clock to keep the entire incident moving,” said fire officials.