The Gresham Outlook

Multnomah County Commissioners voted Thursday to recommend that 1,000 acres of land west of the Sandy River be designated as urban reserves. If the decision is upheld in coming negotiations among regional leaders, that would make those areas near Gresham and Troutdale candidates for future ... Full Story »

Because behavior involving a subordinate employee occurred in another state, the Oregon attorney general’s office said it lacks sufficient evidence to prosecute the former director of the state’s police training agency. John Minnis, a Wood Village resident, resigned his post in late ... Full Story »

Because behavior he admitted to regarding a former subordinate employee occurred in another state, the Oregon attorney general’s office said it lacks sufficient evidence to prosecute the former director of the state’s police training agency. John Minnis, a Wood Village resident, ... Full Story »

Rep. Nick Kahl, D-Rockwood, has announced he will run for a second two-year term in the Oregon House of Representatives. He will hold an event to kick-off his re-election campaign at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at Joe Edgar Union Hall, 1850 N.E. 162nd Ave., Portland. Scheduled guests at the event ... Full Story »

East County is plugged in. And the people with Christmas light displays are notifying The Outlook. Steven and Sandy Goddard report their home, 158 S.E. Greenway Lane, Gresham, is ready to receive gawkers and that they have added still more lights for their fifth year. They are off Southeast 268th ... Full Story »

The city of Gresham received the National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee’s Above and Beyond Award for its policy of paying the difference between an employee’s military pay and city salary while they are serving in the military. Called the “Military Pay ... Full Story »

The following swimming pools are open to residents and visitors. The Mt. Hood Aquatic Center on the campus of Mt. Hood Community College, 26000 S.E. Stark St. Drop-in cost is $4.50 for adults, $3.25 for seniors and children and free for MHCC students and staff. Punch cards are available. For ... Full Story »

Richard L. Flack May 24, 1942-Nov. 28, 2009 Gresham resident Richard L. Flack, 67, died Saturday, Nov. 28. A gathering of remembrance will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Standing Room Only Bar and Grill, 400 N.W. Miller Ave. Richard was born May 24, 1942, in New York to Joe and ... Full Story »

THURSDAY, DEC. 10 Gresham Design Commission — 6:30 p.m., City Hall, Oregon Trail Conference Room, 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway. Call Lauren McGuire at 503-618-2108 for information. Gresham Pleasant Valley Neighborhood Association — 6:30 p.m., Butler Creek Elementary School library, 2789 ... Full Story »

The Gresham Outlook welcomes calendar notices for weekly public events and support group meetings in East County. To submit an item, simply send the information to Dateline, The Gresham Outlook, P.O. Box 747, Gresham, 97030; e-mail to chall@theoutlookonline.com; or fax it to 503-665-2187 at least ... Full Story »

The following is a list of free programs and events being held at East Multnomah County libraries. Call each library or visit www.multcolib.org/events for more information. THURSDAY, DEC. 10 Read & Romp – 10 to 11 a.m., Gresham Library, 385 N.W. Miller Ave. Time for children ages 1-3 ... Full Story »

Historical society hosts party The Fairview Rockwood Wilkes Historical Society is hosting a Christmas party starting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, at Fairview Community Center, 300 Harrison St., Fairview. The Smith Memorial Presbyterian Church Jubilant Bells will perform at 7 p.m., and will be ... Full Story »

Barely a year after approving a Verizon Internet and cable TV franchise for East County, the Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission gave a thumbs up to the company’s successor. The commission voted unanimously at its Monday, Dec. 7, meeting to recommend, with conditions, a transfer of services ... Full Story »

In response to the area’s bone-chilling temperatures and biting wind, a local church is opening its doors as a warming shelter for the homeless. From 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., First Baptist Church, 224 W. Powell Blvd., is sheltering the cold from Monday through Wednesday, Dec. 7-9. Fifteen homeless ... Full Story »

Since early November, workers have braved the wind, mud, rain — and now record-breaking low temperatures — to install the largest ground-mounted solar facility in the state at Gresham’s wastewater treatment center. “It’s actually the largest in the Northwest,” ... Full Story »

The skull found last week just outside of Sandy on a steep hillside off Bluff Road was not the result of a homicide or unreported accident as originally speculated. According to the county medical examiner and a state forensic anthropologist, the skull had been used for instructional purposes ... Full Story »

The Oregon Humane Society is bringing about 100 dogs in distress to Portland this week from an Eastern Oregon farm where many of the animals lived in holes covered by planks in sub-freezing temperatures. The dogs belonged to three people in Harney County who were charged this week with several ... Full Story »

Budget problems are forcing DoveLewis to close its Southeast Portland after-hours animal clinic. The clinic at 10564 S.E. Washington St. closes Friday morning. DoveLewis Chief Executive Officer Ron Morgan said that during the past two years, the animal hospital lost $260,000. This fiscal year, ... Full Story »

In response to the area’s bone-chilling temperatures and biting wind, a local church is opening its doors as a warming shelter for the homeless. From 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., First Baptist Church, 224 W. Powell Blvd., will shelter the cold Monday through Wednesday, Dec. 7-9. Volunteers have ... Full Story »

This year’s annual winter ZooLights festival is going to do a little recycling. The Oregon Zoo’s signature holiday event that uses about 770,000 low-energy LEDs to light its displays is asking the public to follow its example and dump those energy-sucking old Christmas lights. Until ... Full Story »

To say it was a little odd to see Gresham City Manager Erik Kvarsten sporting an Ohio State necktie on Civil War game day is to put it mildly. After all, Mayor Shane Bemis swears he saw Kvarsten bleed green and yellow following a paper cut. But his mysterious fashion statement was all for a good ... Full Story »

What appeared to be a standard-issue tour bus transformed, on Friday, Dec. 4, into a portal to East County’s economic past and future. David Eatwell, economic development director of the West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce, led 24 local dignitaries and state officials on the inaugural ... Full Story »

Consumers may be spending less than in previous years, but when it comes to toys, East County shoppers have more than a touch of Santa Claus in them this season. Barely a week after the Troutdale Toys for Tots program started, volunteers at the Wood Village Wal-Mart have collected a record 62 ... Full Story »

Fire district collects toys People who donate toys or money to the Boring Fire District’s Christmas basket program can receive a special dinner at Marli’s Restaurant at Mountainview Golf Course, 27195 S.E. Kelso Road. Each person who donates new, unwrapped toys, worth at least $10, ... Full Story »

One of America’s best vocal groups actually prefers being off-stage, if only to better minister to its audience. “Once we step down, that’s when we step up,” says Steve Cross, 31, bass vocalist for Rescue, which recently won the Religious Album of the Year Award from the ... Full Story »