By Dr. Melanie Brown When most people think about spinal health, they picture bones, discs, or the muscles of the back. But one of the most important stabilizers of the spine isn’t located in the back at all. It’s the diaphragm — the large dome-shaped muscle that helps you breathe. You use your diaphragm about 20,000 times every day without thinking about it. Each breath doesn’t just bring oxygen into your lungs. It also plays an important role in helping stabilize and suppor

By Brit Allen, Sandy Standard/Mountain Times 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

Speak Up about Salmon Valley Water The March 2026 Mountain Times issue had an article covering NW Natural Water Company proposals for rate increases and to merge Salmon Valley Water into Sunstone Water. According to NWN Water website, Salmon Valley Water has over 900 customers. We have been a customer of Salmon Valley Water for the past eight years. We received written notification about the merger request but only found out about the proposed rate increase by reading the ar

Last November, I had the pleasure of meeting Nick Walden Poublon, a candidate running for State Representative in House District 52. As he spoke at a meeting in Welches it became abundantly clear he genuinely listens, and truly wants input from the people he will represent, if elected. He stands on the side of justice and made it clear he will not look away from any issue. Regardless of your political affiliation I feel Nick is the best candidate to represent us in this distr