Cougars are an essential part of the Mt. Hood ecosystem, and their presence in the surrounding areas is more common than many residents realize. Check out this video we received from local Mike Eldred from E Arthur Hailey Rd. Credit: Mike Eldred from E Arthur Hailey Rd According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Oregon's cougar population is robust and healthy, with higher densities in the Cascade Mountains where their primary prey, deer, is plentiful. Th

Twice a year, the Hoodland Senior Center delivers emergency food boxes to all local Meals on Wheels participants, helping to ensure older adults are ready for the unexpected. The emergency food boxes contain non-perishable items like canned meats, hearty soups, grains, and bottled water, items seniors can rely on when roads are impassable or services are disrupted. From winter power outages to wildfire evacuations, living in a rural community means that we need to be prepared

Toxic exposures in animals happen more often than you’d think, and many come from everyday items around your home, pasture, or barn. Understanding what’s dangerous for dogs, cats, and livestock can help prevent emergencies, costly treatments, and even fatal outcomes. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common toxins we see in our mobile veterinary practice. Toxins in Dogs and Cats Many foods, plants, and household products that are harmless to people can be dangerous, even

Less than five miles north of Brightwood - deep in the protected Bull Run watershed - lies the place where a young World War II pilot lost his life. For nearly two decades, the forest kept the secret of what happened to 2nd Lt. Alan Clay Strader, whose aircraft vanished on a rainy morning in 1943. On March 26, 1943, 2nd Lt. Alan Clay Strader took off from Portland Army Air Base in a Lockheed P-38 Lightning, a sleek single seat, twin-engine, twin-tailed fighter. Just 20 years

Welcome back, dear reader, to another installment of Fore, future winner of the Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism. No? How about for dramatic rhetoric? No? I’ll take it for shameless self- aggrandizement if I have to. I mean let’s be real, pride don’t take home the prize. Oooh did I just make up a proverb? Now my place in history is guaranteed. And speaking of proverbs. It occurs to me that so many can apply to golf. Here are a few examples: A stroke saved is a stro

Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines. It’s time to rev it up and go to the 27th Annual Sandy Cruisin’ Car Show on Saturday, Sept. 13, on the grounds of the St. Michael Catholic Church. More than 200 vehicles are expected to roll into the sprawling church lot to compete in the show. Trophies will be awarded in 23 classes, with winners selected by people’s choice. The Dick Larrowe Memorial Trophy, named after one of the car show’s founders, will be awarded to the best in sh

Andrew White, PA-C, will be departing his role as a Primary Care Provider at the Hoodland Clinic this fall. Andrew’s last day will be October 20, 2025, as he and his family prepare to relocate out of state. Andrew joined Orchid Health in 2017, and for the past eight years has been an integral part of both patient care and the growth of Orchid’s organization. His thoughtful, compassionate, and dedicated approach has touched thousands of patients. “While we are sad to see Andr

Sandy Actors Theatre is thrilled to announce its upcoming production of FOOLS, a delightfully witty comedy by the legendary playwright Neil Simon. Directed by Patrick Roth, the play will open on Thursday, September 12, 2025, and run through Sunday, October 5, 2025, with performances on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at the Sandy Actors Theatre. Set in a remote Ukrainian village during the late 19th century, FOOLS tells the story of Leon Tolchinsky, an enthusiastic young scho

Here in our mountain villages, we’re surrounded by rivers, forests, and trails that seem to invite us outside. It’s one of the most beautiful places to live, yet it can still be surprisingly easy to stay indoors and inactive. The good news is that you don’t need a strict schedule or expensive equipment to enjoy the benefits of movement. What matters most is finding ways to move daily — and making it part of your lifestyle. Go for a Walk or Hike: Step outside your door and wal

One of the trickiest things about being a dentist is that so many dental problems are not symptomatic. What that means is that most people can have a small, medium, and even sometimes large cavity and not know it, because it doesn’t hurt and the cavity is under a shell of hard enamel in the tooth. Periodontal disease, which is a chronic disease that affects the foundation around the teeth, is notorious for not hurting until the really later stages when it is sometimes diffi

Every year, tourists flock to the area, spend their money and soak up the natural beauty. They’re drawn in no small part by the splendor of the Sandy River, a tributary that runs like a lifeline through the Hoodland area. What most locals have forgotten and what newcomers may not know is that our peaceful corner of the Pacific Northwest was nearly destroyed thirty years ago. It was preserved only after a years-long battle fought by a handful of passionate supporters. Deb Scri

While Clackamas Community College President Tim Cook’s 1,500-mile trek around the state to run to all 17 Oregon community colleges concluded on Aug. 4, the message of his mission didn’t lose ground after he crossed the finish line. Cook took off on this summer-long endeavor not just for the exercise but to spread awareness about the unfavorable conditions affecting many community college students. Many students in the state find themselves having to juggle their academic res

HWC members enjoyed a shady picnic together on a hot afternoon Tuesday, Aug. 11 at Wildwood. New club officers talked about plans for fundraising and community action in the upcoming year.The HWC craft group had its handmade crafts on display and for sale. Meet the HWC Craft Group at the Hoodland Block party this month The HWC craft group’s products will be on sale again this month at the Hoodland Block Party on Saturday, September 6th at Cooper’s Wine Bar in the Hoodland

With all the crazy (and worse) news these days, you may not know that there’s actually been some good news. On June 24, the Washington State Department of Agriculture banned the sale and distribution of English ivy and its cousin Atlantic (or Boston) ivy. Oregon prohibited the sale of English ivy in 2010. Why? Forests choked with ivy is why — along Highway 26 and Barlow Trail Road between Tim Rim and Brightwood, for example, where tree trunks are covered with ivy. Not only ca

A complicated quilt can take more than a year to finish. You need to find the right fabric, match and cut the pieces, sew them together, add the middle layer (that’s called batting!) and then add a back layer. Next, a talented craftsperson can stitch an intricate pattern along the cover. To complete, binding is sewn to close the edges. In other words, it takes time. And, for a group of people who meet at the local Lutheran church, time spent quilting is time best spent in the

For four years, Mt. Hood Hospice has recognized those — Vietnam veterans, their family members and the people of Vietnam — impacted by Agent Orange with a small but meaningful ceremony around Agent Orange Awareness Day. The nationally recognized day, August 10, commemorates the anniversary of the first time the herbicide Agent Orange was used as a weapon of war in Vietnam in 1961. Mt. Hood Hospice outreach and volunteer coordinator Jolie Phanton led the ceremony on Monday, A

While many people throughout the country view summer as the season of vacations, rest, and relaxation, many Mt. Hood Villages residents are feeling the exact opposite. Tourism is a prevalent and important part of the economy from Sandy to Government Camp, with most residents in the corridor having careers in the service industry. Pile on the added traffic and extreme number of visitors in such small areas, and the overwhelming feelings of financial success and mental and phys

The annual Art Skipper Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament is almost upon us, and with it comes a reminder about the important program it benefits: No Pioneer Left Behind. For more than a decade, people have enjoyed a day of golf with the mission of helping students afford extracurricular activities in mind. Though the tournament is named for Sandy High grad and Olympic athlete Art Skipper Jr., with the No Pioneer Left Behind program, Oregon Trail School District students can acces

Last year’s Sandy High football team had a strong season that ended with them riding high off of a playoff win. Thankfully for Coach Josh Dill and Pio fans alike, many of the players who cut their teeth as sophomores on the varsity team are returning. “I’m really excited about this year’s squad,” Dill said. “We graduated some good seniors but we have a lot of good football players coming back. They have more speed than I’ve ever had. We’ll be building off of that playoff win

If you were to ask any staff member or contributor of The Mountain Times if he or she felt much like an artist with their work on the paper, I’m sure the grit and grind of the industry would encourage a resounding “no.” And while the act of journalism, investigative reporting, and ad development take their creative mindset to an artistic level with the maneuvering of words, shapes, and colors, one of our team members goes above and beyond the call of artist, not just with his