By Christen Prudence, For The Mountain Times A Brightwood man has been charged with the November 2024 murder of his wife. After a 15- month-long wait, the Mt. Hood Villages has closure for the murder of Susan Lane, more commonly known to locals as “Phoenix”. Michel Fournier was found guilty for murder in the second degree as a result of domestic violence, as well as unlawful use of a weapon. He was sentenced to life in prison with a possibility of parole after 25 years. The

By Justin Andress, The Mountain Times Residents of the Mt. Hood Villages know that reckless driving is part and parcel of life on the mountain. Hopefully, that’s beginning to change, as local law enforcement takes steps to regulate local drivers. New 25-mile-per-hour speed limit signs have appeared along Welches Road. The move has drawn a mixed response from drivers. While the general public supports these measures, there is doubt as to whether they’ll be effective. Welches R

By Amber Ford, The Mountain Times It’s not often that The Mt. Hood Villages gets excited about new businesses and events in this small corridor, but residents and neighbors are on pins and needles with the grand opening of Vinyasa Casa. Located in the back of the Thriftway plaza, Vinyasa Casa will not only house a variety of different yoga classes, but will also host a number of exciting community events inspired by the needs and wants of The Mt. Hood Villages. Owner and mass

By Orchid Health, For The Mountain Times WELCHES, OR — Orchid Health is expanding its clinical team at the Hoodland Orchid Clinic with the addition of Sara Mitenbuler, DNP, FNP. As a primary care provider with over 20 years of experience, Mitenbuler brings a deep background in rural medicine and a holistic approach to family healthcare to the Mt. Hood community. Born in Yakima, Washington, and raised in rural Michigan and Indiana, Mitenbuler has a firsthand understanding of t

By Amber Ford, The Mountain Times In an effort to continue to force Eleanor a little more out of her comfort zone (our girl is truly dedicated to her detective novels, particularly those with a female villain), we have been exploring new genres with storylines we’d normally avoid. So when we found Australian author Daniel O’Malley and his “whodunnit” science fiction books, we knew this would be the best way to dip our toes into the world of the weird and unimaginable. O’Malle

By: Amber Ford, The Mountain Times When it comes to lifelong Mt. Hood Villages’ residents making an impact in the world of art, Colleen McCloskey is adding value to the scene one stitch at a time. A Mt. Hood Villages resident since before the age of two, McCloskey not only finds her artwork driven by passion and knowledge, but by generations of artists passing down those creative genes. Gifted in the fiber arts since childhood, McCloskey finds peace and profession in the croc

For decades, the Wy’East Artisans Guild has supported local “art, artists, and artisans” throughout the greater Mt. Hood area. Residents know the nonprofit for their stirring public art or their regular art classes, but perhaps their largest impact comes from nurturing the skills and showcasing the talent of some of the area’s most respected artists. The Mountain Times sat down with Communications Chair Becky Hawley to discuss the nonprofit’s history and legacy, its upcoming

Residents of the Mt. Hood Villages know that reckless driving is part and parcel of life on the mountain. Hopefully, that’s beginning to change, as local law enforcement takes steps to regulate local drivers. New 25-mile-per-hour speed limit signs have appeared along Welches Road. The move has drawn a mixed response from drivers. While the general public supports these measures, there is doubt as to whether they’ll be effective. Welches Road may appear inconspicuous to visito

It’s not often that The Mt. Hood Villages gets excited about new businesses and events in this small corridor, but residents and neighbors are on pins and needles with the grand opening of Vinyasa Casa. Located in the back of the Thriftway plaza, Vinyasa Casa will not only house a variety of different yoga classes, but will also host a number of exciting community events inspired by the needs and wants of The Mt. Hood Villages. Owner and massage therapist Kristi Carson, along

Orchid Health is expanding its clinical team at the Hoodland Orchid Clinic with the addition of Sara Mitenbuler, DNP, FNP. As a primary care provider with over 20 years of experience, Mitenbuler brings a deep background in rural medicine and a holistic approach to family healthcare to the Mt. Hood community. Born in Yakima, Washington, and raised in rural Michigan and Indiana, Mitenbuler has a firsthand understanding of the unique healthcare needs of smaller communities. Her

They say it takes a village to assure the overall well-being of a community, and when it comes to providing for those who cannot provide for themselves, the Welches Laundromat is doing their part and then some. Located off of Welches Road behind the library, the Welches Laundromat has been a huge resource to community members and to those passing through or vacationing. Owner and Mt. Hood Villages resident Heather Kelner sees her role in the community as a means of giving bac

It’s official. Orlando Cryer has joined the ranks of the Hoodland Fire District as a volunteer firefighter. He and his fellow classmates were sworn in and received their badges from the recruit academy at a special graduation ceremony on March 10 at the fire station.. Training started in the fall with a field of more than 20 prospects, 11 of whom earned their badges after completing a challenging course of studies and physical exercises.  “I really liked the training.” Cryer

Most of you know that the mission of the Hoodland Community Planning Organization (HCPO) is to bring County information to our Hoodland community members and provide a loud voice back to the County. We also provide speaking engagements of interest to the community. We are looking forward to a presentation on General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) and the Hoodland Emergency Communication Service (HECN). Marti Bowne is the co-coordinator of the HECN and the primary person engaged

It’s been a roller coaster of a decade on the mountain. We’ve seen historic wildfires, a massive influx of attention (and tourists), and we’ve all endured a pandemic. Throughout the tumult, Mt. Hood Resort General Manager Chris Spinner has worked tirelessly to distinguish himself and his service at the Mt. Hood landmark. To some degree, Spinner has lived the American Dream. While he now sits atop the ladder as General Manager, he first began working at the Mt. Hood Resort as

One of Mt. Hood’s most respected institutions, Camp Arrah Wanna, is celebrating 85 years as a summer camp, retreat location, and Mt. Hood landmark. Camp Arrah Wanna has long been a landmark in the Hoodland area. Newcomers to the area quickly discover a new friend or neighbor with some connection to the Christian camp. Arrah Wanna is in the mountain’s bloodstream. And, it has worked hard to earn that spot by providing a safe space for kids throughout the region to learn and gr

Relocation plans for the Mount Hood Rest Area are moving forward, bringing a significant change to Government Camp. When the existing facility moves southeast along Highway 26, the town will lose its only public restrooms – prompting Clackamas County to move ahead with a  replacement near the Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum. Teresa Christopherson, administrator for Clackamas County’s Social Services Division, said the county has identified a final site for the local fac

Although the end of February provided some much needed winter weather in The Mt. Hood National Forest, reports indicate that this winter’s snowpack is at critically low levels. With little to no snow over the holiday season and January and February producing spring-like temperatures, Mt. Hood’s pristine snow-covered base was almost nonexistent.  According to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA], as of mid February, the snowpack on Mt. Hood was around 34-

If you’ve never made the drive up to Skibowl for a round (or six) of Cosmic Tubing, now is your best shot. Thanks to Skibowl’s rigorous commitment to keeping snow on the ground, there’s never a bad time to hit the slopes, whether you’re riding an inner tube or a pair of skis. It’s been a rough year for snowfall on Mt. Hood. For an anxiety-inducing example of that fact, let’s look at one of the key metrics used by professionals to measure the snowpack: snow water equivalent. E

Clackamas County officials are urging residents to take a few minutes to share their experiences with rising living costs and access to essential services before a key deadline later this month. The county’s Community Needs Assessment survey , which is conducted once every three years, is open now and will remain available through March 15 . Officials say the feedback helps guide how social services funding and resources are directed throughout the county. Residents who compl

Camp Arrah Wanna's annual youth Winter Camp this coming weekend, February 13th-16th and have had four last-minute cabin counselor cancellations, plus a medic, due to unforeseen circumstances with travel. Are you or do you know someone that would be willing and able to volunteer? Volunteer positions needed:     (2) Female cabin counselors      (3) Male cabin counselors     (1) Medic WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!! Scan the QR code on the flyer or follow this link to apply:  Sign-in | Ca