By Marie Kennedy, The Mountain Times A passenger was killed Wednesday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 26 near Welches, according to the Oregon State Police. Troopers responded around 3 p.m. April 15 to the crash near milepost 39 in Clackamas County. A white Dodge Ram traveling westbound lost control on a stretch of roadway covered in snow and hail, crossed the highway, went through a ditch and struck a tree head-on, investigators said. Rear passenger Nina Westb

By Amber Ford, The Mountain Times Residents of The Mt. Hood Villages were startled the Sunday evening of April 12th when sirens echoed throughout the community. A car chase involving 19 year old Nicholas Toler of Brightwood turned deadly in the parking lot of Barlow Trail Roadhouse. According to The Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office, Oregon State Police Trooper Garrett Bailey attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle Toler was driving near Highway 26 and East Brightwo

By: Amber Ford, The Mountain Times Living so close to the pristine national forest of our beloved Mt. Hood, the many different types of mothers dwelling between The Mt. Hood Villages and the snow covered cap of our beloved volcano vary: bear, wolf, fox, bird, and human. And although these species have vastly different lives and purposes there is one common denominator: the fierce and unconditional love that comes with the title of “mom.” While the number of amazing moms who c

By Amber Ford, The Mountain Times One of The Mt. Hood Villages most prolific and dedicated organizations celebrates its 75th birthday in May. The Mt. Hood Lions Club will host members past and present for a celebration of the years of service in the community. Housing the most members in the state of Oregon, The Mt. Hood Lions Club currently has 114 members, each dedicated to community service and outreach. Mt. Hood Lions Club President Dave Anderson, explains that while memb

Amber Ford, The Mountain Times Beginning in April, kids living in The Mt. Hood Villages and attending Welches Schools can now participate in a very unique afterschool program centered around the environment and natural healing methods. Created, hosted, and taught by long time Mt. Hood Villages local herbalist and resident Mel Mutterspaugh, children can now experience the many benefits of the plant life that can be found all over their neighborhoods and playgrounds. A graduate

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