By Marie Kennedy The Mountain Times The close of the 2024–25 school year marks the retirement of several long-serving educators from the Oregon Trail School District. This year’s list includes teachers whose careers span decades across multiple schools in the district. Kristine Nuivert began working for the district in 1998 and has spent the past nine years teaching third grade at Welches Elementary. Before that, she taught at Sandy Grade School and Firwood Elementary. Her p

By Marie Kennedy The Mountain Times This May, voters in the Hoodland Fire District will decide whether to approve a proposed $19.145 million general obligation bond to fund a new Main Fire Station 351. The measure will appear on the May 20, 2025 ballot and comes after years of discussion over the limitations of the district’s current primary fire facility. The existing station, located in Welches, has served the community for decades but is widely considered outdated and no l

By Justin Andress The Mountain Times In early 2023, Publisher Matt Nelson raised some local eyebrows when he purchased the beloved Mountain Times . Over the next two years, however, Nelson has worked alongside the community to build a stronger, more informed local paper. Though his first job was as a newspaper delivery boy around age 10, Nelson never aspired to own his own paper. Far from it. “However, because of the nature of the publishing business that I’m in, I’m always l

By Brittany Kintigh For The Mountain Times Early in May, the Welches Middle School Leadership Class teamed up with the Hoodland Senior Center (HSC) for a special event — the first-ever Mother’s Day Car Wash and Flower Basket Raffle! It was a fun and sunny day full of teamwork, soapy sponges, and helping hands. The event raised money for the Senior Center’s medical transportation program. This program helps local seniors get to their doctor appointments safely. Thanks to the h

By Justin Andress The Mountain Times On Thursday, May 1, the Hoodland Community Planning Organization (CPO) held an uncharacteristic special meeting to discuss a matter of time-sensitive importance. For those who are unaware, the Hoodland CPO is an organization that represents mountain locals in matters pertaining to the development of land. Their goal is to present the mountain community with issues facing our precious natural environment and inform homeowners and business o