By Pat Zimmer, for The Mountain Times Twenty-six furry friends showed up at Camp Arrah Wanna – humans in tow – Saturday, April 25, at the Mobile Vet Clinic sponsored by Hoodland Women’s Club. It was a busy day. Veterinarians administered over 80 vaccines. Ricky the cat was the soul of patience sitting for a nail trim and an annual exam. HWC member Liz Hardy, a veterinarian with Northwest Mobile Vet, told Ricky’s owner Julie that her cat looked very healthy. The HWC event of

These are close-up illustrations of fruit, by the middle school Art class. Blueberry Pomegranate Kiwi Strawberry Melon Grapefruit

By Marie Kennedy, The Mountain Times Residents in the Mount Hood area will have a chance to help shape transportation priorities in Clackamas County for the next 20 years during an open house in Welches. Clackamas County will host an East County Transportation System Plan open house from 5 to 6:30 p.m. June 18 in the Trees Room at Mt. Hood Oregon Resort. The event is co-hosted by the Hoodland CPO and will include Spanish interpreters on site. The meeting is part of the county

SAVE THE DATE July 19, 2026 St. John in the Woods Catholic Church 24905 E Woodsey Way, Welches Celebrating 100 Years in Welches Please join us as we gather to honor the generations who built our parish beginning with the early settlers in the Mt. Hood Corridor who sought to establish a place of worship and community gathering. Over the last 100 years, St. John’s has been intertwined with the history of Welches, playing a significant role in the spiritual and social life of t

By Cassie Kanable, For The Mountain Times Hello Welches Families! As another school year wound down, May was packed with celebration, community, and appreciation at Welches Schools. One of the highlights of the month was Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, where we had the opportunity to recognize the incredible people who support our students every day. Staff enjoyed pastries and coffee from Mt. Hood Roasters, a taco lunch from Los Venados Mexican Grill, charcuterie boxes and

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

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’Malley’s “The Rook” Series is what woul

Hoodland Senior Center’s Executive Director, Carianne Stearns, has announced she will resign from her position in March 2026, marking the end of more than two years of dedicated service to seniors in the Hoodland community. Change is a normal part of life, and this moment offers a chance to reflect on the positive energy, growth, and care that Carianne has brought to the Senior Center during her time as director. On behalf of the Board of Directors, the center extends sincere

This month marks the 30th anniversary of the Great Flood of 1996, a natural disaster that reshaped the Mount Hood corridor and tested the resolve of communities of the Mount Hood corridor. The winter of 1995–96 had been unsettled from the start. Snowpack was thin through much of December and early January. Then a late-month Arctic blast buried the Cascades under several feet of snow, which turned to ice, setting the stage for what followed. On February 6, a warm Pineapple Exp

As we prepare to embark on another year, the team behind The Mountain Times is prepping for a truly exciting event: the launch of a new publication, The Sandy Standard . This new monthly newspaper will deliver a fresh batch of community-oriented stories focused on the residents of Sandy. In these divisive times, it’s critical to remember that we are all of us more alike than different. Every print edition of The Mountain Times is a reflection of that comforting truth. The pa

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month — a time to focus on prevention, early detection, and caring for your long-term health. At Orchid Health Hoodland Clinic, we believe proactive, preventive care is one of the most powerful tools we have to keep our community healthy. Cervical cancer is largely preventable when detected early through regular screenings, yet many people delay or skip these important exams. Our Hoodland team is here to change that by providing care that

As The Mt. Hood Villages closes the door on 2025 and rings in 2026, many community members are sharing sentiments of excitement for the change and growth a new year can bring. Whether it’s trying to dedicate more time to hiking and outdoor activities or committing more time to family and friends, the new year offers a chance to shed the past and welcome the future with open arms. Unlike many other small towns throughout the country, The Mt. Hood Villages offers an outdoor es

As we head into the new year, we want to acknowledge the challenging end to December for our community. Welches Schools were closed 12/17–12/19 due to windstorms, heavy rain, and widespread power outages. We hope everyone has had time to recover and that, despite the disruption, you were still able to enjoy a restful and lovely holiday break with family and friends. Our community truly shows up for one another, especially during tough moments. Before the storms rolled in, Dec

In late December 1964, as the Mountain was preparing for Christmas, the weather in the upper Sandy River valley began to shift quickly. A warm Chinook wind swept into the region, accompanied by days of heavy rain, melting a deep early-winter snowpack, while frozen ground prevented the water from soaking in. Creeks rose first, then the rivers. By the time people realized how serious it was, the water was already moving fast and carrying things with it — logs, boulders, and ent

In the late hours of November 21, just a few days before Thanksgiving, a residential fire erupted just off Barlow Trail in Rhododendron. Luckily the fire was contained in just 17 minutes thanks to the robust response of local fire officials — however, the house is a total loss for the family. Hoodland Fire Division Chief Brian Henrichs spoke to The Mountain Times , in the aftermath of the blaze. “The first call came in just after midnight, at 12:32 a.m,” he says. The first c

Hello, Welches Families! November was a wonderful month filled with community and holiday spirit! Students and their families joined us for an engaging morning of learning and treats at our Music, Math, and Muffins event — our largest turnout yet with 148 guests. We also kicked off our annual Wreath Sale Fundraiser with Welches Mountain Building Supply. Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far! Wreaths remain available for purchase at the hardware store while supplie

When people learned of Susan “Phoenix” Lane’s disappearance last November, the mountain community was shaken, even more so when she was found murdered eight days later on Nov. 29, and her husband Michel Fournier was taken into custody. Unfortunately, it wasn’t because something like this has never happened on the mountain, but because of what Lane was to so many — a mother, a sister, a friend. Dozens of people joined the search to look for her, adamant that she wasn’t a “mi

For the first time in several years, the Resort hosted a Halloween event for kids of all ages on Friday, October 31. The doors opened at 6:00 p.m. and while there was a slow start (in part because folks were finishing up attending the long-time mountain tradition, Spooky Alley), things really began in earnest a short time thereafter. Games, vendors, food, beverages, and live music together with an extremely accommodating staff made for a most enjoyable evening. The Mountain T

Get ready for a new restaurant coming soon to the Mountain. Mt. Hood Village Deli and Sweets is set to open in the Mt. Hood Village RV Resort right off Highway 26 in Welches. Mother and daughter owners Alexis McElheran and Kelley Jee are thrilled to be adding another restaurant option for locals. The long-time Mt. Hood residents are hard at work making repairs and sprucing up the space in advance of their opening. The anticipation is palpable and contagious. “I know people a

There’s a palpable air of excitement at Alpine Events. New owners Dani Wolfe and Tony Kelner are set to take over the event venue and catering company as its first owners, Jan and Todd Ostrom, prepare for retirement. In true Alpine Events style, the transition will be marked with a New Year’s Eve bash that will give mountain locals the chance to bid a fond farewell to Jan and Todd and sample the delectable treats that Dani and Tony will serve up in the years to come. For over