Podcasts about clackamas county

Once the finest residence in Oregon Territory, the John McLoughlin House also was once one of the most disreputable — so when history buffs set out to save it, they had to overcome some resistance (Oregon City, Clackamas County; 1840s, 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/22-09.mcloughlin-house-613.html)

READERS OF A certain age all over North America will remember a really excellent Canadian comedy-variety show called The Red Green Show, which had a 15-year run starting in 1990, starring Steve Smith as gravel-voiced handyman Red Green. Each week, Red would preside over the “Handyman Corner” segment of the show, in which he would do something ridiculous with duct tape and, usually, one or more rusty old cars. In one memorable episode from Season 14, Red made a DIY “mid-engine sports car” by sawing off the trunk of a rusty Mercury Grand Marquis, squashing the cabin flat, and duct-taping what remained onto the front of another car of the same model. The result was a remarkably ugly barge-shaped thing, about 50 feet long, which Red then hopped into and fired up, remarking proudly, “This isn't an old junker anymore, it's a fancy Italian mid-engine junker,” and adding his famous tagline: “If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy!” Viewers and studio-audience members of Red's show probably felt, watching him drive off in this monstrosity, about the same way the executives of Oregon's two big riverboat almost-monopolies did back in 1874 while they watched an Ohio greenhorn's progress on the riverboat he was building. They watched, and they laughed. The executives were also, it seems clear, congratulating themselves for having had the good sense not to hire that “Red Green” type guy when he'd applied to them for a job a few months earlier. The Ohio man, whose name was Uriah B. Scott, had come to them almost as soon as he'd arrived in Oregon, asking for a job and babbling about “shallow-draft hulls” — as if their riverboats weren't already on shallow-draft hulls! What, did he think they ran a blue-water fleet or something? They were in for a big surprise.... (Canemah, Clackamas County; 1870s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/2503b1110d.uriah-scott-riverboat-genius-692.145.html)

In this episode, hosts Eric Fey and Brianna Lennon speak with Catherine McMullen. She's the Clerk in Clackamas County, Oregon. Her office is “the keeper of all county public records,” which means in addition to administering elections, the office also officiates weddings, handles property records and has to be notified in the case of missing property that the finder wants to keep.They spoke about these unique responsibilities, as well as how the Clackamas County Clerk's office finds balance – and funding – for all of their numerous duties.

Entrepreneurs figured out how to send power long distances for the first time in history; later, after a flood wiped out power station, they pioneered alternating-current transmission. (Oregon City, Clackamas County; 1880s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1201a-oregon-city-home-of-worlds-first-power-grid.html)

Devin Page, Wastewater Maintenance Coordinator at Clackamas County Water and Environment Services, detailed their diverse career path, daily responsibilities (including preventative maintenance and project management), and the crucial skills needed for success in wastewater maintenance, emphasizing problem-solving and hands-on abilities.  Paige highlighted the importance of transferable skills, continuous learning (through online resources and industry connections), and dispelling misconceptions about the profession. Give the episode a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.

Democrat Melissa Fireside came out of nowhere in November to win a key election in Oregon’s third most populous county. But the Clackamas County commissioner’s sudden rise came with an even quicker downfall. It’s just the latest change on a county board that’s seen the political pendulum go back and forth many times in the past decade.  Settle in and turn up your volume- it’s time for a Fireside chat. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.  

Todd Prager was a planning commissioner for the city of Lake Oswego in 2011 when he discovered that  the body of water that defined their community was in fact not a private lake, but rather a navigable public waterway. He says no one seemed to want to act on this information. The city went in the opposite direction, passing an ordinance in 2012 that barred the public from “trespassing” to the water from the three lakeside public parks. That’s when he decided to file a lawsuit. He and co-plaintiff Mark Kramer said that the lake should be accessible, just like other navigable bodies of water in the state. After more than a decade in and out of five different courts, a Clackamas County circuit judge ruled that Prager and Kramer were correct, and ordered the city to provide access to the lakeshore Millennium Plaza Park. The Lake Oswego Corporation, which represents the interests of many owners of high-value homes has said it will appeal the decision granting access. For its part, the City of Lake Oswego has said it will take a “deliberate and thoughtful approach in assessing next steps” and will hold a meeting to gather public comment on March 31 at 6 p.m. Prager joins us to tell us why he’s persisted in this legal battle for so many years. We’ll also hear from Jeff Ward, the general manager for the Lake Oswego Corporation about what he thinks is at stake in the case and why the company is appealing. 

THE YOUNG U.S. Cavalry captain was getting a little frustrated. He was explaining to the short, fireplug-shaped German man with the serious mouth and commanding eyes why he really, really should turn around. It was the spring of 1855, you see, and the Oregon Trail had been going full steam for about a decade. The Sioux tribes, along with other Plains Indian tribes, had been nonplussed at first by the torrent of travelers, but by now they were really alarmed, and they had started attacking wagon trains. The German man was Dr. Wilhelm Keil, and he was the leader of a particularly large wagon train. Well, actually that wasn't quite true — the man who was leading the wagon train was Dr. Keil's 19-year-old son, Willie. But Willie was dead. (Aurora Mills, Clackamas County; 1850s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/2404b-1007c.aurora-colony-willie-keil-311.644.html)

Abusive husband Nathaniel Lamb probably didn't really plan to kill his wife, but when he aimed his rifle at her that morning, he clearly wanted her to think he did. That night, over supper, he learned the hard way how successful he'd been. (Oregon City, Clackamas County; 1850s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1511e.charity-lamb-murder-367.html)

Clackamas County Commissioner Ben West joins Bryan and Reagan to discuss housing, the resignation of Commissioner Melissa Fireside, tolling, and why Clackamas County chooses to not be Portland weird.* PNW Housing Action* Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside resigns after theft indictment This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.crosstabs.studio

IT'S WIDELY KNOWN that the first newspaper west of the Mississippi River was the short-lived Oregon Spectator, which published its first issue on Feb. 5, 1846. But that's only true if you define “newspaper” very narrowly. In truth, there was an earlier publication that met every definition of a newspaper but one ... specifically, it was “printed” by hand, every copy, with pen and ink — longhand. No printing press was involved. This early newspaper was called the Flumgudgeon Gazette and Bumble Bee Budget, and it first appeared in the spring of 1844 just in time for the first legislative council of the Oregon Provisional Government. Its editor identified himself only as “The Curl-Tail Coon,” and it's not entirely clear if that was just for fun, or for protection from revenge by those whose feathers he ruffled in its pages. It was a tri-weekly, with a press run of roughly 12 copies (written out longhand, remember, and with original art depicting its author hand-drawn individually on the front page of each by a friend of the editor, a German artist named Springer). Now, “Flumgudgeon Gazette and Bumble Bee Budget” is a very long name, so to save time we are going to refer to it by a shortened version, in the spirit of Windy City residents who call their daily “The Trib” instead of “The Chicago Tribune” or Stumptowners calling theirs “The Big O” instead of — well, “The Oregonian,” of course ...  In the present case, we're going with “The Gudge.” The Gudge was a mercilessly satirical publication. Its motto, printed prominently on the front page of every copy beneath the flag, read “A Newspaper of the Salamagundi Order and Devoted to Scratching and Stinging the Follies of the Age.” Above that appeared a drawing, by Herr Springer, of the Curltail Coon himself, with the caption “Don't stroke us backwards! There is enough of villainy going on to raise our bristles without that!” If the editor was pseudonymous, so were the legislators he lampooned — which makes it a bit hard to dope out who was who in the little bit of surviving text we have from the Aug. 20, 1845, issue. Historian Lawrence Powell suggests that “The Big Brass Gun” may have been Jesse Applegate's nickname, but confesses himself baffled as to who “The Blueback Terrapin” was. (Oregon City, Clackamas County; 1840s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/2412a1007a.flumgudgeon-gazette-first-newspaper-handwritten.678.078.html)

IT HAS BEEN said of Karl Marx that he was a fine diagnostician, but a lousy prescriber. Obviously, Marx remains a super polarizing figure even today, a good 175 years after he set the world on fire with The Communist Manifesto. But, in light of what's been done in his name over the years since then, it's certainly fair to wonder if ideas like “from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs” and “the workers should own the means of production” can actually work in the real world. So it's ironic that the closest thing to Marx's ideal vision of society was a little utopian community of devout but antidogmatic Christians in Oregon — none of whose residents had probably ever heard of him.... (Aurora Mills, Clackamas County; 1850s, 1860s, 1870s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/2404c-1110a.aurora-colony-best-of-utopias-080.645.html)

Around 14,000 subscribers read the locally-owned community newspaper Hoodview News every month. Along with community events, feel-good stories about the East County area and advertisements, readers find columns that espouse and encourage a transphobic worldview. Hoodview News is published by longtime Oregon political operative Mike Wiley — perhaps best known for his work as communications director for the Oregon Citizens Alliance, or OCA, an ultra-conservative activist group that pushed stridently anti-LGBTQ+ ballot measures across the state in the 1980s and 1990s. OPB journalist Leah Sottile joins us with the story.

Join host Jeremiah Byron from Bigfoot Society as he talks with Brandon, a listener who shares incredible encounters of Bigfoot in the Pacific Northwest. Brandon recounts his chilling experiences from childhood camping trips in the Mount Rainier area, Washington, to unexplained occurrences on his property in Colton, Oregon near Goat Mountain. Delve into the eerie face-to-face sighting on Burley Mountain, near Randle, WA, and vocalizations heard in the Mollala River Corridor and many, many more.

Mindy has lived in Gladstone for over 30 years (and grew up in North Portland), prior to moving to Gladstone along with husband Steve they spent 12 years moving across states with the US Navy. They have 2 children and 5 grandsons. Mindy has spent her career dedicated to service. Working with and for the public has enabled Mindy to form relationships with professionals from other cities in and around the area. She has been at her current job for over 30 years. Mindy has worked alongside Gladstone residents to champion parks and green-spaces and she has served on the Parks Board and the Budget and Audit Committee. Prior to her elected position in 2020, she served for a year with the By-Laws committee and now champions other cities to ‘get those bylaws updated'! She believes the most valuable asset Gladstone has is the People and the Parks. ‘If we care for them everything else that is good will follow'.  Currently a liaison to the Clackamas County Library Board, stating she has gained a deep respect for the libraries and their patrons. Partnering with Clackamas County, Gladstone has just opened a brand-new Library building right on main street. This new building along with a new Public Works building and City Hall/Police Station has solidified Gladstone's commitment to work on their downtown core focusing on revitalization. Mindy has served in many other liaison appointments, as this will be her second 4-year term with the City. Changing liaison appointments each year has given her insights to the wants and needs of the residents in Gladstone. She served as Vice-Chair of the Women's Caucus in 2024 and will serve as President for the 2025 year. She has been with the Women's Caucus almost since its beginning during COVID. She says; the LOC has opened many avenues for learning and growth, friendships and mentors and so much more! Serving with and learning from people all across Oregon plus the LOC staff has been the most unexpected and needed addition to her elected position. When not at work or at a city meeting you can find her on any Golf Course, in the Parks with other community members, in her yard trying to bring in the butterflies and bees, at Church, volunteering at Gladstones transitional housing facility, Tukwila Springs and helping efforts with the non-profit group The Friends of Gladstone Nature Park. She believes; family time is a gift, quiet time is a blessing and faith is a must. She is a volunteer at heart and truly appreciates a good conversation. Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Allied Video Productions!

Nurse navigation programs have been proposed as one solution to overburdened emergency services systems. Instead of sending an ambulance, dispatchers direct low-level 911 calls to a team of nurses who can give advice or help callers set up an urgent care or telehealth appointment. The idea is to provide patients with the appropriate level of care while freeing up EMS resources to respond to life-threatening calls. Clackamas County recently launched a nurse navigation program, and Clark County has been operating its program in Southwest Washington for more than a year. Rocco Roncarati is the regional director for ambulance provider American Medical Response’s operations in Southwest Washington. Marlow Macht is the medical program director for Clark County EMS and an emergency physician at Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center. They both join us to talk about how the nurse navigation program is going in Clark County

IN THE DECADES before the First World War, an organization called Chautauqua arose that was something like a summer camp for grown-ups. People would take vacation time and travel to the Chautauqua center and stay there in tents, either brought from home or rented on site, for a week, or two weeks, or even longer. There, they'd take classes, attend lectures, listen to band concerts, play baseball, and generally try to make up for the previous year's intellectual deprivation. In Chautauqua's heyday there were a number of these centers across the country, and President Theodore Roosevelt famously declared them to be “the most American thing about America.” And the biggest one west of the Rockies was in Gladstone, Oregon. (Gladstone, Clackamas County; 1890s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/22-03.chautauqua-in-oregon-607.html)

But the strike enabled Oregon Journal's trustees to sell the paper, in defiance of its former owner's direct bequest, to the owners of the Oregonian; the result was an outsider-owned daily-newspaper monopoly that continues to this day. (Oregon City, Clackamas County; 1960s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1607e.stereotyper-strike-part2.html)

Oregon is home to one of the nation’s most consequential Congressional races. OPB’s Bryce Dole took a deep dive – and drive – through the district in recent weeks where he visited the fire-ravaged Santiam Canyon, talked housing in Deschutes County and delved into the issues on the urban/rural divide in Clackamas County.  On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now we take a deeper dive into the 5th Congressional District and what voters say are their top issues. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Many people today don't realize that in the 1950s, pinball had a bad reputation as a gambler's game and was as illegal as one-armed bandits. In Portland, shady underworld characters supplied Oregonians with plenty of both. (Portland, Multnomah and Clackamas County; 1950s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1307d-pinball-wars-elkins-vs-teamsters.html)

West Coast Airlines Flight 956 was a brand-new DC-9; the airline literally bought it on Monday and crashed it on Saturday. It hit a mountain while flying calmly along, 5,000 feet too low. But, no one has been able to figure out why. (Welches, Clackamas County; 1960s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1712c.oregons-worst-plane-crash-mystery-474.html)

Ashley Kuenzi joins the program to take us through the news. Her day job is as Communications Director for Oregon Senate Republicans and their campaign arm. Bryan, Ashley, and Reagan discuss Measure 118 campaign contributions, new national polling, drug crimes being made illegal gain, the state economist, and the state of the economy.* Measure 118 Campaign Reels in Its First Large Contribution—From a San Francisco Candidate for Mayor* Oregon lawmaker introduces ‘no tax on tips' proposal for 2025* Harris vs. Trump: New presidential poll shows Trump taking the lead over VP Harris* Capital Chatter: Riccadonna takes over one of Oregon's most important jobs* Oregon's job market looks solid on paper, but economists see worrying signs* Serena Cruz Resigns as Multnomah County COO* Portland business owner says he sees ‘no changes' after new drug law* Clackamas County launches deflection program Sept. 1* Editorial: The perils of a one-party state This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.crosstabs.studio

When the steamboat Gazelle reached the dock, the man in charge of its steam boilers leaped ashore and ran like a man being chased by demons. A few seconds later, the Gazelle exploded, killing 20 people. (Canemah, Clackamas County; 1850s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1307c-boiler-explosions-in-willamette-steamboats.html)

On Monday, the Oregon Department of Forestry confirmed that the emerald ash borer has been discovered in three new counties in the Willamette Valley. In the past month, the invasive pest was caught in traps set in Marion and Yamhill counties, and is also suspected of being in neighboring Clackamas County, pending confirmation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The highly destructive beetle, which is native to Asia, has killed over 100 million ash trees nationwide since it first appeared in the U.S. over 20 years ago. The state’s agriculture and forestry departments quickly mobilized to contain it when it was first spotted in Oregon in Forest Grove in Washington County two years ago. Those efforts included issuing a quarantine that’s now permanent to prevent the movement of firewood and other plant materials out of the county made from ash, white fringe and olive trees. State crews have also removed infested ash trees and have been treating healthy trees with insecticide near infestation sites. Lilah Gonen is a community assistance forester and the emerald ash borer coordinator for ODF. They join us to talk about the state’s efforts to slow the spread of emerald ash borer and the threat it poses to native Oregon ash trees.  

THE OREGON TRAIL has been called the world's longest graveyard. It's a 2,000-mile road that averages one buried body every 80 yards. Out of the 350,000 emigrants that traveled along it, one out of every 10 died along the way. There were lots of ways to kick the bucket on the Trail. Blood poisoning was a popular way to go — in those pre-antibiotic days, a minor scratch from a wagon fastener or prick from a thornbush could quickly go septic. And accidents — people getting run over by a wagon wheel, stepped on by an ox, or falling off the wagon and landing badly — were also common. So it's actually pretty ironic that the worst part of the whole trail was, in terms of body count, relatively benign compared with the rest. That hasn't prevented some great ghost stories from developing around it, though. I'm talking about the dreaded half mile of 60-degree slope on southwest side of Mount Hood known as Laurel Hill. (Near Rhododendron, Clackamas County; 1850s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/24-05.barlow-road-laurel-hill-647.html)

The Willamette River was running high and wild on the morning of Feb. 5, 1890, as Alden and Arthur Graham set out from Oregon City in their sternwheel riverboat for the daily run to Portland. They arrived in Portland in what must have been record time, dodging logs and small floating buildings along the way, and promptly canceled the return trip. It was just too dangerous to even try charging into the teeth of all the fast-moving debris. But after they arrived, they learned that theirs was the only riverboat between Willamette Falls and the Portland bridges — and there were some things floating down the river that could potentially damage or even destroy those bridges. So, back out into the torrent they went, to the rescue. (Oregon City, Clackamas County; 1890s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1912e.steamboat-culture-graham-line.html)

In today's episode of the 21st Century Water Podcast, we engage in an insightful conversation with Greg Eyerly, Director of Houston Water. Greg's journey through the water industry spans three decades, and his career trajectory is a testament to his willingness to take risks and make bold decisions. He started in the laboratory and transitioned to operations, a move that laid the foundation for his eventual rise to leadership. His experiences in both the private and public sectors, including significant roles in Clackamas County and the city of Salem, have equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of water management challenges and solutions.Greg shares some pivotal moments in his career, such as his transition from a comfortable laboratory position to becoming a wastewater operator, and later advancing to management roles after earning an MBA. His role in the flood recovery of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, highlights his ability to handle large-scale crises, demonstrating his leadership and problem-solving skills. His move to Houston Water, driven by a desire to make a greater impact, underscores his commitment to addressing the city's unique water challenges.Houston Water, the largest city-run water utility in the U.S., faces several strengths and weaknesses. Greg points out the city's strong water rights and proximity to abundant water sources as significant advantages. However, the aging infrastructure, lack of redundancy, and susceptibility to natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and even ice events pose substantial challenges. Houston's rapid population growth also adds pressure to the water infrastructure.Greg emphasizes the importance of raising awareness among elected officials and community partners about the risks and consequences of infrastructure failures. He discusses the ongoing efforts to comply with a $9 billion consent decree aimed at improving wastewater systems, alongside the critical need to address water leaks and aging pipes. Innovative use of AI technology significantly improves efficiency in inspecting and maintaining sewer systems, saving thousands of staff hours and reducing sanitary sewer overflows.Looking ahead, Greg outlines major investment priorities, including the construction of a new oxygen plant, the rehabilitation of the East Water Purification Plant, and the replacement of deteriorating waterlines. These efforts are crucial to reducing water loss and ensuring the resilience of Houston's water infrastructure. He also highlights the importance of exploring governance models to better manage the utility's extensive responsibilities and improve regional collaboration.Greg's leadership philosophy emphasizes flexibility, openness to opportunities, and the importance of building teams with subject matter experts. His vision for the future includes embracing circular economy principles, such as water reuse and recovery, and leveraging advanced technologies like digital twins to optimize operations.In summary, Greg Eyerly's leadership at Houston Water is marked by a proactive approach to addressing infrastructure challenges, a commitment to innovation, and a dedication to improving water management for the benefit of the community and beyond. We look forward to seeing the continued progress and impact of his work in Houston.More:Houston Public Works: https://www.houstonpublicworks.org/  Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

Results are still trickling in from the May election but we know who won some key races. We know Earl Blumenauer’s successor. We know two Clackamas County politicians will have a third election battle and we now know Mike Schmidt’s political fate. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now we break down all that and more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Fill out your ballots with Amanda in the May 2024 primary election episode. We also go over picks for key Washington and Clackamas County races at the top. The audio of the actual episode is terrible and it's all my fault. Andy Chandler from NW Fresh helped recover it (o the extent it is listen-able, that is all Andy's talent). But in our opinions, these are the only things that matter in this election. And if you do nothing else, just do this:Multnomah County District Attorney: Nathan VasquezMultnomah County Commissioners: District 1, Vadim Mozyrsky; District 2, Jessie Burke; District 3, Julia Brim-Edwards; District 4, Vince Jones-DixonState Rep, District 33: Pete Grabiel* https://www.nwfreshpodcast.com * https://www.voteforvasquez.com
 * https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2024/05/editorial-endorsement-may-2024-vote-for-nathan-vasquez-for-multnomah-county-da.html?outputType=amp* https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/05/01/wws-may-2024-endorsements-multnomah-county/* https://www.votevadim.com* https://jessieburke.com* https://www.juliabrim-edwards.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwxqayBhDFARIsAANWRnTYcP93zpq1MkJ0e32pAXmY9GbsxTgZPvuTDDnwqYnHkVZkLDUiXtUaAl_yEALw_wcB* https://www.vincejonesdixon.com* https://www.petegrabiel.com* https://www.pps.net/cms/lib/OR01913224/Centricity/Domain/214/19-20%20Adopted%20Budget%20Document.pdf?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaY78GfLtsmt8tan2c2bdEQPaA4Pq7S7qJA243_0rLXnUEIJskmgeluaqTw_aem_Afs4vjIM_XIASY5vJA_mskPvok2Ntxbe4-Eq-Ffj4s2sthiUiXBHH2Ts7iOBCz9spuC4Es2DQeLUcowaDYUGTkvC* https://www.wweek.com/news/2023/02/01/they-left-portland-is-losing-some-of-its-biggest-fans/* https://x.com/disabilityrtsor/status/1791499360976478588?s=46* https://www.kgw.com/article/news/education/oregon-students-fall-further-math-reading/283-78a61f5a-c3ff-471b-9004-f2285de9b9ff#:~:text=Sports,PORTLAND%2C%20Ore

Former devout Quaker Henderson Luelling developed some odd beliefs in late middle age, founded a cult called “Harmonial Brotherhood,” and led his followers into the Central American wilderness. It did not go well. (Milwaukie, Clackamas County; 1840s, 1850s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1411e.315.luelling-love-cult-part1.html)

There's a new sheriff in town in Portland — or rather, three sheriffs over the past four years. And now for the first time in history, all three sheriff's in the city's tri-county area are women: Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O'Donnell, Washington County Sheriff Caprice Massey and Clackamas County Sheriff Angela Brandenburg. All three sheriffs were guests on this week's episode of Straight Talk.

Entrepreneurs figured out how to send power long distances for the first time in history; later, after a flood wiped out power station, they pioneered alternating-current transmission. (Oregon City, Clackamas County; 1880s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1201a-oregon-city-home-of-worlds-first-power-grid.html)

IN THE SMALL hours of the morning of Aug. 16, 1906, a powerful explosion jolted residents awake near the little town of Willamette, which today is a neighborhood of West Linn. It came from the direction of the nearby Tualatin River. The cause was soon discovered. When the first rays of the morning sun fell on the Oregon Iron and Steel Co.'s diversion dam, located a little over three miles from the river's mouth, a 20-foot-wide hole had been blasted in its center. The river water was still gushing through it. Executives of the Oregon Iron and Steel Co. were outraged. In newspaper interviews the next day, they pledged that the dam would be speedily rebuilt, and for weeks afterward newspapers like the Hillsboro Argus and the Oregon City Enterprise ran advertisements from the company offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever blew it up. They also fanned out around the neighborhood of farmers and residents along the Tualatin River upstream from the dam, making the same offer. But nobody seemed to know anything. Most of the residents wouldn't even admit to having heard the blast. They all knew, of course. Some of them had been in the party that had crept up to the dam in the pre-dawn darkness, set the charge, and touched it off.... (Lake Oswego, Clackamas County; 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/24-01.tualatin-dam-dynamited.html)

On Monday, Gov. Kotek announced that a proposed tolling project on Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 would not commence. The project was meant to reduce congestion and fund future transportation projects, but rising costs and uncertain toll revenues led the governor to bring the projects to a halt. Anessa Hartman is a Democrat who represents district 40 in the Oregon House, which covers Oregon City, Gladstone and parts of Clackamas County.  She joins us to share more on why she opposed this project and what the governor's decision to shelve it means for her constituents. We’ll also hear from Indi Namkoong, the transportation justice coordinator at Verde PDX. She shares how tolling can be a viable tool to address climate change, but how the Oregon Department of Transportation’s approach wasn’t what they had hoped for.

In a major victory for Oregon residents, especially citizens of Clackamas County along the southern I-205 corridor, Governor Tina Kotek canceled one component of tolling for I-5 and I-205 in the state. https://tinyurl.com/52sfj84m #TinaKotek #I205Tolls #I5Tolls #CongestionPricing #RegionalMobilityPricingProgram #InterstateBridgeReplacement #GregJohnson #PaulSavas #RoryBialostosky #KrisStrickler #OregonDepartmentofTransportation #WashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation #OregonTransportationCommission #WashingtonStateTransportationCommission #Portland #ClackamasCounty #ClackamasCountyCommission #WestLinn #OregonCity #ClarkCounty #MichelleBelkot #RegionalTollingAdvisoryCommittee #WashingtonCounty #MultnomahCounty #AbernethyBridge #TualatinRiverBridge #RoseQuarter #FederalHighwayAdministration #ODOTValuePricingPolicyAdvisoryCommittee #AnneMcEnernyOgle #VancouverWa #GoodToGo #DeanSuhr #VoteBeforeTolls #IP4 #JeffKropf #JulieBrown #LeeBeyer #DenyseMcGriff #EileenQuiring #ClarkCountyNews #ClarkCountyToday

During the heyday of hydropathy, the remote mountainside resort was Clackamas County's No. 1 tourist draw; its waters actually had scientifically provable therapeutic value. (Molalla, Clackamas County; 1910s, 1920s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1102a-little-remains-of-rural-luxury-spa-at-wilhoit-springs.html)

Ben West is a Portland native, although he now lives in Clackamas County. Ben is a nurse, a military officer, and a Clackamas County Commissioner. Ben and his husband, Paul, sued the State of Oregon and won the right to get married. Ben and Paul are raising an adopted son, who is black. Former Oregon lawyer Donel Courtney advocated for the Lents Neighborhood where he lived in Portland, pushing back against homelessness and crime. Donel has since moved to India.https://www.clackamas.us/bcc/westhttps://www.aclu.org/bio/paul-rummell-and-benjamin-westhttps://www.kgw.com/video/news/crime/multnomah-county-da-prosecutes-fewer-than-half-of-misdemeanor-theft-cases-including-shoplifting/283-ca7da81d-d336-46ca-b7e3-85f954be028fhttps://www.oregonlive.com/data/2023/07/multnomah-county-lost-record-1-billion-in-income-in-2021-as-residents-moved-away.html?outputType=amphttps://katu.com/news/local/man-arrested-for-allegedly-threatening-portland-bus-driver-with-knife-police-say-trimet-north-precincthttps://www.brookings.edu/articles/combating-poverty-understanding-new-challenges-for-families/#:~:text=One%20of%20our%20arguments%2C%20based,until%20age%2021%20and%20gethttps://manhattan.institute/podcast-series/the-glenn-showhttps://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/oregon-measure-110-poll-majority-against-want-repeal/283-9157a8c0-aa66-4303-b391-36afe7b12b4chttps://www.northamericarecovers.orghttps://x.com/rationalinpdx/status/1617930240155877376?s=20https://attpdx.comhttps://www.ontargettrainingpdx.com/personal-trainer-near-mehttps://glennloury.substack.com/p/the-truth-about-roland-fryer

Before he made it back, Art Lacey had survived a plane crash, bribed a fire department with illegal whiskey, kited a big check and made bitter enemies in Portland City Hall. But hey, all's well that ends well, right? (Milwaukie, Clackamas County; 1940s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1601d.bomber-gas-station-375.html)

Over $3.6 million in federal funding will be given to the City of Salem and Umatilla and Clackamas Counties to improve street safety. The money will be used to develop and update road safety plans. Joseph Marek is the traffic safety program manager for Clackamas County. Treven Upkes is the deputy chief of the field operations division for the Salem Police Department. They join us to discuss what traffic safety looks like in their community and how they plan to use these new funds.

On that tense late-August weekend, tens of thousands of young people enjoyed themselves at McIver Park, while the much-dreaded riots failed to materialize. Was there a connection? Many voters thought so. (McIver Park, Clackamas County; 1970s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1406c.291.vortex-the-event.html)

Calling himself “J. Hawker,” David Heesh dynamited several high-voltage powerline towers, then threatened to keep it up unless ransom was delivered; the FBI busted him using a CB radio trick. (Beavercreek, Clackamas County; 1970s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1404b.beavercreek-bomber-targeted-BPA.html)

Commissioner Ben West returns to talk about Clackamas County and the ORP Platform Convention which he attended recently.

Metro Councilor Chrisinte Lewis has had an extensive career in Oregon politics. A Portland Business Journal "40 Under 40" honoree, she graduated from Reed College and quickly entered the world of political organizing. She has worked as campaign manager for former Senate President Peter Courtney, former State Rep. and Multnomah County Commissioner Jules Bailey, and several ballot measures. She also worked on the "official side" (non-campaign) for then-Speaker Tina Kotek, the City of Portland, and the Bureau of Labor and Industries. In 2018, she was elected as a Metro Councilor representing a large district including much of Clackamas County and parts of Multnomah and Washington.    In this episode, we talk about Christine's career in politics and how Metro intersects with the most important policy issues facing the Portland area today: housing, homelessness, transportation, and more.

At the pay the city of Sandy was offering, Otto Austin Loel was the only man willing to take the job. He didn't turn out to be much of a bargain ... but it wouldn't be until years later that the town learned how much worse he could have been. (Sandy, Clackamas County; 1940s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1506a.sandy-police-chief-executed-for-murder-342.html)

Anthony Kastros and Brian Brush welcome Nick Browne from Clackamas County, the second largest fire district in Oregon, to discuss fire response, leadership, and how his agency has changed over time.   Brought to you by TenCate, Emergency Networking, MagneGrip, and IFSTA.

Clackamas County man claimed his father had bought the salvage rights in 1908, setting off a huge dust-up among residents, beachgoers and politicians, who scrambled to protect the landmark wreck. He almost got away with it, too. (Warrenton, Clatsop County; 1960s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1208d-schemer-sought-to-sell-peter-iredale-shipwreck-for-scrap.html)

IT WAS GETTING toward the end of the summer of 1902, and West Linn resident Ellis Hughes was getting worried. His neighbor, William Dale, had traveled back to Eastern Oregon to sell some land he owned there. With the proceeds, Dale and Hughes planned to buy a piece of property next to the Hughes farm. The property belonged to the Oregon Iron and Steel Co., which wasn't really doing anything with it and which Hughes was pretty sure would be happy to sell … unless, of course, they found out why he wanted to buy it. Because earlier in the summer, while trespassing on it, Hughes had stumbled across the biggest meteorite that has ever been found on American soil, before or since, lying half-buried in a remote and thickly forested part of it. (West Linn, Clackamas County; 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/23-07.stealing-the-willamette-meteorite-623.html)

Rep. Annessa Hartman (D-Gladstone) and Rep. Emerson Levy (D-Bend) are freshmen legislators first elected in 2022. They represent two swing districts (sometimes called “purple” seats) — Hartman in Clackamas County and Levy in Central Oregon (you can listen to our interview with then-candidate Levy here). They are also both relatively young legislators, and moms of young children. In this episode, we discuss the impact of running for office and public service on family, what it's like running in ultra-competitive districts, and the policy wins they are most proud of.

All through the summer of 1973, there was one song on the radio everywhere that you just couldn't get away from: Jim Croce's smash hit, “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.” The little Cascade-foothills town of Boring once had its own Bad, Bad Leroy Brown — although when the song came out, very few people then alive were old enough to remember him. His name was Free Coldwell — or at least, that was what he called himself. Like Leroy Brown, he a proud, strutting tough guy who got a humiliating comeuppance. But his downfall didn't come from making a pass at “the wife of a jealous man” in a Boring nightclub or bar. No; Free Coldwell was taken down by the citizens of Boring, who basically played an elaborate practical joke on him — with the help of a professional prizefighter. (Boring, Clackamas County; 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/21-05.bad-bad-free-coldwell-baddest-boxer-in-boring.html)

All through the summer of 1973, there was one song on the radio everywhere that you just couldn't get away from: Jim Croce's smash hit, “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.” The little Cascade-foothills town of Boring once had its own Bad, Bad Leroy Brown — although when the song came out, very few people then alive were old enough to remember him. His name was Free Coldwell — or at least, that was what he called himself. Like Leroy Brown, he a proud, strutting tough guy who got a humiliating comeuppance. But his downfall didn't come from making a pass at “the wife of a jealous man” in a Boring nightclub or bar. No; Free Coldwell was taken down by the citizens of Boring, who basically played an elaborate practical joke on him — with the help of a professional prizefighter. (Boring, Clackamas County; 1900s) (For text and pictures, see URLOFWEBPAGEURLOFWEBPAGEURLOFWEBPAGE)