Molalla Pioneer | Commentary

May 16, 2012 - Letters to the Editor published: 5/15/2012 11:43:10 AM Reader supports Jim Needham for mayor To the editor: I just want say something in support of Jim Needham. Can we trust him? I think the record of his service speaks very clearly; yes we can. Issues that are absolute do not apply to those who sit on the fence of moderation. Jim Needham is not one who will sit on the fence of moderation allowing the agenda of the “creep” to spread. Continue Reading...

GUEST COLUMN: April is Child Abuse Prevention Month published: 4/10/2012 3:10:34 PM By Jerry Buzzard District Manager, Clackamas County Department of Human Services Child abuse and neglect most often take place at home and routinely at the hands of someone the child trusts and looks to for security, usually the parent. In 2010 Clackamas County Department of Human Services (DHS) staff completed 2,391 field assessments of child abuse reports and confirmed that 698 children were victims of abuse or neglect. Continue Reading...

GUEST COLUMN: Amid budgetary crisis, city council does the right thing published: 5/15/2012 11:46:00 AM By Aaron L. Huddart Last Wednesday night, May 9, the Molalla City Council met as they do every month. For the last several months, the recent discovery of misused systems development charges (SDCs) has been the center of attention. A deficit of $2.5 million (in miss-spent SDC funds) is still being dealt with and will continue to be a cloud over the city. Continue Reading...

May 9, 2012 - Letters to the Editor published: 5/9/2012 3:29:32 PM Parents club thanks community for fundraiser supportThe Rural Dell Parents Club would like to thank everyone who helped to make our Annual Bingo Night a great success.Because of your generosity we were able to raise funds that will be used to provide equipment and opportunities for the teachers and children of Rural Dell Elementary School.Thank you to the community members who attended the event and the companies and individuals who made donations to support this fundraiser. Continue Reading...

May 2, 2012 - Letters to the Editor published: 5/2/2012 5:09:11 PM Veteran thanks hometown for recognizing Loyalty DayI'm proud and happy to see that Molalla will celebrate Loyalty Day.I enlisted in the Marine Corps as a resident in July, 1951 along with John Becker and Cliff Wade. At around the same time, my Molalla Union High School schoolmates Austin Magill, Bill Blackburn and Lyle Allen enlisted or were serving in the Navy while Jon Morris and Jim “Lefty” Allison served in the Army. Continue Reading...

Offbeat Oregon History: Mass murderer accidentally honored on monument published: 5/2/2012 11:42:21 AM By Finn J.D. JohnWallowa County covers the northeast corner of Oregon — a gorgeous area of rugged, remote mountain lakes, the homeland of the legendary Chief Joseph.It’s also the only county in the state whose courthouse grounds includes a monument dedicated to a known mass murderer.That sounds worse than it actually is. There are, in fact, about 200 names on the monument, which is an archway built in 1936 through which visitors walk to approach the courthouse steps. Continue Reading...

GUEST COLUMN: Life’s struggles and issues bring God’s role in our lives into clearer focus published: 4/24/2012 3:23:03 PM By Bob Laver Our community has had more than its share of grief lately. People have died after battles with cancer and other sickness. We have lost loved ones to sudden accidents and to long illness. Death has claimed the elderly and our children. As our community has struggled, mourned and attended a lot of funerals, questions arise. Continue Reading...

IN IT TOGETHER: Gratitude is an attitude worth forming for a healthy life published: 4/24/2012 3:17:57 PM By Dani Clifton I discovered “The Magic,” by Rhonda Byrne in a bookshop recently (or rather, the text found me). Written by the author who penned “The Secret,” “The Magic” focuses on gratitude to change your life. Knowing I have a lot to be grateful for, and because I’m familiar with Byrne’s work, I couldn’t help but notice overlapping themes in all her books: our lives, our future and our happiness is completely in our own hands. Continue Reading...

April 25, 2012 - Letters to the Editor published: 4/24/2012 3:09:41 PM Readers send thanks to Molalla Fire We'd like to thank the Molalla Fire District medical emergency responders who assisted us Friday evening, April 13. They were fast, fully equipped, efficient, calming, caring, informed, articulate, respectful and gave the 5-month-old patient a stuffed bear. They followed up with us at the hospital to ask how he was doing. Continue Reading...

GUEST COLUMN: Meet the county commission candidates at Molalla CPO forum published: 4/20/2012 4:17:17 PM By Jim GilbertPresident, Molalla Community Planning OrganizationDear voters! It’s time to pay attention to the upcoming election for our county commission.It’s not often that our county commission races are so exciting and meaningful, but this year the election could radically change the direction of our county government. Three of the five commission seats are up for grabs, with numerous candidates running for each of them. Continue Reading...

May 16, 2012 - Letters to the Editor

published: 5/15/2012 11:43:10 AM

Reader supports Jim Needham for mayor To the editor: I just want say something in support of Jim Needham. Can we trust him? I think the record of his service speaks very clearly; yes we can. Issues that are absolute do not apply to those who sit on the fence of moderation. Jim Needham is not one who will sit on the fence of moderation allowing the agenda of the “creep” to spread.

GUEST COLUMN: April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

published: 4/10/2012 3:10:34 PM

By Jerry Buzzard District Manager, Clackamas County Department of Human Services Child abuse and neglect most often take place at home and routinely at the hands of someone the child trusts and looks to for security, usually the parent. In 2010 Clackamas County Department of Human Services (DHS) staff completed 2,391 field assessments of child abuse reports and confirmed that 698 children were victims of abuse or neglect.
Continue Reading...

GUEST COLUMN: Amid budgetary crisis, city council does the right thing

published: 5/15/2012 11:46:00 AM

By Aaron L. Huddart Last Wednesday night, May 9, the Molalla City Council met as they do every month. For the last several months, the recent discovery of misused systems development charges (SDCs) has been the center of attention. A deficit of $2.5 million (in miss-spent SDC funds) is still being dealt with and will continue to be a cloud over the city.
Continue Reading...

May 9, 2012 - Letters to the Editor

published: 5/9/2012 3:29:32 PM

Parents club thanks community for fundraiser supportThe Rural Dell Parents Club would like to thank everyone who helped to make our Annual Bingo Night a great success.Because of your generosity we were able to raise funds that will be used to provide equipment and opportunities for the teachers and children of Rural Dell Elementary School.Thank you to the community members who attended the event and the companies and individuals who made donations to support this fundraiser.
Continue Reading...

May 2, 2012 - Letters to the Editor

published: 5/2/2012 5:09:11 PM

Veteran thanks hometown for recognizing Loyalty DayI'm proud and happy to see that Molalla will celebrate Loyalty Day.I enlisted in the Marine Corps as a resident in July, 1951 along with John Becker and Cliff Wade. At around the same time, my Molalla Union High School schoolmates Austin Magill, Bill Blackburn and Lyle Allen enlisted or were serving in the Navy while Jon Morris and Jim “Lefty” Allison served in the Army.
Continue Reading...

Offbeat Oregon History: Mass murderer accidentally honored on monument

published: 5/2/2012 11:42:21 AM

By Finn J.D. JohnWallowa County covers the northeast corner of Oregon — a gorgeous area of rugged, remote mountain lakes, the homeland of the legendary Chief Joseph.It’s also the only county in the state whose courthouse grounds includes a monument dedicated to a known mass murderer.That sounds worse than it actually is. There are, in fact, about 200 names on the monument, which is an archway built in 1936 through which visitors walk to approach the courthouse steps.
Continue Reading...

GUEST COLUMN: Life’s struggles and issues bring God’s role in our lives into clearer focus

published: 4/24/2012 3:23:03 PM

By Bob Laver Our community has had more than its share of grief lately. People have died after battles with cancer and other sickness. We have lost loved ones to sudden accidents and to long illness. Death has claimed the elderly and our children. As our community has struggled, mourned and attended a lot of funerals, questions arise.
Continue Reading...

IN IT TOGETHER: Gratitude is an attitude worth forming for a healthy life

published: 4/24/2012 3:17:57 PM

By Dani Clifton I discovered “The Magic,” by Rhonda Byrne in a bookshop recently (or rather, the text found me). Written by the author who penned “The Secret,” “The Magic” focuses on gratitude to change your life. Knowing I have a lot to be grateful for, and because I’m familiar with Byrne’s work, I couldn’t help but notice overlapping themes in all her books: our lives, our future and our happiness is completely in our own hands.
Continue Reading...

April 25, 2012 - Letters to the Editor

published: 4/24/2012 3:09:41 PM

Readers send thanks to Molalla Fire We'd like to thank the Molalla Fire District medical emergency responders who assisted us Friday evening, April 13. They were fast, fully equipped, efficient, calming, caring, informed, articulate, respectful and gave the 5-month-old patient a stuffed bear. They followed up with us at the hospital to ask how he was doing.
Continue Reading...

GUEST COLUMN: Meet the county commission candidates at Molalla CPO forum

published: 4/20/2012 4:17:17 PM

By Jim GilbertPresident, Molalla Community Planning OrganizationDear voters! It’s time to pay attention to the upcoming election for our county commission.It’s not often that our county commission races are so exciting and meaningful, but this year the election could radically change the direction of our county government. Three of the five commission seats are up for grabs, with numerous candidates running for each of them.
Continue Reading...