“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” —Anne of Green Gables
MOUNTAIN VENUES with MENUS Local Drinks and Dining Guide See Inside
Postal Customer Prst Std U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 39 Welches, OR.
“The Most Read Paper on the Mountain”
Mountain Profile...................2 Fire Focus................................6 Opinion............................... 8–9 Meet the Artist................... 13
MOUNTAIN TIMES The
INDEX
The Woodsman.................. 15 Health...........................20—21 Crossword/Sudoku........... 22 The Viewfinder .................. 25 Classified Ads...................... 28
Vol. XXXII, No. 10 n A Free, Independent Newspaper n www.mountaintimesoregon.com
OCTOBER 2024
n SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF MOUNT HOOD n Alder Creek, Brightwood, Cherryville, Firwood, Government Camp, Marmot, Mountain Air Park, Rhododendron, Sandy, Welches, Wemme, Wildwood and Zigzag
Orchid Health Opens Hoodland Clinic in Welches Welches, OR – Orchid Health is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its new Hoodland Clinic in Welches, set to officially open its doors on October 15, 2024. To celebrate this milestone, Orchid Health will host an open house on November 7, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, inviting the community to explore the new facility, meet the team, and learn more about the comprehensive healthcare services available at the clinic. In addition to the clinic’s opening, Orchid Health proudly welcomes Dr. Douglas Lyon, MD, a family physician and epidemiologist, to the Hoodland team. A long-time resident of the area with a cabin in the community for nearly three decades, Dr. Lyon brings a deep understanding of local needs along with his extensive medical expertise. See ORCHID HEALTH Page 4
TIMBERLINE LODGE RESCONSTRUCTION COMPLETE
By Justin Andress For The Mountain Times
On April 18, the Hoodland community heaved a collective sigh of relief
when first responders stopped a potentially ruinous fire from destroying Mt. Hood icon Timberline Lodge. Less than five months later, diligent repair efforts paid off, and officials at the Lodge say repairs have been completed. For 87 years, historic Timberline Lodge has avoided disaster. In a region of the country that sees heavy rain every year as well as increasing danger from forest fires, that record is no small feat. So it seemed only a matter of time before some unforeseen event befell the historic hotel and
ski destination. That seemingly inevitable moment arrived in mid-April when embers from the Lodge’s chimney ignited the build-
ing’s attic space and roof. The odds of such an event occurring were (and remain) small. In a phone interview, John Burton, Director of Marketing and Public Affairs for Timberline Lodge, explained that the fire was “kind of like a perfect storm. That evening, the winds were blowing 30 to 40 [miles per hour].” Those high winds conspired to set the roof and attic ablaze. Fortunately, hotel employees spotted the fire quickly and wasted no time calling the Hoodland Fire Department. First responders arrived shortly after 9:30 p.m. At that point, flames were clearly visible from the ground. Response to the danger was swift and robust. As The Mountain Times reported in May, “In total, 10 fire engines, three ladder trucks, five water trucks (tenders), four Chief Officers, and four additional pieces of equipment responded to the fire. Fire crews from Hoodland, Clackamas, Gresham, Estacada, and Portland fire districts worked on scene.” See RECONSTRUCTION Page 12
Welches Schools Welcome New Staff Members By Peter Murphy
The Mountain Times
Teresa Peltier and Catherine Smith
There’s a long history of newcomers making their way down the western slopes of Mt. Hood, along the Old Oregon Trail and into western Oregon, and two new teachers have joined their ranks at the Oregon Trail School District in Welches. Nestled amid the tall trees of the west side of the Oregon Cascades, the Oregon Trail School District encompasses 424 square miles in the Hoodland region of the Cascade Mountains, including Sandy, Boring, and Mt. Hood, but it turns out that
the two new trailblazing teachers are both at Welches School. With its headquarters in Sandy, the OTSD is a big, but not too-big district, with 3,000-plus students in eight elementary, middle and high schools. Both Teresa Peltier and Catherine Smith have joined the ranks at Welches Schools as a student counselor and teacher, respectively. (Welches is an elementary school and a middle school, operating on the same campus). Their motto is “Children Thrive Here,” and the two new staff members will help make that See NEW STAFF Page 4
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