A Vancouver, Washington man died Friday night from injuries sustained in a fall after he stopped to help at the scene of an injury crash involving an intoxicated driver on I-84 east of Warrendale. Brian Allen Bernier, 37, reportedly jumped over a guardrail to avoid an approaching pickup, and fell about 50 feet to the ground below. Oregon State Police (OSP) are continuing the investigation and seeking information on the driver of the pickup vehicle ... [full story]

Q: Have most veterinarians changed their opinions regarding ear cropping and tail docking in very young puppies? We have raised schnauzers for years. Since our veterinarian retired a couple of years ago, we are having difficulty finding a new veterinarian to do our ear crops for us. We have found that most young veterinarians have not been taught how to do this procedure. Although we do not feel strongly about whether or not to have ... [full story]

The prevailing wisdom among experts on aging is that there will come a time when you will have to step in and act as mom and dad for your elderly relatives. By the way, "elderly" in our lexicon means someone who is over 80. Just a few years ago, we thought of 70 as elderly; however, not anymore since we have approached that age ourselves. Anyhow, a few weeks ago when we were making our ... [full story]

"Portrait: The Life of Thomas Eakins" by William S. McFeely; Norton; 256 pages; $26.95. The greatest 19th century American poet, Walt Whitman, thought Thomas Eakins was the best American painter of his time - a force as much as an artist, he declared. But this was a minority opinion in their day. When Eakins died in 1916, most of his paintings were stacked against the walls of his home on Philadelphia's Mount Vernon Street. His ... [full story]

Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue firefighters credit residential sprinklers for saving a building housing six condominiums on New Years Day. At 7:20 a.m., fire crews from Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue's (TVF&R) Butner Road Station #61 responded to a report of a commercial fire alarm at 1040 SW 170th Avenue. While en route, 9-1-1 dispatchers received reports of neighbors hearing smoke alarms sounding from an upstairs condo and added additional fire crews to the response. ... [full story]

"Dirt" - inspired by Courteney Cox's personal war with paparazzi during the "Friends" years when she became rich and famous - focuses on Lucy Spiller, a take-no-prisoners editor of tabloid magazines who plays and works hard. A glamorous character equally at ease at glitzy Hollywood cocktail parties as in sterile corporate boardrooms, Spiller usually doesn't shed her sexy red satin dress until diving into bed with her current boy toy. Lots of skin flashes across ... [full story]

A Lake Oswego man died when he lost control of his motorcycle, hit an icy patch on a curvy roadway, slid over 215 feet before leaving the road, and traveled down over a 40-foot rocky embankment into the four-foot deep frigid waters of the Clackamas River eddy below, said authorities.   Photo provided by Clackamas County Sheriff's Office. The victim, 47-year old William “Wesley” Carter of Lake Oswego, was discovered submerged in the river by a passing ... [full story]

President George W. Bush pardoned 16 criminals including five drug dealers at Christmastime, but so far has refused to pardon the two U.S. Border Patrol agents who were trying to defend Americans against drug smugglers. It makes us wonder which side the self-proclaimed "compassionate" president is on. Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean were guarding the Mexican border near El Paso, Texas, on Feb. 17, 2005, when they intercepted a van carrying 743 ... [full story]

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has a few suggestions for hosts who serve alcoholic beverages during holiday parties at home. When setting out food and drink for the gathering, remember that about one third of your guests probably won’t be drinking any alcohol, and those who do will need food to go with it. Popular non‑alcohol party drinks include eggnog, lemonade, smoothies, soda/seltzer water, bottled root beer, fruit juices, coffee/lattes, flavored iced tea, bottled water, ... [full story]

Have some fun in the snow and learn about local ecology, geology, wildlife and winter safety while you’re at it. The US Forest Service, Mount Bachelor Ski Area and Northwest Interpretive Association are conducting the annual program of free natural history snowshoe tours at Mt. Bachelor’s West Village. Forest Service field rangers began the tours on December 26th, and will continue this week, Tuesday through Saturday, January 2-7.  Tours start twice a day, at 10 ... [full story]