Community Corner
🌱Beaverton Man Shoots Roommate + Judge Bails Out Of WashCo Jail
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Beaverton.
Among other celebrations, today is National Coconut Cream Pie Day, National Empanada Day and National Give Someone A Cupcake Day. Do with that what you will. I'm Merlin Douglass, your regular guest curator, and there's lots of news today so let's take a look.
First, today's weather:
Mostly cloudy, showers; cool. High: 52 Low: 36.
Here are the top five stories in Beaverton today:
- We don't know why a Beaverton man shot and killed his roommate on Friday. Austin Bryan Sutton, 34, was arrested Saturday and charged with shooting his roommate, Levi Benjamin Pierce, 37, at 8:40 P.M. at their residence in the Highland neighborhood. Sutton remains in Washington County jail on charges of suspicion of second degree murder and an additional weapons charge but no other details are available at this time. (OregonLive)
- Washington County is bluer and more Democrat than ever before, and that change has led to the first majority Democratic county board in decades. Though board positions are nonpartisan offices, board members and knowledgeable onlookers agree that the political climate has changed. Dick Schouten, county board member for much of Beaverton from 2000 to 2020, says it is less likely that the board will produce more unanimous decisions now than was usual in the past. (Beaverton Valley Times; subscription required)
- Speaking of politics, it looks like Beach Pace, the challenger to Kathryn Harrington, Washington County Chair, has raised substantially more campaign funds than the incumbent. Pace has raised $150,000 in donations compared to $30,000 in donations to Harrington's campaign, causing Harrington to spend tens of thousands of dollars of her own money on campaign expenses. (Beaverton Valley Times; subscription required)
- Former Oregon Chief Administrative Law Judge John Michael Mann, 56, will be released from a Washington County jail on Monday and fitted with a GPS monitor while he awaits trial for possessing child pornography. He has pleaded not guilty to possessing or viewing ten files containing pornography involving young children. Terms of his release include surrendering his passport, no access to the internet and no contact with witnesses and minors, including his ex-wife and his two children. (OregonLive)
- Intel was the first major Oregon employer to move to a hybrid work model post-pandemic, with workers laboring remotely much of the time. As the state's largest employer, this move to less traditional work settings may put pressure on other employers to offer alternatives to coming into the office day after day. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 1 in 6 Oregon workers worked remotely during the pandemic and most of them have no interest in going back to the office full time. (OregonLive)
Today in Beaverton:
- The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, 26385 NW Groveland Drive, Hillsboro, is offering free guided tours every Sunday. The museum has thundereggs, agates, jaspar and sunstones from Oregon as well as rocks and minerals from around the world. Registration recommended. (10:30 A.M. to Noon)
- Head to Carpenter Creek Farm and Winery in Forest Grove from 1:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. for live music, a complimentary glass of wine for moms and food from the Cajun Papa food truck.
- A diverse classical music concert featuring Oregon Symphony musicians and some of their special friends is being presented today at 2:00 P.M. at the Muslim Educational Trust, 10330 SW Scholls Ferry Road in Tigard. Works will include a woodwind sextet by Beethoven and a selection from the modern work, 'The Life of Birds.' The concert is free and no tickets are required.
- Beaverton Library at Murray Scholls is presenting in-person Family Storytime at 4:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. If you'd like the kids to get a storytime but you'd rather not go anywhere, consider virtual storytime from 4:30 P.M. to 4:50 P.M. For the virtual event registration, use this link www.BeavertonLibrary.org/Register and library staff will email you a link to the event.
From my notebook:
- Did you know that PCC Rock Creek has an online interactive map of its art collections? The artwork spans the disciplines covering painting, metal sculpture, ceramic pieces and represents notable Northwest artists such as Frank Boyden and Rick Barton, to name just a few. The map is useful for planning a visit, locating particular works or even taking the tour from home.
- Love seasonal produce but hate shopping? Campo Collective's CSA box might be the solution for you! Get a look at the sustainable vegetable and turkey farm near Helvetia (and find out how to order your veggies!) via Instagram.
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That's all for now but come back tomorrow when Ash DeMello will return with more news than you can shake a stick at.
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Meanwhile, I'm Merlin Douglass and it's been my pleasure to spend these few minutes with you.