t the age of 16, one of our reporters at GoodNews PDX ran off the road in the snow and was stuck in an embankment.  While he was never in any serious danger thanks to passing motorists, the dark, cold night couldn’t help but drive home how hazardous roads can be around Oregon in the winter.  That’s why we are all VERY jazzed about the latest news from the Department of Transportation.

When the snow starts to fall, you may notice more emergency lights on state roads.  The DOT authorized 500 hours of overtime for Oregon State Troopers.  Those troopers will be staged at some of the most hazardous spots in the winter, mountain passes.  Expect to see them stationed on I-5, I-84 plus the Willamette, Santiam and Mount Hood Passes.

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Check out this from the Portland Tribune:

http://portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=122410857876807300

Apparently, the new recycling roll carts are doing their job, increasing the amount of collected recyclable materials.

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A 74-year-old Vancouver man nearly dove, head-first, several stories down a garbage chute.  His wife caught him by the knees when he fell forward trying to dislodge something blocking the chute.  He’s scraped and bruised but otherwise OK.  For the full report, check out the link

http://www.columbian.com/article/20081020/NEWS02/710209966

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Here’s the article in the Ashland Daily Tidings

http://www.dailytidings.com/2008/1018/stories/1018_solar-plant0.php

The 480,000 square foot plant in Hillsboro will generate as much energy as most coal or natural gas fired plants by 2011 and will establish SolarWorld as the number one solar power provider in the nation.  Not to mention the 2,000 high wage jobs it creates.

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Thanks to a 2.4 million dollar donation from Peter and Rosalie Johnson, paying for college will not be as much of a headache for 16 students.  The donation endows the Johnson’s previously existing scholarship fund (established in the late ’90s) and guarantees financial aid to 16 Beavers every year.  For more, check out the full story here:

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/10/osu_alum_pledges_24_million_fo.html

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This from the Oregonian . . . 

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/10/33_oregon_counties_will_share.html

The long debated County Timber Payment plan got worked into the 700 billion dollar “bailout” . . . dropping three quarters of a billion dollars into local banks accounts.

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Florence Snyder is home safe tonight.  

The 87-year old woman, barely five feet two, with silver hair and retro eyeglasses dropped her husband off at 10:30 this morning before heading of to a function at the couples church.  She never showed at the church and didn’t come home early that afternoon as planned.

Husband Allen says the love of his life does get confused sometimes but she’s never disappeared before.  Sheriff’s deputies tracked her down at a local convenience store this evening.  Snyder didn’t know where she was but wasn’t hurt or in any sort of immediate danger.  She’s safe and sound.

Editors note: You always hear when someone goes missing and they are NOT found . . . it’s a blessing to hear when a search goes right.

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