This week: an ICE agent's bathroom visit at the Forest Grove police station drew a protest and a policy change, a Pacific student club hosts a House District 29 town hall Oct. 19, and Pacific University Homecoming runs Oct. 16-18 with free events and no parking permit needed in most campus lots.

A pet costume contest at the farmers market, ghost stories at the Old Train Station, a harvest bazaar at Mt. Olive and pumpkins at Duyck's: fall around Forest Grove and Gales Creek, Oct. 9 to Oct. 15.

One North Oregon Coast couple learned the hard way. Here’s what they’re doing about it.

Valley Art, a Forest Grove ceramic artist and studios near Banks and Gaston and in Cornelius open their doors Oct. 17-18 for the free Washington County Open Studios Tour.

Visitors can meet officers, tour the station and hear about the building's history and the police bond at the Forest Grove Police Department on Oct. 15.

Kids up to 18 with a Gales Creek connection can come in costume for games, crafts and treats at the Gales Creek School gym Saturday, Oct. 24.

Bruce Bishop, a 1968 Pacific University graduate who led the recasting of the Boxer mascot and helped return the original statue, wins Pacific's alumni service award.

Pacific University Homecoming runs Oct. 16-18, with no permit needed for general parking in campus lots and free events including an Old College Hall open house and a Boxer mascot history.

Mayor Malynda Wenzl, Metro Councilor Miles Palacios, TriMet, the chamber and four city departments are set to be at the Community Auditorium, with a police facility tour at 7 p.m.

Kids will practice telling their 4-H stories to public officials Saturday in Banks, as backers push for a proposed countywide property tax to fund 4-H and OSU Extension.

Merkley introduced the bipartisan bill to give wildland firefighters’ families the same $100,000 death benefit given to fallen U.S. military members’ families.

Today around town: Two volunteers sought for Gales Creek Halloween party, Theatre in the Grove casting calls, Forest Grove High band's Kamiak results, Uprooted tree at Pacific and Cedar, Pacific alumni award for Jessica Scruggs, Red Rooster deals for workers and students and 2 more.

In 1976, volunteers under the State Forestry Department, among them 22 Tigard High School students, were clearing the old Wilson River wagon road out of Gales Creek as a trail for hikers and horseback riders. The Gales Creek Church of God dedicated its remodeled and expanded church on Oct. 3.

State Rep. Susan McLain and Forest Grove City Councilor Brian Schimmel are listed for the Pacific Students Political Society's town hall on Oct. 19.

An ICE agent was filmed Wednesday morning coming out of a non-public area of the Forest Grove police station, escorted by an officer. The police chief said the agent asked to use the bathroom. The visit drew a protest, & the station restroom is now off-limits to the public, including federal agents.

72 events this week in Forest Grove, including Adelante Mujeres Farmers Market, Open Mic Night, Trivia Night at the Red Rooster Saloon, and Bluegrass Jam Session.

Gales Creek Campground was already closed for forest operations, and the Browns Camp and Jordan Creek OHV campgrounds close for the season Nov. 2.

Environmental advocates are seeking volunteers to help collect research on how Oregon’s roads are impacting wildlife.

Gardeners, growers and local groups will set up tables to share what they know at the free fair, and organizers have room for more participants through Oct. 17.

Our Fall Fun Guide is getting a winter sequel, the election is about a month away, and I'm stepping up my game here at News in the Grove. - Chas

This week: Oct. 13 is the last day to register to vote or change parties, the man accused of grabbing Sen. Janeen Sollman's glasses at a Fernhill forum pleaded guilty, and volunteers will make more than 33,000 pounds of Verboort sausage on Halloween.

New hoodies for local 12- to 18-year-olds can be dropped off at the police station or at three October events. Most will go out through the nonprofit Mrs. Claus Cares.

Carpenter Creek Ranch opens its pumpkin patch, the Grand Lodge holds a free Oktoberfest and Blooming Junction stays open late on Fridays: fall around Forest Grove and Gales Creek, Oct. 2 to Oct. 8.

Theatre in the Grove's Haunted Theatre returns Oct. 23-31 with "Apocalypse in the Grove," an alien-and-zombie walk-through where visitors can rent laser tag guns for the first time.

Volunteers will make this year's Verboort sausage on Halloween and smoke it over vine maple ahead of the Nov. 7 dinner, Leo Duyck told chamber members.

Pedro Jahen Garcia-Balderrama was sentenced to two years of supervised probation for grabbing state Sen. Janeen Sollman's glasses at an Aug. 8 forum at Fernhill Wetlands.

No one had life-threatening injuries, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue said Friday. The fire department said to expect the closure for the next hour.

45 events this week in Forest Grove, including Adelante Mujeres Farmers Market, Valley Art Gallery at the Farmer's Market, Open Mic Night, and Rockstar Bingo.

How to register or update a registration, where to drop off a ballot in Forest Grove, and what's on the Forest Grove ballot, from City Council to police station bonds.

In 1976, Washington County received its first shipment of swine flu vaccine, to be used starting Oct. 4 for people over 65 and those with chronic health problems. In Forest Grove, the proposed senior center joined the list of projects the city would consider for federal funding.

The free event on Saturday, Oct. 24, lets families meet Washington County's 4-H clubs, whose new additions include D&D, shooting sports and a cat club.

The group says Oregon's chief elections officer will discuss election security and vote-by-mail protections at its free Oct. 9 meeting in Forest Grove.

Witnesses got the 23-year-old Cornelius man out of his vehicle before officers arrived, police said; his blood alcohol content was 0.12% about three hours later.

The League of Women Voters hosts county commissioner candidates Oct. 15 in Hillsboro, and American Legion Post 2 hosts House District 29 and Forest Grove council candidates Oct. 22.

Today around town: Forest Grove's newest police officer, Judges wanted for Pacific debate tournament, Free Medicare help from county volunteers, Bonamici's October town halls and Oregon's 2027 rent increase cap.

Crews contained the fire and were working on a leaking propane tank while the Washington County Sheriff's Office flagged traffic, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue said.

A free farm festival, OktoBierFest and Peter's Pumpkin Patch opening day: fall around Forest Grove and Gales Creek, Sept. 26 to Oct. 1.

This week: a teen on a scooter is hit on Main Street by a driver police say left the scene, the council weighs e-bike rules Monday, and Oktobierfest and the Tuality Plains Outpost fall festival fill Saturday.

Gary Duyck, 89, made his first coffin about 30 years ago, after his 9-year-old grandson was killed, and his own coffin, made of barn boards, already sits in his barn wrapped in a tarp.

The Oregon Department of Forestry lowered fire danger to low Friday across its Astoria, Forest Grove and Tillamook districts, including the Tillamook State Forest.

Solomon Methvin, 13, who took two Pacific University math courses in seventh grade, is one of two Oregon students among 26 chosen nationwide for the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship.

Seven of the nine public emerald ash borer reports confirmed in Oregon in 2025 came from Forest Grove, according to the annual state and federal forest health report.

Board member Nikol Roubidoux will lead downtown tours in the dark, Stephanie Asher will present ghost stories and local historian Mary Jo Morelli will lead a twilight ghost walk.

PGE's outage map listed an estimated restoration time of 11:30 a.m. for the Hagg Lake-area outage, and a National Weather Service wind advisory runs until 11 a.m.

The suspect said "he just felt like it," according to the Forest Grove Police Department.

"I think historically, sometimes as a society, we wait till something terrible happens before we take action to make a change or to seek out education. And I am hoping to get that education out before another tragedy happens," Forest Grove Police Chief David Marzilli said.

Police said the vehicle was described as a newer white Jeep driven by a woman and the rider was not seriously injured; tips go to non-emergency dispatch, 503-629-0111.

Today around town: Games crafts and treats at Gales Creek School, Tillamook forest roads gated for hunting seasons, Cabaret's final weekend in Forest Grove, Volunteers sought for Gales Creek Halloween party and Three-vehicle crash on Highway 47 at Maple Street.

Investigators closed all lanes, and Cornelius Fire said the road would stay closed for several hours between Roy and Kerkman roads, with a detour from the south at Wren Road.

The free, all-ages festival runs from 2 to 9 p.m. Sept. 26 between the two Forest Grove businesses, with food trucks, vendors, live music and a wiener dog race.