Spanning the State: Portland pro teams step up Edition

Carla Axtman

Oregon might not be the first state to legalize marriage equality, but it seems we're the first state with major professional sports teams that have endorsed it.

Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian:

Supporters of a proposed same-sex marriage ballot measure have scored an endorsement from the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns soccer terms.

Officials from Oregon United for Marriage say this marks the first time that any major professional sports team has supported a ballot measure to legalize gay marriage.

Merritt Paulson, who owns both teams, expressed his support in a press release from Oregon United for Marriage, and Mike Golub, the chief operating office for the two teams, appeared in a video posted on United for Marriage's website.

Not to be outdone, the Blazers announced their support as well.

BAM. Nicely done, Thorns, Blazers and Timbers. You do us all proud.

And now, let's Span the State!

::::::::::::::::::::::gong!::::::::::::::::::::::

Pendleton is looking to diversify their economy. The town known for ranching and other agriculture recently held a conference to highlight their ability to support a facility for drones. Umatilla County is prepared to provide economic incentives in the form of a $100,000 grant to a company that meets the economic and employment benchmarks. In addition, the city will have to become an FAA-approved drone range.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is getting a boost from the Paul G. Allen Foundation. $3 million was recently awarded to the festival to support stage work, maintenance and restoration of buildings, and marketing. The Allen Foundation is a long time supporter of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, having given them around $11 million over the years.

Property values in Benton County are on the rise. Total assessed value of properties in Benton County increased about 2 percent this year, with values going up in every incorporated community in the county, according to Assessor Tami Woodward.

Last Thursday, Washington County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call out of a remote area south of U.S. Highway 26 in Manning, near Banks. The call was a request to rescue a 58-year-old hunter who had been assaulted by a naked man. The hunter told whomever answered the call that he was holding the man at bay with his hunting rifle. Deputies were assisted by Oregon State Police troopers to search the area as apparently it was tough to find the hunter. Deputies used their air horns in an attempt to have the hunter direct them to his location, which was heavily wooded, rugged terrain. The hunter blew a whistle to pinpoint his exact location. And no, this isn't a Monty Python sketch.

By Carla Axtman Oct. 14, 2013