A Local Hero’s Final Call, From His Daughter

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In today’s South Metro Weekly:

A very special retirement announcement for one of our local heroes.
Food cart pods in, and an I-5 pedestrian bridge out, for Wilsonville’s Town Center?
Plus Pajama Story Time, Flirty Friday and Whiskey Tasting…all in this week’s events!

If you own a business and want to get in front of nearly 2,000 of your neighbors, just click reply and let’s chat.

Let’s get to it!

-Scott

📻 🚨 A Father & Daughter’s Final Dispatch
After 25 years with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Lt. Tony Killinger signed off for the final time — with his daughter on the other end of the radio.

Lt. Tony Killinger, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office

Lt. Tony Killinger’s final radio call with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office came with the usual marks of a long career: thanks, memories and a little radio-room humor.

But this one also came with something more personal. The dispatcher sending him into retirement was his daughter.

Killinger began his public safety career as a dispatcher himself, with the Milwaukie Police Department before joining the Sheriff’s Office as a deputy in 2001. He later received the Medal of Valor in 2008, was promoted to Sergeant in 2012 and Lieutenant in 2022.

During the final radio call last Tuesday, his daughter described him as a leader, mentor and role model, adding that beyond the badge, he would always be the person she looks up to most.

Killinger, clearly emotional, joked that his “allergies” were kicking up before thanking the officers and dispatchers who helped him across the finish line. Click here to hear the call.

That’s one heck of a sign-off. Thank you for your service, Lt. Killinger.

🍟 🚚 Wilsonville Food Cart Pod Plan Moves Forward

Apparently, South Metro has food carts on the brain.

Just one week after Tualatin signaled it may finally create a path for food cart pods, Wilsonville’s long-talked-about Town Center food cart pod may also be getting a little more real.

At a June 29 work session, City Council directed staff to add a $1 million food cart pod incentive program to the proposed Town Center Urban Renewal Plan. The money could help with the expensive stuff that often slows projects down, like roads, utilities, and other costs that make redevelopment harder to pull off.

Council also tentatively agreed to remove the proposed I-5 Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge from the project list. City staff says that does not mean the bridge is dead. It would remain in other city plans, but would likely need outside funding. So, bridge fans: no need to hang up your bike helmet just yet.

Even with the food cart incentive added, the overall package cost would shrink, dropping from $92.3 million to $84.9 million.

If approved by Council later this summer, the updated plan is expected to go to Wilsonville voters in November 2026.

📷 West Linn Wants Your Best Summer Shot

West Linn is looking for photos that show summer in the city at its best.

The city’s 2026 Summer Photo Contest is open to photographers of all ages and experience levels. Entries can highlight local people, parks, events, buildings, community service, library moments, or West Linn’s trees, hills, rivers and wildlife.

Photos must be original and submitted digitally by 11:59 PM on August 21. Categories include Building Community, People at Play, Everyday Heroes, Stories Come Alive, and Flora and Fauna.

So yes, your camera roll full of pretty sunset pictures may finally have a civic purpose. Click here to learn more and get snapping those pics!

🚧 County Transportation Plan Puts South Metro Projects Lower on the List

Clackamas County is asking residents to weigh in on its long-range transportation plan, which looks at road, bridge, bike, pedestrian and transit needs through 2045. More than 500 projects are on the wish list, with a combined price tag of more than $3.8 billion. The problem? County planners expect only about $633 million to be available over the next 20 years.

Projects are being sorted into tiers, with Tier 1 projects most likely to be funded and Tier 3 projects recognized as needs, but not currently expected to be paid for in the next 20 years.

That’s where South Metro residents may want to take a closer look. Based on the draft map we saw, several projects around Wilsonville, West Linn, Lake Oswego, Tualatin and Sherwood appear to be in Tier 3 or Tier 4, including improvements around Stafford, Borland, Wilsonville Road and the long-discussed French Prairie Bridge over the Willamette.

In plain English: some important South Metro fixes are on the list, but not high enough to be near the front of the line. If there’s a road, bridge or intersection you think deserves more attention, now is the time to tell the county.

🎈 = family friendly events 💲 = cost required 🎵 = includes live music

Thursday 7/9

Friday 7/10

👶 Nuna Opens at Bridgeport | Nuna USA has officially opened at Bridgeport Village, bringing its strollers, car seats and baby gear to Tigard. The new store opened July 1, which is excellent news for parents who enjoy comparing stroller features like they’re buying a small SUV.

🍕 Pizza, Pizza…in Canby, Canby? | Word on “da street” is that a new Little Caesars will be opening near Fred Meyer on 99. We have sources that tell us August 18 is the expected opening date. But these sources also had greasy hands and kept muttering about missing Crazy Bread.

🏹 Robin Hood Fest Help Needed | The Sherwood Robin Hood Festival is looking for volunteers for this year’s event, held the third weekend in July. A wide range of roles are available, so yes, there may be a way to serve without wearing tights.

🚓 Sherwood Police Looking for Reserves | Sherwood Police are accepting applications for Reserve Police Officers, a volunteer role for people who want to serve the community or explore law enforcement. The department also has an opening for a Dispatch Trainee, for those who prefer the headset side of public safety.

♒ Wilsonville Water Feature Is Back | Good news for hot kids and tired parents: Wilsonville’s Town Center Park water feature reopened over the holiday weekend. Translation: bring towels, sunscreen and at least one backup snack.

🦘🐻 Bears and Kangaroos in Wilsonville? | Ok, let’s just get this taken care of. Yes, there really was a bear spotted in Wilsonville last week. Multiple videos on social media showed the little bugger wandering around Kohl Creek Golf Course and apparently making his way down Boones Ferry toward the river after doing some impressive karaoke at Boone’s Junction. The alleged missing kangaroo, however, is another story. Literally. We checked with local police, and there were no confirmed reports of an escaped kangaroo. So the bear was real. The kangaroo? I guess we’ll never know. 🤦‍♂️

🐾 Each week, we feature a local adoptable pet who’s ready for a fresh start. Some are playful, some are mellow, some are still figuring out this whole “human roommate” thing — but all are hoping their next stop is a loving South Metro home. This week’s featured furry friend is ready to meet you.

🐕 Meet Pepino / This little cutie is a 2-year-old shepherd mix with plenty of energy and a big “let’s go do something” personality. At about 69 pounds, he’s looking for a forever family that can give him daily exercise, mental stimulation and some basic training to help him become his best dog self. Hiking buddy? Walking partner? Backyard zoomies supervisor? Pepino is ready to apply.

Because of his energy level, Pepino would do best in a home with kids 13 and older, and a securely fenced yard would be a big plus. He has been friendly with other dogs at the shelter, but any resident dogs should come along for a meet-and-greet. Cats and small animals are still an unknown, so adopters should talk through introductions with the shelter team. Pepino is ready to meet his people.

Pepino is available at the Clackamas County Shelter. Learn more here.

Sunny and warm all week, starting hot Monday before settling into the low-to-mid 80s Tuesday through Friday. Nights stay mostly clear and comfortable, with lows in the low-to-mid 50s.

THANKS!

Thanks for reading South Metro Weekly today.

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Lots of love, neighbors!

A Local Hero’s Final Call, From His Daughter

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