Patch Takes A Look Back On Oregon's 2017: A Year In Review

As 2017 comes to an end, Patch has compiled some of the most popular stories shared throughout the year from across the Portland metro region and beyond. While so many fun, amazing, weird, and sometimes tragic things occurred, it's hard to say what might be the most important story of the year.

Would it be the eclipse that saw Oregon fill with millions of people who all just wanted to stare at the sky for a couple minutes in August?

Would it be the heroic act of three men who stood up against hatred, bigotry, and ignorance on a TriMet MAX train in May?

Or would be a story that slipped under Patch's radar — something only those closest to the source could have ever known?

Oregon is a big state with an incredibly diverse people. From the Willamette Valley and the Coastal Range to the High Desert and the Oregon Outback, few states boast such a varied topography and mix of American cultures.

Of all the stories we had to offer, these are the ones Oregon Patch readers found the most interesting:

January:

You've Goat to be Kidding: Furry Friend Gnoshes Skittles at Beaverton 7-Eleven (VIDEO)

A furry friend with a sweet tooth "goat" into an area convenience store last week.

Mary Graham Sees Obamacare As Life-and-Death Struggle

"It will only be a matter of time before my insurance runs out," Mary Graham says. "I won't be able to afford medication. And I will die."

Trump Signs Executive Orders To 'Build the Wall' And Crack Down On Sanctuary Cities

Officials in sanctuary cities and others involved in the movement were swift to register opposition.

February:

Oregon Zoo's Packy Had A Good Last Day

The zoo's beloved elephant dies after a long battle with TB. After the heartbreaking decision was made. There was cake for the big guy.

Toddler Who Went Missing Now In Protective Care

River was found safe by search and rescue personnel. Ava the K9 is credited with rescue.

Killing Of Man Who Shot Trooper Cederberg 'Likely' Saved Lives, Says D.A.

Report by the Washington County District Attorney's Office finds the officers who helped Trooper Nic Cederberg likely saved lives.

Multi-Million Dollar Meth Bust: Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Makes Largest Seizure In Their History

The sheriff's office says that they seized about 100 pounds of meth, two pounds of heroin, and nearly $30,000 in cash.

March:

Hillsboro A Sanctuary City As Mayor Casts Tie-Breaking Vote

Hillsboro's city council voted in favor of designating the city a sanctuary at its meeting March 7

Baby Born To Faith Healing Couple Died From Complications From Premature Birth

The baby, born to members of the Followers of Christ Church, wasn't getting enough oxygen. Her death was from natural causes.

Hikers Rescued At Multnomah Falls

Twelve hikers got lost between Wahkeena Falls and Multnomah Falls.

Downtown Portland Protests Follow Memorial Service for Teen Killed by Police

Three people were arrested Wednesday during protests along Southwest Madison Avenue, Portland police say.

April:

Portland Police: Dozens of 'Wilding' Teens Found Brawling in Southeast Portland Over Two Days

Two incidents over two days saw between 20 and 40 teens fighting in Southeast Portland, police said. Only four arrests were made.

Beaverton Student Accepted to Seven Ivy League Schools

Bryan Lee, an 18-year-old Westview High School senior, received acceptance letters from seven Ivy League schools on March 30.

Denny's Customer Lit On Fire, Clackamas County Deputies Say

Deshaun Swanger, the man deputies say is responsible for lighting 69-year-old Scott Ranstrom on fire Wednesday, has been arrested.

Kraxberger Gearheads Robotics Club is All About Community in Gladstone

Giving back, supporting the community, and reducing waste are top priorities for one small Clackamas County robotics club.

May:

Oregon-Based Dutch Bros. Among America's Best Small Companies: Forbes

The second annual list recognizes 25 small companies in America the "value greatness over growth," according to Forbes.

Ox Restaurant Co-Owners Win 2017 James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northwest

Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton were thrice nominated before finally taking home the prestigious culinary honor.

Estacada Store Employee Stabbed By Man Carrying Severed Human Head: Clackamas Sheriff

Following the stabbing, Tina Marie Webb was found dead in her home in Colton. Police said the two crimes are related.

Friend Or Faux: A Game of Ridiculously Revealing Questions Tested By Patch

Four friends created a card game over margaritas two years ago; now game-makers appear interested in licensing. But would you buy it?

Portland Hate Crime: Heroes Honored As The City Searches For Answers

Three heroes: An Army veteran, an environmental consultant, and a college student who writes poetry, including a poem about discrimination.

June:

'Guys, I've Been Shot': A Portland Shooting Survivor's Story

Byron Anderson was shot on May 24 after DJ'ing an event in downtown Portland. He survived his wounds, but his shooter remains at large.

Chief Kno-Tah Statue To Be Removed From Shute Park

After spending 30 years greeting Hillsboro residents and visitors at the end of the Tualatin Valley Highway, Chief Kno-Tah is coming down.

Portland Protests: Competing Rallies Draw Hundreds; Arrests Made

At least five different groups gathered in downtown Portland Sunday. There was screaming throughout the day and then violence toward police.

The Complicated Story Of George Elwood Tschaggeny

Before his opioid addiction, before he was homeless, and before he allegedly stole the property of a dying man, Tschaggeny had a happy life.

Oregon Allows Drivers To Choose Non-Gender Specific Option On Licenses

The new rule, nearly one year in the making to the day, will take effect July 3.

'Hit A Lick': Why Alex Brodigan Was Murdered On June 19

Four people planned to rob Brodigan, police said. One of those four was also prepared to shoot him, if necessary.

Small Town Chiropractor Wanted For Sex Crimes Arrested At Canadian Border

Hillsboro police issued a warrant for Shane Espinoza's arrest hours before U.S. Customs agents picked him at a border crossing in Blaine, WA.

July:

'To Advance Visual Expression': How Micheline Ronningen Found Herself In A Wilsonville Art Gallery

What you see in one of Ronningen's pieces isn't likely going to be what she intended, but she doesn't mind. That's actually the point.

Fired Home Depot Employee Who Foiled Kidnapping Attempt Gets His Job Back

After trying to prevent what he thought was a kidnapping attempt at the Home Depot, Dillon Reagan was fired for safety violations.

Truck Carrying Hundreds Of Eels Overturns, Slimes Entire Highway

The eels were reportedly being shipped to Korea "for consumption," Oregon State Police officials said. No injuries were reported.

'Lady Blue' Startles Boys In Blue At Oregon College Of Art And Craft

When Washington County Sheriff's Deputy Anel Ceric saw two glowing eyes in the dark, he took a picture and posted it to Twitter.

August:

A Letter To My New Kidney

After years on dialysis, a new kidney makes a Patch editor feel as though he's been released from prison. Then the kidney surprises him.

3,000 Pounds Of Food Delivered To Beaverton Nonprofit By Hillsboro Cleaning Authority

Collecting food from the homes of the people they serve, Hillsboro's Cleaning Authority was noted among the top donors in the company.

WWII Veteran Travels 10,000 Miles To Return Hinomaru Yosegaki Flag To Family

Former U.S. Marine Marvin Strombo took the flag from fallen Japanese soldier Yasue Sadao while fighting on Saipan in 1944.

Oregon 'Hate Map' Reveals 11 Racist, Separatist Hate Groups

The map, created by the Southern Poverty Law Center, shows nearly 1,000 hate groups operating across the United States.

Cosmic Conception During Oregon Eclipse? A San Francisco Man Seeks A Mate

A Craigslist poster from San Francisco sought a woman with whom he could conceive a child during the brief moments of totality Aug. 21.

'A Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity': Viewing The Aug. 21 Eclipse From Monmouth, Oregon

To witness the eclipse, people from all over the world traveled to Western Oregon University, where totality lasted nearly 2 minutes.

September:

Scorched Earth: Time-Lapse Video Shows Rapid Spread Of Eagle Creek Fire

In the video, taken overnight from Sept. 4 to Sept. 5, the Eagle Creek Fire is seen spreading across the hills near Cascade Locks, Oregon.

'Giggling Kids With Fireworks' Responsible For Eagle Creek Fire, Witness Says

OPB reporters met up with a woman who said she caught a group of kids in the act of throwing fireworks into Eagle Creek Canyon Saturday.

Health Care Repeal: What It Would Be Like For One Family

Mike Tracy and his 91-year-old mother, Betty, are both on Medicaid. And not sure where they would be without it.

After Buying Stolen Disneyland Tickets On Craigslist, Portland Woman Sought Justice

When it comes to getting scammed, Ann West is one life skills instructor we can all take lessons from.

October:

Explosion Inside Car On NW 185th Avenue Sends FBI Suspect To Hospital

Jason Schaefer was reportedly associated with an apartment where law enforcement was serving a federal search warrant related to explosives.

Fitness Together Owner Arrested For DUII After Crashing Into Raleigh Hills Home, Police Say

After midnight Oct. 18, Tony Magden allegedly crashed into a house, severing a gas line, before fleeing on foot back to his own home.

Warrantless ICE Arrest In Oregon Home Captured On Cell Phone Video

Federal officials are reviewing the arrest of Carlos Bolanos after the video was posted to Facebook, where it's been viewed 720,000 times.

Portland Hiker Missing 5 Days Found Alive: Clackamas Sheriff

After spending 5 days alone in the Oregon wilderness, Nathan Mitchell, 34, was found Thursday.

November:

Mom Finds Blade In Daughter's Halloween Candy: Police

Tiffany Beehler told Washington County deputies her 13-year-old found the blade in a Twix bar after trick-or-treating Halloween night.

Forest Park Bodies Identified As Annieka Vaughan, Zach Petersen

Police said both died from gunshot wounds; Petersen reportedly killed Vaughan before turning the gun on himself.

Nearly 30 Years On, Ride Connection Is Still Moving

In 2015, Ride Connection set a goal to raise $1M by June 2018. With $200,000 left to go, the 30-year-old nonprofit is pushing for donations.

Detectives Recover Stolen Tools, Enter Rabbit Hole Of Crimes

Raymond Chavez is accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of tools from a truck in West Slope, but his alleged crimes don't end there.

Bikers, Firefighters Honor Fallen Comrade On 34th Annual Toy Run

This year's Washington County ABATE - Stan Johnston Memorial Toy Run was particularly emotional due to the recent passing of Ryan Grimaldi.

Black Friday Gives Back: Capitalizing On A Capitalist Holiday

Three years ago, 4 Hillsboro families came up with a plan to make Black Friday about more than themselves. Now they donate their discounts.

December:

3 Arrested For Robbery, Kidnapping: Portland Police

Jody Wafer, Trent Knight, and Brittany Kizzee are accused of tying up and robbing a person at Public Storage in Montavilla Saturday.

Rescued Sea Otter Baby Joins Oregon Zoo Family

The sea otter was rescued off the California coast in October.

Washington Amtrak Derailment: 3 Confirmed Dead, 77 Injured

Heavy equipment was being brought to DuPont Monday afternoon to remove train cars. I-5 might be closed for a day or more.

Tri-County Fugitive Wanted For Multiple Crimes

Joshua Hayward escaped police pursuit in Tualatin Dec. 20 when his girlfriend, Chelsea Munday, T-boned a police cruiser with a stolen car.

Image via Patch News