![At the bottom of the third inning, the Lions are still scoreless. Rowe stands at home plate, preparing to bat, while Vandenbrink stands off to the side as the next batter up. Despite having the bases loaded, the team was unable to score any runs. “It’s just the beginning of the season. We’re just going to be playing out best by June, [and] that’s where champions are,” Rowe said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_3077-1200x900.jpg)
![All smiles. The group poses for a photo with last year’s book, “This is Our House,” along with their award for third Best in Show. Meikle, who was an Editor-in-Chief for the yearbook last year as well, holds both and stands at the center of the group. “That was an amazing feeling, going and grabbing the third place award,” Meikle said. “All of it paid off. I cried so much over that book, being able to receive [the award] was one of the highlights of my high school career, it was like the coolest thing ever.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/8bookpose_philly-1200x800.jpg)
Yellow cranes and caution tape litter the Robinwood Shopping Center parking lot. Wal-Mart has started building a new store in West Linn located where the Bales Thriftway used to be. The leasing and improvements permits will be filed after Wal-Mart has paid and a contractor has been disclosed. Building will start later this year.
Instead of the Wal-Mart Superstore, Wal-Mart will be putting in a smaller version, about a quarter of the size of the usual stores. This Wal-Mart Market will be a grocery store including a pharmacy, bakery, deli, pet supplies, a photo center, and house hold goods. Most of the changes to the store will be interior, but there will be a few minor exterior improvements.
Since the store is arriving at an existing location, there will not be a public hearing. Students at West Linn have had mixed feelings about the Wal-Mart.
“I hate it! I wish it was going to be an ice skating rink!” Lauren Wiest, freshman, said.
Some students have a more positive outlook on the effect on the community.
“I think it’s good. It’s by my house, so I can walk to it,” Shana Feltham, freshman, said.
Although this will be the first Wal-Mart Market in Oregon, there are already 17 Wal-Mart Superstores, 14 discount stores, and a distribution center across the state. Work is already underway in Lake Oswego where Wild Oats Market used to be for a similar Wal-Mart Market.
Wal-Mart plans to expand smaller stores all over Oregon. There are already permits filed and property owned in Gresham, Beaverton, and Oregon City.
