Aside from the city, county, state and national races on the general election ballot - not to mention the 26 initiative-based measures - there are two local issues to vote upon as Nov. 7 draws nearer.

Measure 3-1 would annex 1.7 acres south of Northeast 22nd Avenue, between North Locust and North Maple streets, to be zoned for low-density residential use.

The adjoining parcels are currently zoned Rural Residential Farm and Forest by the Clackamas County. A total of eight residential units could potentially be located on the properties.

If approved by voters, the Elroy and Beverly Knutson/NW Floriculture property would see the land transferred from the county and into the city limits.

If annexed, the owners would pay city taxes, could access city services, such as sewer and water, and could develop their land according to city planning standards. Any further development of the properties would require additional land-use applications and public hearings.

The Canby Planning Commission voted 6-0 to approve the annexation application, and the Canby City Council unanimously approved sending it to the voters.

Measure 3-24 would amend the city of Canby's charter to abolish term limits for members of the Canby Utility Board, who are currently restricted to serving no more than two consecutive three-year terms.

City councilors have expressed concern at losing talented and willing people to serve on local volunteer panels due to unnecessary term limits, and recently voted to eliminate limits on parks and library boards.

They say the pool of people interested in getting involved in the many local panels dealing with planning, growth, transportation, downtown, education and parks, among others, is limited, and people should be encouraged to participate. All members of all committees and task forces will continue to be subject to review when their terms are up.

Election ballots for Oregon's first-ever mail-in general election must be returned to the Clackamas County Elections Office by 8 p.m. Nov. 7. Ballots can also be dropped off at the Canby Public Library on North Grant Street.

Terry Prince and Scott Taylor are contesting the mayoral race, and six contenders - Teresa Blackwell, Randy Carson, Paul Dawson, Roger Harris, Barry Lucas and Patrick Johnson - are running for three seats on the Canby City Council.

Kurt Schrader of Canby and Marvin Wallace of Beavercreek are vying for the House District 23 seat in the Legislature, while Bill Kennemer, Mike Schaufler, Mark Luedtke and Mike Jordan are running for two Clackamas County Board of Commissioners seats.

The United States presidency, plus federal and state Senate and House seats, are also to be decided by voters.

For more information about the Nov. 7 ballot, call the elections office at 503-655-8510.

When President Clinton, the FBI and CIA, former presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush, and even the Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent, send you letters of congratulations, you know you have achieved something remarkable.

What could possibly merit such prestigious adulation? In this case, it's the fact that four Canby Boy Scouts have attained Scouting's equivalent of royalty, the Eagle Scout Award, after a veritable lifetime of service and hard work.

Ryan Echols, Aaron Porter, Jordan Sajovic and Doug Burnett of Boy Scout Troop 266 have all recently completed their requirements and will be presented with Eagle Scout awards at a Court of Honor ceremony Nov. 4. The ceremony will take place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Scouts had to earn at least 21 merit badges in a range of fields from first aid, survival and sports to art, cooking and the environment. After fulfilling their badge obligations, the boys had to complete an Eagle service project and an interview with a High Council member.

"I think it will definitely help me now and later on," said Ryan Echols, 17, whose project entailed refurbishing 1,000 feet of fence behind his church. "You have to do it for yourself."

At the same time, he acknowledged the tremendous support he received from his family and friends.

Sajovich, 18, agreed, recognizing his family's encouragement through the years, even as he found himself questioning the demands of a burgeoning Eagle Scout.

"It's a relief to be done," he said. "I've learned so much though, from rope work and cooking to serving my community and meeting other people. It's made me more of a people person."

Sajovich and his band of service project volunteers placed "blue dot" reflectors around the streets of Canby to aid fire crews in locating hydrants.

Ackerman Middle School students can thank Porter, 16, for his service project, a new bench that sits outside their school.

He, too, felt relief in finally achieving a Scout's highest honor.

"I felt a lot of pressure in having to get it," he said, but thanks to his mother's encouragement, Aaron now realizes the myriad benefits gained from his hard work: environmental awareness, helping others and the value of dedication.

Echoing this importance, Burnett, 17, said of his own achievement, "It's good to know I could accomplish something from beginning to end."

His project entailed building eight "chuck boxes" - a sort of portable camping kitchen - for use by the young women of his church at camp.

With his requirements completed, Burnett now has more time for a few of his other interests, namely cinematography and stop-motion animation. The four boys have all been friends and Scouts for just about as long as they can remember.

Naturally, they are active members of their high school, participating in a range of activities from football, baseball, basketball, track, tennis, and wrestling to the drama club, Homecoming, Future Business Leaders of America and Key Club.

Their commitments extend outside of academia into the community through their involvement in the Mormon Church, organizations such as the Multnomah County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Program, and the mentoring of younger Scouts on their path to the Eagle rank.

And lest they be deemed "all work and no play," the teens enjoy backpacking, camping, rappelling and just hanging out.

Think they're busy? Nope - they're just Eagle Scouts.