An emotional Mayor Scott Taylor gave his parting speech after nearly two decades in local government, thanking family, councilors, city staff, four former mayors, community volunteers, and friends for their help and support.

Outgoing Councilors Barry Lucas and Roger Harris, departing after four years and seven years, respectively, also said their heartfelt good-byes at the Dec. 20 council meeting.

Taylor, who was visibly moved during his 10-minute address, expressed confidence in the new City Council to be seated next month, and wished Mayor-elect Terry Prince good luck in the future.

"I have had an outstanding 18 years of service, and the amount I have learned, the people I have met, and the skills I developed all added to the quality of my life," he said.

"Thanks to the community for letting me hold the position of mayor for the last eight years. I firmly believe local government is the best place to positively impact our day-to-day life, and I appreciate the opportunity to be part of that effort.

''I would like to thank the hundreds of volunteers who have worked on committees, task forces, and special events over the years of my administration.

''People and their dedication is part of what people working together can accomplish in the name of caring and loving the community.

''I appreciate the councilors I have worked with and their ability to deal with very difficult, emotional and complex issues and people, and still keep the best interests of the citizens in mind.

''I also greatly appreciate their ability to make a decision, and move on to the next issue with very little personal rancor. They have acted like professionals, and repeatedly I have heard comments from other communities about our leadership as a community."

Taylor praised current councilors individually, and lauded current and former city employees for their superhuman efforts, singling out City Administrator Mark Adcock and his predecessor, Clackamas County Commissioner Mike Jordan, for special praise.

"I would like to thank the city employees who daily keep this town the quality place it is," he said. "Their dedication to quality service is much more than an eight-hour job, and they have repeatedly gone above and beyond the call of duty with no request for recognition.

''In particular, I would like to thank Mike Jordan and Mark Adcock for the excellent service they have given me.

''I would just say that Mike was instrumental in carrying out many of our wishes and future, and anyone who has worked for a seven-headed boss knows how hard that can be.

''For Mark, in particular, the time since the election has required extreme skill as he transitions from one council to the next. I know he will give the new council the same level of attention and loyalty he has given me."

Taylor also thanked former Canby mayors Mike Gabrion, Bill Pulver, Nancy Kopelk and Shawn Carrol "who helped prepare me for my eight years (as mayor), and in tough times have been available for support and assistance."

He wished the new council well as they begin their tenure Jan. 3, 2001.

"I have confidence that those remaining on the council, and those who will be new to it, have the best interests of the city in their hearts," Taylor said.

"It is often said that campaign rhetoric does not live beyond the election. I strongly disagree with that and would offer that, as leaders and candidates, we have an obligation to keep local politics out of the mud.

It not only damages the individual, but makes the healing of the community that much harder.

''I wish Mayor-elect Prince and the new millennium council the best of everything, and I hope they will set the standard for the next 1,000 years." Taylor reserved the highest praise for his wife, Vicki, and sons Brandon and Jared.

"My family has made numerous adjustments over the 18 years to accommodate the schedule of the city. Both of my sons have grown up only knowing the reality of every other Wednesday my being unavailable, but they have also given me purpose in making this community the best I could.

''My wife Vicki has always supported me and has spent many an evening alone, or worse yet with me brooding about some city issue. We will now have some time to make up for movies missed and dinners out, but their sacrifice over the years cannot be repaid."

Lucas said it had been "a privilege and an honor" to serve as councilors the last four years.

He said he learned a great deal, thanked city staff for their professionalism, patience and hard work, and said the No. 1 accomplishment during his tenure was hiring Adcock and his wife, Robin, from Missouri.

Lucas, too, wished the new council well. Councilor Randy Carson, and newcomers Teresa Blackwell and Patrick Johnson received the most votes in the six-person Nov. 7 council race.

"They have a lot of things on their agenda and a lot of things coming up, so I wish them luck," he said.

Harris cited increasing nighttime police patrol coverage, and supporting the Canby Public Library and Centro de Canby were among the highlights of his seven years on the council.

"There have been terrific changes in the time I've been up here," he said. "I trust the new council will be fine."

Harris thanked his wife, Victoria, for her unflinching support, the "fraternity and friendships" forged on the council, and he praised Johnson and Blackwell for their concerted efforts to learn about government before their terms begin.

The departing civic leaders received a standing ovation from people in the packed Council Chambers, and a reception was held in the Canby Utility board room after the current council's last meeting adjourned.

The final seconds ticked off the clock for Canby Sporting Goods on Saturday, ending a 25-year streak as one of the town's only sporting goods stores. The local business closed its doors Dec. 23 after a marathon going-out-of-business sale to pare down its inventory.

"Unfortunately, the market in Canby just wasn't big enough," said Joe Driggers, who owned the shop in partnership with Charlie Williams for eight years. "We just couldn't do it anymore."

For more than 25 years, the shop served - in one form or another - as an outlet for athletic teams of Canby seeking uniforms, equipment and accessories.

"We were just your basic neighborhood sporting goods store," said Driggers, who also owns Bashor's Sporting Goods in Portland. "We dealt with high school teams and Little League - things like that."

Customers perused the shelves for bargains last week during the store's 60 percent off departure sale.

"This is our fourth time in here since the sale has been going on," said Eileen Lentz, a soccer and softball coach. She was scouting for softball gloves and sweatpants with her daughter, Kathleen.

Lentz said she has shopped at Canby Sporting Goods for years. Now she'll have to travel to Oregon City to find athletic wares.

"I don't think I can find what I need (anywhere else in town)," she said. Julia Driggers, the owner's daughter, has worked in the store for more than three years. She said a lot of people had been stopping in recently after seeing the huge going-out-of-business sign in the window.

"People were buying up sweats and cleats because we had them at such good deals," she said.

She also said people from Diamond Batting Cages, the business next door, had wandered over to check out the sale.

Even though the batting cages and the sporting goods store share the same building, they are separate businesses. The batting cages will remain open. Joe Driggers said Canby Sporting Goods' lease expires Dec. 31. The store officially closed Dec. 23, but employees will be cleaning it out all this week.

"For us, (the business) was always a struggle," he said, "but the Canby community has always been great to us."