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On June 16, a local logging comassorted fittings, tools, and vehicles. as they had disabled all vehicles at pany’s employees discovered their Gate locks had been cut to access their sites the day before. logging site on in the Sharps Creek the site, and “No Trespassing” signs The same day, US Forest Over the summer, the Lane October 9, 2024 | Number 39, 135 years removed. www.cgsentinel.com $2.00 Service personnel at the Dorena County Sheriff’s Forest Patrol began Road area had been vandalized and items stolen. On Aug. 22, the same company Genetic Research Center (DGRC) investigating a series of thefts and On Aug. 21, a different logging discovered the same site vandalized on Shoreview Drive reported an break-ins. company discovered their work site and property stolen overnight again, overnight break-in, vandalism, and Specific details of the crimes and in the area of Brice Creek Road including more hose and tools. thefts from several buildings and the arrest of two Cottage Grove had been vandalized and property Gate locks and signs had also been men have now emerged, according stolen overnight, including a pump, damaged. No vehicles were stolen, to a release from the Lane County See CRIMES Page 6 hundreds of feet of fire hose and Sheriff’s Office. STAFF REPORT Cottage Grove Sentinel
Wednesday
The mental City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s
Slabtown BMX catches community support JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
Crews began developing the smaller homeless camp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street.
Public works crews are in the process of establishing a new smaller homeless camp site at the CINDY WEELDREYER vacant lot on 12th Street in Cottage Cottage Grove Sentinel Grove. Cottagehigh Grove City Riding from theManager financial Mike Sauerwein said city is boost of Cascade HometheCenter’s behind its original Oct. 1 timeline Sept. 27 Community Cook-Off funis establishing the camp, following draiser, Slabtown BMX organizers the hopeful Aug. 22that—with closure andcontinued cleanup are of the 12th Street and Douglas support—they’ll reach their $200,000 Streetand homeless camps. During by the goal begin track operations transition, the adjacent Lulu Dog next summer. Park 12th aStreet beenfor used “It’sat been labor has of love the as a homeless camp site with hours past three and a half years to make froma 7reality,” p.m. tosaid 7 a.m. daily. BMX this Slabtown “None of us have ever managed President Mike Kelley. “We’ve made agreat homeless camp before, so we progress, and every donated knew that date was a bitbrings aspiradollar or in-kind service tional,” Sauerwein said. “We us closer to making this dreamare a hoping that this week we will be reality.” able make the Our Thetoproject hastransition. received seed PHOTO JEREMY C. RUARK / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL goal was to provide folks with funding and strong community supSauerwein and other city officials currently doing, which is providing The new mini homeless camp a safeThe andnonprofit secure place to spend port. organization have told the Sentinel, that there a location for folks to spend the will include the same restrictions as the night and that’s what we are has secured key financial backing: are no additional plans to offer any night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.” the former larger camps. doing.” $10,000 from the City of Cottage other long-term sheltering for the Read previous coverage about “The same rules will apply,” Sauerwein said city staff was Grove, a $35,000 matching grant homeless. the homelessness challenges in Sauwrwein said. “The camp will cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to from the Yarg Foundation, and “Cottage Grove will follow Cottage Grove and follow new reestablish as arecent dog park. Specific be available from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. $5,298 fromitthe Community state law as we understand it,” developments at cgsemtinel.com and the rules will be enforced costs of that cleanup and establishCook-Off. Monthly car washes Sauerwein said. “That is what we and in the Wednesday print editions through our contracting company, ing the smaller homeless camp at hosted by Les Schwab Tires bring in are doing. To change that is up to of The Sentinel. One Security of Eugene to help us 12th Street were not immediately roughly $1,000 each. the legislature. The city of Cottage during this transition period. They Cindy Weeldreyer/Cottage Grove available. In-kind donations have also been are a very experienced homeless Sentinel Grove has no plans to do any kind substantial. Since May, volunteers of a shelter beyond what we are camp management company.” (Top) Local BMX riders are have redistributed more than 140,000 eager to seek the track cubic yards of donated dirt into a completed next summer. roughed-in track design. The layout (Bottom) Local BMX riders is slightly smaller than the original said they are thankful for the due to a nearby floodplain. community’s support and are TRACK HISTORY AND eager to see the track operaREVIVAL tional by next summer. BMX racing in Cottage Grove began in 1984 with the opening of expensive and we got out of it,” he the Todd Kephart Memorial BMX said. “Now I’m an adult with two Track. For decades, it served as a kids, and we got back into racing last second home for local families until year. We love it. I’d recommend anyit was decommissioned in 2009 due body try it at least once.” brand-new start-up nonprofit and the track operator and board member. to declining volunteer support and The Emery family practices and track isn’t up and running, so there Colton’s wife, Courtney, is board safety concerns. The city leveled the competes at Emerald Valley BMX secretary, and their two teens are also aren’t many funders willing to take a track in 2014 for liability reasons. in Eugene and actively supports chance /onCOTTAGE us,” she GROVE said. SENTINEL racers. CINDY WEELDREYER After several attempts to revive Slabtown’s fundraising efforts. His added that while 20–30 “It’s more taken aphotos lot longerwith than we Matchbooks fromofthe Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove. See this storyColton at cgsentinel.com. BMX locally, a group volunteers 10-year-old daughter, Paisley, a expected to re-establish a track here,” kids are actively involved in fundformed Slabtown BMX in 2022 and fifth grader at Harrison Elementary, raising, many don’t race yet. “Local Courtney said. “While it’s a struggle built a solid administrative foundahas won five races in the past year. to be constantly fundraising, it’s also parents want to get their kids into the tion. Their first milestone was secur“It’s fun and a great way to make been very rewarding for our family.” sport, but traveling to Eugene after ing a revised license agreement with friends,” she said. PROGRESS AND NEXT STEPS work and getting home at 9:30 p.m. the City, granting five years of operaThe Gibbs family shares a similar isthea big struggle.” Organizers are proud of what’s CINDY WEELDREYER tion with one automatic renewal—up helped us meet many of our future way” during the construction Nearly 50 people attended the story. Greg and his eight-year-old Grove Sentinel Unlike the original dirt track, been accomplished. With the dirt to For ten The yearsCottage total. Insurance requireproject. bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s son, Vincent, have been racing for a theHe newsaid facility willgiven be all-season in place, they’ve track-at ments were when split between construche was an importShe shared a humorous mem“Farewell to the entered Village the Green” In 1975, Birdy Hoelzle year. Greg’s mother, Carol Thayer, and all-weather, capable of hosting building phase and are working tion operations to meet The youth ant job of opening the boxes ory they made in the formal Iron the Community Center, Saturday, and and her sister Gail opened an avid cyclist, travels from out of races year-round. It willrooms retainand the closely with USA BMX and track safety standards. delivered to the guest Maiden Dining Room that drew Sept. 21. Bookmine they were familiar with town to cheer them on. “I was leery a new layout designer Lance McGuire to become FAMILIES recalledfootprint how coolwith he felt driving laughter from the crowd. The internationally famous resorta original The Village Green.DRIVING at first because it looked kinda danof Organizers also the hope sanctioned THEtraveled MISSION theobstacles. orange golf cart around “My sister and I were budding was createdfacility. by Walter A. Woodard Their father a lot and gerous,” Thayer said. “Now I look to add a warm-up pumperrands. track for Still, several remain.Some Thebrought closest BMX track is inhome property for assigned Years feminists at the time and were quite (W.A.) and his hurdles son, Carlton. often its matchboxes forward to watching them race. It’s Additional are needed, along Eugene, and for families, the later, another special memory was shocked by the sexism practiced in members ofpermits the family attended and skill-building. as keepsakes formany his girls. The sisvery family-oriented and has boosted with installation of water and power HOWtheTO HELPfootball player, commute work makes seeing famous the dining room,” she said. “The shared personal memories. ters were after in their 20’s whenparticipathey Vincent’s self-esteem.” Those wishing to support the of the lines, perimeter fencing, a starttion difficult. That’s whybookstore the return O.J. Simpson, running on one menu given to a woman had no opened the Main Street Three generations of the Kelley THROUGH THE LENS project call 541-649-2500. ing gate, a storage building, and a of a local track istheir so meaningful. resort’scan paths. prices on it and foot pillows were and, to enhance income, family have supported BMX in Kris Woodard’s introductory Slabtown reached structure for race registration and For 36-year-old Michael To the BMX delightcan of also thosebegathered, provided so ladies’ uncomfortable worked as waitresses at theEmery, resort. Cottage Grove. Mike Kelley doesn’t remarks included personal memvia Facebook by email at concessions. it’s“It a full-circle moment.place “I was Kris’ brother, or Casey Woodard, shoes could be removed while dinwas a wonderful to race as often now, but his son Colton ories he made through the lens SlabtownBmx@gmail.com. Courtney noted that grant writ-of really into itbeing as a new kid, but it got it ing. It was a very different era.” work and, in town, began at age five and now serves as a 12-year-old who was often See LEGACY, Page 6 ing has been difficult. “We’re a“in
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
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wildland Super firefighters
outlines challenges, opportnities for school district JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
Oregon’s wildfire season is expected to continue through this month, but the mental scares and impact of the season on the firefighters who battle blazes in Lane County and across the state, and their families, may last a lifetime, according to Jeff Dill, the founder of Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA). Dill established the FBHA in 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. CINDY He was than aWEELDREYER Battalion Chief Cottage Grove Sentinel for a fire department in northwest Chicago. Superintendent Todd Miller has “I saw our brothers and sisters presented a comprehensive report struggle from the devastation thaton the challenges and opportunities they saw, so I went back and gotfacing Southand Lane School District mythe degree became a licensed this year. he said. “We started counselor,” “WhereEMS we sitand now and for the tracking firefighter suicidesahead, acrossthere America.” work are some challenges,” Miller said during the board’sBehavioral Oct. 6 meeting.Impact “I believe According to Dill, firefighters we can turn the challenges into often don’t recognize the behavioral opportunities as work. we focus on them impact of their and“We keepbecome them atcultural the forefront brain-of our work together washed,” Dillthis said.year.” “Whether it’s Miller organized his fires. remarks structural or wildland So,into we four key areas. are meant to believe we are supposed to act strong, brave, be help, 1. Stabilizing enrollment don’t ask forenrollment help, and continues we don’t Declining want to look weak and not askInfor to impact the district’s budget. help.” 2019, the district served 2,558 stuDillAsadded that26, while firefighters dents. of Sept. enrollment has are on the front lines battling the dropped to 2,094—a loss that has wildfires, one of the biggest chalreduced stateface funding $5 million. lenges they is thebyunknown. The“It’s statehow is currently rebalancing its rapidly theses fires can funding formula, giving the district move, and the unknown is where time stabilize thisWhere year’s will numbers. is it to going to end? this 2. Budget reconciliation fire go to and how long will it last? And thatemphasized is a struggle,” said. Miller the he need to “So, when you are financial fighting that assess the district’s status fire,build you’re trying toplan do your best and a strategic to align to stop it, and yet the wind kicks spending with priorities. The district up at 60annual miles an hour from and itthree drags receives support it further and further behind them. major state grants, but actual funding That aspect of the unknown is very has come in in wildland significantly prodifficult fires.below The firejections. This may require program fighters have that stress and anxiety, cuts shifting costs to the general and or that struggle to protect is a very fund, which is tied to difficult challenge forenrollment. the wildland “We set budgets annually, but firefighters.” It isgoing oftentovery for farfamwe’re startdifficult projecting ily members of the firefighters ther out to better prepare for the to understand what emotions there are, future,” he said. and that many firefightersand don’t 3. Student achievement express their emotions, according participation to Dill. Improving academic growth, “We ask the family members attendance, and testing to try to understand theparticipacultural,” tion remains a priority. Achievement he said. “Be direct. Challenge iswith measured through statesomething tests in compassion when grades andright 11, or district assessdoesn’t3–8 look doesn’t sound ments, grades, credits earned, right, and do an internal size and up, which we rates. ask the firefighters to graduation doLow as well,” he said.” size participation in Internal state testup means asking why am I acting ing negatively affects the district’s this way, andcard. why Students am I feeling this annual report way? The best thing we can do is See SCHOOL 6 6 See HEALTH,Page Page