Over the summer, the Lane County Sheriff’s Forest Patrol began investigating a series of thefts and break-ins.
Specific details of the crimes and the arrest of two Cottage Grove men have now emerged, according to a release from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.
JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
On June 16, a local logging company’s employees discovered their logging site on in the Sharps Creek Road area had been vandalized and items stolen.
On Aug. 21, a different logging company discovered their work site in the area of Brice Creek Road had been vandalized and property stolen overnight, including a pump, hundreds of feet of fire hose and assorted fittings, tools, and vehicles. Gate locks had been cut to access the site, and “No Trespassing” signs removed.
began developing the
On Aug. 22, the same company discovered the same site vandalized and property stolen overnight again, including more hose and tools. Gate locks and signs had also been damaged. No vehicles were stolen,
as they had disabled all vehicles at their sites the day before. The same day, US Forest Service personnel at the Dorena Genetic Research Center (DGRC) on Shoreview Drive reported an overnight break-in, vandalism, and thefts from several buildings and
Slabtown BMX catches community support
Public
Cottage Grove City Manager
Mike Sauerwein said the city is behind its original Oct. 1 timeline is establishing the camp, following the Aug. 22
of the 12th
Riding high from the financial boost of Cascade Home Center’s Sept. 27 Community Cook-Off fundraiser, Slabtown BMX organizers are hopeful that—with continued support—they’ll reach their $200,000 goal and begin track operations by next summer.
and
and Douglas Street homeless camps. During the transition, the adjacent Lulu Dog Park at 12th Street has been used as a homeless camp site with hours from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily.
“It’s been a labor of love for the past three and a half years to make this a reality,” said Slabtown BMX President Mike Kelley. “We’ve made great progress, and every donated dollar or in-kind service brings us closer to making this dream a reality.”
“None of us have ever managed a homeless camp before, so we knew that date was a bit aspirational,” Sauerwein said. “We are hoping that this week we will be able to make the transition. Our goal was to provide folks with a safe and secure place to spend the night and that’s what we are doing.”
facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters
JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
The project has received seed funding and strong community support. The nonprofit organization has secured key financial backing: $10,000 from the City of Cottage Grove, a $35 000 matching grant from the Yarg Foundation, and $5 298 from the recent Community Cook-Off. Monthly car washes hosted by Les Schwab Tires bring in roughly $1 000 each.
Sauerwein said city staff was cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to reestablish it as a dog park. Specific costs of that cleanup and establishing the smaller homeless camp at 12th Street were not immediately available.
In-kind donations have also been substantial. Since May, volunteers have redistributed more than 140 000 cubic yards of donated dirt into a roughed-in track design. The layout is slightly smaller than the original due to a nearby floodplain.
TRACK HISTORY AND REVIVAL
Cindy Weeldreyer/Cottage Grove Sentinel
(Top) Local BMX riders are eager to seek the track completed next summer.
(Bottom) Local BMX riders said they are thankful for the community’s support and are eager to see the track operational by next summer.
expensive and we got out of it,” he said. “Now I’m an adult with two kids, and we got back into racing last year. We love it. I’d recommend anybody try it at least once.”
The Emery family practices and competes at Emerald Valley BMX in Eugene and actively supports Slabtown’s fundraising efforts. His 10-year-old daughter, Paisley, a fifth grader at Harrison Elementary, has won five races in the past year.
track operator and board member. Colton’s wife, Courtney, is board secretary, and their two teens are also racers.
CINDY WEELDREYER
For The Cottage Grove Sentinel
BMX racing in Cottage Grove began in 1984 with the opening of the Todd Kephart Memorial BMX Track. For decades, it served as a second home for local families until it was decommissioned in 2009 due to declining volunteer support and safety concerns. The city leveled the track in 2014 for liability reasons. After several attempts to revive BMX locally, a group of volunteers formed Slabtown BMX in 2022 and built a solid administrative foundation. Their first milestone was securing a revised license agreement with the City, granting five years of operation with one automatic renewal—up to ten years total. Insurance requirements were split between construction and operations to meet youth safety standards.
In 1975, when Birdy Hoelzle and her sister Gail opened The Bookmine they were familiar with The Village Green.
FAMILIES DRIVING
THE MISSION
Their father traveled a lot and often brought its matchboxes home as keepsakes for his girls. The sisters were in their 20’s when they opened the Main Street bookstore and, to enhance their income, worked as waitresses at the resort.
“It’s fun and a great way to make friends,” she said.
“It’s taken a lot longer than we expected to re-establish a track here,” Courtney said. “While it’s a struggle to be constantly fundraising, it’s also been very rewarding for our family.”
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
PROGRESS AND NEXT STEPS
helped us meet many of our future bookstore customers,” Birdy said.
She shared a humorous memory they made in the formal Iron Maiden Dining Room that drew laughter from the crowd.
The Gibbs family shares a similar story. Greg and his eight-year-old son, Vincent, have been racing for a year. Greg’s mother, Carol Thayer, an avid cyclist, travels from out of town to cheer them on. “I was leery at first because it looked kinda dangerous,” Thayer said. “Now I look forward to watching them race. It’s very family-oriented and has boosted Vincent’s self-esteem.”
“It was a wonderful place to work and, being new in town, it
The closest BMX track is in Eugene, and for many families, the commute after work makes participation difficult. That’s why the return of a local track is so meaningful. For 36-year-old Michael Emery, it’s a full-circle moment. “I was really into it as a kid, but it got
“My sister and I were budding feminists at the time and were quite shocked by the sexism practiced in the dining room,” she said. “The menu given to a woman had no prices on it and foot pillows were provided so ladies’ uncomfortable shoes could be removed while dining. It was a very different era.”
Three generations of the Kelley family have supported BMX in Cottage Grove. Mike Kelley doesn’t race as often now, but his son Colton began at age five and now serves as
Nearly 50 people attended the Cottage Grove Historical Society’s “Farewell to the Village Green” at the Community Center, Saturday, Sept. 21. The internationally famous resort was created by Walter A. Woodard (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some members of the family attended and shared personal memories.
THROUGH THE LENS
Organizers are proud of what’s been accomplished. With the dirt in place, they’ve entered the trackbuilding phase and are working closely with USA BMX and track designer Lance McGuire to become a sanctioned facility. Still, several hurdles remain. Additional permits are needed, along with installation of water and power lines, perimeter fencing, a starting gate, a storage building, and a structure for race registration and concessions.
brand-new start-up nonprofit and the track isn’t up and running, so there aren’t many funders willing to take a chance on us,” she said. Colton added that while 20–30 kids are actively involved in fundraising, many don’t race yet. “Local parents want to get their kids into the sport, but traveling to Eugene after work and getting home at 9:30 p.m. is a big struggle.”
the way” during the construction project.
Unlike the original dirt track, the new facility will be all-season and all-weather, capable of hosting races year-round. It will retain the original footprint with a new layout of obstacles. Organizers also hope to add a warm-up pump track for skill-building.
HOW TO HELP
He said he was given an important job of opening the boxes delivered to the guest rooms and recalled how cool he felt driving the orange golf cart around the property for assigned errands. Years later, another special memory was seeing the famous football player, O.J. Simpson, running on one of the resort’s paths.
Super outlines challenges, opportnities for school district
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. He was than a Battalion Chief for a fire department in northwest Chicago.
“I saw our brothers and sisters struggle from the devastation that they saw, so I went back and got my degree and became a licensed counselor,” he said. “We started tracking EMS and firefighter suicides across America.”
Superintendent Todd Miller has presented a comprehensive report on the challenges and opportunities facing the South Lane School District this year.
Behavioral Impact
According to Dill, firefighters often don’t recognize the behavioral impact of their work.
“Where we sit now and for the work ahead, there are some challenges,” Miller said during the board’s Oct. 6 meeting. “I believe we can turn the challenges into opportunities as we focus on them and keep them at the forefront of our work together this year.”
Miller organized his remarks into four key areas.
1. Stabilizing enrollment
“We become cultural brainwashed,” Dill said. “Whether it’s structural or wildland fires. So, we are meant to believe we are supposed to act strong, brave, be help, don’t ask for help, and we don’t want to look weak and not ask for help.”
Dill added that while firefighters are on the front lines battling the wildfires, one of the biggest challenges they face is the unknown.
Declining enrollment continues to impact the district’s budget. In 2019, the district served 2,558 students. As of Sept. 26, enrollment has dropped to 2 094—a loss that has reduced state funding by $5 million. The state is currently rebalancing its funding formula, giving the district time to stabilize this year’s numbers.
2. Budget reconciliation
Miller emphasized the need to assess the district’s financial status and build a strategic plan to align spending with priorities. The district receives annual support from three major state grants, but actual funding has come in significantly below projections. This may require program cuts or shifting costs to the general fund, which is tied to enrollment.
“It’s how rapidly theses fires can move, and the unknown is where is it going to end? Where will this fire go to and how long will it last? And that is a struggle,” he said. “So, when you are fighting that fire, you’re trying to do your best to stop it, and yet the wind kicks up at 60 miles an hour and it drags it further and further behind them. That aspect of the unknown is very difficult in wildland fires. The firefighters have that stress and anxiety, and that struggle to protect is a very difficult challenge for the wildland firefighters.”
“We set budgets annually, but we’re going to start projecting farther out to better prepare for the future,” he said.
It is often very difficult for family members of the firefighters to understand what emotions there are, and that many firefighters don’t express their emotions, according to Dill.
3. Student achievement and participation Improving academic growth, attendance, and testing participation remains a priority. Achievement is measured through state tests in grades 3–8 and 11, district assessments, grades, credits earned, and graduation rates.
Courtney noted that grant writing has been difficult. “We’re a
Kris Woodard’s introductory remarks included personal memories he made through the lens of a 12-year-old who was often “in
To the delight of those gathered, Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard,
Those wishing to support the project can call 541-649-2500 Slabtown BMX can also be reached via Facebook or by email at SlabtownBmx@gmail.com.
Low participation in state testing negatively affects the district’s annual report card. Students
“We ask the family members to try to understand the cultural,” he said. “Be direct. Challenge with compassion when something doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound right, and do an internal size up, which we ask the firefighters to do as well,” he said.” Internal size up means asking why am I acting this way, and why am I feeling this way? The best thing we can do is
One Security of Eugene to help us during this transition period. They are a very experienced homeless camp management company.”
are doing. To change that is up to of The Sentinel.
Crews
smaller homeless camp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street.
SENTINEL
CINDY WEELDREYER
The following information is from the Cottage Grove Police (CGPD) Facebook page weekly activity summary. Specific dates of the incidents and the identification of individuals involved are not included in the CGPD Facebook summaries.
-Officers assisted South Lane Fire and Rescue with a gas leak that occurred on S. 6th Street and McKinley Ave. Evacuations were performed, and roads were blocked for an extended period of time until the leak could be fixed.
- Dispatch received a call regarding people sleeping in the women’s bathroom at Coiner Park. Officers arrived and found a male and a female
The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies. All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Information printed is preliminary and subject to change. For specific details about cases listed, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Cottage Grove Police
MONDAY, SEPT. 29
03:27: Motor vehicle crash, Row River Rd/ Dowens
05:39: Criminal mischief, 400 block Adams Ave.
09:06: Animal info, Main/21st
09:48: Disorderly subject, 200 block N. 12th St.
14:26: Disorderly subject, 400 block E. Main St.
15:44: Abandoned vehicle, 1700 block Harvey Rd.
17:27: Fraud, 900 block N. Douglas St.
17:45: Welfare check, 2500 block S. 8th St.
18:00: Motor vehicle theft, 800 block Gateway Blvd.
19:02: Welfare check, 500 block E. Main St.
20:41: Alarm, 1400 block Gateway Blvd.
20:55: Disturbance, 1300 block E. Main St.
21:46: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.
22:34: Disturbance, 2400 block E. Main St.
23:37: Disturbance, 1800 block Marion Way
TUESDAY, SEPT. 30
covered up with sleeping bags and surrounded by backpacks and various camping gear. Both of the subjects were identified by the officers, due to previous law enforcement contacts, and issued Park Exclusion orders for violating City Municipal Code.
- Multiple calls were received into dispatch regarding loud individuals partying overnight in a parking lot off Gateway Blvd. One the individuals involved was found to be on local municipal probation with conditions prohibiting intoxicants. The subject was detained and eventually issued a Citation in Lieu of
00:12: Theft, 1500 block Village Dr.
00:46: Burglary, 500 block Landess Rd.
02:59: Fire, 2400 block S. 8th St.
08:48: Barking dog, 1700 block E. Washington Ave.
09:11: Fire, 6th/ Mckinley
09:39: Dog at large, 99/4th
01:01: Found property, 400 block E. Main St.
10:41: Dog at large, Main/O St.
11:54: Dog at large, 300 block Gateway Blvd.
14:06: Dog at large, 900 block W. Main St.
15:44: Suspicious condition, 400 block N. 14th St.
16:10: Found dog, Samuel/Kristen Way
19:48: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.
20:49: Disturbance, 200 block N. 12th St.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1
00:21: Disturbance, 900 block S. 6th St.
00:21: Suspicious vehicle, 400 block S. 1st St.
05:45: Trespass, 100 block Thornton Ln.
08:48: Agency assist, I5 NB 176
09:15: Illegal parking, 200 block Buttercup Lp.
09:34: Illegal dumping, N. Lane/99
09:43: Motor vehicle crash, 34000 block Row River Rd.
10:32: Hit and run, 100 block Gateway Blvd.
12:06: Suspicious condition, 1600 block E. Main St.
10:22: Suspicious condition, 200 block N. 12th St.
10:31: Criminal mischief, 200 block N. 12th St.
11:52: Trespass, 1500 block Village Dr.
12:27: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.
15:20: Agency assist, 900 block S. 6th St.
15:52: Juvenile trouble, 100 block Crestview
Terrace
15:54: Warrant service, 200 block N. 12th St.
16:21: Sex crime, 1300 block S. River Rd.
18:09: Disturbance, 400 block E. Main St.
18:55: Welfare check, 100 block Crestview
Terrace
20:16: Welfare check, 600 block Wood Ave.
21:27: Theft, 500 block N. River Rd.
21:50: Motor vehicle crash, Row River Rd/ Shoreview Dr.
FRIDAY, OCT. 3
07:20: Warrant service, 200 block N. 12th St.
07:21: Theft, 1200 block Gateway Blvd.
07:35: Found dog, 200 block N. 12th St.
08:40: Disturbance, 100 block N. 6th St.
09:24: Sex crime, 1300 block S. River Rd.
10:49: Suicidal subject, 2000 block S. 6th St.
Custody for Contempt of Court.
- Officers responded to Safeway to assist a wildlife specialist hired by Safeway in capturing a rogue nutria that was running wild in the shopping cart corral up against the building. Weighing in at approximately 20 pounds, this semi-aquatic mammal did not want to leave its newly found home. However, he was detained without incident and transported away from Safeway and their customers.
- St. Vincent De Paul received a shipment of Halloween related merchandise and an employee noticed what appeared to be an adult-sized skull.
After carefully examining
it, officers made the preliminary decision that it is more than likely an item used in an educational or an anatomical setting. The skull was seized and submitted to the Lane County Medical Examiner’s Office for evaluation.
- Multiple calls were received into dispatch regarding a dispute between a male and female in the Walmart parking lot. Officers arrived and quickly began their investigation into what had occurred. It was determined the male subject would be arrested and transported to the Lane County Jail to be lodged on Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree (ORS 166 025).
11:44: Fire, 1400 block W. Main St.
13:58: Motor vehicle crash, 900 block Bennett Crk Rd
14:08: Motor vehicle crash, I5 179 SB
14:25: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.
14:28: Animal info, 1300 block E. Main St.
15:04: Alarm, 1300 block S. 4th St.
15:10: Nuisance, 500 block S. 6th St.
15:53: Disturbance, 700 block N. 16th St.
16:10: Wanted subject, 400 block E. Main St.
16:56: Juvenile trouble, 900 block Row River Rd.
17:30: Order violation, 1500 block E. Main St.
17:52: Motor vehicle theft, 400 block E. Main St.
18:31: Order violation, 100 block Sweet Ln.
18:49: Suspicious condition, 900 block Row River Rd.
19:12: Disorderly subject, 900 block Row River Rd.
20:53: Intox subject, 700 block Hwy 99
23:53: Suspicious vehicle, 100 block S. 10th St.
SUNDAY, OCT. 5
00:26: Disturbance, 200 block N. 12th St.
01:04: Welfare check, 3rd/Harrison
01:20: Motor vehicle crash, 77000 block Mosby Crk Rd.
01:58: Welfare check, 100 block S. 10th St. 04:28: Disturbance, 1300 block S. River Rd. 05:21: Theft, 1200 block E. Main St.
07:41: Suspicious subject, 1000 block E. Main St.
09:23: Trespass, 1100 block E. Main St.
09:43: Abandoned vehicle, 500 block Grant Ave.
12:51: Theft, 1000 block Villard Ave.
12:54: Suicidal subject, 900 block S. 6th St. 13:38: Dog at large, Birch/J 14:57: Disturbance, 900 block Row River Rd. 16:15: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St. 16:22: Juvenile trouble, 900 block Row River Rd. 16:33: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St. 17:13: Disorderly subject, 1100 block E. Main St.
20:49: Animal info, 1500 block E. Main St. 22:06: Welfare check, 1000 block Hillside Dr.
Jeremy C. Ruark / Cottage Grove Sentinel
Forum explores diverse education pathways in South Lane County
CINDY WEELDREYER
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Exploring student success pathways across South Lane County was the topic of the Community Strong Cottage Grove meeting and public education forum Oct. 1, that drew educators, parents, students and civic leaders.
The panel featured representatives from public and charter schools, homeschool advocates, and youth representatives, with nearly two dozen resources identified to help families navigate alternative education options.
SOUTH LANE SCHOOL DISTRICT: DIVERSITY AND CHALLENGE
Superintendent Todd Miller opened with an overview of South Lane School District’s learning environments.
The district serves 2 100 students across seven schools: Harrison and Bohemia elementary schools in town; London and Dorena K–8 schools in rural areas; and Lincoln Middle School.
It has two high schools— Cottage Grove High School with a comprehensive curriculum, and Al Kennedy High School with handson, project-based learning focused on natural resources. The district also operates an Early Childhood Center and contracts with Evergreen Virtual Academy for online education.
OCTOBER 15
Oregon Aviation Museum.
Open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
2475 Jim Wright Way.
Veterans Service Officer
Available. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
VFW Post, 3160 Hillside
Dr. Lane County Veterans Service Officer assists with VA paperwork to obtain veterans benefits for vets and survivors.
Senior Center Pinochle
Games. Start at 1 p.m. Senior Center, 700 E. Gibbs Ave. Cocktails and Crafts. From 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Through October. Craft Supplies and Cocktail $10 Kegs Of Comedy. 8 p.m. Axe and Fiddle, 657 E. Main St. Cover $8. Featuring the quick wit and sharp stand-up of Alex Elkin.
OCTOBER 16
T.O.P.S. Club. From 9:30-11 a.m. Delight Valley Church of Christ, 33087 E Saginaw Road.
Baby Lap Time. Starts at 11:30 a.m. Cottage Grove Public Library. Birth to 2 yrs. Great socializing opportunity for parents and babies.
He emphasized Career Technical Education (CTE) and partnerships with business and industry. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education was also discussed. Miller acknowledged AI’s potential to transform classrooms but cautioned against overreliance.
“AI will do amazing things,” he said. “But it will also present challenges. We need to teach students how to use these tools appropriately.”
He closed by reflecting on the district’s scale and culture: “It feels small enough to get to know people, yet it has impressive program diversity.”
CHARTER SCHOOLS: HEALING, STRUCTURE AND CHOICE
Child’s Way Charter School: Teacher Robert Lee described Child’s Way as “a strange little place” with a focus on outdoor learning and community healing. Located in the former Culp Creek School, it serves 60–80 students in grades 5–12 through online, charter, and alternative programs. Admission is by word of mouth, and the school has a waiting list.
Each day begins with a circle gathering, reinforcing Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and mentorship.
“There’s a wide range of environments to support student success,” Miller said. “Our enrollment continues to drop, which reduces state funding. We’re addressing that. Our goal is to create a well-rounded education, so students graduate prepared for any career path.”
“We create a healing environment where older students
Bohemia Gold Mining Museum. Open from 1-4 p.m. 308 S. 10th Street. Oregon Aviation Museum. Open from10 a.m.-4 p.m. 2475 Jim Wright Way. Teen Gaming. Starts at 4 p.m. CG Public Library, 700 E. Gibbs Avenue. Youth 11-18 are welcome to socialize and play games. Table Tennis. From 4-6 p.m. Community Center Reception Hall, 700 E. Gibbs Avenue. Tables, paddles, and balls provided. Football and Karaoke. Kickoff at 4:15 p.m. Karaoke at 9 p.m. with KJ KaderTot. Cottage Theatre: Guys & Dolls. 7:30 p.m. 700 Village Dr. Adults, $29 and Youth 18 and younger, $15 Kegs Of Comedy featuring Alex Elkin. 7 p.m. Axe and Fiddle, 657 E. Main Street.
OCTOBER 17
Oregon Aviation Museum. Open from10 a.m.-4 p.m. 2475 Jim Wright Way. Penny’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saginaw Vineyard, 80247 Delight Valley School
Cottage Grove & Creswell: 541-942-9635
Text: 541-954-7724
mentor younger ones,” Lee said. “Every day is different. Sometimes it feels like organic chaos, but it’s a place for people to be who they are.”
Academy of Character Education (ACE): Mrs. Glenn Lund, a middle school classroom aide and Latin teacher, shared details about the tuition-free public charter school serving grades K–12. Located in the former Harrison Elementary School, ACE serves about 100 students, including homeschoolers.
ACE has a two-year waiting list and offers four programs: on-site classical instruction, advanced on-site academics, remote learning with self-selected curriculum, and remote learning using ACE’s classical curriculum.
Students wear uniforms, with seniors in business attire to promote professionalism.
“Each student receives supplemental instructional funds to enhance their learning,” Lund said. “We have a very close community.”
Willamette Leadership Academy:
Located in Goshen and part of the Springfield School District, the school was represented by 15-year-old Rylee Ryan. Of the school’s 224 students, 36 are from Cottage Grove. Ryan said the military-style structure helped her thrive and prepare for her goal of joining the Marines.
Students sign contracts outlining a code of
Road. Fun for the whole family every weekend in October. Pick your pumpkin and find your way out of the corn maze. The venue also features a farm animal petting zoo, bounce house, Saginaw Smash Burgers, beer and wine available for purchase. Admission: $7/person | Wine Club Members $5, includes up to 3 guests.
Storytime. Starts at 11:30 a.m. Cottage Grove Public Library, 700 E. Gibbs Avenue. All ages welcome. Bohemia Gold Mining Museum. Open from 1-4 p.m. 308 S. 10th Street. American Legion Post 32 Bingo. From 5-7 p.m. 826 W. Main Street. Elks Lodge Friday Night Community Dinner. From 5-6:30 p.m., 775 N. River Road. Menu: Steak (cooked to order), baked potato, green beans, salad and ice cream. Cost: $12/person.
Weekly Pool Tournament. Starts at 7 p.m. Bohemian Tavern, 48 N. 9th Street. Entry Fee: $5 and BCA Rules.
conduct, ethics, and bus rules. Violations result in swift consequences.
“My school is both really hard and really easy,” Ryan said. “What you put into it, you get out of it.”
FAITH BASED AND VIRTUAL OPTIONS
Three new Christianbased education programs launched in Cottage Grove this fall. Providence Christian Academy, formerly Creswell Christian Academy, relocated to the former South Lane Christian School building and now offers K–12 instruction. Two new preschools opened at Cottage Grove Bible Church and Riverside Community Church.
Cottage Theatre: Guys & Dolls, 7:30 p.m. 700 Village Dr. Adults, $29 and Youth, 18 and younger, $15
Top Secret Alliance and Tiny Dino Power dance. 8 p.m., Axe and Fiddle, 657 E. Main St. Cover $5
OCTOBER 18
South Valley Farmers Market. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Cottage Grove Historic Downtown District at 7th and Main. Buy goods directly from local farmers, food producers and artisans.
Second Annual Shady Oaks Spooktacular Fundraiser. From 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 77380 Highway 99S. Curated vendors offer candies, baked goods, 3-D figures, home décor, crocheted items, tree ornaments, crystals, tumblers, jewelry, raffles, youth activities, pumpkin patch rides … and more. Benefit for local farmers.
Pollinator Planting Party. From 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Riverside Park, south of Swinging Bridge, South River Road. Join the Coast Fork Willamette Watershed
Ten virtual education programs were listed during the forum, reflecting growing demand for flexible, remote learning formats.
Facilitators Johanna Zee and Linda Olson praised the turnout and depth of information shared.
“This was one of our best forums ever,” Zee said.
“We had such a diversity of schools—from highly structured to somewhat structured programs. I loved hearing about all our choices and that more parents can see we don’t have to let any kid slip through the cracks.”
Community Strong Cottage Grove is a grassroots civic organization that initially
Council as it continues its riparian restoration project along the river by replanting areas of native vegetation, removing invasives, and spreading rich compost courtesy of Waste Wise Lane County. Limited parking is available along River Road. Tools and gloves will be provided. No prior experience is necessary.
Row River Grange Harvest Festival. From 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. 34360 Row River Road. Features yoga, live music, apple cider press, chili, vendors, and raffle.
began in 2022 to advocate for a community first model to address the local homeless issue, and now has a much broader perspective: “Healthy People Empowering Positive Change for a Thriving Community.”
The group hosts town hall meetings four times a year on the first Wednesday of the month in the Community Center Shepherd Room. Doors open at 6 p.m. for conversation, cookies and coffee and the program begins at 6:30 p.m. More information is available on the group’s Facebook page: Community Strong Cottage Grove.
Penny’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze. From 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saginaw Vineyard, 80247 Delight Valley School Road. Family event each weekend in October. Pick your pumpkin and find your way out of the corn maze. The venue also features a farm animal petting zoo, bounce house, Saginaw Smash Burgers, beer and wine available for purchase. Admission: $7/person. Bohemia Gold Mining Museum. Open from1-4 p.m. 308 S. 10th Street. Hope for Baby Rex Fundraiser. From 4-7pm, Elks Lodge, 755 N. River Road. The community is invited to an evening filled with compassion for Rex, a little nine-month-old boy who has a rare eye cancer. His family must make many trips to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland for treatment. To financially support Rex’s medical and travel expenses, a pulled pork dinner from Smokin’ Bros BBQ is from 4-6 p.m, Bingo Benefit is from 5-7 p.m. and a “Car Smash,’ Taylor’s Towing donated used car to
Cindy Weeldreyer/Cottage Grove Sentinel
Representatives from Child’s Way and ACE Charter Schools, South Lane School District, Willamette Leadership Academy, and Home School Advocate participated in an Oct. 1 forum about educational opportunities in South Lane County.
Richard Mccrady
Born in 1927 to Louie and Edna Mccrady in Oregon, he passed away peacefully at his home at the age of 98. He spent most of his childhood in Kirby, Oregon, and moved to Cottage Grove in 1941.
He served in the US Navy at the end of World War II. He met his future wife, Lucille, on a blind date and they were married in Saginaw, Oregon in the little White Church on the Hill in 1953. Together they raised four children: Judy, Janet, Jayne, and Louie.
Richard was a saw filer throughout his career, for Weyerhaeuser, R&R Lumber, WW Lumber, Lavelle’s Carbide, McDougal Brothers, and many other sawmills in the Pacific Northwest.
He was a devoted father who found great joy in taking his family on camping adventures and road trips to destinations like Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Marine World, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Park. Their travels spanned nearly every state west of the Mississippi and much of Canada, though they often returned to the familiar beauty of Oregon’s mountains and coastline.
Active in many aspects of life around Cottage Grove, he embraced a wide range of hobbies and community
1927 - 2025
groups. As a member of the local motorcycle club, he rode a BSA 500 and also served as a flagger at the Cottage Grove Speedway during its early years. His social life included dancing with the Star Dusters Square Dancers, bowling in the Cottage Grove League, and participating in the VFW and the Cottage Grove Car Club. He was a devout BINGO player at the Elk’s Lodge in Cottage Grove. His love of the outdoors was evident in his passion for fishing, hunting, and camping throughout Oregon, always appreciating the natural beauty the state had to offer.
He often spent his retirement years doing woodwork, creating highly detailed wooden models of big boy toys like logging trucks, loaders, bulldozers, as well as children’s toys such as train whistles, walking ducks, beavers, tops and pinwheels. Many of his works were on display and for sale at various fairs
Death Notices
throughout Oregon. Until his death he could be seen mowing his lawn, or that of his neighbors, and feeding the birds that came to visit his back yard.
He is survived by his children; Judy, Janet, Jayne, and Louie. Grand Children include Heather, Heidi, Penn, Jared, Ty, and Caylan. Great Grand Children include Kaneesha and Kyshan.
Richard was preceded in death by three sisters, three brothers, and his loving wife of 65 years Lucille. He also has three remaining sisters, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his children and grandchildren in June, 2025. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CG VFW Hall, St. Jude’s Children, Shriner’s Children and Disabled American Veterans.
We love, and will miss you Dad!
bash with a sledgehammer. 1 Swing $5/3 Swings for $10 from 3-7 p.m. London Grange Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser. From 5-7 p.m., 72746 London Road. Enjoy a free meal, donations welcome, and learn more about the good things the Grange does to help the community.
Cottage Grove Historical Society Buster Keaton Night. 7:30 p.m., Community Center Shepherd Room, 700 E. Gibbs
Edna Irwin 1923 – 2025
Edna Lucille (Gullickson) Irwin, Cottage Grove, died suddenly at home on September 30, 2025. The fourth of nine children born August 1923 to Lewis and Clara Gullickson in Taylor, North Dakota. Weighing only 2 ½ pounds at birth she thrived to live to the age of 102. A strong woman with an adventurous spirit and proud of her Norwegian heritage.
Married (Thomas) Lyle Irwin October 2, 1942 who passed in June 2015. She is survived by children Carol Jean Braswell (Roger); Marsha Garry (Gordon), and Randy Irwin (Debbie) all of Cottage Grove; sister Blanche Naumann of ND; sister-inlaw Gloria Gullickson of CA; and many nieces and nephews.
Edna met Lyle when he traveled with a wheat combine team from Kansas to North Dakota. She followed him back to Kansas where they married, then continued to follow him to Army training camps in Louisiana and California before he was shipped to Belgium then Germany during WWII. During that time she worked numerous jobs, including a Rexall Drugstore, and a chicken processing plant. Her war efforts were at Hercules Powder Plant aka Badger Ordnance Works in Baraboo, Wisconsin where the fumes in her work room were so strong they were rotated through in 15-minute shifts; and an airplane manufacturing facility in California.
Edna was best known locally for working at McDole’s Dairy Queen in Cottage Grove and Creswell for many years. She loved their customers and meeting new people. It was easy for her to start up a conversation.
Avenue. Annual tribute to the legendary actor and director who spent the Summer of 1926 in Cottage Grove filming his silent film masterpiece, The General. Admission: $5/ person.
Cottage Theatre: Guys & Dolls, 7:30 p.m. 700 Village Drive.
Garreson Singer/Songwriter. 8 p.m. Axe and Fiddle, 657 E. Main Street.
OCTOBER 19
Second Annual Shady Oaks Spooktacular Fundraiser. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 77380 Highway 99S.
Penny’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze. From 1 p.m.-7 p.m., Saginaw Vineyard, 80247 Delight Valley School Road.
Pre-Planning
Pre-Planning
Cottage Grove Museum. Open from 1-4 p.m. Corner Birch Avenue and H Street VFW Post 3473 Bingo. From 2-4 p.m. 3160 Hillside Drive.
Cottage Theatre: Guys & Dolls. 2:30 p.m. 700 Village Dr.
Game Night. Starts at 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Ayla at Axe & Fiddle, 657 E. Main Street.
OCTOBER 20
CG Senior Center
Bingo. Starts at 12:30 p.m. Community Center, 700 E. Gibbs Avenue. Senior center members only.
OCTOBER 21
Edna was also devoted to raising family. She shared her hard work ethic with them along with her optimism and honesty. She was an avid quilter and asked that a few pieces of fabric be put in her pockets upon departure. Request granted.
She met Ruth Wilson from Oregon while traveling on a train in California. Ruth told her they should come to Oregon when the war was over so in 1947 after job opportunities diminished in Kansas and North Dakota, the Wilsons sent them $50 to make the trip west. They arrived in Dorena in 1947 while the reservoir was still being built and before the community of Dorena was relocated. They rented a converted chicken coop on Rat Creek Road from the Wilsons before buying Wilson’s house later when they moved to California. The Irwins remained connected to Ruth and Doc, their children, and grandchildren to this day. Mom always said she only wanted to live on Rat Creek and in Heaven. We helped make one wish happen and her dedication to God probably gave her success in the other.
She is buried at Willamette National Cemetery alongside her husband of 72 years.
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow! What a ride!”Hunter S. Thompson
Arrangements are in the care of SmithLund-Mills Funeral Chapel.
Oregon Aviation Museum. Open from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. 2475 Jim Wright Way. Trinity Lutheran Church Free Community Dinner.
From 5:15-6:15 p.m. Seventh and Quincy Avenue. Take-Out Only.
Coast Fork Brewing Trivia Night. Fromv 6-8 p.m. 106 S. 6th Street. Up to 7 players on a team.
OCTOBER 25
Mayor’s Monster Ball.
From 5:30-9:30 p.m. Cottage Grove Armory, 628 E. Washington Avenue. Fundraiser for 2027 Citywide Mural Project and Animal House 50th Anniversary Celebration. Tickets: $35/ person. Live Music: Hot Fuzz (dance party band 1970s-current covers funk, disco, classic rock, and modern chart-toppers). The event also features local food, no-host bar, and surprise entertainment.
OCTOBER 27
South Lane 4-H Club Open House. 5:30 p.m. W.O.E. Fairgrounds, 2000 N. Douglas Street. Opportunity for local youth and families interested in animals and leadership training to see what 4-H offers.
OCTOBER 30
NOVEMBER 5
Veterans Service Officer Available. From 10 a.m.-1 p.m. VFW Post, 3160 Hillside Drive. Event conducted the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. Lane County Veterans Service Officer assists with VA paperwork to obtain veterans benefits for vets and survivors.
NOVEMBER 10
250th Anniversary Marine Corps Ball. From 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Cottage Grove Armory, 628 E. Washington Avenue. Tickets: General Admission $10/person Admission with table seating $25 Celebration features live music, dancing and camaraderie. All military branches welcome – dress uniforms appreciated but not required. Food and beverages available on site for purchase.
NOVEMBER 11 Veterans Day Community Observance. 11 a.m. Cottage Grove Armory, 628 E. Washington Avenue. Axe & Fiddle History Pub. From 5 p.m.-7 p.m. 857 W. Main Street Topic: The Flour Mill – The True Center of CG Presented by Local Historian Dana Merryday, Cottage Grove Museum Free admission, Trivia Contest and 50/50 Raffle
NOVEMBER 15
Ukulele Club. Starts at 9 a.m. Free for adults of all skill levels. Held at the Cottage Grove Public Library, 700 E. Gibbs Avenue.
Art Walk. 6-8 p.m. Cottage Grove Historic Downtown District. Free community event showcasing local artists, live music, and extended hours at participating businesses.
OCTOBER 31
Cottage Grove Halloween Trick-or-Treat. From 3:30-6 p.m. Cottage Grove Historic Downtown District. Local businesses along Main Street participate by handing out treats, and the whole downtown transforms into a festive, family-friendly haunt zone.
Cottage Grove Historical Society Presentation. 10 a.m. Community Center Shepherd Room, 700 E. Gibbs Avenue. Topic: Log House Plants celebrates 50 years in Cottage Grove All are welcome to come and learn more about local history.
NOVEMBER 16
Veterans of Foreign Wars Community Fundraising Dinner. From 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. 3160 Hillside Drive. Pasta dinner includes garlic bread, salad, coffee and tea $10
NEWS & VIEWS
Newborn screening program saves lives of Oregon infants
OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY
It started a few days after birth with a few drops of blood taken from a newborn’s foot. And for the family of young Maisie, on her fifth day of life, it portended a potentially life-saving discovery.
Called “newborn bloodspot screening,” or NBS, these samples are tested for more than 45 congenital disorders.
Laboratory scientists test for serious but treatable conditions that would otherwise not be detected, such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, severe immunity disorders, metabolic disorders such as phenylketonuria (PKU) and medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency (MCAD deficiency), and more.
In Maisie’s case, the test results indicated she was at high risk for MCAD deficiency. Patients with MCAD deficiency cannot properly break down fatty acids for energy and are at risk of sudden infant death.
“Our newborn screening saved us the trauma of one day walking into her room and her not waking up, or her having a medical crisis,” said her mother, Leslie.
“It may seem like a onein-a-million shot, but there is only one Maisie and we’re so grateful for the important work that is being done.”
State law requires all babies born in Oregon have access to newborn bloodspot screening.
The first sample is collected within one to two days of life and is sent to the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory (OSPHL) in Hillsboro.
A second sample is collected from every newborn at 10 to 14 days of life to screen for later-onset conditions. On a typical day, more than 300 samples are tested at the lab.
Results are generally available within 24 hours.
Early detection of a congenital disease through screening leads to an evaluation by a health care provider, additional confirmatory testing, and life-saving treatment within days after birth.
“Through this program and the extraordinary cooperation of our partners at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), we are able to prevent serious complications that otherwise would not be discovered possibly until it was too late,” said Patrice Held, Ph.D., Newborn Screening Program manager at OSPHL. The lab is based at Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division.
Established in 1963, Oregon’s NBS program is one of the first of its kind in the nation, universally testing more than 99% of the state’s newborns from samples taken by doctors, nurses, midwives or other health care professionals.
Early detection and timely interventions significantly improved health outcomes for Maisie.
Today Maisie is a thriving 2-year-old, romping with her older sister, Ruby, 5 and big brother Theo, 7
To raise awareness about Oregon’s Newborn Bloodspot Screening Program, as September’s Newborn Screening Awareness Month winds down, OHA has produced this comprehensive and informative video, underscoring the impact of newborn screening.
“By increasing awareness, we hope to ensure that every newborn in Oregon receives this essential screening,” Held said.
Learn more here about how bloodspot screening works, and the collaborative effort to ensure healthy babies in Oregon.
What’s public: Oregon’s fight with feds over voter data
RANDY STAPILUS Oregon Capital Chronicle
If you want to find out who all of Oregon’s registered voters are, where they live, the party if any they’re associated with, which recent elections they voted in, and more, you can easily get that information. All you have to do is send a request and pay a fee — the amounts are not extravagant — to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office.
Usually within a few days they will send that data, generally in the form of emailed spreadsheet. It’s an easy process, long has been available in Oregon (as it is in most states), and has been used by individuals, candidates and organizations for many years. Helping years ago with a local political campaign, I obtained the list for one county, spending as I recall about $40 If the Trump administration wants the records of who has been registered and voting in Oregon, that information is available.
Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read has told the U.S. Department of Justice he’s agreeable to providing it, in return for the usual fee. Or, the Trump administration probably could get one free from the state’s Republican Party. Most political organizations have their own copies.
This public information isn’t, however, what the administration is after in its recent set of demands to the state of Oregon, including a
September lawsuit. Therein lies the issue.
Or at least a significant piece of it.
This conflict started with a July 10 email to Read from the U.S. Department of Justice “a potential information-sharing agreement that would provide the U.S. Department of Justice with information on, among other things, individuals who have registered to vote or have voted in your state despite being ineligible to vote, who may have committed other forms of election fraud, who may have provided false information to state authorities on voter registration or other election forms, or who may otherwise have engaged in unlawful conduct relevant to the election process.”
Read replied a few days later that his office had reviewed election security, found no such cases in Oregon and so had no violations to report.
But clearly that wasn’t the point. Justice replied on Aug. 14 that it was demanding all voter registration records which “must include the registrant’s full name, date of birth, residential address, his or her state driver’s license number or the last four digits of the registrant’s social security number.” The name, birth year (not date) and residential address are public, but the rest are not.
Read told the feds that the federal right to some enforcement action under national election law “does
not create a corollary right to the personal data of Oregonians. … the statute does not entitle the Attorney General to obtain a state’s entire current voter-registration list, especially one that includes sensitive personal data.”
The Oregon response to this has been like many of those elsewhere. While more than half the states have received demands like those sent to Oregon, most have provided either only public records or no data at all, and that includes Republican secretaries of state in Alaska, Florida, Kansas, New Hampshire and Utah.
All of this is happening in the context of the administration’s attack on mail voting (pioneered at scale in Oregon) and the prospective arrival of federal troops to wander the streets of an until-now generally peaceful Portland.
Read seemed to have some of this in mind when he shot back to DOJ on July 23:
“At best, I do not trust that this current administration is capable of protecting Oregonians’ personal data, given the recent, high-profile leaks of state secrets and reckless gutting of federal agencies. … At worst, I am concerned that this administration will use any data we provide to unlawfully and unjustly violate Oregonians’ rights. I have no interest in collaborating with an administration that is engaged in the illegal detention and
deportation of both noncitizens and U.S. citizens alike. I will not provide information that could lead to parents being separated from their children. I have no interest in sharing data with an administration that is willfully violating judicial orders and trampling on constitutional rights and responsibilities. Nor do I wish to share data with an administration that appears to take glee in snatching people off the streets without requiring its agents to properly identify themselves or provide arrest warrants, or with an administration whose agents wait outside of daycare centers, school yards, and courthouses to improperly detain and deport Oregonians.”
Shorter version: I don’t trust you. This collection of federal actions clearly have nothing to do with election security or public safety. Oregon’s response so far has a larger context too.
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/10/02/ whats-public-oregons-fightwith-feds-over-voter-data/ Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@ oregoncapitalchronicle.com.
Metro Creative Connection
Blood tests taken from a newborn’s foot can prevent serious complications later in life, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
Schools
From Page 1
who opt out are counted as non-pass, and Miller said there’s a culture of disengagement around assessments.
“As educators, we need to do our job to ensure the kids know the content and change the culture, so more students take the state tests,” he said.
4. Rebuilding trust in leadership Years of leadership turnover have created instability. Miller said rebuilding trust requires stronger collaboration and communication between schools and the community.
INSTRUCTIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES
Since joining the district last July, Miller said he’s been impressed by the
Crimes
From Page 1
employee vehicles parked in the lot overnight.
On Aug. 29, the same company that had been stolen from twice discovered their fire truck utilized to protect the area had also been stolen. Deputies assigned to Forest Patrol spent the afternoon and evening patrolling the area, searching for the suspect vehicle. In the early evening, deputies located a large quantity of fire hose, tossed down an embankment in the area. They were finally able to identify a suspect vehicle, but it’s whereabouts were unknown.
On Aug. 30, shortly after midnight, a Cottage Grove Police officer located the suspect vehicle on N. River Road in Cottage Grove and conducted a traffic stop. A deputy and BLM Ranger
strength of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), where faculty share strategies to improve student learning. Instructional development is centered on discourse—extended conversation, discussion, and writing. He highlighted efforts to expand Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs through partnerships with Lane Community College and the Lane County Public Health Clinic adjacent to the high school. These initiatives aim to help students explore careers in healthcare and other fields.
Attendance and engagement are also receiving renewed focus, with incentives to promote life skills such as punctuality and positive behavior—key traits for post-graduation success.
“There is a lot of good stuff going on instructionally
responded and contacted the driver, 40-year-old Michael Duane Vanbrocklin, of Cottage Grove. Through further investigation, deputies located the stolen fire truck on a remote National Forest road in the Brice Creek area. Another suspect, 31-year-old Dillon McQuade Praay, of Cottage Grove, was contacted near the stolen truck and found to be in possession of the keys. Deputies then located more stolen property at a transient camp several miles away, as well as an unrelated stolen Honda Civic.
On Aug. 31, deputies and a BLM Ranger received an itemized list of stolen property from the DGRC burglary. Many of the previously-unreported items had been in the back seat of Vanbrocklin’s vehicle.
On Sept. 1, deputies applied for and were granted a search warrant for Vanbrocklin’s vehicles and home.
COTTAGE GROVE:
COTTAGE GROVE FAITH CENTER
33761 Row River Rd.
541-942-4851
Lead Pastor: Kevin Pruett www.cg4.tv Full Childrenʼs Ministry available Services: 10:00am
DELIGHT VALLEY
Church of Christ
33087 Saginaw Rd. East
541-942-7711 • Pastor: Bob Friend
Two Services: 9am - Classic in the Chapel 10:30am - Contemporary in the Auditorium
Holy Mass: Saturday Vigil – 5:30 pm Sunday – 10:30 am For weekday and Holy Day of Obligation schedule see website OLPHCG.net
Confession: 4 PM to 5 PM Saturdays or by appointment
St. Philip Benizi, Creswell 552 Holbrook Lane Sunday 8 am
to create well-rounded kids,” Miller said.
GRANT
OPPORTUNITIES
The district is pursuing several grants to support its goals. The federal Perkins Grant will upgrade equipment and training for CTE programs at Cottage Grove and Al Kennedy high schools. Bohemia Elementary may get more trees planted and improve water management if the Coastfork Willamette Watershed Council’s Green Canopy grant application is awarded. Dorena and Harrison schools are seeking enhancement grants from Cycle Oregon.
LEADERSHIP GOALS
Miller said he intends to work closely with staff, students, families, and community partners to develop a shared vision for the district’s future and ensure all students succeed.
On Sept. 3, deputies, BLM Rangers, and a USFS Special Agent served the search warrant at Vanbrocklin’s home in Cottage Grove. Stolen property from multiple thefts was located, as well as about three dozen county traffic, railroad, BLM, and USFS signs. Two stolen firearms and many tools from the same incidents were not located, however.
Vanbrocklin was arrested and lodged in jail following the service of the warrant for multiple charges.
Based on their investigation, on Sept. 4, deputies, a BLM Ranger, Douglas County Parole Officers, and a USFS Special Agent went to a transient camp in the Brice Creek area. Deputies found additional stolen property, and later located and arrested Praay for the multiple charges related to the Aug. 29 incident, in addition to an outstanding warrant for a parole violation.
ST. ANDREWS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1301 W. Main • 541-767-9050
Rev. Lawrence Crumb “Scripture, Tradition, Reason” Worship: Sunday 10:30am All Welcome
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
820 South 10th Street
541-942-5213
Pastor: James D. Boram
Bible Study: Saturday, 9:15 am Worship Service: Saturday, 10:40
Mid-week Service: Wednesday, 1:00
TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 6th and Quincy 541-942-2373
Vacancy Pastor: Steven Spencer
Sunday School and Adult
Education 9:15 a.m.
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Comm. Kitchen Free Meal
Tuesday 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. TLC Groups tlccg.com
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
334 Washington 541-942-3033 Worship 10am umcgrove.org
CRESWELL:
CRESWELL PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
75 S 4th S • 541-895-3419
Rev. Seth Wheeler
Adult Sunday School 9:15am
Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am website www.creswellpres.org
WALKER UNION CHURCH & CEMETERY
10 a.m.
32904 England Rd, Creswell, OR (541) 649-1800 Pastor: Randy Wood Sunday Service at 11:00 AM Everyone is welcome! Follow us on our Facebook page: WalkerChurchOregon
If your congregation would like to be a part of this worship directory, contact us today!
COIN TOSS PRAISED AND CRITICIZED
At the Sept. 8 meeting, a rigidly divided board used a coin toss to fill a vacant seat, resulting in Karen Zeller’s appointment over Tony Lefler.
Board members Chris Holloman, Bill Parsons and Joe Tucker supported Lefler, citing his willingness to campaign for a board seat. Diane Hicks, Tammy Hodgkinson, and Colleen Valley backed Zeller, who had expressed interest in campaigning but said she was ineligible to run at the time.
During public comment, former board member Jeff Gowing praised the board’s coin toss solution. “You guys came up with a decision, you did it, you stuck to it,” Gowing said. “Great job, great leadership and I will never question your integrity.”
Vanbrocklin was indicted Sept. 24, by a grand jury on 12 charges related to these cases:
• Four counts of Theft in the 1st Degree
• Two counts of Burglary in the 2nd Degree
• Criminal Mischief in the 1st Degree
• Two counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm
• Two counts of Criminal Trespass in the 2nd Degree
• Unlawful Entry Into a Motor Vehicle
A grand jury also indicted Praay for:
• Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle
• Criminal Mischief in the 1st Degree
Johanna Zee, however, challenged the board’s integrity in a prepared statement. She alleged that Zeller and her supporters misrepresented Zeller’s eligibility and failed to correct public assumptions.
Zee accused Zeller and her board supporters of lying and questioned how they could now be trusted.
“You have chosen to undermine the will of the voters, again, and put politics ahead of the children,” Zee said. “The people are angry at your lack of leadership, your lack of integrity, and pushing (teacher unions) agendas at the expense of the students and this community.”
Zee invoked Oregon’s recall process and called for Zeller’s resignation.
OTHER BOARD BUSINESS
The board adopted policies prohibiting personal electronic device use during
• Unlawful Theft of Special Forest Products
Anyone who has purchased items from Vanbrocklin or Praay in the past several months is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office to confirm whether or not the items were stolen. Please call the non-emergency Dispatch number at 541-682-4150 opt. 1
The Lane County Sheriff’s Forest Patrol is contracted to patrol Bureau of Land Management land, Shotgun Creek OHV area, and private industrial timberlands through the Lane Timber Patrol Consortium.
school hours, revised community use of district facilities to continue South Valley Athletics’ access at no cost, and updated its sexual harassment policy.
The board approved a plan to correct issues identified in the 2023–24 audit, and provided assurances to the State Department. of Education that its 2024-25 goals set at the beginning of the school year were achieved by the end of the year.
Board members discussed SLSD’s outstanding debt balance and current bond levy rates to ask voters to continue paying the same property tax amount and fund needed capital improvements in the district.
Follow developments online at cgsentinel.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Sentinel.
“This three-deputy team has always been a proactive group and often assist patrol deputies and detectives on larger cases which extend into rural areas of Lane County,” the release states. The team works closely with Bureau of Land Management Rangers and other law enforcement partner agencies. The Lane County District Attorney’s Office, Cottage Grove Police Department, Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, and Douglas County Parole & Probation assisted in this investigation.
Who cares about cares about public public notices?
You have the right to know what’s happening in your community.
Public notices – information local governments are obligated to provide citizens – are required to be published in local newspapers to provide a public record that’s accessible to everyone.
Public notices keep you informed about your government. But, Oregon legislators are trying to keep public notices from appearing in local newspapers. This severely impacts government transparency and, in turn, limits the public’s right to hold them accountable for their actions.
Let your state legislators know that you value being able to access notices in your newspaper and that they are worth the investment.
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Cottage Grove Police Department (CGPD) officers have added pink to their uniforms as a way to support cancer victims.
“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
A time dedicated to bringing awareness to and showing our support of those who have been affected by it,” CGPD states in a Facebook post. “This October, we have brought back our pink badge, pins, undershirt, pens, fleece, and this year’s new additionpink logoed patrol hats!”
The following is information provided by the World Health Organization.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to create awareness, honor the millions of lives affected by breast cancer and reaffirm our global commitment to equitable access to care and improved survival for all. This year, we highlight the theme: Every Story
is Unique, Every Journey Matters.
WHY THIS THEME?
Every breast cancer diagnosis is personal. Behind every diagnosis is a story — of courage, resilience, and hope. This theme reminds us that breast cancer touches the lives of women and their families around the world differently, and that every journey deserves compassion, dignity, and support. This year’s theme recognizes the diversity of experiences and reinforces the need for compassionate, timely and quality care for all—regardless of geography, income or background.
THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. In 2022, approximately 2 3 million women were diagnosed and another
670 000 died from the disease.
These are not just numbers but mothers, sisters, daughters and friends that deserve hope and dignity. While the 5-year survival rates in high-income countries exceeds 90%, the figures drop to 66% in India and 40% in South Africa.
These disparities are driven by unequal access to early detection, timely diagnosis and effective treatment. If the current trend continues, the incidence and mortality are projected to rise by 40% by 2050 hence the need for urgent and coordinated action. Indeed, where a woman lives should not determine whether she survives.
Established in 2021, the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative together with partners is working with countries to reduce breast cancer mortality by strengthening health systems.
