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CINDY WEELDREYER
Cottage GroveOctober Sentinel Wednesday 9, 2024 | Number 39, 135 years
The Cottage Grove Police Department has welcomed a second four-legged officer to its ranks with the official swearing in of K9 Sabrina. The super-friendly, one-year-old black lab-golden retriever mix is trained as a comfort canine and is the second dog donated to the department by the nonprofit organiJEREMYDogs C. RUARK zation Working Oregon. Cottage Grove Sentinel Sabrina’s role is not enforcement works are insupthe or Public detection, but crews emotional process of establishing a new port. She will assist officers during smaller homeless camp site at the to high-stress calls, provide comfort vacant lot on 12th Street in Cottage crime victims, and help de-escalate Grove.situations. Her presence also tense Cottageofficer Grovewellness, City Manager supports a growing Mike Sauerwein said the city is focus in law enforcement agencies behind its original Oct. 1 timeline across the country. is To establishing the camp, following ensure a smooth transition she the Aug. 22 closure and cleanup began visiting the department earlier of the 12th this year as Street part ofand herDouglas training and Street homeless camps. During began living here in June. With the transition, the adjacent Lulu Dog final contract with Working Dogs Park at 12th Street has been used Oregon (WDO) signed and the tranas a homeless camp site with sition complete, it was time forhours the from 7 swearing-in p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. at the formal ceremony of us have ever managed Oct“None 13. Cottage Grove City Council ameeting. homeless camp before, so we knew thatChief date was bit aspiraPolice CoryaChase administional,” Sauerwein said. “Weaare tered the oath of office with smile, hoping thatenthusiastically this week we will be as Sabrina wiggled able to make the transition. Our in the spotlight and gave Chase her goal in was to provideoffolks withjob. paw acceptance her new a safe and secure place to Based in Portland, WDOspend spethe nightinand that’stherapy-trained what we are cializes placing doing.” dogs with law enforcement and city staff firstSauerwein respondersaid agencies. Thewas group cleaning up the Lulu Dog covers the cost of training Park and to reestablish itallowing as a dogdepartments park. Specific placement, to costs of that cleanup and integrate comfort canines establishwithout ing the smaller homeless camp at straining local budgets. 12th Street were not immediately WDO was founded around available. 2012 by Executive Director Darin Campbell after his wife, Jennifer, experienced difficulties obtaining a service dog. Initially focused on public education, the organization
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The study will assess whether harmful algae blooms in Dorena Lake—located upstream from the Row River Water Treatment Plant—are allowing cyanotoxins to enter the municipal water system.
The mental City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street City use facingtoOregon’s Crews began developing the smaller homeless camp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street.
$125K wildland grant to study firefighters water safety risks from Dorena Lake 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 CINDY WEELDREYER their families, may last a lifetime, Cottage Grove Sentinel according to Jeff Dill, the founder Grove will use aHealth $125,000 ofCottage Firefighter Behavioral Alliance grant from(FBHA). the Oregon Health Dill established FBHA in Authority (OHA) tothe fund a feasibil2010 following Hurricane Katrina. ity study examining potential cyaHe wascontamination than a Battalion Chief notoxin in the city’s for a fire department in northwest drinking water supply. Chicago. The study will assess whether “I saw our brothers and sisters harmful in Dorena strugglealgae fromblooms the devastation that Lake—located upstream they saw, so I went backfrom and the got River Water Treatment Plant— PHOTO JEREMY C. RUARK / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Row my degree and became a licensed Cindy Weeldreyer / Cottage Grove Sentinel are allowing cyanotoxins to enter the counselor,” he said. “We started Sauerwein and other city officials currently doing, which is providing The newGrove mini homeless Cottage Police camp Department Chief Cory Chase shakes the paw of the department’s municipal waterand system. The grant, tracking EMS firefighter suihave told the Sentinel, that there a location for folks to spend the will include the same restrictions as newly sworn in comfort K9 Sabrina, just after he administered the Oath of Office to Sabrina. cides across America.” awarded through OHA’s Drinking are no additional plans to offer any night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.” the former larger camps. Water Source Protection Program, other long-term have sheltering for K9s the Read previous coverage about “Thebusinesses, same rulesschools, will apply,” taught and The Campbells donated “We train our dogs to interact Behavioral will cover engineeringImpact services prohomeless. Sauwrwein “The camp will According to Dill, firefighters community said. groups about service to police departments, veterans, and the withhomelessness officers and challenges departmentinstaff to vided by West Yost Engineering. Groveacross will follow Cottage and spread follow goodwill new be available fromdogs, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. often don’t recognize the behavioral animals, therapy emotional fire“Cottage departments Oregon. promoteGrove wellness, Cottage Public Works state as to wethem understand it,” developments at cgsemtinel.com impact of Grove their work. and the rules willand be enforced support animals, relevant laws Dogslaw come in a variety in the community, comfort crime Director Faye Stewart said the study “We become cultural brainsaid. often “Thatfrom is what we and in theand Wednesday printdown editions through our contracting like the Americans with company, Disabilities Sauerwein of ways—most other victims, just to bring the is a proactive step to ensure longwashed,” Dill said. “Whether it’s are doing. organizations To change thatorisasuppupto of The Sentinel. One Eugene toahelp us Act. Security They alsoofdeveloped program nonprofit temperature of any situation and term water safety. Although there structural or wildland fires. So, we the The city Cottage during transition They to help this veterans train period. their own serpieslegislature. from breeders. Theyofoffer make people smile,” Campbell said. has not been evidence of any toxins are meant to believe we are supGrove has no planspolice to dodepartment any kind are very experienced homeless viceadogs. these dogs to any Sabrina is a graduate of WDO’s strong, help,to heposed said to theact City needsbrave, to be be ready of beyond we are camp company.” Overmanagement time, WDO’s mission thata shelter wants one, at nowhat charge, and Raising Heroes Program and follows don’t ask for help, and we don’t take corrective measures. expanded to include providing Campbell said they currently have a want to look and not ask for Dorena Lakeweak has been identified police and military working dogs. list of requests. help.” See CGPD, Page 6 by the state as a high-risk source added thatblooms. while firefighters for Dill harmful algal The Row are on the front lines battling the River, which flows directly from wildfires, one of the biggest chalthe lake,they serves point lenges faceasisthe theintake unknown. for “It’s the city’s water treatment facilhow rapidly theses fires can ity. While cyanotoxins been move, andnothe unknown ishave where detected in recent thewill feasiis it going to end?years, Where this bility study willhow evaluate treatment fire go to and long will it last? And thatinfrastructure is a struggle,” he said. options, needs, and “So, whenmitigation you are fighting that long-term strategies. fire, you’re to do your At its Oct.trying 13 meeting, the best JEREMY C. RUARK to stop it, and yet the wind Cottage Grove Sentinel Cottage Grove City Council kicks unaniup at 60approved miles anthe hour it drags mously taskand order with it further and further behind them. Cottage Grove’s $5 million Main West Yost Engineering, which was to That aspect of the unknown is very CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Street Revitalization Project is begin work difficult in immediately. wildland fires.The Thestudy fireMatchbooks from the Green Resort in Cottage Grove. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. expected to be completed by Village the will include sampling, modeling, and fighters have that stress and anxiety, end of this year and a ribbon cutting aand review treatment technologies that of struggle to protect is a very and community party is planned to capable removingfor cyanotoxins difficultofchallenge the wildland celebrate. from surface water sources. firefighters.” The multi-million-dollar project It is often verythat difficult for 2015 famStewart noted the city’s ily members the firefighters to is designed to improve the street, Drinking WaterofProtection Plan is CINDY WEELDREYER understand what emotions there are, the way” during the construction Nearly 50 people attended the sidewalks, pedestrian crossing areas, helped us meet many of our future due for an update. For Theand Cottage Grove along Sentinel and that many firefighters don’t project. bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s lighting, landscaping the “This study will help us revise express theirprepare emotions, He said he was given an import- our She shared a humorous mem“Farewell to the Village Green” at busy the city’s In route 1975, in when Birdy Historic Hoelzle plan and for according future chalto Dill. ant job of opening the boxes ory they made in the formal Iron the Community Center, Saturday, District. The city’s project contracand her sister Gail opened The lenges,” Stewart said. “We ask the family members delivered to the guest rooms and Maiden Dining Room that drew Sept. 21. tor, Wildish,they began work inwith Bookmine werethefamiliar to algalthe blooms, the toIntryaddition to understand cultural,” recalled how cool he felt driving laughter from the crowd. The internationally famous resort February. The Village Green. city’s watershed has faced other he said. “Be direct. Challenge the orange golf cart around the “My sister and I were budding was created by Walter A. Woodard Cottage Grove Projecta lot and Their father traveled environmental pressures. Wildfire with compassion when something property for assigned errands. Years ash feminists at the time and were quite (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some Coordinator Neigh said often broughtShauna its matchboxes home in 2020 membrane filter doesn’t lookcaused right or doesn’t sound shocked by the sexism practiced in members of the family attended and later, another special memory was the project is ahead its original as keepsakes for hisofgirls. The sisclogging theantreatment and right, andat do internal plant, size up, seeing the famous football player, the dining room,” she said. “The shared personal memories. schedule. ters were in their 20’s when they we askassessment the firefighters to awhich 2019 DEQ identified O.J. Simpson, running on one of the more menu given to a woman had no do asthan well,” said.” Internal size “We’ve with opened thebeen Mainfortunate Street bookstore 40 he potential contaminant THROUGH THE LENS up means asking why am I acting resort’s paths. prices on it and foot pillows were favorable weathertheir conditions and, to enhance income,and sources in the watershed—including Kris Woodard’s introductory thishigh-risk way, andsites whyinam I feeling this To the delight of those gathered, provided so ladies’ uncomfortable Jeremy C. Ruark / Cottage Grove Sentinel 15 minimal unexpected worked as waitressesissues, at the which resort. sensitive areas. remarks personal memway? The best thing we can do is Kris’ brother,inCasey Woodard, shoes could be removed whileworking dinWildish crews continue on the included Main Street Revitalization Project Cottage Grove’s “It was a wonderful place to ories he made through the lens of ing. It wasDistrict. a very different era.” Historic work and, being new in town, it a 12-year-old who was often “in See LEGACY, Page 6 SeeGRANT HEALTH, Page See PARTY Page 6 See Page 6 6
Community party planned to celebrate Main Street Revitalization
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
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