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Wednesday October 30, 2024 | Number 41, 135 years
Cottage Grove Wednesday, Oct 30 Rain
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Main Street Reconstruction Project draws a crowd Lifestyle
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to businesses during construction, Cottage electrical and drainage infrastrucCGHS Football Incredible Grove ture and safety improvements, Turnaround Following a community inforespecially for mobility-challenged Wednesday, Oct 9 See page 4 See page 8 mational meeting concerning the individuals. Mostly Cloudy multi-million-dollar Main Street Intersections: Will be raised to Improvement Project, Cottage meet requirements of the AmeriGrove City officials said they cans with Disabilities Act (ADA) were pleased with the turnout. 9, 2024 for ramps. It was discovered that October | Number 39, 135 years www.cgsentinel.com $2.00 Main Street business and prop- buildings on one side of Main erty owners viewed schematic Street are almost a foot higher drawings and asked questions than the other side. Meeting all of the design team and Cottage the required grades was especially Grove Public Works Director challenging. The turning radius Faye Stewart during the Oct. 23 for delivery trucks will be the meeting at city hall. same or better. The council chamber was filled Sidewalks: Will be flattened with people who have a personal and widened to four feet to and financial stake in the disrupimprove accessibility and allow tive nature of this major reconmerchants use of outdoor space struction project that is set to be- with tables and chairs, sale racks JEREMY C. RUARK gin in February. Before and after and sandwich board signs. As Crewstreatment, began developing Cottage Grove Sentinel the staff presentation individuals a special the new the smaller homeless camp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street. hovered schematic draw- sidewalks will feature a sparkling Public over worksthe crews are in the ing studying the manya aspects process of establishing new of mineral in the concrete. the newhomeless street design. Lighting: There will be three smaller camp site at the Public Works Director Faye streetlights in each block. Each vacant lot on 12th Street in Cottage JEREMY C. RUARK Stewart welcomed the approxicorner will have the historically Cottage Grove Sentinel Grove. mately 40 people attending the inspired acorn style with a metal Cottageand Grove City Manager Oregon’s wildfire season is meeting introduced the proj- pole in the middle of the block. Mike design Sauerwein said the city is expected to continue through this ect’s members. Light posts will have hardware to month, but the mental scares and behind its original 1 timeline Stewart, BranchOct. Engineering hang banners and flower baskets impact of the season on the fireis establishing the camp, following Civil Engineer Damien Gilthat will be maintained with drip fighters who battle blazes in Lane bert and 22 Project Manager Julie irrigation. the Aug. closure and cleanup County and across the state, and Leland andStreet Landscape Architect Trees and Floral: There will of the 12th and Douglas theirWeeldreyer families, /may last Grove a lifetime, David Dougherty of DLA, Inc., only be four trees planted in each Cindy Cottage Sentinel Street homeless camps. During the according to Jeff Dill, the founder fielded questions on aLulu wideDog range block. The trees will be in 4’x8’ Branch Engineering Civil Engineer Damien Gilbert, center, listens to a business owner transition, the adjacent of Firefighter Behavioral Health of topics. The topics pointing to the schematic drawings during the Main Street Improvement Project commuPark at 12th Street has included been used Alliance (FBHA). sidewalk widths, trees, parking, nity meeting. as a homeless camp site with hours Dill established the FBHA in See PROJECT, Page 6 lighting, furniture, public access from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. “None of us have ever managed He was than a Battalion Chief a homeless camp before, so we for a fire department in northwest Chicago. knew that date was a bit aspira“I saw our brothers and sisters tional,” Sauerwein said. “We are struggle from the devastation that JEREMY C. RUARK livestock, deer-proof your garden hoping that this week we will be they saw, so I went back and got Sentinel and yard with nets, lights, fencable toCottage make theGrove transition. Our PHOTO JEREMY C.ing. RUARK / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL my degree and became a licensed goal was to provide folks with counselor,” he said. “We started A sever livestock that • Fencedoing, and shelter Sauerwein and other city officials currently which islivestock. providing The new mini homeless camp a safe and secure placeattack to spend tracking EMS and firefighter suikilled at least 12 goats by a Move them to sheds or barns at a location for folks to spend the will include the same restrictions as have told the Sentinel, that there the night and that’s what we are cides across America.” cougar near Eugene, and a cougar the former larger camps. night. are no additional plans to offer any night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.” doing.” walking along the docks at NewCall your district ODFW office other long-term sheltering for the Read previous coverage about “The same rules will apply,” Sauerwein saidhow city cougars staff wasare Behavioral Impact port, illustrates if like to have a conversaCourtesy photo homeless. theyou’d homelessness challenges in Sauwrwein said. “The camp will According to Dill, firefighters cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to migrating into populated areas. tion about how to protect your The total taxable value for all “Cottage Grove will follow Cottage Grove and follow new be available from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. often don’t recognize the behavioral reestablish it as a dog park. Specific The Oregon Department of livestock. Biologists can provide properties combined in Lane state law as we understand it,” developments at cgsemtinel.com impact of their work. and the rules will be enforced costs of that cleanup and establishFish and Wildlife (ODFW) report advice on how to keep your County increased 4.09 “We become culturalbybrainSauerwein said. “That is what we and in thesafe Wednesday print editions through our contracting company, ing the smaller homeless at the number cougars arecamp increasanimals and what your legal washed,” over Dill said. it’s percent last“Whether year, from are doing. To change that is up to of The Sentinel. One Security of Eugene to help us ing the Pacific and options are to prevent future 12thinStreet were notNorthwest immediately structural or wildland fires. So, we $41.4 billion in 2023 to $43.1 the legislature. The city of Cottage during this transition period. They the Oregon Coast Range. problems. available. are meant to believe we are supbillion in 2024. “Oregon is cougar country and are a very experienced homeless Grove has no plans to do any kind posed to act strong, brave, be help, ODFW encourages people to The Sentinel: What is leading of a shelter beyond what we are camp management company.” don’t ask for help, and we don’t review safety tips and information to the cougars moving closer to want to look weak and not ask for on how to keep people, pets and human habitats and where livehelp.” livestock safe,” ODFW West Restock are located? Courtesy from Newport Police Dill added that while firefighters gion Public Information Officer This cougar was spotted along the docks at Newport Oct. 17. are on the front lines battling the Beth Quillian said. Quillian: Cougar numbers in wildfires, one of the biggest chalFollowing the Eugene area the NW and the Coast Range are lenges they face is the unknown. livestock kill, the landowner increasing as cougars disperse sistance from the Lincoln County cougars in our region. “It’s how rapidly theses fires can hired a private agent who trapped Sheriff’s Office. ODFW staff from occupied areas of the state. move, and the unknown is where and killed a single cougar on the The areas they’re expanding to The Sentinel: What advice gave the cougar compressions to is it going to end? Where will this property, according to Quillian. often have populations of deer, does the ODFW have concernexpel water and did everything fire go to and how long will it last? A cougar was also spotted elk, birds, and domestic animals ing what livestock owners and they could to save the cougar, And that is a struggle,” he said. walking on the docks at the Emthat are food sources to a cougar. but despite their efforts it did not families with children and small “So, when you are fighting that barcadero along the bay front in Cougars have large home pets should be doing in rural survive, according to Wolfer. fire, you’re SUBMITTED trying to do your best Newport Oct. 17. areas, such as Cottage Grove and ranges and are very territorial. “This was not how ODFW to stop it, and yet the wind kicks “At the time, it was a very Individuals looking to expand Creswell, and rural areas along wanted this situation to end,” Lane County mailed up at 60 miles anhas hour and it the drags dangerous situation, and our first Wolfer said. “This cougar was in the Oregon Coast, to protect their territory or juveniles looking county’s The 2024-2025 property it further and further behind them. concern is always for the safety to establish new territories may the wrong place at the wrong time themselves and their animals? tax to businesses Thatstatements aspect of the unknown is and very CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL of everyone in the area,” A New- and the intent was to move it to be forced into areas occupied by property owners. difficult in wildland fires. The fireMatchbooks from post the Village in Cottage Grove. See more photos with this story at because cgsentinel.com. port Police Facebook reads. Green people of limited disperQuillian: a moreResort appropriate place away Statements are stress available online fighters have that and anxiety, ODFW was alerted by Oregon from people. It is unfortunate that • Learn your neighborhood. Be sal options and due to people con- now, as well as information about and that struggle to protect is a very State Police of the cougar on the aware of any wildlife corridors or tinuing to expand into established the county value trends, levy this cougar did not survive, but difficult challenge for the wildland docks. all options to resolve the situation places where deer or elk concen- cougar habitat. Female juveniles changes, and individual property firefighters.” Officials decided the best will partially overlap their natal trate. had risks.” taxItaccount at www. is often information, very difficult for famcourse of action was to dart the • Walk pets during the day and range, whereas male juveniles Cougar populations are thriving LaneCountyOR.gov/AT. ily members of the firefighters to cougar, even though doing this on in the Coast Range as cougars will disperse outside of their natal keep them on a leash. The first what payment is duethere on are, CINDY WEELDREYER understand emotions the way” during the construction helped us meet many of our future Nearly 50 people attended the a dock surrounded by water was range. • Keep pets indoors at dawn disperse from denser population November 15, firefighters 2024. For The Cottage Grove Sentinel and that many don’t project. bookstore customers,” Birdyof said. Cottage Society’s not ideal, according to ODFW and duskGrove whenHistorical cougars are most strongholds in other areas the Lane County Assessment and express their emotions, according He said he was given an importShe shared a humorous mem“Farewell to the Village Green” at In 1975, when Birdy Hoelzle Wildlife Division Deputy Admin- state and seek out new habitat, ac- active. Shelter them for the night The Sentinel: Over the years, Taxation collects property tax to Dill. ant job of opening the boxes ory they to made in the formal Iron the Community Saturday, istrator BrianGail Wolfer. have there been cougar attacks to- on behalf of 85 separate taxing and her sister opened The and always feedCenter, pets indoors. cording Quillian. “We ask the family members “ODFWthey staffwere were very conward humans hasrooms any human delivered to theand guest and Maiden Room that Sept. 21.animal-proof garbage • Use “TheirDining primary prey aredrew blackBookmine familiar with districts, including cities, schools, to try to understand the cultural,” cerned about public safety and killed a cougar? recalled howbycool he felt driving laughter from theelk, crowd. The internationally famous resort been cans and leave garbage outside tailed deer and but cougars The Village Green. education service districts, he said. “Be direct. Challengewater were also concerned unsecured. will alsosister pursue the orange golf cart around the “My and other I weremammals budding was created by Walter A. Woodard districts, rural firewhen districts, urban Their father traveledthe a lotcougar and with compassion something would not safely make it out of Quillian: • Remove heavy brush from and birds,” said.and “This property for Cougar assigned attacks errands.on Years renewal feminists at she the time werewas quite (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some districts and other taxing often brought its matchboxes home doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound the highly populated area,” he are extremely rare. There near the house play areas, and people an unusual situation cougarsin districts asinternal park and later, another special memory was shocked by the sexismaspracticed members of the and family attended as keepsakes for his girls. The sisright, andsuch do an sizerecup, said. “Although the cougar did has been one known attack by a install are elusive and wary reation, library, and ambulance seeing the famous football player, the normally dining room,” she said. “The shared motion-activated personal memories.light ters were in their 20’s when they which we ask the firefighters to not exhibit aggressive behavior, wild cougar in Oregon in 2018, outdoors along walkways and of people. sayhad for no sure O.J. Simpson, running on one of the districts. menu givenWe to acan’t woman do as well,” he said.” Internal size opened the Main Street bookstorees- how wildlife can be unpredictable, which was fatal. Attacks have driveways. this cougar made it to the THROUGH THE LENS totalasking property upThe means why tax am Icertiacting resort’s paths. prices on it and foot pillows were and, to enhance theirstress income, pecially in a high environhappened in other states and in •Kris Do Woodard’s not feed any wildlife. By dock and ODFW did not receive fied for all tax levies combined introductory this way, and why am I feeling this To the delight of those gathered, provided so ladies’ uncomfortable worked as waitresses at the resort. ment around people.” other wildlife, may Canada. any reports of cougars in the area attracting inway? 2024–2025 is $720.9 million. remarks included personal you memThe best thing we can do is Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard, shoes could be removed while din“It was a wonderful place to Once darted, the cougar jumped leading up to this incident.” attract cougar. Keepthe bird feeder This is approximately 2.9 percent ories hea made through lens of ing. It was a very different era.” into quickly workthe and,water beingand newwas in town, it The Sentinel asked Quillian the areas clean. a 12-year-old who was often “in See LEGACY, Page 6 See HEALTH, Page 6 pulled out by ODFW with asfollowing questions concerning • If you have a garden or keep See ODFW, Page 5 See TAXES, Page 6 CINDY WEELDREYER
Life Cottage in Cottage Grove Grove Sentinel
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Wednesday
The mental City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters
Cougar encounters increasing, ODFW issues advisory
2024-25 Lane County property tax statements available
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
INSIDE Lifestyles — 3 Obituaries — 4 Death Notice — 4
Opinion — 5 Classifieds — 7 Sports — 8
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