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Wednesday November 12, 2025 | Number 45, 137 years
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Cottage Grove Wednesday, November 12, 2025 P.M. Showers
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Cottage Grove business owner arrested, released by ICE Lifestyle Sports
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phone to record, and they grabbed Avila Incredible went to the hospital to be CGHS Football Grove Cottage Grove Sentinel by phone out of my hand and pulled treated for bruises and cuts she said Turnaround me from my car and threw me down she suffered in the incident, adding Wednesday, Oct 9 See page 4 A Cottage Grove resident is page 8 has left her shaken, to the ground. I was scared, and I Seethat the incident Mostly Cloudy recovering following an alleged was screaming for help, asking why unsettled, and worried about the arrest and release by agents believed there were arresting me. They put future for her and her three children. to be from the U.S. Immigration and their knees all over my body and “I moved to Cottage Grove Customers Enforcement (ICE) Nov.9, 2024 October 39, 135 years because I thought itwww.cgsentinel.com $2.00 told me|INumber had a warrant.” was a safe place 5 just off Highway 99 in Cottage for my kids to live in,” she said. Grove. “People here need to be really care“I AM SCARED FOR ME, The incident was caught on tape ful. These people are really aggresFOR EVERYBODY.” as the women’s daughter, Emely sive and unprofessional. They know Augstin, documented the arrest. when people are going to work here, -JUANITA AVILA, COTTAGE The woman, Juanita Avila, a and they are stopping all the vans. local business operator, said the GROVE BUSINESS They are coming from out of state incident was surprising and scary and abducting people just because OPERATOR and took place early Wednesday we look Hispanic. I am scared for morning, Nov. 5, as she was driving me, for everybody.” to meet and translate for another Cottage Grove Police Chief Cory JEREMY stopped C. RUARK person allegedly by federal The agents cuffeddeveloping Avila and the smaller Chasehomeless issued the following stateCrews began Cottage Grove Sentinel officials. placed hersite into this one of the suspected ment 6. Street. camp week on the vacant lotNov. at 12th Public works crews in the “I was driving alongare Highway ICE vehicles. Her daughter had been The Cottage Grove Police process of establishing newof a 99 in Cottage Grove anda all following Avila in her car, and durDepartment is aware of an operasmaller homeless camp site the sudden I saw the light, and Iatwas ing the incident kept yelling to the tion that took place yesterday vacantpulled lot onover 12thby Street Cottage JEREMY C. RUARK being whoinI thought agents asking why they were arrestNovember 5, 2025 in the City Cottage Grove Sentinel Grove. were police,” she said. “I opened ing her mother and that she was a of Cottage Grove involving the City Oregon’s wildfire season is myCottage window,Grove and all of Manager a sudden I green-card citizen. Department of Homeland Security. Mikesomebody Sauerweininsaid the city is and expected to continue through this saw a green jacket “They didn’t answer me. It was Just before 5 a.m. an agent with month, but the mental scares and behindpeople its original Oct. 1 timeline other with masks.” scary,” daughter Emely said. DHS notified on-duty staff with the impact of the season on the fireis Avila establishing theofcamp, following said one the people idenEventually, the agents confirmed Cottage Grove Police Department fighters who battle blazes in Lane the Aug. 22 closure and cleanup tified themselves as police as asked that Avila was a legal citizen and that they were in the city for official County and across the state, and of the 12th Street and Douglas where she was from. did not have a warrant. She was business. No further details were their families, may last a lifetime, Street homeless camps. During the “I asked why they pulled me uncuffed and released. provided to the Cottage Grove according to Jeff Dill, the founder transition, the adjacent Luluwere Dog over, and they told me they “I told them that I had my green Police Department and our agency of Firefighter This is a screen shot from video take by the Behavioral daughterHealth of the Park at 12th StreetI was has been officials and that underused Allianceby (FBHA). card in my pocket, and you didn’t woman alleged to have been detained ICE agents in Cotas a homeless camp with hours arrest,” she said. “So,site I grabbed my Dill established the FBHA in even ask for it,” she said tage Grove. See ICE Page 6 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 hoping that this week we will be they saw, so I went back and got able to make the transition. Our PHOTO JEREMY C. RUARK / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL my degree and became a licensed goal was to provide folks with counselor,” he said. “We started Sauerwein and other city officials currently doing, which is providing The new mini homeless camp a safe and secure place to spend tracking EMS and firefighter suia 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.” are no additional plans to offer any night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.” the former larger camps. doing.” other long-term for the Read previous coverage about “The same rules will apply,” JEREMYsheltering C. RUARK but weBehavioral are going to have to redirect Sauerwein said city staff was Impact Cottage Grove Sentinel homeless. the homelessness challenges in Sauwrwein said. “The camp will resources. According to Dill, firefighters cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to “Cottage Grove will follow Cottage Grove and follow new BACKGROUND often don’t recognize the behavioral reestablish it as a dog park. Specific be available from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Thelaw South Lane Fire & Rescue state as we understand it,” developments at cgsemtinel.com impact of their work. and the rules will be enforced The South Lane Fire & Rescue costs of that cleanup and establishDistrict’s funding “We Board become cultural Sauerwein(SLFR) said. “That is request what wein and in the Wednesday print editions through our contracting company, District placed the brainlevy on ing the smaller homeless camp at washed,” Dill in said. “Whether it’s the 4 Special Election are Nov. doing. To change that ishasupfailed, to of The Sentinel. One Security of Eugene to help us the ballot levy an effort to fund 12th Street were not immediately structural or wildland fires. So, we according to unofficial voting results. the legislature. The city of Cottage during this transition period. They six new full-time positions and one available. are meant to believe we are supThe unofficial results from Grove has no plans to do anythekind are a very experienced homeless additional apprentice. This would posed to act strong, brave, be help, Tuesday, Nov. 4 Special of a shelter beyond whatElection we are camp management company.” bring daily staffing from 7 personnel don’t ask for help, and we don’t to 10 personnel, allowing theask district Courtesy photo from Lisa Dean show for Measure 20-372 failing with want to look weak and not for 2,971 (54.3%) votes against and 2,502 to staff a third full-time paramedic In one month, Eagle Scout Kyle Dean, center, collected help.” (45.7%) in favor. ambulance. 2000+ pounds of pet food and supplies and handmade cat Dill added that while firefighters The measure is a five-year local operates four stations areThe on district the front lines battling the scratching posts for P.A.W.S., a local animal welfare nonoption tax levy of $0.94 per $1,000 in Cottage one Grove, Creswell, wildfires, of the biggestand chalprofit organization. of assessed value to fund the South lenges they areas. face isThe thedowntown unknown. surrounding Lane Fire & Rescue District general “It’s how rapidly theses fires can Creswell station and the Cottage Jeremy C. Ruark / Cottage Grove Sentinel move,station and theareunknown is wherea operations beginning in 2026/27. Grove staffed 24-hours The South Lane Fire & is it The going to end?station Whereis will this Administrators said the measure day. Saginaw suppleRescue Board may review a fire go to and how long will it last? would be used to add more staffing mented with a residential volunteer. recommendation to return to And that is a struggle,” he said. to meet increasing public calls for The fourth station is near Camas voters next spring for funds “So, when you are fighting that services. Swale Road. trying to do your best CINDY WEELDREYER His original goal was 1,000 to support additional stafffire, you’re “We are disappointed that the levy SLFR Chief Baird Cottage Grove Sentinel pounds. Final totals more than to stop it,Deputy and yet the Justin wind kicks ing. failed,” District Chief John Wooten said the district’s call volume doubled that: up at 60 miles an hour and ithas drags Kyle Dean’s Eagle Scout project said. “The voters get to determine been increasing since 2014 by them. 62%. care facilities, we won’t be respondit further and further behind • 1,272 pounds of dog food began with a simple idea: help anithe level of service. I think we were “This year of wethe willunknown probablyisbevery That aspect ing to those. It’s going to hurt. We • 805 pounds of cat food CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL mals in need. pretty clear that there would be cuts difficult in wildland fires. The fireclose to 6,000 calls for service,” he will now have to do everything we • 530 pounds of cat litter Matchbooks Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. What followedfrom was a the month-long to service. So, we are now lining up fighters that stressg and anxiety, said. “Wehave are averaging about 15 can to ensure that we have response • More than 90 toys donation drive that brought in more and that to protect is a very what that looks like. Anything that calls eachstruggle day. When we are fully capability for actual life-threatening • 10 pounds of treats than 2,600 pounds of supplies for difficult challenge for the wildland is a non-emergency type call, include staffed with have seven staff mememergencies.” • $300 donation to PAWS from Paws and Whiskers Socitey (PAWS), firefighters.” some transfers, we are not going to bers. Minimum managing is five Wooten said he will recommend Moose Lodge 1726 a local organization that provides It is often very difficult for famrespond to those calls in order to pristaff per day. We are augmented by to the district board that it send out Dean also organized a work party ily members of the firefighters to food and spay-and-neuter assistance. oritize emergency responses only with another funding request in the May typically onewhat residential volunteer with other scouts to build 12 cat CINDY WEELDREYER understand emotions there are, the way” during the construction helped us meet many of our future Nearly 50 people attended the Dean, a student at Pleasant the staffing that we have.” student.” 2026 election. The board could review For The Cottage Grove Sentinel scratching posts. and that many firefighters don’t project. bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s Hill High School and member of Wooten said when the staffing level that recommendation when in meets The district covers 130according square “I to thank all the donors,” express their emotions, He said he was given an importShewant shared a humorous mem“Farewell to the Village Green” at In 1975, when Birdy Hoelzle Troop 61, launched the effort on is limited, it will be challenging to miles for fire service, and the ambuin January. to Dill. he said. “With their help, so many ant job of opening the boxes ory they made in the formal Iron the Community Center, Saturday, and her sister opened The September 25 Gail and wrapped it up by maintain fire suppression capabilities lance service covers 800 square “We ask the family members “I have to plan, that if the voters animals get another meal.” delivered to the guest rooms and Maiden Dining Room that drew Sept. 21. Bookmine they were familiar with Halloween. He created fliers with and emergency ambulance services. to try That to understand cultural,” works outthe to be services turn it down priority miles. Janetta Overholser is the president recalled howagain coolinheMay, felt the driving laughter from the crowd. The internationally famous resort The Village Green. QR codes linked to an Amazon wish “That will mean much of the stuff he approximately said. “Be direct. Challenge for 33,000 people, will be responses to actual life-threatof the local animal welfare nonprofit the orange golf cart around the “My sister and I were budding was created by Walter A. Woodard father traveled aand lot rallied and list,Their emailed businesses, with compassion something we do in the community we are not to Baird,when who added it is ening emergencies and that will mean organization. She said PAWS volproperty for assigned errands. Years according feminists at the time and were quite (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some often brought its matchboxes home support from family, friends, fellow doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound going to do anymore,” he said. “That not unusual for the crews to respond we will get out of the non-emergency unteers are aware of pet owners in shocked by the sexism practiced in members of the family attended and later, another special memory was as keepsakes for his girls. The sisscouts, and community members. right, and do anatinternal size up, includes not staffing an ambulance to multiple calls the same time, business. I respect the voters our community who are struggling seeing the famouswhat football player, the dining room,” she said. “The shared personal memories. ters“I were in their 20’s when they wanted to do something differwhich we ask the firefighters to at the Speedway and we probably one or possibly two people to decide. We are arunning special district. A the leaving to make endstomeet for thehad twonoand O.J. Simpson, on one of menu given a woman do as well,” he said.” Internal opened ent thanthe theMain usualStreet bridgebookstore building won’tTHROUGH be doing transfers from Cottage stand-alone government. I don’t know respond from the four stations. size THE LENS four-legged members of their family. up means asking why am I acting resort’s paths. prices on it and foot pillows were and, to enhance their income, or trail clearing,” Dean said. “This Grove whenintroductory we are at miniFollow developments KrisHospital Woodard’s if folks actual understand that. I want this way, and why am I online feeling this To the delight of those gathered, provided so ladies’ uncomfortable worked as waitresses at the resort. helps in a different way—and I mum staffing. We won’t be respondat cgsentinel.com andwe in can the do is remarks included personal memfolks to know we are still going to way? The best thing Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard, shoes could be removed while din“It was a wonderful place to really like animals.” ing to unknow injury motor vehicle Wednesday print editions of The ories he made through the lens of make every effort to do what we do, ing. It was a very different era.” work and, being new in town, it crashes. Lift assists See EAGLE Page 6 Sentinel. a 12-year-old who and wasmanaged often “in See LEGACY, Page 6 See HEALTH, Page 6 RUARK Life in JEREMY CottageC.Grove
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Wednesday
The mental City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters
Voters turn down South Lane Fire & Rescue levy
WHO WE ARE
Scout’s Eagle project delivers 2,600 pounds of help for animals
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
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