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The

Cottage Grove native and retired naval officer David Spriggs is a problem solver and successful logistician.

His great-great-great-grandfather, Isaac Veatch, and many descendants are buried in Shields Pioneer Cemetery, one of the area’s oldest burial grounds, with roots reaching back to the 1800s. Spriggs grew up attending graveside services for older family members.

JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove

Sentinel

Navy came to town

Public works crews are in the process of establishing a new smaller homeless camp site at the vacant lot on 12th Street in Cottage Grove.

Over time, vandals toppled and broke many grave markers. In fall 1993, he decided something had to be done and came up with a plan.

At the time, Spriggs was officer in charge of 50 sailors in a Portlandbased Naval Cargo Handling Battalion, making monthly weekend trips to fulfill his reserve duties at naval facilities in Oregon and Washington.

Cottage Grove City Manager

Mike Sauerwein said the city is behind its original Oct. 1 timeline is establishing the camp, following the Aug. 22 closure and cleanup of the 12th Street 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.

Reservists train one weekend a month and serve a minimum of two weeks active duty each year. When a scheduled training mission was canceled, Spriggs asked if his battalion could instead be deployed for a community service mission to Cottage Grove to help repair the cemetery.

“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.”

About 40 grave markers had been pushed over or broken. The Shields Cemetery Association lacked the money, equipment, and expertise to fix the damage. As a Naval Reserve Supply Corps lieutenant, Spriggs wrote a detailed proposal outlining the mission, which was approved for the weekend of Oct. 23–24, two weekends before Veterans Day.

The mental health impact facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters

The Lane County Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is paused due to federal budget uncertainty and the current government shut-down.

BACKGROUND

JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel

The new mini homeless camp will include the same restrictions as the former larger camps.

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.

OPERATION TOMBSTONE Spriggs recalled “Operation Tombstone” as a well-planned effort

Photo courtesy from David Spriggs (Top) In 1993, Naval reservists based in Portland conducted a weekend training mission to repair and restore vandalized graves in the historic Shields Cemetery. Here they are using equipment provided by Lane County Public Works to reposition a 500 lb. grave marker. See more photos with this story at cgsemntinel.com. Cindy Weeldreyer / Cottage Grove Sentinel (Bottom) The Shields Historic Cemetery is located on a hilltop on the east side of town on Shields Lane, near the intersection of Gateway Boulevard and South 16th Street.

“The same rules will apply,” Sauwrwein said. “The camp will be available from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and the rules will be enforced through our contracting company, One Security of Eugene to help us during this transition period. They are a very experienced homeless camp management company.” of a shelter beyond what we are

Oregon Gov.

Kotek sends $5 million to food banks ahead of SNAP cutoff

SHAANTH NANGUNERI

Oregon Capital Chronicle

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek on Wednesday, Oct. 29, declared a state of emergency over hunger and directed $5 million to food banks across the state, seeking to avert the impending November loss of food stamp benefits for hundreds of thousands of Oregonians under the federal government’s ongoing shutdown.

“It’s unacceptable that families are being used as leverage in a political standoff in Washington, D.C.,” Kotek said in a statement.

“While the Republican-controlled Congress fails to do its job, Oregon will do ours. We stand up for each other, whether it’s fires, floods or any other crisis. I call on all Oregonians to do what they can to help their neighbors.”

CINDY WEELDREYER

For The Cottage Grove Sentinel

Annually, the Lane County LIHEAP program serves over 7 000 limited-income households with utility bill assistance. Historically, the program year starts in the fall with local nonprofit and government agencies mailing applications to households with senior or disabled members, to fill out and return for assistance.

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).

This year, these applications will not be mailed until the federal budget passes with identified LIHEAP funding. In addition, the LIHEAP program waiting lists, which usually open in December, will not open to the general public until after the mailed applications are processed.

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.”

Behavioral Impact

According to Dill, firefighters often don’t recognize the behavioral impact of their work.

LIHEAP funds are federal and are part of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families programs. Lane County Human Services Division works with 10 local agencies to administer LIHEAP across the region.

IMPACT

Lane County Health and Human Services Public Information Officer Jason Davis said the county has listed what other limited resources are available on its website.

“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.”

“There are some flexible funds available that folks can apply for through various nonprofits and some other programs for firewood and heating oil,” he said. “It’s certainly not going to back-fill the need that we have encountered.”

Dill added that while firefighters are on the front lines battling the wildfires, one of the biggest challenges they face is the unknown.

“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.

Davis is encouraging folks who don’t depend on such social service supports to reach out to those less fortunate.

“Now is the time to look at your friends and family for their needs,” he said. “The challenge for our community now is to take this opportunity to help our neighbors and I believe we will come out on the other side stronger for it.”

DESTABILIZING FACTOR

Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort

In 1975, when Birdy Hoelzle and her sister Gail opened The Bookmine they were familiar with The Village Green. 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 was a wonderful place to work and, being new in town, it

Kotek’s emergency declaration gives authority to the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to coordinate with local governments, nonprofit organizations and private companies to “respond and mitigate the impacts of this emergency.” It calls for “essential protective measures” from the Oregon Department of Human Services to address food insecurity, while directing the agency to provide financial assistance to those facing hunger due to the loss of SNAP benefits. The order lasts until the end of the year, unless the federal government distributes benefits or Kotek changes its terms herself.

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.

“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.”

About one in six Oregonians, the majority of whom are children, disabled or seniors, rely on SNAP for food assistance. Kotek’s declaration comes one day after the federal government shutdown hit its four-week mark. It also follows Kotek urging the U.S Department of Agriculture on Monday to release emergency contingency funds that would allow SNAP benefits to remain during the shutdown and Oregon and other states suing the Trump administration on Tuesday, Oct. 28, to force the release of those funds. The federal agency has declinedto do so, despite warnings from Oregon officials earlier this month that benefits

Cottage Grove Historical Society’s

project.

“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.”

While Davis said he cannot comment on directly on the federal administration, but he did give The Sentinel this response.

“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.

would be running out by the end of October.

THROUGH THE LENS

Food banks across Oregon, meanwhile, have warned that they do not have enough resources to absorb the impact of the loss of food stamp benefits. In her Wednesday order, Kotek drew upon $5 million from

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.

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.

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,

federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds to support the state’s network of food banks. That money is unspent from previous years and “can support short term crisis benefits without creating

“When we introduce benefit to a community of people that stabilizes them, especially people who are on the verge of becoming homeless, or on the verge of not being able to pay utility bills to keep warm, or on the verge of not being able to go to the grocery store and buy their groceries, the benefits we introduce help them do that,” he said. And when we take that benefit away very quickly, that is a destabilizing factor.

“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

A Eugene man has been sentenced to federal prison for using social media platforms, including Snapchat and Instagram, to exploit and coerce children in Oregon, New York, and Florida Vincent Alan Elder, 32 was sentenced to 288 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $10 000 in restitution to each of his three victims. According to court documents and statements made in court, Elder used social media to meet and communicate with three identified minors in 2022 and 2023 He sent online payments to encourage a minor victim in Florida to make and send nude photos. To obtain the same from a minor victim in Oregon, he sent vape pens, food delivery orders, and left bags of cash near the victim’s house. When a minor victim in New York tried to

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

OCT. 20

00:42: Criminal mischief, 400 block S. 1st St.

04:09: Alarm, 1200 block Hwy 99

07:52: Alarm, 2700 block Row River Rd.

08:05: Abandoned vehicle, River Rd/Girard Ave.

08:13: Agency assist, 1400 block Daugherty Ave.

08:27: Criminal mischief, 800 block Row River Rd.

08:31: Welfare check, 100 block N. 6th St.

cease contact with him, Elder threatened to tell the victim’s mother or even involve that victim’s younger sibling—an act known as sextortion.

After learning of the allegations, in November 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed search warrants for Elder’s person, devices, and motel room. On December 1, 2023, the FBI arrested Elder. A search of his devices showed chats with some of the minor victims, the Oregon victim’s personal information, and nude images of the Florida victim.

“I am thankful for the brave victims who came forward, and I am grateful to the law enforcement agencies who helped bring this dangerous predator to justice,” United States Attorney Scott E. Bradford said. “We will continue to seek significant prison sentences for anyone

08:47: Theft, 900 block W. Main St.

09:08: Welfare check, 900 block E. Main St.

09:36: Order violation, 400 block Quincy Ave.

09:46: Abandoned vehicle, Ash Ave/North I St.

10:49: Illegal camping, 1300 block E. Main St.

13:08: Found dog, Hwy 99/Emerson

13:49: Juvenile trouble, 1300 block S. River Rd.

13:58: Motor vehicle crash, 10th/Main

15:21: Trespass, 900 block Row River Rd.

15:41: Alarm. 600 block E. Jefferson Ave.

18:14: Suspicious vehicle, 1300 block Elm Ave.

20:56: Suspicious subject, 800 block Gateway Blvd.

21:48: Alarm, 900 block N. 16th St.

22:19: Missing person, 500 block Grant Ave.

23:11: Suicidal subject, 1000 block Division Ave.

Oct. 21

03:44: Suspicious subject, 500 block Grant Ave.

Courtesy Vincent Alan Elder, 32, was sentenced to 288 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to each of his three victims.

who targets our communities’ children.”

“Investigating crimes against children is some of the most important work we do at the FBI,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson said. “The crimes committed in this instance were

04:00: Suspicious subject,

100 block North O St.

05:52: Welfare check, 100

block S. 15th St.

06:55: Alarm, 1500 block Gateway Blvd.

08:01: Criminal mischief, 1700 block Bryant Ave.

08:27: Unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, 500 block Fillmore Ave.

08:36: Welfare check, 100 block S. 15th St.

08:56: Order violation, 100 block Sweet Ln.

09:51: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.

11:10: Disturbance, 82000

block Howe Ln.

11:14: Theft, 1600 block Samuel Dr.

11:26: Theft, Middlefield

Golf Course

11:47: Motor vehicle crash, Exit 174 NB –ON RAMP

12:23: Illegal parking, 1600 block Clark Ave.

14:18: Welfare check, 900 block Birch Ave.

14:54: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.

15:36: Abandoned vehicle, N. Douglas/Chamberlain

16:42: Abandoned vehicle, 100 block N. 16th St.

16:46: Warrant service, 1300 block E. Main St.

18:13: Assault, 500 block

Bennett Creek Rd.

18:34: Unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, 800 block S. 3rd St.

19:16: Found property, 700 block Birch Ave.

19:25: Agency assist, 800 block S. 3rd St.

19:33: Trespass, 900 block

Row River Rd.

20:13: Suspicious condition, 1500 block E. Main St.

20:56: Disturbance, 900 block Row River Rd.

23:56: Burglary, 1500 block E. Taylor Ave.

egregious, and we moved swiftly to stop the predatory behavior. Even one child subjected to such abuse is one too many, and we continue to work with our local law enforcement partners to find instances of abuse and protect our communities.”

On January 18 2024 a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a sevencount indictment charging Elder with Using a Minor to Produce a Visual Depiction of Sexually Explicit Conduct and Attempt, Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Attempt, and Possession of Child Pornography.

On July 29 2025, Elder pleaded guilty to two counts of Using a Minor to Produce a Visual Depiction of Sexually Explicit Conduct with regard to the New York and Florida victims and one count of Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

Oct. 22

00:25: Welfare check, 100 block Hwy 99

02:07: Disturbance, 80000 block Hwy 99

09:09: Unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, 800 block S. 1st St.

09:26: Motor vehicle crash, Exit 176 NB Offramp

09:34: Theft, 100 block North H St.

10:18: Suspicious condition, Hillside/Taylor

11:43: Trespass, 100 block N. 22nd St.

12:05: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.

12:13: Welfare check, 1700 block Hwy 99

12:16: Trespass, 600 block S. 5th St.

12:22: Theft, 31000 block Raisor Rd.

12:40: Fire, I5 SB MP 174

13:47: Suspicious condition, 1500 block S. 4th St.

15:19: Juvenile trouble, 76000 block Hwy 99

16:48: Disorderly subject, 100 block Hwy 99

17:14: Business check, 1700 block E. Main St. 21:54: Fire, 700 block Hwy 99

Oct. 23

00:38: Mental subject, 400 block E. Main St.

04:23: DUII, 900 block Row River Rd.

04:45: Theft, 900 block E. Main St.

04:51: Menacing, I5 174

06:21: Repo, 100 block South M St.

06:30: Suspicious vehicle, 900 block Row River Rd.

08:18: Found dog, 100 block N. 8th St.

09:24: Fire, 32000 block Goddard Ln.

10:03: Trespass, 900 block E. Main St.

with regard to the Oregon victim.

This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Springfield Police Department and the Eugene Police Department. It was prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children.

Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the

12:30: Overdose, 800 block Gateway Blvd.

12:36: Assault, 1500 block E. Madison Ave.

15:44: Suicidal subject, 100 block Gateway Blvd.

17:03: Fire, 84000 block Davisson Rd.

17:40: Suspicious condition, 400 block Boardwalk Pl.

18:23: Trespass, 1200 block S. River Rd.

18:31: Drug activity, 800 block W. Main St.

18:41: Harassment, 200 block N. 12th St.

19:32: Reckless driving, 600 block Wood Ave.

19:50: Barking dog, 900 block Arthur Ave.

20:08: Disturbance, 1500 block E. Main St.

21:10: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.

23:59: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.

Oct. 24

00:48: Assault, 800 block E. Whiteaker Ave.

07:45: Warrant service, 1100 block E. Main St. 08:11: Wanted subject, 400 block E. Main St.

08:36: Criminal mischief, 700 block E. Main St.

08:48: ATL DUII, 1200 block S. River Rd.

10:37: Fire, 500 block Grant Ave.

10:57: Dog at large, Harvey/19th 11:55: Motor vehicle crash, 99/Quincy

13:43: Fire, Gateway/14th 14:22: Juvenile trouble, 1000 block Taylor Ave.

15:10: Dog at large, 2nd/ Jefferson

15:12: Criminal mischief, 1700 block S. 4th St. 15:34: Disorderly subject, I/Ash

22:09: Warrant service, 1400 block N. Douglas St.

internet, they re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed.

To learn more, visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.

Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

09:20: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.

09:32: Dog at large, Mosby Crk/Currin

09:52: Warrant service, 8th/Grover

10:21: Suspicious condition, 34000 block Shoreview Dr.

11:32: Motor vehicle crash, 37000 block Row River Rd.

12:11: Theft, 900 block Row River Rd.

13:16: Disturbance, 200 block Gateway Blvd.

16:04: Motor vehicle crash, London/Carmen

16:42: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.

16:54: DUII ATL, 33000 block E. River Dr.

20:54: Disturbance, 1700 block S. 10th St.

21:23: Suspicious condition, 400 block S. 2nd St. 21:28: Barking dog, 4th/ Taylor

Oct. 26

01:15: Warrant service, 300 block S. River Rd.

05:21: Welfare check, 1300 block Birch Ave.

06:15: Alarm, 200 block Gateway Blvd.

06:33: Warrant service, 900 block Row River Rd.

09:32: Illegal camping, 1300 block E. Main St.

12:26: Fire, 3200 block Row River Rd.

12:40: Suspicious vehicle, 100 block Gateway Blvd.

12:50: Agency assist, 1700 block S. 5th St. 13:14: Juvenile trouble, 200 block N. 10th St.

16:23: Motor vehicle crash, 37000 block Row River Rd.

16:28: Trespass, 900 block Row River Rd.

16:55: Juvenile trouble, 1400 block Carobelle Ct.

23:06: Hit and run, 300 block Qincy

Oct. 25

01:26: Trespass, 78000 block Pitcher Ln

01:48: Abandoned vehicle, 1400 block N. Douglas St.

02:46: Suspicious vehicle, 1300 block S. River Rd.

18:27: Dog at large, 900 block Taylor Ave.

19:52: Agency assist, 6th/ Goddard

21:30: Harassment, 500 block Grant Ave.

22:47: Unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, 1000 block E. Washington Ave.

CINDY WEELDREYER

Cottage Grove Sentinel

Will there be a utility tax to support police services?

Will current library services be reduced? Will the proposed Urban Renewal District bring new revenue into city coffers? Could a communitybacked “I love my city!” utility fee be an option?

These are among the strategies city officials are exploring to close a projected 16 percent gap—$1 63 million—between revenue and inflation-driven expenses over the next three years in the General Fund, which is funded primarily by property taxes. To meet the council’s directive, the city must save or generate at least $543,000 in the current fiscal year (FY2025–26) to eliminate one-third of that gap.

Last May, the City of Cottage Grove adopted its 2025–26 General Fund budget estimating total expenditures at $11,364,209 and revenues at $9 733 285 The shortfall is attributed to inflationary pressures, rising public service costs, and stagnant or slow-growing revenue streams.

A March 2025 State Economic and Revenue Forecast reported Oregon’s inflation hovering around 2 percent, with local governments facing elevated costs

NOV. 5 Veterans Service Officer

Available. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. VFW Post. 3160 Hillside

Dr. (1st and 3rd Wed) Lane County Veterans Service Officer assists with VA paperwork to obtain veterans benefits for vets and survivors

NOV. 7

Cottage Grove High School Veterans Appreciation Luncheon.

10 a.m. – noon, 1375 S. River Rd. Hosted by the Leadership Class. RSVP required by Nov. 5. Call 541-942-3391 to make a reservation.

NOV. 8

Share Fair USA. 9 a.m.

1133 E. Main St. Covered parking area next to Urban Kitchen. Each Saturday local residents are encouraged to reserve one of the 18 covered parking spaces and fill their vehicle with food and good quality stuff to offer to your neighbors for free. To reserve

in services and materials. Labor and the city’s contribution to the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) are rising faster than revenue.

Lane County’s tax assessor mailed out property tax bills last week and the city is projected to receive a 3 8 percent increase in the General Fund over last year.

At the Oct. 27 council meeting, Interim Finance Director Eric Kytola presented updated projections and outlined strategies to close the gap. He said the finance team is pursuing cost containment and revenue enhancement, including grants and fee adjustments.

CURRENT BUDGET SNAPSHOT

Revenues

Kytola provided a snapshot of city revenue, including the General Fund and Enterprise Funds. Enterprise Funds are supported by water, storm drain, and wastewater fees on monthly utility bills. These infrastructure services must be self-sustaining. Water and storm drain charges are on track or exceeding budget predictions. Wastewater charges were below budget in July and August but above budget in September.

Middlefield Golf Course is outperforming budget predictions (1 3x), with cart rentals, course fees, and deli revenue

all above budget. Public Works Director Faye Stewart noted the Pro Shop sales are the best they’ve ever been.

“Right now our golf course is doing very well, and people are using it,” Stewart said. Councilor Darrell Wilson, a golfer, agreed and said it’s hard to get a tee time.

EXPENSES

Only 15 percent of the General Fund’s budget was spent in the first quarter of FY 2025–26. Police operations account for nearly half of General Fund expenditures (48 6%). All departments spent less than 25 percent of their annual budgets in Q1 Broadband Services used the highest proportion at 24 percent; Community Services spent the least at 6 percent.

City Manager Mike Sauerwein said staff prepares budget assumptions using conservative revenue estimates and inflation-adjusted cost projections, especially in public safety and infrastructure.

BACKGROUND

Under Oregon’s property tax limitations, enacted by Measure 50 in 1997, local government property tax revenue can only increase by 3 percent annually, regardless of market value changes. Exceptions include voterapproved levies and new construction or annexation.

one of the limited spaces, send email to: eventsbyananda@gmail.com. More information is available on the group’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ groups/2190836627990461

NOV. 9

Riverbend Pediatrics and Ronald McDonald House Sewing Potluck. Noon-3 p.m. Riverstone Mobile Home Park Community Room. 77500 South 6th St. “Calling all stitchers!” Bring your sewing machine, a favorite dish and join hands in sewing pillowcases for hospitalized children.

NOV. 10

250th Anniversary Marine Corps Ball. 6-10 p.m. Armory. 628 E. Washington Ave. Tickets: General Admission $10/ person. Admission with table seating $25 Celebration features live music, dancing and camaraderie. All military branches welcome. Dress

Project Sparrow—the largest housing development in decades, including new industrial property—is designed to increase taxable value and close the funding gap. The proposed Urban Renewal District (URD) is another strategy.

Kytola cited data from another city’s URD showing a 14 percent increase in assessed value in one year, compared to the 3 percent cap allowed by state law. Due to new construction and additions, Cottage Grove’s annual revenue is increasing by 3 8 percent.

To illustrate potential solutions, Kytola showed that a $20-per-month “I love my City!” utility fee could raise about $960 000 annually—or $2 88 million over three years. The idea could eliminate the projected gap and fund road repairs or expand police services.

BIG TICKET

BUDGET ITEMS

Cottage Grove’s personnel costs for FY 2025–26 total approximately $7 75 million, supporting 122 employees. This includes salaries, benefits, and payroll expenses across all General Fund departments:

Police/Public Safety: $4 65 million

Administration (Council, Manager, Finance, HR): $1 98 million

uniforms appreciated but not required. Food and beverages available on site for purchase.

NOV. 11

Veterans Day Community Observance. 11 a.m. Cottage Grove Armory. 628 E. Washington Ave.

Axe and Fiddle History Pub. 5-7 p.m. 857 W. Main St. Topic: The Flour Mill – The True Center

of CG Presented by Local Historian Dana Merryday and the Cottage Grove Museum. Free admission. Trivia Contest and 50/50 Raffle.

NOV. 15

CG Historical Society Presentation. 10 a.m. Community Center Shepherd Room. 700 E. Gibbs Ave. Topic: Log House Plants celebrates 50 years in Cottage Grove.

Library Services: $550,689

Public Works and Development: $1 95 million

PROPOSED STRATEGIES

Responding to the council’s directive, Sauerwein and staff are exploring multiple strategies:

Dispatch cost reduction: Police Chief Cory Chase is exploring a contract with the Lane County Sheriff’s Office to save about $200,000 annually.

Library district formation: Consultants are being sought to assess feasibility and sustainability.

Department-level containment: Public Works and Development saw a 36 percent budget reduction this year.

Revenue enhancements: Adjustments to franchise fees, permit structures, and grant opportunities are under review.

NEXT STEPS

In response to Councilor Randall Lammerman’s question about budget reductions, Sauerwein said he plans to present options in the second quarter budget report in January. Given the fiscal challenges, staff will start the 2026-27 budget planning process much earlier than is traditionally done by public agencies.

“City staff has been working in earnest on some ideas, and in that presentation we’ll

23rd Annual Elks Club Veterans Appreciation Dinner and USO Show. 3-5 p.m. 775 N. River Rd. Spaghetti Feed with garlic bread, salad and dessert. Cost: Free to veterans and $10/non-vets. USO Show begins at 4 p.m. Nonveterans get $2 discount with donation of two nonperishable food items for club’s Christmas baskets.

NOV. 16

Veterans of Foreign Wars Community Fundraising Dinner. 4:30-6 p.m. 3160 Hillside Dr. Menu: Thanksgiving roasted turkey dinner with mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, veggie, roll salad, coffee and tea. $10 cost.

NOV. 25

Science on Tap. 5-7 p.m. Axe and Fiddle. 657 E. Main St. The Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council monthly informational series. Format: 5-6 p.m. Trivia, prizes and project updates 6-7 p.m.

have specifics to discuss,” Sauerwein replied. “The city’s costs for materials and services are declining because staff is reducing unnecessary expenditures. We’re taking it seriously—we need to reduce that gap and are looking at both revenue and expenditures. I like Eric’s idea of the ‘I love my City’ fee, and we can explore that as well.”

OTHER COUNCIL

BUSINESS

The council unanimously approved a new collective bargaining agreement with the Cottage Grove Police Guild, updating compensation and working conditions through 2028 Councilors Greg Ervin, Dana Merryday, and Jim Settelmeyer—serving as the Town Hall Rules Subcommittee—presented proposed updates to the council’s meeting procedures, aiming to allow full council participation in the least formal format permitted under Oregon’s Open Meeting Law. Based on the discussion, Attorney Carrie Connelly will bring a revised draft to a future meeting for further consideration.

Follow developments online tat cgsentinel.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Sentinel.

Free Presentation. $5 suggested donation. Topic: Short film about Gentle Forestry in Hokkaido, Japan followed by Q&A Session. 10% of food and beverages purchased during event will be donated to the Council’s work.

NOV. 28

Art Walk, Friday, 6-8 p.m. Coittage Grove Historic Downtown District. Downtown Cottage Grove comes alive on the last Friday of each month with the Cottage Grove Art Walk, a free community event showcasing local artists, live music, and extended hours at participating businesses. Visitors can meet creators, and enjoy a festive atmosphere that celebrates the city’s creative spirit, despite the road construction project.

CGHS luncheon honors veterans with food, music and heartfelt thanks

Cottage Grove High

School hosts its 15th annual Veterans Appreciation

Luncheon on Friday, Nov.

7, continuing a tradition that brings students, staff and local veterans together for a full-course meal, musical performances and handwritten notes of gratitude.

The gathering begins at 10:30 a.m. with coffee and conversation, followed by lunch service at 11 a.m.

For food preparation purposes, veterans and their guests must RSVP by noon tomorrow, Nov. 6, by calling the school office at 541-942-3891

Leadership Class students coordinate the event, arranging seating, decorating tables and serving coffee and meals prepared by the school’s Food Service staff under the direction of Barb Raum.

The students extended invitations to veterans through community organizations including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Magnolia Gardens, Middlefield Oaks, the Elks Club, Rotary, Kiwanis, the Chamber of Commerce and military recruiting stations in Eugene. The school music

department provides musical entertainment for the guests.

Until her retirement last year, longtime staff member Vicki Evans helped students plan the luncheon.

“Our guests are always impressed with their lunch,” Evans said. “It’s thoughtfully prepared, and the students take pride in making the veterans feel welcome.”

Before lunch is served, veterans gather over coffee to share stories from their years of service—whether it’s been 60 years or 16. In recent years, the luncheon has also welcomed the last remaining “Rosie the Riveters” and their daughters, known as “Rosebuds,” who have shared their experiences with students and spoken to social studies classes about life in the 1900s.

Each year, CGHS students write thank-you notes to attending veterans. Many are read aloud during the luncheon, while others are sent to veterans hospitals and veterans organizations throughout Oregon and California.

Senior Emmerson Bickford was a server at last year’s luncheon. He said the event is important to him because it is an opportunity to meet the people who have served our

During the brunch on Nov. 8, 2024, the

to the vising veterans. The Leadership Class

served our country.

country and made it what it is today.

“I am extremely grateful and thankful for these people and this is just one way to get back to them to celebrate them,” Bickford said. “One of my favorite memories is talking to World War II survivors. I got to hear their stories and just talk to them. It was a really great time.”

Local Veterans

We reached out to our readers to send us their photos during their time serving our country. If you run into one of these veterans, please thank them for their service to our country.

Ike Shepherd U.S. Army 1958-1960 Oregon National Guard 1960-1964.

David L. Spriggs Lieutenant Commander, Supply Corps US Navy 1961-1967, Naval Reserve 1977-2002

The event holds special meaning for students, especially those with family members who served in the armed forces.

Sophomore Kailee Drescher, in her first year with the Leadership Class, said she’s looking forward to connecting with local veterans in a way that wouldn’t happen without this annual tradition.

Ralph A. Weeldreyer (and Dudley) U.S. Army January 1969-October 1970, Sergeant E-5

“My grandpa was a Vietnam veteran, and I never really understood all the things he did until recently,” Drescher said. “Hearing other veterans’ stories makes me remember and honor my grandpa.”

This year, Eva Kerns stepped in as the event’s new staff coordinator. Kerns said the tradition remains strong, with the school community

proud to serve lunch to former staff members, graduates now enlisted, and veterans who have held public positions in Cottage Grove.

“We also continue to honor the memory of veterans who have made past contributions to the community,” she added.

Veteran couple reflects on service, sacrifice and soulmates

For Navy veterans Dwayne and Suzette Bull, military service shaped not only their careers but their connection to each other—and to the community they now call home.

Dwayne, 57, served eight years in the Navy from 1986 to 1994, working as a Naval Corpsman and EMT in the ER at Oakland Naval Hospital before spending five years as a field Corpsman with the Marine Corps. His deployments included Japan, Southwest Asia during Desert Storm and Desert Shield, and multiple assignments in Hawaii.

Suzette, 55, served five years from 1990 to 1995 as an Aviation Support Equipment mechanic. She graduated at the top of her class of 82—where she was the only female—and went on to specialize in hydraulics before being stationed in Hawaii, maintaining and training on airfield equipment.

Their paths first crossed in high school in Nebraska, where they dated before Dwayne joined the Navy.

After a long-distance relationship and a brief breakup, fate intervened. “I learned she was possibly in the Navy and stationed on the other side of the island,” Dwayne recalled. “It was her. We started dating and have been together since—maybe soulmates always find each other.”

Suzette confirmed the story: “I had only been on the island about a month or so when Dwayne called me at the base. We were married on Oahu in 1993 outside in a park by a massive Banyan tree.”

(Left) Dwayne and Suzette Bull met and fell in love at a Nebraska high school. Dwayne joined the Navy and, after an unsuccessful long-distance relationship, they broke up. They later discovered they were both serving in the Navy and happened to be stationed at separate U.S. Naval bases in Hawaii; they rekindled their love and have been married for 32 years.

(Right) Today, the Bulls are actively involved in the local Elks Lodge. He is the current Exalted Ruler and she supports lodge activities such as bingo, community meals and other Elks’ fundraisers.

Both veterans speak fondly of the camaraderie they experienced during their service.

“The comradery of your unit is always the best memory,” Dwayne said. Suzette added, “They become your family. You work with them, trust them, spend your off time, parties, holidays—it’s like knowing everyone in your apartment complex and living life together.” Challenges came with the territory.

Dwayne recalled the strain of back-to-back deployments: “Being deployed in Japan for six months, coming back to Hawaii, and then being sent to the desert to prepare for possible war.” Suzette noted the limited options for female service members and the rigid structure: “I didn’t like being

The Sentinel and its advertising partners are proud to present this special section honoring our veterans.

We encourage our community to thank the local veterans for their service and to participate in local events to recognize the service of these men and women

Two local events are scheduled to honor veterans.

CGHS Appreciation Luncheon 11 a.m. Nov. 7

Cottage Grove High School

hosts its 15th annual Veterans Appreciation Luncheon on Friday, Nov. 7, continuing a tradition that brings students, staff and local veterans together for a full-course

musical performances and handwritten notes of gratitude. The gathering begins at 10:30 a.m. with coffee and conversation, followed by lunch service at 11 a.m. Veterans Day Community Observance. 11 a.m. Cottage Grove Armory, 628 E. Washington Avenue. Local veteran service organizations invite the community to join them for the local observance of Veterans Day. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post take the lead on planning the Veterans Day observance and the American Legion

told what to do,” she said with a laugh.

Today, Dwayne manages a school bus yard for Yoncalla and Drain and serves as the Exalted Ruler of the Cottage Grove Elks Lodge. Suzette works in tax software technology for CBIZ Advisors, LLC and volunteers at the Elks Lodge, helping run bingo and supporting meals, fundraisers and other events.

When asked what they’d say to young people considering military service, both emphasized pride and teamwork. “Service instills a whole new set of values within you,” Dwayne said. Suzette added, “It teaches you a lot about teamwork and taking pride in not just what you do, but how well you do it.”

Post members organize the Memorial Day ceremony in May. This year’s ceremony features students presenting the flags and performing the national anthem and an invited keynote speaker.

Joe Warren

Chief Executive Country Media

Jeremy C. Ruark

Editor

Cindy Weeldreyer

Reporter

Gary Winterhollar Multi-Media Sales

Young writers in Lane County invited to share their stories

SUBMITTED

The search is on for the next generation of local storytellers.

Last year, 90 young writers from 28 Lane County schools filled more than 138 000 words with imagination, adventure, and heart when they wrote stories to enter Fiction Fantastic, Wordcrafters’ annual youth writing contest.

Since it began in 2014, local students have submitted more than 2 1 million words!

Now, submissions are being accepted for the 2026 Fiction Fantastic contest, and this year’s theme is “Alchemy of Courage.”

The contest is open— at no charge—to all Lane County students in grades K–12. Winning stories are published in a professionally edited anthology, celebrated at an awards ceremony in May, and earn prizes including cash, a writing journal, and chocolate.

“Every year we’re blown away by the talent and creativity of young writers in Lane County,” says Jeaux Bartlett, Associate Director at Wordcrafters.

SNAP

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new ongoing requirements, which is ideal for this emergency,” the governor’s office said.

“Fiction Fantastic gives them a chance to share their stories, but also to see their words in print—something writers of all ages dream of.”

Stories are judged by community volunteers in grade-level categories, with prizes awarded for first, second, third, and honorable mention.

Youngest writers (grades K–2) can have their work included in the anthology without the competition element, so that even the very earliest storytellers can see their words in print.

Fiction Fantastic anthologies are distributed to winners, shared with school libraries, and available for purchase online. Each year’s anthology features original cover art that reflects the contest theme.

Submissions are open now through January 10, 2026. Full guidelines, past winners, and the online submission form, visit fictionfantastic.org.

ABOUT

WORDCRAFTERS IN EUGENE

Wordcrafters in Eugene is a nonprofit literary arts organization celebrating 12 years of

Courtesy photo

The contest is open—at no charge—to all Lane County students in grades K–12. Winning stories are published in a professionally edited anthology, celebrated at an awards ceremony in May, and earn prizes including cash, a writing journal, and chocolate.

helping writers find their voice and tell their story.

Our mission: to empower writers by increasing access to community, craft, and inspiration by providing a home for sharing knowledge and stories with each other and future generations to cultivate a more empathetic, creative, and courageous world.

Wordcrafters offers classes, workshops, and

gatherings for adults and youth, including creative writing summer camps, monthly youth creative writing workshops, the annual Fiction Fantastic short story contest, and Writers in the Schools residencies for underserved schools in Lane County.

RESOURCES

• Instagram/Facebook: @Wordcrafters

• Web: wordcrafters. org

The ongoing federal government shutdown has pitted federal lawmakers on both sides of the aisle against each other, with Democrats refusing to back off their demands to restore subsidies for states under the Affordable Care Act that were rolled back under the GOP’s tax and spending law. And in Oregon, state Sen. Christine Drazan, a Canby Republican who launched her campaign for governor against Kotek this week, criticized Kotek before her Wednesday order for not moving quickly to provide assistance. She highlighted a Washington plan announced Wednesday which orders the disbursement of $2 2 million in state funds each week to food banks across the state.

NAVY

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involving individuals, businesses, and organizations providing logistical support.

Uncle Sam paid for motel rooms Friday and Saturday nights; local groups provided meals. South Lane School District food service volunteers hosted the two breakfasts at Bohemia Elementary. The Elks Lodge served cheeseburgers and chili for Saturday lunch. The Presbyterian Church served lasagna for dinner. The Masonic Lodge made spaghetti for Sunday lunch. With limited cemetery parking and heavy equipment in use, the school district also provided

a bus and volunteer driver to shuttle sailors.

Other essential partners included Eugene Marble and Granite, which provided materials and expertise; Lane County Public Works, which loaned a four-legged lift and chain fall; and local merchants who donated cement, epoxy, gravel—and 10 gallons of coffee. Doug Lund of Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel supervised stone placement and provided a portable toilet.

ALL HANDS ON DECK The battalion arrived at 7 a.m. Saturday. Crews split into groups and began working across the site. Small broken markers were collected and examined for reassembly. A Eugene Granite and Marble Works representative

provided instructions and materials. Large markers were assessed and lifted into place.

“All hands were busy all weekend working on one or more aspects of restoration work. It was quite the operation,” Spriggs said.

The community was fully engaged, and the sailors brought diverse skills— carpenters, electricians, heavy equipment operators. Concrete was mixed and forms built to reassemble broken stones into flat markers. A diesel generator and air compressor powered wire brushes and drills. Large stones were pinned with brass all-thread and epoxy.

Local residents joined the 35 reservists. Together they reset, repaired, or

“If Washington State can step up to protect its residents, why can’t Oregon?” Drazan said in a statement.

“Families can’t wait for the Governor to play catch up. We need leadership and action now.”

reconstructed 60 grave markers and removed about two tons of debris. With three hours left Sunday afternoon, they trimmed and cleared brush.

“When the work was completed, the cemetery appeared ready for Memorial Day— minus the flowers and flags,” Spriggs recalled.

CEMETERY HISTORY

The cemetery sits on a pastoral hillside on the east side of town, near South 16th Street and Shields Lane. Its location reflects the intent of early white settlers to bury loved ones above the valley’s floodplain.

In a 2022 Chronicle column, local historian Dana Merryday explored the final resting places of Cottage Grove’s early settlers. He

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That factor increases homelessness and causes people to act with a measure of desperation, according to Davis.

Davis classified Lane County’s homeless situation as “horrific.”

Pre-Planning

Pre-Planning

Pre-Planning

“That is instability,” he said. “Instability is the real cause. So, all these programs are designed to keep people stable. They aren’t making anybody rich. They are programs designed to keep people in a situation there in and not be destabilized. So, this is a dire situation. We are looking at tens of thousands of folks who were stable going into this, who are not going to be stable in a week.”

The average SNAP payment to an individual is $6 a day, according to research from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

https://oregoncapitalchronicle. com/2025/10/29/oregon-govkotek-sends-5-million-tofood-banks-ahead-of-snapcutoff/

described his first visit to Shields Cemetery: Over time, the cemetery expanded beyond family use and became a resting place for a broader cross-section of the community, including veterans and civic leaders.

Today, Shields Cemetery Association, a nonprofit organization, maintains the property with support from community organizations.

Since 2003, SCA President Stan Simonsen and his family has done most of the maintenance work. He father keeps it mowed and other relatives keep the trash picked up.

For decades, Cottage Grove Lions Club members have conducted an annual clean-up before Memorial Day.

Through the years, Scouts have also helped out. Before it disbanded, Simonsen was the Scoutmaster of the Lorane Boy Scout Troop. There are two Eagle Scout projects on the property: an information kiosk and a storage shed/outhouse building. Each fall, he coordinated a camp out and cleanup project for his troop.

“The kids thought it was so cool to sleep in a cemetery,” he recalled.

In recent years, a residential subdivision now sits on the west side of the cemetery. Simonsen credits the caretaking neighbors’ vigilance and policing for the significant reductions in vandalism and garbage today. “They all have my phone number if there

“Unfortunately, this lack of stabilizing factors is going to maker it worse,” he said. “I really hope that we see an end to all of this and these folks can start receiving the benefits they have relied upon.” Davis added that updates about LIHEAP funding and timelines will be posted to www.lanecountyor.gov/ energyassistance as well as resources for households currently in need on what other local programs that may be able to assist them.

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.

are any problems up there,” he said.

Although originally intended to be a family cemetery, today it is open to the public. Financially, the SCA is supported by annual $10 association dues and the sale of plots. For more information, contact Simonsen at P.O. Box 165, Lorane, OR 97451

GRATITUDE Simonsen said SCA members are grateful for the community support it receives to maintain the pioneer cemetery.

Spriggs retired from military service in 2002 with the rank of lieutenant commander. Looking back, with generations of his family buried there, he takes personal pride in the project he helped organize. His third great grandfather Veatch’s headstone notes he was a wounded veteran of the War of 1812

From a community perspective, Spriggs was proud of the generosity shown to the sailors’ mission and the impressive collaboration that made the restoration possible in just two days. Thanks to reservists with Naval Cargo Handling Battalion FIVE Detachment Delta from the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Readiness Center in Portland 32 years ago, the dignity of the pioneers resting on that hillside was restored the weekend the Navy came to town.

Republican Christine Drazan announces another run for Governor

SHAANTH NANGUNERI

Oregon Capital Chronicle

Republican Christine Drazan will run for governor again in 2026, raising the possibility of a rematch with her Democratic rival Gov. Tina Kotek.

Drazan, R-Canby, announced her campaign Monday, days after county commissioners appointed her to fill a state Senate seat.

“Our governor may be in charge, but her state is out of control,” she told a thunderous crowd of dozens of workers at the Portland-based ship manufacturing company Gunderson Marine & Iron.

“This place we love is so incredible and so beautiful, mountains, trees, our rivers, our ocean, abundant natural resources. So we have to stop and ask ourselves, why, despite all of this, are people leaving?”

Before facing Kotek, Drazan would have to convince Republican voters to give her another chance in the May primary. Oregon hasn’t elected a Republican as governor since the 1980s, and only two Republicans have won a statewide election since 2000

Conventional political wisdom suggests Republicans will have a tough time in 2026, with an unpopular Republican president and unified GOP control at the federal level.

But Drazan, a former House Republican leader, will face a different set of fundraising rules than in her first run for governor. State representatives can’t fundraise during the legislative session, but senators can. State campaign finance records as of Monday show she has more than $99 000 in her campaign’s bank, significantly less than Kotek’s $1 5 million.

Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany, introduced Drazan Monday after she officially filed the paperwork for her campaign. She framed the

state’s struggles with rising cost of living, taxes, crime and addiction and homelessness as a result of leaders who have ignored the needs of small businesses while failing to use taxpayer dollars efficiently.

“The cement beneath our feet has seen generations come and go, all with the same resounding commitment to work that matters,” Drazan said. “My vision for Oregon through the dark days of the past is a brighter future and a better tomorrow. We can have work that matters again. We can have schools that succeed in teaching students to learn. We can have safe streets and lower taxes.”

Drazan didn’t take any questions from reporters after announcing her campaign, but an aide says she plans to do so later in the week.

Drazan enters what is so far a less-crowded field than the 2022 Republican primary election, which featured a 19-candidate field by the time voters chose their primary candidate in May 2022 At the time, Drazan won a plurality of votes but earned just shy of 25% of primary voters. Kotek defeated her in the general election by more than 3 percentage points, while nonaffiliated challenger Betsy Johnson, formerly a conservative Democratic state senator from the North Coast, received 8 6% of the vote.

This time around, only one notable Republican candidate has entered the party’s race for the governorship so far: Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell, who holds less influence in statewide politics than Drazan.

In the Oregon Legislature, Drazan has developed a reputation for thwarting Democrats’ plans on the grounds of helping everyday Oregonians. In 2020, she was a thorn in the side of then-House Speaker Kotek, who slammed her and her fellow Republican leaders for

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“creating an insurmountable backlog of good bills and good budgets” due to their participation in a quorumdenying walkout over capand-trade legislation.

Drazan has also spearheaded the opposition to a multi-billion dollar transportation package aimed at averting hundreds of layoffs in the state’s shrinking Department of Transportation. In June, she blasted Senate President Rob Wagner for his handling of a dispute in which Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Gresham, raised his voice at a female senator during a transportation committee hearing. At the same time, she was not among the seven Republican representatives who boycotted the floor session in response.

Drazan has also had to walk a fine line when it comes to her profile and national Republican politics. She led her caucus in 2020 to condemn claims from the Oregon Republican Party that the Jan. 6 attempted insurrection was a “false flag” operation. Most recently, however, she lent credibility to the false claims of President Donald Trump that Portland has been overrun with domestic terror and unabated violence, following his announcement

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that he would be sending the National Guard to Portland. She later clarified that she did not support the decision.

The Democratic Governors Association, which spent more than $6 million to elect Kotek in 2022, panned Drazan’s entry.

“After national Republicans wasted millions on her in 2022, Christine Drazan is back for another failed run to bring Donald Trump’s agenda to Oregon,” association spokesperson Johanna Warshaw said in a statement. “In contrast, Governor Kotek has been hard at work to address Oregon’s biggest challenges: building new shelter beds and affordable homes, providing funding for first responders and wildfire management, expanding addiction and mental health services, lowering prescription drug costs, and fighting back against Trump’s cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.”

In a fundraising email to her campaign’s supporters, Kotek sought to portray Drazan as an ally of the president who would carry out his agenda.

“Does this sound like someone who is aligned with Oregon’s values? NO!,” she wrote. “It sounds like Trump in disguise trying to reshape our state according to his own right-wing agenda.”

Drazan’s announcement coincides with an uphill battle facing Republicans and critics of the recent transportation package, which was passed in a special legislative session that lasted from Aug. 29 to Oct. 1. They hope to place the measure’s temporary payroll tax increase, its 6-cent gas tax increase and car registration and title fee increases on the November 2026 ballot for voters to repeal it.

Kotek, meanwhile, has yet to sign that package into law, despite her forceful push at the end of the official

legislative session for lawmakers to return to Salem to advance the legislation. That decision has angered critics who say she is delaying her signature so that supporters of the ballot initiative will have less time to begin gathering their own signatures. She has not yet announced her official plans for the 2026 election.

Drazan will be touring the state for her campaign. Her next stop is Eugene on Tuesday.

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/10/27/ republican-christine-drazanmounts-2026-bid-for-oregongovernor/ 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.

Who cares about cares

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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CGS25-185 State of Minnesota

District Court County of: Redwood

Judicial District: Fifth Judicial District Court File Number: 64-JV-25-52

Case Type: CHIPS - Permanency In the Matter of the Welfare of the Children of: Kathleen Marie Eastman, Mother, Ronald Lawrence Merrick, Adjudicated Father, Tommie Fosberg, Adjudicated Father. and Michael Loren Wyman, Adjudicated Father Summons and Notice Transfer of Permanent Legal and Physical Custody Matter (CHP-117) NOTICE TO: MICHAEL WYMAN, Above-named parent(s) or legal custodian(s). A Petition to Transfer Permanent Legal and Physical Custody has been filed in the Juvenile Court. This petition

asks the court to permanently transfer the parent/guardian’s legal and physical custodial rights to a relative. This is your notice that this Transfer of Permanent Legal and Physical Custody case is scheduled for a remote hearing before the Juvenile Court located at Redwood County Courthouse, 250 S Jefferson, PO Box 130, Redwood Falls, MN 56283, on November 25, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. or as soon after as the case can be heard. Please contact court administration to get the remote hearing information. YOU ARE ORDERED to appear before the Juvenile Court at the scheduled time and date. You have a right to be represented by counsel. If you fail to appear at the hearing, the Court may

still conduct the hearing and grant appropriate relief, including permanently transferring the legal and physical custodial rights of the abovenamed parent(s) or legal custodian(s) or permanent out-of-home placement of the child(ren). Dated October 29, 2025 BY: Patty Amberg Redwood County Court Administration 250 S Jefferson PO Box 130 Redwood Falls MN 56283 507-616-4800

CGS25-184 Green Gables Mini Storage will be conducting an online lien auction for the following storage units due to non payment. Auction will be posted at Bid13.com and will begin at 12:00pm on 11/5/25 and end at 11:00am 11/13/25. All units

Oregon winter King Tides begin in November

The first series of king tides, the highest high tides of the year, is coming up November 5 to 7 2025

If you are on Oregon’s coast, you are invited to take photos of these high water events to help document their impact on coastal communities. The Oregon King Tides Photo Project, part of a global effort to track sea level changes, encourages anyone with a camera to join in and capture a preview of how rising sea levels might affect our communities in the future.

Participation is easy: choose a location along the coast, snap a photo when the tide is at its highest point, and share it at www.oregonkingtides.net. Upcoming winter king tides will take place

December 4 to 6, 2025 and January 1 to 4 2026

For the past 15 years, Oregon has contributed to this international citizen science effort. Supported by the Oregon Coastal Management Program (OCMP), the CoastWatch Program of the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, and partners like

the Oregon Coast Visitors Association and Oregon Sea Grant, this project is managed by OCMP in collaboration with coastal local governments, state and federal agencies, and other interested parties to manage, conserve, and develop Oregon’s coastal and ocean resources.

King tides occur when the sun, moon, and Earth align, producing unusually high tides. These events can cause flooding, erosion, and impacts to buildings and roads, especially during storms.

By observing king tides, we glimpse future sea level rise and its potential to intensify erosion, flooding, and beach access issues. You can see photos from past King Tides on the project’s Flickr site, https://www.flickr.com/ people/orkingtide/. Even a small rise in sea levels could make winter storms worse and make our beaches narrower and harder to access. Seeing king tide photos can help planners, resource agencies, conservationists, and coastal citizens get ready for these changes.

To join the King Tides Photo Project, capture the high water levels around fixed features like pilings, seawalls, or bridge supports, as they help show how high the tide reaches. Include the location, date, and direction of your photo. If possible, take a second photo from the same spot during a normal high tide for comparison. Tide tables and photo tips are available on the King Tides website: www. oregonkingtides.net.

This winter’s King Tide series:

• November 5 to 7 2025

• December 4 to 6 2025

• January 1 to 4, 2026

RESOURCES

For more information about the project, please contact: Rhiannon Bezore, Coastal Shores Specialist with the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, 971-375-7336 rhiannon.bezore@dlcd. oregon.gov

Sam Derrenbacher, Community Science & Engagement Manager with Oregon Shores, 603-3404648, sam@oregonshores.org

beach and over structures.

** Stay Safe on the Coast: Always keep an eye on the ocean. Never put yourself in danger. Be very cautious of rising water, eroding shorelines, flooded roadways, and high winds

as

during any extreme high tide events. Never put yourself in danger.**

View the King Tides Project Tide Map here https://experience.arcgis. com/experience/53b554e

aecdf40e6a7a3bed75e30a 01c/page/Tide-Map#data_ s=id%3AdataSource_10OCMP_ KingTides_4945%3A25

Outdoor air pollution linked to higher incidence of breast cancer

STEVE LUNDEBERG Sentinel Guest Article

Women living in parts of the United States with lower air quality, especially neighborhoods with heavy emissions from motor vehicles, are more likely to develop breast cancer, according to a multiyear analysis involving more than 400,000 women and 28,000 breast cancer cases.

The research, which included Veronica Irvin of the Oregon State University College of Health, is published in the American Journal of Public Health.

The project combined data from five large breast cancer studies conducted over multiple decades that tracked individuals even as they changed addresses and followed them for as long as 10 years prior to their diagnosis. The researchers overlaid outdoor air quality information from more than 2,600 monitors to look for an association between air pollution and breast cancer.

The scientists found that a 10-parts-per-billion increase in nitrogen dioxide concentrations in the air equated to a 3% increase in overall breast cancer incidence; nitrogen dioxide is a proxy for pollution from car traffic, Irvin said, and based on the estimated 316 950 cases of female breast cancer expected to be diagnosed in the United States this year, a 3% reduction would mean 9,500 fewer cases.

Irvin and collaborators also found that a 5-microgram-percubic-meter rise in the concentration of fine particulate matter, known as PM2 5, was

associated with a higher incidence of hormone receptornegative breast cancer. Cancer cells lacking receptors for the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone are generally harder to treat and more deadly.

“It’s often not realistic for people to leave their homes and relocate in areas with better air quality in search of less health risk, so we need more effective clean air laws to help those who are most in need,” said Irvin, noting that the average nitrogen dioxide concentrations observed in the research were below current Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. “We also need policies that help to reduce car traffic and promote alternative forms of transportation.”

The incidence of breast cancer in the United States, where air pollution levels are lower than they are in other populous countries, has been generally on the rise over the past 40 years, the researchers note. It’s the second leading cause of cancer death among women, after lung cancer.

About one woman in eight in the U.S. will develop breast cancer during her lifetime, and the nation’s population includes more than 4 million breast cancer survivors.

Alexandra White of the National Institutes of Health led the study, which also included scientists from Harvard University; the University of Washington; Indiana University; Stony Brook University, the University of California San Diego, La Jolla; The Ohio State University; and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

The NIH, the EPA, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Institute of Aging, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute supported the research.

Irvin is the Celia Strickland Austin and G. Kenneth Austin III Endowed Professor in Public Health in the OSU College of Health, which will host a free online panel discussion, “Our Health & Breast Cancer,” at noon Pacific time on Thursday, Oct. 30. Irvin will be one of the panelists for the discussion, which will look at screening and survivorship, early detection, research, and support and mentorship for those affected by breast cancer.

Steve Lundeberg is a news and research writer at Oregon State University. He may be reached at Steve.Lundeberg@ oregonstate.edu