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Wednesday December 11, 2024 | Number 50, 135 years
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Pertussis case count alarms health officials Lifestyle Sports JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
counties with the highest case Cottage counts are Multnomah withCGHS 180, Football Incredible Life in Cottage Grove Grove Clackamas with 109, Washington Turnaround regon is expected to with 67 and Deschutes with 59. Wednesday, Oct 9 See page 4 surpass its record of 910 The median age of cases is 11, See page 8 Mostly Cloudy pertussis cases by the end of with the range between 5 weeks 2024, prompting health officials and 89 years. to sharpen their warnings about Babies too young to be fully the disease’s seriousOctober risks—es- 9, 2024 vaccinated suffer the | Number 39,most 135from years www.cgsentinel.com $2.00 pecially for young babies—and pertussis, with the highest retheir emphasis on the importance ported incidence rate and highest of vaccination. likelihood of hospitalization and Oregon has seen a total of 827 death. This is because babies cases of pertussis, also known as don’t start building protection whooping cough, in 23 counagainst infection until they are ties as of Nov. 13, according to vaccinated at 2 months old. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) With the exception of 2024, data. At least one person, an Oregon pertussis deaths have older adult, has died. been limited to infants—five In 2012, 910 pertussis cases have occurred since 2003. “IT’S CONCERNING. PERTUSSIS IS VERY CONTAGIOUS, AND JEREMYthe C. RUARK were reported, highest annual Public urge the smaller homeless THAT’S ONE OF THE REASONS IT’S SO HARD TO CONTROL.” Crewshealth beganexperts developing Cottage Grove Sentinel count since 1953. pregnant people get the ~ LISANDRA GUZMAN, LANE COUNTY DEPUTY PUBLIC camp site thistoweek onTdap the vacant lot at 12th Street. Publicworried, works crews arethe in the “I’m given time vaccine – which protects a perHEALTH OFFICER AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE PHYSICIAN process establishing a new of year,ofbecause people are son against tetanus, diphtheria smaller homeless camp site at the attending indoor holiday gather- and pertussis – at 27–36 weeks’ vacantand lot on 12thgatherings Street in Cottage JEREMY C. RUARK ings, those often gestation. The mothers will make Metro Creative Connection Cottage Grove Sentinel Grove. include newborns who are too antibodies and pass them to their Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by bacteria. The disease Cottage Grove City Manager young to be vaccinated,” OHA’s babies across the placenta, which Oregon’s wildfire season can is be deadly for infants. Mike Sauerwein said the city is expected to continue through this Public Health Division Medical lowers the risk of pertussis in month, but the mental scares and behind itsfor original Oct. 1 timeline Director Communicable Dis- babies younger than 2 months by again at age 4 to kindergarten documented pertussis vaccines, demic—when restrictions that impact of the season on the fireis establishing the camp, following eases and Immunizations Paul 78%–91%. age. All persons 10 and older, and only 361 (44%) were up to included masking requirements fighters who battle blazes in Lane the Aug. said. 22 closure and cleanup Cieslak Vaccination against pertussis including those 65 and older, date on vaccines. Among the and school efCounty and closures across thewere state,inand of the 12th Street and Douglas is routinely recommended for their families, may last a lifetime, who have not had the single-dose 75 infant cases, only 11 mothfect—annual case tallies rouStreet homeless During the LANE camps. COUNTY infants, children, adolescents and Tdap vaccine should get it now. according to Jefftriple Dill, digits the founder ers were documented to have tinely reached but transition, the adjacent Lulu Dog adults. Children should receive of Firefighter Behavioral Health Data from January through received the recommended dose dropped to three in 2021. But Park at 12th Streethas hasthe been used Lane County highthe DTaP vaccine against diphAlliance (FBHA). Nov. 13 show 406 (49%) of this of Tdap during pregnancy. this year’s to-date 827 cases, as a homeless camp site with hours est number of pertussis cases Dill established the FBHA in theria, tetanus and pertussis at year’s cases had zero doses of Before the COVID-19 panfromyear 7 p.m. to 7249. a.m.The daily.other this with 2010See following HurricanePage Katrina. 2, 4, 6 and 15 to 18 months, and PERTUSSIS, 6 “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 sheltering for the Read previous coverage about “The same rules will apply,” Sauerwein said city staff was Behavioral Impact CINDY WEELDREYER homeless. the homelessness challenges in Sauwrwein said. “The camp will According to Dill, firefighters cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to Cottage Grove “Cottage Grove willSentinel follow Cottage Grove and follow new often don’t recognize the behavioral reestablish it as a dog park. Specific be available from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. 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 establishMetro Creative Connection Sauerwein “We become cultural brainEditor’s said. Note:“That As Cottage is what we and in the Wednesday print editions through our contracting company, ing the smaller homeless camp at Statewide, the new round of funding includes 248 grants washed,” Dill said. “Whether it’s are doing. changelook thattois the up to of The Sentinel. Grove cityTo leaders One Security of Eugene to help for us 12th Street were not immediately nearly $5.8 million. structural or wildland fires. So, we the legislature. city of Cottage future and howThe to fund community during this transition period. They available. are meant to believe we are supGrove hasThe no plans to do kind services, Sentinel is any presenting are a very experienced homeless posed to act strong, brave, be help, a shelterseries beyond what wedescribare aofspecial of reports camp management company.” don’t ask for help, and we don’t ing the history, current uses, and want to look weak and not ask for management of city-owned assets. help.” This is part two of our six-part Dill added that while firefighters JEREMY C. RUARK every part of Oregon, accordseries. are on the front lines battling the Cottage Grove Sentinel ing to retired communications wildfires, one of the biggest chalIn 1881, there were only a few professional Julie Manning, who public libraries in the world when lenges they face is the unknown. Cottage Grove’s Center for represents the Southern Willa“It’s how rapidly theses fires can Andrew Carnegie, a 19th century Rural Livelihoods has received Jeremy Ruark Cottage Grove Sentinel mette Valley on the OCF Board move,C.and the/unknown is where industrialist and philanthropist, $30,000 to build a prototype af8-year-old Landen Dunlap pieces Legos during the is ittogether going to end? Where will this of Directors. began building libraries across fordable climate-smart home. Cottage Grove Library’s Lego Club. fire go to and how long will it last? “In the Southern Willamette America. Cottage Grove Economic & And that is a struggle,” he said. Valley and South Coast, our He believed so strongly that a In 1993, the store moved to its ous and “So,supportive when you foundations are fighting that Business Improvement District nonprofit partners are serving free public library gave people Main Street location. Three years personal donations from Casey fire, you’re trying to do your best dab Downtown Cottage Grove Oregonians through programs the chance to educate and to lift later, Cottage Grove Hospital and his mother, Joy, the Comto stop it, and yet the wind kicks has received $15,000 for Bohethat provide child care, support up at 60Center miles an and itraised drags themselves whatever their origins became the building’s second munity andhour Library mia Park to construct a multifor young people experiencing it further and further behind them. in terms of wealth and status that owner. It was remodeled to offer $900,000K by opening day. purpose outdoor classroom and homelessness, and mobile health he built 2,500 of them. InCINDY That of theday, unknown is very / COTTAGE SENTINEL outpatient servicesGROVE such as physiBy aspect dedication the project 1950,WEELDREYER pavilion. care to rural communities,” Mandifficult in wildland fires. The fire-to Matchbooks from the Village See more photos withsothis story at cgsentinel.com. cal therapy and included a small became an impressive testament Carnegie’s philosophy The Oregon Community Foun- Green Resort in Cottage Grove.Mr. fighters have that stress and anxiety, ning said. “That’s just to name therapy pool until it was shuttered community coordination and pubinspired local lumberman Walter dation (OCF) has distributed 50 and that struggle to protect is a very a few. This is what responsive when the hospital filed for banklic/private partnerships that helped Woodard’s wife, Dutee, that she new grants in the Southern Wildifficult challenge for the wildland grantmaking looks like.” ruptcy and Centennial Bank put it Cottage Grove win its second persuaded him to create a public lamette Valley and South Coast to firefighters.” The grants are possible because library as a gift to their hometown. up for sale. prestigious All America support capacity building, small It is oftennational very difficult for famof the generosity of Oregon ComFor decades, officials recogCity Award in 2004. A half-century later, on July ily members of the firefighters to capital and new or expanding munity Foundation donors. nized the public library had outCINDY WEELDREYER 28, 2000, the City hosted a ribbon understand what emotions there are, the way” during the construction helped us meet many of our future Nearly 50 people attended the projects by nonprofits. Just as the new funding reaches For The Cottage Grove Sentinel grown its location and a new one ALL NOW UNDER ONE ROOF and that many firefighters don’t cutting and barbeque to celebrate project. bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s The announcement made on Oregon nonprofits, OCF memhas express emotions, wasHe onsaid the he City’s Driven Nearlytheir a quarter of a according century was wish givenlist. an importShe shared a humorous “Farewell theitsVillage Green”and at the openingtoof new library In 1975, when Birdy #GivingTuesday, Dec.Hoelzle 3, an inopened the next round of comto Dill. by a spirited “can-do attitude”, later, the 24,000-square-foot facilant job of opening the boxes ory they made in the formal Iron the Community Center, Saturday, community center. Prior to the and her sister Gail opened The ternational day of generosity that “We ask the family members munity grants to be distributed the Cottage Grove Community ity (Library uses 9,000 sq ft) is delivered to the guest rooms and Maiden Dining Room that drew Sept. 21. ceremony, about 450 adults and Bookmine they were familiar with follows Thanksgiving. to inter-generational try to understand the cultural,” in spring 2025. The deadline is Foundation, under the leaderan hub. It has recalled how cool he felt driving laughter from the crowd. The internationally famous resort children participated in a four The Village Green. Statewide, the new round of he said. many “Be direct. Challenge Jan. 14,sister 2025.and Find details here. ship of localgolf philanthropist Casey allowed organizations, the orange cart around the “My I were budding was created by Walter A. Woodard block long “book brigade” that Their father traveled lot andfor funding includes 248 agrants with compassion when something The goal is to provide equitable Woodard, leveraged spread out all-over town, property for assignedtaxpayer errands. Years once feminists at the time and were quite ceremonially (W.A.) and hispassed son, Carlton. Some books from often brought its matchboxes home nearly $5.8 million. That brings doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound access to flexible funding for ordollars to garner financial support the opportunity relocate later, another special memory was shocked by the sexism practiced in members of the family attended and as keepsakes for his girls. The sisthe total awarded in community the small red brick building on the right, and do an to internal sizeunder up, ganizations serving communities’ from multiple private foundations one roof to better serve the seeing the famous football player, the dining room,” she said. “The shared personal memories. ters were in their 20’s when they grants by OCF to a record $11.1 corner of Washington Avenue and which we ask the firefightersentire to most throughout and O.J.generous Simpson,donors. running on one of the community. menu pressing given to aneeds woman had no do as well,” he said.” Internal size opened the Streetincluding bookstore million forMain the year, Sixth Street to the much larger THROUGH THE LENS After spirited has changed time. upTenancy means asking why amover I acting resort’s paths. negotiations, the prices on it and foot pillows were and, to enhance their announced income, funding previously in Oregon. newly remodeled former Safeway Kris Woodard’s introductory bank significantly reduced the sale Current tenants are Lane County’s this way, and why am I feeling this To the delight of those gathered, provided so ladies’ uncomfortable worked as waitresses at the resort. the spring. grocery store at 700 E. Gibbs Ave. remarks included personal memway? The best thing we can do is price to $1.5M. Taxpayers contribSenior Services and Meal Site, See the full list of fall 2024 Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard, shoes could be removed while din“It was a wonderful place to As a statewide foundation, BUILDING HISTORY: A ories he made through the lens of uted $105,000, in addition to the grantees with this story at cgsening. It was a very different era.” work and, being new in town, it OCF supports community-driven National Award-Winning Collaba 12-year-old who was often “in Seerenovations. LEGACY, Page 6 See HEALTH, Page 6 $173,000 Numertinel.com solutions and opportunities in See LIBRARY, Page 6 orative Strategy
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The mental City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s
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wildland firefighters
SPECIAL REPORT
Partnerships created, sustain library and community center
Oregon Community Foundation awards Cottage Grove $45,000
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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