The Cottage Grove
entinel entinel The CoTTage grove Holiday Run
Record Pertussis Cases
See page 8
See pages 3
Wednesday December 17, 2025 | Number 50, 137 years
50 44
Cottage Grove Wednesday, December 17, 2025 Showers
www.cgsentinel.com
$2.00
School 74 Grovers launch holiday 49 District faces $2.35 season with festivewww.cgsentinel.com kickoff $2.00 million Wednesday October 9, 2024 | deficit The mental WHO WE ARE Sports
Lifestyle
Life in Cottage Grove
CGHS Football Incredible Turnaround See page 8
See page 4
Cottage Grove
Wednesday, Oct 9 Mostly Cloudy
Number 39, 135 years
City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel
Organizers invested extraordinary time and effort to infuse the spirit of Christmas into the community last Saturday, staging a full day of events that blended tradition, spectacle, and hometown warmth. The day began with the Jingle C. Grove RUARKHigh Rush ’25JEREMY at Cottage Cottage Grove School, a RunCGRunSentinel event that drew a record-breaking number Public works crews are in the of participants and raised money process of establishing a new for the Key Club, camp the Tree smaller homeless siteofatJoy the Project, andonother vacant lot 12th local Streetprograms in Cottage that promote youth health. Later Grove. in the day, Grove the Cottage Grove Area Cottage City Manager Chamber of Commerce, Mike Sauerwein said thecity citystaff, is and volunteers orchestrated a membehind its original Oct. 1 timeline orable holiday experience. is establishing the camp, following Community theThe Aug. 22 closureTree and Lighting cleanup Ceremony All America City of the 12thinStreet and Douglas Square/Opal Parkcamps. drew families Street homeless During the downtown. Choirs fromLulu Lincoln transition, the adjacent Dog Middle and has Cottage Park at School 12th Street beenGrove used High School provided a soundtrack as a homeless camp site with hours of familiar as Santa from 7 p.m.carols to 7 a.m. daily.and Mrs. Clausofarrived firemanaged truck to “None us havebyever join the countdown. But this year a homeless camp before, so we brought a playful twist: ugly knew that date was a bitanaspiragreen in a Santa suit are — the tional,”creature Sauerwein said. “We Grinch the crowd hoping — thatstalked this week we willand be pulled plug, theOur newlyable tothe make theplunging transition. lit treewas intoto darkness. goal provide folks with Mayor Solesbee quickly a safe andCandace secure place to spend sprang into action the night and that’swith whatherwegrandare daughter doing.” who was dressed as “Cindy Lou Who.” Joined other Sauerwein said city staffby was Whoville children andDog the Park schoolto cleaning up the Lulu choirs, theyitsang reestablish as a the dogfamiliar park. Specific “Welcome song that costs of thatChristmas,” cleanup and establishsoftened the Grinch’s heartcamp and at ing the smaller homeless compelled restore the lights. 12th Streethim weretonot immediately After the ceremony, Santa and available. Mrs. Claus crossed the street to meet with littles ones in Santa’s
CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel
Facing a $2.35 million deficit and rising special education costs, South Lane School District (SLSD) leaders are scrambling to reconcile mid year budget shortfalls while assuring Crews began developing the smaller homeless families that camp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street. student needs will remain at the forefront of difficult JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel decisions. District Oregon’s wildfire season is Superintendent expected to continue through this month, but the mental scares and Todd Miller impact of the season on the firetold board fighters who blazes in Lane members at thebattle Todd Miller SLSD County and across the state, and Superintendent regular SLSD their1families, Dec. meet- may last a lifetime, according to Jeff Dill, the founder ing that district administrators and of Firefighter Behavioral Health staff are closely monitoring how the Alliance (FBHA). three largest state are being Dill establishedgrants the FBHA in spent. grantsHurricane are for Student 2010 The following Katrina. Investment, School Success He was thanHigh a Battalion Chief and for Early a fire Literacy. department in northwest Chicago. “Internally, we are working on “I numbers saw our brothers sisters some for thoseand three grants struggle from the devastation then Cindy Weeldreyer / Cottage Grove Sentinel that can get them zeroed out bythat theyofsaw, so I went back we andcan got end the year and think The community members and visitors listen as the Cottage Grove High School and Lincoln PHOTO JEREMY C. RUARK / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL my degree became licensed actually get and there,” Millera said. “Our Middle School choirs sing holiday songs following Santa magically lighting the tree. See counselor,” he said. “We started Sauerwein and other city officials currently doing, which is providing The new mini homeless camp work now becomes how do we do more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com tracking EMS and firefighter suia location for folks to spend the will include the same restrictions as have told the Sentinel, that there all we across can in America.” the current budget to cides are no additional plans toand offer any night fromChurch’s 7 p.m. tocolorful 7 a.m.”stained the former larger camps. Workshop, listening to their wishes Farmers Winter Market Holiday Catholic reduce expenses before we consider other long-term for the Read previouswere coverage about same will apply,” and“The posing forrules photographs. Market vendors sheltering filled the Armory, glass windows illuminated staff layoffs.” Behavioral Impact homeless. the homelessness challenges Sauwrwein said. “The camp will Outside, members of local churches the Cottage Grove Public Market from the outside. Inside, localin According to Dill, firefighters Miller said reductions must be “Cottage Cottage follow in new be available p.m.hottobever7 a.m. oftentodon’t recognize served soup, from rolls,7and also hosted Grove vendorswill andfollow Santa historianGrove Dana and Merryday, his made ensure reservesthearebehavioral not state as Prospectors we understand developments at cgsemtinel.com impact ofthough their work. and rules will be enforced agesthe to warm the crowd. Local Claus.law The andit,” Gold signature Victorian-inspired black depleted, mid year cuts are “We become said. “Thatitsis annual what we and Wednesday print editions through ourdonated contracting company, businesses theme decorated Sauerwein Diggers Club hosted suit in andthetop hat, conducted a tour difficult because cultural they canbraindisrupt the washed,” Dill said. it’s are doing. To change that is up to of The Sentinel. One Security of Eugene to help us trees that were raffled to raise bazaar at the historic Dr. Snapp that included the history of the school environment. “Whether He said staff structural or wildland fires. So, we the legislature. The city of Cottage during this transition period. They money for Chamber programs. House. is moving quickly to identify where are meant to believe we are supGrove hasCottage no plansGrove to doMuseum, any kind areHoliday a very experienced homeless shopping opportuniAt the reductions canstrong, be made to achieve posed to act brave, be help, of a shelter beyond what we are camp management company.” See HOLIDAY, Page 6 ties abounded. The South Valley the lights dimmed and the original the greatest savings possible with don’t ask for help, and we don’t minimal want to impact. look weak and not ask for “Our work now becomes how can help.” we Dill get these down to where addednumbers that while firefighters arefeel on the front linesand battling the we comfortable confident wildfires, onethrough of the biggest chalenough to get this school lenges face is the unknown. year withthey as minimal impacts as “It’s how rapidly theses fires can possible.” move, and the unknown is where SHORTFALL CAUSES is it going to end? Where will this Miller explained there are multiple fire go to and how long will it last? reasons foristhe shortfall. A And that a struggle,” hesignifisaid. JEREMY C. RUARK other improvements such as fiber cant one is expenditures to “So, when you are fightingthe thatLane Cottage Grove Sentinel network cable. Education Service District for out fire, you’re trying to do your best Neigh said there are several key of district placements of high need to stop it, and yet the wind kicks Cottage Grove’s Main Street benefits following the Main Street special education up at 60 miles anstudents hour andareit much drags Revitalization Project is very close Revitalization. it further and further behind them. higher than budget assumptions to completion. “A safer downtown with more That last aspect of the unknown is very made spring. CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Main Street and the side street lighting and less tripping hazards. difficult in wildland fireThe district receivesfires. stateThe funding Matchbooks from the Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. crossings were scheduled to open The beautiful area will attract the fighters have that stress and anxiety, for all enrolled students, including to two-way traffic Friday, Dec. 12, community to congregate, tourists and that to protect is a—very those at itsstruggle two charter schools according to Cottage Grove Project to visit and entrepreneurs to invest,” difficult challenge for the wildland the Academy of Character Education Coordinator Shauna Neigh. firefighters.” she said. (ACE) Child’s Way — for but famfundA small ribbon-cutting ceremony It isand often very difficult UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY ing rates for them are higher than was scheduled Friday afternoon, ily members of the firefighters to Neigh said the city, and its conbudgeted in past CINDY WEELDREYER understand whatyears. emotions there are, the way” during have the construction helped us meet many of our future Nearly 50 people attended the Dec. 12, to celebrate the reopentractor, Wildish, been fortunate For The Cottage Grove Sentinel Enrollment revenue, based on and that many firefighters don’t project. bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s ing of two-way traffic downtown. with the execution of the project 2,600 to 2,700 students, remains express their emotions, according He said he was given an importShe shared a humorous mem“Farewell to the Village Green” at A larger community celebration In 1975, when Birdy Hoelzle is last February experiencing minimal to Dill. stable and within projections. The ant job of opening thehave boxes ory they made in the formal Iron the Community Center, Saturday, planned for next spring. and her sister Gail opened The challenges that could signifi“We ask the family members largest fiscal challenge is a $1.3 delivered to the guest rooms and Maiden Dining Room that drew Sept. 21. According to were Neigh,familiar the remainBookmine they with cantly impacted our schedule. to try to understand theSchool cultural,” million deficit in State Fund recalled how cool he felt driving laughter from the crowd. The internationally famous resort der the project TheofVillage Green.will focus on Jeremy C. Ruark / Cottage Grove Sentinel “A key focus throughout has been he said. “Be direct. Challenge revenue from 2024 25. Last spring, the orange golf cart around the “My sister and I were budding was created by Walter A. Woodard beautification landscaping. Their fatherand traveled a lot and Main Street looking east just before two-way traffic was rein- supporting local businesses during with compassion when somethingthe district estimated $3,096,115; property for assigned errands. Years the feministslast at the time and were quite (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some “The trees have been planted often brought its matchboxes home stated week. doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound the construction phase,” she said. actual amount that rolled over was later,partnered another special memory shocked by the sexism practiced in members of the family attended and “We (Red Maple, Green as keepsakes for hisZelkova, girls. Theand sisright, and do an internal size up, with the Cottagewas The Main Street Revitalization pavers in revised parking areas; $1,791,236. seeing the famous football player, the dining room,” she said. “The shared personal memories. ‘Green Gable’ Tupelo) and the ters were in their 20’s when they which we ask the firefighters to Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Project in Cottage Grove’s Historic water main; water services; storm a totalhebudget nearly size $70 O.J.theSimpson, running on one ofgift the doWith menu given to a woman had no furniture hasMain beenStreet placed,” she as well,” said.”ofInternal opened the bookstore on Pardon our Dust weekly District includes street repaving, sewer; storm sewerTHE manholes; THROUGH LENS million, the district has authority to up means asking why am I acting resort’s paths. prices on it and foot pillows were said. “The projecttheir willincome, be finalized and, to enhance card drawing, purchasing gift cards frontage improvements, and new double lamp poles; introductory vehicular poles Kris Woodard’s spend at that level, but the current this way, and why am I feeling this To the delight of those gathered, provided so ladies’ uncomfortable once theasrest of the landscaping is worked waitresses at the resort. from affected downtown businesses. water and storm sewer utilities. with signals; pedestrian poles at remarks included personal memdeficit shows how actual way? The best thing we revenues can do is Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard, shoes could be removed while dincomplete.” “It was a wonderful place to These improvements include new crosswalks; street trees;the water founories he made through lens of ing. It was a very different era.” COMMUNITY BENEFITS work and, being new in town, it See sidewalk; new curb/gutter, pervious tains; new pavement striping, and a 12-year-old who was often “in SeePROJECT LEGACY, Page Page6 6 See HEALTH, Page Page6 6 See DEFICIT
wildland firefighters
It’s a Wrap: Main Street Revitalization Project completed
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
INSIDE Lifestyles News — 1-3— 3 Obituaries —4 4 Obituaries — Death Notice Notice — —4 4 Death
Opinion — —5 5 Opinion Classifieds — 77 Classifieds — Sports——8 8 News
Follow Developing New: FOLLOW DEVELOPING @ CGSentinel NEWS@ cgsentinel.com www.cgsentinel.com
Your new home is waiting for you... just listed. This beautiful spacious