The Cottage Grove
entinel entinel Christmas Season in Cottage Grove Found alive!
Missing women found in remote Lane County See page 2
Sports The CoTTage grove CGHS swimmers dive into new competitive season See page 8
Wednesday December 18 | Number 51, 135 years
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Sports
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RUARK Life inJEREMY CottageC.Grove
CGHS Football Incredible Turnaround See page 8
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Cottage went right to it.” Grove CGPD Officer Derek Carlton
joined Officer Monahan helping Wednesday, Oct 9 4 TheSee spiritpage of Christmas can be Hunter select the gifts. Mostly Cloudy seen all over Cottage Grove. “It’s just cool to see the kids The Cottage Grove Police Deexcitement and this event builds partment (CGPD) conducted its a good bond with them,” Carlton annual Shop with aOctober Cop Dec. 7.9, 2024 | Number 39, 135 years www.cgsentinel.com $2.00 said. CGPD Administrative AsCGPD Chief Cory Chase the sistant Brooke Crow said each event provides an important conChristmas holiday the CGPD nection for his department staff partners with the South Lane to engage with the community. School District in selecting “It is our way to give back, families that could benefit Chase said. “Walmart supports from the shopping experience. us with their funding and allows Crow applied for and received us to do this is their store. It is a $3,500 grant from Walmart to really important for us to build fund the effort. relationships and give the com“The school district gave us a munity a chance to interact with JEREMY C. RUARK list of three to five children, and the police department and for Crews began developing the smaller homeless Cottage Grove Sentinel I called their families to see if them to see that our job ius much camp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street. Public workstocrews are in theshe they wanted participate,” more than law enforcement. It’s process of establishing a new said. “They fill out paperwork building relationships and partsmaller items homeless site at the listing thatcamp the children nering with the community.” Jeremy C. Ruark / Cottage Grove Sentinel vacant lot on 12th Streetfor in Cottage JEREMY C. RUARK can purchase as gifts family Cottage Grove Sentinel Officer Derek Carlson watches as 8-year-old Hunter Heine picks a gift for his great grandGrove. members. Ahead of time, the BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Cottage GroveDetective City Manager chief, myself, Gordon, parents during the Cottage Grove Police Shop with a Cop at Walmart. Oregon’s wildfire morning, season is Earlier Saturday Mike Sauerwein said the city is expected continue through and a couple of other department the SouthtoLane County Firethis & month, but the mental scares and behind its original Oct. 1 timeline “This is very exciting,” she police officers was challenging. members, went shopping for the love shopping with the officers.” Rescue opened its East Harrison impact of the season on the fireis establishing the camp, following The selected children and said. “Hunter had said he was a “It was very hard,” he said. children, so they will have gifts Avenue Station Bay in Cottage fighters who battle blazes in Lane the Aug. 22 closure and cleanup their families gathered inside the little nervous about participating “But the coolest thing I found as a surprise Christmas mornGrove provide free comCountytoand across athe state, and of the 12th Street and Douglas Cottage Grove Walmart for the but I told him he didn’t need to be is the blanket, because it’s very ing.” munity breakfast and visit with their families, may last a lifetime, Street homeless camps. During the Saturday morning event. nervous, and it was going to be soft.” Crow said the Shop with a Santa for the 12th year the according to Jeff Dill, theoffounder transition, Lulu Dog Eight-year-old Hunter Heine fine.” “This is great. It was a lot of Cop eventthe is adjacent heart-warming. holiday event. of Firefighter Behavioral Health Park 12th Street has in been was escorted into the store by Hunter said finding just the fun,” CGPD Officer Luke Mona“Toat watch the joy theused “It is a (FBHA). way for us to give Alliance as a homeless camptosite right gifts during his journey down han said. “Hunter was very good. child’s eyes and seewith the hours smiles his great grandmother, Betty Dill established the FBHA in from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. “They Heine. the Walmart isles with the two He knew what he was after and on their faces,” she said. CHRISTMAS, 6 2010See following HurricanePage Katrina. “None of us have ever managed He was than a Battalion Chief a homeless camp before, so we for a fire department in northwest WHO WE ARE 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 CINDY WEELDREYER Sauerwein and other city officials currently doing, which is providing The new mini homeless camp a safe and secure place to spend Cottage Grove Sentinel 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.” After an hour behind closed other long-term sheltering for the Read previous coverage about “The same rules will apply,” Sauerwein said city staff was Behavioral Impact doors in an executive session, homeless. the homelessness challenges in Sauwrwein said. “The camp will According to Dill, firefighters cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to Cottage Grove “Cottage GroveCity willCouncilors 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. returned to the council state law as we understandchamber it,” developments at cgsemtinel.com impact of their work. and the rules will be enforced costs of that cleanup and establishfor their regular meeting andwean- and in the Wednesday print editions “We become cultural brainSauerwein said. “That is what through our contracting company, ing the smaller homeless camp at nounced Manager washed,” Dill said. “Whether it’s are doing. City To change that Michael is up to of The Sentinel. One Security of Eugene to help us 12th Street were not immediately Sauerwein andThe Municipal Court structural or wildland fires. So, we the legislature. city of Cottage during this transition period. They available. Judge Martin Fisher had both are meant to believe we are supGrove has no plans to do any kind are a very experienced homeless posed to act strong, brave, be help, received positive performance of a shelter beyond what we are camp management company.” don’t ask for help, and we don’t evaluations and would receive Cindy Weeldreyer / Cottage Grove Sentinel want to look weak and not ask for new contracts for 2025. City Public Works and Development help.”Director Faye Stewart Summarizing the discussion presents longtime community volunteer and cyclist Don Dill added that while firefighters in the non-public session held Stranhan with an award recognizing years service are onhis the38 front lines of battling the Dec. 9, Council President Greg to the City of Cottage Grove and wildfires, its citizens. pictured one ofAlso the biggest chal-is Ervin said, “The Council is quite Council President Greg Ervin. lenges they face is the unknown. satisfied with the performance “It’s how rapidly theses fires can of our city manager at this time. of employment, and subject move, unknown is where last oneand forthe 2024. Solesbee parWe are very grateful to have Mr. to a satisfactory performance is it going to end? Where will this ticipated in the meeting virtually, Sauerwein here.” fireErvin go topresided and how over long will it last? review, the annual salary shall be so the relaAnd that is a struggle,” he said. Ervin noted highlights of increased by three percent of the tively light agenda. Three empty Cindy Weeldreyer / Cottage Grove Sentinel Sauerwein’s evaluation included “So, when you are fighting that current base salary. seats on thetrying dais conspicuously Poetry Peddler Charles Mattoon was on duty to write original praise for his community infire, you’re to do your best The council then voted unaniwaited to be bywind the three to stop it, andfilled yet the kicks poems during the South Valley Farmers Winter Market at the volvement with business owners mously to consider the perfornewly elected councilors at the up at 60 miles an hour and it drags Cottage Grove Armory Dec. 7. and his regular appearances on mance evaluation as a satisfacit further and further behind them. next meeting on January 6. KNND Radio’s live call-in talk tory review and approved the That aspect of the and unknown very CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Both Solesbee Erviniswere show to review the agenda topics difficult in wildland fires. The firesalary increase effective Jan. 8. Matchbooks from the Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. re-elected on Nov. 5; Mayor and take calls from listeners. fighters have that stress and anxiety, The new salary will be $193,392. Solesbee for her second two-year The council also recognized and that struggle to protect is a very term and Ervin retained posiwhat was described as the strong difficult challenge for the his wildland COURT JUDGE CONTRACT tion for the next four years. They leadership Sauerwein demonfirefighters.” RENEWED CINDY WEELDREYER at the South Valley Farmers Market strated in a tumultuous environwere joined by Councilors Dana It is often very difficult for famCottage Grove Sentinel In a separate executive session, Merryday in the summer and at its Winter ily members of Randell the firefighters to and Lammerment caused by the unprecedentthe council met the withconstruction Municipal Markets December. CINDY WEELDREYER understand what emotions there are, the way” during helped usinmeet many of our future Nearly 50 people attended the man. ed recall of four city councilors, Looking for a creative holiFor The Cottage Grove Sentinel Judge Martin Fisher to review and that many firefighters don’t project. bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s Merryday retained his Ward 3 the closure of the three homeless day gift for someone special this his He performance Fish- express their emotions, according MATTOON’S BACKGROUND said he was evaluation. given an importShe shared a humorous mem“Farewell to noted the Village Green” at In 1975, when Birdy Hoelzle seat for another two years after camps, and that his first month? to Dill. erantwas appointed to preside parents in Lane jobfirst of opening the boxes oryHis they madegrew in theup formal Iron the Community Center, Saturday, and her sister Gail opened The day on the job was during last an unsuccessful bid for mayor Local poet Charles Mattoon “We ask the family members over the Municipal 2013 County. His father, Harold, grew up January’s delivered to the guestCourt roomsinand Maiden Dining Room that drew Sept. 21. severe ice storm. Bookmine they were familiar with last month. Lammerman was to try to understand the cultural,” and his manual typewriter stand at in Oakridge mother, Joan, and, withhow hiscool positive recalled he feltevaluation, driving laughter fromand thehis crowd. The internationally famous resort The Village Green. Ervin thanked Sauerwein for appointed to the Council on Sept. he said. “Be direct. Challenge the ready to write a one-of-a-kind spent youth Grove. the voted the council orange golf cartunanimously around the to 23, “Myhersister andinICottage were budding was createdcity by Walter A.the Woodard Their father traveled a lot and involving staff in evalufollowing the resignation with compassion when something poem based on your suggestions They moved to Southern California hisfor annual contract, property assigned errands.amend Years doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound feminists at the time and were quite ation (W.A.)process. and his son, Carlton. Some often brought its matchboxes home He said it gave the renew of Cottage Grove Ward 2 City and has a demonstrated track where Mattoon was born and then it for another calendar year, and later, another special memory was shocked by the sexism practiced in members of the family attended and as keepsakes for his girls. The siscouncil greater insight into the right, and do internal who size up, Councilor JonanStinnett did record of his poems successfully moved to Cottage Grove authorize to seeing the Mayor famous Solesbee football player, the dining room,” she said.when “Thehe shared personal memories. ters were in their 20’s when they which we ask the firefighters to city manager’s performance in not seek re-election. meeting the expectations of his was is a 1981 gradu- the past 12 months, in addition to sign new one that on takes O.J. the Simpson, running oneeffect of the do as well,” he said.” Internal size menua teenager. given to aHe woman had no opened the Main Street bookstore Filling those empty seats next customers. THROUGH THE LENS ate of Cottage High School Jan. 1. up means asking why am I acting resort’s paths. prices on it andGrove foot pillows were and, to enhance their income, feedback provided by individual month will The 61-year-old is best known as and, Kris Woodard’s introductory like some Lionuncomfortable grads do, he this way, andbe:why am I feeling this To the delight of those gathered, provided so ladies’ worked as waitresses at the resort. councilors and the mayor. the “Poetry Peddler.” remarks included personal memway? The best thing we can do is left town soon graduation in NEW COUNCILORS TO TAKE Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard, shoes could be after removed while din“It was a wonderful place to City Recorder Mindy Roberts • Ward 1 Councilor-elect He and his friend, Michael Bren- ing. It was a very different era.” ories he made through the lens of OATH OF OFFICE work and, being new in town, it noted Sauerwein’s employment nan, are familiar faces on Saturdays a 12-year-old who was often “in See LEGACY, Page 6 See HEALTH, Page 6 The Dec. 9 meeting was the contract states after one year See EVALUATIONS, Page 6 See POETRY, Page 6
Wednesday
The mental City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters
City manager, municipal judge get high marks in annual evaluations
Poetry Peddler pens unique poems by request
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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