The Cottage Grove
entinel entinel Local resident loses $14,000 in scam The CoTTage grove
Lane County Sheriff honored as Sheriff of the Year See page 2
Whale watching returns to the Oregon Coast See page 8
Wednesday December 25 | Number 52, 135 years
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Cottage Grove
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Cottage “Scammers often have officialreceived roughly a dozen phone CGHS Football Incredible Grove sounding voicemail inboxes, have calls from concerned citizens,” Turnaround victims’ personal information, and CGPD Administrative Assistant Wednesday, Oct 9 See page A Cottage Grove 4area resident attempt to be intimidating over theSeeBrook Crow page 8 said the agency had Mostly Cloudy is out thousands of dollars after a phone. Their numbers on caller received approximately a dozen phone scam incident. ID may even appear to be ours,” calls from concerned citizens. The Lane County Sheriff’s OfWallace said. “The Lane County “The citizens have reported that fice received a reportOctober Dec. 11, of a9, 2024 Sheriff’s Office will 39, NEVER as far as pro| Number 135 ask years the caller has gonewww.cgsentinel.com $2.00 Cottage Grove-area resident who for money by phone, text, or email. gramming the number to show up claimed to have lost $14,000 in a We will NEVER call you about on the victim’s phone as the South phone scam. missed jury duty.” Lane 911 non-emergency line and “A relative of the victim received If you are contacted by someon a few occasions, the caller’s a phone call from a person claiming one claiming to be a Lane County name has shown up as a current to be a sergeant with our office,” Sheriff’s Office employee and employee from our department,” LCSO Sgt. Tim Wallace said. “The you think you are being scammed, Crow said. scammer informed the relative he Wallace urges you to hang up and The caller typically stated that failed to appear for court and was contact the LCSO dispatch center there is a warrant out for their arrest held in contempt.” at 541-682-4141. for a missed court date, according To “avoid arrest,” the relative was If you are a victim of a phone or to Crow. JEREMY RUARK instructed to pay C. $7,000 for two internet scam, report the incident to “A few times, they have called Crews began developing the smaller homeless Cottage Grove Sentinel separate criminal charges, or go to the FBI at www.ic3.gov. requesting additional phone numcamp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street. jail,Public according Wallace. workstocrews are in the “Please share this information bers of relatives, stating the relative “Having no way to pay, the rela- with your friends and family,” Wal- has a warrant for their arrest,” Crow process of establishing a new tive reached out tocamp the victim, who lace urged. smaller homeless site at the said. “We would like to remind the pulled folvacant cash lot onfrom 12thsavings Street inand Cottage JEREMY C. RUARK community that the Cottage Grove Cottage Grove Sentinel lowed Grove.the scammer’s instructions POLICE ALERT Police Department does not call, forCottage payment: in Bitcoin, through a Grove City Manager In early November, the Cottage text, or email citizens to notify Oregon’s wildfire season is CoinFlip ATM machine.,” Wallace Mike Sauerwein said the city is expected to continue through this Grove Police Department (CGPD) them of recently issued arrest warsaid. “Due to the use month, but the mental scares and behind its original Oct.of1Bitcoin timelineand issued a fraud alert following rants, missed court dates or demand impact of the season on the fireVPN phone numbers, this case is is establishing the camp, following multiple reports from concerned money owed to the courts.” fighters who battle blazes in Lane likely unsolvable.” the Aug. 22 closure and cleanup citizens, who said they had been The CGPD advises anyone County and across the state, and typeStreet of scam very comof This the 12th andisDouglas receiving telephone calls from receiving these calls or requests to their families, may last a lifetime, mon, we receive reports Streetand homeless camps. Duringofthe individuals claiming to be represen- not provide any information to the according to Jeff Dill, the founder similar scam almost transition, thecallers adjacent Lulu every Dog tatives of the Cottage Grove Police caller. If you do receive a suspected Creative Health Connection of FirefighterMetro Behavioral day, withhas nobeen money Park thankfully at 12th Street usedlost Department. To “avoid arrest,” the relative wasAlliance instructed to pay $7,000 for (FBHA). in cases, camp Wallace as most a homeless sitesaid. with hours “Over the past two days we have Dillto established the FBHA in two separate criminal charges, or go jail. See SCAM, Page 6 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. “None of us have ever managed He was than a Battalion Chief a homeless camp before, so we for a fire department in northwest SPECIAL REPORT 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 CINDY WEELDREYER tracking EMS and firefighter suithe Sentinel, that there a location for folks to spend the will include the same restrictions as have told the night and that’s what we are Cottage Grove Sentinel 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 A celebratory evening for lohomeless. the homelessness challenges in Sauwrwein said. “The camp will According to Dill, firefighters cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to cal youth and adults conducted “Cottage Grove 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. Wednesday, Dec. will 18, included 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 establishthe telling of the story of the birth “We become cultural brainSauerwein said. “That is what we and in the Wednesday print editions through our contracting company, ing the smaller homeless camp at of Jesus Christ, singing holiday washed,” Dill said. “Whether it’s are doing. To change that is up to of The Sentinel. One Security of Eugene to help us 12th Street were not immediately songs, creating holiday crafts, structural or wildland fires. So, we the legislature. The eating city of --Cottage during this transition period. They available. decorating -- then Christare meant to believe we are supGrovecookies has no while plans to do anyhot kind are a very experienced homeless mas sipping posed to act strong, brave, be help, of a shelter beyond what we are camp management company.” chocolate. don’t ask for help, and we don’t For more than 30 years, the want to look weak and not ask for help.” Courtesy photos from the City of Cottage Grove Cottage Grove Bible Church has Dill added that while firefighters hosted a local club of a worldwide The Cottage Grove Armory is located at 628 E Washington are on the front lines battling the nonprofit ministry that offers an Avenue in Cottage Grove. wildfires, one of the biggest chalentertaining and structured youth lenges they face is the unknown. discipleship program. “It’s how rapidly theses fires can Pastor Ron Harris began the move, and the unknown is where evening’s program reading scripis it going to end? Where will this ture and using slides to explain the fire go to and how long will it last? CINDY WEELDREYER and speeches by Governor significance of the birth of Jesus And that is a struggle,” he said. Cottage Grove Sentinel Julius Meier, and city, county and Christ. After singing traditional “So, when you are fighting that military officials. Major General Christmas carols, such as “Joy to fire, you’re trying to do your best Editor’s Note: Cottage Grove George A. White officially dedito stop it, and yet the wind kicks the World” and “Away in a ManCity leaders face significant budget cated the building as the home of up at 60 miles an hour and it drags ger”, the youth eagerly headed to Cindy Weeldryeyer / Cottage Grove them. Sentinel challenges in 2025 requiring it further and further behind the National Guard’s Company D, the fellowship hall for the craft Four-year-old Rose Bennett enjoys the Christmas cookie thoughtful discussion of how curThat aspect of the unknown is very 186th Infantry. The ceremony con- projects and refreshmentsCINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL awaiting she decorated at the AWANA Christmas program at Cotrent city assets will be funded in the difficult in wildland fires. The firecluded with the singing of the “Star Matchbooks from the Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove.them. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. fighters have with that stress anxiety, tage Grove Bible Church. See more photos thisand story at future. Spangled Banner” and the day This year, Todd and Christine and that struggle to protect is a very cgsentinel.com This is part three of a six-part ended with a public dance featurPatten are the coordinators of this difficult challenge for the wildland series describing the history and ing a seven-piece orchestra. international program, founded in firefighters.” management of City-owned assets: recite the previous week’s memory and community service. Grovers had much to celebrate Chicago in 1950, that aims to lead It is oftenisvery difficult for the Historic Downtown District, the on that dedication day. It was the verse. I have fulfillment in my AWANA an acronym thatfamkids to know, love and serve Jesus ily members of the firefighters to Library/Community Center, the Ar- second armory built in Oregon and heart knowing I am doing what stands for “Approved Workmen CINDY WEELDREYER Christ. Today, the interdenomiunderstand what emotions there are, the way” during the construction helped us meet many of our future Nearly 50 people attended the mory, Bohemia Park, the Sentinel Skatepark reflected the modern “Art Deco” God has called me to do.” Are It references For The Cottage Grove and Not that Ashamed”. many firefighters don’t national parachurch program is project. bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s and Middlefield Golf Course. During the school year, up to biblical advice the Apostle Paul architecture of the period. Nearly express their emotions, according hosted by 61,000 churches across He said he was given an importShe shared a humorous mem“Farewell to the Village Green” at In 1975, when Birdy Hoelzle 20 kindergarten-to-high school wrote to his young protégé in 2 to Dill. all the labor and building materials America and is active 122 ant job of opening the boxes ory they made in the formal Iron the Community Center,inSaturday, and her sister Gail opened The COTTAGE GROVE ARMORY aged students and a dozen adult Timothy 2:15, encour“We ask the where family he members used in construction from countries. delivered to the guest rooms and Maiden Dining Roomcame that drew Sept. 21. Bookmine they were familiar with The dedication of the new Cotleaders gather at the church on aged Timothy to honor God by to try to understand the cultural,” local sources and they eagerly Christine Patten ledfamous the everecalled how cool he felt driving laughter from the crowd. The internationally resort The Village Green. he said. “Be Challenge tage Grove Armory was a pretty Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. to have working harddirect. and not be ashamed anticipated many special events ning’s activities and said parthe orange golf cart around the “My sistertheand I were budding was created by Walter A. Woodard Their father traveled a lot and compassion something big deal on Saturday, April 11, fun learning the Bible and building towith teach the wordswhen of truth in the the large building would soon host. theson, program is very property for assigned errands. Years doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound feminists at the time and were quite ticipating (W.A.) andinhis Carlton. Some often brought its matchboxes home 1931. healthy relationships that can last right way. rewarding her.family attended and later, another special memory was shocked by the sexism practiced in members oftothe as keepsakes for his girls. The sisdo anisinternal The day began with an afternoon a lifetime. The 90-minute program right, The and evening dividedsize intoup, EARLY “We have excellent materials seeing the famous football player, the dining room,”HISTORY she said. “The shared personal memories. ters were in their 20’s when they which we ask the firefighters to parade down Main Street from uses special awards and small three half-hour segments: Game Thegiven original armory used by parent leaders who are O.J. Simpson, running on one of the do as well,” he said.” Internal size menu to aWW1-era woman had no opened the Main Street bookstore River Road to the brand-new build- was on the corner of Main Street prizes to incentivize the memoriTime is where boys and girls play LENS kind THROUGH and nurturingTHE and enthusiup means asking why am I acting resort’s paths. prices on it and foot pillows were and, to enhance their income, ing on the corner of Washington zation of Bible verses, completion games to exercise Kris Woodard’s introductory and River Road. Discussions began this way, and why their am I bodies feeling this astically make learning about the To the delight of those gathered, provided so ladies’ uncomfortable worked as waitresses at the resort. Avenue and Seventh Street. of age-appropriate faith-building and promote healthy competition remarks included personal memin the early 1920’s to build a new way? The best thing we can do is Bible fun,” Patten said. “I love see- Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard, shoes could be removed while din“It was a wonderful place to The evening dedication cerhandbooks and participation in and teamwork. Handbook Time ories made through the as lensthey of ing thehejoy on kids’ faces ing. It was a very different era.” work and, being new in town, it emony featured patriotic songs activities that promote Page patriotism a 12-year-old whoand wassuccessfully often “in See LEGACY, 6 See HEALTH, Page 6 return each week See ARMORY, Page 6 See AWANA, Page 6 JEREMY C. RUARK Life in Cottage Grove Cottage Grove Sentinel
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Wednesday
The mental City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters
AWANA Program offers faithbuilding fun for local kids
Historic Armory has deep roots, offers a promising future
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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