THE COTTAGE GROVE
entinel entinel The CoTTage grove
Wednesday
Finding Community in Song Sports
Gem Tones shine in debut concerts Lifestyle
Life in Cottage Grove
74
CGHS Football Incredible Turnaround See page 8
See page 4
Wednesday October 9, 2024 | Number 39, 135 years
49
www.cgsentinel.com
Cottage Grove
Wednesday, Oct 9 Mostly Cloudy
$2.00
City establishing mini homeless camp at 12th Street JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
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. Cottage Grove City Manager Mike Sauerwein said the city is behind its original Oct. 1 timeline is establishing the camp, following the “Even Aug. 22 in closure and cleanup a group, singof ing the 12th Street and Douglas for an audience takes Street homeless camps. During the courage. Carving out time transition, the adjacent Lulu Dog after Parktoat rehearse 12th Streetweek has been used week takes dedication.” as a homeless camp site with hours from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. Claire Savin, “None of us have ever managed Gem Tones Director a homeless camp before, so we knew that date was a bit aspiraWEELDREYER tional,”CINDY Sauerwein said. “We are Cottage Grove Sentinel hoping that this week we will be able to make the transition. Our When the Gem Tones stepped goal to provide onto was the Opal Centerfolks stagewith for atheir safedebut and secure to January spend concertplace series the nightthey andweren’t that’s what we are 16–18, just presenting a program of choral music — they doing.” were introducing Sauerwein said Cottage city staffGrove was to a 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.
Crews began developing the smaller homeless camp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street.
The mental health impact facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters JEREMY C. RUARK
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Oregon’s wildfire season is expected to continue through this month, but the mental scares and impact ofthat theblended season on firebrand new community choir built on behind the creation of the Gem program folkthesongs, FINDING THEIR SOUND fighters who battle blazes in courage, connection, and the joy of Tones,” Savin said. “Everything we classical works, rounds, four Lane part Choosing repertoire for a brand County andand across the state, and singing together. talked about in those early meetings new senior choir proved to be one harmonies, musical theater their families, may last a lifetime, The group, made up of 13 regular was a direct reflection of Maya’s selections. of Savin’s biggest early challenges according to in Jeffparticular Dill, the held founder members ranging roughly from their initiative.” One piece spe— and one of her biggest surprises. of Firefighter Behavioral Health mid 50s to mid 80s, is directed by Burton, who serves as the group’s “I underestimated the expertise of cial meaning: “Dona Nobis Pacem.” (FBHA). Claire Savin, a longtime Grover and administrator, successfully applied “For most of them, this piece this group,” she admitted. “From the Alliance Dill established the FBHA to the Fred W. Fields Fund of part time music teacher at Harrison was synonymous with singinginin a start, I relied on suggestions from 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. Elementary. Savin, who has lived in Oregon Community Foundation school choir,” Savin said. She used choir members and feedback from He was than a Battalion Chief to begin the choir. She recruited Cottage Grove for 14 years, brings it as a warm up throughout the seaour pianist, Evan Barrett, and from for aand fireitdepartment northwest members through flyers, community Maya, who both have extensive a lifetime of musical experience to son, ultimately in became the Chicago. outreach, and a prominent display in choral experience.” the podium — from childhood flute choir’s opening number. “I saw our brothers and sisters lessons in New York to a full music the Opal Center window — a detail Two of the programmed pieces struggle from the several singers mentioned when scholarship at the University of A SEASON OFdevastation FIRSTS that came directly from choir member they saw, so I went backpublic and got asked how they found the choir. An Arkansas. The Gem Tones’ first suggestions, and another member JEREMY C. RUARK / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL my degree and became a licensed But she is quick to emphasize online sign up form onPHOTO the Opal performance came in December who is a retired music teacher counselor,” said. “We Center website gel currently that thenew Gemmini Tones began camp with at Magnolia he Gardens — astarted short Sauerwein andhelped other the citygroup officials providing The homeless arranged doing, severalwhich publicisdomain tracking and firefighter suisomeone else’s quickly, werethere well 20 minuteEMS program that gave the so the group wouldn’t toldand the rehearsals Sentinel, that aselections location for folks to spend the will include the spark. same restrictions as have cides across America.” attended from the start. “Maya Burton, the director of the group a chance to test their more have from to purchase The result are no additional plans to offer any night 7 p.m. scores. to 7 a.m.” the former larger camps. Opal Center, the will driving force was an eclectic, rounded other long-term sheltering for the Read previous well coverage about “The same isrules apply,” Behavioral Impact homeless. the homelessness challenges in Sauwrwein said. “The camp will According to Dill, firefighters “Cottage Grove will follow Cottage Grove and follow new be available from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. often don’t recognize the behavioral state law as we understand it,” developments at cgsemtinel.com impact of their work. and the rules will be enforced “We become cultural brainSauerwein said. “That is what we and in the Wednesday print editions through our contracting company, washed,” Dill said. “Whether it’s are doing. To change that is up to of The Sentinel. One Security of Eugene to help us structural or wildland fires. So, we the legislature. The city of Cottage during this transition period. They are meant to believe we are supGrove has no plans to do any kind are ausual very experienced homeless than — not because the virus posed to act strong, brave, be help, CINDY WEELDREYER of a shelter beyond what we are camp management company.” is behaving unpredictably, but Cottage Grove Sentinel On Wednesday, JEREMY C. RUARK “This year, with our low don’t ask for help,Jan. and 21, we Chase don’t Cottage Grove Sentinel issued second release identifying because residents are entering the want toa look weak and not ask for vaccination rate, we are Flu season in Oregon has reached season with far less immunity than the victim and classifying the incihelp.” just woefully unprepared Cottage Grove Police are investident as added a homicide. its traditional peak, but public health in the past. Dill that while firefighters gation an incident in which one per- areThe for flu season.” is identified as the on victim the front lines battling officials say this year’s picture carAccording to the Oregon Health son was found shot along Highway 50-year-old Eusebio wildfires, one of the Pablo biggestPablo, chal- of ries a twist: a mid season shift to Authority’s latest influenza report, 99. Cottage Grove. lenges they face is the unknown. a more severe influenza strain and flu activity has been rising steadily Jason Davis, Lane County Cottage Grove Police Department “The deathrapidly is being investigated “It’s how theses fires can some of the lowest vaccination rates since December. Emergency departPublic Health spokesperson (CGPD) officers responded at as a homicide. There is nois new move, and the unknown where Lane County has seen in years. ment visits for influenza like illness approximately 5:30 a.m. Jan. 20, suspect information to share this is it going to end? Where willat this Influenza, commonly known as increased through early January, to a report of a male who was time,” fire goChase to andsaid. how long will it last? the flu, is a contagious respiratory and statewide test positivity has found on the ground, unconscious Nothat specific details have And is a struggle,” he been said. tract infection caused by influenza and bleeding in the 1500 Block of climbed. released by you CGPD what “So, when are about fighting thatled to viruses. Influenza can cause mild to Highway 99. the Hospitalizations remain within fire,incident. you’re trying to do your best “When officers arrived, they severe illness, and at times can lead is to Chase stop it,said andthe yetinvestigation the wind kicks the expected range, but both influfound an adult male with an apparactive andmiles the Cottage to death. Symptoms of influenza up at 60 an hour Grove and it Police drags enza and COVID 19 are circulating ent gunshot wound,” CGPD Chief Department being assisted by the it further andis further behind them. generally include fever, cough, sore at higher levels than last winter, Cory Chase stated GROVE in a release. Lane CountyofSheriff’s Officeisand That aspect the unknown very CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE SENTINEL throat, muscle aches, headache, and/ with RSV also contributing to sea“Officers attempted CPR but the the Lane County District Attorney’s difficult in wildland fires. The fireMatchbooks from theOregon Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. or fatigue, according to the sonal illness. male was pronounced deceased at Office. fighters have that stress and anxiety, Health Authority (OHA). the scene after medics arrived.” CGPD is askingtoanyone and that struggle protectwho is a very Witnesses in the area reported LANE COUNTY may havechallenge any information about difficult for the wildland BY THE NUMBERS hearing gunshots and seeing an Lane County’s experience mirrors this investigation, to call the firefighters.” unknown person wearing dark cloth- Cottage “During most influenza seasons, Grovevery Police Department It is often difficult for fam-at the statewide trend. ing running from the area, according 541-942-9145. which typically run from November ily members of the firefighters to “Typically flu season peaks to added that no susCINDY WEELDREYER Follow developments online understand what emotions there are, theChase, way” who during the construction helped January us meet 20,” manysaid of our Nearly 50 people attended the to April, between 10 percent and 20 around Lanefuture For The Grove is Sentinel pects had been identified or located at cgsentinel.com and in the and that many firefighters don’t project. bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s percent of Cottage the population infected County Public Health spokesperson as of morning, 20. Wednesday editionsaccording of The express theirprint emotions, HeTuesday said he was givenJan. an importSheDavis. shared“We’re a humorous mem“Farewell to the Village Green” at with viruses,” the OHA In influenza 1975, when Birdy Hoelzle Jason right on schedSentinel. to Dill. ant job of opening the boxes ory they made in the formal Iron the Community Center, Saturday, states on its website. “More than and her sister Gail opened The ule. We expect to see cases start to “We ask the family members delivered to the guest rooms and Maidensoon.” Dining Room that drew Sept. 21. 200,000 people Bookmine they are werehospitalized familiar with decline to try to understand the cultural,” recalled how cool he felt driving laughter from the crowd. The internationally famous resort with influenza each year in the U.S. The Village Green. The county’s first confirmed he said. “Be direct. Challenge the orange golf cart around the “My sister and I were budding was created by Walter A. Woodard Certain groups of people, including Their father traveled a lot and flu cases of the 2025–26 season with compassion when something property for assigned errands. Years doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound feminists inat late the time and were (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some older children, pregoften adults, broughtyoung its matchboxes home appeared September andquite shocked by theprimarily sexism practiced members of the family attended and later, another special memory was nant women, and people as keepsakes for his girls.with Thecersisearly October, involvingin right, and do an internal size up, seeing the famous football player, the dining room,” she said. “The shared personal memories. tain health conditions, are at higher ters were in their 20’s when they which we ask the firefighters to the H1N1 strain. For the first half O.J. Simpson, running on one of the do as well,” he said.” Internal size menu given toLane a woman hadtracked no risk for serious from opened the Maincomplications Street bookstore of the season, County THROUGH THE LENS up means asking why am I acting resort’s paths. prices on it and foot five pillows influenza illness.”their income, and, to enhance closely with the last yearswere in Kris Woodard’s introductory this way, and why am I feeling this To the delight of those gathered, provided so ladies’ uncomfortable Statewide data suggests Oregon is worked as waitresses at the resort. both case numbers and severity. included mem remarks personal way? The best thing we can do is Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard, shoes could be removed while dintracking within normal seasonal pat“It was a wonderful place to That changed in December, when the ories he made through lens of ing. It was a very different era.” terns, but local health leaders warn work and, being new in town, it H1N1 was overtaken by H3N2 — “in Page a 12-year-old who was often See LEGACY, 6 See HEALTH, Page 6 the community is more vulnerable the strain some have dubbed the
Influenza season peaks as “Super Flu” circulates
Vaccination rates hit new lows
CGPD launches homicide investigation
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
INSIDE Lifestyles — 3 Obituaries — 4 Death Notice — 4
Opinion — 5 Classifieds — 7 Sports — 8
Follow Developing New: FOLLOW DEVELOPING @ CGSentinel NEWS@ cgsentinel.com www.cgsentinel.com
Your new home is waiting for you... just listed. This beautiful spacious