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JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
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creeks and ponds nearby. Historically, that area was a wetland or wet prairie and continues to Number 39, we 135get years www.cgsentinel.com $2.00 Continued heavy October rain in late 9, 2024 remind|us of that when December and early this month a lot of rain in a short period has disrupted transportation and, of time. It’s not an uncommon issue in other areas with similar in some cases, stranded area topography. residents. Our Road Maintenance crews To gain insight into our do a lot of work each year to region’s annual flooding issues, The Sentinel reached out to Lane make sure our culverts and roadside ditches are clear of debris County Public Information Ofso water can flow away from the ficer Devon Ashbridge. roads, but in such a flat area those features have a more limited abilThe Sentinel: We understand JEREMY C. RUARK ity Crews to help began with flooding (i.e., the it’s smaller homeless developing Grovealong Sentinel that a Cottage few families Rickflatcamp and the water have site thisdoesn’t week on the vacant lot at 12th Street. ettsPublic Roadworks near Creswell were crews are in the anywhere else to go so it pools stranded their homes due to process ofinestablishing a new and remains in place longer than the flooding. From the county’s smaller homeless camp site at the other areas with more natural vantage point, what physical vacant lot on 12th Street in Cottage JEREMY C. RUARK drainage). In the case of Ricketts conditions caused that to happen Cottage Grove Sentinel Grove. Road, there are no good road enandCottage is there anything the county Grove City Manager Oregon’s wildfire season is gineering solutions that can solve can to prevent it from happenMikedoSauerwein said the city is expected to continue through this the issue. ing again? month, but the mental scares and behind its original Oct. 1 timeline Given how much more inforimpact of the season on the fireis establishing the camp, following mation we have these days about Ashbridge: fighters who battle blazes in Lane theDevon Aug. 22 closure and Portions cleanup wetlands and flood zones, and County and across the state, and of Roadand flood almost of Ricketts the 12th Street Douglas increased environmental regulatheir families, may last a lifetime, annually. Like many in the Street homeless camps.roads During according to Jeff Dill, the founder tions, it’s highly doubtful Ricketts Lane County, it’s in a Lulu low-lying transition, the adjacent Dog Creative Health Connection of FirefighterMetro Behavioral and flatStreet area at bottom Parkvery at 12th hasthe been used of The flooding prompted road closures in rural areas of the county.Alliance (FBHA). the andcamp theresite arewith multiple See FLOODING, Page 6 as avalley homeless hours Dill established the FBHA in 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 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. CINDY WEELDREYER doing.” Grove Sentinel other long-term sheltering for the ReadCottage previous coverage about “The same rules will apply,” Sauerwein said city staff was Behavioral Impact homeless. the homelessness challenges in Sauwrwein said. “The camp will According to Dill, firefighters cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to WhenGrove the 83rd Legisla- often don’t recognize the behavioral “Cottage Grove will follow Cottage and Oregon follow new reestablish it as a dog park. Specific be available from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. tive Assemblyatconvenes in Salem state law as we understand it,” developments cgsemtinel.com impact of their work. and the rules will be enforced costs of that cleanup and establish“We become cultural brainon 21,Wednesday the nativeprint Oregonian Sauerwein said. “That is what we andJan. in the editions through our contracting company, ing the smaller homeless camp at and lifelong McKenzie River Val- 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 structural or wildland fires. So, we ley resident Darin Harbick, 55, the legislature. The city of Cottage during this transition period. They available. are meant to believe we are suptakes his seat as House District Grove has no plans to do any kind are a very experienced homeless posed to act strong, brave, be help, 12’s newest state representative. of a shelter beyond what we are camp management company.” don’t ask for help, and we don’t Harbick defeated incumbent want to look weak and not ask for Charlie Conrad in the Republican help.” photo primary last May and Democrat Dill added that whileCourtesy firefighters Darin Harbick will be sworn Michele Emmons in the Nov. 5 are on the front lines battling the into office asofState Represengeneral election. wildfires, one the biggest chalJeremy C. Ruark / Cottage Grove Sentinel tative District 12 on Jan. 13. lenges they face is the unknown. Bashi Ale sits at the Quarter Drop front counter explaining the details of his new business. “It’s how rapidly theses fires can PERSONAL HISTORY move, and the unknown is where He said he is thankful for his is it going to end? Where will this parents who consistently taught fire go to and how long will it last? him Christian values, modeled And that is a struggle,” said. “I DECIDED TOhe STOP JEREMY C. RUARK financially viable to do it the way home, and I’ve had a little mock the importance of work ethics “So, when you areON fighting that Cottage Grove Sentinel arcade there,” he said. “When I wanted.” SITTING THE and instilled in him the signififire, you’re trying to do your best I decided to open the arcade in Ale said eventually he found a cant value of a supportive family, SIDELINES AND GET to stop it, and yet the wind kicks Bashi Ale’s life-long dream is Cottage grove, I started buying place in his life where he could good friends and community INVOLVED. ” it drags up at 60 miles an hour and becoming a reality along Main the machines like crazy, bringfollow his dream of developing service. it further and further behind them. Street in Cottage Grove’s Historic and running the arcade. ing them back to my garage and The son of a log truck driver, That aspect of the unknown is very serves people who suffer with CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Districtt. fixing them up and storing them, “I wanted no compromises. Harbick graduated from McKendifficult in wildland fires. The firemental illness and employs many Matchbooks the Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. Ale will openfrom the Quarter and now they are here in my I wanted it to be authentic and fighters have that stress and anxiety, zie High School in 1987 and mar- local individuals. Drop on Jan. 25. It is a new shop.” true,” he said. “And this comand that struggle to protectitis a very ried his high school sweetheart, According to Harbick, 1,600-square-foot arcade games difficult challenge fortotheuse wildland Ale has purchased the location Kail, in 1989. Together they munity could use a little family was very rewarding his store, located at 524 Main Street. entertainment. So, this made a lot and estimates the value of his firefighters.” raised three children and now self-loading log truck and dump Born and raised in California, It is often very difficult for famarcade business at approximately enjoy the time they spend with of sense.” truck to help of victims of the 2020 ily members the firefighters to Ale moved to Eugene approxiWith a home in Cottage Grove, $300,000, which includes the their five grandchildren. wildfire take their burned logs are, CINDY WEELDREYER understand what emotions there the way” during the construction helped us meet many of our future Nearly 50 people attended the mately 20 years agon, and to arcade machines that include Ale said and said he loves the The Harbicks built, purchased toand mills. He assisted manydon’t of his For The Cottage Grove Sentinel that many firefighters project. bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottageimported Grove Historical Society’s Cottage Grove approximately several from Japan and and community. founded several businesses in neighbors with cleaning up debris express their emotions, according He said he was given an importSheisshared a humorous mem“Farewell to the Village Green” at 1975,ago. when Birdy 14Inyears His pastHoelzle business Italy. “It a great little town,” he the Upper McKenzie Valley, inand doing small projects on their to Dill. ant job of opening the boxes ory they made the we formal theStarting Community Center, and her sisterincludes Gail opened experience workThe as a out, Ale willSaturday, operate said. “The factinthat haveIron an cluding Harbick’s General Store “We ask the family members property. delivered to the guest rooms and Maiden Dining drew Sept. 21. Bookmine they were familiar newspaper creative directorwith and the business on his own. authentic MainRoom Streetthat with such in Rainbow. toHarbick’s try to understand journeythe tocultural,” Salem recalled how cool he felt driving laughter from the crowd. The internationally famous resort The Village Green. as a publishing company owner. “We’ll see what response I get, a rich film history and the people heasaid. “Be direct. Challengeby While managing those busias lawmaker is motivated the orange golf cart around the “My and II were budding was ifcreated A.quarters Woodard Their fatherup traveled lot and and “Growing in the a80s and there by areWalter a lot of here aresister so nice. wanted the with compassion nesses, he served 14 years on eventswhen that something happened property for assigned errands. Years significant feminists at the time and were quite (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some often brought its matchboxes home 90s going to the local arcades doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound being dropped here to facilitate a the arcade here in Cottage Grove so McKenzie School Board. He during the COVID-19 pandemic. shocked by the in members of the family attended and later, another special memory was as keepsakes for hisquintessential girls. The siswas one of those right, and do an internal size up, staff,” he said. that people cansexism enjoy practiced it. I wanted also served on the Lane County “I will always remember 2020 seeing the famous football player, theoffer dining room,” sheforsaid. “Theto shared memories. ters were inexperiences. their 20’s when childhood It’sthey where to which we ask the firefighters to As topersonal who will visit Quarsomething people Tourism Board and coached high as my motivation to get involved O.J. Simpson, running on one of the do as well,” he said.” Internal size menu to a woman opened Main Street went,” bookstore you andthe your friends he ter Drop, Ale said he sees a do, forgiven families to do.” had no school and college women’s THROUGH THE LENS and make asking a difference byI running up means why am acting resort’s paths. prices and foot pillows were and, to“Those enhancewere theirreal income, said. formable broad mix of families with their Ale on hasitcollected many of the basketball teams. Kris Woodard’s introductory for the Legislature,” Harbick this way, and why am I feeling this To the delight of those gathered, provided so ladies’ uncomfortable worked as waitresses at the resort. memories for me, and I grew up children and of adults who will arcade machines over the years He said the most rewarding of remarks included personal memsaid. “That wasthing the year when way? The best we can do ismy Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard, shoes could be removed while din“It was a wonderful place to loving that experience. I always the through arcade games from all over California, Oregon, remember his and his wife’s businesses, is ories he made the lens of business world, personal world, ing. Washington. It was a very different era.” workan and, being new in town, it had idea of wanting to create and the twoSee faith-based residential a 12-year-old who was often “in LEGACY, Page 6 See HEALTH, Page 6 an arcade, but it wasn’t really “I have a large garage at my See HARBICK, Page 6 See ARCADE, Page 6 treatment homes they own that
Wednesday
The mental City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters
State Representativeelect Darin Harbick ready to serve
Quarter Drop Arcade to open Jan. 25
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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