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Wednesday February 19, 2025 | Number 8, 136 years
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Cottage Grove Wednesday, Feb. 19 Rain in the Forecast
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‘Project Community Sharing offers winter shelter Lifestyle Sports Life in JEREMY CottageC.Grove RUARK
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See page 4 Program ommunity Sharing
Sparrow’ to 49 create new housing, $2.00 jobs
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Cottage Grove
Wednesday, Oct 9 Mostly Cloudy
of Cottage Grove has opened its doors to offer a limited winter shelter for unhoused people. The overnight services are October 9, 2024 | Number 39, 135 years www.cgsentinel.com offered from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. at the Community Sharing offices at 1440 Birch Avenue when the temperature is predicted to be below 30 degrees. “Assuming that we have enough volunteers to activate, we will send out a notice that we are going to activate,” Community Sharing Program Executive Director Mike Fleck said. “If no one shows up by 10 p.m. we will shut down, but C. RUARK that hasJEREMY not happened. We have had Crews began developing the smaller homeless Cottage Grove Sentinel from 10 to 14 people show up each camp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street. Public crews are in the night. It’sworks been popular.” process of establishing a new The sleeping rooms are converted smaller homeless camp site at the office space inside two modular vacant lotatonthe 12th Street in Cottage buildings Community Sharing Courtesy photo Grove. location. Community Sharing is located at 1440 Birch Avenue in Cottage Grove. Cottage Grove City Manager “We offer a night to sleep in the Mike rooms Sauerwein the set cityup,” is three with said 10 cots “The fear is that somebody would allowed on the property or the use be within stamped usable date), and behind its original Oct. 1 timeline he said. “A fourth room is used for be out in the cold and freeze to thereof, so they are welcomed to even pet food. Garden produce is is establishing following clients to checkthe in camp, their bags, and death,” he said. “That’s how this all come in and we’ll take them as they also always welcome. Please, no the have Aug. a22common closure area. and cleanup we We have started. Our agency stepped in durare as long as they are able to main- “windfall” foods – foods that fall off of thecots 12ththat Street Douglas more we and can use to expand ing the COVID pandemic. When we tain respectable behavior.” a tree due to overripe conditions or Street homeless camps. into the office area if weDuring need to.theIt’s found out Beds for Freezing Nights HOPE FOR THE FUTURE windy conditions. transition, adjacent Lulu been a goodthemix of folks whoDog want was not going to be activated this Fleck called the loss last year of Donate Clothing: Practical, Park at 12th Street has been to hang out and to stay warm.used We do year, we scrambled to put something the proposed housing partnership lightly used clothing for children and as a homeless allow pets.” camp site with hours together.” valued at approximate $2.3 miladults is accepted. Please make sure from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. at Two bathrooms are available Approximately 30 volunteers lion between the city of Cottage clothes are clean and gently used. us hot havefood everand managed the“None shelterofand bevershare shifts to help at the shelter. Grove and St. Vincent de Paul Donate Money: The agency relies a homeless camp before, so we ages are offered. “Our clients come in very cold “heartbreaking.” heavily on donations from the public knew that no datebudget was afor bit this, aspira“I have we are and are very grateful to have this “That absolutely would have creto continue to provide much-needed tional,” Sauerwein said. “We areWe doing this without any funding. shelter available,” he said. “I have ated such an opportunity for folks services. Donations are tax deducthoping this week will we be are kindthat of very basic we in what conversations with the clients and and would have provided case manible. Vsit donate page to donate ableoffering,” to make the transition. Our are Fleck said. “We have gain great insight into their chalagement,” he said. “That’s what it Community Sharing. PHOTO JEREMY C. online RUARKto/ COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL goalawas to people providefrom folksthe with had lot of commu- lenges and the hardships that they really comes down to. We want to Donate your services or items: Sauerwein and other city officials currently doing, which is providing The new mini homeless camp a safecome and in secure nity with place mealstotospend help. The encounter. There are some that have get folks connected to services and Businesses or community members a location for folks to spend the will include the same restrictions as have told the Sentinel, that there the night andhasthat’s we are community reallywhat stepped up to realformer medicallarger challenges and that work them for whatever are encouraged to to partner who could are nowith additional plans to offertheir any night from 7 p.m. 7 a.m.” the camps. doing.” bring in really incredible meals.” frustrates me terribly that they are needs are to get folks back stable. offer much-needed services to the other long-term sheltering for the Read previous coverage about “The same rules will apply,” Sauerwein staff The clients said rangecity from thewas young older and out on the street without That would be my ultimate goal.” clients. Call 541-942-2176 to homeless. the homelessness challenges indiscuss Sauwrwein said. “The camp will cleaning to the old.up the Lulu Dog Park to any medical care. That is very frusHOW TO HELP the possibilities. “Cottage Grove will follow Cottage Grove and follow new reestablish as a dog park. Specific be available from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. “They areit unhoused individuals trating to me that we can’t manage Donate Your Time: Volunteers Underwriteatan event state law as we understand it,” developments cgsemtinel.com and the rules will be enforced costs of that cleanup and establishwho need, or want, to come in out of to get them in a better place.” are needed to assist with operations, or program: Another opportunity Sauerwein said. “That is what we and in the Wednesday print editions through our contracting company, ing cold,” the smaller homeless at the he said. “Not allcamp of them Fleck said while some referral is including the food pantry and comto show your support is through are doing. To change that is up to of The Sentinel. One Security of Eugene to help us 12th Street were not immediately will use the cots. Some folks would conducted the clients, caseThey man- the munity garden.The To discuss the donation of money to support legislature. city of volunteer Cottage during this for transition period. available. rather sit up in a chair and doze as agement services are not offered. He opportunities, call 541-942-2176. a specific event or community outGrove has no plans to do any kind a very experienced homeless they want. We’ve had some come by are calls the current Community Sharing Donate Food: Emergency food reach program. Community Sharing of a shelter beyond what we are camp management company.” just to warm up and not to stay the Program shelter ‘low barrier.” box distribution is a large part of Programs active board plans several night.” “It just means we take people as the service to the community. As fundraisers throughout the year and Fleck believes the shelter is a they are as long as they can maina result, there is constant needs of could always use financial suplifesaver. tain their behavior,” he said. “There protein foods, Ensure-type drinks, port pread the word about services
Wednesday
The mental City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel
The Cottage Grove City Council has taken the next steps to fulfill its unconventional strategy to reduce the local housing shortage, create low-income and affordable housing and attract a manufacturing business that will offer family wage jobs. The effort is called Project Sparrow. In the last two weeks the council has move its Project Sparrow forward by awarding JEREMY C. contractors RUARK to build infrastructure on Sentinel two residenCottage Grove tial Oregon’s zone parcels and voted wildfire seasontoisdeclare those two parcels as surplus expected to continue throughpropthis erty. A public hearing pending month, but the mentalisscares andto outline plans. impactsale of the season on the firePLANNING fightersLAND who battle blazes in Lane County and across the state, and BACKGROUND their families, mayvoters last a approved lifetime, In 1970, Oregon according to Jeff Dill, the the creation of land use lawsfounder to preof Firefighter Behavioral Health vent urban sprawl and protect natural Allianceland. (FBHA). resource Since 1973, Oregon Dill established the FBHA in has maintained a strong statewide 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. program use planning He was for thanland a Battalion Chiefbased on 19 planning goals that require for a fire department in northwest citizen involvement through city and Chicago. county planning commissions and “I saw our brothers and sisters public hearings on devastation proposed land struggle from the thatuse they saw, so I went back and got actions. my a licensed Alldegree cities and mustbecame maintain a 20-year counselor,” he said. “We comprehensive plan statingstarted the trackinglong-range EMS and firefighter suigeneral, policies that cides across America.” will govern its future development. Each Oregon city is surrounded Behavioral Impact by an urban growth (UGB), According to boundary Dill, firefighters which a line drawn on often is don’t recognize theplanning behavioral maps to of designate where a city impact their work. “We to become cultural brainexpects grow over a 20-year washed,” Dill said. “Whether it’s period. structural or wildland fires. In its Comprehensive Plan,So, we are meant to believe we are supCottage Grove leaders zoned land in posed to act strong, brave, the UGB that is adjacent to be thehelp, city don’t ask for help, and we don’t limits south of town as R-2 residenwant to look weak and not ask for tial land for detached and attached help.” dwellings withthat an intermediate Dill added while firefighters density. are on the front lines battling the is absolutely no drugs or alcohol infant formula and baby food (must offered. PROJECT MEETS wildfires, oneSPARROW of the biggest chalMULTIPLE MUNICIPAL NEEDS lenges they face is the unknown. “It’sgenesis how rapidly can The of the theses City’s fires Project move, and the in unknown is where Sparrow began the summer of is it going to end? Where will this 2023 when the owner of a 61-acre fire go to and how long will it last? parcel of undeveloped land inside And that is a struggle,” he said. the UGB was ready to sell it. The “So, when you are fighting that property is located south of Lincoln fire, you’re trying to do your best JEREMY C. RUARK County public hearing Feb. 13 in Middle Cleveland to stop School it, and near yet the wind kicks Cottage Grove Sentinel Eugene. Avenue and bordered byand South Sixth up at 60 miles an hour it drags VERIZON LETTER Street on the east and Highway 99 it further and further behind them. A local group is opposing a proAccording to a letter submitted on the west and is bisected by the That aspect of the unknown is very posed 195-foot telecommunications CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL to Lane County Land Management Coast Fork the Willamette difficult in of wildland fires. TheRiver. firetower for the London of Green Resort in Cottage Grove. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. Matchbooks fromRoad thearea Village Division officials, Verizon represenfighters have that stress and anxiety, City leaders were keenly aware Cottage Grove. tative Ertaz Islam states that Verizon struggle to one-percent protect is a very ofand thethat City’s current Opponent Pamela Dean with the Wireless has built a communication difficult challenge for thethe wildland housing vacancy rate and critical Stop the Version Cell Tower, said firefighters.” network to provide wireless serneed for low income and affordable the proposed tower is not in keeping It is often very homelessness. difficult for famvices, which include voice, data, and housing to reduce with the area’s rural setting ily members of the firefighters to enhanced 911 emergency services in The length of time and high cost for “It infringes on our exclusive CINDY WEELDREYER understand what emotions there are, the way” during the construction helped manyGrove. of our future Nearly 50 people attended the the townusofmeet Cottage private developers to take ondon’t a large For The Cottage Grove Sentinel farmland, our designated wetlands, and that many firefighters project. bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s Currently, Verizon serves the housing project on vacant land with andInour big when game Birdy zone,”Hoelzle she states express their emotions, according He said he was given an importshared humorous mem“Farewell to the Village Green” at 1975, areaShe with two acell tower sites called no infrastructure would be prohibito Dill. in distributed aroundThe Cottage ory they made in the formal Iron ant job of opening the boxes anda flyer her sister Gail opened “Coiner Park” and “Cottage Grove,” the Community Center, Saturday, tive“We for most of family them. Another ask the membershigh Grove. “I think delivered to the guest rooms and Maiden Dining Room that drew Sept. 21. Bookmine they the weredeleterious familiar with according to Islam. priority for local officials is the need to try to understand the cultural,” health effectsGreen. of these towers have recalled how cool he felt driving laughter from theare crowd. The internationally famous resort The Village “Both of them heavily used he said. “Be direct. Challenge for industrial land to attract compabeen suppressed. It diminishes the the orange golf cart around the and Irelief weretobudding was created by Walter A. Woodard Their father traveled a lot and and“My needsister capacity provide with compassion when something nies that would create new familyenjoyment of my property. It diminproperty for assigned errands. Years doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound feminists the time andwrote. were “Our quite (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some often brought its matchboxes home high speedatdata,” Islam wage jobs. ishes the valueforofhis mygirls. property. I later, another special memory was shocked by the sexism practiced in members of the family attended and as keepsakes The sisright, andWorks do anDirector internal Faye size up, proposed site “London” not only Public Courtesy from Lane County already 10 other towers seeing the famous football player, the dining she said. shared personal memories. ters werehave in their 20’s cell when they which we ask the firefighters to of will be ableroom,” to offload traffic“The from Stewart said, with the assistance This fly-over photo shows the proposed telecommunication within 7.3-mile radius,bookstore four of O.J. Simpson, running on one of the do as well,” he said.” Internal size menutwo given to so a woman no openedathe Main Street these sites the datahad speed Banner Bank, $2.8 million in bonds tower site in the London of paths. Cottage Grove. THROUGH THE LENSRoad area which also owned by Verizon.” up means asking why am I acting resort’s prices it and were and, toare enhance their income, will beon faster butfoot alsopillows improve were sold to 61.06-acre Kris Woodard’s introductory Dean as saidwaitresses she planned to resort. submit this way, andpurchase why amthe I feeling this To the delight of those gathered, provided so ladies’ uncomfortable worked at the coverage for the users driving along Hwy 1-5 included going in personal and out of the property. The Planning Commission remarks memwritten anda oral testimony opposing way? The best thing we can do is Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard, shoes could be removed while din“It was wonderful place to town Grove.”the lens of developed a master plan to rezone ories of he Cottage made through the celland, tower at anew scheduled ing. It was a very different era.” work being in town,Lane it See TOWER, Page 4 a 12-year-old who was often “in See LEGACY, Page 6 See HEALTH, Page 6 See PROJECT, Page 8
Local cell tower proposal triggers opposition Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
INSIDE News —3 —3 Lifestyles Obituaries — 4 Death Notice — 4
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