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THE COTTAGE GROVE

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Wednesday

Trinity Lutheran Church Community meals mark 28 years of faithful service “There is no way this would have come together so quickly and continued for this long without God’s hand in it.” Peggy Brown, Coordinator CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel

A Greener Future for Bohemia

For 28 years, Trinity Lutheran Church’s Community Kitchen has served as one of Cottage Grove’s quiet constants, a ministry built on faith, volunteer devotion and the simple belief that no one in the community should go without a hot meal. Since its launch in 1998, the program has served 222,654 meals at 2,767 dinners, supported by 56,481 volunteer hours. Coordinator Peggy Brown, who helped start the ministry

and has led it from the beginning, said the longevity of the program is nothing short of divine. “There is no way this would have come together so quickly and continued for this long without God’s hand in it,” Brown said.

A PURPOSE THAT HAS NEVER WAVERED

The Community Kitchen began as a twice weekly sit down dinner that drew as many as 85 people, including seniors seeking companionship, families stretching tight budgets and neighbors who simply needed a place to belong. The pandemic forced the program to shift to take out meals, a change that dramatically reduced attendance but never interrupted service. “When COVID hit everything changed,” Brown said. “We

Watershed Council wins state grant will plant 40 large shade trees and 10 smaller trees across the school grounds and public sidewalk areas. The grant also funds a rainwater harvesting system, infiltration planters, linear rain gardens to filter parking lot runoff, and a new pollinator parklet. The project includes bilingual community outreach, student education on green infrastructure, and the creation of several jobs and internships. For Bohemia Elementary Principal Emily Wren Gerot, the award represents both a practical improvement and a symbolic one. “Writing a collaborative grant was a really great opportunity to meet like minded, passionate people in the Cottage Grove community,” she said. “As a Eugene resident, I have chosen to work in South Lane for over 20 years because I fell in love with the way this community operates. This community does an excellent job working together to make things happen.” Gerot said the school’s team — including maintenance director Matt Allen and Superintendent Todd Miller — worked closely with grant writer Tammie Stark to walk the grounds, identify needs, and envision a safer, more functional campus.

CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel

Bohemia Elementary School has been awarded a major state grant to transform its campus with new trees, stormwater improvements, and hands on environmental learning opportunities, thanks to a collaborative effort that brought together school leaders, local volunteers, and regional partners. The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) announced this month that the Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council will receive $418,945 through the state’s Community Green Infrastructure Grant Program — one of only 14 projects funded statewide. The DLCD program awarded $2.87 million across Oregon, selecting projects that build or restore natural systems such as trees, rain gardens, bioswales, and green spaces. The competition was steep: 66 applicants sought nearly $16 million in funding, leaving many qualified proposals unfunded. Grants were awarded in four categories: community green infrastructure projects, economic development projects, master plans, and native seed or plant initiatives. The project, titled “Green Canopy, Growing Economy,”

“Currently, the campus is one big mud pit in the winter because we do not have the ability to drain water effectively,” she said. “It will be so wonderful to have a campus that visually represents the pride we take in our students and teachers.” The project aligns directly with the school’s vision: “Each member of the Bohemia community will be an active participant in making the world a place where all belong and gain access to an equitable and sustainable future.”

“Currently, the campus is one big mud pit in the winter because we do not have the ability to drain water effectively. It will be so wonderful to have a campus that visually represents the pride we take in our students and teachers.” Emily Wren Gerot, Principal

A COLLABORATION YEARS IN THE MAKING

The idea for the project began with the Cottage Grove Urban Forestry Committee, where volunteers Debra Bartlett and Tammie Stark serve. After the region’s recent snow and ice storms, both were concerned about tree loss and the long term health of the community’s canopy. Bartlett said the committee has three mandates dating back to its founding in 1994 — one of which is to bring in grants. When she discovered the DLCD opportunity, she and Stark immediately recognized its potential. “This grant was the mother lode,” Bartlett said. “Without Tammie’s super grant writing

skills, time, effort, and her contact with Amanda Gilbert at Coast Fork, we would be among the 80 percent of worthy requests that were turned down.” The pair studied the city’s 4.3 square mile area and realized

that a school based project would likely score highest under the state’s point system. The Bohemia School project quickly emerged as the strongest

Former Creswell resident convicted of animal neglect, arrested in California STAFF REPORT Cottage Grove Sentinel

survive. The incident required a significant amount of work from multiple agencies and community partners. After additional investigation, Gwenyth Ellen Davies, 55, of Creswell, was arrested for Animal Neglect in the 2nd Degree (Felony). Davies later plead guilty to 11 counts of Animal Neglect in the 2nd Degree, was sentenced to probation, and ordered to pay restitution to the state. Davies instead disappeared. As a result, Lane County Circuit Court issued an extraditable warrant for her arrest in 2023. A

In October of 2019, Lane County Sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant at a property in the 33000 block of Camas Swale Road while investigating ongoing animal abuse. Lane County Animal Services and Oregon Humane Society assisted. A total of 61 horses were removed from the property after being assessed by a licensed veterinarian. Many were emaciated and determined to be malnourished. Several horse carcasses were located on the property, and some rescued horses did not

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deputy determined Davies was likely in California and notified law enforcement in the area. The deputy continued the investigation as new information arose. In January of 2026, Davies was arrested on the warrant by the Los Angeles Police Department as she re-entered the U.S. at a port of entry in the Los Angeles area. Extradition was approved by the Oregon Office of the Governor. On February 12, 2026, Davies was lodged at the Lane County Jail on the warrant. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office thanked the many

agencies involved in this investigation, including the Lane County District Attorney’s Office, Oregon Humane Society, Oregon Department of Justice, Butte County Sheriff’s Office, Los Angeles Police Department, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, and numerous community partners that assisted with the evaluation and care of the horses in 2019.

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