THE COTTAGE GROVE
entinel entinel The CoTTage grove
Wednesday
Four generations of Wilsons shaped Cottage Grove through Lifestyle Sports 74 faith, hard work, and a small Mosby Creek mill 49
Life in Cottage Grove
CGHS Football Incredible Turnaround See page 8
See page 4
Cottage Grove
Wednesday, Oct 9
Mostly Cloudy went. They were active members Wilson Creek Park was named in of Cottage Grove Faith Center honor of their family. and served as leaders in Gideons Josiah Johnston Wilson The last time I saw John Wilson International, providing Bibles (1878–1919) | Number 135His years This was John Sr.’s www.cgsentinel.com $2.00 Jr. was in mid August.October 9, 2024 locally and around the39, world. father, who It was clear he was losing his commitment to the organization died of the Spanish flu when his son third battle with cancer, so I did earned him a nickname among his was only 11. Josiah’s granddaughter what every good reporter does: I mill customers that he embraced — and John Sr.’s younger sister — pulled out my phone and asked him proudly: “John the Gideon.” Betty Wilson Schrenk of Creswell, to walk me through the milestones I began this story as a tribute to recalled her father describing how of his life. On Nov. 23, he died qui- my good friend John and to highdifficult it was for his mother to etly at home surrounded by his fam- light the contributions he and his keep her four children together ily — and today (Feb. 4) would’ve father, John Sr., made with their after her husband died. Believing it been his 89th birthday. family-owned mill on Mosby Creek was in his best interest, she made I’ve known John and his second Road. But as I talked with family the painful decision to have family wife, Shirley, for all the 42 years members, I made a surprising disfriends who owned a farm raise her they were married.C.Both are gentle covery — one that widened the lens middle son — a decision John Sr. JEREMY RUARK souls with sweet smiles, bound on the significance of the Wilsonthe smaller later told his children affected his Crews began developing homeless Cottage Grove Sentinel by a “late in life” love story that family in our younger quite negatively for camp sitecommunity. this week on the vacant lot atbrother 12th Street. Public works crews are in the began with a blind date arranged by William Stanage Wilson the rest of his life. processfriends. of establishing a newit took John graduated from Cottage mutual Shirley said (1821–1917) History records that a widow in Grove High School in 1927 and smaller homeless camp John three weeks to call site her at forthe a The two Johns were descen1919 faced almost no safety net JEREMY began what would become a nearly vacant lot onThey 12th talked Street for in Cottage C. RUARK second date. hours, dants of WSW (as he is known in after the Spanish flu, which killed 30 year career as a local postal Cottage Grove Sentinel and she laughingly said, “I fell in the family history book). Born in more than 3,600 Oregonians and Grove. carrier. He was active in the First love with him during that call.” Ohio, he traveled west in 1852 on struck hardest at adults in their 20s Cottage Grove City Manager Oregon’s wildfire season is Baptist Church Youth Fellowship, Their long and happy marriage, a wagon train and, two years later, to 40s — the very people raising Mike Sauerwein said the city is expected to continue through this where he met and fell in love with steeped in the strong Christian valpurchased a Donation Land Claim young families. In that climate of month, but the mental scares and behind its original Oct. 1 timeline his future wife, Esther Ruth Allen. ues they shared, seemed to be one here. His wife, Mary Ann McNutt sudden loss, economic hardship, and impact of the season on the fireis establishing the camp, following Esther was born in 1911 in perpetual honeymoon. Wilson, and their two young sons social disruption, placing a child fighters who battle blazes in Lane the Aug. 22 closure and cleanup Oklahoma, the fifth of ten siblings. Family and friends say they settled eight miles south of Cottage with a trusted family friend was Grove in 1931. CountyHigh and School across the state, Esther and of the how 12thJohn Streettenderly and Douglas Her family migrated to Oregon just loved called Grove along the Coast Fork of the often a desperate act of survival and John Sr. married onaNew Year’s their families, may last lifetime, Street homeless camps. the before the Dust Bowl crisis and set- Eve 1933 and had three children: Shirley “my bride.” TheyDuring enjoyed Willamette River. When Cottage rather than abandonment. according to Jeff Dill, the founder transition, adjacentsoLulu Dog tled in the Silk Creek area west of each other’sthecompany much they Grove Lake was created in 1942, John Williams Wilson Sr. of Firefighter Behavioral Health the city. She graduated from Cottage Park inseparable at 12th Street has beenthey used were wherever (1907–1996) Alliance (FBHA). as a homeless camp site with 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 CINDY WEELDREYER counselor,” he said. “We started Sauerwein and other city officials currently doing, which is providing “The balanced budget we The new mini homeless camp a safe and secure place to spend Cottage Grove Sentinel tracking EMS and firefighter suihave told the Sentinel, that there a location for folks to spend the will include the same restrictions as present for 2026–27 will the night and that’s what we are cides across America.” are no additional plans to offer any night from Grove 7 p.m. residents to 7 a.m.”could see the former larger camps. attempt to resolve these doing.” Cottage other long-term sheltering for the Read previous coverage aboutnext “The same rules will apply,” Sauerwein said city staff was Fast Fact issues. That means some Behavioral Impact significant cuts to city services homeless. the challengesaccountin Sauwrwein said. “The camp will According to Dill,cuts.” firefighters cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to significant yearhomelessness after newly uncovered “Cottage Grove will follow Cottage and afollow new often don’t recognize the behavioral reestablish it as a dogsaypark. Specific be available from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. ing errorsGrove revealed $4.5 million Pour 818 owners customer state law as we understand it,” developments at cgsemtinel.com impact of their work. and the rules will be enforced costsloyalty of that establishandcleanup creativeand partnerships hole in the city’s budge. Mike Sauerwein, Cottage “We become cultural brainSauerwein said. “That is what we and in the Wednesday print editions through our contracting company, havesmaller fueled the shop’s growth. ing the homeless camp at The accounting errors were outGrove washed,” DillCity said.Manager “Whether it’s are doing. To change that is up to of Thebefore Sentinel. One Security of Eugene to help us 12th Street were not immediately lined the Cottage Hrove City structural or wildland fires. So, we the legislature. The city of Cottage during this transition period. They available. Council by Interim Finance Director are meant to believe we are supThe misreported Beginning Fund Grove has no plans to do any kind are a very experienced homeless CINDY WEELDREYER Eric Kytola Monday night, Jan. 26. posed to act strong, brave, be help, Cottage Grove Sentinel Balances (BFB) created a ripple of a shelter beyond what we are camp management company.” The discovery stems from years don’t ask for help, and we don’t effect across city accounts. By the of incorrect entries, missing transwant to look weak and not ask for January marked the second annitime help.”FY 2025 closed, four funds had fers, and unrecorded expenditures versary of the popular coffee shop, slipped into negative territory: Dill added that while firefighters in the city’s accounting software which opened during the January • Street Fund: –$271,192 are on the front lines battling the — problems Kytola described as 2024 ice storm and quickly began • Water one Fund: wildfires, of –$9,052 the biggest chal“substantial” and already affecting drawing steady foot traffic to Pour • Industrial Park: –$98,587 lenges they face is the unknown. multiple funds. 818 in the Historic Downtown how Reserve: rapidly theses fires can •“It’s General –$187,644 District. move, and the unknown is where Directors are not at fault, Kytola What began as a long running HOW THE ERRORS WERE is it going to end? Where will this emphasized. They followed the idea between two friends has DISCOVERED fire go to and how long will it last? adopted budget, unaware that the become a consistent meeting place Kytola said he first identified And that is a struggle,” he said. resources they were planning around for residents, visitors, and downmajor discrepancies in September “So, when you are fighting that were inaccurate. town workers. 2025 while preparing for the long fire, you’re trying to do your best Co owners Heather Pennington theyet spending occurred to “Because stop it, and the wind kicks delayed FY 2024 audit. As he and Stacie Quimby met 23 years as planned but resources weren’t reviewed the city’s financial data, up at 60 miles an hour and it drags ago as young parents and later what was and communicated, thisthem. is it further further behind he found that supplemental budgets worked together at PeaceHealth. going to result in overspending,” he That aspect of the unknown is very CINDY WEELDREYER COTTAGE had not/been fully GROVE entered,SENTINEL debt Over time, they talked about creatsaid. difficult in wildland fires. The fireGrove, but customers still showed scheduling, orgaMatchbooks from the Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove.operations, See more photosand with this story at cgsentinel.com. payments were not recorded in the ing a sit down space downtown fighters have that stress and anxiety, up. Some walked through icy streets nizational systems, always looking software, and a $2.9 million land where people could meet, work, or and that struggle to ACTIONS protect is a very CORRECTIVE to see the new business, and others for ways to streamline processes. connect over coffee or tea. purchase for Project Sparrow had difficult challenge for the wildland stopped in simply to warm up. Pennington leads marketing, social UNDERWAY “We had ideas and dreams of fillbeen logged incorrectly. firefighters.” “Several people genuinely media, and creative direction, drawing a need in our town,” they said. The land purchase error alone It is often very difficult for famthanked us for opening the space ing on her design background to “We knew Cottage Grove needed caused the General Fund to appear ily members of the firefighters to and confirming how much it was maintain a consistent look and feel. a placeCINDY where people could linger, WEELDREYER nearly $3 million healthier than it understand what emotions there are, the way” during the construction helped usQuimby meet many of our future Nearly 50 people the needed,” recalled. They describe theirattended partnership hold conversations, and feel comFor The Cottage Grove Sentinel and that many firefighters don’t actually was. project. bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s That early response reinforced as aligned and steady. Clear comfortable staying awhile.” express their emotions, according “That entry was created in their belief that Cottage Grove munication and flexibility have He said he given an importShe shared a humorous mem“Farewell to the Village Green” at In 1975, when They chose the Birdy name Hoelzle “Pour 818” to Dill. wanted a dedicated gathering spot. helped them navigate decisions. September 2023 and the mistake ant job of opening the boxes ory they made in the formal Iron the Community Center, Saturday, andreflect her sister opened The to their Gail mission to pour “We ask the family members The shop now employs five staff They also make a point to support was never caught or fixed,” Kytola delivered to the guest rooms and Maiden Dining Room that drew Sept. 21. Bookmineinto theythewere familiar as with goodness community to try to understand the cultural,” in addition to the two co other Downtown District “This should happen.” recalled how cool not he felt driving laughter from the crowd. TheHistoric internationally famous resort said. well as their Green. address at 818 E. Main members The Village he said. “Be direct. Challenge owners. Pennington and Quimby businesses, promoting events and Because 2026 budget St. Their From father the beginning, aimed the orange the golfFY cart around the was “My sister and I were budding was created by Walter A. Woodard traveled athey lot and with compassion when something say the small team has shaped the encouraging customers to explore to locate in the Historic Downtown built using outdated audited data property for assigned errands. Years doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound feminists at the time and were quite (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some often brought its matchboxes home shop’s identity and built relationthe area. District, whichforthey as the 2022 special — and memory incomplete later,FY another was shocked by the customers sexism practiced in members of the family attended and from as keepsakes his viewed girls. The sisright, and do an internal up, ships that keep returning. size natural home for a20’s community oriinternal datafamous from FY 2023 player, and FY seeing the football the dining room,” she said. “The shared personal memories. ters were in their when they which we ask the firefighters to MENU AND RETAIL ented café. 2024 — the errors compounded O.J. Simpson, running on one ofover the do as well,” he said.” Internal size menu given to a woman had no opened the Main Street bookstore DIVISION OF ROLES THROUGH THE LENS APPROACH time. up means asking why am I acting resort’s paths. prices on it and foot pillowscolwere and, to enhance their income, Pennington and Quimby Kris Woodard’s introductory The owners launched the shop OPENING WEEKatAND this way, and why am I feeling this To the delight of those gathered, providedonsothe ladies’ uncomfortable worked as waitresses the resort. laborate shop’s design and way? The with coffee, tea, and pastries from remarks included personal membest thing we can do is Four FundsCasey Ended EARLY Kris’ brother, Woodard, shoes could be removed “It was SUPPORT a wonderful place to overall aesthetic, but theywhile dividedin ories he made through the lens of Pour 818 opened just as the FY 2025 in the Red ing. It was a very different era.” work and, being new in town, it daily responsibilities based on a 12-year-old who was often “in See LEGACY, Page 6 See HEALTH, Page 6 severe ice storm paralyzed Cottage their strengths. Quimby manages
CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel
Wednesday
City establishing mini homeless camp at 12th Street
Two years in, local coffee shop is still pouring strong
City budget crisis deepens as $4.5M error comes to light
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
INSIDE Lifestyles — 3 Obituaries — 4 Death Notice — 4
Opinion — 5 Classifieds — 7 Sports — 8
The mental health impact facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters
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