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Multi-million-dollar Main Street Sports 74 reconstruction to begin February 17 Life in Cottage Grove
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JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
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New details are emerging con- 9, 2024 | Number 39, 135 years October www.cgsentinel.com $2.00 cerning the multi-million-dollar Main Street Reconstruction Project. The Cottage Grove City Council selected Wildish Jan. 27, as the contractor to conduct the multi-million-dollar renovation project. The Wildish bid was $5,155,532.00. The Sentinel reached out to Cottage Grove Public Works and Development Director Faye Stewart for the latest information. JEREMY C. RUARK TheCottage Sentinel: WhatSentinel is the timeCrews began developing the smaller homeless Grove line for the project? When will it camp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street. Public works in the begin, where, andcrews whatare specific process of establishing a new smaller homeless camp site at the MAIN vacant lot on 12th STREET Street in Cottage Grove. MEETING Cottage5:30 Grove CityFeb. Manager p.m. 11 Mike Sauerwein said the city is Cottage Grove City behind its original Oct. 1 timeline Hall is establishing the camp, following the Aug. 22400 closure and cleanup Courtesy from the City of Cottage Grove E Main St. of the 12th Street and Douglas (Top) This is an aerial view Street homeless camps. During the of the Main Street project transition, the adjacent Lulu Dog phasing, traffic control, and Park at 12th has been used material and equipment work will be Street done first? as Stewart: a homeless camp plans site with hours staging area. Wildish to begin from 7 p.m. to a.m. daily. (Bottom) Portions of Cottage mobilization on7February 17, by “Nonea of us have evercity managed Grove’s Main Street are brofencing portion of the parka homeless campShampoo before, so we and ken and pose challenges to ing lot between Dolls knew that date was a bitRestaurant. aspirapedestrians and drivers. Stacy’s Covered Bridge tional,” Sauerwein said. “We are On February 24 they will begin Once completed they will begin hoping that we will installing thethis newweek waterline onbethe the work on the northside of Main able to make the transition. Our south side of Main Street beginning PHOTO JEREMY C. RUARK / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Street just like the southside in two goal was to provide folks with at 8th street and work to the west. Sauerwein and other city officials currently doing, which is providing The new mini homeless camp phases. a safework and is secure place to to take spend2 to This scheduled a location for folks to spend the willThe include the same restrictions as have told the Sentinel, that there Sentinel: Could you provide the night and that’s what we are 3 weeks to complete. Once comare no additional plans to offer any night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.” the former larger camps. us the range of the projects expected doing.” pleted they will start installation of other long-term sheltering for the Read previous coverage about “The same rules will of apply,” with the reconstruction Main Sauerwein said city staff was the new storm drainage line. They homeless. the homelessness challenges in Sauwrwein said. “The camp will Street? cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to anticipate completing this work by “Cottage Grove will follow Cottage Grove and follow new be Stewart: available Everything from 7 p.m.will to 7bea.m. reestablish April 14. it as a dog park. Specific state law as we understand it,” developments at cgsemtinel.com and theand rulesreplaced will be between enforcedthe rebuilt costs of that cleanup and establishOnce the lines are installed, they Sauerwein said. “That is what we and in the Wednesday print editions through our contracting company, buildings on each side of the street. ing the smaller homeless camp at will begin removal of the sidewalks are doing. To change that is up to of The Sentinel. One Security of Eugene to help us 12th Street were not immediately and street on the south side of Main the legislature. The city of Cottage during this transition period. They available. Street. This work will be done in Grove has no plans to do any kind are a very experienced homeless 2 phases and be completed in July. See CITY, Page 6 of a shelter beyond what we are camp management company.”
The mental City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters
Courtesy photo
In her latest competition, Nayelli Romero became the National Champion in her division in the 8UC.GIRLS JEREMY RUARK50lbs Division and Grove was awarded Cottage Sentinel theOregon’s Outstanding Wrestler wildfire season is For all 8U Girls Divisions with expected to continue through thisthe most in the least amount month,pins but the mental scares and of time.of the season on the fireimpact fighters who battle blazes in Lane County and across the state, and their families, may last a lifetime, according to Jeff Dill, the founder of Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA). Dill established the FBHA in 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. He was than a Battalion Chief for a fire department in northwest Chicago. “I saw our brothers and sisters struggle from the devastation that they saw, so I went back and got my degree and became a licensed counselor,” he said. “We started tracking EMS and firefighter suicides across America.”
Cottage Grove’s 7-year-old wrestling champion JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel Behavioral Impact
According to Dill, firefighters Seven-year-old Nayelli of often don’t recognize the Romero behavioral Cottage Grove likes to wrestle, and impact of their work. she “We is onbecome a mission. cultural brainThe Harrison Elementary student washed,” Dill said. “Whether it’s structural or day wildland fires.in So, hopes to one compete the we are meantand to believe are supOlympics then to we become a posed to coach. act strong, brave, be help, wrestling don’t ask has for returned help, andfrom we don’t Nayelli Fort want to look weak and not ask for Wayne Indiana after competing help.” Jan. 25 in the KIDS USA Nationals Dill added that while firefighters Wrestling She the are on theChampionship. front lines battling became the National Champion wildfires, one of the biggest chalinlenges her division in is thethe 8Uunknown. GIRLS they face 50lbs Division and was awarded “It’s how rapidly theses fires can the Outstanding Wrestler For all 8U move, and the unknown is where is it going to end? willpins thisin Girls Divisions withWhere the most fireleast go toamount and how long will it last? the of time. And that isfather, a struggle,” he said. Nayelli’s Jose, said after “So, when you arewrestle fighting her brother forthat the Department of Early Learning and Oregonians for programs that they rely seeing OREGON CAPITAL CHRONICLE duty to protect Americans,” Kotek fire, you’re trying do your best Cottage Grove Mat to Club, she wanted said. Care also couldn’t log in to payment on, day in and day out.” to stop it, and yet the wind kicks as long as she got to have a State agencies are still figuring management systems. Nor could the Kotek said Oregonians who receive touptryat it, Oregon is suing the Trump admin60 miles an hour and it drags outfit to wrestle out which grant programs could be Department of Justice access a federal health care coverage from the Oregon pink istration after it abruptly froze many it further and further in. behind them. “She just took offunknown ever since,” affected by the order. Before former portal to seek reimbursements for child Health Plan and parents with children federal payments, leaving state agenThat aspect of the is very CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Jose said.in“She wantedfires. to compete, President Joe Biden left office, Kotek support enforcement — the federal in Head Start or subsidized child care cies unable to access reimbursements difficult wildland The fireMatchbooks from the Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. and she just a high and members of Oregon’s congressiogovernment reimburses states for twoprograms should continue as usual for Medicaid and child care programs fighters havekept thatgoing stressatand anxiety, level of wrestling. She’s beenisdoing and that struggle to protect a very nal delegation pushed him to quickly thirds of those costs. while the state government works to and sending state officials scrambling difficult challenge the wildland pretty good. We’ve for traveled a lot this disburse grants that had been approved The Trump administration’s memo restore reimbursements. to determine the total effect. firefighters.” year to different tournaments.” by Congress. State budgets rely heavordering a federal funding freeze said “Your services are safe today,” Gov. Tina Kotek and Attorney It is often difficult for famNayelli wonvery a world championily on federal funding: In Oregon, they it wouldn’t affect funding for Head she said. “If you need medical care General Dan Rayfield, both ily members of the firefighters ship during competition at Reno,to make up about 30% of the two-year Start, which sends about $70 million under the Oregon Health Plan, please Democrats, announced the suit durCINDY WEELDREYER understand what emotions there are, the way” during the construction helped — us nearly meet many of our—future Nearly 50 people attended the Nevada last year. budget $40 billion with a year to Oregon to provide preschool keep your appointments. Please keep ingFor a brief conference Tuesday The press Cottage Grove Sentinel and that many firefighters don’t project. bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s Jose said Nayelli’s participation in certain big-ticket programs, like to nearly 10,000 kids in the state under your care. If you’re a Head Start parafternoon, Jan. 28. Rayfield plans to express their emotions, according said he was import- the She shared a humorous mem“Farewell the Village at Birdy Hoelzle sport is helping her gain essential Medicaid, receiving the biggest chunks the age of 5.toTrump’s pressGreen” secretary ent,He your Head Startgiven will beanthere fileInit 1975, with allwhen Democratic attorneys to Dill. ant job of opening the boxes orythethey madeIt’s in the formal the Community Center,Medicaid, Saturday,tell- tomorrow.” and heracross sister the Gailcountry openedfollowing The a life “We skills.ask the family members of funding. unclear howIron much evaded questions about general delivered to the guesttorooms Maiden Diningcould Room drewby Sept. 21. House reporters she would Bookmine they werememo familiar with “She just really focused,” he of that funding be that affected ing White The announcement federaland agenTrump administration directing to try tois understand the cultural,” recalled cool heand feltworry driving laughtermemo. from the crowd. The internationally Thefederal Village Green.to “temporarily said. “She is really motivated, and it stirredhow questions and Trump’s provide a full list later. famous resort cies all agencies he said. “Be direct. Challenge the orange golfofcart around “Mysome sisterstate andagencies I were budding was created byhearing Walter from A. Woodard Theirawarding father traveled a lot any and feddrives her to proceed. has high with compassion whenShe something on the top Kotek’s mindtheas But and non“What we’re the White was pause” or disbursing property for assigned errands. Years hopes feminists at theexperienced time and were quite House (W.A.)isand Carlton. Some oftenfunding brought matchboxes home doesn’t or doesn’t sound andlook highright dreams and pretty she met Tuesday morning with city providers immedinot his whatson, we’re experiencing eral thatitscould be impacted by profit later, another special memory was shocked by the sexism practiced in members of the family attended and as keepsakes for his girls. The sisright,goals. and do size and up, Toanbeinternal that young officials and staff as part of the League good ate impacts on Tuesday, Kotek said. on the ground,” Rayfield said. “We’re a host of recent executive orders by 2 seeing theCities’ famous football player, the dining she said. “The shared personal ters were theirTuesday. 20’s when they we ask firefighters to is be driven to the reach her dreams of Oregon annual lobbying day towhich The Oregonroom,” Health Authority couldn’t hearing that thingsmemories. aren’t going to be p.m. Pacificintime O.J. Simpson, running on one on of the unbelievable.” menu given to a woman hadallows no do as well,” he said.” Internal size opened Mainfunds Streetthat bookstore “Whenthe federal are meant access a Medicaid portal that impacted, but the fact on the ground is — an event that already focused THROUGH THE LENS upNayelli meanshas asking why am acting resort’s pricestoonenter it and foot were and, to enhance income, embraced theI sport. to serve the most their vulnerable are susstates costs forpillows reimbursethatKris theseWoodard’s portals areintroductory shut down, prehow citiespaths. and the state have been hurt this way, and why am I feeling this To the delight of those gathered, provided so ladies’ uncomfortable worked as waitresses at the resort. pended or unavailable, that has an ments. Preschool providers who venting from getting accessmemto these remarksusincluded personal way? The best thing we can do is Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard, shoes could removed “It was a wonderfulandplace impact on Oregonians it’s atoderreceive funds be through Headwhile Start dinfor critical funds that are important ories he made through the lenstoofall ing. It was a very different era.” work and, being new in town, it eliction of the federal government’s low-income children and the state See CHAMPION, Page68 a 12-year-old who was often “in SeeOREGON, LEGACY, Page Page6 6 See HEALTH, Page See
Trump order freezing federal funds triggers Oregon lawsuit
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
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