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Wednesday March 5,, 2025 | Number 10, 136 years
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Warming Lifestyle Sports 74 shelter 49 proposal in revitalization project work draws a 9, 2024 | Wednesday October www.cgsentinel.com $2.00 crowd at The mental City establishing mini city hall health impact Life in Cottage Grove
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JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove39, Sentinel Number 135 years
Work to cut up Cottage Grove’s Main Street began is underway in the city’s Historic District. Starting last week, contracting crews used large, powerful, concrete cutting saws to cut away CINDY WEELDREYER portions of the street as part of the Cottage Grove Sentinel multi-million-dollar revitalization project. Residents of the Sunrise Ridge The project is designed to neighborhood reacted quickly and JEREMY C. RUARK improve the street, sidewalks, definitively to oppose Community Crews crossing began developing the smaller homeless Cottage Grove aSentinel pedestrian areas, lighting, Sharing proposal to establish a seacamp site this week on the and landscaping along the busy vacant lot at 12th Street. Public works crews are in the sonal warming shelter on its property route in the city’s Historic District. process of establishing a new using some of the city-owned pallet In a Sentinel Guest Column smaller homeless camp site at the shelters. vacant lot on 12th Street in Cottage published in the Feb. 19 editions, JEREMY C. RUARK More than 50 people attended the Cottage Grove Sentinel Cottage Grove Project Coordinator Grove. Feb. 24 Cottage Grove City Council Shauna Neigh outlined the project Cottage Grove City Manager Oregon’s wildfire season is meeting with nearly all the speakers details. Mike Sauerwein said the city is expected to continue through this strongly opposing the proposal. THE TRANSFORMATION month,C.but the/ mental and behind its original Oct. 1 timeline Jeremy Ruark Cottage scares Grove Sentinel HISTORY impact of the season on the fireWILL INCLUDE is establishing the camp, following The contracting crew is using powerful saws to slice through the concrete along Main After operating for 16 years, the fighters who battle blazes in Lane • Storefront to storefront the Aug. 22 closure and cleanup Street. See more photos at cgsentinel.com. all-volunteer Beds for Freezing Nights County and across the state, and upgrades – new sidewalks, street of the 12th Street and Douglas nonprofit organization dissolved at the their “There families,will may a lifetime, • A sparkling new sidewalk in the familiar beeping of trucks and said. belast noise and improvements, and updated Street homeless camps. During the end of 2024. Two of the key factors according to Jeff Dill, the founder honor of our gold mining past excavators backing up as they are excitement. There will be surprises infrastructure transition, the adjacent Lulu Dog of Firefighter Behavioral Health in that decision were the difficulty in WHAT TO EXPECT DURING required under federal regulations and possible delays in the schedule. • Trees will be replaced and will Park at 12th Street has been used Alliance (FBHA). recruiting the volunteers needed to CONSTRUCTION for safety One thing for sure is, the small be in adequate tree wells, to proas a homeless camp site with hours Dill established the FBHA in operate the overnight shelter and the • Main street businesses will • Work will be limited to the businesses will be open, and there mote healthy growth while limiting from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. declining number of guests using it. remain open hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday will be access.” the possibility of damage “None of us have ever managed He was than a Battalion Chief Community Sharing Executive • Some traffic delays, lane/street through Friday; however, there may a city meeting with • Updated lighting, landscaping, a homeless camp before, so we forFollowing a fire department in northwest Director Mike Fleck told the Council closures, shifted lanes and flaggers be additional work on weekends, to Main Street business operators and replacement of benches and Chicago. knew that date was a bit aspirathe Community Sharing Board of directing traffic coincide with businesses scheduled and“Ilocal Feb. and 11, Cottage saw citizens our brothers sisters trash receptacles tional,” Sauerwein said. “We are Directors recently voted to step in and struggleMayor from Candace the devastation that • Large trucks and equipment hours Grove Solesbee • Traffic lights will be replaced hoping that this week we will be provide an emergency warming shelter they saw, so went back andtogot coming and going OPEN FOR BUSINESS reinforced theI city’s efforts with four way stop signs, and the able to make the transition. Our on the human service agency’s site at PHOTO JEREMY C. RUARK COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL my degree locals and became a licensed • Some equipment and materi“The /City of Cottage Grove and encourage and visitors to intersections will be raised to be goal was to provide folks with 1440 Birch Avenue on nights when counselor,” he said. “We started and other officials currently doing, whichhave is providing Thewith newthe mini homeless camp to alsSauerwein will be stored in thecity parking lot Wildish Construction worked continue to visit the businesses level sidewalk in order a safe and secure place to spend tracking EMS and firefighter suiovernight temperatures dip below 30 theCity Sentinel, ahard location for folks to spend the of will include the same restrictions as have acrosstold from Hall that there to ensure the least amount meet the American with Disabilities the night and that’s what we are cides across America.” degrees. are• no to offer from possible 7 p.m. toto7 our a.m.” the former Youadditional may feelplans vibrations or any hear night disruption small Act updateslarger camps. doing.” This winter, the nonprofit opened other sheltering for the Read previous coverage “The same rules will apply,” noise long-term during work hours, including businesses on Main Street,”about Neigh Sauerwein said city staff was Behavioral Impact See PROJECT, Page 8 its administrative office for nine homeless. the homelessness challenges in Sauwrwein said. “The camp will According to Dill, firefighters cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to nights and served 25 guests. There are be available from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. “Cottage Grove will follow Cottage Grove and follow new often don’t recognize the behavioral reestablish it as a dog park. Specific 35 community volunteers who have state law as we understand it,” developments at cgsemtinel.com impact of their work. and the rules will be enforced costs of that cleanup and establishsigned up to operate the shelter. “We become cultural brainSauerwein said. “That is what we and in the Wednesday print editions through our contracting company, ing the smaller homeless camp at With the risk of additional freezwashed,” 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 ing nights diminishing for this winter, during this transition period. They structural or wildland fires. So, we the legislature. The city of Cottage available. are meant to believe we are supCommunity Sharing is now seeking Grove has no plans to do any kind are a very experienced homeless posed to act strong, brave, be help, a more permanent solution for the of a shelter beyond what we are camp management company.” don’t ask for help, and we don’t future. want to look weak and not ask for The agency requested the City of help.” Cottage Grove transfer ownership of Dill added that while firefighters the city’s 33 pallet shelters to be used are on the front lines battling the at their location:Twelve 64 sq. ft. twowildfires, one of the biggest chalbed unit and one 100 sq. ft. unit for an CINDY WEELDREYER in the city andface the issurrounding uninlenges they the unknown. office to check guests in and out and Cottage Grove Sentinel “It’s how rapidly theses fires can corporated areas. It also provides store their belongings. move, and the unknown where recycling services to more isthan 2,600 City leaders mothballed its pallet is it going to end? Where will this Garland Burback is a longtime local residential and commercial customfire go to and how long will it shelters at the Highway 99 site and has business owner with a resume reflecters within the city’s urban growthlast? And that is a struggle,” he said. a standing invitation for nonprofits to ing years of public service. boundary. “So, when you are fighting that submit proposals for their use. Fleck Among his volunteer experiences “We provide 1 to 6 cubic-yard confire, you’re trying to do your best said his agency would use its reserve he served as a planning commissioner tainer more busito stopservice it, andtoyet thethan wind300 kicks funds to install the electrical infraand city councilor. He also served on nesses and institutions,” Alverson said. up at 60 miles an hour and it drags structure the units require. Community the South Lane School Board and cur“Roll off box customer compactor it further andand further behind them. Sharing would also provide portable rently sits on the Community Sharing haul arethe provided by request Thatservices aspect of unknown is very CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL toilets and handwashing stations. The Board of Directors. to residential and commercial customdifficult in wildland fires. The fireMatchbooks from the Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. request included city public works With his signature dry sense of fighters that stress and anxiety, ers withinhave our service footprint.” staff transporting the shelters to the humor, he jokingly refers to himself and protectextends is a very Itsthat largestruggle service to territory site but there was no monetary request as “Garbage God,” a tongue-in-cheek difficult challenge for the wildland southeast along London Road to Big firefighters.” from Community Sharing to the city to title that reflects a lifetime spent in the River, north on Highway 99 to Tate It iswest often difficultGrovefor famestablish the seasonal shelter. waste disposal industry. He is proud Road, onvery the Cottage Cindy Weeldreyer/Cottage Grove Sentinel ily members of the firefighters to The Mayor, Councilors and citithat four generations of his family Lorane Highway. to Hazelton Road, CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Garbage Service owners Garland Burback understand what emotions there are, the way” during the construction helped us meet many of our future Nearly 50 people attended the zens expressed their disappointment have successfully navigated through and River Road For The Cottage Grove Sentinel and east thatalong manyRow firefighters don’tto the (right) and son-in-law Tim Alverson work together to manproject. bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s that Community Sharing staff did significant industry changes since the intersection of Brice Creek Road and express their emotions, according age the family-owned business that Cottage Hehas saidserved he was given an importShe shared a humorous mem“Farewell to the Village Green” at 1975,thewhen Birdy Hoelzle notInnotify Sunrise Ridge property mid-20th century. Lange Creek Road. to Dill. Grove’s wasteCenter, disposal needs since 1974. ant job of opening the boxes in the formal Iron the Community Saturday, and herofsister Gail opened The owners the proposal before submit- ory they made HISTORY “We individuals to oper“Weemploy ask the12 family members delivered to the guest rooms and Maiden Dining Room that drew Sept. 21. Bookmine they were familiar with ting it to the city. Prior to 1947, many of the extended the Eugene/Springfield area to form ate ourtoeight trucks,” Alverson said. to try understand the cultural,” approved the transfer of the franchise recalled how cool he felt driving laughterfamily from the crowd.provided The internationally famous resort The Village Green.Solesbee told Fleck, Burback Mayor Candace members he said. “Be direct. “They receive a livingChallenge wage, 100-perSanipac. Burback sold his interest in to the family-owned business. the orange golf cart around the “My service sister and I were budding was created by Walter A. Woodard Their traveled a lot and “With allfather the City has gone through garbage in the Portland marwithemployer compassion something cent paidwhen medical, dental, Sanipac and purchased CottageSome Grove Burbackfor now enjoys aerrands. semi-retired property assigned Years doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound feminists at the time and were quite (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. often brought its matchboxes home dealing with the homelessness issue, ket. Garland’s father moved his young Garbage Service (CGGS) from the vision and work clothing along with lifestyle with his son-in-law Tim shocked by the sexism practiced in members of the family attended and later, another special memory was as keepsakes for hisshould girls. The and do internal size up,We (public engagement) havesisbeen family to Eugene after purchasing aright, generous paidantime off program. Spady in 1974. Alverson managing company’s seeing the famous the football player, the dining room,” she said. “The sharedFamily personal memories. ters were in their 20’s when they which we ask the firefighters to first and foremost in the development Valley Garbage Service in 1947. A decade later, on August 22, day-to-day operations. theone lastof the just ordered a new front-end loader O.J. Simpson, runningInon menu given a woman had no in do as well,” he said.” Internal size opened the Main Street bookstore of this proposal.” Garland joinedtothe family business for $436,000 and plan to order a new the Cottage Grove Council 25 years, paths. Alverson has overseen all THECity LENS up means asking why am I acting resort’s pricesand onsix it and werethe 1983,THROUGH and, to enhance their income, Fleck said Community Sharing 1961 yearsfoot laterpillows purchased automated truckwhy for am recycling at a this cost passed an ordinance granting an excluaspects of the family business. Kris Woodard’s introductory this way, and I feeling To the delight of those gathered, provided so ladies’ uncomfortable worked as waitresses at the resort. will proceed and establish a seasonal company from his dad. of more than $430,000. Our current sive franchise to Garland to provide OPERATIONS remarks included personal memway? The best thing we can do is Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard, shoes couldValley be removed din“It was a wonderful place to In 1973, Garbagewhile Service waste CGGS provides residential roll cart ories disposal he madeservices. through In the2013, lens atof ing. It was a very different era.” work and, being new in town, it joined ten other waste haulers in the request of CGGS, the often Council service to more than 3,000 households a 12-year-old who was “in See LEGACY, Page 6 SeeSERVICE, HEALTH, Page See SHELTER, Page 3 See Page 56
homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters
WHO WE ARE
Family-owned garbage service collects local trash for half a century
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
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