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Life in Cottage Grove

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Wednesday, March 6, 2024

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Number 10 • 135 years

Serving the communities of Cottage Grove and Creswell

AG joins fight to block grocery merger Juvenile sex JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel

The look and feel of local grocery stores, and what you pay for food, is greatly influenced by societal trends and business mergers. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has joined the Federal Trade Commission and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from across the nation in acting to block the proposed $24.6 billion Kroger-Albertsons grocery chain merger. Oregon, the FTC, and the

merger would hurt both, and we’re doing our part to prevent it from going forward.”

“There’s no good for consumers or workers in this proposed merger — and lots of bad.”

BACKGROUND

Ellen Rosenblum, Oregon Attorney General other AGs filed to enjoin the merger in U.S. District Court in Portland following a vote by FTC commissioners Feb. 26. It is the result of thorough investigations by the FTC and the states into the

proposed merger’s anticipated effects, Rosenbaum said in a statement. “We are doing this to protect Oregon consumers and workers,” Rosenblum said. “We believe this proposed

Kroger and Albertsons are the nation’s two largest grocery chains. In Oregon, the two corporations operate 176 stores, serving nearly every community in the state. Kroger operates 51 Fred Meyer and 4 QFC stores, while Albertsons operates 96 Safeway and 25 Albertsons

it was not his intent to become a pastor. “After two years at Western Washington University, I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life. I decided to take a year off to study the Bible at the Lutheran Bible Institute in Issaquah,” he recalled. “I was sold on the LBI’s slogan, ‘Before you learn how to make a living, learn how to live.’” He said as he grew in his understanding of God’s big plan from the Bible, one year led to two and moved him to See PASTOR page 6

See SENTENCE page 10

See MERGER page 10

Courtesy photo from Cindy Weeldryer

Longest-serving Trinity Lutheran Chruch pastor steps down after two decades CINDY WEELDRYER Cottage Grove Sentinel

TODAY’S EDITION

Pastor Jim Markus is a familiar face in the community. He is most recognized dressed as a miner walking in the Bohemia Mining Days Grand Miners Parade promoting Trinity Lutheran Church’s Chicken BBQ, a tasty BMD event since 1985. After serving for two decades as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (TLC), Markus retired from the position in January. Rev. Markus is the longest-

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serving pastor in the church’s 77-year history in Cottage Grove. His strong connection with his parishioners and the community is evidenced by the length of his tenure at two Pacific Northwest churches. His pastoral career began on the East Coast nearly 40 years ago. In 1986, he was ordained at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waterbury, Conn. and served there for four years, one of those as vicar (student pastor). In 1989, he accepted the call to pastor at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Shelton, Wash. were he served for 15 years before his installation

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here on Nov. 24, 2004. Markus was born into a Lutheran family and grew up in West Seattle. He was born into the family of God at a young age. “Just as I’ve always known the love of my parents, I have always known the love of God through the death and resurrection of His Son,” he said. “I had wonderful pastors and youth workers who modeled Christian ministry for me and helped me grow in faith and love with God’s Word.” As a 1977 graduate of Chief Sealth High School in Seattle,

Hello! I’m Lori Russell I just moved to the area last year and am so happy to make my home here. I am a licensed clinical social worker and certiied alcohol and drug counselor III. Call today to make an appointment. 609 E. Main St., Ste. 103 • 541-726-4118 gratitude@lorirussell.website • counselorlorirussell.com

JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel A criminal case that began in 2017 near Cottage Grove involving juvenile sex abuse has concluded with the Feb. 26 sentencing of an Idaho man. According to a release from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, in late 2017, a ranger with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) contacted a teenage juvenile at an illegal camp near Sharps Creek, Cottage Grove. The juvenile told the ranger she had been living there with an adult male for months. The camp was in disarray, according to investigators. Concerned for the juvenile’s well-being, the ranger contacted the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS). DHS had an open case involving the juvenile. She was taken into DHS custody and placed with her mother. Due to the condition of the campsite, the adult male, Lucas Anthony Lloyd, was arrested and lodged at the Lane County Jail for Littering within 100 yards of a waterway. Lane County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) detectives began investigating. The juvenile was interviewed by the Kids FIRST Children’s Advocacy Center. Although she appeared uncomfortable and tested positive for methamphetamine, she did not disclose any abuse. Two years later, in 2019, the juvenile disclosed to a counselor that Lloyd had sexually abused her repetitively, according to LCSO Sgt. Tim Wallace. Lloyd was then in custody with the Idaho Department of Corrections for taking the juvenile from another state to Oregon, violating his custody agreement. LCSO detectives interviewed Lloyd with assistance from the Idaho Department of Corrections. During the interview, Lloyd admitted to having sex with the juvenile. Investigators said the case could not be prosecuted because the juvenile had not provided a statement to law enforcement. Detectives continued following up on the case while Lloyd was still in prison. “In 2022, the juvenile gave detectives a detailed account of how Lloyd sexually abused her and regularly provided her with methamphetamine in the Cottage Grove area,” Wallace said. The case was presented to a Lane County Grand Jury and Lloyd was indicted. Lloyd finished his 60-month Idaho prison sentence and was immediately transported to the Lane County Jail. On Feb. 26, 2024, Lloyd pled guilty to one count of Rape in the First Degree,

Pastor Jim Markus retires

Pastor Jim Markus.

abuse case concludes, Idaho man sentenced

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