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WATER YEAR IMPACT REPORT Sports Cottage
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Relief from drought, help for migrating salmon 49
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JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
Unexpected relief 39, for the Wednesday October 9, 2024 | Number 135Pacific years
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Northwest’s drought has come from short-term cooler, wetter conditions, which also have helped migrating salmon, according to JEREMY C. RUARK / Cottage Grove the Pacific Northwest Water Year Sentinel Impact Assessment. The assessment summarizes Police found the woman’s variations in temperature, prebody lying on the sidewalk in cipitation, and snowpack across the 700 block of Highway 99 Oregon, Washington, and Idaho in in Cottage Grove. Water Year 2024. JEREMY C. RUARK The report details the impactsthe smaller homeless Crews began developing Cottage Grove Sentinel of these variations on key on sectors, camp site this week the vacant lot at 12th Street. Public works crews are in the such as agriculture and drinking process of establishing a new water and how sectors responded Courtesy photo smaller homeless camp site at the to these impacts. SNOTEL stations are the weather and snow monitoring stations installed in mountain locavacant lot on 12th Street in Cottage JEREMY C. RUARK The assessment primarily tions by the Natural Resources Conservation Service that measure temperature, total preCottage Grove Sentinel Grove. reflects the information from the cipitation, and snow water equivalent. Cottage Grove City Manager Oregon’s wildfire season is annual Water Year Recap and dry to conditions 58 reports general, drought improved across the beginning of the month slowed from Mike Sauerwein said the city is expected continue and through this Outlook meetings, surveys, and of impacts from wet conditions. western Washington and western the rates of melt of the existing month, but the mental scares and behind its original Oct. 1 timeline the authors’ expertise. It focuses Similarly, the season National Oregon and worsened in the inland snowpack and prolonged the perimpact of the on Drought the fireis establishing the camp, following on the occurrence and impacts of Mitigation PNW. sistence of the PNW snowpack. fighters whoCenter battle Condition blazes in Lane the Aug. 22 closure and cleanup an extremely warm December, a Monitoring • A warm and dry start to the • Across the PNW, July 2024 County and Reports across the(CMOR) state, and of the 12th Street and Douglas heavy precipitation event at the their families, may last35a reports lifetime, on Drought received water year, combined with an ranked as the 2nd warmest July Street homeless camps. During the end of January that melted mounaccording to Jeff Dill, the founder related to dry conditions and 10 exceptionally warm December since records began in 1895. The transition, the adjacent Lulu Dog tain snowpack, below-normal of Firefighter Behavioral Health that ranked as the 6th warmest on warmer and drier than normal July related to wet conditions over the Park at 12th Street has been used May temperatures, the extremely Allianceof(FBHA). course the water year. record across the PNW, caused conditions exacerbated significant as a homeless camp site with hours warm and dry July, and August the FBHA in •Dill Theestablished 2023 drought impacts drought impacts such as a recordregional snowpack to be much from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. precipitation. persisted at the start of water breaking fire season in Oregon. below normal by January 1. “None of us have ever managed He was than a Battalion Chief The report’s executive sumyear particularly western • A period of cooler and wetter • Across Washington and a homeless camp before, so we for a 2024, fire department in in northwest mary lists the Regional Water Year Washington, where drought reports than normal weather in mid- to Oregon, a series of warm atmoChicago. knew thatJEREMY date wasC.aRUARK bit aspiraConditions: noted lower from spheric rivers at the end of January late-August provided unexpected “I saw ourflows brothers andnatural sisters tional,” Cottage Sauerwein said. “We are Grove Sentinel • Across Washington, Oregon, springs trees. relief from drought impacts and melted much of struggleand fromwater-stressed the devastation that hoping that this week we will be and Idaho, the 2024 water year • More impacts dry the existing mountain snowpack. aided migration of salmon by they saw, so I wentfrom backboth and got The of a deceased able to discovery make the transition. Our (October 1, 2023-September 30, PHOTO JEREMY C. increasing RUARK / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL my degree and became and wet conditions werea licensed reported streamflows and reducAt the end of the snow accumulafemale Highway 99 near goal wasalong to provide folks with 2024) average temperature was counselor,” he said. started in Washington than “We Oregon or ing river doing, temperatures, tion season, average Sauerwein and othersnowpack city officials currently which isparticularly providing new mini homeless camp the Cottage Grove Dairy Queen tiedThe a safe and secure place to spend for the 4th warmest (+1.4°F tracking EMS and firefighter Idaho, which is likely a resultsuiof Washington. rebounded near to above told thetoSentinel, that there ainlocation for folks to spend the will include the same restrictions as have has triggered a death the night and that’s whatinvestigawe are above the 1991-2020 normal) in cidesgreater across America.” both survey dissemination median across most oftoOregon, are no additional plans offer any night from 7 IMPACTS p.m. to 7 a.m.” the former larger camps. tion by Cottage Grove Police. doing.” the 129-year record. Total precipiand response across the state and The executive summaryabout also abovelong-term median on the southern other sheltering for the Read previous coverage “The same rules will apply,” At approximately 3:50was a.m. Sauerwein said city staff Behavioral Impact tation was near-normal in Oregon theAccording fact that drought was more listshomelessness the impacts of the conditions: side of the Snake River Plain in homeless. the challenges in Sauwrwein said. “The camp will March Grove to Dill, firefighters cleaning28, up Cottage the Lulu Dog ParkPolice to and slightly below normal in Idaho pronounced in Washington during • Impacts conditions Idaho, and below along the Cottage “Cottage Grove median will follow Grovefrom and dry follow new be available from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. often don’t recognize the behavioral officers were to a reestablish it asdispatched a dog park. Specific and Washington. the 2024ofwater year (Figure ES2). were reportedatmuch more often northlaw andaseast of the plain. state we side understand it,” developments cgsemtinel.com impact their work. and the rules will be enforced report a female on costs ofofthat cleanup lying and establish• Over the 2024 water year, •“We Among seven sectors, the agrithaninthose from wet conditions Snowpack said. remained become cultural brainSauerwein “Thatbelow is whatmedian we and the Wednesday print editions through our contracting company, the sidewalk front ofcamp 711 at ing the smallerinhomeless the severity of drought decreased washed,”sector Dill said. “Whether it’s cultural reported the highover course of the water year. in Washington, northern are doing. To change that Idaho, is up toand of Thethe Sentinel. One Security of Eugene to help us Highway in not Cottage Grove, 12th Street99 were immediately across Washington, Oregon, and structural or wildland fires. So, est number of impacts from drywe northeastern (Figure ES1). The Annual Pacific Northwest the legislature.Oregon The city of Cottage during this transition period. They according available. to Police Chief Cory Idaho (the Pacific Northwest; are meant to believe we are supWater Year Impacts Survey • Cooler than normal temGrove has no plans to doMay any kind are a very experienced homeless Chase. PNW), but the area experiencposed to act strong, brave, be help, received 319 reports of impacts peratures mountain of a shelterand beyond what snow we arein camp management company.” “Upon arrival, the officers ing drought expanded slightly. In don’t ask help, andPage we 6don’t Seefor RELIEF, determined the female was want to look weak and not ask for deceased,” Chase said. help.” The woman has been identiDill added that while firefighters fied as Judith A. Summers, 66, are on the front lines battling the wildfires, one of the biggest chalof Eugene. The cause of her lenges they face is the unknown. death was pending results of an “It’s how rapidly theses fires can autopsy which was conducted CINDY WEELDREYER Superintendent since 2013. He Board member Sherry Duerst move, and the unknown is where March 29. is it going to end? Where will this Cottage Grove Sentinel brings a comprehensive 23-year Higgins said, “I think it was a Investigators believe deterfire go to andinhow long willhaving it last? background education, thorough process that drew 21-22 mined that the victim and Mark And thatasis an a struggle,” he said. Santiam Canyon School worked instructional assisvery good candidates.” Michael Detering, 59, were “So, when you are fighting that District Superintendent Todd tant, special education teacher, Board member Tammy staying at a nearby hotel before fire, you’reand trying to do your best Miller is South Lane School principal, superintendent. In Hodgkinson said the board got her death. Chase confirms that to stop it, and yet the wind kicks District’s (SLSD) newest addition, he serves as a leaderexcellent candidates. “I was Detering allegedly moved the up at 60 miles an hour and it drags superintendent. coach schoolbehind adminisfrankly impressed with the caliber ship woman’s body from the hotel it further andforfurther them. The SLSD Board unanimously trators and served as executive of the candidates. I want the comThat aspect of the unknown is very to the sidewalk along Highway CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL approved the hiring and signed director for Oregon Connections munity to know (Miller) is the difficult in wildland fires. The fire99. Chase would not disclose Matchbooks from the Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. employment contract with Miller thethat largest K-12 cream at the top here. We’re con- Academy, fighters have stressonline and anxiety, the relationship of the two, so as during a special public meeting charter school in Oregon.” fident we got a really good superand that struggle to protect is a very not to compromise the ongoing conducted Monday, March 31. difficult challenge for the wildland Miller attended the University intendent – but the other candiinvestigation. Board members acknowledged firefighters.” of Oregon and earned his dates were exceptional also.” Detering was arrested by It is often difficult for famthe time-consuming six-month Bachelor of very Science in Political At the onset of the process, the Cottage Grove Police and ily members of theearned firefighters to process and the confidential Science. He then his school board decided to conduct a charged withWEELDREYER second degree CINDY understand what emotions there the way” during the construction helped us meet many of our future Nearly 50 people attended the nature of the search. All agreed confidential search to attract high Master of Science in Special are, abuse of corpse. was booked bookstore customers,” Birdy said. For The Cottage He Grove Sentinel and that many firefighters don’t project. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s Cindy Weeldreyer / Cottage Grove performing the process brought them closer Education from Western Oregon superintendents who into Lane Jail March express their emotions, according He said he was given an importShe shared a humorous mem“Farewell to the Village Green” at Sentinel In the 1975, whenCounty Birdy Hoelzle together as a team. University and his Professional would not want their districts to 28. to Dill. ant job of opening the boxes oryThey theypraised made inthe thesearch formal firm, Iron the Community Center, Saturday, Todd Miller has beern seand her sister Gail opened The Administrator Licensemembers from know, prematurely, of their appli“We ask the family Chase isthey asking If anydelivered to themembers guest rooms and Maiden Capital, Dining Room drew Sept. 21.to lead the South Lane cation. lected Bookmine werethat familiar with Human for itsthat thoroughPortland State University. Miller Board praised to try to understand the cultural,” one has information regarding recalled howinformation cool he felt driving laughter from thethe crowd. The internationally famous resort the School District. His starting The Village Green. ness in guiding national was named Administrator of detailed provided he said. “Be direct. Challenge theTheir investigation to contact thefocus orangegroups, golf cart around the “My They sister and were budding was created date is Julyby1.Walter A. Woodard father traveled a lot and search. alsoI thanked the the by the Oregon Small by representing withYear compassion when something the Cottage Grove Police property for assigned errands. Years Schools feminists at and wereand quite (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some often brought its matchboxes home members ofthe thetime community doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound Association in the 2023teachers, staff, parents, students Tonya Kerns, Assistant Department non-emergency line shocked by the sexism practiced in later,community another special memory was members of theExecutive family attended and and as keepsakes for his girls. The sisfocus groups for their important right, and do an internal size up, 24 school year. members, that to the Board andmemories. Superintendent. at seeing the player, the dining room,” shefinal said. decision “The shared personal ters541-942-9145. were in their 20’s when they which the firefighters input that led to the AfterwetheaskMarch 31 meet- to assisted thefamous board football in making “We work closely with staff Follow developments online O.J. Simpson, running on one of the ing, menu given to a woman had no do asresponding well,” he said.” Internal size opened the Main Street bookstore to offer the job to Miller. the final decision among four to questions THROUGH in each district weTHE assistLENS with at in the up means asking why am I acting resort’s paths. prices on it and foot pillows were and,cgsentinel.com to enhance theirand income, Board members and Kathleen finalists. from community members, the Kris Woodard’s introductory a search,” Rodden-Nord said. Wednesday print editions of The provided so ladies’ uncomfortable this way, and why am I feeling this To the delight of those gathered, worked as waitresses at the resort. Rodden-Nord of Human Capital A district press release 48-year-old said he grew up remarksrose included personal mem“Tonya above in every way Sentinel way? The best thing we can do is Kris’ brother, Caseyworked Woodard, shoes could be removed efforts while din“It was a wonderful place to praised the facilitation of noted Miller “has as ories he made through the lens of possible.” ing. It was a very different era.” work and, being new in town, it See SCHOOL, Page 6 the Santiam Canyon District a 12-year-old who was often “in
The mental City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters
Body found on sidewalk Death investigation launched
New school district superintendent selected
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
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