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entinel entinel Creswell Fourth of July Rodeo Cottage Theatre Presents Nevermore
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CINDY WEELDREYER Wednesday October 9, 2024 | Number 39, 135 years Cottage Grove Sentinel
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South Lane School Board 74 49 meeting gets politicized $2.00 Cottage Grove
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The mental City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel
It’s been common knowledge for generations that the best place to be in South Lane County to celebrate America’s Independence Day is in Creswell. Its lengthy parade draws 100+ entries from near and far as thousands of spectators wearing red, white and blue and waving Old JEREMY C. RUARK Glory line the route. Cottage Grovethe Sentinel Officials estimate town of 6,000 swells to 10,000 on the Public works crews are in the Fourth Festivities begin in processofofJuly. establishing a new Holt Park with an camp early site morning smaller homeless at the breakfast later Street fills toincapacvacant lotand on 12th Cottage ity following the parade offering Grove. liveCottage music, Grove contests, trucks Cityfood Manager and By mid-afternoon Mikevendors. Sauerwein said the city isthe crowds thinoriginal out, with returnbehind its Oct.many 1 timeline ing at dusk for the the camp, fireworks show. is establishing following years, community leaders theFor Aug. 22 closure and cleanup have a strategy to keep the of thesought 12th Street and Douglas crowds in town. camps. This year, a local Street homeless During the family believes it offersLulu the perfect transition, the adjacent Dog solution to meet thishas need. Park at 12th Street been used is a hours as Longhorn a homelessProductions camp site with local by Phil and from business, 7 p.m. to owned 7 a.m. daily. Courtney Long, that produces “None of us have ever managed rodeo eventscamp throughout Pacific a homeless before,the so we Northwest. Courtney daughter knew that date was a isbitthe aspiraof WayneSauerwein and Evie said. White“We andare grew tional,” up in thethat family business, WildbeWest hoping this week we will Events. Waynetheis transition. a widely-known able to make Our rodeo announcer and,folks for 32 years, goal was to provide with he wasand the secure Eugeneplace Pro Rodeo’s a safe to spend announcer before lastare year. the night and that’sretiring what we COMMUNITY BENEFITS doing.” Creswell Citystaff Manager SauerweinInterim said city was Spencer years theto cleaning Nebel up thesaid LuluforDog Park city and theitCreswell of reestablish as a dog Chamber park. Specific Commerce partnered to plan costs of thathave cleanup and establishthe festivities. The ing community-wide the smaller homeless camp at Chamber the activities, 12th Streetcoordinates were not immediately available.
Politics took front and center at the beginning of South Lane School District Board of Directors’ May meeting that coincided with the first day of Teacher Appreciation Week. The South Lane Educators Association (SLEA) board report focused primarily on the nationwide controversy over diversity, equity Crews began developing the smaller homeless and inclusion (DEI). Speaking on camp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street. behalf of the certified teachers in the district, Brandi Baker-Rudicel stated the Oregon Education Association C. RUARK and localJEREMY teachers stand firmly and Cottage Grove Sentinel proudly in support of DEI efforts. Oregon’sstands wildfire is “Oregon at aseason crossroad expected to continue through regarding DEI and civil rights,”this month, but the mental scares and Baker-Rudicel said. “We believe impact of the season on the fireevery student regardless fighters who -battle blazesofinrace, Lane background, gender identity, County and across the state, lanand Courtesy photo guage and ability - deserve an their families, may last a lifetime, Rodeo action adds new excitement to this year’s Creswell Fourth of July celebration. The environment theythe feelfounder seen, according towhere Jeff Dill, afternoon event features saddle bronc riding with champions like Matt Shannon. respected and supported. of Firefighter BehavioralWhen Healthwe Alliance (FBHA). invest in equity we invest in exceland the city provides funding to off- will give several nonprofit groups increased revenue to restaurants, Dillforestablished thejust FBHA in or lence all. It is not a trend set a portion of the cost. an opportunity to raise money by retailers, and service providers. 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. a buzzword, it is a constitutional and “The City of Creswell has a very assisting with parking, vending and Over the next couple of years, we’ll moral He was than a Battalion obligation our unionChief is comfor a fire department robust Fourth of July celebration other activities, and will generate have a clearer picture of the event’s mitted to defending.” in northwest Chicago. that draws thousands of people to additional business activity for the long-term economic influence, but Baker-Rudicel said she believes “I saw our brothers and sisters the community each year,” Nebel community.” we’re confident it will be a win for disinformation campaigns in thethat struggle from the devastation said. “Longhorn Productions Courtney said their goal is to Creswell,” she said. community are targeting vulnerable they saw, so I went back and got approached us and offered to probridge the gap in the day’s schedule FAMILY TIES and harassing anda attacking PHOTO JEREMY C. RUARK / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL groups my degree and became licensed vide a rodeo on private land on by offering a family-friendly, highThe addition of a rodeo to those who advocate for inclusive counselor,” he said. “We started Sauerwein officials which providing The new camp Melton Roadmini nearhomeless Bi-Mart.” energy event and that other keepscity parade spec- currently Creswell’sdoing, biggest and ismost excittracking EMS and firefighter suihave told the Sentinel, that there a location for folks to spend the by education. will“This include the same restrictions as will give visitors an opportators in town. ing day of the year didn’t happen cides “Letacross me beAmerica.” crystal clear, when no additional plans local to offer any night from 7 was p.m. born to 7 a.m.” the former largersome camps. tunity to spend additional time are“We aim to support busiaccident—it from decades our educators are targeted for the other sheltering for the previous coverage about same will and apply,” Behavioral Impactthey and“The money in rules Creswell give nesses,long-term encourage community ofRead dedication, a deep-rooted famwork they do for the students homeless. the homelessness challengesdream in Sauwrwein said. “The camp will According to Dill, firefighters our local residents an opportunity to engagement, and lay the foundation ily legacy, and a long-held serve or for their own identity, we Grovetradition. will follow Cottage Grove and follow new to be available 7 p.m. to 7during a.m. often don’t recognize the behavioral enjoy anotherfrom exciting event for“Cottage a new annual History finally coming to life, according all suffer,ofand will not stand by state law as we understand it,” developments at cgsemtinel.com impact theirwework. and the rules will be enforced the holiday festivities. The Chamber has shown that well-established Courtney. silently,” she firmly stated. “Our “We become cultural brainSauerwein said. towns “That is we and in the Wednesday print editions through our contracting company, and community has expressed rodeos in small canwhat be treschools must be places for learning, washed,” Dill said. “Whether it’s are doing. To change that is up to of The Sentinel. One Security of event. EugeneThe to rodeo help us support for this mendously impactful—bringing not battlegrounds for fear or diviSee RODEO Page 6 structural or wildland fires. So, we the legislature. The city of Cottage during this transition period. They sion. Our teachers must be supported are meant to believe we are supGrove has no plans to do any kind are a very experienced homeless to act the strong, brave, benothelp, inposed delivering curriculum, of a shelter beyond what we are camp management company.” don’t ask for and we intimidated forhelp, teaching the don’t truth. want to look weak and not for Our migrant families, many ask of whom help.” came here seeking hope and opporDilldeserve added that firefighters tunity, our while compassion not are on the front lines battling the our contempt.” wildfires, one of the biggest chalShe concluded report by lenges they face her is the unknown. acknowledging Teacher Appreciation “It’s how rapidly theses fires can Week a cause for celebration and move,isand the unknown is where that the current contract negotiais it going to end? Where will this JEREMY C. RUARK “Part of the issue that we have tions require parties be fair fire go to andallhow longtowill it last? Cottage Grove Sentinel had with the homeless folks from Andfaithful. that is aShe struggle,” he said. and said, “The district’s the beginning in Cottage Grove is “So, when you are fighting that to commitment to DEI is a challenge Cottage Grove’s 12th Street that we don’t really have any access befire, you’re trying to do your brave and unwavering. The best chalhomeless camp site remains open to services. The services are generto stopfacing it, andour yetcommunity the wind kicks lenges call us with new hours in an effort to proally available in the metro area, 60 miles hour and it drags toupbeatunited andan bold.” vide what city officials describe as it further and further behind them. Eugene and Springfield.” Public comment at the May 5 a save overnight location for the That aspect of the unknown is very Sauerwein said his hopeSENTINEL for a CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE meeting the fires. unionThe report. unhoused. difficultfollowed in wildland firelong-term solution to the homelessMatchbooks from the Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. Speaker Johanna Zee told the “The number of people using fighters have that stress and anxiety, ness issues lies with the state. board she struggle was asked to speakisabout the site really varies by night,” and that to protect a very “It certainly isn’t up to a city of how the last four SLEA board difficult challenge for the wildland Cottage Grove City Manager Mike 12,000 people. We aren’t going to reports have been “politically divifirefighters.” Sauerwein said. “We have had as solve homelessness,” he said. “This siveItand is often very difficult for famhighly inflammatory”. few as one or two, and sometimes is a regional-statewide-national ily members of the firefighters She believes the union’s supporttoof as many as more than a dozen spend issue. Theduring governor has talked CINDY WEELDREYER understand what emotions there isare, the way” the construction helped us meet many of our future Nearly 50 people attended the specific school board candidates a theFor night.” The Cottage Grove Sentinel about adding funding for additional conflict and thatofmany firefighters don’t project. bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s interest because the board The fenced-in site, in a vacant lot resources a higher of Jeremy C. Ruark Sentinel express their emotions, according He saidand he was givenlevel an importShe shared a humorous mem“Farewell to the/ Cottage Village Grove Green” at In 1975, determines teacher salaries. along at thewhen end ofBirdy 12th Hoelzle Street, is to Dill. coordination between state, county, Cottage Grove Police checked onthethe campers during the ant job of opening the boxes ory they made in the formal Iron Community Center, Saturday, and her sister Gail opened The Zee expressed concern that at the opened and closed by the Cottage “We ask the family members and city services. We’llrooms see what Aug. 22Dining closing deadline homeless camp. delivered to the guest and Maiden Room that drewat the 12th Sept.Street 21. Bookmine they wereDepartment familiar with April Board Grove Public Works to try29to School understand theCandidates’ cultural,” of the recalledouthow coolOregon he felt Legislative driving laughter from the crowd. The internationally famous resort comes The Village Green. Forum someone in the audience staff. It had been opened from 7 he said. “Be direct. Challenge that of the public works and police “If the public works department session, butgolf I definitely thinkthe there the orange cart around “My sister and I were budding was created by Walter A. Woodard Their traveled lot and the flipped off Rayla Campbell, a p.m. to 7father a.m. but most arecently with compassion when something staffing. folks notice something that is an needs to be aassigned higher level of coordiproperty for errands. Years Position feminists at the time and were quite (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some often brought its matchboxes home 2 candidate, every time she doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound hours were adjusted, opening at 5 “There is not a specific viable unsafe situation, someone has drugs betweenspecial the different later, another memorygovernwas shocked by the sexism practiced in members of the family attended and nation as keepsakes for at his8girls. sisspoke. Zee criticized the incumbent right, and do an internal size up, p.m. and closing a.m. The to better cost,” he said. “We’ve tried to mini- or someone appears to be having a ment seeingagencies.” the famous football player, the dining room,” she said. “The shared personal memories. ters were 20’sworks whenstaff they which we endorsed ask the firefighters to candidates by SLEA for align withinthetheir public mental health crisis, they do contact mize the cost as much as we can BACKGROUND O.J. Simpson, running on one of the allowing menu given to a woman had no do as well,” he said.” Internal size opened the Main Street bookstore state political action comhours. he said,THE adding that with public works opening and clos- the police,” THROUGH LENS In Aug. 2024, Cottage Grove shut mittee up means asking why am I acting resort’s paths. prices on it and foot pillows were and, to enhance their income, money and Congresswoman According to Sauerwein, the cost police assistance, the city ing the camp into our routine work.” beyond Kris Woodard’s introductory down the delight larger 12th Streetgathered, site and Val thisHoyle’s way, and why amteam I feeling To the of those provided so ladies’ uncomfortable worked as waitresses at the homeresort. campaign to this of operating the 12th Street continues to be challenged Police have been called to the remarks included personal with mem-the aKris’ similar location on Woodard, Douglas Street. run way? The best thing we can brother, Casey shoes could be removed while din“It was a wonderful place to their campaigns and makedo is less camp has been minimized by lack health services. camp site on occasion, according to oriesofhemental made through the lens of ing. It was a very different era.” work and, being new in town, it aliening the operational hours to Sauerwein. a 12-year-old who was often “in See LEGACY, Page 6 See HEALTH, Page 6 See MEETING, Page 6 See CAMP, Page 6
wildland firefighters
12th Steet homeless camp now available through summer months
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
INSIDE News — 1-3— 3 Lifestyles Obituaries — 4 Death Notice — 4
Opinion — 5 Classifieds — 7 News Sports——8 8
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