When Lane County earned its designation as a HEARTsafe Community, local fire and medical leaders emphasized that the title was not ceremonial. It was a commitment, a promise that when a person’s heart stops, this region is prepared.
On the morning of February 21, that promise was tested in the most public and humbling way possible during a volunteer work project at Row River Nature Park.
That morning, members of the Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council gathered for a habitat restoration work party, planting native vegetation in the park. Among the volunteers was 71-year-old Chris Ellis. The group spent the morning working side by side before pausing to take a group photo, a simple moment of camaraderie that turned, in an instant, into a life or death emergency.
As Ellis knelt in the front row, he suddenly collapsed. Volunteers quickly realized the severity of the situation: he had no pulse and wasn’t breathing. Two volunteers, Bear and Cricket, had CPR training and immediately began hands only CPR, pushing hard and fast in the center of his chest while another volunteer called 911 Ellis remembers none of it. “I don’t remember exactly what happened,” he said in a phone interview with The Sentinel.
“The last thing I recall was kneeling down for the group photo. Then I woke up at RiverBend where I was told I had a cardiac arrest.” He said the experience still feels surreal. “They are the reason I’m still here and I’m very glad to be here. I owe my life to them.”
Inside the dispatch center of the Cottage Grove Police Department
(CGPD), Telecommunicator Shanice Roselle answered the 911 call. She alerted the patrol officers on duty and notified the Central Lane Dispatch Center in Eugene, which handles South Lane Fire & Rescue’s 911 calls. Dispatchers are a critical link in the HEARTsafe chain, providing real time coaching that keeps CPR going until responders arrive.
CGPD Officer Joshua Israel was the first to arrive on the scene and began rotating CPR compressions. Moments later Officers Ryan Blalack and Quentin Buckland arrived and Blalack assumed command. They deployed the automated external defibrillator (AED) from a
patrol vehicle. Several years ago a collaborative grant between South Lane Fire & Rescue (SLF&R) and CGPD placed the lifesaving machines in local emergency response vehicles. The small machine did what it was supposed to do – it delivered a shock that helped restore Ellis’ pulse.
SLF&R paramedics on C Shift soon arrived on the scene. Captain Stephen Beach, Engineer Alex Wales, Resident FF/EMT Jorge Rodriguez and FF/EMT Eryn Whisler transitioned Ellis into their advanced cardiac care. After stabilizing him they transported him to the PeaceHealth Sacred Heart
Medical Center at RiverBend, home of the PeaceHealth Oregon Heart & Vascular Institute, the region’s cardiac center. Because CPR was started immediately — and because an AED was used within minutes — Ellis survived an event that is fatal far too often.
At RiverBend, the cardiac receiving team completed the final link in the HEARTsafe chain. Cardiologists, nurses and critical care staff provided the advanced treatment that stabilized Ellis and supported his recovery in the days that followed.
Oregon governor declares state of emergency over wildfire threat
ALEX BAUMHARDT Oregon Capital Chronicle
While Oregon’s first 2026 heatwave eased Tuesday, June 16, heat and drought are expected to worsen through the summer and will heighten wildfire risks across Oregon, spurring Gov. Tina Kotek to declare a state of emergency.
Kotek made the declaration Tuesday in an executive order, which will make it easier for local and state fire authorities to access “all available resources” including various firefighting crews, aerial support, ground resources, and emergency personnel to prevent and respond to fires. The emergency will last until the end of the year or the end of the fire season, which is expected to last through October.
“Increasing heat, dry vegetation and shifting winds continue to align and create dangerous conditions that demand immediate action,” Kotek said in a statement. “Throughout the summer, it will get hotter and drier. Oregon has record-setting low snowpack, and nearly
half of our counties are facing persistent drought conditions. On average, 70% of wildfires in Oregon are human-caused. Prevention starts with every Oregonian — at home, at work and out and about enjoying our great state.”
Kotek also advised Oregonians to sign up for the statewide emergency alert system OR-Alert, to have an evacuation plan and to have an emergency “go kit” ready.
Since March, Kotek has declared drought 17 of Oregon’s 36 counties, mostly in southern
and eastern Oregon. More than 400 wildfires so far this year have burned more than 8 000 acres, and several caused temporary evacuations. The declaration directs state agencies and the National Guard to collaborate on wildfire response and prevention by sharing personnel, equipment and resources. It also directs those agencies and Guard troops to meet requests coming from the state’s primary fire agencies — the Oregon Department of Forestry and the State Fire Marshal — and local and tribal governments. https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/briefs/oregon-governordeclares-state-of-emergencyover-wildfire-threat/ Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle. com. \
City talks wildfire preparedness plan
Issues water curtailment advisories
JEREMY C. RUARK
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Cottage Grove City officials have issued a Plan Today, Protect Tomorrow advisory concerning the summer-fall wildfire season.
“Wildfire risks are rising, and preparation has never been more critical,” the officials state in a release.
Fire officials have consistently recommended that property owners develop defensible space to best protect their homes and property from wildfires.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Defensible Space Program is designed to help Oregonians protect their homes and communities through proactive, practical measures, according to the release. Defensible space is the buffer you create between your business or home and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surrounds it.
Proper defensible space can slow or stop the spread of wildfire and help protect your home or business.
You can find a Defensible Space Assessment and Checklist on the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s webpage.
On June 15, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) declared all of its districts were in fire season. This means that to reduce the risk of humancaused wildfires, fire restrictions may be in place where you live or at a destination you plan to visit or recreate.
“Looking at the current conditions and projections for the summer, ODF is prepared to have another busy fire season,” Oregon Department of Forestry’s Fire Protection Division Chief Michael Curran said. “Oregonians need to be practicing wildfire prevention and emergency preparedness NOW.”
Now is the time to brush up on your wildfire prevention knowledge. Tips include:
• Know before you go. Campfires may be banned or only allowed in approved campgrounds.
• Make sure your campfire is cool to the touch before going to sleep or leaving your site. Don’t forget to Drown, Stir, Repeat.
• Forests and fireworks don’t mix. Private use of fireworks is not allowed on forest land, which includes all private lands protected by ODF and all other state and federal forest lands in Oregon. Remember to check any additional city and county firework restrictions as well.
• Backyard debris burning eitherrequires a burn permit during fire season or is
Cindy Weeldreyer / Cottage Grove Sentinel
Chris Ellis right stands next to Cottage Grove Police Department Patrol Officer Quentin Buckland holding the AED machine that saved Ellis’ life on Feb. 21.
Matt Fisher of Umatilla Task Force / Northwest Interagency Coordination Center
A helicopter drops flame retardant on the Cow Valley Fire in eastern Oregon on July 12, 2024. Scientists expect wildfires to continue to intensify with climate change.
STAFF REPORT
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Alleged threats to kill leads to arrest
Cottage Grove Police
officers were dispatched to a report of a disturbance in the 2100 block of Wilson Avenue in Cottage Grove at approximately 10:30 a.m.
June 4
South Lane 9-1-1 received multiple calls of a man confronting individuals, yelling, and threatening to kill them.
Officers arrived and talked to the victims and witnesses to the incident. They identified 58-year-old Brett W. Sahs as the suspect. According to the victims they were hired by the
neighborhood homeowner’s association (HOA) to perform lawn maintenance in the neighborhood. They had been working at Sahs’s residence on Wilson Avenue when Sahs allegedly confronted them and threatened them, a release from Cottage Grove Police states.
“After they left the residence and were working at another nearby residence in the neighborhood, Sahs again approached them and continued to yell at them and threaten to kill them,” the release states. “He then returned to his residence where he called the property
management company for his residence and reiterated his threats to kill them. Sahs stated he had a gun and was going to shoot somebody.”
When officers attempted contact with Sahs at his residence he refused to come out after being advised he was under arrest. Due to the nature of the threats, mutual aid was requested and personnel from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police responded to the scene.
“During the incident an officer with the Cottage Grove Police Department was able to make phone
contact with Sahs. At about 12:45 p.m. Sahs agreed to come out of the residence.
Once Sahs exited the residence he was taken into custody without further incident,” the release states. Sahs was transported to the Lane County Jail where he was booked and lodged on the following charges:
• 2 Counts of Menacing
• 1 Count Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree “We would like to thank the Lane County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police for their support in bringing this incident to a
peaceful conclusion,” the release states. If anyone has any information about this investigation, they are asked to call the Cottage Grove Police Department at 541-942-9145
POLICE BLOTTER
The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies. All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Information printed is preliminary and subject to change. For specific details about cases listed, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.
COTTAGE GROVE POLICE
MONDAY, JUNE 8
01:00: Wanted subject, 1200 block Gateway Blvd.
07:09: Suspicious vehicle, 3000 block Row River Rd.
07:12: Dog at large, Grant/6th
08:43: Found dog, 1200 block River Rd.
09:22: Fraud, 700 block Row River Rd.
09:43: Suspicious subject, M/Main
09:51: Suspicious subject, 2000 block E. Main St.
10:25: Suspicious subject, 900 block Row River Rd.
21:36: Suspicious condition, 400 block South 1st St.
22:15: Suspicious vehicle, 1300 block S. River Rd.
22:52: Warrant service, 1500 block Hwy 99
23:09: Shots fired, 200 block N. 12th St.
23:23: Barking dog, 200 block N. 10th St.
23:30: Disorderly subject, 800 block E. Main St.
23:41: Assault, 1500 block E. Main St.
THURSDAY, JUNE 11
00:16: Suspicious vehicle, 1300 block E. Main St.
00:50: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.
01:23: Trespass, 1300 block E. Jefferson Ave.
02:30: Disturbance, 33000 block Jenkins Rd.
07:22: Warrant service, 200 block N. 12th St.
08:11: Criminal mischief, 100 block N. 8th St.
08:16: Assault, 1300 block S. River Rd.
08:27: Alarm, 400 block S. 8th St.
09:56: Harassment, 800 block E. Main St.
10:14: Abandoned vehicle, 16th/Main
11:34: Abandoned vehicle, 1500 block Elm Ave.
12:05: Assault, 1300 block S. River Rd.
13:55: Disturbance, 1300 block E. Jefferson Ave.
14:08: Juvenile trouble, 1300 block S. River Rd.
14:37: Harassment, 1500 block Gateway Blvd.
15:13: Mental subject, 800 block Gateway Blvd.
15:19: Suspicious subject, 100 block S. 10th St.
16:16: Drug activity, 1300 block Elm Ave.
16:48: Fire, 700 block Row River Rd.
17:24: Juvenile trouble, 100 block Gateway Blvd.
18:08: Hit and run, 600 block S. 14th St.
Seach launched for missing elderly woman
Seach launched for missing elderly woman
On June 17, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) learned
88-year-old Marjorie Ann Gray was missing from Lorane.
Gray was last seen on June 12, at her residence
in the 27000 block of Lorane Orchard Road.
Marjorie Ann Gray is described as a white female who is approximately 5 02 tall and weighs about 130 pounds. She has short gray hair and blue eyes. It is unknown what she was last seen wearing. Her vehicle is also missing. It is a white in color 2003
Dodge Durango with Oregon license plates 684-CVQ.
As of June 18, the LCSO deputies and the LCSO Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers continued to search the area.
Anyone with any information about Gray’s whereabouts are asked to call LCSO dispatch at 541-682-4150
00:01: Suspicious condition, 1800 block N. Douglas Ave.
00:59: Suspicious condition, 78000 block Hwy 99
02:14: Disturbance, 200 block Gateway Blvd.
09:00: Harassment, 1100 block St. James Pl. 09:48: Suspicious vehicle, Row River/ Gateway
09:55: Fraud, 1800 block S. 8th St. 10:27: Abandoned vehicle, 800 block Pierce Ave. 10:54: Death investigation, 1700 block E. Washington Ave.
11:35: Harassment, 200 block N. 8th St. 13:14: Abandoned vehicle, 100 block N. 16th St. 14:24: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St. 15:46: Burglary, 1100 block Hillside Dr. 16:09: Fire, 200 block Gateway Blvd. 16:38: Hit and run, 100 block Gateway Blvd.
16:50: Drug activity, 400 block Taylor Ave.
17:13: Theft, 1500 block Village Dr. 19:40: Juvenile trouble, 1400 block E. Madison Ave.
20:07: Reckless driving, R/Carnegie 20:53: Reckless driving, 6th/Cleveland 21:53: Assault, 400 block N. 9th St.
23:10: Suspicious subject, 700 block E. Gibbs Ave.
• Cottage Grove Museum, 1–4 p.m. Birch Avenue and H Street. • VFW
Sisters launch vintage shop and coffee bar
CINDY WEELDREYER
Cottage Grove Sentinel
A sister vacation cruise to Hawaii sparked the idea behind one of Cottage Grove’s newest small businesses. During the trip Janet Flake and Jewel Harrison talked about what they wanted for the next chapter of life. When they returned home the idea of opening a vintage store rose to the top. Flake loved thrifting and shopping, and Harrison’s daughter Amber McMullen already envisioned a coffee bar and even had the name chosen. The three of them moved quickly to bring the idea to life.
They soon spotted the old retro style gas station on South Sixth Street for rent and acted immediately. The building’s character fit their vision for a vintage and antique store. “Once we met the owner, we knew this was the place,” Harrison said.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Harrison is the oldest of four siblings and Flake is the youngest. Their lives took them to different states for many years. When their mother’s health required more attention, they both returned to Oregon. Harrison and McMullen live in Eugene and Flake lives in Roseburg. Cottage Grove sits almost directly between those towns and made it a natural midpoint for both families. Returning to Oregon to care for their elderly mother reunited the sisters after many years in different states and brought their families closer together,
creating the foundation for the new business, Bean There Done That, they would eventually build.
“Being close to her right now means everything to us,” Flake said. They wanted the store to feel warm and inviting and designed open aisles so customers with mobility needs could move easily. They decorate for every season and holiday and enjoy creating a fresh look throughout the year. The aroma of fresh coffee greets people as they walk through the door and is intended to simple and welcoming so customers can grab a cup and browse.
A WARM WELCOME AT THE DOOR
McMullen manages the daily operations. She handles ordering, design, social media, event planning, marketing, booth rentals, and accounting. She greets customers with her signature red lip smile and enjoys hearing their stories and sharing a laugh.
Harrison’s other daughter, Autumn Grant, serves as the store’s webmaster and helps maintain their online presence.
“I love hearing people’s stories and sharing a laugh,” McMullen said. Her energy shapes the store’s personality and helps create a friendly atmosphere.
Vendor spaces filled quickly and the ownersbuilt friendships with many of the artists and makers who now sell their work in the shop. Opening in winter created challenges because many people still associated the building with
its past life as a gas station and mechanic shop.
“Opening in winter made it tough because people still thought of the building as a gas station,” McMullen said. Word of mouth and social media helped spread the news, she said.
RENOVATION AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
The renovation became a team project. They spent more than a month creating the layout, decorating, and remodeling the bathroom which they encourage customers to see. “You have to see the bathroom,” McMullen said with a laugh. They credit the Cottage Grove community for steady support. City Hall staff helped them navigate the setup process and local vendors welcomed them into the business community.
“Cottage Grove has been amazing to us,” Harrison said.
The store carries a wide variety of items including baked goods from Jo’s Dough and The Carb Shop Cookies, work from local artists, vintage pieces, antiques, handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing, and plants. They describe the shop as a place where everyone can find something that fits their style.
From this summer the shop hosts a Pop Up Market from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Sunday. The seasonal market features rotating vendors and give shoppers more opportunities to explore local goods.
A COFFEE BAR WITH LOCAL FLAVOR
The coffee bar adds a sense of home to the store. They keep prices affordable with a 12-ounce cup for $1 50 and a 16- ounce cup for $2. They plan to add iced coffee soon. They serve Café Mam coffee which comes from an organic roaster in Eugene. The owners enjoy working with the company and praise the quality of the coffee.
“We love working with Café Mam because the coffee is so good and
the company is local,” Harrison said.
Their grand opening last month brought sunshine, vendors, regular customers, and new faces. They spent the day celebrating, meeting people, and building relationships they hope will last.
LOOKING AHEAD
The three women hope the community will continue supporting small businesses so Bean There Done That can thrive. They want success not only for themselves but for the
many small businesses represented by their vendors. Their goal is to keep creating a place where people feel welcome, discover unique items, and enjoy a cup of coffee while they explore.
“We want this to be a place where everyone feels welcome,” Flake said.
Four family entrepreneurs hosted a May 2 grand opening for Bean There Done That, offering coffee, crafts and antiques. L-to-R: Jewel Harrison, Amber McMullen, Autumn Grant and Janet Flake.
Nichols Milbank “Nick” Cutting was born on October 4, 1935, in Los Angeles, California. He passed away on May 27, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis, Oregon, of bone cancer. He lived in Cottage Grove from 1974 to 1982. For the full obituary, see https://www. mchenryfuneralhome. com/obituaries/nicholscutting/#!/Obituary
A celebration of life will be held at the Albany Golf & Event Center, 155
Nancy A. Martin 70 of Eugene, Oregon, passed away on May 22 2026 Arrangements are in the care of Sunset Hills Funeral Home, Crematorium & Cemetery.
ALEX
Oregon Capital Chronicle
To improve school attendance in a state with one of the nation’s highest absenteeism rates, Oregon education officials have presented lawmakers with a plan to repeal existing attendance laws.
The high-level presentation and 20-page report presented to the Senate Interim Education Committee June 16, described a strategy to replace existing attendance laws “rooted in compliance” with new rules that measure “attendance as a performance growth indicator.” It left lawmakers with many more questions than answers: State Sen. Courtney Neron Misslin, D-Wilsonville, almost immediately requested a follow-up meeting to get more clarity.
Senate Bill 315 passed during the 2025 legislative session required the Oregon Department of Education to produce by May 31 a report that outlined how districts are handling attendance policies, best practices for recording and improving student attendance and statutory recommendations that could apply in Oregon. Lawmakers will take up any recommendations during the next legislative session in 2027
with coming up with the new statutes, and attendance would be wrapped into new legislatively mandated accountability measures.
Pre-Planning makes matters easier for those you love.
Pre-Planning allows you to provide guidance to your family after your death.
Pre-Planning allows you to control potential expenses of a funeral and disposition.
Pre-Planning provides an advanced opportunity to assemble life data. DEATH NOTICE
Oregon schools have among the highest absenteeism rates in the country, state data shows, and it’s a problem that has persisted since students returned to school following the COVID pandemic nearly five years ago.
Roughly one-third of Oregon students in 2024 were considered chronically absent, meaning they missed 17 or more school days during the school year in a state with one of the shortest school years in the country. About one-fifth of students nationwide were chronically absent in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Repeal and replace
Among the recommendations state education officials offered are to repeal 11 state statutes relating to compulsory school attendance and to replace them with statutes that “would include compulsory attendance requirements and exemptions,” and also outline the responsibilities of guardians and school districts when it comes to student attendance. The report described some state attendance laws as “outdated” and “duplicitive,” and said some homeschooling regulations are wrapped into attendance laws.
The State Board of Education would be tasked
“Oregon’s current compulsory attendance statutes and rules are grounded in compliance-oriented definitions of attendance, static thresholds, and enforcement mechanisms. Maintaining compulsory attendance statutes rooted in compliance creates tension with this model, as they rely on fixed definitions of absence and enforcement responses that create conflict with attendance as a growthbased measurement,” the report reads.
Notably absent is any recommendation for punitive action or a framework for accountability from students or their families when a student continues to miss school. Lawmakers in 2021 repealed an Oregon law that allowed schools to issue truancy fines to parents or guardians for a child’s ongoing and unexcused absences from school.
“This represents a shift from enforcing attendance through prescribed sanctions to using attendance data as a continuous signal for improvement, support, and system effectiveness,” the education department recommendations read.
Candice Castillo, deputy director of academics at the state education department, told lawmakers that some students who continually violate district attendance policies will unenroll from school or just stop showing up, disappearing altogether.
“There’s all these barriers and these challenges that our students and communities are facing, and compulsory policies can be helpful to some extent, but there is a broader system that needs
to be in place in order to really support students,” she said. “What we aim to do with this recommendation beyond that compulsory requirement is really to help the district build a system and build an approach that allows us to support the student needs, so that our students would want to be in the classroom consistently.”
State Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, asked Castillo “what the teeth” of the proposal would be.
“I think you can have that level of the ‘wrap around supports’ — What supports does this student need? What supports does this family need? — but we also can hold students accountable,” she said. “I sometimes worry Oregon gets in its own way when we remove the accountability.”
Other attendance policy recommendations
Education officials told lawmakers that there are major inconsistencies in how districts record student attendance, as well as how they record the reasons why a student is absent, making it difficult to collect accurate data on why so many students in Oregon are not going to school regularly.
The education department would create 17 possible codes districts could use to record students not as merely “excused” or “unexcused” but as “present” or “absent.”
Under the new codes, a student could be marked “present” even if they are out of school for a debate tournament or sport, are temporarily getting remote instruction or are attending a tribal education program or event. A student would be marked “absent” if they are ill, working, can’t find transportation to school or if their situation is unknown.
In their presentation, state education officials noted that merely recording a student as “excused” or “unexcused” lacks clarifying information and “places a value statement on absences and contributes to a misconception about absences,” while recording students as “present” or “absent” provides more context and “centers the loss of instruction for any reason and elevates root causes for appropriate interventions.”
Education officials also recommended studying and revisiting Oregon’s 10-day rule, under which students are automatically unenrolled if they miss 10 consecutive days without an excuse. The rule’s intended to ensure districts are not doublecounting students who may have moved between districts, but it can create barriers for students who eventually return to a school after a prolonged absence and require a school to resubmit enrollment information to get the student’s per-pupil funding restored.
They also recommended the state provide more money for the agency’s Every Day Matters program, which currently has just two full time employees, and to fund a statewide information and data collection system so the education department can more easily collect attendance information from schools and provide technical help.
The agenda for the threehour meeting included more updates from education officials on the legislatively mandated accountability metrics and the rollout of Gov. Tina Kotek’s recent executive stopping school districts from cutting instructional time to save money.
“How does low instructional time and days contribute to a culture of nonattendance?” Sollman asked Castillo.
Castillo acknowledged Oregon’s short school year, and research showing school attendance is one of the single most important indicators of student success.
“While there’s always benefits for our students to have longer instructional time, we also know that, as we referenced earlier, it has to be a cohesive and holistic approach and system,” she said. “Having additional instructional time will be important, but we’re also creating the right conditions for our students.”
Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@ oregoncapitalchronicle.com.
The proposal from the Oregon Department of Education would ‘shift from enforcing attendance through prescribed sanctions,’ officials explained.
Fast Fact
Rachel Alexander / Salem Reporter
An empty classroom in Salem. Oregon has some of the highest rates of student absenteeism in the country, state data shows and among the shortest school years.
Dear people of the great State of Oregon
Thank you so much for responding to my letter to the people of Oregon I appreciate you sending me a letter. My favorite item was the letter you sent me because it taught me many new things about Oregon. The most unique fact I learned about Oregon was the state gem is the Oregon sunstone.
On My 21, our entire grade displayed our floats at the State fair. I’ve included a picture of my flat. I hope I made you proud!
I really appreciate that you took the time to send me items and information about Oregon.
Sincerely, Alexandra The Langley SchoolLean, Virginia
Remember How You Voted
To the Voters of South Lane County, Oregon: The next time you or a member of your family calls “911,.” Remember how you voted 05-19-2026!
Paul F. Hughes Sr. Cottage Grove
GUEST COLUMN
Hopeful for the future
TODD MILLER Cottage Grove Sentinel Guest Column
Students of South Lane School District have finalized their graduation requirements and proudly earned their diplomas. June 6 was a special day for the students and for those who supported them along the way. As I learned more about this group of graduates, I became more and more hopeful for our future.
The road to graduation is a long one for students. Many years of learning, growth, struggle, challenge, social pressures, insecurities and early mornings of not wanting to wake up. All these challenges can lead to moments of doubt, but later, they can produce perseverance and strength. For everyone who supported and encouraged our graduates through these challenges, we thank you. They have learned, they have reflected and they have grown from their experience at South Lane School District.
This group of graduates can teach us all a powerful lesson- proud accomplishments don’t come easy. This is a lesson for me, this is a lesson for everyone who supports the youth of South Lane and it should be a lesson for all our students, all the way down to elementary school and pre-k. The road to graduation and beyond starts at the youngest of age, and that we all have a role in supporting our students to this milestone, through the good times and the hard times. And when we come together through the hard times, we can come out stronger on the other end, like our graduates.
As we look ahead to the 2026–2027 school year, this lesson is driving our focus as a district. We know that the journey to that graduation stage doesn’t begin in high school, it begins the moment
our youngest learners step into our classrooms, onto our buses, onto our fields and stages and as they walk through our halls.
To ensure every child in South Lane has the support they need to reach that finish line, we are leaning into our commitments to our students and families:
• Aligning Community and School Values and Vision: We will kick off next school year with a new district vision, based on all the feedback we received from parents, students, community and staff this year. This unified message will help us align our work within our schools from pre-k through high school and help ensure you feel like a true partner in your child’s education every step of the way.
• Integrating Systems: We are intentionally reviewing departments and pulling our academic, behavioral, and operational programs together into one cohesive system. When our schools or programs operate as a unified team rather than isolated pieces, we can see student needs more clearly, share resources faster, and ensure that every student experiences a continuous, unbroken chain of support from Pre-K all the way through graduation.
• Building Life and Employability Skills: We will further our work in embedding these life skills (aligning social-emotional learning with Oregon Employability Standards) into all we do. We want our students to graduate not just with high academic knowledge, but with the perseverance, emotional resilience, critical thinking and collaboration skills that local employers and colleges value, and that will support our students throughout their lives, past graduation. When school connects to life, it has greater meaning and stronger engagement.
None of this growth would be possible without the dedication of the South Lane School District staff. Our educators, administrators, and support staff pour their hearts into their work daily, ensuring that our schools remain safe, welcoming, and highachieving environments for every child.
As we look toward the future, we acknowledge that our district, like many across the state, faces real budget challenges. However, I want to reassure you that these challenges will not diminish our core mission. We remain committed to continual improvement in three vital areas: the academic growth of our students, their socialemotional well-being, and the development of real-world employability skills that prepare them for the future.
While our students and families should absolutely take this upcoming break to rest, recharge, and enjoy a well-deserved summer, please know that our work does not pause. Throughout the summer months, our leadership and staff will be hard at work improving our district systems, cleaning and improving our campuses, and refining our instructional plans to ensure a successful, seamless return to school this fall.
The graduation we just celebrated is proof of what happens when a community wraps around our students and does not give up on them. Thank you for your continued partnership, your resilience, and your dedication to the children of South Lane. Together, we are building a brighter hopeful future, one graduate at a time.
Have a wonderful, safe summer break.
Todd Miller, Superintendent South Lane School District
BMD 2026: Two parades, three
days of family fun
MATTHEW HEWLETT
Cottage Grove
Sentinel Guest Column
What began for us as a community rescue effort in 2024 has grown into a year round nonprofit dedicated to preserving Cottage Grove’s heritage and strengthening local traditions.
The Bohemia Mining Days Festival returns July 16–18 with expanded programming, new partnerships and a renewed commitment to celebrating the stories that have shaped The Grove for generations. This year’s theme, “Rivers, Rails & Reels,” honors the intertwined history of mining, waterways, railroads and early filmmaking in Cottage Grove.
BMD 2026, produced by Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days, offers something for all ages with live music, food, contests, heritage demonstrations, vendors, two parades, a kid zone and lots of memory making family activities.
Thanks to new and returning sponsorships, our BMD 2026 Production Team is hard at work planning the 67th annual festival. Our team transforms Coiner Park into “Bohemia City” for three full days (Thursday–Saturday) of food, fun, vendors and a wide variety of entertainment all ages will enjoy.
We continue our long standing tradition of two parades, one on each morning of our three day festival.
The Kiddie Parade returns to its traditional downtown route and steps off at 11 a.m. Friday from the Community Center (sign up at 10:30 a.m.) and is presented by Affordable Auto/Captain Hook Towing.
The Saturday morning Grand Miners Parade, presented by Douglas Fast Net, will follow a new route
this year: Main Street from 5th Street east to Gateway Boulevard. With this year’s “Rivers, Rails & Reels” theme, we’re encouraging parade entries to have fun with western, railroad, river, mining and early film inspiration.
One of the things we’re most excited about this year is the return of the Ore Cart Races presented by Weyerhaeuser. Adam Williams is back to lead the charge, and if you’ve ever seen these races, you know they bring a whole different kind of energy to the festival.
Teams push and load ore carts in a fast paced, good natured competition that gives a playful nod to our mining roots. We’ll also have kid races between the adult heats right in front of the Bohemia Gold Mining Museum.
Families will find plenty to do throughout all three days.
Thanks to S&K Inflatable Rentals, we’ll have a whole lineup of obstacle course style inflatables this year.
Unlimited daily passes will be available for $25, or folks can choose a smaller option with three tickets for $5. The Ziply Fiber Kid Zone, Junior Marshals Game, Gold Dash Fun Run, Lil’ Miss Bohemia City, contests, performances and hands on history activities all help make the festival a place where kids can learn, play and feel connected to Cottage Grove’s story.
Living history continues to be a big part of what makes Bohemia Mining Days special. Visitors can watch blacksmithing, gold panning, old engines, Native American cultural education, mining displays and historic storytelling. These demonstrations help bring the past to life in a way that’s fun, memorable and meaningful for all ages.
As Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days grows as a year round organization, we’re continuing our work in youth leadership, senior outreach, school partnerships and educational storytelling. Keeping the festival free and accessible is a core part of our mission, and we couldn’t do it without the support of volunteers, sponsors and community donor Volunteers help with everything from setup and cleanup to contests, hospitality, information booths and children’s activities. Sponsorships and donations help cover the real costs of entertainment, infrastructure, insurance, equipment, signage and youth programming. Monday, June 29, is the deadline for business owners to commit to hanging an Old West–style custom designed wooden business card in Bohemia City. Every contribution helps keep this tradition strong. Honestly, there is way too much to tell you about everything we have planned this year in this column, so I hope you’ll take a few minutes to visit our website at www. spiritofbmd.com for all the details.
On our website you can make a donation to help us pay the bills, register for the Saturday Grand Miners Parade, sign up to volunteer so the event runs smoothly and efficiently, and even learn how to build a racing ore cart. We’re also working hard to boost the Old West Bohemia City vibe this year and encourage everyone to come in costume if you can. We’ll keep adding updates as we get closer, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you July 16–18
Matthew Hewlett is the Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days Executive Director.
prohibited altogether.
If you burned earlier this spring, go back and check on your debris burn site to make sure nothing reignites due to the heat.
• Don’t flick a cigarette onto the ground. It may be just enough to start a fire.
• Don’t park or idle over dried grass.
• Don’t drag tow chains.
• Check local restrictions and fire danger levels.
“Prevention is our number one tool to reduce property loss, firefighting costs, and risk to the lives of our firefighters. We can’t prevent lightning fires, but we can prevent human-caused fires,” Curran said.
ODF protects over 16 million acres of private, county, state, and federal land in Oregon from wildfire. Fire season is declared at the local level when conditions reach a point where the risk of a fire starting and spreading becomes clear. This year, the Central Oregon district was the first to declare on May 8, and the Northwest Oregon Area was the last to declare on June 15
Water Conservation
Cottage Grove city officials are also concerned about the city’s water supply. The City of Cottage Grove’s water currently comes primarily from the Row River, with additional contributions from Layng Creek. Residents, fish, and wildlife all depend on this shared resource,
Heart
From Page 1
Their work closed the circle that began with bystanders in the park and continued through dispatch, police and fire personnel.
Ellis attended the June 8 City Council meeting where the first responders and CPR-trained bystanders were
This illustration identifies defensible space.
so it’s essential that we use our water wisely to ensure there is enough for everyone,” the release advises.
“Because landscape irrigation drives water demand up during the summer months, when streamflows are at their lowest, reducing outdoor water use is especially important”
honored. He said he is deeply appreciative of the Watershed Council volunteers who knew what to do and to the Cottage Grove police officers who arrived within minutes.
Police Chief Cory Chase read a proclamation during the ceremony praising the responders’ “quick response, teamwork and decisive actions,” noting that their conduct “embodies our core values of service
COTTAGE GROVE:
COTTAGE GROVE FAITH CENTER
33761 Row River Rd.
541-942-4851
Lead Pastor: Kevin Pruett
www.cg4.tv Full Childrenʼs Ministry available Services: 10:00am DELIGHT VALLEY Church of Christ 33087 Saginaw Rd. East
541-942-7711 • Pastor: Bob Friend
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OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP AND ST. PHILIP BENIZI CATHOLIC CHURCHES
1025. N. 19th St. 541-942-3420
Father John J. Boyle
Holy Mass: Saturday Vigil – 5:30 pm Sunday – 10:30 am For weekday and Holy Day of Obligation schedule see website OLPHCG.net
Confession: 4 PM to 5 PM Saturdays or by appointment
St. Philip Benizi, Creswell 552 Holbrook Lane Sunday 8 am
The city has issued the following water conservation tips:
• Adjust sprinkler heads. Make sure your sprinklers are pointed low and avoid watering the pavement.
• Water your lawn only when necessary. Most lawns only need about one inch of water per week to stay green.
through immediate lifesaving response, empathy and providing compassionate care during a crisis, integrity in their professional and coordinated conduct and courage in confronting a high stress, life threatening situation without hesitation.”
The ceremony also honored the bystanders who stepped in before the uniforms arrived. JoAnna Kamppi, representing Eugene
ST. ANDREWS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
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SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
820 South 10th Street
541-942-5213 Pastor: James D. Boram Bible Study: Saturday, 9:15 am Worship Service: Saturday, 10:40 Mid-week Service: Wednesday, 1:00
TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 6th and Quincy 541-942-2373 Pastor: John Westhafer Sunday School and Adult Education 9:15 a.m. Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. Comm. Kitchen Free Meal Tuesday 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. TLC Groups tlccg.com
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 334 Washington 541-942-3033 Worship 10am umcgrove.org
CRESWELL:
CRESWELL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
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Adult Sunday School 9:15am Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am website www.creswellpres.org
WALKER UNION CHURCH & CEMETERY
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If your congregation would like to be a part of this worship directory, contact us today!
You could also let your lawn go a little brown by watering less — it will recover when the rains return.
• Water early in the morning or late at night. Avoid the heat and water your landscape early in the morning or late at night to minimize water waste due to evaporation.
Springfield HEARTsafe program and Lane County HEARTsafe, spoke about the importance of community readiness. “Bystanders make a difference,” she said. “Every minute that CPR is withheld from a victim of cardiac arrest they have a ten percent less chance of survival. It takes everyone to make it happen.”
Kamppi read a statement from Bear and Cricket, the two watershed council volunteers who performed CPR.
“To help save a life is a humbling experience,” they wrote. “Chris is the real star here with his will to live and recover, and he is the one who deserves the spotlight along with the trained professionals who ensured his survival. We are thankful
• Set mower blades high. A taller lawn shades the soil, helping to retain moisture, and has deeper, stronger roots that are more tolerant of drought.
RESOURCES
• For more information, contact the City of Cottage Grove, at 541-942-5501
every day that we decided to volunteer with the Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council. We met Chris for the first time that day. When he collapsed, we were able to help keep him alive until police and EMT personnel arrived. Bystanders with training and experience can be a vital link in the chain of helpers that save lives every day. We are humbly grateful to have that training and beyond grateful that we could be of service to Chris.”
The HEARTsafe designation requires communities to meet benchmarks in CPR training, AED placement, emergency planning and public education. Lane County agencies have spent years building that foundation — teaching hands only CPR at
• For more information about how you can help prevent wildfires, visit keeporegongreen. org.
• For more information about water conservation, visit the Outdoor Water Conservation page.
fairs and farmers markets, mapping AED locations and encouraging residents to register devices through the PulsePoint app. PeaceHealth is a formal partner in the HEARTsafe initiative, working alongside Eugene Springfield Fire to strengthen the region’s cardiac arrest response. Through its cardiac care programs, community education efforts and support for public CPR training, PeaceHealth helps ensure that the final link in the chain of survival — advanced hospital care — is strong and accessible. RiverBend’s cardiac team is the regional destination for patients like Ellis, providing the specialized treatment that completes the HEARTsafe continuum from bystander action to hospital recovery. Ellis said his recovery has been “slow but steady.” He was released from RiverBend in early March and continues rehabilitation on Wednesdays.
“All my doctors are impressed with my recovery,” he said. He credits much of that progress to his caregiver and best friend, Hannah. “She did a lot to bring me back,” Ellis said. “She was marvelous in caring for me for the first two months after I got home.”
Ellis grew up in the San Bernardino area of California and moved to Cottage Grove in 2012 to be closer to his parents. He said the support he has received from the community since February has meant more to him than he can express. “I’m very glad to be here,” he said. “And very grateful for the people who helped save my life.”
Courtesy photo from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office
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Aqua Lion alumni, community leaders honor legendary coach Bud Taylor
CINDY WEELDREYER
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Generations of swimmers, water polo players and community members filled the Warren H. Daugherty Aquatic Center Saturday afternoon, June 13, to honor a man whose influence inspired Cottage Grove athletics for more than six decades.
homecoming queen and lifeguard he met at the pool, as the cornerstone of everything he built.
“My wife and I have been married 61 years, and she was absolutely the best, best possible person in the world,” Taylor told the crowd. “I tell you, no one has had a better life than I have.”
State issues ‘gold bar’ scam warning
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) is issuing a warning to Oregon residents about the “gold bar” scam that is rapidly spreading across the nation. This scam involves fraudsters impersonating government officials who convince victims to purchase gold bars to supposedly protect their nest eggs.
The South Lane School District officially named its lap pool the Coach Bud Taylor Competition Pool, unveiling a bronze plaque at the entrance bearing the inscription “Through These Doors Have Walked Champions,” a quote from another local coaching legend Wally “Chic” Ciochetti.
Taylor, now 84, took over the local swim club in 1959 at age 19 and served as head coach from 1966 to 1996, and again in 2012. His program produced district and state champions, college scholarship athletes and generations of swimmers who carried his lessons far beyond the lanes of the pool. Alumni traveled from across the country to attend, many reuniting with teammates they had not seen in decades.
This scam involves contact from someone claiming to be a government official, often associated with the U.S. Department of Treasury, who convinces the victim to convert money held in financial accounts into gold bars. The fraudster claims the victim’s financial institution isn’t safe and that physical gold is the only way to protect the assets.
A WINNING PARTNERSHIP
Inside the humid, echoing pool building, championship pennants lined the walls. Taylor sat beside Sue, his wife of 61 years. He accepted the attention with quiet discomfort and brightened when a shared memory touched his heart.
A POOL BUILT BY THE COMMUNITY
Joyce Settlemeyer, representing the Friends of the Warren H. Daugherty Aquatic Center, reminded attendees that the pool itself was born from community determination.
More generally, the scam goes like this: Victims are contacted through text, email, or phone call and told their financial accounts are at risk of being compromised for various reasons. The reasons given may include that the accounts were subject to a cyberattack or are being used for illegal activity and must be closed.
“This legacy began by the dedication of citizens who, in the mid 1950s, went door to door and collected money to build this pool,” she said. She noted that the Friends group continues to advocate for keeping the facility accessible to all residents.
South Lane School District Superintendent Todd Miller told the approximately 90 attendees at the June 13 event that the naming honors both past achievement and future inspiration.
Victims are advised to empty the account, purchase the gold bars, and then deliver the bars over to the “government official.” For those unable or unwilling to purchase the gold themselves, the fraudster will offer and even insist on making the purchase for them.
“Not only did Coach Taylor inspire a lot of people who are here today,” Miller said, “but hopefully this inspires future generations of swimmers and teams, not just in the pool but in life as well.”
Once the victim agrees to convert the funds to gold, the fraudster either appears at the victim’s front door or arranges for the victim to meet them at a nearby location to pick up the gold bars. DFR urges the public to stay alert, informed, and safe. Do not become the next victim of this scam.
It has already caused millions of dollars in losses to Oregon investors and others across the country.
Sometimes this includes giving the “government official” remote access to the victim’s electronic devices. Victims are tricked into believing that converting their assets to gold and storing it with the government via the scammer, or “government official,” is necessary to protect their
For decades, Bud and Sue were the steady partnership behind the storied Cottage Grove High School (CGHS) Aquatics Program—Bud teaching discipline and technique, Sue orchestrating the logistics that kept the team moving, from timers to meals, lodging and transportation.
The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies.
When he addressed the crowd, his voice carried the familiar steadiness generations of swimmers remember. He credited Sue, the
All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Information printed is preliminary and subject to change. For specific details about cases listed, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Taylor insisted the ceremony include a remembrance of the swimmers and coaches who have died, with each name honored by a lotus flower placed into the warm water therapy pool and the soft chime of a singing bowl. Early aquatic center staff member Ron Pupke and longtime coach and teacher Wally “Chic” Ciochetti were among those remembered.
16:34: Suspicious condition, 1000 block N. 11th St.
17:18: Disturbance, E. Madison/2nd St.
17:30: Abandoned vehicle, 16th/Gibbs
One speaker captured Ciochetti’s influence simply: “Every time I say his name or think of him, I stand a little straighter.”
Storyboards assembled by local historian and archivist
17:36: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.
17:56: Trespass, 1100 block Hwy 99
18:21: Illegal parking, 600 block Johnson Ave.
19:10: Suspicious subject, 1300 block S. River Rd.
“It is troubling that these criminals are using fear and a false sense of urgency to pressure victims into making devastating financial decisions,” DFR Administrator TK Keen said. “Even more troubling is the reality that they are in our communities and facilitating these crimes in person.”
Casey Woodard, a three time state champion from 1978 to 1981, were set up on the pool deck for the ceremony.
Drawn largely from Cottage Grove Sentinel archives, they traced the program back to the 1950s. Additional displays honored Dyrol Burleson, the CGHS and Olympic middle distance runner who remained close friends with Taylor since their youth.
A LEGACY THAT ENDURES
Sports Illustrated cover athlete and multiple world record holder, was remembered as a product of fierce determination, goal setting and the supportive environment of a small town.
WINNING THE BATTLE OF THE BED
that government officials will never contact you and demand payment using gold bars. To stay safe: Be cautious of someone contacting you and claiming to be a government official. The imposter scam was the most common scam reported to the Federal Trade Commission in 2024. Government officials will never threaten you or demand that you make a payment using cryptocurrency, gift
Longtime coach Bill Kuzmer traced his own career back to a moment in 1965 when his older brother dropped him off at the pool and told him he was joining the swim team.
Never click on suspicious links or respond to unsolicited messages. If you receive an email or text from an unknown sender (even if the details appear accurate), do not respond, and do not click on any links or attachments found in that email. You could unknowingly download malicious software. Never give out your personal and financial information. Do not share personal and financial information
“Under the influence of the swim program led by Bud and Sue, I became a coach,” Kuzmer said. “I do not know how many coaches Bud has produced, and those coaches have produced, but it just goes on and on.”
21:31: Suspicious condition, 900 block W. Main St.
21:32: Disturbance, 1400 block S. 8th St.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24
07:49: Criminal mischief, 100 block Gateway Blvd.
The ceremony also fulfilled a long held dream of Taylor’s: formal recognition of his boyhood hero, Dyrol “Burley” Burleson. City Councilor and local historian Dana Merryday announced that River Road, where Burleson trained as a young runner, has been officially named the Dyrol Burleson Trail. Burleson, a two time
07:49: Warrant service, E. Main/N. River Rd.
08:38: Fraud, 900 block N. Douglas St.
Former swimmer Pat Russell, a retired Marine and Naval Officer who has battled terminal cancer since 2019 described how Taylor called him through years of treatment, coaching him through visualizations of his immune system fighting the disease.
“To this day I receive a phone call from Bud at least weekly,” Russell said. He tied it to Taylor’s signature lesson: “Number one was winning the battle of the bed, learning to get up every day, even when you do not want to.”
Bob Wiltse drew laughs recalling his habitual lateness to morning practice, then turned serious. “Bud has helped a lot of kids turn their lives around,” he said.
“While swimming is great and the accomplishments are nice, Bud became our life coach.”
As former teammates embraced, many knowing it
might be their last reunion, the ceremony became a testament to a coach whose influence forged lifelong friendships and shaped lives far beyond the pool. As the plaque now declares, “through these doors have walked champions”. On Saturday, June 13, the champion of the day was Bud Taylor. The Coach Bud Taylor Competition Pool is located at the Warren H. Daugherty Aquatic Center, 1440 South 8th St. The summer schedule of open swims and classes and fees are available at www.slane.k12.or.us/o/wdac. The Sentinel gratefully acknowledges the research and archival contributions of local historian Casey Woodard in our coverage of this event.
or by calling one of DFR’s consumer advocates at 888877-4894 (toll-free) or dfr. financialserviceshelp@dcbs. oregon.gov.
Lions baseball and softball home stretch
08:48: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.
09:18: Illegal camping,
WILL LOHRE
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Cottage Grove Police
School’s out for summer!
MONDAY, SEPT. 22
01:57: Agency assist, 6th/I5
19:18: Trespass, 1100 block Hwy 99
TUESDAY, SEPT. 23
03:00: Menace, 38000 block Row River Rd.
With the break in full swing, let’s take a moment to see how baseball and softball season wrapped up for the Lions in late May.
08:53: Theft, 900 block N. Douglas St.
Softball
10:29: Disturbance, 900 block W. Main St.
10:39: Suspicious subject, 100 block N. 6th St.
10:43: Disturbance, 78000 block Bigelow Way
A year after making the state playoffs in 2025, the Cottage Grove softball program couldn’t replicate the same results. It wasn’t for lack of effort, though, and there were plenty of highlights during the season.
11:27: MIP MJ, 1300 block S. River Rd.
11:36: Found dog, 1300 block E. Main St.
11:42: Suicidal subject, 2400 block E. Whiteaker Ave.
Cottage Grove ended the season with a 5-21 overall record, finishing 2-10 in the 4A Sky Em. Both of the Lions’ wins came against Marshfield on Apr. 21 and Apr. 24
12:11: Illegal camping, 1100 block E. Main St.
13:13: Warrant service, Row River Rd.
13:37: Disturbance, 200 block N. 12th St.
14:47: Alarm, 1st/Van Buren Ave.
The second win of their series against the Pirates was a barn burner, with the Lions beating back a furious comeback in the seventh inning to earn a 14-13 win. There were some phenomenal offensive displays during the matchup, including from some of the Lions’ beloved
01:14: Fire, 200 block N. 12th St.
04:28: Warrant service, 900 block Row River Rd.
06:34: Fire, 200 block N. 12th St.
seniors. Senior Jayda Bruner teed off against the Pirates, racking up five hits (including a double), three RBIs, and three runs scored. Also on point against Marshfield was Makya Alsup. Alsup had three hits, with the crown jewel being a two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning to put the Lions up 14-7
21:02: Suspicious condition, 1200 block E. Main St.
While the Pirates scored six runs to make a comeback push, the Lions held out thanks to a clutch strikeout by sophomore Tori Noffsinger. While that was the final win of the season for the Lions, another highlight came at the start of May. In an effort to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer, the Lions hosted a cancer-awareness game during their doubleheader against Marist Catholic on May 1. According to the Cottage Grove HS Softball Facebook page, the team raised $400 for the cause. Before the game, there was a “special cancer survivor
13:05: Theft, 200 block N. 9th St.
10th/Grover
THURSDAY, SEPT. 25
first pitch,” followed by a moment of silence.
15:31: Illegal camping, Gateway/14th
16:33: Animal info, 1100 block E. Harrison Ave.
16:35: Hit and run, 1400 block Anthony Ave.
It was a powerful moment for the team and showed their commitment to giving back to the community.
16:40: Juvenile trouble, 500 block Fillmore Ave.
17:49: Welfare check, 1200 block E. Main St.
17:55: Found drugs, 200 block Gateway Blvd.
20:06: Fire, Emerson/99
20:11: Business check, 1500 block Gateway Blvd.
20:38: Disturbance, 78000 block Cedar Park Rd.
After Cottage Grove’s win against Marshfield, the wins were hard to come by. The Lions lost 11 straight contests to close the season, including nine league games. Cottage Grove ended the season as the #26 team in OSAA’s 4A rankings and fourth of the five teams in the Sky Em League.
04:28: Disturbance, 900 block S. 6th St.
17:01: Illegal camping, Gateway/14th
08:06: Theft, 900 block Row River Rd.
09:04: Found dog, Gateway Blvd/Harvey
To wrap up the season, the Lions said goodbye to the program’s five seniors, Valerie Aura, Kadance Crownover, Jayda Bruner, Makya Alsup, and captain Ava Johns.
09:09: Found drugs, 700 block Wilson Ave.
Baseball
09:10: Illegal camping, Gateway Blvd/14th
09:26: Order violation, 100 block Sweet Ln.
For the first time since 2023, the Lions won a game in the Sky Em League!
09:29: Disorderly subject, 700 block E. Gibbs Ave.
09:41: Unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, 100 block Gateway Blvd.
Facing off with Marshfield on Apr. 24, the Lions beat the Pirates 11-7 securing their first win in the Sky Em in years. It was the second game of a doubleheader, and after losing
12-2, the Lions were out for redemption.
17:36: Suspicious vehicle, 1300 block Elm Ave.
17:38: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.
18:50: Fraud, 1500 block E. Washington Ave.
Playing away from home, the Lions came out hot in the first inning and held the lead for the entire game.
19:11: Unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, 100 block Gateway Blvd.
19:19: Juvenile trouble, 1000 block Hwy 99
20:02: Trespass, 200 block S. River Rd.
20:09: Juvenile trouble, 1200 block E. Main St.
Nolan Spear led off with a walk for Cottage Grove, and he was batted in by Colton Cogburn shortly after. After a bevy of errors and walks loaded the bases and put Cottage Grove up 4-0, Spear stepped back up to the plate. Spear sent a double into center field, driving in three runs and giving the Lions a 7-0 lead.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 26
01:05: Business check, 900 block E. Main St.
01:09: Barking dog, 600 block Wood Ave.
01:21: Criminal mischief, 100 block Gateway Blvd.
04:33: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.
Spear and Cogburn added a couple more hits in the third inning, each sending runners home and bringing the Lions to a commanding 10-3 lead, a perfect answer to the Pirates’ three runs in the first and second innings.
10:44: Illegal camping, Gateway/14th
10:58: Criminal mischief, 1300 block E. Main St.
Cottage Grove would add one more run in the fifth for good measure and keep the Pirates at bay for the 11-7 win. It was the program’s first Sky Em victory since beating Marshfield on Apr. 14 in 2023
16:10: Theft, 1400 block Daugherty Ave.
16:40:
After beating the Pirates, the Lions didn’t conjure another win, losing three game series against Marist Catholic, Junction City, and North Bend. Cottage Grove finished the season with a 4-23 record overall, and a 1-11 mark in the Sky Em. The Lions were a young squad this season, with the majority of the crew consisting of sophomores, juniors, and freshmen. While those players will be the future in coming seasons, Cottage Grove will definitely miss its four seniors, Felix Garza, Elijah Cushman, Evan Emmick, and Hunter Rhodes. While there’s plenty of room to grow, getting back to winning in the Sky Em is something that the Lions will hope to build on in 2027
Cindy Weeldreyer / Cottage grove Sentinel
From left to right, Former CGHS Coach Mike Dirksen, Coach Bud Taylor and Sue Taylor, address those gathered at the celebration.
