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Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Number 22 • 135 years
Finding Cottage Grove’s homelessness strategy CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel
The Cottage Grove City Council is taking significant steps in developing a new strategy to better manage the homeless population. The latest efforts emerged during the council’s public session May 28. HOMELESS STRATEGY On Saturday, May 18, the mayor, city
councilors, city staff and representatives of St. Vincent de Paul met for six hours and received information on three years of city expenditures that created the Highway 99 Shelter, managed by the Eugene nonprofit organization Carry It Forward, and the two unmanaged overflow camps. Attorney Carrie Conley reviewed the city’s efforts to comply with state and federal laws regarding when and where un-housed
individuals can camp on publicly-owned land and provided an update on expected higher court rulings that will impact any future management strategy. St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) provided an overview of how they contract with the city of Eugene to manage the homeless population there. Public Works and Development Director Faye Stewart presented a plan to close all three camps and create a low-
barrier camp, between the ODOT Connector Overpass and the wastewater treatment pond, which satisfies the city’s legal obligations and have SVDP staff use its resources and expertise to operate it. There was much discussion that filled a whiteboard with the councilors’ “pain-points” on lessons learned and how to move forward but no action was taken at the work session. At the May 28 meeting,
the council directed City Manager Mike Sauerwein to continue collaborations with SVDP to advance Stewart’s “Connector Camp” proposal and to include opportunities for public involvement in developing a new strategy. BOHEMIA PARK ENTRY PLAZA PROJECT
In other action, the council awarded Pacific Excavation the $1.3M contract to construct the
Bohemia Park Expansion Entry Plaza Project. The project involves the construction of new park amenities that include installation of a water tank as a water feature, a splash play area, a public restroom, walkways, a playground, and landscape features at the north of the undeveloped portion of the park. The project is funded by grants from the Economic Development See COUNCIL on Page 6
WHERE WE LIVE
All Aboard!
Courtesy photo
The No. 19 Baldwin Steam Locomotive, The Goose, moves down the track.
The Cottage Grove Mural Committee set to host fun filled Goose Train Mural fundraiser on June 8
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DANA MERRYDAY Sentinel Guest Article
f you were a resident or visitor to Cottage Grove in the ’70s or ’80s, it is hardly possible that you were not touched by “The Goose.” The No. 19 Baldwin Steam Locomotive, built in 1915, operated in Cottage Grove as an excursion train during the summer months starting in 1971 and delighted both visitors and participants of the annual Bohemia Mining Days until its closure in 1988. With its plume of steam and puffing power, the Goose was an iconic part of the community as it wound its way
TICKETS, PLEASE Train Mural Fundraiser 6-7:30 p.m. June 8 Coast Fork Brewing 106 S. Sixth St. Cottage Grove up the Row River. Today the route that the steam train followed has been converted into the Row River Trail
which continues to draw visitors to the area for a scenic 17 mile bike ride, allowing trail users to take in the same views as the train riders, albeit under their own power. Even though the rails are long gone the memories linger on. To commemorate the Goose and her part in local history, a mural of the train will be painted on the future restroom building that will be constructed at the north end of Bohemia Park this summer. The Cottage Grove Mural Committee, led by Chairperson Debra Monsive, is a semi-independent group of volunteers who work both to create new murals See MURAL on Page 6
Elderly fraud increasing in Oregon Here is what you need to know about the impact on local seniors JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
TODAY’S EDITION
Internet scams targeting elderly Oregonians are increasing. The latest Federal Bureau of investigation report shows that segment of the population lost $44 million to the scammers in 2023.
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THE FBI REPORT
Elder fraud complaints to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (or IC3) increased by 14 percent in 2023, and associated losses increased by about 11 percent, according to IC3’s 2023 Elder Fraud Report, released April 30.
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The annual publication provides statistics about incidents of elder fraud — or fraud that explicitly targets older Americans’ money or cryptocurrency — that are reported to IC3. The report aims to raise the public’s awareness of this issue and to prevent future and repeat incidents.
“Combatting the financial exploitation of those over 60 years of age continues to be a priority of the FBI,” FBI Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall wrote in the report. “Along with our partners, we continually
Courtesy graphic from the FBI This infographic shows how many complaints the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received See SCAMS on Page 6 about different types of elder fraud in 2023.
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