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Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Number 26 • 135 years
Court upholds homeless camping ban JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a homeless camping ordinance in Grants Pass. The ruling could impact homelessness efforts by Cottage Grove and other cities across Oregon and the nation. The court states in its
ruling, “the enforcement of generally applicable laws regulating camping on public property does not constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” prohibited by the Eighth Amendment.” The plaintiffs filed a putative class action on behalf of homeless people living in Grants Pass, claiming that the city’s
“
I have always thought we should do the minimum required, and not allow homesteading. Mayor Candace Solesbee
ordinances against public camping violated the Eighth Amendment.
Cottage Grove Mayor Candace Solesbee said the Supreme Court ruling is
a victory for cities within the Ninth Circuit Court whose first priority should be to protect the health and safety of their citizens. “Allowing camps to operate without rules for sanitation and societal standards has been a colossal failure of a social experiment, much like measure 110’s decriminalization of
Rebound
drugs,” she said. “An experiment that has helped no one, including the homeless population itself. This situation imposed by law makers and perpetuated by legal councils, have left communities feeling helpless, as businesses close and their tax base flee.” See RULING on Page 6
Visitors surge into Cottage Grove bringing a post-pandemic economic avalanche of tourist dollars
Courtesy photos from Travel Oregon
Cottage Grove’s covered bridges continue to attract visitors year-round.
C
JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
ottage Grove’s natural beauty, small town attraction, and community landmarks are key economic drivers for the city’s tourism economy. And those attractions are helping the visitor counts rebound following the COVID pandemic. “On a sunny day, here in the Visitor Center, it’s slammed,” Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce Director Georgia Haskell said. “People are coming to town for the covered bridges, the waterfalls, the museums and the golf course.” Haskell said the visitor surge into
Cottage Grove represents people from in-state, California, and Washington, with international visitors as well. The Oregon Tourism Commission, aka Travel Oregon, works to enhance visitors’ experiences by providing information, resources and trip planning tools that inspire travel and consistently convey the exceptional quality of Oregon. Travel Oregon has released a report, The Economic Impact of Travel in Oregon, that show significant tourism gains in Cottage Grove, Lane County, and across the state in 2023. The report finds that the amount of See MONEY on Page 6 Waterfalls are part of the natural beauty in Cottage Grove.
Peace Pole to be dedicated CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel
TODAY’S EDITION
Cindy Weeldreyer/Cottage Grove Sentinel Members of the Unity Committee are standing next to the Peace Tree with the Peace Pole behind them. Pictured (L to R) Alan Fish, Joyce Settelmeyer, Wendy Shugar, Linda Diaz, Jeff Gowing, Ananda Reeves, and Brenda Sawyer. Not pictured: Dana Merryday and Jim Settelmeyer. Weather — 2 Obituaries — 4 Opinion — 5
Comics — 7 Classifieds — 8-9 Sports — 10
May peace prevail on Earth. It’s a simple statement that carries great expectation. That message is now firmly planted in Coiner Park next to the Hiroshima Peace Tree. It is a project that has been several years in the making, bringing together different groups of devoted and committed lovers of peace in a spirit of unity. Their goal is to make a significant
Read developing news and story updates @CGSentinel CGSentinel.com
community statement to pursue peace in the present culture of division and, even more importantly, to inspire future generations to embrace the concept of peace and devote themselves to fostering it. At 1 p.m. Saturday, July 20 in Coiner Park during the Spirit of BMD Celebration, the yet-to-befinished peace pole will be dedicated. According to City Councilor Dana Merryday, this month’s dedication is a follow-up to last year’s community celebration
of United Nations World Peace Day on Sept. 21 in Coiner Park. The wellattended event was very special to Merryday. “I was very touched by the outpouring of people who came. It was advertised as a peace and unity day of support,” Merryday said. “We had music and some inspirational messages from past and present mayors, veteran peace organizers and a special address by International
See POLE on Page 4