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Wednesday July 16, 2025 | Number 29, 136 years
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Listen, learn A morningSports Lifestyle worth its weight in memories Life in Cottage Grove CGHS Football Incredible and address 74 Turnaround CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel
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Wednesday, Oct 9
Mostly Cloudy Each summer, high atop the forested slopes of Bohemia Mountain, the Prospectors & Gold Diggers gather for a beloved tradition October 9, 2024 | Number 39, 135that years www.cgsentinel.com $2.00 blends history and hospitality. The Miners Breakfast on the Mountain, Sunday, July 20, is more than a meal it is an experience that stretches across generations. FIRING UP THE GRIDDLES As the first rays of morning light touch the treetops, the cook shack comes to life. Volunteers fire up the griddles, waking them from a year’s rest. Pancakes begin to brown and JEREMY C. RUARK ham slices sizzle on the griddles, Crews began developing the smaller homeless Cottage Grove Sentinel each flip echoing with decades of Todd A. Miller camp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street. Public works crews are in the dedication. Nearby, a stainless-steel process of establishing a new restaurant-style urn dispenses a minCourtesy photos from the Prospectors smaller homeless camp site at the ers’ brew of strong, steamy, coffee and Gold Diggers Club vacant lot on 12th Street in Cottage just the way the old-timers like it. JEREMY C. RUARK (Top) The heat of three gridCottage Grove Sentinel Grove. The crew moves with quiet predles inside the cook shack Cottage Grove City Manager cision—mixing and ladling batter Oregon’s wildfire season is gets hot in mid-July and each Mike Sauerwein said the city is expected to continue through this (with a unique secret ingredient), member has a specific job to month, but the mental scares and behind its original Oct. 1 timeline pouring coffee, and welcoming early do to ensure the waiting line impact of the season on the fireis establishing the camp, following risers with warm mountain-born keeps moving along. fighters who battle blazes in Lane the Aug. 22 closure and cleanup cheer. There’s no need for fires (Bottom) At the end of the County and across the state, and of the 12th Street and Douglas here; the warmth comes from the waiting line, the reward is JEREMY C. RUARK their families, may last a lifetime, Street homeless camps. During the club’s kinship and the shared legacy a high mountain breakfast Cottage Grove Sentinel according to Jeff Dill, the founder transition, the adjacent Lulu Dog of breakfasts past. of Firefighter Behavioral Health prepared enthusiastically by Park at 12th Street has been used The roots of this cherished tradiSouth Lane School District Alliance (FBHA). club members. as a homeless camp siteA.with hours Superintendent Todd Miller has tion stretch back to 1959, when Dill established the FBHA in from 7onp.m. daily. since Cottage Grove created an elaborate been the to job7 a.m. officially 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. At the heart of this enduring “None celebration of Oregon’s centenJuly 1. of us have ever managed He was than a Battalion Chief event is President Bruce McDonald, a homeless camphas before, so weout for a fire department in northwest nial. Community leaders decided The Sentinel reached whose indomitable spirit has Chicago. knew that for datehis wasperspective a bit aspira-as he an annual event to celebrate local to Miller anchored the event since 2004. “I saw our brothers and sisters tional,”onSauerwein said.role. “We are history was needed. The club was takes the his new A near-fatal accident may have struggle from the devastation that hoping that this week we will be formed the next year. Ray Nelson, The Sentinel: What are your changed his physical appearance, the Mountain,” McDonald said. proudly notes they saw, so I there went are backnow andfour got able to make the transition. Our a club member and claim holder priorities now and as the SLSD but it never touched hisPHOTO resolve. JEREMY C. “Even RUARKthough / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL I’ve had some medigenerations of the McDonald family my degree and became a licensed goal was to provide folks with in the Bohemia Mining District, moves into a new year this fall? Bruce’s presence Bohemia Saddle currently counselor,” he “We started cal setbacks in the last is two years, participating in said. the fundraiser. Sauerwein and at other city officials doing, which providing The new mini be homeless camp a safe and place spend thought it would fun to recreate Todd A.secure Miller: Mytoinitial Park each summer is more than tracking EMS and firefighter suiI greatly appreciate everyone who BY THE NUMBERS told the Sentinel, that there a location for folks to spend the include the and sameserve restrictions the night that’slearn whatand we are miner’s camp a high as have work is toand listen, assess. awill cides across America.” symbolic—it’s a living testament has stepped up and helped keep this McDonald said the shopping list are no additional plans to offer any night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.” the formerbreakfast. larger camps. doing.” the priorities of focus mountain Since 1964, the Finding to grit, gratitude, and the power of event happening.” is a long one: 190 dozen eggs, 14 long-term sheltering for the Read previous coverage about “The same rules on willtheapply,” Sauerwein saidI city was Behavioral Impact breakfast has been Sunday of other is the first step. willstaff be lookcommitment. He said it takeschallenges approximately homeless. the homelessness in 25 Sauwrwein said. “The camp will According to Dill, firefighters cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to Bohemia Mining Days weekend. ing closely at our student data “We are looking forward to havvolunteers to produce the event. “Cottage Grove will follow Cottage Grove and follow new He often don’t recognize the behavioral reestablish it as a dog park. proSpecific be available from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and achievement, student See WORTH Page 4 ing our 61st Miners Breakfast on state law as we understand it,” developments at cgsemtinel.com impact of their work. and the rules will be enforced costs of that cleanup and establishgramming, district budget and “We become cultural brainSauerwein said. “That is what we and in the Wednesday print editions through our contracting company, ing the smaller and homeless campour at infrastructure, assessing washed,” Dill said. “Whether it’s are doing. To change that is up to of The Sentinel. One Security of Eugene to help us 12th Street were not immediately culture and vision. One key priorstructural or wildland fires. So, we the legislature. The city of Cottage during this transition period. They available. ity will be to gather and listen to are meant to believe we are supGrove has no plans to do any kind are a very experienced homeless community input regarding the posed to act strong, brave, be help, of a shelter beyond what we are future of our schools and what we camp management company.” don’t ask for help, and we don’t want for South Lane students. I want to look weak and not ask for am optimistic about the process help.” Dill added that while firefighters and our future. are on thespeed front railers lines battling the The Sentinel: There has been JEREMY C. RUARK also uses that show wildfires, one of the biggest chalCottage Grove Sentinel public concern about the transpardrivers’ speeds as they approach. lenges they face is the unknown. ency by district administrators and The trailers theses are moved “It’sspeed how rapidly fires can You may have noticed that traffic the school board. How will you around the county as requested. move, and the unknown is where speeds in Oregon have increased address that public concern? Areas whereto volunteers seewill high is it going end? Where this significantly. Police and sheriff’s Miller: Transparency starts speeds are forwarded to patrol fire go to and how long will it depulast? deputies are also seeing this conwith being genuine, honest, and ties, rarelyhearesaid. able And however that is a they struggle,” cerning driver behavior. open in both communication and “So, when youlocations are fighting thaton to tackle these except The Sentinel has reached out decision-making. I’ve always carfire, you’re trying to doaccording your bestto grant-funded overtime, ried myself this way, and I intend to Lane County Sheriff’s Office to stop it, and yet the wind kicks Wallace. (LCSO) and the Oregon State Police up“The at 60most milesdangerous an hour and it drags to continue doing so at South driving it further and further behind them. (OSP) for insight into drivers’ Lane. I welcome the opportunity behaviors we see are cell phone use, That aspect of the unknown is very behavior. CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL to explain decisions, whether no seatbelts worn, high speeds, and difficult in wildland fires. The fireLCSOResort Sgt. TiminWallace said Grove. his Matchbooks Village Cottage See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. that’s in an openfrom boardthe meeting or Green driving impaired,’ he said. fighterswhile have that stress and anxiety, in one-on-one conversations with law enforcement agency does not “Most traffic fatalities I have seen and that struggle to protect is a very have staffing for a traffic safety community members who have are a result of one or more of these difficult challenge for the wildland team. questions. factors. Driving should be safe – if firefighters.” “So, we do not have any statisI believe that when we make everyone slows down, putsfor their It is often very difficult famtics from traffic contacts that are decisions grounded in our values ily members firefighters to phone down, of andthe gets a ride if they truly representative of of theour driving CINDY on WEELDREYER and centered what’s best for understand emotions there are, the way” during the construction helped us meet many future Nearly 50 people attended the are not safe what to drive.” For The we Cottage Groveby Sentinel behaviors our county,” he said. students, can stand them and many firefighters don’t project. bookstore incustomers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s Tothat those drivers who consistently OSP had many expressWallace their emotions, with integrity. AtBirdy the same time, I “Anecdotally, He said he wasCourtesy given anfrom importShe shared Ia have humorous mem“Farewell to the Village Green” at speed, advises: according In 1975, when Hoelzle to “Basic Dill. math demonstrates the An State Police trooper pulled vehicle front drivers me driving in Lane recognize thatGail notopened every decision ant job the of opening thein boxes ory theytellmade in the formal Iron theOregon Community Center, Saturday, and her sister The “We ask the family members over after the OSP radar clocked the driver at 117 miles per County be getting more will be perfect. Whatfamiliar matterswith is delivered to the guest rooms and Maidenseems DiningtoRoom that drew Sept. 21. pointlessness of driving dangerBookmine they were to try to understand the cultural,” hour. dangerous.” that we make decisions in good recalled how cool he felt driving laughter from the crowd. The internationally famous resort ously fast,” Wallace said. “If you The Village Green. he said. “Be direct. Challenge Wallace added Lane County faith, remain to feedback, the orange golf cart around the “My sister andthat I were budding was created by Walter A. Woodard drive from Eugene to coast, a Their fatheropen traveled a lot and to call, leaving little to no time for limited staffing – with no traffic with compassion whenthesomething consistently a highand number of and willing adjust when property for assigned errands. Years feminists at has the time were quite (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some distance of about 55 miles, 55 oftenare brought its to matchboxes home doesn’t look right or doesn’tat sound proactive policing,” Wallace said. safety team and often only three fatalities injuries, with in needed. That’s we grow... later, another special memory was shocked by the and sexism practiced members of the family attended and miles per hour, it takes 1 hour. If as keepsakes forhow his girls. The sis-by traffic right, and do an internal size up, “Most traffic enforcement by Lane deputies and a sergeant on a shift, speed and alcohol being constaying seeing the famous football player, the dining room,” often she said. “The shared personal memories. you drive 70 miles per hour, you ters wereaccountable, in their 20’s reflective, when they which we ask the firefighters to County Sheriff’s deputies occurs for a county approximately the size tributing factors. and committed doing what’s O.J. Simpson, running on one of the might menu given to a woman had no do as well,” he said.” Internalwhile size save about 13 minutes opened the MaintoStreet bookstore on grant-funded overtime, such as of Connecticut.” THROUGH THE LENS “Thisonrelates back were to right. up means asking why am I acting resort’s paths. prices it anddirectly foot pillows dramatically increasing your proband, to enhance their income, theKris Click-it-or-Ticket campaign. It Wallace noted that the LCSO Woodard’s introductory the lack ofsoenforcement due to this way, and why am I feeling this To the delight ofwho those provided ladies’ uncomfortable worked as waitresses at the resort. isremarks a significant safety issue in our utilizes volunteers rungathered, radar on ability of a severe crash and risking included personal memlack staffing our deputies way? The best thing we can do is Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard, shoesofcould be –removed whileare din“It was a wonderful place to county the through Sheriff’sthe Office streets where public complaints are ories hethat made lens has of consistently fromera.” call ing. It was adispatched very different work and, being new in town, it very little ability to was address received. Lane County Public a 12-year-old who oftendue “into See HEALTH, DRIVER Page 2 6 See LEGACY, Page 6Works See Page See AHEAD, Page 4
Wednesday
The mental City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters
New school superintendent outlines what’s ahead for dist.
SPECIAL REPORT
Highway speeds up, driver behavior concerning
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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