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Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Number 29 • 135 years
State of Emergency declared due to wildfire danger JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
PHOTO Courtesy photo
Kotek is urging Oregonians to follow the instructions and evacuation levels issued by emergency officials, subscribe to emergency alerts on ORAlert.gov, have an evacuation plan, prepare a go-kit, and stay aware of changing conditions.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has extended the State of Emergency issued last week due to the increasing danger of wildfires. Kotek first issued the declaration due to the extreme hot weather. The extended state of emergency took effect Friday, July 12 and runs through October 1, 2024. “Wildfires are active across Oregon and are growing at a concerning pace,” Kotek said in a statement. “Hot and windy conditions this weekend, including forecasted lightning in some areas, are threatening even larger wildfires. I am declaring a State of Emergency to access state resources for communities across Oregon as we respond to this year’s escalating wildfire season. “Throughout the sum-
EMERGENCY cont. on page 3
Vinisthesia debuts in Cottage Grove CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel
Vinisthesia is a creative mix of wine, music, and the senses. Iris Vineyard’s Spring Release Party held in June attracted 140 wine lovers eager to mix and mingle and sample its newest wines - with a creative twist called Vinisthesia. The brainchild of local musician Forest Mountain Lion, he describes it as “a unique experience that captures a wine’s emotion and character in a tiny piece of music that lasts just as long as the taste of one sip and creates a multi-sensory experience. “I can hear the taste of each wine and I play them as a flourishing cascade of
notes on the piano – rushing highs, trembling lows, and the tension of harmony, dissonance and rhythm at the heart of a good wine’s originality,” Lion said. He explained the word “vinisthesia” was born from the Italian word vini, for wines, and the rare phenomenon of synesthesia, where two or more of the five senses meld into one. Growing up on rural property west of Cottage Grove he developed a love of nature, music and wine. Forest said Cottage Grove was an ideal place to grow up. “It felt a little slow sometimes as a young person, but after living in
VINISTHESIA cont. on page 3
PHOTO Courtesty from Iris Vineyards
Forest Mountain Lion (center) regularly performs at local music venues with Violinist Annemarie “Anumi” Hoffman and Base Player Jacob Sellars.
Local woman sentenced to prison following threats against coworkers
STAFF REPORT Cottage Grove Sentinel
TODAY’S EDITION
A Cottage Grove, Oregon woman has been sentenced to federal prison for threatening violence against her coworkers on Facebook. Elizabeth Ballestros West, 56, was sentenced July 16, to six months and three weeks in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. According to court documents, in late September 2023, the FBI received an anonymous tip that West was threatening coworkers on Facebook. Later, in November 2023, the Weather — 8 Obituaries — 4 Opinion — 5
FBI learned West had established an account on X (formerly known as Twitter) that she used to post and repost memes, videos and statements containing violent messages targeting particular ethnic groups. Several of West’s posts included what appeared to be self-produced photos of firearms including several handguns, a shotgun, and an AR-style assault rifle. On January 3, 2024, West admitted to posting and reposting messages on X that contained hateful and violent rhetoric. West also admitted to possessing multiple shotguns and AR-15 assault rifles at her Cottage Grove
Classifieds — 6-7 Sports — 8
residence. One week later, on January 9, 2024, the FBI executed federal search warrants on West’s person, vehicle, and residence. They located and seized 12 handguns, 16 rifles, thousands of rounds of ammunition and firearm accessories, and a journal that appeared to contain writings and drawings that included additional hateful and violent statements. On January 12, 2024, West was charged by criminal complaint with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce and arrested by the FBI the same day at her workplace in Eugene. Approximately one week later,
on January 18, 2024, a federal grand jury in Eugene indicted West on the same charge. On May 29, 2024, West pleaded guilty. This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Cottage Grove Police Department, Eugene Police Department, and Lane County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Adam E. Delph, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Read developing news and story updates @CGSentinel CGSentinel.com