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Number 29 • 135 years
Spirit of BMD celebration fun unites community CINDY WEELDRYER Cottage Grove Sentinel
Cottage Grove is known for its special events celebrating the city’s rich history and the community came together once again during the Spirit of BMD. Community members and visitors attended the hastily organized Spirit of BMD, a two-day celebration held Friday and Saturday, July 19-20. The tribute event had the look and feel of Bohemia Mining Days (BMD), minus the trademark Old West façade walls and familiar people-moving train. It was planned in only six weeks by BMD alumni and volunteers to properly honor the festival’s 65th anniversary on its traditional third weekend in
July. Planning for the Spirit of BMD began shortly after the announcement May 20, by the Bohemia Mining Days, Inc. (BMD) board of directors that it would cancel this year’s festival. Spirit of BMD 2024 The weather was hot with afternoon highs near 90-degrees on both days of the event and, sadly, January’s ice storm destroyed many of Coiner Park’s much needed shade trees. Yet, sun-loving festival goers strolled around the park shopping in the vendor market and had the opportunity to enjoy their favorite food, treats and spirits. Local musicians donat-
CELEBRATION cont. on page 4
Jeremy C. Ruark / Cottage Grove Sentinel
Local veterans lead the Spirit of BMD Parade with a police motorcycle escort.
Area wildfire triggers Level One Evacuation Notice JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
Lane County emergency officials issued a Level One Be Ready Evacuation Notice for the Brice Creek area east of Cottage Grove July 23, due to the Lane 1 Fire. The wildfire is located approximately 17 miles south of Cottage Grove, located in Sharps Creek. It was first reported just after 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 17. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) initially responded. When firefighters arrived on scene, it was estimated to be 30 acres and growing quickly in the hot, dry and windy conditions. Numerous resources were ordered, including engines, bulldozers, water tenders and multiple types of aircraft. The fire grew to an estimated 35 acres within the couple hours, and 85 acres into initial attack, according to the ODF. By the evening of July 17, the fire had grown to approximately 120 acres. The fire grew into 526 acres on July 20, and local crews had lined 10% of the fire. As
of July 22, the Lane fire has grown to 768 acres. By July 25 it was at 1,296 acres. “Like all the residents in that area, we have been watching that fire over the last several days,” Lane County Public Information Officer Devon Ashbridge said. “The fire is beginning to encroach on private property and in order to make sure the residents of that area are aware that the fire is increasing danger to their homes, we issued a Level One Be Ready Evacuation Notification today.” Ashbridge said the Level One Notification is an alert to residents to get prepared in case they are asked to leave their homes. “So, this is the time to start making sure that they have all of the paperwork, identifications, insurance paperwork, prescriptions, plans to evacuate their pets and livestock, start beginning to be ready in case that danger intensifies and they have to leave their homes,” she said.
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The Lane 1 Fire moves up a steep slope.
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Crews work from the air and the ground to contain the wildfire.
Wildfire smoke rises from the rugged landscape.
EVACUATION cont. on page 4
Local citizens, agency officials testify at state transportation meeting
JEREMY C. RUARK
Cottage Grove Sentinel
TODAY’S EDITION
Community members in Lane County are voicing their concerns about Oregon’s transportation system. The July 18 meeting in Eugene is one of several being held around the state as part of the Statewide Transportation Safety and Sustainability Outreach Tour. The goal of the tour, which concludes in late September, is to “help legislators understand the needs of Oregonians and
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the challenges of maintaining a safe, accessible, and reliable transportation system” in advance of the legislature’s 2025 transportation package. The state lawmakers heard from community members and agency leaders, including Lane Transit District’s Chief Executive Officer Jameson Auten, about how to best improve Oregon’s transportation system. The lawmakers, including Representative Nancy Nathanson (D-Eugene), are members of Oregon’s Joint Committee on
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Transportation (JCT). Committee members started their day on an LTD bus, touring the area’s transportation infrastructure. They examined Beltline Bridge to consider its seismic vulnerability, visited Springfield’s Island Park, and traveled up Highway 126E to check out pavement conditions and fire recovery areas. Auten was invited by the JCT to participate in a mid-afternoon roundtable with other local leaders and government officials. This group included Lau-
rie Trieger, Lane County Board of Commissioners; Brenda Moore, Executive Director at Lane Council of Governments; and Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis. “LTD is identifying local priorities and how we can tie into those when we plan our services,” Auten said. “We’re landing on access to housing, healthcare, education, and jobs. People are using mobility systems in different ways now. Ridership is important,
TRANSPORTATION cont. on page 4
Read developing news and story updates @CGSentinel CGSentinel.com
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Cheiko Tomasulo, a South Lane Wheels user, delivers testimony during the state transportation meeting in Eugene.