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Wednesday August 27, 2025 | Number 35, 136 years
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$800,000 Library’s ‘Level Up’ Summer Reading Lifestyle Sports Life in Cottage Grove CGHS Football Incredible possible 74 Turnaround Program logs over 76,000 49minutes See page 8 for Cottage Grove Police Cottage Grove
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CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel
Wednesday October 9, 2024 | Number 135 years The Cottage Grove 39, Public Library
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has concluded its 2025 Summer Reading Program wrapping up a season of family-oriented activities, Cottage Grove may soon see a skill-building events, and community federal investment of $800,000 for reading under the theme “Level Up at community policing. Your Library.” The funding is part of appropriaParticipating youth and adults tion bills now under consideration by gathered in the Community Center’s the U.S. Congress. While the fundShepherd Room on Aug. 20 to celing has yet to be approved, Cottage ebrate their accomplishments, play Grove Chief Cory Chase said his games and enjoy free pizza and JEREMY C. RUARK agencyCottage has specific needs for the Crews began developing the smaller homeless Grove Sentinel prizes. investment. camp site this weekgathered on thetovacant lot at 12th Street. As the younger readers Public works are inour the “We have triedcrews to update play the Mario Kart video game on processfleet of establishing new of police over the pasta couple the large screen, at a nearby table four smaller homeless camp site at the years,” Chase said. “We were able women sat playing Uno. Among them vacant lot on 12th Street in Cottage JEREMY C. RUARK to do so with the addition of some was 89-year-old Carolyn Clarke. This Cottage Grove Sentinel Grove. new patrol vehicles. The funding was her second summer participating Cottage City Manager Oregon’s wildfire season is request wasGrove to specifically allow us in the reading program. She describes Mike Sauerwein said the city is expected to continue through this to replace the remainder of our aging herself as an avid reader with wide month, but the mental scares and behind original 1 timeline fleet of its vehicles andOct. to modernize ranging interests. impact of the season on the fireis establishing the camp, following our police fleet. This would help us Clarke said, “I love to read, and fighters who battle blazes in Lane the Aug. 22 closure and cleanup provide new state of the art vehicles I like a good challenge. I’ve really County and across the state, and of the 12th Street and Douglas and equipment to the entire departtheir families, may last a lifetime, enjoyed doing this.” Street homeless camps. During the ment to include, our patrol officers, according to Jeff Dill, the founder Grandmother Terri Morf loved transition, the adjacent LuludetecDog community service officer, of Firefighter Behavioral Health reading with her granddaughter Park atand 12th Street hasasbeen tives, supervisors, wellused as the Alliance (FBHA). Kennedy and participating in the as a homeless withresponse hours possibility of acamp crimesite scene Dill established the FBHA in activities. from 7 p.m. 7 a.m. daily. would vehicle. The to modernization 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. “We read about 15 books this sum“Nonestate of us ever managed He was than a Battalion Chief include of have the art mobile data Courtesy from the Cottage grove Library mer,” Morf said. “I live in a large city aterminals, homelessradios, camp and before, so we for a fire department in northwest in-car cameras delighted youth and and come here to spend time with my San Francisco-based circus and comedy duo Coventry and Kaluza Chicago. knewmodern that date was a bit aspirawith capabilities.” adults as part of the Summer Reading Program’s weekly activities. daughter and granddaughter. I love “I saw our brothers and sisters tional,” said.Sentinel “We are WhenSauerwein asked by The the library atmosphere here where struggle from the devastation that hoping that this week we will be how the federal funding would help • Gaming Wednesdays featured Some of thesoPG-rated filmsand were everybody knows everybody. It’s been per day, noting that if every resident they saw, I went back gotThe able to make the transition. Our increase safety and the livability of PHOTO JEREMY C. RUARK / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL in the Cottage Grove area read for 20 events like Spy School, Lego Club, Sandlot, Wreck It Ralph, Super Mario my degree and became a licensed fun for our family to read books and goalcommunity, was to provide folks with the Chase replied: counselor,” he said. “We started minutes for two days, the community Puzzle Races, and a brain challenging Bros., Tron: Legacy, and Air Bud participate manyhomeless of the activities.” Sauerwein and other city officials currently doing, which is providing The newinmini camp a safe secure place spenda “Thisand investment willtocreate tracking EMS and firefighter suicould told collectively reach that 400,000 room • Special Events: Popular children’s Theinclude program ran from June 18 toas have the Sentinel, there ahands-on locationescape for folks to spend the will the same restrictions the night and that’s what we are greater level of transparency and cides across America.” minutes. Participants had to log their • Teen Thursdays used the popular book author Carrie Tillotson was a August 20, launching with a kickoff are no additional plans to offer any night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.” doing.” accountability,” he said. “It will also the former larger camps. minutes in a software program called Nintendo Switch, Jackbox Games, special guest at the June 27 Story party in Bohemia Park attendother long-term sheltering for the Read previous coverage about “The same rules willwhere apply,” Sauerwein said city staff was Behavioral Impact increase our ability to be a good Beanstack. While the final tally fell and homelessness board games tochallenges bring together Time and Coventry & Kaluza, a ees signed upsaid. for reading challenges, homeless. the in Sauwrwein “The camp will According to Dill, firefighters cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to community partner in the region by short of that goal, staff noted strong 11–18-year-old kids for fun and dynamic clown and circus duo based free books, “Cottage Grove will follow Cottage Grove and follow new be available from 7and p.m.enjoyed to 7 a.m. often don’t recognize the behavioral reestablish as a dog park. Specific selected allowing forit better interoperability. engagement from adults 18 and older, friendship in San Francisco, combined circus refreshments of enforced Concerts in the state law as we understand it,” developments at cgsemtinel.com impact of their work. and the rulesahead will be costs of that cleanup and establishIn announcing the funding, followed bysaid. the 0–3 ageisgroup. Family Matinee Park. “We become cultural brainSauerwein “That what we and• Friday in the Wednesday printMovies editions through our contracting company, ing the smaller homeless camp at Oregon U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle said WEEKLY PROGRAM offered seven movies that provided washed,” Dill said. “Whether it’s Library staffofencouraged all readare doing. To change thatINCLUDED is up to of The Sentinel. One Security Eugene to help us 12th Street were not immediately she has secured $16,625,000 in Seeor READING Page 6 structural wildland fires. So, we families with low cost entertainment. to aim 20 minutes of reading the legislature. The city of Cottage during thisfortransition period. They available. Project Funding (CPFs) ers Community are meant to believe we are supGrove has no plans to do any kind are a very experienced homeless from the federal government for posed to act strong, brave, be help, of a shelter beyond what we are camp management company.” projects across Oregon’s 4th disdon’t ask for help, and we don’t trict, including the police funding want to look weak and not ask for help.” for Cottage Grove. The funding Dill added that while firefighters would become available if Congress are on the front lines battling the passes full year appropriations bills, wildfires, one of in theAugust biggestand chalJEREMY C. RUARK and would be awarded in varying on the landscape lenges they face is the unknown. Cottage Grove Sentinel amounts to 15 towns, including September. Fire managers say with “It’s how rapidly theses fires can Cottage Grove. numerous natural move, andexpected the unknown is ignitions where A wildfire near Goshen that “When I travel across the Central that now is the time for people to is it going to end? Where will this triggered evacuation orders late and South Coast, I hear the same double-down on fire prevention fire go to and how long will it last? Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 20, is a thing from people in every commuefforts. According to thehe National And that is a struggle,” said. nity: we need safe streets, affordable stark reminder of the dangerous fire Interagency Fireare Center, thisthat year “So, when you fighting conditions in the region. homes, access to health care, and a fire, you’re trying to do your nearly 93% of all wildfires in best the The Level 3 Go Now evacuato stophave it, and yetstarted the wind healthy environment,” Hoyle states nation been by kicks people, tion notices were downgraded by up at 60 Agriculture miles an hour and it drags in the release. “That’s why I fought the U.S. Department it further and further behind them. for this funding, and why I’m proud Thursday morning, Aug. 21. Follow states. That thewildland unknownurban is very details at cgsentinel.com. CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL to announce that we’ve secured “Weaspect live inofthe difficult in wildland fires. The fireAs the region transitions from Matchbooks from the Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. more than $16.6 million for projects interface, and we are right on the fighters have that stress and anxiety, summer into fall, South Lane that deliver on those needs. From of the forests,” Baird said, addTony Reed / Country Media, Inc. edge and that struggle to protect is a very Brookings to Corvallis, these invest- County Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Fire agencies in Lane County are bracing for the impact of ing that simple caution is important. difficult challenge for the wildland Justin Baird is urging caution and ments are our tax dollars coming He’s recommending the following: firefighters.” continued dry, hot weather, increasing the danger of wildawareness concerning the wildfire home and making a real difference “The big things to remember is It is often very difficult for famseason following continued hot, dry fires. for working families, small businot to park on,oforthedrive through,todry ily members firefighters weather. “WeNearly start getting eastattended winds picking weather predict WEELDREYER nesses,CINDY and future generations.” understand what emotions are, theFire way” duringforecasters the construction helped us meet many of our future 50 people the grass because it could ignitethere quickly. For The Cottage Grove Sentinel “We are still in fire season up off of the desert and they lower higher than average temperatures and that firefighters don’t The $16.6 million federal funding bookstore customers,” Birdy said. project. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s When youmany are towing trailers, make andShe there is still no open burning the humidities, hot, at willHe continue drygiven fuelsan in importthe express emotions, would also include: said hetowas shared a humorous mem“Farewell to thebringing Village that Green” sure the their tow chains and according up and not In 1975, when Birdy Hoelzle allowed,” he said. “While the fire dry, air into the valley.” region and, along with lightning, to Dill. because they could cause for opened the LaneThe County ant job of opening the boxes ory they made in the formal Iron the Community Center, Saturday, dragging and• $1,000,000 her sister Gail “We Also, ask the family classification hadRoom been that lowered According to Baird, despite the cause numerous fire starts Rural Fire Radio Network Resilience delivered to the natural guest rooms and Maiden Dining drewto Sept. 21. sparks. don’t tossmembers burning Bookmine they were familiar with to try to understand the cultural,” moderate, we could go back to high recent rain showers, the region’s across Oregon and Washington. Project. recalled how cool he felt driving laughter from the crowd. The internationally famous resort cigarettes or cigars to the ground,” The Village Green. he said. “Be direct. Challenge it is still out ground fuels by areWalter still dry. Since the end of cart May,around fire manag•Their $675,000 the Mapleton the orange golf the “My sister andpretty I weredry budding was created A. Woodard Baird said. fatherfor traveled a lot andWater because with compassion when something there.” “Our fuel moistures are still dry, ers in the Pacific Northwest have District Upgrade Refurbishment property for assigned errands. Years doesn’t feminists at the time and were quite (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some Fire agencies also closely often brought its and matchboxes home look right or are doesn’t sound Baird classified the fire season in such as theofbig thatattended are on and engaged in fighting large fires of Storage Facility. later, another special53memory was shocked by the sexism practiced members thelogs family monitoring lighting storms thatup,pass as Water keepsakes for his girls. The sisright, and do an internal size so this summer as “fairly mild,” the ground,” he said. “Those have covering over 200,000 for the of they seeing thejust famous football acres, player, thefar dining room,” she said. “The shared personal memories. through theask region. ters• $858,000 were in their 20’sCity when which we the firefighters to compared to past fire seasons, but been dry, and a little bit of rain including National Forest Springfild’s Body-worn and In-car O.J. Simpson, running onlands, one of the do“We menu given to a woman had no usually suchInternal stormssize in as well,” heget said.” opened the Main Street bookstore THROUGH THE cautioned fire seasons doesn’t do much, We stillLENS have a according to a U.S. Department of Video up means whyis am I acting resort’s paths. prices on itthat andtypically, foot pillows were late Augustasking and that something and, toSystems enhanceModernization. their income, Woodard’s intensify Labor Day and into lot Kris dry debris, bush,introductory and trees on Agriculture release. this can way,beand am I feeling To the delight of those gathered, provided around so ladies’ uncomfortable that of why concern,” he said.this worked as waitresses at the resort. remarks included personal memearly fall. the ground, so at any time if there However, way? The thing we can do is Kris’ brother,without Casey significant Woodard, shoes could be removed while din“That is thebest unknown.” “It was a wonderful place to oriesa he made through thepretty lens of “That’s when weera.” start was spark it could burn cooling and rain, communities ing. It wastypically a very different work and, being new in town, it a 12-year-old who was often “in getting a lot of trouble,” he said. aggressively.” should anticipate more large See LEGACY, Pagefires 6 See HEALTH, Page 6 See POLICE Page 8 See WILDFIRE Page 8 JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
The mental City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters
Wildfire caution, awareness urged
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
INSIDE News — 1-3— 3 Lifestyles Obituaries — 4 Death Notice — 4
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