The Cottage Grove
entinel entinel Fire district looks to voters for more staffing The CoTTage grove
The ‘New’ Cottage Grove
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Wednesday October 29, 2025 | Number 44, 137 years
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Wednesday, October 29, 2025 Showers
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Cottage Grove
CGHS Football Incredible TurnaroundThe district operates four stations $186.72 per year. The tax would raise approximately $12,978,604 Seeinpage Cottage8Grove, Creswell, and
$2.00
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calls each day. When we are fully staffed with have seven staff mem-Wednesday, Oct 9 over a five-year period starting in surrounding areas. The downtown bers. Minimum managing is five Mostly Cloudy Voters in the South Lane Fire 2026, according to the district’s Creswell station and the Cottage staff per day. We are augmented by District are being asked to decide on website. Grove station are staffed 24-hours a typically one residential volunteer a five-year local option levy in the The South Lane Fire & Rescue day. The Saginaw station is supplestudent.” October 9, 2024 | Number 39, 135 years www.cgsentinel.com $2.00 Nov. 4 Special Election. District Board placed the levy on mented with a residential volunteer. The district covers 130 square If passed, the measure, #20-372, the ballot levy in an effort to fund The fourth station is near Camas miles for fire service, and the ambuwould cost property owners $0.94 six new full-time positions and one Swale Road. lance service covers 800 square per $1,000 of assessed property additional apprentice. This would SLFR Deputy Chief Justin Baird miles. That works out to be services Jeremy C. Ruark/ Cottage Grove Sentinel value (not real market value) bring daily staffing from 7 personnel said the district’s call volume has for approximately 33,000 people, Voters will decide on a levy beginning in 2026. The owner of a to 10 personnel, allowing the district been increasing since 2014 by 62%. according to Baird, who added it is to fund additional staffing median-priced home in the district to staff a third full-time paramedic “This year we will probably be not unusual for the crews to respond at the South Lane Fire & with an assessed value of $198,639 ambulance. close to 6,000 calls for service,” he Rescue District in the Nov. 4 would pay $15.56 per month or said. “We are averaging g about 15 Special Election. See VOTERS Page 6 JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove4Sentinel See page
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Wednesday
The mental City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s
County sends out 2025-26 property tax statements JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
CO2 Trust grows carbon credits from compost and care
Crews began developing the smaller homeless camp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street.
Public works crews are in the process of establishing a new smaller homeless camp site at the vacant lot on 12th Street in Cottage Grove. Cottage Grove City Manager Mike Sauerwein said the city is behind its original Oct. 1 timeline CINDY WEELDREYER is establishing the camp, following Cottage Grove Sentinel the Aug. 22 closure and cleanup Roots of a climate-conscious of the 12th Street and Douglas industry are growing at the former Street homeless camps. During the Cottage Grove Ranger Station on transition, the adjacent Lulu Dog Row River Road. JEREMY RUARK Park at 12th StreetC.has been used Cottagecamp Grovesite Sentinel CO2 Trust and its partners are as a homeless with hours cultivating a new climate economy from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. Lane the from the biochar they enrich and “NoneCoun of usbegan have mailing ever managed 2025-26 property tax statements package onsite. a homeless camp before, so we to property on aOct. The first The large facility, located east of knew thatowners date was bit 22. aspirapayment is due Nov.said. 17. “We are Cottage Grove at the intersection tional,” Sauerwein Statements areweek available online of Row River Road and Cedar Park hoping that this we will be now Road, began as the bustling operaable at to www.LaneCountyOR.gov/ make the transition. Our PHOTO JEREMY C. RUARK / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL AT, well information about the tional hub that managed the north goalaswas to as provide folks with county value trends, levytochanges, Sauerwein and other city officials currently doing, which is providing newUmpqua mini homeless endThe of the Nationalcamp Forest. a safe and secure place spend and individual property a location for folks to spend the the repurposed same restrictions Itwill hasinclude now been as the as have told the Sentinel, that there the night and that’s whattax weaccount are information. are no additional plans to offer any night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.” the former camps. Plaza. Cedar Park larger Sustainability doing.” Lane County Assessment and other long-term sheltering for the Read previous coverage about “Thefacility same rules The serveswill as aapply,” packagSauerwein said city staff was Taxation collects property tax onto homeless. the homelessness challenges in Sauwrwein said. “The ing and distribution sitecamp wherewill cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park behalf of 85itseparate districts, CO2 “Cottage Grove will follow Cottage Grove and follow new be available 7 p.m.company, to 7 a.m. Trust, a from new local reestablish as a dogtaxing park. Specific including cities, schools, state law as we understand it,” developments at cgsemtinel.com and the rules willfrom be enforced receives biochar Freres costs of that cleanup and education establishservice water districts, Sauerwein said. “That is what we and in the Wednesday print editions through ourWood, contracting company, enriches it with ing the districts, smaller homeless camp atrural Engineered fire urban districts food are doing. To change that is up to of The Sentinel. One Security Eugene to helpfrom us waste andofworm castings 12thdistricts, Street were notrenewal immediately and other taxing districts such as the legislature. The city of Cottage during thisand transition They HealTerra Source period. One Serenity available. park and recreation, library, and Grove has no plans to do any kind areRoseburg, a very experienced homeless in and recycles discarded ambulance districts. camplinens management company.” hotel to bag the final product. of a shelter beyond what we are The total property tax certified for Assisted by onsite partner Sweet all tax levies combined in 2025-26 is Skins Hemp Clothing Manufacturer, $746 million. This is approximately the CO2 Trust team cuts fabric, 3.49 percent more than in 2024–25. applies natural dyes, and fills it with Cindy Weeldreyer / Cottage Grove Sentinel The total amount of taxes billed the enriched biochar for retail and CO2 Trust Co-Founder Misty Burris shows how the final changes each year because of the commercial use. product is made as she describes the process during a pubaddition of new or renewed local COMPANY HISTORY lic tour of the facility. option and bond levies, the expiraCO2 Trust co-founders Misty tion of local option and bond levies, Burris and Edd Norris are local shared desire to dive into the carbon Skins, Source One Serenity, and the 3 percent statutory increase in residents who built a seaworthy market. HealTerra Soil Enrich®. Each brings Maximum Assessed Values (MAV), software vessel filled with locally A carbon market is a system a distinct legacy—industrial innothe addition of new properties to the produced biochar to navigate the where individuals, companies, or vation, eco-fashion resilience, and tax roll, and the number of exempeconomic waters of the global cargovernments buy and sell carbon veteran-powered land stewardship. tions granted. bon market. credits—each representing one CO2 Trust’s mission is to make Oregon’s constitution limits the Burris, 52, is a consultant who ton of carbon dioxide reduced carbon credit access straightforward increase in the MAV of each prophelps clients access government CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGEPowered GROVE SENTINEL or removed—to offset emissions and accountable. by trusted erty to 3 percent per year, unless programs. She helps them identify Matchbooks from the Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove.and See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. support climate action. Burris partners to support secure transacthere have been changes made to and provide the supportive docurecruited partners to generate credits, tions, community engagement, the property, such as new construcmentation needed to complete the and Norris designed software to help and offline ownership—meaning tion or additions, new partitions or often complex paperwork required them broker those credits without individuals and organizations can subdivisions, removal from special to participate. She was invaluable paying fees to outside entities. hold proof of their carbon credit assessment or exemption programs, to small business owners during “Last year, we transitioned into purchases without relying on a thirdor changes in zoning and use of the the pandemic who needed governCINDY WEELDREYER active involvement how thethe carparty system. Thethe Climate Plaza the way” during construction helped us meet many of our future Nearly 50 peopleinattended property. ment assistance to survive mandated For The Cottage Grove Sentinel hosts workshops and public events bon credits are deployed,” Norris project. bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s The statement shows the propclosures. thatHe help people understand said. “We want locally Green” produceat said he was given an how importShe shared a humorous mem“Farewell to thetoVillage In 1975, when Birdy Hoelzle erty’s Taxable Value (TV), which is a 38-year-old software carbon work—and how local and a high-quality biochar ant jobcredits of opening the boxes oryNorris they is made in the formal Iron the market Community Center, Saturday, and her sister Gail opened The the lower of the Real Market Value engineer who spent most of drew his action can to shape globalrooms outcomes. for gardening and agriculture that delivered the guest and Maiden Dining Room that Sept. 21. Bookmine theyMAV wereminus familiar (RMV) or the anywith career in the video game industry Freres how Engineered Biochar allows to generate recalled cool heWood: felt driving laughter from the crowd. The landowners internationally famous resort The Village Green. exemptions. Most properties will and“My latersister worked for from clean mill carbon creditsbythey can A. sell—but the orange golfwaste cart around the andinI marketing were budding was created Walter Woodard Their father a lot and continue to see traveled the 3 percent statutech companies like Google and Freres, for based in Lyons, Oregon, importantly, to Carlton. make theSome soil property assigned errands. Years feminists at the time and were quite more (W.A.) and his son, often brought its matchboxes home tory increase in MAV. Dell. During the sexism pandemic, he in Massspecial Ply Panels and was more resilient andfamily less dependent on produces later, another memory shocked by the practiced members of the attended and as Lane keepsakes for his girls. The sisCounty’s January 1, 2025 moved his family a farm Rat biochar using 100%football biomass-fired unnatural farmingmemories. practices.” seeing the famous player, the dining room,”toshe said. on “The shared personal ters were in theirfrom 20’s$101.3 when they RMV increased billion Creek near Cottage Grove. Burris energy. Their biochar—made COLLABORATIVE O.J. Simpson, running on onefrom of the menu given to a woman had no opened the Main Street bookstore to $102.7 billion, an overall increase needed help optimizing her software, THROUGH THE LENS Douglas fir bark and sawdust—is REGIONAL VENTURE resort’s paths. prices on it and foot pillows were and, to enhance their income, and Norrissowas looking for part-time Kris introductory certified Puro.Earth andgathered, used for At theWoodard’s center of CO2 Trust’s To thebydelight of those provided ladies’ uncomfortable worked as waitresses at the resort. work. Their partnership led to a remarks included personal memsoil health and Casey carbonWoodard, removal credimpact are four regional collaboraKris’ brother, shoes could be removed while din“It was a wonderful place to oriesFreres he made through the lensSweet of its. Microsoft is among their buyers. tors: Engineered Wood, ing. It was a very different era.” work and, being newPage in town, it See TAX 6 a 12-year-old who was often “in See LEGACY, Page 6
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
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wildland firefighters
JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
Oregon’s wildfire season is expected to continue through this month,powers but the5,000 mental scaresand and Freres homes impact of the season on the fireoperates with a zero-waste model fighters who battle blazes in Lane rooted in sustainable forestry. County and across the state, and Sweet Skins:may Eco-fashion meets their families, last a lifetime, full circle sheet design according to Jeff Dill, the founder by Behavioral Mira Fannin, Sweet ofFounded Firefighter Health Skins is a Black woman–owned Alliance (FBHA). clothing brand that the crafts hempinand Dill established FBHA 2010 following HurricaneFannin Katrina. organic cotton garments. He washerthan a Battalion began business in the Chief garage of for Eugene a fire department northwest her home and in was one of Chicago. the small businesses Burris helped “I saw brothersBurris and sisters during theour pandemic. invited struggle from the devastation that her to relocate to the Cedar Park they saw, so I went back and got Sustainability creating a colmy degree andPlaza, became a licensed laboration where Sweet Skins gained counselor,” he said. “We started manufacturing space and CO2 Trust tracking EMS and firefighter suigained access to cutting tools that cides across America.” upcycle dyed bedsheets into biochar Behavioral Impact packaging labels. According Dill, firefighters Source OnetoSerenity / HealTerra oftenEnrich: don’t recognize thewith behavioral Soil Composting impact of their work. purpose “We become cultural brainThis Douglas County nonprofit washed,” Dill said. “Whether it’s helps veterans heal through structural or wildland fires. trail So, we work and outdoor recreation. Its are meant to believe we are supcomposting arm, HealTerra, turns posed to act strong, brave, be help, food from schools anddon’t the don’twaste ask for help, and we want to look and not ask soil for Roseburg VA weak into nutrient-rich help.”worm digesters. All revenue using Dill added that while firefighters supports programs like equestrian are on the lineswalks. battling the therapy andfront forestry Their wildfires, one of the biggest chalGlide landfill partnership closes the lenges they face is the unknown. loop from trauma to stewardship. “It’s how rapidly theses fires can WHAT move, andIS theBIOCHAR? unknown is where Biochar is formWhere of charcoal is it going to aend? will this made by heating organic waste—like fire go to and how long will it last? wood chips crop residue—in And that is or a struggle,” he said.a low-oxygen environment. It’sthat used “So, when you are fighting fire, you’re trying totodoimprove your best as a soil amendment to stop it, and moisture, yet the wind fertility, retain andkicks sequesup carbon. at 60 miles houruses andititasdrags ter CO2anTrust it further and behind feedstock and further adds food wastethem. and That aspect of the unknown is very forest-grown microbes to create a difficult in wildland fires. The firenutrient-rich additive that supports fighters have that stress and anxiety, climate-friendly and that strugglecultivation. to protect is a very RETAIL PRODUCTS AND difficult challenge for the wildland CLIMATE PLAZA TENANCY firefighters.” CO2 Trust’svery retail side offers bioIt is often difficult for famchar in three formats: a 1.5 gallon ily members of the firefighters to understand emotions are, bag ($7.99),what a mid-size bagthere for mixandwith that two manycubic firefighters don’t ing feet of soil ($19), express their emotions, and a five-gallon bucket according ($45). to Burris Dill. said the former forest “We facility ask the isfamily service ideal members for scaling to try to understand the cultural,” production, welcoming new partners, he said. “Be direct. Challenge and workshops. withhosting compassion when something “We invite anybody in the field doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound of climate or carbon to right, and do an internalshare size space up, in the Climate Plaza,” she said.to“It which we ask the firefighters feels we’re the grassroots do aslike well,” he in said.” Internal size upameans asking whybut amwith I acting of new commodity, the this way, and am I feeling this innovation andwhy technology to build way? The best thing we can do is See TRUST Page 8
See HEALTH, Page 6