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JEREMY C. RUARK CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove4Sentinel See page
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issues student cell phone policy The mental
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Wednesday, Oct 9 Mostly Cloudy
Evidence of an intense lightning storm can still be seen around Cottage Grove with a few of the October 9, 2024 | Number 39, 135 years www.cgsentinel.com $2.00 large standing trees damaged. The storm sent crackling thunder with lightning bolts sailing across the sky and a few striking the area. Mt. David resident Lisa Richards Thomas shared a photo she took capturing one of the lightning strikes hitting her neighborhood. Around town several tall trees were damaged by direct strikes. On the corner of 10th Street and Taylor Avenue,JEREMY a three-story tall giant C. RUARK sequoia, approximately eight-feet in Crews began developing the smaller homeless Cottage Grove Sentinel diameter, was struck. The top of the camp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street. Public works crews are in the tree exploded and sent debris crashprocess of establishing a new ing to the ground camp next tosite theathome smaller homeless the of Jim and Barbara Gant. vacant lot on 12th Street in Cottage “We heard a tremendously loud Grove. clap of thunder sounded like Cottage Grovethat City Manager itMike wasSauerwein right on top of our house,” said the city is Jim said. and 1I looked behind its“Barbara original Oct. timelineout the window and saw tree limbs on is establishing the camp, following our fence. Someone knocked on the Aug. 22 closure and cleanup our door to tell us about the tree. of the 12th Street and Douglas When we went outside was athe real Street homeless camps. itDuring shocker to see all that debris on transition, the adjacent Lulu Dogthe ground.” was sent to respond first to the it had grown to eight acres. At Middle Fork Ranger District. The Park at 12th Street has been used Praegitzer, lightning-caused fire on Cougar noon Monday, Aug. 25, the UNF closure order, which is for public as Mike a homeless campowner site with hours of National & Mountain. Facebook page estimated the and firefighter safety, is in effect from 7 p.m. Construction to 7 a.m. daily. Excavation, saidhave he and crew Soon after ODF crews arrived wildfire had grown to 15 acres Aug. 27, 2025, through Nov. 25, “None of us everhis managed were contracted the City of 2025, unless modified or rescinded with a 12-person hand crew, two with three engines, four individual a homeless campby before, so we Cottage Grove to repair section sooner. brush trucks and a helicopter. resources and a dozer on the scene knew that date was a bit aaspiraof Taylor Avenue at South 10th The lightning-caused Emigrant The helicopter used water from a with additional resources enroute. tional,” Sauerwein said. “We are Street to classes resuming Fire is located in a remote area nearby pond to extinguish the fire. Firefighters completed 150 ft. of hopingprior that this week we will beat Harrison Elementary School. “We three miles southwest of Indigo Smith said the South Lane Fire & handline on its east flank. As of able to make the transition. Our RUARK /Campground COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL made some saw cuts in the concrete and is Rescue brush truck then returned Wednesday, Aug. 27, PHOTO the fire JEREMY had C. Springs goal was to provide folks with and luckily left the site about a half Sauerwein and other city officials currently doing,7,400 whichacres is providing approximately in size. to The the station andhomeless an ODF camp mop up grown to 46 acres. new mini a safe and secure place to spend hour before lightning hit are the told the Mountain Sentinel, that there a location forroads, folks to spend the All areas, trails, campcrewinclude remained therestrictions half acre site. Sugarloaf is located will the on same as have the night andthe that’s what we tree.” no 20 additional plans to offer any night fromand 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.” grounds, recreation sites in the Theformer fire was located on land owned are about miles southeast of Cottage the larger camps. doing.” LIGHTNING-CAUSED other sheltering for the Read previous coverage about closure area, as well as sites in the by“The Weyerhaesuer, contracts Grovelong-term in the Umpqua National same ruleswhich will apply,” Sauerwein said city staff was homeless. the homelessness in Timpanogas Lakechallenges area, are closed. with ODF tosaid. respond wildfires Forest. The site is accessed via Sauwrwein “The to camp will cleaning upWILDFIRES the Lulu Dog Park to Northeastit of Grove, a “Cottage willCreek followroads, Cottage Grove and the follow new All roads forming boundary on available company-owned land.to 7 a.m. Row River Grove and Brice be from 7 p.m. reestablish as Cottage a dog park. Specific half-acre wildfire was triggered state as service we understand it,” developments of the closureatarecgsemtinel.com included in the to the Duty with law forest routes leading andAccording the rules will beWatch enforced costs of that cleanup and establishby lightning According Sauerwein said. “That is what we and in the Wednesday print editions closure. app, another fire, the Sugar Loaf into the area. through our contracting company, ingathe smallerstrike. homeless camp atto South Lane Rural Fire & Rescue areThe doing. To change that is up to of The Sentinel. Follow developments at cgsentifire, Security was first of reported Willamette National Forest One EugeneSunday, to help us 12th Street were not immediately Division the The city ofclosure Cottage nel.com and in the Wednesday print Aug 24,this at transition 12:29 p.m.period. just east of has legislature. issued an emergency during They available.Chief Aaron Smith, at the request of the Oregon Department Grove hasthe no Emigrant plans to doFire, anywhich kind editions of The Sentinel. Sugarloaf in homeless the Cottage order for are a very Mountain experienced of Forestry ODF), a brush truck of what2025, we are Grovemanagement Ranger District. By 6 p.m. wasa shelter reportedbeyond Aug. 24, in the camp company.”
Wednesday
City establishing mini health impact homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
South Lane School District Superintendent Todd Miller has issued details concerning the district’s policy for student cell phone use. In a message sent out to parents and students in the district Friday afternoon, Aug. 22, Miller explained the impact of Gov.C. Tina Kotek’s JEREMY RUARK Cottage Sentinel executive order Grove that bans student use of cell phones and personal Oregon’s wildfire seasoncomis munication during the this entire expected todevices continue through school the time school month,day, but from the mental scares and impactuntil of the on the firebegins theseason final bell rings. fighters battle cell blazes in Lane The billwho includes phones and County and across and other devices capabletheofstate, texting, their families, may the last internet a lifetime, calling or accessing according to Jeff Dill, the founder (smart watches, some earbuds, etc.) of Firefighter Behavioral Health “This order is based on growing Alliance (FBHA). research showing that phones Dill established thecell FBHA in have become a major distraction 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. inHeclassrooms,” Miller states in his was than a Battalion Chief message. “Reducing their presence for a fire department in northwest during the school day is expected Chicago. “I saw our brothers and sisters to help students focus more on struggle from the devastation that instruction, engage more fully with they saw,and so strengthen I went backin-person and got learning, my degree and a licensed connections withbecame peers and staff. We counselor,” he said. “We know the positives that thisstarted bill will tracking EMS and firefighter suibring, but we also recognize there cides across America.” will be challenges to family communicationBehavioral during the day.” Impact Miller explains that firefighters while the law According to Dill, often don’t the behavioral indicates thatrecognize schools must enforce impact of by theirJanuary work. 1, 2026, the this policy “WeLane become cultural brainSouth School District has washed,” Dill the said.school “Whether elected to start year it’s with wildland fires. we itsstructural updated or phone policies “toSo, make are meant to believe we are supthis a smoother transition, while still posed to act strong, brave, be help, giving us time to work kinks don’t ask for help, andout we the don’t by January,” Miller said. “The goal want to look weak and not ask for ishelp.” to reduce distractions and maximizeDill student on learning duraddedfocus that while firefighters ing day,” arethe on school the front lines battling the wildfires, of the chalFamilies one should nowbiggest be thinking lenges they face is the unknown. about how communications will hapWILL LOHRE Awards. Lynlee was also second in “It’s howtherapidly theses firesmore can pen during day, with likely Country Media, Inc. Horsemanship. Miss Rodeo Oregon move, and the unknown isoffices, where contact through the school President Lois Forester explained is it goingtotoMiller. end? Where will this according It took a lot of work for 9-yearhow the categories are judged. fire go to and how long will it last? “Our goal is to keep communicaold Cottage Grove cowgirl Lynlee “Lynlee won the most points And that is a struggle,” he said. tion he states Perini to prepare for the Miss overall in those categories. She “So,open whenwith youfamilies,” are fighting that in his message. “I know, personally, Rodeo Oregon Pageant in July. But fire, you’re trying to do your best came second in Horsemanship. I’ll have it,to and adjust when the four-day competition in to stop yetthe theway windI commukicks Appearance is how they present nicate with my high school Elgin came to a close, Lynlee was it drags themselves, including their clothing, up at 60 miles an hour anddaughter the and day.further Also, we knowthem. on it further behind crowned 2026 Little Miss Rodeo hats, boots, and grooming,” Forester during That aspect of the unknown is very our end we will need to step up Oregon, achieving a goal she set for CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE is GROVE SENTINEL said. “Personality their overall difficult in wildland fires. The firecommunication regarding extracurherself from the moment her mom Matchbooks from the Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. demeanor and appeal--friendliness fighterschanges have that stress and anxiety, ricular to families.” asked if she wanted to try for it. and congeniality. They are interand that listed struggle to protect is a very Miller initial information for Lynlee is the first-ever “Little viewed individually twice and are difficult challenge for the wildland families about the student use of cell Miss Rodeo,” as the Miss Rodeo judged on their personality and firefighters.” phones and other devices: Oregon Pageant added the title this knowledge.” It is often very difficult for famschool: Notfirefighters allowed and year because there was an age gap And to the victor go the spoils! ilyDuring members of the to cannot be kept on the person. Phone between the Sweetheart title and the CINDY WEELDREYER understand what emotions there are, There wereduring plentythe of construction prizes for the way” helped us meet many of our future Nearly 50 people attended the be off and firefighters stored awaydon’t from For The Junior MissCottage Rodeo Grove OregonSentinel title. and that many Lynlee, project. including practical items for must bookstore customers,” Birdy said. Cottage Grove Historical Society’s persontheir (possibly including lock“How I prepared for the Little express emotions, according herHe year, well somean keepsakes, saidashe wasasgiven import- the She shared a humorous mem“Farewell to the Village Green” at In 1975, when Birdy Hoelzle ers, backpacks or designated storage to Dill. Miss Rodeo Oregon tryout was such as aofcustom bracelet, ant job openingbuckle, the boxes ory they made in the formal Iron the Community Center, Saturday, and her sister Gail opened The “We ask the family locations depending on members the building every time they my mom gowith get spurs, and to breast collar.rooms The prizes delivered the guest and Maiden Dining Room that drew Sept. 21. Bookmine werewould familiar to try to understand the cultural,” and level). her lashes done or any of that, we a great reminder award recalled how cool hethat feltthe driving laughter from the crowd. The internationally famous resort are The Village Green. heOn said. the “Be bus direct. to and Challenge from school: were in our car,traveled she would she wasn’t dream. the won orange golf acart around the “My sister and I were budding was created by Walter A. Woodard Their father a lotask andme with compassion when something Phones are allowed, but still must be questions, and I would go over my “Oh, it for wasassigned so cool,”errands. LynleeYears said. doesn’t look right or doesn’t property feminists at the time and were quite (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some often brought its matchboxes home sound used appropriately. speech like a hundred million times. my prizes I got was my later, of another special memory was shocked by the sexism practiced in members of the family attended and “One as keepsakes for his girls. The sisright, and do an internal size up, Lunch and passing time: Not Iters alsowere did in it with speech bracelet for first place. which seeing award the famous football player, the dining room,” she said. “The shared personal memories. their my 20’swhole whenfamily,” they we ask the firefighters to allowed Lynlee said. IO.J. evenSimpson, wear it around runningmy onhouse. one ofIthe do as well,” he said.” Internal size menu given to a woman had no opened the Main Street bookstore THROUGH THE LENS travel Competing against two other upExtracurricular means asking events why amand I acting would at it and then walk, and resort’slook paths. prices on it and foot pillows were and, to enhance their income, Courtesy photo from Kris Little Woodard’s Miss Rodeo introductory Oregon Foundation time: May be allowed, but still candidates, Lynlee secured the this way, and why am I feelingused this look it, delight then walk.” Toatthe of those gathered, provided so ladies’ uncomfortable worked as waitresses at the resort. Lynlee Jo Perini capped a four-day pagenat with the title of remarks included personal memcrown, but that wasn’t all she won. way? The best thing we can do is Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard, shoes could be removed while din“It was a wonderful place to 2026 Little Miss Rodeo Oregon. ories he made through the lens of She ing. It was a very different era.” workalso and,earned beingthe newAppearance, in town, it a 12-year-old who was often “in SeeCOWGIRL LEGACY, Page Page6 6 See Page Personality, Knowledge, and Speech See See HEALTH, POLICY Page 6 6
Cottage Grove Cowgirl wins Little Miss Rodeo Pageant
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
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