CGS93

Intense lightning storm strikes Cottage Grove

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Evidence of an intense lightning storm

seen around Cottage Grove with a few of the 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, a three-story tall giant sequoia, approximately eight-feet in diameter, was struck. The top of the tree exploded and sent debris crashing to the ground next to the home of Jim and Barbara Gant.

JEREMY

C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel

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

“We heard a tremendously loud clap of thunder that sounded like it was right on top of our house,” Jim said. “Barbara and I looked out the window and saw tree limbs on our fence. Someone knocked on our door to tell us about the tree. When we went outside it was a real shocker to see all that debris on the ground.”

Mike Sauerwein said the city is behind its original Oct. 1 timeline is establishing the camp, following the Aug. 22 closure and cleanup of the 12th Street and Douglas Street homeless camps. During the transition, the adjacent Lulu Dog Park at 12th Street has been used as a homeless camp site with hours from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily.

District issues student cell phone policy

South Lane School District

Superintendent Todd Miller has issued details concerning the district’s policy for student cell phone use.

The mental health impact facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters

JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel

In a message sent out to parents and students in the district Friday afternoon, Aug. 22, Miller explained the impact of Gov. Tina Kotek’s executive order that bans student use of cell phones and personal communication devices during the entire school day, from the time school begins until the final bell rings.

The bill includes cell phones and other devices capable of texting, calling or accessing the internet (smart watches, some earbuds, etc.)

Mike Praegitzer, owner of National Construction & Excavation, said he and his crew were contracted by the City of Cottage Grove to repair a section of Taylor Avenue at South 10th Street prior to classes resuming at Harrison Elementary School. “We made some saw cuts in the concrete and luckily left the site about a half hour before the lightning hit the tree.”

“None of us have ever managed a homeless camp before, so we knew that date was a bit aspirational,” Sauerwein said. “We are hoping that this week we will be able to make the transition. Our goal was to provide folks with a safe and secure place to spend the night and that’s what we are doing.”

LIGHTNING-CAUSED

WILDFIRES

Sauerwein said city staff was cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to reestablish it as a dog park. Specific costs of that cleanup and establishing the smaller homeless camp at 12th Street were not immediately available.

Northeast of Cottage Grove, a half-acre wildfire was triggered by a lightning strike. According to South Lane Rural Fire & Rescue Division Chief Aaron Smith, at the request of the Oregon Department of Forestry ODF), a brush truck

was sent to respond first to the lightning-caused fire on Cougar Mountain. Soon after ODF crews arrived with a 12-person hand crew, two brush trucks and a helicopter.

The helicopter used water from a nearby pond to extinguish the fire.

Smith said the South Lane Fire & Rescue brush truck then returned to the station and an ODF mop up crew remained on the half acre site.

The new mini homeless camp will include the same restrictions as the former larger camps.

The fire was located on land owned by Weyerhaesuer, which contracts with ODF to respond to wildfires on company-owned land.

it had grown to eight acres. At noon Monday, Aug. 25, the UNF Facebook page estimated the wildfire had grown to 15 acres with three engines, four individual resources and a dozer on the scene with additional resources enroute. Firefighters completed 150 ft. of handline on its east flank. As of Wednesday, Aug. 27, the fire had grown to 46 acres.

Middle Fork Ranger District. The closure order, which is for public and firefighter safety, is in effect Aug. 27, 2025, through Nov. 25, 2025, unless modified or rescinded sooner.

The lightning-caused Emigrant Fire is located in a remote area three miles southwest of Indigo Springs Campground and is approximately 7,400 acres in size.

Oregon’s wildfire season is expected to continue through this month, but the mental scares and impact of the season on the firefighters who battle blazes in Lane County and across the state, and their families, may last a lifetime, according to Jeff Dill, the founder of Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA).

Dill established the FBHA in 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. He was than a Battalion Chief for a fire department in northwest Chicago.

Sauerwein and other city officials have told the Sentinel, that there are no additional plans to offer any other long-term sheltering for the homeless.

currently doing, which is providing a location for folks to spend the night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.”

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

It took a lot of work for 9-yearold Cottage Grove cowgirl Lynlee Perini to prepare for the Miss Rodeo Oregon Pageant in July. But when the four-day competition in Elgin came to a close, Lynlee was crowned 2026 Little Miss Rodeo Oregon, achieving a goal she set for herself from the moment her mom asked if she wanted to try for it.

“The same rules will apply,” Sauwrwein said. “The camp will be available from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and the rules will be enforced through our contracting company, One Security of Eugene to help us during this transition period. They are a very experienced homeless camp management company.”

According to the Watch Duty app, another fire, the Sugar Loaf fire, was first reported Sunday, Aug 24, at 12:29 p.m. just east of Sugarloaf Mountain in the Cottage Grove Ranger District. By 6 p.m.

Sugarloaf Mountain is located about 20 miles southeast of Cottage Grove in the Umpqua National Forest. The site is accessed via Row River and Brice Creek roads, with forest service routes leading into the area.

“Cottage Grove will follow state law as we understand it,” Sauerwein said. “That is what we are doing. To change that is up to the legislature. The city of Cottage Grove has no plans to do any kind of a shelter beyond what we are

All areas, roads, trails, campgrounds, and recreation sites in the closure area, as well as sites in the Timpanogas Lake area, are closed. All roads forming the boundary of the closure are included in the closure.

Read previous coverage about the homelessness challenges in Cottage Grove and follow new developments at cgsemtinel.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Sentinel.

The Willamette National Forest has issued an emergency closure order for the Emigrant Fire, which was reported Aug. 24 2025, in the

“I saw our brothers and sisters struggle from the devastation that they saw, so I went back and got my degree and became a licensed counselor,” he said. “We started tracking EMS and firefighter suicides across America.”

“This order is based on growing research showing that cell phones have become a major distraction in classrooms,” Miller states in his message. “Reducing their presence during the school day is expected to help students focus more on instruction, engage more fully with learning, and strengthen in-person connections with peers and staff. We know the positives that this bill will bring, but we also recognize there will be challenges to family communication during the day.”

Behavioral Impact

Follow developments at cgsentinel.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Sentinel.

Cottage Grove Cowgirl wins Little Miss Rodeo Pageant

Awards. Lynlee was also second in Horsemanship. Miss Rodeo Oregon President Lois Forester explained how the categories are judged.

According to Dill, firefighters often don’t recognize the behavioral impact of their work.

“We become cultural brainwashed,” Dill said. “Whether it’s structural or wildland fires. So, we are meant to believe we are supposed to act strong, brave, be help, don’t ask for help, and we don’t want to look weak and not ask for help.”

Miller explains that while the law indicates that schools must enforce this policy by January 1, 2026, the South Lane School District has elected to start the school year with its updated phone policies “to make this a smoother transition, while still giving us time to work out the kinks by January,” Miller said. “The goal is to reduce distractions and maximize student focus on learning during the school day,”

Dill added that while firefighters are on the front lines battling the wildfires, one of the biggest challenges they face is the unknown.

Families should now be thinking about how communications will happen during the day, with likely more contact through the school offices, according to Miller.

Lynlee is the first-ever “Little Miss Rodeo,” as the Miss Rodeo Oregon Pageant added the title this year because there was an age gap between the Sweetheart title and the Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon title.

CINDY WEELDREYER

For The Cottage Grove Sentinel

In 1975, when Birdy Hoelzle and her sister Gail opened The Bookmine they were familiar with The Village Green.

“How I prepared for the Little Miss Rodeo Oregon tryout was every time my mom would go get her lashes done or any of that, we were in our car, she would ask me questions, and I would go over my speech like a hundred million times. I also did it with my whole family,” Lynlee said.

Their father traveled a lot and often brought its matchboxes home as keepsakes for his girls. The sisters were in their 20’s when they opened the Main Street bookstore and, to enhance their income, worked as waitresses at the resort.

“It was a wonderful place to work and, being new in town, it

Competing against two other candidates, Lynlee secured the crown, but that wasn’t all she won. She also earned the Appearance, Personality, Knowledge, and Speech

prices on it and foot pillows were provided so ladies’ uncomfortable shoes could be removed while dining. It was a very different era.”

members of the family attended and THROUGH THE LENS

Kris Woodard’s introductory remarks included personal memories he made through the lens of a 12-year-old who was often “in

“Lynlee won the most points overall in those categories. She came second in Horsemanship. Appearance is how they present themselves, including their clothing, hats, boots, and grooming,” Forester said. “Personality is their overall demeanor and appeal--friendliness and congeniality. They are interviewed individually twice and are judged on their personality and knowledge.”

“It’s how rapidly theses fires can move, and the unknown is where is it going to end? Where will this fire go to and how long will it last? And that is a struggle,” he said.

“Our goal is to keep communication open with families,” he states in his message. “I know, personally, I’ll have to adjust the way I communicate with my high school daughter during the day. Also, we know on our end we will need to step up communication regarding extracurricular changes to families.”

Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort

And to the victor go the spoils!

the way” during the construction project.

There were plenty of prizes for Lynlee, including practical items for her year, as well as some keepsakes, such as a custom buckle, bracelet, spurs, and breast collar. The prizes are a great reminder that the award she won wasn’t a dream.

He said he was given an important job of opening the boxes delivered to the guest rooms and recalled how cool he felt driving the orange golf cart around the property for assigned errands. Years later, another special memory was seeing the famous football player, O.J. Simpson, running on one of the resort’s paths.

“Oh, it was so cool,” Lynlee said. “One of my prizes I got was my speech award bracelet for first place. I even wear it around my house. I would look at it and then walk, and look at it, then walk.”

To the delight of those gathered, Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard,

Miller listed initial information for families about the student use of cell phones and other devices:

“So, when you are fighting that fire, you’re trying to do your best to stop it, and yet the wind kicks up at 60 miles an hour and it drags it further and further behind them. That aspect of the unknown is very difficult in wildland fires. The firefighters have that stress and anxiety, and that struggle to protect is a very difficult challenge for the wildland firefighters.”

It is often very difficult for family members of the firefighters to understand what emotions there are, and that many firefighters don’t express their emotions, according to Dill.

During school: Not allowed and cannot be kept on the person. Phone must be off and stored away from the person (possibly including lockers, backpacks or designated storage locations depending on the building and level).

On the bus to and from school: Phones are allowed, but still must be used appropriately.

Lunch and passing time: Not allowed

Extracurricular events and travel time: May be allowed, but still used

“We ask the family members to try to understand the cultural,” he said. “Be direct. Challenge with compassion when something doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound right, and do an internal size up, which we ask the firefighters to do as well,” he said.” Internal size up means asking why am I acting this way, and why am I feeling this way? The best thing we can do

POLICE BLOTTER

The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies.

All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Information printed is preliminary and subject to change. For specific details about cases listed, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Cottage Grove Police

MONDAY, AUGUST 18

03:40: Agency assist, 100 block North N St.

03:57: Business check, 900 block E. Main St.

04:29: Agency assist, 500 block S. 5th St.

04:52: Suspicious vehicle, 1200 block E. Main St.

06:40: Animal info, 100 block South S St.

06:57: Disturbance, 34000 block Garoutte Rd.

07:50: Criminal mischief, 1100 block Geer Ave.

08:49: Abandoned vehicle, R/ Bryant

08:59: Agency assist, 1100 block E. Chamberlain Ave.

09:25: Alarm, 1200 block Tyler Ave.

09:28: Abandoned vehicle, Grover/10th

10:51: Illegal camping, 300 block S. River Rd.

11:13: Trespass, 100 block Gateway Blvd.

14:28: Abandoned vehicle, 6th/Whiteaker

14:34: Welfare check, 1300 block Birch Ave.

15:19: Trespass, 900 block Row River Rd.

15:27: Fire, Hwy 99/River Rd.

16:33: Disturbance, 31000 block CG Lorane Rd.

19:08: Wanted subject, 200 block N. 12th St.

19:20: Suspicious condition, 900 block N. 9th St.

20:01: Suspicious vehicle, 1400 block Hwy 99

22:28: Illegal camping, Main/R

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19

01:09: Business check, 900 block E. Main St.

02:51: Suspicious vehicle, 10th/Villard

07:31: Dog at large, 1800 block Harvey Rd.

08:31: Alarm, 1300 block Gateway Blvd.

09:34: Illegal camping, Main/R

09:43: Suspicious condition, 900 block S Court

10:44: Disorderly subject, 1300 block Ash Ave.

11:02: Wanted subject, 1300 block Ash Ave.

11:45: Illegal camping, R/ Main

12:15: Barking dog, 400 block Fillmore ave.

12:53: Warrant service, 1500 block Hwy 99

13:13: Animal info, 1600 block Curry Ave.

13:25: Illegal parking, 600 block Johnson Ave.

13:55: Juvenile trouble, 1300 block S. River Rd.

15:41: Illegal camping, 300 block S. River Rd.

15:53: Disorderly subject, River Rd/Grimes

19:51: Trespass, 1300 block E. Jefferson Ave.

21:11: Agency assist, 1100 block Hillside Dr.

21:22: Welfare check, 600 block Johnson Ave.

22:13: Disturbance, 200 block N. 12th St.

22:26: Suspicious subject, 800 block S. 3rd St.

23:36: Trespass, 2700 block Row River Rd.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20

00:15: Suspicious vehicle, 900

block Row River Rd.

00:28: Welfare check, 600

block N. 9th St.

02:53: Harassment, 100 block Gateway Blvd.

06:37: Illegal camping, 3200 block Row River Rd.

09:07: Warrant service, 1300 block E. Main St.

09:47: Barking dog, River Rd/ Bryant

10:40: Dog at large, 2nd/ Harrison

12:06: Wanted subject, Hwy 99/Main

12:29: Found property, Whiteaker/8th

13:10: Illegal camping, 300 block S. River Rd.

14:40: Criminal mischief, 1200 block Tyler Ave.

15:18: Disorderly subject, 200 block N. Lane St.

16:20: Suspicious condition, Hwy 99/Dugan

18:45: Citizen assist, 1300 block S. River Rd.

19:05: Alarm, 3300 block Row River Rd.

22:14: Animal info, 6th/ Whiteaker

22:44: Fire, 1100 block Ostrander Ln.

23:02: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.

23:08: Suspicious vehicle, 100 block S. 10th St.

23:17: Theft, 900 block E. Main St.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21

08:02: Illegal camping, 200 block N. 12th St.

10:26: Suspicious condition, Ash/River Rd

11:32: Welfare check, Row River Rd/Gateway

12:20: Animal info, Ostrander/N. Douglas St.

12:24: Fire, Hwy 99/Harrison

13:06: ATL DUII, 200 block Gateway Blvd.

13:43: Fire, I5 NB 177

14:24: Welfare check, 1400 block Hudson Ave.

15:18: Alarm, 1600 block S. 4th St.

15:43: Repo, 1100 block E. Jefferson Ave.

16:47: Found dog, 3200 block Row River Rd.

19:04: Vicious dog, 1300 block S. 6th St.

19:39: Disturbance, Hwy 99/ Quincy

20:18: Reckless driving, Sears Rd/Saginaw

20:35: Disturbance, 33000 block E. River Dr.

22:38: Suspicious vehicle, 100 block S. 10th St.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22

01:05: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.

05:10: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.

05:32: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.

09:09: Alarm, 100 block N. 6th St.

10:21: Theft, 500 block E. Madison Ave.

10:51: Swimming naked report, 700 block S. River Rd.

12:09: Business check, Jim Wright Way/Row River Rd.

12:24: Suicidal subject, 1100

block W. Main St.

13:22: Welfare check, 100

block E. Jefferson Ave.

14:20: Unlawful entry into motor vehicle, 500 block E.

Madison Ave.

15:09: Motor vehicle theft, 32000 block Cleveland St.

15:20: Fire, 300 block Coop Ct.

16:16: Criminal mischief,

1300 block Pennoyer Ave.

19:01: Business check, 900

block E. Main St.

19:13: Suspicious vehicle, Row River/Snauer

19:53: Reckless driving, 1200

block Gateway Blvd.

20:01: Found dog, 400 block E. Main St.

21:09: Agency assist, 1700

block S. 5th St.

21:53: Welfare check, 1200 block Hwy 99

22:13: Disturbance, 400 block

Holly Ave.

23:09: Disturbance, 400 block

Holly Ave.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23

02:41: Business check, 900

block E. Main St.

03:37: Criminal mischief, 900 block N. 16th St.

07:03: Theft, 200 block N. 12th St.

08:09: Illegal camping, 900

block S. River Rd.

08:22: Citizen assist, 900

block S. River Rd.

08:33: Warrant service, 200

block N. 12th St.

09:29: Welfare check, 700

block S. 2nd St.

10:35: Disturbance, 2200

block Crestview Terrace

11:09: Shots fired, 3300 block

Row River Rd.

11:16: Barking dog, 500 block

S. 3rd St.

11:57: Abandoned vehicle, Harvey/Gateway

15:50: Welfare check, 2200

block Hwy 99

19:58: Disturbance, 1500

block E. Chamberlain Ave.

20:36: Harassment, 400 block E. Main St.

20:49: Welfare check, 1400

block S. 4th St.

22:09: Disorderly subject, Harvey/14th

23:54: Suspicious vehicle, 800 block Row River Rd.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 24

00:04: Suspicious vehicle, 700 block Hwy 99

00:22: Suspicious condition, 100 block Gateway Blvd.

03:18: Suspicious vehicle, 600 block Row River Rd.

03:37: Suspicious vehicle, 700 block N. River Rd.

11:23: Welfare check, 1400 block E. Washington Ave.

12:21: Found property, 800 block Withycombe Ave.

12:34: Theft, 700 block Hwy 99

12:36: Assault, 100 block North I St.

12:39: Theft, Main/L

14:37: Fire, 79000 block Hwy 99

14:56: Hit and run, 1500 block Gateway Blvd.

15:00: Motor vehicle stolen, 2400 block E. Whiteaker Ave.

16:37: Hit and run, Exit 174 NB Off ramp

16:57: Suspicious condition, 500 block E. Madison Ave.

19:08: Alarm, 100 block

Gateway Blvd.

20:15: Order violation, 500

block E. Main St.

21:09: Warrant service, 400

block E. Main St.

23:15: Disturbance, 1600

block E Gibbs Ave.

Council adopts customizes nuisance abatement ordinance

Following two executive sessions related to property acquisition, the Cottage Grove City Council convened its public meeting on Aug. 25 to adopt a new ordinance, repeal outdated ones, establish a memorial trail, and hear updates on rural entrepreneurship and the Bohemia Park splash pad.

CHRONIC NUISANCE ORDINANCE ADOPTED

After months of research, public input, and legal review, the Council unanimously passed a new ordinance aimed at addressing chronic nuisance properties. Inspired by a conversation Mayor Candace Solesbee had with The Dalles mayor, the ordinance gives city officials new tools to designate problem sites and impose corrective measures.

City Attorney Carrie Connelly consulted with staff and community members to draft the ordinance, which allows for restricted access, signage, and operational limits. Noncompliant property owners may face escalating penalties, including emergency closures and financial liability. The ordinance also preserves private rights of action for affected individuals.

Connelly emphasized that the ordinance includes multiple opportunities for property owners to resolve issues before legal action is taken.

EBID ORDINANCES REPEALED

In response to a July 14 request from Downtown Cottage Grove Inc. (DCG) and supporting councilors, the Council repealed ordinances tied to the Economic and Business Improvement Districts (EBID), ending a 24-year chapter of fee-based downtown revitalization.

Originally established in 2001, EBID used lienbased assessments to fund

Internet

improvement projects. In recent years, the districts were restructured under DCG, which unanimously recommended repeal to pursue a more flexible civic engagement model. With all fees expended and no outstanding projects, the repeal took effect immediately.

MEMORIAL TRAIL

ESTABLISHED

By proclamation, the Council created the Dyrol Burleson Trail along River Road, tracing a portion of the Olympic runner’s former training route from Cottage Grove High School to Hwy. 99

Burleson, born in 1940 and raised in Cottage Grove, competed in the 1500 meters at the 1960 Rome and 1964 Tokyo Olympics, finishing sixth and fifth. He was the first athlete to receive a full track scholarship from legendary University of Oregon Track Coach Bill Bowerman and the first to run a subfour-minute mile at Hayward Field. He broke multiple American records and was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2010

Burleson lives in Turner, Ore. and retired CGHS Swim Coach Bud Taylor accepted the proclamation on Burleson’s behalf. An interpretive plaque will be placed near the high school to honor his legacy.

SPLASH PAD

MALFUNCTION UPDATE

Public Works Director Faye Stewart reported that a faulty breaker caused the Bohemia Park Splash Pad to be inoperable during the Aug. 22–24 heat wave. The part was replaced on Aug. 25 and the water feature is now restored.

Councilor Randall Lammerman raised questions about water usage and system design. Stewart explained that if the system uses chlorinetreated recycled water, it must

meet Oregon Public Health Department standards for public pools, including twicedaily testing and shower access.

The splash pad uses approximately 44 000 gallons per day at a cost of $99 75, totaling nearly $3,000 per month. Operating the recycling system requires an additional $4 000 monthly for contracted water treatment. City Manager Mike Sauerwein noted the City does not charge itself for water use in city buildings and parks and considers it a cost of doing business.

The splash pad and additional restrooms were part of a local and state-funded improvement project completed in early 2025. Due to inflation, some aspects of the project were scaled back, delayed or eliminated. Stewart told the Council, “I didn’t want to create a splash pad for families to enjoy and then, due to the additional costs to meet state health regulations that is not in the budget, not be able to operate it this summer. Many people have told me how nice it is to drive by and see happy kids and families using it on these hot days.”

RAIN ANNUAL PRESENTATION

The Council heard an update from R.A.I.N. Catalysts, a regional nonprofit supporting rural entrepreneurship. CEO Rachel Jagoda Brunette and local Catalyst Brian Brown shared examples of how the program is helping entrepreneurs in Cottage Grove, Creswell, and surrounding areas. (Specific details from the report will be in an upcoming issue.)

COUNCILOR GRANTED LEAVE OF ABSENCE

The Council approved a request from Christine Hynk for an unspecified leave of absence to focus on a health issue that will prevent her from attending meetings.

Crimes Against Children investigation nets one arrest

Lane County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) detectives served a search warrant at approximately 8:30 a.m. Aug. 27, at a residence in the 400 block of E. 1st Street, Lowell. The suspect, 60-yearold Kolby Wade Flanary, was contacted and arrested. Flanary was lodged at the Lane County Jail on five counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 1st Degree and 5 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 2nd Degree.

Watch

This search warrant stemmed from an investigation by the Lane County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, focusing on child exploitation. Currently there is no indication of any local victims involved in this case, and the charges are for the possession of child

pornography, according to a release from the LCSO. Oregon State Police and the Oregon Department of Justice assisted the LCSO in the investigation.

“This arrest is part of an ongoing effort by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable members of our community,” the LCSO states in the release. The investigation is ongoing.

Job losses in Lane County, statewide

STAFF RREPORT

Cottage Grove Sentinel

Lane County’s seasonally adjusted payroll employment dropped 1,100 in July after losses of 900 in June and 200 in March, according to the Oregon Employment Department.

GAINS AND LOSSES

In the not seasonally adjusted private-sector industries in July, there were gains in construction (200) and leisure and hospitality (200).

Government lost 5 500 jobs in July due to a seasonal loss of 5 400 in local education from summer break and an additional loss of 200 in noneducation. These losses were countered by a gain of 100 in state government.

When comparing July 2025 with July 2024, total nonfarm employment dropped 2,600 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis for a loss of 1 6%.

There were relatively large gains in private education and health services (1,500) and leisure and hospitality (800). There were relatively large losses in professional and business services (-700), retail trade (-500), and manufacturing (-400).

SEPTEMBER 3

The Rotary Club of Cottage Grove. El Tapatio Restaurant at 725 E. Gibbs Ave. Social begins at 5 p.m. and meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. Lego Club for Kids.

2:30 p.m. Cottage Grove Public Library, 700 E. Gibbs Ave. Kids create Lego creations which are displayed for a month in the Children’s Area Harvest Concert in the Park. 6:30 p.m., Bohemia Park Amphitheater Hosted by South Lane Worship, a local nonprofit made up of volunteers from churches from across South Lane County. Organizers say this outdoor event is about uniting the Body of Christ in South Lane County through worship, prayer, and fellowship. It is open to all. Bring a lawn chair, blanket or find a spot on the cement steps (first come, first served).

SEPTEMBER 5-6

Second Annual Levi Foster Rod & Custom Car Show Call for Sponsors and Cars. Fri. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 2800 Row River Road. Hosted by Cottage Grove Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram Dealership, in partnership with Graveyard Motorz and the Lane County Veterans Service Office. The event features classic and modern cars, trucks and Jeeps, vendors, live music, food trucks, raffles, trophies and autographs. All proceeds will be donated to the Lane County VA to assist with PTSD and Suicide Prevention. For more details, call Toni Whitworth at 541-942-5551

SEPTEMBER 6

South Valley Car Show.

8-11:30 a.m., CG Masonic Lodge, 33322 Row River Road. Free to the public. Entry Fee: $25/car Proceeds support local Masonic Lodge youth programs

SEPTEMBER 8

The “Gem Tones” Community Choir Begins. 6-8 p.m. Opal Center, 513 E. Main St. Designed for seniors, but open to all. Come sing, laugh, and build community. No audition or experience necessary—just a love of music

There was an over-theyear loss of 600 in government in July due to losses in local education (-800), which includes the University of Oregon, and federal government (-100). These losses were countered by gains in state government (200) and noneducation local government (100).

Lane County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 4 8% in July compared with a revised 4 7% in June. The rate is up significantly from the 4 2% recorded in July of 2024

Lane County’s record low rate was 3 5% in November 2019

STATEWIDE

Oregon sees 2 700 job losses in July

Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 2 700 jobs in July, following a revised loss of 8,600 jobs in June, according to the Oregon Employment Department.

The monthly unemployment reports are a key indicator of the state’s economy.

LOSES July’s losses were largest in financial activities (-2 700

jobs); professional and business services (-1 400); and health care and social assistance (-1 100). Gains were largest in construction (+2,900 jobs) and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+800).

Construction employed 112,700 in July, rebounding from its relatively weak prior two months, but landing well below its average level of 117 500 jobs during the prior two years.

Professional and business services has been on a declining trend since early 2023. Accounting for 254,100 jobs in July, it is down 14 800 jobs, or 5 5%, since its peak employment in March 2023. Each of its three component industries dropped by a similar percentage during that period.

Newly revised numbers for this year show lower employment levels than previously estimated for most industries.

CLOSER LOOK

Since July 2024, Oregon’s total nonfarm payroll employment dropped 24 600 jobs, or -1 2%.

Manufacturing lost 9,400 jobs, or 5 0%. Each of these industries cut between 3%

There were 1 78,337 employed and 10,165

according to the Oregon Employment Department.

and 4%: information, private education, wholesale trade, financial activities, and construction.

In that time, only two major industries expanded: health care and social assistance (+9,800 jobs, or 3 2%) and leisure and hospitality (+2,000 jobs, or 1 0%).

The Oregon Employment Department reports 2,114,205 employed and 121 181 unemployed in July.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5 0% in July and 4 9% in June, after rising gradually over the past year

and a desire to belong. Performances planned for December. Details at: www.opalcentercg.org

SEPTEMBER 9

History Pub. 5-7 p.m., Axe & Fiddle, 657 E. Main St. Topic: Aviation History and Trivia Presenter: Mark Baxter, Oregon Aviation Historical Society & Museum.

SEPTEMBER 13

Gold Panning World Record Breaking Event. 10 a.m., Main Street, Cottage Grove Historic Downtown District. Event designed to break the current record of simultaneously gold panning. 300 people need to sign up and participate. Sign up at www.cgchamber.com.

SEPTEMBER 18

Second Annual Willamette Card Trade Show. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Cottage Grove Elks Lodge, 755 N. River Road. Free event features card vendors of all types: Pokemon, Sports , Toys , Video Gaming, Comics and more.

Sunday, Aug. 24.

SEPTEMBER 20

CG Historical Society Presentation. 10 a.m., Community Center Shepherd Room, 700 E. Gibbs Ave. Topic: Cottage Grove Schools All are welcome to come and learn more about local history.

SEPTEMBER 21

International Day of Peace Celebration. 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Coiner Park. “Established by the United Nations, this day epitomizes joint aspirations for a world devoid of discord and turmoil.” Anyone interested in sharing information can contact Ananda at 541-285-7329

SEPTEMBER 27

Third Annual Cottage Grove Community CookOff. 10:30 a.m., Cascade Home Center, 40 S. 5th St. Grillmasters compete for awards including the People’s Choice. A benefit for Slabtown BMX organization. For competition info call 541-254-0799 or email tdamore@cascadehc. com

from 4 2% in July 2024

Oregon’s 5 0% unemployment rate was 1 4 percentage points higher than the recent low of 3 6% during spring 2023

Eldeen Elizabeth Osban

July 24, 1933 - July 23, 2025

Eldeen Elizabeth Osban, a fervent believer, an intelligent mind, and a loving soul, passed away peacefully on July 23, 2025, in Cottage Grove, Oregon, just one day before her 92nd birthday. Born in Ferndale, Arkansas, on July 24, 1933, to parents Aaron and Ethel Grimmitt, she grew into a woman of strong faith and exceptional character.

Eldeen’s life was shared and celebrated with her beloved husband of nearly 73 years, Charles Leon Osban, whom she married on August 8, 1952, in Bellflower, California. Together, Charles and Eldeen nurtured a family that expanded to include their loving children, Randy (Janet) Osban, David (Cherilyn) Osban, and Karen (Glenn) Phipps, along with nine cherished grandchildren and twenty-four greatgrandchildren, all of whom survive her. Eldeen is preceded in death by her brothers Roy and Donald Grimmitt, along with her sisters Joyce Maxwell, Mary Ellen James, and Debbie Pounds.

After graduating high school in 1940, her career path led her to become an exceptional office manager and foreman at Barnes Tree Improvement, where her leadership and dedication were evident to all who worked alongside her.

Eldeen’s unwavering faith was the cornerstone of her life. She was an active and respected member of the Old Time Gospel Fellowship in Cottage Grove. Her contributions to her church were extensive, as she dedicated countless hours to teaching Sunday school, bible school, serving as song leader, and volunteering in the MAPS program for the Assembly of God church, shaping the faith of many.

Eldeen also had a zest for life outside her church activities. She was an avid traveler, a curious collector, and a voracious reader. Her competitive side shone through as the coach of a girls’ softball team and through the enthusiasm with which she played dominoes and various card games.

It is with both heavy hearts and a deep sense of gratitude that we bid farewell to Eldeen, a woman whose life was a testament to the power of love, faith, and familial bonds. Her spirit will endure, cherished and missed, in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know her. A memorial service will be held on September 13th at 1pm at Hillside Church (635 Holbrook Lane, Creswell, OR 97426). Arrangements are in the care of Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel.

Barbara Gilkison

September 26, 1937 – August 22, 2025

Barb Gilkison passed away at home on August 22, 2025. Barb’s maiden name was Barbara Jean Cole. Barb was born September 26, 1937, to parents Maude and Guy Cole at their home on Cole Road west of Oakland, Oregon.

Barb graduated from Oakland High school in 1956. In 1955 while Barb’s folks were buying her a new 1955 210 Chevy so she could attend after school functions, with her living so far from the school and riding the school bus, it was impossible to be active in sports and school functions. While at the dealership Barb met Dick Gilkison. Dick had bought a 1955 BEL AIRE earlier and was having some options installed on his car. She started flirting with him and won his heart. The following May they were married and in May of this year they celebrated 69 years of marriage. That marriage produced three sons, Larry, Mike and Bret (one-T). Dick was a logger, and they were eventually able to, with the help of their sons, start their own logging company, GILKISON and DAD, with Barb doing the office duties. Barb was a whip cracker and watched the expenses closely, which was a big help towards helping the company survive in tight times in the timber industry.

Barb had a love for cars, especially the 55 Chev that was identical to the one that Dick had when they first met. Barb called the Chevy “Annie” because Dick had bought it as a fortieth anniversary present for her. She loved her BMW but had to sell it because of having Macular Degeneration and not being able to see well enough to drive. Barb was able to attend the Cottage Grove car show this year and truly enjoyed herself.

Barb is survived by her husband Dick. Son Larry and his wife Darby, their two sons, Brice and Sara with four children, Levi and Haylee with four children. Son Mike and his wife Valorie, their two children son Jared his wife Jennifer, their two daughters, Casey Lynne, her husband Casey Fred, And our son Bret. Barb was preceded in death by granddaughter, Brandi. In total Barb has four grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

A celebration of life is planned for September 28th at 2:00 p.m. at the Cottage Grove Elks Lodge on River Road in Cottage Grove. Anyone and everyone is invited to attend.

Andreason’s Cremation & Burial Services are in charge of arrangements

Jamison M. Deapo Jr.

July 13, 1980 - August 17, 2025

Jamison M. Deapo Jr., known affectionately to friends and family as “Jamie” or “Jay”, passed away on August 17, 2025, in Cottage Grove, OR. Born on July 13, 1980, in Syracuse, NY, to Jamison Deapo Sr. and Lorrie (Florczyk) Deapo, he was a beloved son, brother, and friend who brought light and kindness into the lives of those around him.

An avid lover of the outdoors, Jamie found peace and solace in nature. Hiking was more than a pastime; it was his sanctuary, with Mount David holding a special place in his heart. His appreciation for beauty extended to art and museums, where he could often be found admiring the creativity of others, yet his own creativity was evident to all who knew him. He was also fond of the local Elks’ lodge and often contemplated joining to deepen his community ties. Jamie had a great smile and many of his friends mentioned they remember him always smiling. He cared about people and his friends, with whom he journeyed through

life’s myriad experiences, were of immense importance to him. He is warmly remembered and survived by his devoted parents, his paternal grandmother Mary Deapo, his maternal aunt Shirley Florczyk, and his brothers, Christopher (April) Deapo of Syracuse, NY, and Steven (Nicole) Deapo of North Syracuse, NY. Their hearts, along with those of his friends, have been indelibly marked by Jamie’s presence.

Jamie was an intelligent, caring person who struggled greatly with life’s challenges. We grieve his loss, but we know that although we have lost him, his spirit remains with us, woven into the fabric of our lives. He will live forever in our hearts. Donations in his memory may be made to the local food pantry (https:// communitysharing.org/) and to the Elks Lodge (https://www.elks.org/lodges/home. cfm?lodgenumber=1904). Arrangements are in the care of Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel.

Virginia Snyder

Aug. 12, 1944 – Aug. 18, 2025

Virginia Elizabeth (“Beth”) Snyder, nee Bricher, passed away at the age of 81 on August 18, 2025, in Medford, Oregon.

Beth was born and raised in Cottage Grove, Oregon, and married George C. Snyder in 1963. Beth was a hairstylist and beauty salon owner, then worked at GTE and Mohave Community College later in her career. Beth grew up riding horses, and later enjoyed her dachshunds, gardening, puzzles, and spending time with her family and friends. Her husband, George Claire, passed away from leukemia in 2004. Beth is

by her

lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Beth did not want a funeral service, but we encourage everyone to share their favorite memories of Beth on this memorial website: https://everloved. com/life-of/virginia-snyder/

Oregon ditches farm stand regulations after public outcry

CLAIRE CARLSON

Oregon Capital Chronicle

Oregon’s countryside comes alive during farm season. Tulips in the spring, berrypicking in the summer and pumpkin patches in the fall attract visitors to the bucolic farm stands that dot the Willamette Valley and beyond.

But as crowds have gotten denser, with reports of hours-long traffic on singlelane roads at the most popular farms, some legislators are seeking solutions to mitigate the effect of agritourism in agricultural zones.

A recent rulemaking process from the Department of Land and Conservation Development could have limited what can be sold at farm stands, but an outsized public response to the

potential rules put the process on an indefinite pause.

Legislators are still deliberating over how to move forward with the rulemaking — or if they should at all, considering the controversy it caused.

One of the groups at the center of the debate was 1000 Friends of Oregon, a nonprofit organization that advocates for land use planning. They participated in the rulemaking advisory committee that was meant to inform legislators on a number of agritourism issues, not just farm stand policies.

The group said the pause was the result of a misunderstanding about what the rulemaking was intended to do.

“It’s not about saying no to things like agritourism,” said Anna Kemper, membership experience manager of 1000 Friends of Oregon. “It’s about managing impact, making sure that one farm’s business model doesn’t negatively impact others.”

From March to July, the rulemaking advisory committee convened monthly to discuss one or two agritourism issues and then make a recommendation to the Land Conservation and Development Commission, which implements state land use rules.

But in recent months, the discussion focused primarily on farm stand regulations after one of the members of the committee — the Oregon Property Owners Association — sponsored a bill that would have expanded what’s sold at farm stands.

The group’s goal was to address “longstanding confusion” over farm stand policies, like a rule that says three-quarters of a farm stand’s products must be sourced from the farm, but is unclear on what exactly counts under that rule.

But one Yamhill County farmer said the group’s goal to expand farm stand allowances would have “blown out the sideboards on farm stands.”

That’s according to Sid Friedman, a hay farmer and board member of the land use planning and policy organization Friends of Yamhill County. He served on a legislative working group that eventually led to the rulemaking process on farm stands.

Friedman was worried about the cumulative impact of using farm stands to sell not just farm products but other

NEWS & VIEWS

Grooming America for mediocrity

CALDRON

PAUL

Sentinel Guest Column

In the current president’s first term, he referred to Haiti and African nations in vulgar terms. He mused about bringing in Norwegians instead of migrants from cited places. The juxtaposition is stark and a bit foreboding. So, it caught my attention when the May 24 weekly print of The Economist had two leading summaries of recent acts of the administration within the same edition as Richard Hanania’s invited piece, the influential author of “The Origins of Woke” and a participant in Project 2025

The first article in the science section dealt with “MAGA’s assault on science” within elite universities under the guise of advancing free speech and anti-Semitism. The brain drain of America’s best and brightest has already begun as a result. The second article reviewed the “big baleful bill” now before the Senate, which seeks to continue the soon-to-expire tax cuts for upper earners while sacrificing Medicaid, SNAP, home health care benefits to several million of the nation’s neediest. The expected increase in the national debt from what was manageable during a robust economy will create debt service more costly than our defense budget. In brief, Hanania made the case that, while he took pride in his role in the anti-woke movement, “the administration seeks to implement its own version of thought control and federal-government overreach.”

Well-meaning Republican administrations have cyclically rallied over the past century, on principle, for smaller government — until the people eject them for denying their genuine needs. Efficiency is rarely achieved with high emotion and blunt tools. There are efficiency experts, and we should use them.

Traveling through developing countries highlights a repeating theme — wealthy neighborhoods surrounded by slums and segregated from them by high walls topped with glass shards and concertina wire. Private armies of guards watch day and night against intrusion by the desperate. Which of these countries stands out? None of them. Educational opportunity is dreary, mediocre at best. Discovery and innovation are suffocated by authoritarian and selfdealing leaders, each one in line to grab the brass ring of populism as the people get fooled again.

In visits to Norway, I’ve asked my extended family members if their politicians run on a platform of small government and lower taxes; they seem puzzled at the notion. The benefits of a consensus-driven society are so obvious to them.

Norwegians can scarcely imagine leaving any person without a place to live or medical care while others have those privileges. Norway, like Canada, continuously vies for the lead in many quality-of-life measurements, made real by their extraordinary sense of mutual support. Yet the tiny country maintains a sovereign wealth fund geared to sustain their standing well into the future, vigorously participating in the global economy.

Our good ship America can right itself if we can preserve rule of law, if elected officials can relearn to collaborate on the people’s business, and if the legislature can do the careful work of writing tax policy that diminishes inequality. We should allow the global markets to work with guardrails for protection for the environment and reallocation of benefits to support a healthy standard of living for workers and folks with disabilities. Government should concentrate on regulation and enforcement that sustains a level playing field in commerce for all citizens and the dignity of all persons.

A debate continues regarding the attribution of the quote, “I like paying taxes; with my taxes, I buy civilization.” Thomas Pickety’s “Capital in the 21st Century” describes the corrosive effect of economic inequality and has championed the value of wealth transfers through progressive tax policy. We laud our wealthy neighbors for their personal donations to social goods. Imagine if we would extend that same non-monetary reward to those who paid the most in taxes instead of funneling their money into offshore tax havens out of reach, and who don’t bribe the government to grind their compatriots so they can keep more.

The central question of our time remains — how much society do we want? Are we ready to allow the government to facilitate the aggregation of national income to a small percentage of its citizens? Should we then watch while those citizens ultimately use the added gains to build the walls topped with glass shards and hire the personal militias? Or are we ready to spend the nation’s aggregated wealth in ways that say we are equal; that the walk along our neighborhood streets should be limitless. We should tax the wealthy more. The executive branch, its arms of enforcement and justice should concentrate on pursuing the army of legal and banking professionals that sustain the shell economy. Or, we can simply let our once-good ship sink into mediocrity.

Paul Caldron is a resident of Depoe Bay.

EDITORIAL CARTOON

Budget crisis looms for Oregon because of Congressional action

Daniel Hauser Juan Carlos Ordóñez Oregon Capital Chronicle

Like a hurricane visible on radar well before it strikes land, a budget crisis is coming to Oregon. This fiscal storm, triggered by a reckless Congress, threatens to wreak havoc on funding for Oregon schools and other vital services.

To prepare our state to weather the storm, the governor should convene a special session of the legislature, separate from the already-scheduled special session addressing transportation funding. The focus of this new session would be to ensure Oregon does not replicate wasteful tax cuts recently enacted by Congress, which will deprive our state of precious resources at a time of extreme risk. Oregon lawmakers need to act now, before it’s too late.

Many Oregonians know that the Republican budget bill passed by Congress in July, the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, cuts Medicaid and nutrition assistance to help pay for massive tax cuts mainly benefiting the rich. Some of those cuts to health care and nutrition assistance will be borne by individuals, while others will shift some of the cost of these services to the states.

Those cuts will happen gradually and play out over several years, ratcheting up pressure on the state budget. They are a crisis Oregon will need to address.

But more urgent still — the hurricane fast approaching — is the loss of state revenue triggered by the tax cuts in the Republican budget bill. Oregon’s tax code automatically replicates federal tax changes in an approach known as “rolling reconnect.”

Rolling reconnect means Oregon is on course to double down on many of the new federal tax breaks. In the current two-year budget period, these changes

will cost Oregon nearly $1 billion in lost revenue, money that won’t be available to help pay for schools, services for foster children and seniors, affordable housing, and more. All of our communities will feel the impact.

These tax cuts will become Oregon law without any legislators voting for them, without any public hearings in Oregon, and without any careful consideration of the harm. And because of the rushed process used to ram through the Republican budget bill, there was little to no debate in Congress about the tax changes.

If they had looked closely, they would have realized how wasteful and inequitable they are. The changes, for example, include a new deduction for interest on new car purchases, which overwhelmingly benefits high-income households. They also include several new business tax breaks. The most costly example is one allowing companies to fully write off the costs of major investments in the year they are made, rather than the traditional approach of spreading the write-off over several years. While this is partly a shift in the timing of the tax deduction, the coming few years are exactly when Oregon will need those revenues to offset the additional costs of keeping Oregonians insured and fed.

It’s not written in stone that Oregon must follow “rolling reconnect.” Many states, including California and Idaho, use a “static” connection: they link to the federal code as of a specific date, and then make deliberate choices about which federal changes to replicate. They don’t hitch their wagon to the federal train — a train that can easily go off the rails as a result of an irresponsible Congress.

As it has in the past, Oregon should revert to a static connection. It’s common-sense budgeting. It allows Oregonians to decide which tax policies make sense for our state. It allows us to

go in a different direction when Congress succumbs to the influence of the rich and big corporations.

Oregon lawmakers need to act quickly. Many of the tax breaks are already active. Waiting until the 2026 short legislative session to confront the problem would seal the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue. That’s because the 2025 tax filing season starts around the same time as the legislative session next February, so millions of Oregonians will likely have filed their state taxes by the time the Oregon legislature acts. Requiring Oregonians to amend their taxes later in the year seems like a practical and political impossibility.

Some crises arrive unexpectedly, but some come with plenty of warning. Oregon lawmakers have had plenty of warning that Oregon’s automatic connection to the federal tax breaks passed by Congress would trigger a big loss of revenue. This hurricane has formed and is headed here. The governor and Oregon lawmakers need to protect Oregonians from as much devastation as possible by acting now.

Daniel Hauser is the deputy director of the Oregon Center for Public Policy and leads the center’s tax policy work. Juan Carlos Ordóñez is the communications director of the Oregon Center for Public Policy, as well as the host of the podcast Policy for the People.

https://oregoncapitalchronicle. com/2025/08/26/budget-crisis-looms-fororegon-because-of-congressional-action/ Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com.

From Page 1

She also won an educational scholarship, which can be used toward classes of her choice, and doesn’t have to be redeemed immediately, but prior to graduation from high school, according to Forester. Lynlee has hopes of using it to support her professional dreams.

“I’m looking forward, with that scholarship to get me through college,” Lynlee said. “I want to learn more about vet stuff, and be a horse trainer, chiropractor, and vet. All at once.”

Riding and caring for horses is one of Lynlee’s favorite things. As part of the competition, Lynlee was riding her favorite steed, Clara, a black quarter horse. As any horse rider will tell you, the bond between the rider and mount is a special one. For Lynlee, it’s no different.

“It’s like having a sister, a best friend that’s also by your side through everything you have,” Lynlee said. “I’m with [my horses] more than I’m with my family.”

Policy

From Page 1

appropriately under the discretion of the instructor/ coach.

Off campus: Allowed

“Ultimately, our goal is to create a safe and focused learning environment,” Miller said.

Miller said individual schools may be putting out more information regarding the finer details about phone storage options and other considerations for that building. Some

Winning the competition for Lynlee was really special, and she got to do it in front of many of her family members. Despite the long trek to Elgin from Cottage Grove, aunts, uncles, and grandparents were in attendance. It was quite the adventure!

“To me, it was like taking a new journey,” Lynlee said. “It was so cool.” She also made sure to thank all the sponsors that made her participation possible, and said she’d love to “give them a hug,” if they want one.

For Lynlee’s mother, Audrianna Perini, watching Lynlee compete was a proud moment. It was made even more special because Lynlee’s sister, Kylelyn, was also competing, but in the Junior division.

“When we first decided to try out for the competition, I was a little apprehensive, because it was so much for such a young age,” Perini said. “As a mom, you’re a little nervous at first, because it’s a lot. It’s a fiveday competition, and I was worried about her getting burnt out. Then, once we got there, the organization did such a great job putting the whole pageant on. Then, just being so proud of her

students may be able to get medical and/or educational exemptions to this ban if the device relates to the health care or educational needs for an individual student.

“There will be opportunities for input regarding the official board policy on cell phones in school, but this initial step will get our school year started,” Miller said. “We appreciate working together to make this transition work for all.”

BACKGROUND

In November, the Oregon Department of Education issued guidance to districts

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for being able to do this, and putting as much time and effort as she did into it. She studied probably four to five hours a day for two or three months.”

Perini said the importance of the rodeo queen is “more than just a crown on their head.” The competition teaches them to have a voice and speak up. She also said it teaches them responsibility, drive, and determination.

Lynlee’s intense preparation paid off, and it made for a trip the Perinis will never forget. Lynlee’s fundraiser and coronation is March 14, 2026, in Cottage Grove. One of the other benefits of winning is the opportunity to travel and appear as Little Miss Rodeo at various rodeos and events.

“We’re going to try and hit as many rodeos as we can, which means numerous rodeos a week,” Perini said. “Everything from parades to, for Lynlee especially, junior rodeos, amateur rodeos, pro rodeos; we’re going to try and hit them all.”

Lynlee said she is excited to get a tour of Oregon alongside the other Miss Rodeo winners next year.

on limiting or ending cell phone use in schools. State law currently requires every school district to have policies about cell phones and personal electronic devices, but each district gets to set its own rules, according to an Oregon Capital Chronicle report in early July.

“The research is clear,” Korek said, “cell phone use can create a trifecta of consequences for our young people – mental health issues, safety in school, and distraction from learning.”

A growing body of research and teacher

ST. ANDREWS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

1301 W. Main • 541-767-9050

Rev. Lawrence Crumb “Scripture, Tradition, Reason” Worship: Sunday 10:30am All Welcome

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

820 South 10th Street

541-942-5213

Pastor: James D. Boram

Bible Study: Saturday, 9:15 am Worship Service: Saturday, 10:40

Mid-week Service: Wednesday, 1:00

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 6th and Quincy 541-942-2373

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CRESWELL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

75 S 4th S • 541-895-3419

Rev. Seth Wheeler

Adult Sunday School 9:15am

Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am website www.creswellpres.org

WALKER UNION CHURCH & CEMETERY

32904 England Rd, Creswell, OR (541) 649-1800 Pastor: Randy Wood Sunday Service at 11:00 AM Everyone is welcome! Follow us on our Facebook page: WalkerChurchOregon

10 a.m.

Trump officials plan to remove protections on 2 million acres of national forests in Oregon

MIA MALDONADO

Oregon Capital Chronicle

Trump administration officials intend to remove protections and open to some development more than 58 million acres of national forests across 40 states, including 2 million acres of national forests in Oregon.

Brooke Rollins, head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture formally announced the proposed termination of a 2001 Forest Service rule known as the “Roadless Rule” in a news release Wednesday, setting off a 21-day public comment period that opens Friday and runs through Sept. 19

The Roadless Rule prohibits road construction, logging and mining on about 30% of Forest Service managed lands, intending to protect wildlife, animal migration corridors, watersheds and old-growth from human development and the environmental degradation that often follows.

Rollins said that rescinding the rule would remove “burdensome, outdated, one-sizefits-all regulations” and boost economic growth. Trump

surveys show student cell phone use in schools is hindering more than helping the school experience.

In a May 2023 advisory then-U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy recommended parents set limits on phone use, and in June 2024, Murthy called for health warnings on social media platforms for younger users, who research shows are suffering from higher rates of mental health issues when

If your congregation would like to be a part of this worship directory, contact us today!

earlier this year signed two executive orders to increase logging in national forests and other federal lands.

U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz, who previously worked for one of the country’s largest lumber producers in Idaho, said the Roadless Rule has frustrated land managers for years, and served as a barrier to commercial logging, and logging in the name of wildfire prevention, by prohibiting road construction.

“The forests we know today are not the same as the forests of 2001,” he said in a statement. “They are dangerously overstocked and increasingly threatened by drought, mortality, insectborne disease, and wildfire. It’s time to return land management decisions where they belong — with local Forest Service experts who best understand their forests and communities.”

Research from Oregon State University Professor Chris Dunn, a forest ecologist and wildfire expert, and his colleagues, found most wildfires in Western national forests between 1984 and 2018 started near roads, showing an increased likelihood of

spending hours on the platforms each day.

A Pew Research Center survey from October 2023 found that more than twothirds of U.S. adults favor banning cell phones during class, and almost two-thirds of high school teachers said cell phones have become a major distraction and impediment to learning.

The order makes Oregon one of at least 19 states that have adopted statewide cell phone bans in schools.

wildfires where roads exist, because the number one cause of wildfires is people.

The news Wednesday angered Oregon environmental advocates, who are urging the public to submit comments to the USDA in opposition to the proposed rollback.

“Gutting the Roadless Rule — which has protected our forests for 25 years — would be the single largest rollback of conservation protections in our nation’s history,” said Tracy Stone-Manning, president of the Washington D.C.based conservation nonprofit Wilderness Society, in a statement. “Americans cherish their public lands and deserve leaders who protect them for future generations, not give them away to corporations that exploit them.” From the Willamette to the Ochoco National Forest, Oregon groups express urgency

Areas in Oregon protected under the roadless rule include Iron Mountain in the Willamette National Forest, Joseph Canyon in Wallowa

See FORESTS, Page 8

See the Oregon Capital Chronicle report at: https://oregoncapitalchronicle. com/2025/07/02/ gov-tina-kotek-ordersoregon-schools-to-prohibitstudents-from-using-cellphones/ Follow developments at cgsentinel.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Sentinel.

Public notices – information local governments are obligated to provide citizens – are required to be published in local newspapers to provide a public record that’s accessible to everyone.

Public notices keep you informed about your government. But, Oregon legislators are trying to keep public notices from appearing in local newspapers. This severely impacts government transparency and, in turn, limits the public’s right to hold them accountable for their actions.

Let your state legislators know that you value being able to access notices in your newspaper and that they are worth the investment.

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GROVE, OR 97424 AUCTION: SEPTEMBER 20, 2025, PROMPTLY AT 11:00 A.M. COTTAGE GROVE MINI STORAGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ORS 87.162 WILL OFFER FOR PUBLIC AUCTION THE FOLLOWING UNITS FOR NON-PAYMENT OF RENT AND OTHER FEES. 1. April Cooper # D-198 2. Shannon Tennison # G-102 UNLESS PAYMENT IN FULL IS MADE BEFORE TIME OF AUCTION @ 1520 HWY 99 N COTTAGE GROVE, OR 97424 SEALED BIDS ON ENTIRE UNIT DUE IN OFFICE AT 11:30 A.M. “CASH ONLY”

CGS25-174 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF LANE In the Matter of the Estate of Diane Louise Hayes, Deceased. Case No. 25PB06706 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Lucille Bush has been appointed Personal Repre-

sentative. All persons having claims against the estate are hereby required to present them, with proper vouchers, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice, as stated below, to the Personal Representative at 711 Country Club Road, Suite 200, Eugene, Oregon 97401, or they may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings in this estate may obtain additional information from the records of the Personal Representative, the Court, or the attorney for the Personal Representative, K.C. Huffman. Dated and first published: sEPTEMBER 3, 2025. PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE: Lucille Bush 2351 Ironwood Street Eugene, OR 97401 541-9123325 ATTORNEY FOR PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE: K.C. Huffman, OSB No. 002854 Bromley Newton Huffman 711 Country Club Road, Suite 200 Eugene, Oregon 97401 541-343-4700 541-343-4713 Fax kc@bromleynewton.com

CGS25-175 Notice is hereby given that Vickie E. Ingram has been

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Cottage Grove Lions return to 4A after

WILL LOHRE

Cottage Grove Sentinel

After a strong season last year, the Cottage Grove Lions football team will return to 4A in 2025, hoping to build off a year that saw them reach the playoffs in 3A with a record of 7-0

To prepare for the winning campaign in 2024, the Lions prepped diligently in the offseason. Head Coach Steve Turner said it was a summer of change and bonding for the team to get ready for the 3A season.

Thinking back on what led to their 7-0 record last year, it wasn’t anything fancy.

“It was a lot of hard work in the offseason! We had to change many things,” Turner said. “First, it was getting the players to buy into working hard in the weight room. Our summer program produced not just added strength but also the beginning of a bond between players.”

There was a good turnout at the early-season proceedings last year. At the summer training camp, the Lions had 40 players building the synergy that contributed to wins on the gridiron last crusade. The camp didn’t just push the players to their physical limits; they also came away with a better sense of the offensive and defensive systems. Finally, the program is buoyed by a strong crop of “motivated seniors.”

When it comes to what he wants from his players this season, a lot of it comes down to effort. Not just on the field, but academically. Those were the takeaways from their success last year.

activities like weddings, concerts, and farm-to-table dinners in Oregon’s farmland.

“The cumulative impacts of all these commercial uses, which aren’t farming in the exclusive farm-use zone, is driving up the price of farmland here in Yamhill County and around the state,” Friedman said. “Somebody who just wants to farm can’t compete with what people who want to put in a commercial venue can pay for the land.”

These concerns led to the most recent feedback from

County, Tumalo Mountain in central Oregon and Lookout Mountain in the Ochoco National Forest.

“These forests are some of Oregon’s most treasured landscapes, from the flowerstudded meadows of Echo Mountain to the headwaters

season

“We need to continue how to learn how to work hard all of the time on and off the field,” Turner said. “We must also learn how to compete every day, on the field, in the classroom.”

This season features another strong crop of seniors, but some of the players Turner is most excited about are the upcoming crop. It’s not just about individuals, though. Turner is enthusiastic about the full team. In the early going, the freshmen and sophomores have been showing great improvement. Between the four lines on the field, the name of the

the rulemaking advisory committee, which toned down the farm stand rules the Oregon Property Owners Association was pushing for. Notably, the feedback recommended an impact assessment on neighboring properties of any farm stand wanting to pursue agritourism activities.

DLCD was expected to release a draft rule to follow this feedback on Sept. 1. But in late July, several farms around Oregon rang alarm bells on social media about the potential rules, spurring more than 2,300 emails and phone calls from the public.

Two of the most vocal farmers against the rulemaking were Jim Abeles and Kat Topaz, owners of Topaz Farm

of Tumalo Creek, which provides Bend’s drinking water,” Oregon Wild’s central Oregon field coordinator, Sami Godlove, said in a statement.

“Oregonians value these places deeply, and now is the time to raise our voices to ensure they remain protected for future generations.”

Oregon’s U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, a Democrat representing the state’s 6th Congressional District, said she is outraged by the Trump

game will be execution and understanding that the small aspects of the game have big impacts. Success will be about more than just winning the battle in the trenches for the Lions.

“We plan to execute on all phases of the game, limiting mistakes and taking advantage of our opponents,” Turner said. “We are not going to out-physical opponents, so we have to do all of the little things well. WE emphasize fundamentals and execution: working as one, not as individuals.”

If the Lions can do that, they will hopefully be able

on Sauvie Island. They were worried that the potential rules would harm people trying to start an agritourism business.

“It would be stricter and more expensive and more difficult for anybody who wants to get into agritourism,” Abeles said.

Topaz Farm, founded in 2020, serves as one of the main farm destinations for Portlanders. Beyond selling produce, it has a petting zoo, offers farm-to-table dinners and hosts a live music series in the summer.

The farm’s owners posted their concerns on social media about what the rules might do to farms like theirs, with one video surpassing a million views on Instagram.

administration’s attacks on the rule.

In June, Salinas introduced the Roadless Area Conservation Act to make the Roadless Rule a federal law. Nearly 50 House colleagues, including Reps. Maxine Dexter and Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon Democrats, have cosponsored the bill, and she said she is working to get more. Oregon’s two other Democratic U.S.

to replicate some of their onfield results from last season.

Competing in 4A Special District 3, Cottage Grove will face off against league opponents Sweet Home, Crescent Valley, Marist Catholic, Philomath, and Junction City.

To prepare, the Lions will play non-league matchups against North Marion, Coquille, Creswell, and Pleasant Hill. The first game is on Sept. 5 at home, hosting the North Marion Huskies.

While the Lions will be competing in 4A this year, it wasn’t supposed to be that way. Despite an agreement with OSAA to stay in 3A

They pointed to a decrease in the number of farms nationwide as one reason the rulemaking could further harm small and mid-size farm operations.

“We want more farms, we want more competition because we think that it’s good for agriculture, it’s good for the public, and it’s important while farms are being lost everywhere,” Abeles said.

Shortly after the public backlash about the rules, Gov. Tina Kotek ordered a temporary pause on the rulemaking process.

“I want to reassure farmers who have been anxious and frustrated about how proposed changes to existing rules regarding farm stand

Reps. Janelle Bynum and Val Hoyle, and Oregon’s lone Republican Rep. Cliff Bentz, have not signed on as sponsors.

“These pristine, undeveloped forest lands represent some of our most important tools in the fight against climate change,” Salinas said in a webinar on Tuesday hosted by the Oregon Sierra Club.

Erik Fernandez, the wilderness program manager for Oregon Wild, said eliminating

for two years, the Lions are returning to 4A, a change that has Head Coach Steve Turner scratching his head.

When asked why the team is back in 4A this year, Turner simply said, “because that’s where the OSAA told us we were going.”

“They did not follow through on the two-year agreement. They also did not follow through on the requirements for a team to return to the level from which they came,” Turner continued.

The back-and-forth movement is disheartening and

operations may affect their businesses that I hear you and am paying attention,” Kotek said in a public statement. “I have directed DLCD to pause the rulemaking process to allow for more conversations with all interested parties and the public on this really important agri-tourism issue.”

1000 Friends of Oregon is fine if the rulemaking process ends completely.

“I think if it just went away, we would be fine as far as farm stands are concerned,” said Jim Johnson, the organization’s working lands policy director. He’s more interested in working on other agritourism issues prioritized by the Land Conservation and Development Commission,

the Roadless Rule would be a disaster for Oregon’s forests and communities.

“Building new roads in these wild places opens the door to invasive species and habitat fragmentation,” he said. “Once these areas are cut apart, we lose the clean water, wildlife, and solitude they provide forever.”

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/08/28/trumpofficials-plan-to-remove-pro-

ultimately leaves Turner feeling frustrated.

“I was disappointed in the OSAA ruling,” Turner said. “Why agree to something and then not follow through? Why have protocols for something and not follow them? They hold others accountable, but they don’t show accountability!”

For Turner and the Lions, this year will still be about making the most of the season, both on and off the field. Follow game results at osaa.org and see sports features at cgsentinel.com and in the Wednesday print editions of the Sentinel.

like urban growth planning and the rezoning of agricultural land.

“We can get to work on more important issues that relate to protecting Oregon’s valuable farmland,” he said. https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/08/14/oregonditches-farm-stand-regulations-after-public-outcry/ Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle. com.

tections-on-2-million-acresof-national-forests-in-oregon/ Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com.