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Friday, October 6, 2023
Food benefits at risk in a gov shutdown, White House says
Fall peppers and chili at Bloomingdale Farmers Market on Nov. 9, 2014, in Washington, D.C. The market accepted WIC or Women, Infant and Children Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons. (Lance Cheung/U.S. Department of Agriculture) By Anna Figueroa Oregon Capital Chronicle
TODAY’S EDITION
WASHINGTON D.C. — As Congress barrels toward a partial government shutdown, the White House on Monday warned that a program that helps millions of low-income families afford healthy food could see substantial cuts. The White House released a state-by-state breakdown, estimating that nearly 7 million people who rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also known as WIC, could be at risk of losing funds to purchase select food and receive vouchers for vegetables and fruit. The program provides financial support for those who are low income and pregnant or nursing, as well as for children up to 5 years old. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said during a Monday White House briefing that WIC recipients could feel the impact of the shutdown within days. “Millions of those moms, (babies) and young children would see a lack of nutrition assistance,” he said. Vilsack, Iowa’s former governor, said some states have leftover WIC benefits and “could extend (WIC) for a week or so.” “The vast majority of WIC participants would see an immediate reduction and elimination of those benefits, which means the nutrition assistance that’s provided would not be available,” he said. For example, in Alabama, about 112,000 WIC recipients could lose
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their benefits, and in Florida, more than 421,000 as well. In Michigan, more than 207,000 recipients could lose their WIC benefits and in North Carolina, it’s more than 268,000 WIC recipients. Additionally, new eligible participants could face a backlog. “Without the urgent investment of additional funds, state WIC offices could soon be forced to consider waiting lists for prospective participants — a drastic step not seen in nearly 30 years,” Kate Franken, board chair of the National WIC Association, which is the non-profit advocacy arm of WIC, said in a statement. The impending shutdown comes after President Joe Biden made a deal with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier this year to raise the debt ceiling. That deal set maximum spending levels for the next fiscal year. However, only one of the 12 appropriations bills has been passed by the House, and a handful of far-right Republicans are pushing for steeper cuts, even if it means a partial government shutdown. “House Republicans have turned their backs on the bipartisan budget deal that a large majority of them voted for just a few months ago and proposed a continuing resolution (CR) that makes devastating cuts to programs that millions of hardworking Americans count on,” the White House said in a press release. A continuing resolution, or CR, is regularly used to keep the governSee FOOD page 2A
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Very warm with sunshine with a high of 81 and a low of 53. See more weather on Page 3A. Serving the communities of Cottage Grove and Creswell
Meyers passes the management baton to new interim city manager By Cindy Weeldreyer Sentinel Community Reporter COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. - The City Council hired an interim city manager at its Sept 25 meeting. As part of its search for a new city manager, GMP Consultants recommended retired city manager David Clyne to serve in an interim position until Dec. 31. Clyne’s duties involve working with the City’s leadership team to ensure a smooth and short transition to a new city manager. The council’s discussion focused on the advantages and disadvantages of selecting an internal or external candidate. It was noted the challenges the City currently faces will deter some excellent candidates from applying, especially if there was a strong internal candidate at the helm. Assistant City Manager Jake Boone or Public Works and Development Director Faye Stewart would be a less expensive way to manage city affairs for the remainder of the year. Stewart is interested and may apply for the position. Others thought hiring Clyne, who has a greater depth
Richard Meyers (left) welcomes colleague David Clyne as Interim City Manager after Sept 25 council meeting (Photo by Cindy Weeldreyer) and breadth of city manager experience, would be a better choice to provide stability and leadership in the interim period. This allows Boone or Stewart to continue their regular duties and Clyne is not a candidate for the position. The discussion ended with a 4-2 vote to hire Clyne. Councilors Fleck, Dreher, Stinnett and Savage voted yes. Mayor Solesbee and Councilor Ervin voted no. Councilor Dana Merryday did not cast a vote. After the meeting, Merryday explained he was caught off guard at the
Mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow
conclusion of the discussion. “I was expecting a roll call vote, and the yay/ nay vote came in a rush so swiftly that I was left flat,” Merryday said. “I would have voted nay if I had my wits about me as I think that Public Works Director Stewart would be the right choice to lead the City as the interim city manager. Clyne lives in Independence, Ore., near Salem and brings 40 years of leadership in small and large governmental operations. He has additional experience as an attorney-at-law, real estate
broker, real estate title examiner and a land use consultant. His most recent interim city manager position was for the City of Gresham. In his Proposal for Services, Clyne said his public and private work has developed his talent for collaboration, conflict resolution, creative problem solving and an engaged and active understanding of complex issues. He said he welcomes hard challenges and recognizes that cities often pose some of the hardest ones, given the universe of services they provide and the true democracy experienced at the local government level. Clyne said after his recent tenure in Gresham, as well as two other interim posts, he wasn’t looking for another job. When Greg Prothman of GMP Consultants reached out to him about the opportunity in Cottage Grove he decided to apply for the position. “I’m very familiar with Cottage Grove from my years down here in Lane County as the former City Administrator in Junction City,” Clyne said. “I’ve known Richard for many See MEYERS page 4A
This ‘n’ That Shop gets a facelift
Acorn Circle aims to fill the need for local Indigenous cultural education
history educators, Singing Creek Educational Center (SCEC), introCOTTAGE GROVE, duced a new program, Ore. - This fall, Cottage Acorn Circle, bringing Grove’s hands-on, living See ACORNS page 4A By Katelyn King for The Sentinel
By Andrea Hummel for The Sentinel
Deitrich Peters in regalia. Photo by Karen Rainsong
541- 942-3325 ph | 541-942-3328 fax 1498 E. Main Street, STE 104 P.O. Box 35 Cottage Grove, OR 97424
COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. - This ‘n’ That thrift shop, at the corner of Main and 8th in Cottage Grove, has been a fixture of the downtown area for close to 20 years. Volunteers who run the front desk also help customers find household items they’re looking for. They also support pet ownership, helping rehome animals in the Cottage Grove area because this thrift shop is owned by the Cottage Grove Humane Society. For those frequent and
occasional shoppers at the store, it may seem the shop has been closed for a long time. But with plans to open some time in early November, the whole Humane Society crew is anxious to share the little shop’s big facelift. According to Board member Jeannie Peterson, “The shop has a new uncarpeted floor, new blinds and fresh paint. The shelving is some old, some new, but the aisles will now be accessible for all levels of mobility.” There is also a new roof See THRIFT page 4A
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