While he said there was no current discussion of impeachment or censorship of President Trump, the Senate and the House members are carefully continuing the nomination process of Trump’s cabinet.
“Our immediate attention is to say we have a responsibility not to allow incompetent people to be in charge of our government,” he said.
According to Merkley, President Trump is essentially blackmailing members of his own party to get them to do certain things.
“At his point coming off the election, people are incline to be team players,” Merkley said. “And they are afraid of the power of the billionaire team standing behind Trump, So, this is a real problem for our democracy. We are seeing a sweeping authoritarian power grab not witnessed in our lifetime.”
Merkley said he understood the concern that local city and state officials have about losing federal funds for Oregon under the Trump Administration.
essentially trying to blackmailing the state of Oregon. We are very concerned about Oregon being targeted by Team Trump.”
Merkley added that he is concerned that the Trump Administration is wiping out the foundation of law.
“And that’s what’s happening right now,” he said. Adding that Trump’s actions are creating a free range to break the law. He cited President’s Trumps executive order to block the birth rights citizenship of Americans as an example.
“That is breaking the constitutional law,” he said. “This is an extremely scary time because law is the framework that supports democracy from becoming autocracy and that framework is being torn apart.”
A standing-room only crown filled South Eugene High School’s auditorium for the Merkley Lane County town hall Sunday, Feb. 2 The senator took several questions, most about actions and impact of the Trump Administration.
have partnered with Cottage Grove Police
vestigating threatening
The mental health impact facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters
JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
School authorities act following threatening messages
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).
Merkley
“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.”
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.
said in a meeting with members of the press before addressing a town hall in Eugene.
The new mini homeless camp will include the same restrictions as the former larger camps.
“Thirty percent of the state budget is federal money,” Merkley said. “Those funds support all kinds of things such as housing, health care, and infrastructure. So, this is a real concern. There is a lot of concern about the federal government
SPECIAL REPORT
Merkley also held town halls in Newport, Philomath, Albany, and Salem Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 Follow developments at cgsentinel.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Sentinel.
currently doing, which is providing a location for folks to spend the night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.”
“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.”
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.
Middlefield Golf Course creates multiple community benefits
“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
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.
Editor’s Note: City leaders face significant budget challenges in 2025 requiring thoughtful discussion of how current city assets will be funded in the future. This is the final report of a six-part series describing the history and management of City-owned assets: the Historic Downtown District (12/4), the Library/Community Cener (12/11), the Armory (12/25), the Skatepark (1/15), Bohemia Park (1/29), and today’s report on the Middlefield Golf Course.
The Hemenway Family’s dairy cows once roamed the land that today is the City of Cottage Grove’s Middlefield Golf Course.
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.
Kris Woodard spearheaded the development on the north side of Row River Road across from the Village Green.
He hired Gene “Bunny” Mason, a noted Pacific Northwest course designer and PGA Pro, to design it. The course’s fairways are made of Winter Rye and the greens are made of Bent Grass.
Dill established the FBHA in 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. He was than a Battalion Chief for a fire department in northwest Chicago.
Lincoln Middle School administrators have partnered with Cottage Grove Police following what has been described as threatening messages found on the walls of the school’s bathrooms.
INCIDENTS TIMELINE
Principal Laura Clark sent the first alert to parents Jan. 21
“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.”
Behavioral Impact
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.”
“Today at Lincoln Middle School, a teacher saw and reported an anonymous threat written in a girls bathroom stall. We are investigating this situation and working with the Cottage Grove Police Department to ensure all students are safe,” Clark stated in the email. “While we don’t believe that this is a credible threat, out of an abundance of caution, you may notice an increased police presence at the school for the remainder of this week.”
Dill added that while firefighters are on the front lines battling the wildfires, one of the biggest challenges they face is the unknown.
Clark added that the school recommends parents talk with their children and encourage them to report any suspicious activity at school to office staff.
“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.
“While messages like this are never pleasant to receive, please know that we take the safety of our scholars very seriously,” Clark wrote.
She issued another email to parents Jan. 22, that reads:
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
the way” during the construction project.
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.
Back in the early 1960’s, the Woodard Family created the world-class Village Green Motor Hotel that coincided with the construction of Interstate 5 Having the less-than-ideal smell of a dairy farm next to a beautiful vacation resort wouldn’t do, so a land swap between the Hemenways and the Woodards moved the cows to Saginaw.
“It was a wonderful place to work and, being new in town, it
HISTORY
The Woodard Family sold the Village Green Resort property in 1986 and made a significant new
feminists at the time and were quite shocked by the sexism practiced in the dining room,” she said. “The menu given to a woman had no prices on it and foot pillows were provided so ladies’ uncomfortable shoes could be removed while dining. It was a very different era.”
(W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some members of the family attended and shared personal memories.
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
investment in town by creating the Middlefield Estates residential community and golf course.
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.
To the delight of those gathered, Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard,
It opened in 1991 and quickly became popular among local and regional golfers. The course is surrounded by mature landscaping and borders the Row River. The 5,200-yard course is often described as a challenging 18-hole executive course that rivals many professional length courses. In 2007, with utility ratepayers in mind, the City acquired the course for its water rights and as a less expensive option to meet new Dept. of Environmental Quality requirements to cool treated sewer water (affluent) in the summer months before it reaches the river to create a healthier aquatic habitat. The golf course is located a quarter mile east of the water reclamation plant and the affluent is piped from the plant to the golf course’s irrigation pond.
“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.
“Thank you for talking with your middle school scholars last night about the potential threat at our school. Due in part to your efforts, we were able to identify the source of the threat and can confidently assure you that there is no ongoing risk to our school community. We are also providing the necessary support and taking appropriate action. It feels good to partner with our scholars, families and community in support of our school.”
On Jan. 30, Lincoln Middle School officials received a report of another threatening message.
“An adult saw and reported an anonymous threat written in the boys’ bathroom,” Clark wrote in an additional email to parents. “We continue to investigate these situations as they come up, and are working
“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 is
Crews began developing the smaller homeless camp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street.
CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
PHOTO JEREMY C. RUARK / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel
“This is an extremely scary time,”
Oregon U.S. Senator Jeff
Jeremy C. Ruark / Cottage Grove Sentinel
Sen. Merkley visited with the local media in a South Eugene High School classroom before the 1 p.m. Feb. 2 town hall at the school’s auditorium.
Courtesy photo Lincoln Middle School administrators
in-
messages found on the school’s bathroom walls.
Cindy Weeldreyer / Cottage Grove Sentinel
The iconic Middlefield golfer welcomes players to the municipal course at Cottage Grove.
Crimes Against Children investigations lead to two arrests
JEREMY C. RUARK
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Two Lane County residents face multiple criminal charges following Internet Crimes Against Children investigations.
On January 30, Lane County Sheriff’s detectives and Oregon State Police detectives served a search warrant at a residence in the 900 block of W. 1st Avenue in Junction City.
“The suspect, Ralph Anthony Pocza, 41, was contacted and arrested,” LCSO Sgt. Tim Wallace said. “Pocza was lodged at the Lane County Jail on 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 1st Degree and 10 counts of Encouraging
Child Sex Abuse in the 2nd Degree.”
Detectives then served a search warrant at a residence in the 26800 block of Petzold Road, southwest of Eugene.
The suspect, Gregory John Shepherd, 60, was contacted and arrested, according to Wallace.
“Shepherd was lodged at the Lane County Jail on 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 1st Degree and 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 2nd Degree.”
Both of the search warrants stemmed from separate, unrelated investigations 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 these cases, and the charges are for the possession of child pornography,” Wallace said.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police received assistance during the investigations from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Oregon Department of Justice.
“These arrests are part of an ongoing effort by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable members of our community,” Wallace said.
“These
Tim Wallace said.
Deputies respond to crashes, make DUII arrests
Lane County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) deputies were busy over the past weekend with crashes and Driving Under the Influence investigations.
At 7 a.m. Jan. 31 LCSO deputies responded to a vehicle off the road in the area of Chambers Street and Crest Drive. Deputies contacted the driver, Omani De La Selva Canani, 22, and observed signs of impairment. After additional investigation and determining Canani had been driving impaired, he was arrested for DUI and lodged at the Lane County Jail.
At 10 p.m. Feb 1, LCSO deputies responded to a crash into a tree on Sears Road. The driver, Aroya
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, JANUARY
27
00:38: Criminal mischief, 300 block Hwy 99
01:41: Welfare check, 100 block Gateway Blvd.
02:44: Welfare check, 700 block N. River Rd.
07:14: Fire, 1500 block Parks Rd.
08:30: Alarm, 1000 block Hwy 99
09:34: Dog at large, 1300 block S. River Rd.
09:44: Assault, 500 block Grant Ave.
10:18: Animal info, 1000 block E. Jackson Ave.
11:14: Trespass, 600 block S. 7th St.
12:32: Motor vehicle crash, I-5 NB 176
12:51: Disorderly subject, 200 block N. 12th St.
14:15: Assault, 1200 block E. Main St.
15:39: Order violation, 800 block E. Main St.
17:41: Alarm, 900 block Holly Ave.
17:56: Motor vehicle crash, 800 block E. Main St.
21:03: Fire, 100 block S. 17th St.
21:33: Disturbance, 300 block S. 5th St.
22:17: Menace, 100 block Gateway Blvd.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28
03:03: Business check, American Mkt.
08:54: Disorderly subject, 200 block N. 12th St.
09:55: Business check, 400 block Adams Ave.
13:12: Dog at large, 400 block N. 14th St.
14:31: Illegal camping, 200 block N. 12th St.
14:45: Vehicle impound, 900 block Row River Rd.
15:47: Trespass, 1100 block E. Main St.
16:34: Theft, 1500 block Village Dr.
17:09: Illegal camping, 1400 block N. Douglas St.
17:49: Agency assist, 300 block E. Oregon Ave.
20:26: Harassment, 900 block Johnson Ave.
21:51: Motor vehicle crash, Bennett Cr Rd/N. River Rd.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29
03:33: Warrant service, 12th/Main
07:57: Illegal camping, N. River Rd/Main
08:23: Suspicious condition, 1500 block S. 4th St.
05:41: Citizen assist, 800 block E. Washington Ave.
06:59: Hit and run, Main/14th
11:00: Welfare check, 7th/Whiteaker
11:49: Paper service, 100 block Gateway Blvd.
12:45: Vehicle impound, 700 block E. Gibbs Ave.
14:38: Suspicious condition, 1500 block S. 4th St.
15:02: Abandoned vehicle, 1400 block N. Douglas St.
16:26: Order violation, 900 block Johnson Ave.
16:36: Fire, 300 block N. 8th St.
16:47: Theft, 900 block Row River Rd.
18:03: Welfare check, 1300 block Gateway Blvd.
18:38: Juvenile, 700 block Hwy 99
18:44: Alarm, 600 block E. Jefferson Ave.
22:08: Disturbance, 200 block N. Lane St.
22:30: Suspicious condition, 400 block N. Douglas St.
23:43: Trespass, 1100 block Birch Ave.
23:46: Alarm, 1400 block Gateway Blvd.
23:59: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St. FRIDAY, JANUARY 31
01:17: Trespass, 1400 block N. Douglas St.
02:31: Theft, 900 block E. Main St.
08:05: Drug, 500 block E. Main St.
08:07: Welfare check, 100 block North I St.
Dawn Newton-Kemplin, 30, was significantly injured and transported by LifeFlight to an area hospital. Deputies determined Newton-Kemplin was impaired. She was arrested and cited in lieu of custody for DUI.
At 2 a.m. Feb. 2, deputies responded to a crash near the dam on Reservoir Road, south of Cottage Grove. Fire personnel on scene reported the driver, Jaime Nichole Wenetta, 37, appeared intoxicated. Deputies contacted Wenetta and determined she was impaired. She was arrested and cited in lieu of custody for DUI.
At 6 p.m. Feb. 2, LCSO deputies responded to a dispute in the 82800 block of Parker Lane in Dexter, regarding a person who
08:10: Illegal camping, M/Anthony
08:48: Juvenile, 1500 block S. 4th St.
09:14: Theft, 900 block Row River Rd.
09:19: Hit and run, E. Main/6th 10:02: Suspicious condition, 1600 block Ash Ave.
22:27: Abandoned vehicle, 100 block N. 16th St. 23:56: Business check, 1200 block Gateway Blvd. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1
00:42: Shots fired, 100
block S. 21st St. 02:39: Alarm, 1400 block Gateway Blvd.
03:53: Suspicious subject, 1100 block Hwy 99
08:02: Warrant service, 200 block N. 12th St.
08:27: Overdose, 1500 block S. 4th St.
08:36: Welfare check, 900 block W. Main St.
10:35: Welfare check, Main/14th
12:36: Criminal mischief, 900 block Wilson Ave.
15:21: Found dog, Hwy 99/Harrison Ave.
16:07: Found drugs, 1400 block N. Douglas St. 16:14: Illegal camping, M/Merrill Ln.
was driving while intoxicated. Deputies contacted the driver, Krysa Lea Matsen, 44, and determined she was impaired. Matsen was arrested for DUI and lodged at the Lane County Jail.
In a release, the LCSO asks drivers to consider others on the road:
• Plan your safe ride home ahead of time
• If you drink or use drugs, do not drive for any reason
• If you know someone has been drinking or using drugs, don’t let them drive
• If you host a party with alcohol, make sure all guests leave with a sober driver
• And please, always wear your seatbelt.
16:52: Suspicious vehicle, 79000 block N. River Rd.
17:43: Welfare check, 800 block South 1st St.
19:32: Business check, 1200 block Gateway Blvd.
19:54: Disturbance, 800 block South 1st St.
21:43: Business check, 1500 block E. Main St.
23:07: Illegal camping, 100 block South M St. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2
00:03: Juvenile, 900 block Row River Rd.
00:42: Suspicious vehicle, 1200 block S. River Rd.
00:55: Business check, 900 block E. Main St.
01:15: Suspicious vehicle, 100 block S. 10th St. 05:18: Warrant service, Main/10th
08:06: Drugs, 200 block Gateway Blvd.
08:59: Agency assist, 8th/Gibbs
10:43: Abandoned vehicle, 16th/Gibbs
11:21: Business check, 900 block E. Main St.
13:24: Illegal camping, River Rd/Seals Ln.
14:29: Agency assist, 174 NB
14:36: Unlawful entry into motor vehicle, 1600 block Bryant Ave.
14:47: Alarm, 1400 block Gateway Blvd.
16:59: Info, 100 block S. 21st St.
18:04: Business check, 1200 block Gateway Blvd. 18:38: Welfare check, 1100 block E. Chamberlain
19:34: Welfare check, 700 block Hwy 99
19:47: Disturbance, 200 block Gateway Blvd. 21:02: Business check, American Mkt.
JEREMY C. RUARK
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Metro Creative Connection
arrests are part of an ongoing effort by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable members of our community,” LCSO Sgt.
Jeremy C. Ruark / Cottage Grove Sentinel
LCSO deputies arrested four drivers suspected of DUII Feb. 1 and Feb. 2.
City leaders optimistic after Day at Capitol
CINDY WEELDREYER
Cottage Grove Sentinel
A delegation of City of Cottage Grove officials has returned after joining 300 of their colleagues representing 100 communities for City Day at the Oregon Legislature in Salem.
The League of Oregon Cities (LOC) designed the day long gathering, held Jan. 28 to strengthen partnerships between local and state leaders to address a list of shared priorities for the 2025 legislative session.
his Chief of Staff, Angelita Sanchez.
We’re hopeful we will see some change in our state leadership to help small rural cities like ours deal with the big problems we are facing.”
Cottage Grove Mayor Candace Solesbee, Councilors Greg Ervin, Dana Merryday and Randell Lammerman and City Manager Mike Sauerwein attended the morning general session and heard comments from Governor Tina Kotek, Senate President Rob Wagner, House Speaker Julie Fahey, Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham and House Republican Leader Christine Drazan.
WHAT THEY ACCOMPLISHED
The afternoon was spent in meetings with Cottage Grove’s two state legislators: Rep. Darin Harbick and Sen. Cedric Hayden. With Rep. Cedric Hayden in an afternoon committee meeting, the city officials met with
In the morning session, Governor Tina Kotek said she agrees with most of LOC’s nine legislative priorities for this session and expressed her willingness to work together with city officials to achieve them. The top issues this session will be addressing the homeless crisis, increasing mental health treatment capacity, providing infrastructure funding to create more housing, funding schools adequately and completing transportation projects.
“One of the things that is important to me, as your Governor, is alignment from the state to the counties to the cities,” Kotek said. “We solve problems best when we are all aligned. Partnerships are how we solve problems in our state and I want to be a partner with you.” The Governor commented on the many changes being made by President Trump’s new administration.
“It’s hard to wake up in the morning and know we have a federal administration that is very unclear about what is happening with some of the local funding streams.
I’m doing everything I can to understand what is happening at the national level so we can stand up for our people.”
In this year’s Legislature the Democrats have a super majority and control both the House and the Senate. The Legislative leaders told the city officials they are committed to working together across the aisle to accomplish the priorities for this session.
Solesbee said she was pleased with how many councilors participated in the event and for the opportunity the delegation had to share with state policymakers the point of view of local elected officials.
“I feel like our state leaders have abandoned city officials in dealing with the homeless crisis,” Solesbee said. “Historically, cities have never dealt with the unhoused. With limited funds and staffing we are not well equipped to solve the problem. I’m looking forward to having our state government clarify some ambiguity in HB 3115 that mandates how cities can address homelessness. We’re hopeful we will see some change in our state leadership to help small rural cities like ours deal with the big problems we are facing.”
It was the second time Councilor Dana Merryday participated in LOC’s City Day at the Capitol. He enjoyed meeting other city officials and comparing notes on how common issues are being handled.
“Relationships matter in politics,” Merryday said. “It’s very valuable to come and meet with your colleagues from other cities and build relationships with each
other and our state leaders. While our cities are unique, we’re all in this together and, essentially, fighting the same fight to meet the needs of our community.”
Councilor Randell Lammerman said the trip was worthwhile but wanted to see more of the Legislature in action. With the capitol building undergoing major renovation, access was limited to the House and Senate offices. While the morning the Legislative floor sessions were happening, LOC had its general session in the Salem Conference Center with speeches by state leaders and staff providing an overview of the LOC agreed upon priorities.
“I’m not big on the sitting and listening to things,
I really wanted to “see how the sausage is made,” he said.
Councilor Greg Ervin was also pleased with the size of Cottage Grove’s delegation at the LOC event. At the end of the day he said he felt satisfied with the two 30-minute appointments they had with Rep. Harbick and Sen. Hayden’s staff.
“We had valuable conversations, and I felt like they understood what our challenges and priorities were,” Ervin said. “We also came away with some new ideas that merit further consideration.”
In his long career as a city manager, Mike Sauerwein has had many years of experience lobbying Oregon and Washington state legislators
for needed state policy changes to help city leaders solve local issues.
“It’s a great opportunity for the city councilors - and the city manager - to meet with our state representatives and hear directly from us how some of their actions directly impact what we do as a city,” he said. City Day was the kickoff of the League of Oregon Cities’ centennial celebration. Today, there are 241 incorporated cities in Oregon. Since 1925, LOC has provided support and coordination among Oregon’s cities. Follow developments of Cottage Grove’s legislative priorities online at the cgsentine.coml and in the Wednesday print editions of The Sentinel.
White Rabbit opens in Cottage Grove’s Historic District
Going down this rabbit hole might lead you to surprising discoveries.
White Rabbit Vintage & Curiosities on Main Street in Cottage Grove’s Historic District opened Jan. 31 co-owned and operated by Terrisa West, Erika Peterson and Jeremy Evans.
“We chose White Rabbit as the name because it is whimsical and we really wanted to create a whole different place where people can go… into the rabbit hole and find cool things,” West said. “From knickknacks to clothing and hats, to books, to posters, records and hand-made furniture, a kid’s area with toys, candl.es, art, everything.”
Opening in the city’s historic district was purposeful, according to West.
“This area is becoming a destination spot with vintage and antique stores, especially this block is concentrated with stores that play off each other. There’s a restaurant. There’s a coffee shop. There’s an arcade, there’s a bike store and there is a couple of other places to shop,” she said. “It is an important part of the city’s redevelopment. I really feel there is some creativity here.”
West said the antique, vintage, and curiosities store just fits here lifestyle.
“I’ve been a collector forever,” she said. “I like curating space. It’s like my artistic eye. I like to play with that and see people’s reaction.” White Rabbit Vintage & Curiosities is scheduled to be open seven days a week from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. The store is located at 517 E Main Street in Cottage Grove.
Candace Solesbee, Cottage Grove Mayor
Cindy Weeldreyer / Cottage Grove Sentinel
Cottage Grove Mayor Candace Solesbee explains to State Representative Darin Harbick the City’s challenges with managing homelessness and road funding during City Day at the Capitol in Salem. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com.
JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
Jeremy C. Ruark / Cottage Grove sentinel
White Rabbit Vintage & Curiosities is located at 517 E Main Street in Cottage Grove.
Prep work underway along Main Street
Preparation work began for the multimillion-dollar Main Street Reconstruction Project last week, with utility crews replacing a natural gas line.
Main Street business operators and others were expected to gather with Cottage Grove city officials for an information meeting about the reconstruction project Feb. 11
In the Feb. 5 editions of The Sentinel, Cottage Grove Public Works Director Faye Stewart said communication is vital.
“We will be sending out regular newsletters regarding project updates, text messages, emails, Friday Updates, and Construction Corner updates on the city website,” Stewart said. “There will be regular if not daily visits by Shauna Neigh, Mike Sauerwien, and myself checking in with property owners and businesses to insure everything is going as planned and address any issues and or concerns. The Wildish project manager will
be onsite to communicate with business and owners throughout the project.”
Stewart noted that as the project begins this month and to April there will be one way traffic from east to west along Main Street.
“It will be reopened at the end of the workday and weekends to two-way traffic,” he said.” Once the street and sidewalk construction begins, the one way traffic from east to west will be in place until the sidewalks and street work have been completed. There will be signage and traffic plans distributed to explain the traffic control. City staff will work with businesses to reroute deliveries that are impacted by the closures.”
Main Street parking on one side of the street will still be allowed and side street parking will be maintained.
Business patrons will still have access to park and visit businesses. City staff and the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce have developed events and treasure hunts designed to bring people
downtown to the businesses during the construction.
“The city has paved the backlot alley ways to improve access and remove tripping and fall concerns,” Stewart said. “We are working on adding exterior lighting to the locations that will need the alley access into the buildings. It is the city’s hope that no businesses will be closed, and we can facilitate access throughout the project. Under Wildish’s proposal they anticipate the sidewalk/store entrance closure to be two to four hours during demolition and one to two days for pouring the new sidewalk.
Stewart said the work will be coordinated with each business and property owner.
“It is our hope that the work can be completed when the business is closed,” he said. “Secondary access to the residents living along Main Street will allow 24-hour access during the needed sidewalk closures.”
Stewart said the reconstruction project is designed to add significant improvements to
Main Street including new sidewalks, concrete street, benches, trash receptacles, trees, planters, new street lights, water fountains, drip watering system for hanging baskets, event power receptacles, tree lighting, new poles and location for the event banner across the street, sparkling concrete along Main Ttreet 4’ wide and at the intersections, each insertion will be level with the sidewalks creating a
raised intersection, the south portion of 7th street from Main south to the alley will be level with intersection and adjoining sidewalks to create the event/festival area next to All America Square Park. The intersections of 5th, 6th, and 7th will be 4 way stops. The sidewalks will be widened from 9 5’ feet to 12 feet.
Stewart provided the following resources for anyone
who may have questions or concerns: • The city’s website: Construction Corner | Cottage Grove Oregon • Stewart’s email: pwdirector@cottagegrove.org • Stewart’s phone numbe: 541-767-4120
Follow developments online at cgsentinel.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Sentinel.
Oregon needs to build 29,500 more homes each year, chief economist says
JULIA SHUMWAY
Oregon Capital Chronicle
Oregon needs to build about 29 500 more homes each year, mostly in the Portland region and Willamette Valley, to emerge from a housing shortage years in the making, the state’s chief economist told lawmakers Monday.
The state’s Office of Economic Analysis recently released its first annual housing needs
analysis report, with homebuilding targets for the state and individual cities to meet. It’s the result of a sweeping 2023 law that sought to give the state more power to set housing goals and hold cities accountable for reaching them.
The 29,522 total is lower than Gov. Tina Kotek’s goal of building 36,000 homes per year, but still well above construction in recent years. Builders pulled just more
COTTAGE GROVE:
6th & Gibbs Church of Christ
195 N. 6th St. • 541-942-3822 10:00am
Christian Education: Pre-K through 5th Tim Baker, Senior Minister www.6thandgibbs.com
Cottage Grove Bible Church 1200 East Quincy Avenue 541-942-4771
Cottage Grove Faith Center 33761 Row River Rd. 541-942-4851
Lead Pastor: Kevin Pruett www.cg4.tv
Full Childrenʼs Ministry available Services: 10:00am Delight Valley Church of Christ 33087 Saginaw Rd. East
• Pastor: Bob Friend
541-942-7711
Two Services: 9am - Classic in the Chapel 10:30am - Contemporary in the Auditorium
Living Faith Assembly
467 S. 10th St. • 541-942-2612
Worship Services Sundays: 9a & 11a
Youth Worship Sundays: 11a (all ages welcome)
Mondays: 5:30p (6th-12th grades)
Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Philip Benizi Catholic Churches 1025. N. 19th St. 541-942-3420 Father John J. Boyle
Holy Mass: Saturday Vigil – 5:30 pm Sunday – 10:30 am For weekday and Holy Day of Obligation schedule
than 20,000 residential permits in 2022, less than 18 000 in 2023 and barely more than 13,000 by November of 2024, the most recent month data is available.
Lagging construction comes as more Oregonians struggle to find affordable homes to buy or rent.
Chief Economist Carl Riccadona said housing affordability comes down to three macroeconomic conditions: the actual
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
Trinity Lutheran Church 6th and Quincy 541-942-2373
Vacancy Pastor: Herb Percy Sunday School and Adult Education 9:15 a.m.
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Comm. Kitchen Free Meal Tuesday 5:15 p.m. to 6:5 p.m. TLC Groups tlccg.com
United Methodist Church 334 Washington 541-942-3033 Worship 10am umcgrove.org
CRESWELL:
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 Our Worship Directory is a
feature. If your congregation would like to be a part of this directory, contact us today!
home or rent price, household income and interest rates.
“When we look at this nationally, housing affordability is as poor as it has been going all the way See OREGON, Page 8
OBITUARIES & DEATH NOTICES
Ferris Monroe Kent
November 18, 1927 - January 5, 2025
Ferris Monroe Kent, 97, of Cottage Grove, Oregon passed away peacefully January 5, 2025. Ferris was born November 18, 1927 in Rupert, Idaho to parents William Kent and Eva Pearl (Olenslager) Kent. He was preceded in death by brother William II and sisters Marcella, Eileen, and Carol. Ferris served in the United States Navy during World War II and was a proud member of the Cottage Grove VFW post 3473. He married Idona Pearce in 1950, and together they had 7 children, they divorced in 1966. His domestic partnership with Wilma Smith lasted for 30 years and together they had 2 children. After their separation he met Naomi Hubert whom he shared a home with until her death in 2012.
All three preceded him in death.
Ferris is survived by his children Ferris Jr. (LeighEllen) Kent, William
Eva
Kent,
Pearl (Rod) Aho, Debbie Archuleta, Randy Kent, Scott Kent, Brian (Debbie) Kent, Mindi (Chris) Davis, stepchildren Ed (Virgina) Smith, Debbie Whetham, Greg Smith, Joyce (Bruce) Crump, Jeff (Lynn) Smith, 90 plus grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by son Steven Kent, stepsons Russell and Roger Smith, step grandson Casey Whetham and grandson Shay Murphy. There will be a service held at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of Smith-LundMills Funeral Chapel and Crematorium.
Jeremy C. Ruark / Cottage Grove Sentinel Crews began replacing a natural gas line along Main Street last week as part of the preparation work for the multi-million-dollar reconstruction project.
JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
NEWS & VIEWS
Pardons and a settlement could spell violence to come
RANDY STAPILUS
Capital Chronicle
Oregon
President Donald Trump’s pardon of nearly all the rioters in the U.S. Capitol break-in on Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,500 of them, should resonate with people in Oregon.
This month, the federal government settled a lawsuit claiming that the Trump administration used excessive force against protestors and others who attacked the federal courthouse in Portland in the summer of 2020
Those two cases differ but they indicate how the federal government and Oregon authorities are likely to respond to political violence in the coming years. Not everyone pardoned by Trump was accused of violence, but many were and several from Oregon had already been sentenced. Now their criminal records are swept clean.
The Portland resolution was less noted. It involved the end of a key lawsuit that stemmed from federal involvement in the Portland street riots of the summer of 2020
The 2020 protests were triggered by the May 25 killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, and Portland was just one of the cities nationwide where protests took place.
Most people were peaceful, even in Portland, but violence marred their message. The city experienced ongoing looting, vandalism and arson. People were injured. At least one person was killed in a battle between people on opposing sides of the racial justice debate. It followed a tense day when Trump backers caravanned through the city while Black Lives Matter supporters held a rally.
There’s no one reason that tensions raged so high and the protests lasted so long in Portland — well into fall. But one reason was likely this: In July 2020, Trump ordered federal law enforcement officials to crack down in Portland. At least 775 from the Department of Homeland Security, using unmarked vehicles and often wearing military-style camouflage, responded to the protests.
When evil is shrugged away
Spencer Platt Getty Images
Thousands of Donald Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol building following a “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C.
Trump said they grabbed people and jailed the leaders, who he said were “anarchists.”
What followed became highly controversial, leading to complaints from a number of Oregon elected officials.
The Portland City Council chose to end cooperation between local police and federal law enforcement, citing “an unprecedented and unconstitutional abuse of power” by federal agencies. In a followup report the next year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security admitted its operations had been deeply flawed.
Civil lawsuits followed, including several from the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU cited “military-style violence” in which many people, including medics and journalists, were subjected not only to tear gas but also to pepper balls and impact munitions usually reserved for wartime use.
Oregon ACLU client Maureen Healy remarked that, “The history of the past century shows us that authoritarian governments follow patterns. One of these is to dress their troops in unmarked, unidentifiable uniforms and set them loose to commit violence against everyday people. The goal is to instill fear in the public and to stop those committed to democracy from working together to oppose the government’s intimidation.”
Last week, the first of the Portland lawsuits was settled, providing for compensation from the federal government for injuries to Portlanders. Other legal cases are ongoing.
The timing of the settlement came a day after Trump returned to office. Some Oregonians will be closely watching progress in
the other cases. They may get the message that fighting back against law enforcement overreach will be slow and the results limited.
The lightning-fast pardons of the Jan. 6 rioters, coming without any vetting of individuals and including many who committed violent acts, was a sharp contrast. More significant are the responses from many of the participants. While a few convicted of crimes renounced their pardons, many may feel more emboldened to go further next time.
One of the renouncers, Jason Riddle of New Hampshire, remarked, “If I was one of the people who crossed the line into assaulting police officers that day, I’d probably believe I can get away with anything I want now.”
That may have applied in 2020 to federal officers but it also now apparently applies to people outside the federal government who believe they’re carrying out the president’s will.
What Portland experienced in the summer of 2020 could foreshadow what many communities might experience in the years ahead when violent people feel they have reason to think the federal government will have their backs, whatever they do.
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.
VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY
Imagine the situation of the people of Gaza, a million and more, driven out of their homes, their homes destroyed then driven from Tent City to Tent City five times.
Is it right they should be then shoveled into Lebanon and Egypt as suggested ted by President Trump?
This action is completely blind to their overwhelming suffering and uprooted
situation and this is compounded as a evil intention by dismissing the difficulty of beginning again for them by suggesting that they should build new cities for themselves when they have no work and could not even come up with the first two months rent which is so hard to do for even Americans. I balk at the callousness of dismissing any thought of their suffering. And then to make nothing of forcing these uprooted people into
two other Sovereign Nations, Egypt and Lebonan. And is Israel not a sovereign nation itself, a Nation that has the right to not want the United States to just take over a portion that it wanted for itself? What is it about the extremity of this meanspirited arrogance that the people of the United States of America don’t recognize for the evil it is?
Leo Rivers Cottage Grove
EDITORIAL CARTOON
GUEST COLUMN
Policy makers must act to protect access to health care
BECKY HULTBERG Sentinel Guest Column
What makes a community a great place to live?
It’s pretty clear from recent public opinion research that Oregonians value safe and healthy communities.
There are a variety of factors that go into what makes us feel safe and secure in our communities, including the confidence that if something happens, we’ll be cared for. Oregon hospitals are foundational to that sense of safety and community, one that we always rely on but sometimes take for granted. Hospitals are a safety net to care for us and those we love when we need it most.
Losing that sense of security diminishes our communities. Yet for the past five years, Oregon’s community hospitals have grappled with mounting financial pressures that jeopardize their ability to continue serving as that critical safety net. The ability of hospitals to provide vital health care services, to employ Oregonians in their local communities, and to serve as trusted community partners is at risk, and with it is that sense of comfort and safety they provide.
The hospital association has worked tirelessly to push for solutions, and I’m so glad that Gov. Tina Kotek has prioritized critical health care
funding in her 2025 recommended budget. The budget strengthens Oregon’s hospitals by including funding to support access to maternity care, train more health care workers, and assist hospitals that care for large numbers of low-income patients. It also calls for renewing the provider taxes to help secure matching federal funds for the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). These measures alone will not solve the immense challenges facing hospitals, but they are a step in the right direction.
This legislative session, our elected officials must act to protect access to health care in Oregon by supporting the governor’s recommended budget. Without their action, we will face a compounding crisis--namely, OHP will not have enough funding to serve the one in three Oregonians on its rolls, and care will be at risk as hospitals are unable to weather unrelenting pressures including chronic underpayment from government health care programs like OHP.
Hospitals are proud of the critical role they play in securing federal funding for OHP, which provides health coverage to some of our most vulnerable family members, friends, and neighbors. Through the expansion of this
program, Oregon has been able to achieve a remarkable milestone: A full 97% of Oregonians are insured, the highest recorded insured rate in state history. But we have reached a point in our state where having health insurance doesn’t mean you have access to doctors and hospitals. If you’ve tried to get an appointment with a primary care provider or spent time in an overcrowded emergency department, this rings true. About half of Oregon hospitals consistently lose money and many more barely make ends meet. That means they don’t have the resources for the staff and infrastructure we all need, and that keep us cared for.
OHP contributes to hospitals’ financial distress by only paying them 56 cents for every dollar of care they provide to OHP members. And when hospitals aren’t paid enough to cover their costs, they are not able to continue to offer the kinds of services that we rely on to keep our communities safe, healthy and vibrant.
On behalf of Oregon’s 61 community hospitals--from Coos Bay to Enterprise and everywhere in between--I ask legislators to support the governor’s budget, including supporting HB 2010 to reauthorize the provider taxes that help fund OHP and taking action to increasing funding for hospitals serving OHP members.
These steps will not only protect access to care for all Oregonians but will help hospitals continue their important role in keeping our communities healthy and vibrant. Becky Hultberg is president and CEO of the Hospital Association of Oregon.
Becky Hultberg
From Page 1
ENVIRONMENTAL & COMMUNITY BENEFITS
At the time, City officials estimated the cost of buying the golf course would be less than the estimated $1M+ cost of building a cooling tower and the course would also become a valuable city asset.
Staff notes the effluent irrigation has worked well and yielded some very tangible benefits:
• Approximately 50 million gallons of fresh water is conserved at Middlefield every irrigation season
• Approximately 50 million gallons of the city’s wastewater is diverted from the river system every year and given a second purpose as irrigation for green space
• Greener grass, resulting in a 30 percent cut in fertility expenses.
• Contaminants in effluent water, such as nitrates and phosphates, are nutrients to turfgrass, which filters them out of the water, preventing pollution and improving water quality
• Adding a disc golf course draws more people and tournaments to town
• The perimeter cart path is open to bikers, joggers and walkers. The route provides excellent views of several acres of woodlands and wetlands, making it a great spot for
Messages
From Page 1
with the Cottage Grove Police Department to ensure all students remain safe.
While we don’t believe that this is a credible threat, out of an abundance of caution, you may notice an increased police presence at the school tomorrow”.
Clark said the school was partnering with the Cottage Grove Police Department “to present an important message to students about the seriousness of these actions and the vital role our scholars can play in keeping our community safe.”
“We know that most of our scholars act responsibly, and we want to empower them to speak up and report any concerning behavior
birdwatchers and wildlife lovers.
• Travel Lane County research shows 40-percent of visitors to town come to play golf
GROUNDS MAINTENANCE
In the past seven years Faye Stewart has served as the City’s Public Works Director, he says he has seen a significant increase in usage of the course. He credits this to his staff who are friendly and helpful and ensure there is a well-maintained course and a well-stocked pro shop.
“We have an incredible group of individuals who maintain the course,” Stewart said.
“Superintendent Roger Vandehey is one of the best in the State of Oregon. They have my full support and it’s my job to make sure they have the equipment they need to maintain the great reputation Middlefield has among golfers.”
For the past eight years, Vandehey has overseen the maintenance of the golf course grounds and irrigation system and manages three full-time and four part-time employees. He said his staff is committed to giving the golfer the best playing conditions possible.
“Most everyone is happy with the course conditions, mainly the greens,” Vandehey said. “Our future plans are to make irrigation repairs, raise sprinkler heads, level tees and improve the sand bunkers.”
they witness. Together, we can create a safer and more supportive environment for everyone,” Clark stated in the email.
The following day, Jan. 31, Clark issued another email to parents.
“Thank you for your continued support as we navigate this challenging situation. This morning, we successfully identified the source of the threat and want to assure you that there is no ongoing risk to our school community. We are taking all necessary steps to address the situation appropriately and are providing support where needed. The safety and well-being of our scholars, staff, and families remain our highest priority, and we appreciate your partnership in maintaining a secure and supportive learning environment.”
The popular 5,200-yard course is often described as a challenging 18-hole executive course that rivals many professional length courses. It hosts 10-13 fundraising tournaments each year.
2024 ICE STORM DAMAGE EXTENSIVE
Vandehey said more than 150 trees were lost and it took staff three days just to clean debris off the paths to get around. The course was closed for 2-1/2 months with tree work and clean-up and repairing cart paths the recovery equipment damaged. Some irrigation components needed repair and staff is still working on grinding stumps.
PRO SHOP
Glenn Clark marks his one-year anniversary this month as the Pro Shop Manager. His duties are booking tee times and tournaments, managing the staff inside the pro shop, and ordering items to meet the essential needs
Clark emphasized that student awareness and cooperation was important in such investigations.
“We know that most of our scholars act responsibly, and we want to empower them to speak up and report any concerning behavior they witness,” Clark wrote. “Together, we can create a safer and more supportive environment for everyone.”
Clark also issued the following email in the school’s weekly update to parents Feb. 3
of golfers: new equipment, beer and wine, snacks and food.
“We get lots of positive feedback from customers,” Clark said. “They remark how beautiful and well-maintained the course is and their compliments really go to our amazing grounds crew.”
GOLF COURSE USAGE
Clark said Middlefield doesn’t currently have a golf pro to teach players, Cottage Grove High School golf teams practice there. A South Lane Kids Club promotes youth golf in the summer with the City offering great rates to support junior golfers. The Men’s Club plays yearround on Mondays and Thursdays. The Women’s Club plays on Wednesdays from April through
cannot share specific details due to student privacy and our ongoing collaboration with law enforcement, please know that we are taking this situation very seriously.
“We have already implemented changes to enhance security and address concerns. If these incidents persist, we will take further action as needed.”
Laura Clark, Lincoln Middle School Principal
“Student safety is my top priority—not just as an administrator, but also as a parent. I have a 7th grader here at school, and I would never ask you to send your child into an environment that I wouldn’t feel safe sending mine.
October. Middlefield hosts approximately 10-13 tournaments a year, raising money for worthy causes.
OPERATING COSTS
In the adopted 202425 budget, the golf course expenses in the Wastewater Enterprise Fund are projected to be $1,117,310. Projected revenue for 2024-25 is $604,940
Stewart said there has been a steady growth in the use of the course and it has been “phenomenally high” in the last three years. He said the Wastewater Fund purchased the golf course for $375 000 and repayment is made semi-annually with the final payment scheduled for Sept. 15, 2026
Stewart noted the amount of revenue the course
the seriousness of the situation and prevent further occurrences.
“Thank you for your support and trust as we work through this together. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.”
Clark said the school conducted an assembly Wednesday morning, Feb. 5, with a slide show to help students understand the seriousness of the threatening messages.
POLICE PERSPECTIVE
Cottage grove Police
generates right now almost covers its operational costs. The City’s goal is for its municipal course to become self-supporting.
City officials believe the Middlefield Golf Course is a valuable asset because it offers recreation opportunities, boosts tourism, conserves water, helps protect water quality, and preserves and enhances Cottage Grove’s finite open spaces.
The Sentinel will follow the Cottage Grove City Council as it develops the new city operating budget with frequent updates online at cgsentinel.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Sentinel.
“As you can imagine, working with middle school students is both challenging and rewarding,” she said.
“At this age, students sometimes make choices without fully considering the consequences. While I believe in supporting and guiding them through their mistakes, my primary responsibility is ensuring a safe and positive environment for all students—something I take very seriously and am grateful to do every day.”
“Thank you for your continued support and partnership over the past few weeks. I want to take a moment to acknowledge that some of the recent messages I’ve sent via Remind have been difficult, and I truly appreciate your patience and understanding.
“I want to keep you informed about a serious matter we’ve been addressing at school. Unfortunately, we have had incidents where scholars have written threatening messages in the bathrooms. While we
“We are actively working with our staff and local law enforcement to address this issue with scholars in a clear and meaningful way. Once we have finalized our message to scholars, we will also share it with the broader school community.
“Additionally, we have already implemented changes to enhance security and address concerns. If these incidents persist, we will take further action as needed. However, we are hopeful that the measures we have put in place will help scholars understand
Chief Cory Chase told the Sentinel that if a student is found responsible for such a message, that student could be arrested and charged with a crime.
“The Cottage Grove Police Department takes all threats to children in our schools seriously and we will always respond appropriately,” Chase said. “We will also continue working with the South Lane School District to assist in any way we can. “
PRINCIPAL’S INSIGHT
Clark also gives the following insight from her perspective as a middle school principal.
Clark added that in her weekly update to parents, she highlights what she called positive events at the school, providing the following examples:
• Boba attendance challenge and LMS holiday store - https://secure.smore.com/n/ f75k2
• Kindness at our school & 2 student created videos from a new class - https:// secure.smore.com/n/xj0vq
• Live online event with authors & first attendance challenge winners – https:// secure.smore.com/n/jsant
Lincoln Middle School is located at 1565 S 4th Street in Cottage Grove.
Courtesy photo from GolfPass
Classified
LADD CONSTRUCTION, LLC
New or remodel, decks, siding, windows, doors, shops, fences. 541-913-1541 ccb# 239015
CGS 25-106
TRUSTEE’S NOTICE OF SALE TS NO.:24-70466 Reference is made to that certain Deed of Trust (hereinafter referred as the Trust Deed) made by JEFFREY W BUREK as Grantor to FIRST AMERICAN TITLE COMPANY OF OREGON, as trustee, in favor of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (“MERS”), as designated nominee for AMERICAN SOUTHWEST MORTGAGE CORP., beneficiary of the security instrument, its successors and assigns, as Beneficiary, dated 1/3/2017, recorded 1/9/2017, as Instrument No. 2017-000973, modified by Loan Modification Agreement recorded as Instrument 2024-001347 and recorded on 01/19/2024. in mortgage records of Lane County, Oregon covering the following described real property situated in said County and State, to-wit: BEGINNING AT A POINT 264.0 FEET NORTH AND 165.0 FEET SOUTH 89° 35’ EAST OF THE QUARTER SECTION CORNER BETWEEN SECTIONS 16 AND 21 TOWNSHIP 17 SOUTH, RANGE 4 WEST, OF THE WILLAMETTE MERIDIAN, IN LANE COUNTY, OREGON; AND RUNNING THENCE NORTH 90 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 89° 35’ EAST 165.0 FEET, THENCE SOUTH 90 FEET AND THENCE NORTH 89° 35’ WEST 165.0 FEET TO THE PLACE OF BEGINNING, IN LANE COUNTY, OREGON. EXCEPT: EASEMENT FOR ROADWAY OVER THE WEST 20 FEET AS SET OUT IN DEED RECORDED JANUARY 4, 1950, IN BOOK 407, PAGE 474, LANE COUNTY OREGON DEED RECORDS. The street address or other common designation, if any for the real property described above is purported to be: 2059 GOLDEN GARDENS ST EUGENE, OREGON 97402 The Tax Assessor’s Account ID for the Real Property is purported to be: 0399046 /1704164307500 Both the beneficiary and the trustee, ZBS Law, LLP have elected to foreclose the above referenced Trust Deed and sell the said real property to satisfy the obligations secured by the Trust Deed and a Notice of Default and Election to Sell has been recorded pursuant to ORS 86.752(3). All right, title, and interest in the said described property which the grantors had, or had power to convey, at the time of execution of the Trust Deed, together with any interest the grantors or their successors in interest acquired after execution of the Trust Deed shall be sold at public auction to the highest bidder for cash to satisfy the obligations secured by the Trust Deed and the expenses of sale, including the compensation of the trustee as provided by law, and the reasonable fees of trustee’s attorneys. The default for which the foreclosure is made is: The monthly installment of principal and interest which became due on 5/1/2024, late charges, and all subsequent monthly installments of principal and interest. You are responsible to pay all payments and charges due under the terms and conditions of the loan documents which come due subsequent to the date of this notice, including, but not limited to, foreclosure trustee fees and costs, advances and late charges. Furthermore, as a condition to bring your account in good standing, you must provide the undersigned with
written proof that you are not in default on any senior encumbrance and provide proof of insurance. Nothing in this notice should be construed as a waiver of any fees owing to the beneficiary under the deed of trust, pursuant to the terms and provisions of the loan documents.The amount required to cure the default in payments to date is calculated as follows: From: 5/1/2024 Total of past due payments: $10,871.76 Late Charges: $191.71 Additional charges (Taxes, Insurance, Corporate Advances, Other Fees): $4,635.97 Trustee’s Fees and Costs: $1,560.00 Total necessary to cure: $17,259.44 Please note the amounts stated herein are subject to confirmation and review and are likely to change during the next 30 days. Please contact the successor trustee ZBS Law, LLP, to obtain a “reinstatement’ and or “payoff’ quote prior to remitting funds. By reason of said default the beneficiary has declared all sums owing on the obligation secured by the Trust Deed due and payable. The amount required to discharge this lien in its entirety to date is: $163,986.93 Said sale shall be held at the hour of 1:00 PM on 5/7/2025 in accord with the standard of time established by ORS 187.110, and pursuant to ORS 86.771(7) shall occur at the following designated place: Front Entrance to the Lane County Courthouse, 125 East 8th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401 Other than as shown of record, neither the said beneficiary nor the said trustee have any actual notice of any person having or claiming to have any lien upon or interest in the real property hereinabove described subsequent to the interest of the trustee in the Trust Deed, or of any successor(s) in interest to the grantors or of any lessee or other person in possession of or occupying the property, except: NONE Notice is further given that any person named in ORS 86.778 has the right, at any time prior to five days before the date last set for sale, to have this foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the Trust Deed reinstated by payment to the beneficiary of the entire amount then due (other than such portion of the principal as would not then be due had no default occurred) and by curing any other default complained of herein that is capable of being cured by tendering the performance required under the obligation(s) of the Trust Deed, and in addition to paying said sums or tendering the performance necessary to cure the default, by paying all costs and expenses actually incurred in enforcing the obligation and Trust Deed, together with the trustee’s and attorney’s fees not exceeding the amounts provided by ORS 86.778. The mailing address of the trustee is: ZBS Law, LLP 5 Centerpointe Dr., Suite 400 Lake Oswego, OR 97035 (503) 946-6558 In construing this notice, the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter, the singular includes plural, the word “grantor” includes any successor in interest to the grantor as well as any other persons owing an obligation, the performance of which is secured by said trust deed, the words “trustee” and ‘beneficiary” include their respective successors in interest, if any. Without limiting the trustee’s disclaimer of representations or warranties, Oregon law requires the trustee to state in this notice that some residential property sold at a trustee’s sale may have been used in manufacturing methamphetamines, the chemical components of which are
known to be toxic. Prospective purchasers of residential property should be aware of this potential danger before deciding to place a bid for this property at the trustee’s sale. Dated: 12/17/2024 ZBS Law, LLP By: Amber L. Labrecque, Esq, OSB#094593 ZBS Law, LLP Authorized to sign on behalf of the trustee A-4831304 02/12/2025, 02/19/2025, 02/26/2025, 03/05/2025
CGS 25-107
TRUSTEE’S NOTICE OF SALE TS NO.: 24-71061 Reference is made to that certain Deed of Trust (hereinafter referred as the Trust Deed) made by KEVEN COCHRAN as Grantor to FIDELITY NATIONAL TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION, as trustee, in favor of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (“MERS”), as designated nominee for THE FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK, beneficiary of the security instrument, its successors and assigns, as Beneficiary, dated 11/14/2022, recorded 11/18/2022, as Instrument No. 2022-047003, in mortgage records of Lane County, Oregon covering the following described real property situated in said County and State, to-wit: LOT 11, BLOCK 5, COLINA VISTA ESTATES FIRST ADDITION, AS PLATTED AND RECORDED IN FILE 72, SLIDE 133, LANE COUNTY OREGON PLAT RECORDS, IN THE CITY OF CRESWELL, COUNTY OF LANE AND STATE OF OREGON. The street address or other common designation, if any for the real property described above is purported to be: 1193 CEDAR PL CRESWELL, OREGON 97426 The Tax Assessor’s Account ID for the Real Property is purported to be: 19031513021001 1208410 Both the beneficiary and the trustee, ZBS Law, LLP have elected to foreclose the above referenced Trust Deed and sell the said real property to satisfy the obligations secured by the Trust Deed and a Notice of Default and Election to Sell has been recorded pursuant to ORS 86.752(3). All right, title, and interest in the said described property which the grantors had, or had power to convey, at the time of execution of the Trust Deed, together with any interest the grantors or their successors in interest acquired after execution of the Trust Deed shall be sold at public auction to the highest bidder for cash to satisfy the obligations secured by the Trust Deed and the expenses of sale, including the compensation of the trustee as provided by law, and the reasonable fees of trustee’s attorneys. The default for which the foreclosure is made is: The monthly installment of principal and interest which became due on 10/1/2023, late charges, and all subsequent monthly installments of principal and interest. You are responsible to pay all payments and charges due under the terms and conditions of the loan documents which come due subsequent to the date of this notice, including, but not limited to, foreclosure trustee fees and costs, advances and late charges. Furthermore, as a condition to bring your account in good standing, you must provide the undersigned with written proof that you are not in default on any senior encumbrance and provide proof of insurance. Nothing in this notice should be construed as a waiver of any fees owing to the beneficiary under the deed of trust, pursuant to the terms and provisions of the loan documents. The amount required to cure the default in payments to date is calculated as follows: From: 10/1/2023 Total of past due payments: $44,061.09 Late Charges: $1,471.54 Additional charges (Taxes, Insurance, Corporate Advances, Other Fees): $2,332.58 Trustee’s Fees and Costs: $1,214.00 Total necessary to cure:
$49,079.21 Please note the amounts stated herein are subject to confirmation and review and are likely to change during the next 30 days. Please contact the successor trustee ZBS Law, LLP, to obtain a “reinstatement’ and or “payoff’ quote prior to remitting funds. By reason of said default the beneficiary has declared all sums owing on the obligation secured by the Trust Deed due and payable. The amount required to discharge this lien in its entirety to date is: $471,570.71 Said sale shall be held at the hour of 10:00 AM on 4/25/2025 in accord with the standard of time established by ORS 187.110, and pursuant to ORS 86.771(7) shall occur at the following designated place: Inside the main lobby of the Lane County Courthouse, 125 E 8th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401 Other than as shown of record, neither the said beneficiary nor the said trustee have any actual notice of any person having or claiming to have any lien upon or interest in the real property hereinabove described subsequent to the interest of the trustee in the Trust Deed, or of any successor(s) in interest to the grantors or of any lessee or other person in possession of or occupying the property, except: NONE Notice is further given that any person named in ORS 86.778 has the right, at any time prior to five days before the date last set for sale, to have this foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the Trust Deed reinstated by payment to the beneficiary of the entire amount then due (other than such portion of the principal as would not then be due had no default occurred) and by curing any other default complained of herein that is capable of being cured by tendering the performance required under the obligation(s) of the Trust Deed, and in addition to paying said sums or tendering the performance necessary to cure the default, by paying all costs and expenses actually incurred in enforcing the obligation and Trust Deed, together with the trustee’s and attorney’s fees not exceeding the amounts provided by ORS 86.778. The mailing address of the trustee is: ZBS Law, LLP 5 Centerpointe Dr., Suite 400 Lake Oswego, OR 97035 (503) 946-6558 In construing this notice, the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter, the singular includes plural, the word “grantor” includes any successor in interest to the grantor as well as any other persons owing an obligation, the performance of which is secured by said trust deed, the words “trustee” and ‘beneficiary” include their respective successors in interest, if any. Without limiting the trustee’s disclaimer of representations or warranties, Oregon law requires the trustee to state in this notice that some residential property sold at a trustee’s sale may have been used in manufacturing methamphetamines, the chemical components of which are known to be toxic. Prospective purchasers of residential property should be aware of this potential danger before deciding to place a bid for this property at the trustee’s sale. Dated: 12/12/2024 ZBS Law, LLP By: Dirk Schouten, OSB#115153 ZBS Law, LLP Authorized to sign on behalf of the trustee A-4831076 02/12/2025, 02/19/2025, 02/26/2025, 03/05/2025 CGS 25-108
TRUSTEE’S NOTICE OF SALE NO.: 2470377 Reference is made to that certain Deed of Trust (hereinafter referred as the Trust Deed) made by ROGELIO GUTIERREZ JR AND MEGGIE APRIL HOFFMAN, NOT AS TENANTS IN COMMON, BUT WITH THE RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP as Grantor to CASCADE ESCROW, as trustee, in favor of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (“MERS”), as desig-
nated nominee for SUMMIT FUNDING, INC., beneficiary of the security instrument, its successors and assigns, as Beneficiary, dated 10/25/2022, recorded 10/26/2022, as Instrument No. 2022044382, in mortgage records of Lane County, Oregon covering the following described real property situated in said County and State, to-wit: LOT 24, BLOCK 1, KODIAK PARK, AS PLATTED AND RECORDED IN FILE 72, SLIDE 11, LANE COUNTY OREGON PLAT RECORDS, IN LANE COUNTY, OREGON. The street address or other common designation, if any for the real property described above is purported to be: 511 PANDA LOOPEUGENE, OREGON 97401 The Tax Assessor’s Account ID for the Real Property is purported to be: 17-03-28-1-1 / 1188463 /1703281100115 Both the beneficiary and the trustee, ZBS Law, LLP have elected to foreclose the above referenced Trust Deed and sell the said real property to satisfy the obligations secured by the Trust Deed and a Notice of Default and Election to Sell has been recorded pursuant to ORS 86.752(3). All right, title, and interest in the said described property which the grantors had, or had power to convey, at the time of execution of the Trust Deed, together with any interest the grantors or their successors in interest acquired after execution of the Trust Deed shall be sold at public auction to the highest bidder for cash to satisfy the obligations secured by the Trust Deed and the expenses of sale, including the compensation of the trustee as provided by law, and the reasonable fees of trustee’s attorneys. The default for which the foreclosure is made is: The monthly installment of principal and interest which became due on 4/1/2024, late charges, and all subsequent monthly installments of principal and interest. You are responsible to pay all payments and charges due under the terms and conditions of the loan documents which come due subsequent to the date of this notice, including, but not limited to, foreclosure trustee fees and costs, advances and late charges. Furthermore, as a condition to bring your account in good standing, you must provide the undersigned with written proof that you are not in default on any senior encumbrance and provide proof of insurance. Nothing in this notice should be construed as a waiver of any fees owing to the beneficiary under the deed of trust, pursuant to the terms and provisions of the loan documents. The amount required to cure the default in payments to date is calculated as follows: From: 4/1/2024 Total of past due payments: $25,447.32 Late Charges: $263.25 Additional charges (Taxes, Insurance, Corporate Advances, Other Fees): $2,538.00 Trustee’s Fees and Costs: $515.00 Total necessary to cure: $28,763.57 Please note the amounts stated herein are subject to confirmation and review and are likely to change during the next 30 days. Please contact the successor trustee ZBS Law, LLP, to obtain a “reinstatement’ and or “payoff’ quote prior to remitting funds. By reason of said default the beneficiary has declared all sums owing on the obligation secured by the Trust Deed due and payable. The amount required to discharge this lien in its entirety to date is: $361,270.69 Said sale shall be held at the hour of 10:00 AM on 5/2/2025 in accord with the standard of time established by ORS 187.110, and pursuant to ORS 86.771(7) shall occur at the following designated place: Inside the main lobby of the Lane County Courthouse, 125 E 8th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401 Other than as shown of record, neither the said beneficiary nor the said trustee have any actual notice of any person having
or claiming to have any lien upon or interest in the real property hereinabove described subsequent to the interest of the trustee in the Trust Deed, or of any successor(s) in interest to the grantors or of any lessee or other person in possession of or occupying the property, except: NONE Notice is further given that any person named in ORS 86.778 has the right, at any time prior to five days before the date last set for sale, to have this foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the Trust Deed reinstated by payment to the beneficiary of the entire amount then due (other than such portion of the principal as would not then be due had no default occurred) and by curing any other default complained of herein that is capable of being cured by tendering the performance required under the obligation(s) of the Trust Deed, and in addition to paying said sums or tendering the performance necessary to cure the default, by paying all costs and expenses actually incurred in enforcing the obligation and Trust Deed, together with the trustee’s and attorney’s fees not exceeding the amounts provided by ORS 86.778. The mailing address of the trustee is: ZBS Law, LLP 5 Centerpointe Dr., Suite 400 Lake Oswego, OR 97035 (503) 946-6558 In construing this notice, the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter, the singular includes plural, the word “grantor” includes any successor in interest to the grantor as well as any other persons owing an obligation, the performance of which is secured by said trust deed, the words “trustee” and ‘beneficiary” include their respective successors in interest, if any. Without limiting the trustee’s disclaimer of representations or warranties, Oregon law requires the trustee to state in this notice that some residential property sold at a trustee’s sale may have been used in manufacturing methamphetamines, the chemical components of which are known to be toxic. Prospective purchasers of residential property should be aware of this potential danger before deciding to place a bid for this property at the trustee’s sale. Dated: 12/19/2024 ZBS Law, LLP By: Dirk Schouten, OSB#115153 Authorized to sign on behalf of the trustee A-4831733 02/12/2025, 02/19/2025, 02/26/2025, 03/05/2025 CGS 25-111 In the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for the county of LANE In the Matter of the Estate of: Joseph Charles Corsi, Deceased. Case No. 25PB00478 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Ron Nix has been appointed Personal Representative. 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.
National assessment shows Oregon students falling behind in key subjects
ALEX BAUMHARDT
Capital Chronicle
Oregon
Oregon’s fourth and eighth graders are struggling in key subjects more than students in most other states, a national assessment found.
The National Assessment for Educational Progress, often referred to as the nation’s report card, shows that Oregon’s fourth and eighth graders scored in the bottom half of all states in math and reading proficiency in tests last year.
The data released Wednesday shows that an achievement gap among the country’s high-performing students and those with the lowest scores has grown since the pandemic, said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, which administers the tests. Carr hosted a news conference Tuesday to discuss the latest data.
“Student achievement has not returned to prepandemic levels. Reading scores continue to decline, and our lowest-performing students are reading at historically low levels,” she said. “Our nation is facing complex challenges in reading.”
Data shows student scores didn’t slide much in reading or math from the last assessment in 2022, but students weren’t doing well then, either. Among Oregon fourth graders who took the assessment last year, nearly half scored “below basic” in reading. This was worse than the national average, which shows about 40% of
U.S. fourth graders are not meeting that benchmark in reading. This means these students struggle to read and understand simple words.
Among Oregon eighth graders who tested, about 35% were considered below basic in reading.
This means these students struggle to identify the main idea of a story as well as basic literary elements.
back to the 1980s, when we had double-digit mortgage rates,” he said.
Fast Fact
Oregon is in the bottom half of states in reading and math scores among fourth and eighth graders in the “nation’s report card.
“Our NAEP scores reaffirm the trends we’ve observed in our state assessments,” Oregon Department of Education Director Charlene Williams said in a statement. “ODE is expanding literacy efforts to reach schools serving some of our most impacted students, ensuring they have access to high-quality instruction and resources. Additionally, summer and extended learning opportunities are more important than ever in closing gaps and accelerating progress.”
The state’s own assessment data, published in October, shows students are still about 10 percentage points behind pre-pandemic achievement levels in key subjects.
Gaps grow in the West When it comes to math, about one-third of Oregon fourth graders tested below basic in the national assessment, meaning they might struggle to add and subtract multi-digit numbers
The state’s analysis includes five factors contributing to housing needs: Years of underproduction.
Building permits peaked in 2005, when developers pulled permits for more than 31 000 homes, then plummeted with the 2008 housing crash and recession.
or understand the values and number placement in multi-digit figures up to hundred thousands. About 45% of eighth graders failed to meet the benchmark, meaning they might struggle to solve equations with integers and fractions, and might have trouble using math to determine units of measurement such as length, area and volume.
Carr said across much of the West, higher-performing students continued to score high while students who needed the most help continued to fall behind.
She said it was “not just a pandemic story,” and that there are no excuses for continued declines and stagnation. Some states, such as Louisiana, showed improvements in reading scores across all students.
“I understand that they did focus heavily on the science of reading, but they didn’t start yesterday,” Carr said of the instructional shift in recent years towards lessons rooted in neuroscience research around how the brain learns to read. “They’ve been working on it for several years. So I would not say that hope is lost, and I would not say that we cannot turn this around. It’s been demonstrated that we can, even in reading.”
Carr suggested that beyond instructional changes that might be needed, high student
About 7,000 homes were built statewide in 2009, and while homebuilding slowly increased heading out of the recession before falling with the COVID pandemic, it hasn’t returned to 1990s levels. Simultaneously, Oregon’s population grew by nearly 11% between 2010 and 2020 — outpacing all but 10 other states and netting Oregon an extra seat in Congress.
More than 400,000 additional people live in Oregon now than in 2010 but communities haven’t built enough homes to keep pace with that growth. To make up for those years of underproduction, the analysis says Oregon will need to build 50,300 homes statewide over the next 20 years, with about two-thirds of
Oregon students are struggling to make gains in key subjects, state and federal assessments show.
absenteeism rates in many states are playing a role.
“I think one of the obvious messages that we can share out of these data is that you need to send your kids to school. When they’re not there these data clearly show that they are less likely to learn. Those who don’t go to school learn less,” she said.
Absenteeism remains a problem in Oregon. Statewide, nearly 40% of Oregon students were chronically absent during the 2022-23 school year, marking a 20 percentage point drop from 2018-19 That means they missed at least 16 days in a 160-day period.
National assessment surveys show that 45% of fourth graders in Oregon who took the test and scored below the 25th percentile in math, reported missing three or more days of school in the month prior
those at prices affordable to families who earn less than 60% of the median income in their area. Rehousing homeless people.
The 2024 Point in Time count, a federal count of how many people are homeless on a given day in January, tallied 22,875 Oregonians living in shelters or on the streets. Homeless advocates describe that measure as an incomplete picture of homelessness, as it doesn’t include people without homes of their own who are staying with friends, in motels or other less-visible places. The housing needs analysis estimates Oregon will need another 45 637 homes for people experiencing homelessness within the next 20 years.
to the survey. Fourth graders who tested in the 75th percentile in math said they had been tutored within the last year.
Carr said national surveys also have shown a decline in students reading at home and those who say they read for enjoyment while pointing to shifts in how students are tested and receive materials. She said teachers are asking less for essay responses to questions and that students are reading on devices that could contribute to disengagement with the text.
Across the board, students scoring both high and low in Oregon reported their teachers being available to help them when needed and that they believed their teachers expected them to do well.
But a higher percentage of fourth graders who had the highest scores in math reported feeling comfortable
Population growth.
Newcomers to Oregon will need homes, and they make up almost half of the estimated need over the next 20 years with 242 081 homes split among all income levels.
Demographic change.
More people are living alone or with a partner, led by baby boomers aging and adults waiting longer than earlier generations to marry or start families. That means smaller household sizes, which means more homes are needed to house the same number of individuals. State analysts estimate 139 185 homes are needed to account for this.
Making up for homes lost as short-term rentals or vacation homes.
talking with their teachers than students in the lowest 25th percentile.
“We all need to come together as partners to catch these students up and improve achievement,” Carr said. “And these results, as sobering as they are, show that once you unpack them, there is hope.”
https://oregoncapitalchronicle. com/2025/01/29/nationalassessment-shows-oregonstudents-falling-behind-inkey-subjects/ 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.
The analysis also includes goals for how many homes each city should build each year, and during the next 20 years. Some are minute — the tiny town of Mitchell next to the Painted Hills unit of the John Day Fossil Beds, for instance, is expected to build a single home this year and just 22 homes in the next 20 years. Portland is expected to add 2,851 homes in one year and more than 57 000 in the next 20 years.
Each second home or short-term rental does nothing to help with permanent housing availability, and that problem is particularly acute in tourist areas like the coast.
The analysis estimates Oregon needs to build another 17 300 homes to offset losses to short-term rentals and second homes.
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. Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@ oregoncapitalchronicle. com.
