CGS417

At its April 8 meeting, a summary of the school board’s deliberation was approved in a 6-1 vote with board member Duane Taddei dissenting. A family matter prevented Dr. Curtis from attending. The evaluation focused on five superintendent goals. One source of data the board used in its assessment was a targeted feedback survey that was sent to staff, community leaders, and board members, that had a 62% response rate. Officials indicated the results of the survey were one source of data for the evaluation of the superintendent’s performance and were strong and positive.

ON GOAL 1

The board determined that the superintendent had done a satisfactory job of attaining the goals set by the board and superintendent last August to provide a culture of care and belonging by providing students and staff time, support, and connection.

“

ON GOAL 2 Curtis earned an above

We will be working with Superintendent Curtis over the next several weeks to develop goals that align with our district goals. We look forward to working together to continue our district’s success.

Taylor Wilhour, South Lane School District Board Chair

Lincoln Middle School bullying incidents spark police investigation

Taking a stand “

Two incidents of bullying at Lincoln Middle School in Cottage Grove have triggered a law enforcement investigation.

The incidents also have raised concerns among parents, students, and community members voicing that these situations point to a serious problem at the school. A contingency of parents brought their concerns about the incidents that occurred in March to the South Lane School District public meeting on April 8 and insisted the district do more to protect students.

THE INCIDENTS

On April 5, in response to the two incidents Principal Bill Bechen, Assistant Principal Sarah Drew and Dean of Students Zane Butler sent a detailed letter to the parents of the 550 Lincoln Middle School (LMS) students. The letter explained how important student safety is

to the school’s staff and described their efforts to teach students the expectations of being “safe, respectful and responsible” in the hall, classroom, cafeteria, etc. The letter said, “Middle school students can sometimes be unpredictable and impulsive and then, when put in groups of two or 10 or 200, this challenge becomes even greater… We’ve done training with staff to make sure they have the tools to help students meet these expectations. We have

“This is what “creating a culture of care and belonging” means in practice. Staff and students alike have praised the progress that has been made, even though these incidents show there is still a long way to go.”

Taylor Wilhour, South Lane School District Board Chair CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel Editor’s Note: This story is the first in a three-part series about Lane County’s plan to create what has been described as the most technologically advanced waste processing facility in the country.

The earth’s climate is changing. While irrevocable human-caused climate change remains an ongoing political debate, the combined effects of emerging technologies and societal shifts in the last 150 years has had negative impacts on the natural world. Global initiatives, designed to

CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel

follows

One man is sentenced to prison after a two-year investigation into what officials call a brutal attempted murder case in Creswell. The case unfolded April 24, 2022, after a Lane County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a dispute at a house in the 700 block of N. Mill Street in Creswell. A witness contacted the deputy in the driveway and they rushed into the house, according to Lane County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Sgt. Tim Wallace. “The deputy observed

MARCH 25

02:17: Business check, 1500 block Gateway Blvd.

02:53: Welfare check, 900 block Row River Rd.

03:11: Suspicious condition, 800 block Arthur Ave.

04:24: Suspicious condition, 1500 block E. Main St. 09:03: Warrant arrest, 400 block Main St. 09:13: Citizen assist, 1400 block N. Douglas St. 09:48: Disturbance, 80000 block Hwy 99 10:57: Welfare check, 900 block Main St. 11:35: Found property,

Dog

a male covered by a tarp with a cord tied tightly around his neck, Wallace said. “There was also severe trauma to both sides of the male’s head. The deputy quickly cut the cord from around the victim’s neck and called for an ambulance.”

Detectives responded to investigate. They determined Steven Daniel Wages, 59, was responsible for the injuries to the victim. Wages was located the next day almost four hours away in Brookings. He was arrested after a short vehicle pursuit by Brookings Police officers. The name of the 58-yearold victim and what led to the dispute has not been released by the LCSO. Wallace said the two did know each other.

March 25 to 230 months in the Oregon Department of Corrections.

Wages was found guilty

Jan. 25 on two counts of Assault in the First Degree and one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree. He was sentenced

“Considering the particular brutality of this crime and the lengthy criminal history of Wages, the judge denied Wages the possibility of early parole or early release through programs,” Wallace said.

13:24: Warrant arrest, 400 block E. Main St.

13:40: Suspicious subject, 100 block Gateway Blvd.

14:03: Warrant arrest, 400 block E. Main St. 14:27: Abandoned vehicle, 1600 block Pritchett Pl. 15:32: Vehicle impound, 1000 block Taylor Ave. 15:57: Drug, 400 block N. 8th St. 16:01: Welfare check, 1200 block N. River Rd. 17:55:

600 block S. 10th St. 18:46: Vehicle crash, 1100 block E. Taylor Ave 20:43: Suspicious condition, 1300 block S. 4th St. 23:56: Welfare check, 900 block S. River Rd. MARCH 28 00:12: Suspicious condition, 1100 block Ostrander Ln. 02:01: Warrant arrest, 400 block E. Main St. 05:08: Death investigation, 500 block Grant Ave. 09:12: Criminal mischief, 1100 block Pennoyer Ave. 09:17: Trespass, 100 block Gateway Blvd. 11:55: Mental, 1600 block Ash Ave. 13:00: Found property, 1800 block E. Main St.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17

Partly Cloudy - High 67°/Low 41°

THURSDAY, APRIL 18

Partly Cloudy - High 74°/Low 46°

FRIDAY, APRIL 19

Mostly Sunny - High 74°/Low 47°

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

Partly Cloudy - High 70°/Low 46°

SUNDAY, APRIL 21

Partly Cloudy - High 69°/Low 45°

MONDAY, APRIL 22

Mostly Cloudy - High 66°/Low 44°

TUESDAY, APRIL 23

Mostly Cloudy - High 65°/Low 43°

15th annual Trashion Show set for April 19-21

SUBMITTED

The Opal Center’s 15th Annual Trashion Show will present four shows on Earth Day weekend, scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, April 19, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 20 and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at 513 E. Main Street in Cottage Grove. This year showcases 13 different fashion designers ranging in age from 6- to 78-years-old and include returning favorites, new designers, and Summer Trashion Camp Designers.

Tickets to the Opal Center for Arts and Education’s wildly popular trashy event are limited by the small theatre and sell out quickly at the Crafty Mercantile, 517 E. Main Street in Cottage Grove.

PeaceHealth appoints new chief medical officer

STAFF REPORT

Cottage Grove Sentinel

Kim Ruscher, MD, MPH, has accepted the position of Chief Medical Officer for the PeaceHealth Oregon network, effective April 1.

In her new role, Ruscher will be accountable for quality, patient safety, medical staff and utilization management for PeaceHealth’s hospitals in Springfield, Cottage Grove and Florence.

Ruscher was serving as interim chief medical officer following the appointment of Jim McGovern, MD, to chief hospital executive for the PeaceHealth Oregon network in February. Ruscher had also been serving as chief medical officer — surgical since being named to the position in March 2023. “Dr. Ruscher is the perfect person to fill this position,” McGovern said. “The breadth and depth of the experience that she’s amassed throughout her career serves as an excellent foundation for her to excel as PeaceHealth Oregon’s new chief medical officer. I have been consistently

impressed with Kim’s leadership approach and perspective on safety, and I look forward to working alongside her as we continually strive to provide the best care to the people of western Oregon.”

BACKGROUND

Ruscher joined PeaceHealth in 2013 as a pediatric surgeon, taking on progressive leadership roles throughout her career. As the Pediatric Specialties Chief for PeaceHealth Medical Group since 2020, she has implemented organizational and structural improvements to increase efficiency and effectiveness. She has served as an active member of many hospital and medical group committees, including as vice chief of medical staff for Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend. As part of her commitment to lead, Ruscher said she has strived to create a more equitable workload distribution for surgeons, revised clinic workflows and led outreach programs to bring care closer to underserved communities.

Ruscher donates her time and expertise to Parenting Now, where she serves on the board of directors. She also serves on the board for the Springfield Chamber

of Commerce. She and her husband support FOOD for Lane County through fundraising and event planning.

Ruscher earned her undergraduate degree and Doctor of Medicine from Florida State University, and completed her general surgery residency at the University of Connecticut. She earned her master’s degree in public health from Harvard University School of Public Health and completed a fellowship in pediatric surgery at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center at the University of Connecticut.

ABOUT PEACEHEALTH

PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a non-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

PeaceHealth has about 16,000 caregivers, more than 3,000 providers, more than 160 clinics and nine medical centers throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities.

Cindy Weeldreyer / The Sentinel

A sunset over the Cottage Grove Historic District

DR. KIM RUSCHER

allows the couple to continually restock their store and keep the prices low.

The couple said the coolest items they’ve purchased were 19 small multi-colored mid-20th century hard-sided “train cases” often used to carry beauty products.

“We posted them on social media for $10 each and they quickly flew off the shelves,” Pat said.

Last November, Pat and Barb moved into a 2,000 square foot storefront at 319 E. Main Street in the historic Odd Fellows Building in Cottage Grove.

“We initially considered this (Odd Fellows) location but weren’t quite ready to take that big step,” Pat said. “We agreed if the space came open again we’d go for it. It’s been such an enjoyable experience for us and for our customers.”

The Reillys say their mission is to serve the community by making quality items accessible to everyone. They said they are keenly aware, with inflation driving up the price of everything, that affordability is a top priority for their customers.

do accept donations and purchase them as our budget allows.”

The Reillys said they love promoting other businesses in the historic downtown district.

2006-2014. The motherof-three kids moved to Eugene to be closer to her job until her children and grandchildren motivated her to move back and be closer to them.

Who We Are is a Sentinel frequent feature highlighting the people in our community. BONES from Page

Every other week the store opens for an “indoor yard sale” on Thursday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They also have “pop-up” sales on days they are not open but are inside restocking the shelves.

CURTIS from Page 1

average score for achieving the goal of providing staff time, support, and professional development to effectively utilize Professional Learning Communities as the key strategy for collectively raising student achievement in the South Lane School District.

ON GOAL 3

Curtis received an above average score by providing staff time, support, and professional development to bridge student strengths, passions, and interests with the current skills and knowledge necessary to enter high-wage/highdemand careers reflective of the global marketplace, was also rated above average.

ON GOAL 4

Curtis was rated satisfactory in ensuring the district complies with all local, state, and federal regulations and reports.

ON GOAL 5

Curtis garnered a satisfactory rating of developing and implementing a communication and engagement strategy for informing the community about the District’s achievements and current work, was rated as satisfactory.

Board Chair Taylor Wilhour wrote in the summary, “We will be working with Superintendent Curtis over the next several weeks to develop goals that align with our district goals. We look forward to working together to continue our district’s success.”

Pat said they try to be different from traditional thrift stores. “We have a constantly changing inventory and the high turnover of goods gives shoppers an opportunity to discover treasures on every visit to the store,” he said. “We

“All the thrift and collectible business owners downtown are friends and we enjoy referring customers to other stores, particularly those who are looking for specific items,” Pat said. “We have a lot of out-of-towners who visit us and we are happy to recommend they visit other nearby businesses and local eateries.” Both grew up in families where they learned the value of being thrifty and frugal. It was their hobby of collectibles that led to their wedded bliss and created their blended family.

Barb grew up in Buena Park, Calif. and lived in Cottage Grove from

Pat grew up in Seattle and had family living here. He is the father of twin boys (now adults) and often brought them down to visit their Grover cousins. He traveled a lot in his last job and when he decided to retire he was ready to put down roots here.

“In 2019, we met during an Art Walk,” Barb recalled. “We were invited to come and “help” his sister that night, who works at another local thrift store. It didn’t take long to realize she set it all up so we could meet. We were both collectors and that gave us a shared passion to build our relationship on.”

Cindy Weeldreyer / The Sentinel Barb and Pat Reilly are the owners of Good Bones Mercantile in Cottage Grove.

Brandon and Stella Phemister and their young daughter, Freya, are regular shoppers.

“We want to support local businesses and each time we come there is a variety of new items at affordable prices and that is important to our family right now,” Brandon said. “Pat and Barb are always so friendly and helpful.”

“The town has been wonderful to us,” Barb said. “We have regular customers who are so sweet and come in every day of the sale. It’s rewarding to know we’ve turned our passion for junkin’ into a business that helps people buy the things they need at prices they can afford.”

NEXT STEPS

Board member Sherry Duerst-Higgins said

Following the March 25 executive session, the board directed Wilhour to inform Curtis of its desire to include standards (not just goals) in the next evaluation and of its intent to remove the rollover clause in the current contract. Wilhour reported Curtis was willing to broaden the standards for the next evaluation. She was also willing, with her attorney present, to reopen the contract to end the rollover provision. According to the terms of the current contract, the approved evaluation adds another year to the rolling three year contract that will now end on June 30, 2026. It was noted the evaluation and the contract were two separate issues and a board resolution to end the rollover would need to be passed prior to June 30.

she was uncomfortable approving the evaluation summary without a faceto-face meeting with the superintendent, which she said has been a common practice with Curtis. Tonya Kerns, the superintendent assistant, explained an inperson meeting was only needed if the superintendent had questions or needed clarification on what was done in the executive session.

Taddei said from what is being reported in the newspaper, said on social media and at board meetings, he believed an urgent meeting was needed between the board and the superintendent to address these issues. DuerstHiggins said the board

IN THE GARDEN

Transition from winter into spring

CHIP BUBL

Sentinel Guest Column

Most tree roots start to take up nutrients a long time before we see new shoot growth. Evergreens (and this includes rhododendrons, azaleas, arborvitae, Pieris, etc.) tend to get a light-green washed out look over the winter. This can be corrected by giving them a fertilizer containing slow-release nitrogen. Ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) would be a good choice as would an organic material like blood meal.

Remember, arborvitaes tend to discolor naturally (some varieties worse than others) in the winter and regain their color just as naturally in the spring. Arborvitaes also routinely shed their inner needles, giving a brownish center appearance. Routine shearing of arborvitaes will keep them dense and reduce bare interior wood.

DORMANT SPRAYS AND MOSS AND LICHENS ON TREES

I’ve had several calls about whether the dormant sprays like lime sulfur or copper will eliminate moss and lichens. The answer is that they will, but it is a slow process. Both types of sprays will kill the moss/lichens but it can take a long time for them to weather away, often up to several years. Some people pull off the mosses and lichens prior to spraying, which speeds the process.

It is worth noting that mosses and lichens do not hurt the tree. They are not parasitic. Rather, they use the tree to hang on. They extract nutrients from rainwater and photosynthesize sugars from sunlight. Many birds look for insects within the lichen and moss colonies. Hummingbirds and others use mosses and lichens for nesting materials, So, you can make a good argument for not worrying about moss/lichens on landscape trees that don’t need a

dormant spray. But don’t hesitate to spray your fruit trees. Dormant sprays are a key part of home orchard disease management.

DON’T CUT BRANCH COLLARS

For years, the standard pruning advice was to make your cuts flush with the trunk of a tree when completely removing a limb. However, we know a lot more about tree physiology now.

You should not cut that close. Instead, look for the raised tissue at the base of limbs where they join the trunk. This is called the branch collar or shoulder. The branch collar contains rapidly dividing cells that will ultimately close the wound caused by pruning. If it is removed, the tree will be much slower closing the injury and more likely to develop disease or insect problems at that point. In addition, the branch collar contains cells that put out diseaseresisting compounds in response to wounds.

These physical and chemical barriers compartmentalize the damage to the benefit of the whole tree.

How do you identify a branch collar? On many trees, it is ¼ to ½ inch wide, though it can be larger or oftentimes smaller. The diagram indicates what a branch collar will look like and a little observation in the garden will clarify where cuts should be made. Happy pruning.

GOT FOOD SAFETY OR FOOD PRESERVATION

QUESTIONS?

Give us a call at 503397-3462. You can also get your pressure gauge tested for free at the Extension office. Food Preservation recipes and fact sheets can be accessed online at: https:// extension.oregonstate.edu/ food/preservation INFORMATION

OSU Extension Service – Columbia County: 503397-3462

OSU Extension Office

- Lane County: 541-3445859

Community invited

Hello friends of students of Dorena School, We would like to invite you to the one year anniversary our cafeteria composting program assembly and our Earth Day event at Dorena School.

We are proud of the accomplishments of our dedicated students and are hosting an assembly on April 19 at 9:15 a.m. to honor our Green Team. They have been working for over a year now to compost all of our cafeteria food waste.

VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY VIEWPOINT

After the assembly, we will have Earth Day events for the whole school and a picnic lunch and we would love to have you join us.

Please let us know if you are able to attend so we can plan accordingly. Thank you for considering it. It would make a big difference to have you there.

Val Rocco Cottage Grove

MICHELLE BEAVER Sentinel Guest Column

This election season, Oregonians could play a crucial role in deciding which party will control the U.S. House as voters across the country decide who will occupy the White House. However, as we learned in 2020 and 2022, disinformation targets our communities, sowing distrust, manipulating voters and potentially threatening our voice at the ballot box. We can fight back.

We’ve been here before. Misleading rhetoric in 2020 targeted vote-bymail and the accuracy of election results. These efforts attempted to erode trust in democracy, our institutions of government, and in each other.

Disinformation makes our communities less safe. The effort to erode public trust is tangible — and communities have felt the tension and impact uniquely. In some counties, local election workers — our friends, family, and neighbors — faced an onslaught of threats to their

safety following the 2020 election, simply for doing their jobs.

This issue isn’t abstract, nor is the threat limited to affecting elections or our broader democracy. History — and the cycle of election disinformation — will repeat itself again this year if we do not face it head-on. The fire’s fuel will be the same: misleading claims and incendiary rhetoric spread intentionally to manipulate voters and exploit distrust. But we are not powerless in this plight. Disinformation pulls apart our communities, and community itself is key to fighting back. Ahead of the primary election, we should all consider how to be responsible messengers in our communities. Yes, today’s political environment is often shaped by bad actors on social media, television or radio that attempt to mislead, confuse and inflame tensions — but perhaps the people close to you trust you as a messenger more-so than talking heads or political figures. Pay attention to the stories that your loved ones echo this election season, and consider your role in steering them toward truth. We should ask: Where can I make an impact in

Parents and educators can play an important role and use drug education to help children and teens understand the risks of using marijuana at a young age. According to the Oregon Health Authority, overall youth use of marijuana in Oregon has remained unchanged. Yet, youth vaping of marijuana increased 295% between

conversations with friends, family, neighbors and colleagues? Is it at the dinner table? Is it at work? Online? Disinformation and division spreads more easily when it reaches us in isolation. Leaning into community will be key to combating disinformation this election season. It’s imperative that we defend the integrity of our voices. Organizations like PEN America, which are committed to empowering individuals in their right to exercising free expression, have created resources aimed to empower you in this endeavor. Evergreen tips for protecting yourself against the spread of false information include:

Diversify the articles you read and the news sources you consume, with an emphasis on local journalists. Relying on one outlet for your news, particularly if that media most often confirms your pre-existing bias, can be dangerous.Check the captions and sources of images and photos.

Visual content could be presented out of context in order to mislead. Take a moment to confirm the origin of the photo or video that you’re seeing.Before deciding to amplify claims that you hear or read, consider checking with another source or two before deciding to spread what you’ve consumed. Voters benefits from having a plethora of local journalists doing important work covering news that impacts everyone. Journalists are allies in this fight — they live in our communities and work with our communities’ best interests in mind. This election season will likely mirror ones that we’ve been through before. However, if we’re able to link arms with those close to us and look out for one another as we all work to filter our news, we can speak as well-informed voters in 2024. Michelle Beaver is a Phoenix, Arizonabased journalist and writer, organizing toward strengthened communities this election cycle through her

2017 and 2019. Between 8th and 11th graders, the current use of marijuana has been on the decline since 2012. Vaping products are appealing to young people, and there are significant risks.

When parents and educators speak to their kids about cannabis, keep the conversations ageappropriate. Speaking with a five-year-old is much different than speaking with a teenager. Use language and examples a child or teen would understand. Teach them about the dangers and what to avoid.

Most importantly, put yourself in your kid’s shoes. This can be especially important for teenagers as See DRUGS on Page 10

Chip Bubl

On March 4, Ben Robbins’ 14-year-old son was allegedly assaulted in the hallway passing between first and second periods. The attacker had a friend video him sucker punching Brian then running down the hallway. The video was posted to YouTube. School officials met with the Robbins family the next morning and viewed the video. Robbins recalled, “They told us the video takes it to a whole other level. It’s cyber bullying and would be dealt with harshly as they don’t want this sort of thing to become part of the Lincoln Middle School experience. Then they did nothing but give my son’s attacker a two-day suspension — which was a vacation from school to play Fortnite — that’s zero deterrent to prevent future bullying.”

In the parent letter, school officials explained who has a right to know what consequences offenders receive. In most cases, only the student and parents of the student being disciplined have a right to know the consequences. The school officials wrote, “We understand that parents of students who have been mistreated

due to the high amount of food waste and other methane producing organic materials thrown away. The action plan recommended construction of an anaerobic digestion system.

In March 2022, Waste Management Division (WMD) staff issued a request for proposals (RFP) for waste recovery facilities that would meet or exceed its 63-percent recovery goal. Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) of Eugene was selected.

by another student want to know the consequences of that student, but every student is a minor, and has a right to privacy. The only exception would be in a Title IX exception.” (Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.)

On March 19, Allie Albrecht got a call from her 13-year-old son telling her he was the victim of a humiliating attack by three other boys. He told her some students laughed, a few protested loudly and then two boys came to his rescue allowing him to get away from his attackers. “After it happened, I got two phone calls, one from the principal and one from the track coach,” Albrecht said. “Both were genuinely apologetic. The coach admitted the three student attackers should’ve been supervised while carrying some mats outside and then said, ‘Kids are kids.’ His attitude made me feel like the bullies were being coddled.”

A safety plan was developed for her eighth grade son that allowed him to choose a delayed passing period for his aggressors so he could socialize with his friends in the hallway. For one shared passing time in the locker room, he was asked to allow the other boy to be part of the regular passing time.

Cottage Grove Police declined to investigate citing a conflict of interest and, on March 22, handed the matter to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office to investigate. The county investigator completed interviews with the aggressors the following week during spring break.

On April 1, the final report and school security camera video was sent to the Lane County District Attorney’s office for possible charges against three assailants. All three have been removed from the track team.

“He told me he just wants to finish eighth grade and believes things will be better for him at Cottage Grove High School,” Albrecht said. The parent letter described that an incident investigation involves a talk with the student

accused of misbehaving, the student(s) most affected, and witnesses to the behavior. Footage from the school’s video surveillance cameras is also reviewed. The school handbook contains a chart that is generally followed when applying consequences. Frequency, intensity and duration of the behavior are taken into consideration. In addition to consequences, students are often re-taught the expectations and are required to fix the situation as much as possible.

Robbins believes school staff knows who the repeat offenders are and they should be supervised at all times. He said the safety protections for his son were not enforced. He said the attacker shouldn’t have been in the hallway during the passing time.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Nearly 14 % of public schools report it is a discipline problem that occurs daily or at least once a week.

• The reports are highest in middle schools (28%), followed by high schools (16%), combined schools (12%) and primary schools (9%).

• Reports of cyber bulling are highest in middle schools (33%), followed by high schools (30%), combined schools (20%) and primary schools (5%).

“If they stuck with the offender’s punishment, my kid would have never been attacked,” he said. “These kids need supervision and real punishment. The school needs more people to supervise passing times and, at a minimum, move away from home suspension to in-school suspension where they sit in a room by themselves with no phone, friends, or others to torment.”

DISTRICT REACTION

South Lane School District Board Chair Taylor Wilhour said, “The board is aware of and disturbed by the two recent incidents at LMS and wish to offer our sympathy and support to the victims.” Wilhour noted the district has seen an increase in all behavior issues, including bullying, over the past several years. He said it was a growing concern before 2020 and after the COVID

disruption there was a spike. Administrators made addressing these issues their top goal, adding counselors and mental health supports for students and staff in all schools, teaching self-regulation skills, and teaching kids how to stand up for themselves and one another, just to name a few.

“This is what “creating a culture of care and belonging” means in practice. Staff and students alike have praised the progress that has been made, even though these incidents show there is still a long way to go,” Wilhour said.

He added, “Statewide, our district is seen as a leader in this area. It may not be possible to eliminate bullying completely but changing the culture is key, and we want to see the district succeed in making SLSD a place where all students and staff can feel safe.”

EPUD AGREEMENT

revenue over time through waste processing fees, sales of recyclable commodities and sale of biogas.

On Dec. 5, the Lane County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to proceed with the publicprivate venture it estimates will have more than $270 million in economic impacts over the life of the project.

PROJECT BENEFITS

Public Works Director

will help significantly reduce future methane production at the landfill and allow future methane to be captured for beneficial use.”

The proposed facility would have artificial intelligence equipment to process mixed waste by sorting residential garbage, commingled recycling and operate an anaerobic digester to produce biogas from diverted organic waste. The contract details are still being negotiated. The facility will also have a visitor and educational center. Schools, community groups and other interested residents and businesses will learn more about how the county processes waste to benefit the environment now and in the future. Officials believe the IMERF will be the most technologically advanced waste processing facility in the country and would draw visitors here from around the world to see it.

LANDFILL FAQs

For the past 30 years, Lane County has had a public-public partnership with the Emerald People’s Utility District (EPUD) to capture methane gas at the landfill. WMD staff says, in the last 10 years, the EPUD facility has generated less than $40,000 annually from that agreement. County staff estimate the new project, will annually receive $250,000 from the sale of gas via a contract between BHS and Northwest Natural.

PROJECTED COSTS

Dan Hurley is enthusiastic about the anticipated short and long-term community benefits of the project.

“Short Mountain Landfill is Lane County government’s biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions due to the high amount of food waste and other methane producing materials thrown away,” he explained. “Diverting methane-producing waste

He added, “The Short Mountain Landfill has a finite amount of space left. Once that space is full, it is extremely unlikely we would be able to obtain a permit to create a new one in this area. Removing recyclables from the waste stream will extend the landfill’s life and it is in the community’s financial interest to preserve the remaining space for material that cannot be diverted to other, better uses.”

Lane County Commissioner Heather Buch shares Hurley’s enthusiasm and was one of the three votes needed to approve the project. The small unincorporated

The estimated total costs for the project is $155 million. Lane County will construct a $35 million facility by issuing a capital improvement bond this spring. It will cover the up-front costs that would be paid back over time by increases in landfill “tipping” fees that waste haulers pay and pass on to their customers. BHS supplies and operates the equipment that will generate

Short Mountain Landfill is the only permitted municipal landfill in Lane County. Located in Goshen next to Interstate 5, just south of Eugene, the facility has operated since 1976. It currently covers 103 acres and will cover 220 acres at full build-out. It accepts approxi mately 275,000 tons of material per year from rural county waste transfer sites, the metro-area’s Glenwood transfer site and authorized commercial account holders. As a county enterprise fund, no taxpayer money from the general fund is used in its operation.

community of Goshen is in her district and has a long history in wood products manufacturing. She believes locating the facility there may be a step in the effort to revitalize the area as an industrial hub. “The IMERF is an exciting opportunity for Lane County to reduce our emissions footprint, extend the life of our landfill, and divert methane and recyclable materials to create new economic development opportunities in the region,” Buch said. “It is a win for the environment, a win for our economy, and a fiscally responsible approach to waste management in Lane County.”

Hurley said, “The publicprivate project requires thinking differently about how solid waste is managed. Change is always hard, but we firmly believe investing in the IMERF will create tangible benefits our community.”

NEXT WEEK IN THE SENTINEL PART 2

Emerald People’s Utility District officials describe their plan to capture the landfill’s methane to generate local electricity for customers, and outline the utility’s concerns about Lane County’s planning and proposed implementation processes. TRASH

Cindy Weeldreyer / The Sentinel Eighth grader Brian Robbins and his parents want school officials to do more to protect students from the aggressive behavior of some of their classmates.

1. MOVIES: Which dramatic film features the character "V"?

2. GEOGRAPHY: Luzon belongs to which island nation?

3. LANGUAGE: What is the Latin phrase for "before the war"?

4. U.S. STATES: Which state has the most national parks?

5. LITERATURE: Which 1950s novel includes the line, "Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road."

6. CHEMISTRY: What kind of gas makes a drink bubbly?

7. TELEVISION: Which sitcom features a mom named Debra Barone?

8. MUSIC: What was the former name of the English band Muse?

9. SCIENCE: What are the gaps between nerve cells called?

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fore the date last set for sale.

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. 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” includes their respective successors in interest, if any. Dated: 2/29/2024 By: Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112 Successor Trustee Malcolm & Cisneros, A Law Corporation Attention: Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112 c/o TRUSTEE CORPS 17100 Gillette Ave, Irvine, CA 92614 949-252-8300 NPP0457859 To: COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL 04/17/2024,

the successor in interest, with respect to provisions therein which authorize sale in the event of such provision. The default for which foreclosure is made is grantor’s failure to pay when due the following sum: TOTAL REQUIRED TO REINSTATE: $13,347.27 TOTAL REQUIRED TO PAYOFF: $110,777.74 Because of interest, late charges, and other charges that may vary from day-to-day, the amount due on the day you pay may be greater. It will be necessary for you to contact the Trustee before the time you tender reinstatement or the payoff amount so that you may be advised of the exact amount you will be required to pay. By reason of the default, the beneficiary has declared all sums owing on the obligation secured by the trust deed immediately due and payable, those sums being the following, to- wit: 1. The installments of principal and interest which became due on June 1, 2023, and all subsequent installments of principal and interest through the date of this Notice, plus amounts that are due for late charges, delinquent property taxes, insurance premiums, advances made on senior liens, taxes and/or insurance, trustee’s fees, and any attorney fees and court costs arising from or associated with the beneficiaries efforts to protect and preserve its security, all of which must be paid as a condition of reinstatement, including all sums that shall accrue through reinstatement or pay-off. Nothing in this notice shall be construed as a waiver of any fees owing to the Beneficiary under the Deed of Trust pursuant to the terms of the loan documents. Whereof, notice hereby is given that Affinia Default Services, LLC, the undersigned trustee will on July 17, 2024 at the hour of 11:00 AM (PST), as established by section 187.110, Oregon Revised Statues, At the Front Entrance of the Lane County Courthouse, 125 E. 8th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon 97401, County of Lane, State of Oregon, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash the interest in the said described real property which the grantor had or had power to convey at the time of the execution by him of the said trust deed, together with any interest which the grantor or his successors in interest acquired after the execution of said trust deed, to satisfy the foregoing obligations thereby secured and the costs and expenses of sale, including a reasonable charge by the trustee. Notice is further given that any person named

in Section 86.778 of Oregon Revised Statutes has the right to have the foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the trust deed reinstated by payment to the beneficiary of the entire amount then due (other than such portion of said principal as would not then be due had no default occurred), together with the costs, trustee’s and attorney’s fees and curing any other default complained of in the Notice of Default by tendering the performance required under the obligation or trust deed, at any time prior to five days before the date last set for sale. For Sale Information, contact COVIUS SERVICING at (877) 518-5700 or www.realtybid.com. In construing this notice, the singular includes the plural, the word “grantor” includes any successor in interest to this grantor as well as any other person owing an obligation, the performance of which is secured by the trust deed, and the words “trustee” and “beneficiary” include their respective successors in interest, if any. Pursuant to Oregon Law, this sale will not be deemed final until the Trustee’s deed has been issued by Affinia Default Services, LLC. If any irregularities are discovered within 10 days of the date of this sale, the trustee will rescind the sale, return the buyer’s money and take further action as necessary. If the sale is set aside for any reason, including if the Trustee is unable to convey title, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the monies paid to the Trustee. This shall be the Purchaser’s sole and exclusive remedy. The purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Trustor, the Trustee, the Beneficiary, the Beneficiary’s Agent, or the Beneficiary’s Attorney. If you have previously been discharged through bankruptcy, you may have been released of personal liability for this loan in which case this letter is intended to exercise the note holders right’s against the real property only. As required by law, you are hereby notified that a negative credit report reflecting on your credit record may be submitted to a credit report agency if you fail to fulfill the terms of your credit obligations. 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

with any interest which the Grantor or his successors in interest acquired after the execution of said Trust Deed, to satisfy the foregoing obligations thereby secured and the costs and expenses of sale, including a reasonable charge by the Trustee. Notice is further given that any person named in Section 86.778 of Oregon Revised Statutes has the right to have the foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the Trust Deed reinstated by payment to the Beneficiary of the entire amount then due (other than such portion of said principal as would not then be due had no default occurred), together with the costs, Trustee’s or attorney’s fees and curing any other default complained of in the Notice of Default by tendering the performance required under the obligation or Trust Deed, at any time prior to five days before the date last set for sale. 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. In construing this notice, the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter, the singular includes

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. 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

Fresh start

Sarah Leonard new Cottage Grove High School girls soccer coach

Cottage Grove High School (CGHS) has hired Sarah Leonard as the new head coach of the Lions girls’ soccer program. Leonard is a Willamette High School graduate, having earned First-Team All-Midwestern League as a senior before going onto play college soccer and softball at Bushnell University.

“We are thrilled to have coach Leonard join our coaching staff,” CGHS athletic director, Garrett Bridgens said in a press release. “Her dedication to excellence and her passion for developing well-rounded student-athletes aligns perfectly with our school and athletic department values.”

Leonard was a coach on the Lions junior varsity soccer team in 2023 and has a diverse background in multiple sports, having coached in the softball, soccer, and cross country programs while having been a language art teacher at CGHS for the last eight years.

“I thought about it for quite a while and reflected because teaching is a lot as well. Teaching and coaching is a large work load to take on but it came down for me knowing my personal experience on how sports and athletics have benefited me as a young woman and then as an adult,” Leonard said. “Getting to see the impact on my students over this time and seeing athletics benefit them and especially benefit our young women as they are going through school and the confidence that it gives

SPORTS

them and the life skills that it gives them. That’s what I want to be involved in.”

Leonard inherits a team that is coming off of a 2-10-2 season, when the Lions averaged less than one goal scored per game and allowed nearly four goals in each contest. Cottage Grove has never reached a state championship game in the program’s history.

“My vision is that we play with a strong work ethic and the idea that we focus on ourselves,” Leonard said. “We can control what we can do, which is ourselves. I want to take attention away from ‘the officials made this bad call or the other team is doing this,’ I want to turn that into, what are we going to do?”

What do we need to improve? What are we doing as a team to be the most competitive team we can be? How are we improving our skills? I don’t care what the other team can necessarily do,” Leonard continued. “What can we do? What do we need to get better at? How are we going to get better at that as individuals, as a whole team, and as coaches included? Success is earned, it’s not given. To get success and earn success you have to work hard. You are not working hard if you are focusing on

what someone else is doing over there. You’re working hard if you’re focusing on yourself.”

Cottage Grove will lose five seniors from the 2023 squad, but could return as many as six incoming seniors and six juniors. Leonard notes that going into the fall season, growing the numbers of the program will be of importance.

“I would say numbers are going to be a challenge. I also attended the eighth-grade parent night and tried to do some recruiting. It seems like the girl’s program needs some development and support. I got to speak to one girl out of the whole eighth grade class came who was interested. I think maybe at this maybe 20 [players are participating].”

Leonard met with the team last week to share her coaching philosophy and set expectations for the coming months.

“I gave the players their task list for April, these are the check list things you need to do. Basically, it’s making sure we are working in the off-season to make us as competitive as we can be. We will be doing that monthly as the season is starting,” Leonard said.

Young CG wrestlers ‘Show Out’ in Reno

Several young Cottage Grove wrestlers and their families had the opportunity to head to Reno, Nev. to participate in the “Reno Worlds.”

The event, held earlier this month, sees three countries, 40 states and roughly 3,500 wrestlers, ages five through 18 participating.

“It’s a great chance to see where we stand in the nation, It’s the toughest kids’ tournament in the country. You go there to see where you rank up against some of the best kids in the country,” Head Coach Jake Stanley said.

Cottage Grove participants included Bentley Hicks (6u hwt), Lexi Houtz (6u girls 52 pounds), Owen Houtz (8u 64 pounds), Nayelli Romero (6u girls 46 pounds) Jayden Stanley (8u 55 pounds), Landon Stanley (6u 60 pounds), Cael Uram (10u 100 pounds), and Kade Uram (8u hwt).

In the midst of the strong competition, Nayelli Romero, who is a Harrison student and participates with both the Salem Elite Mat Club and the Cottage Grove Mat Club, earned first place in the 46-pound bracket over the second ranked wrestler in the country. Kade Uram, 8, was also a standout for Cottage Grove, placing sixth in the heavyweight 8U bracket. “I liked was that there was so many kids from all over and how nice all the guys I wrestled against were,” Uram said. “I also

DRUGS from Page 5

they face different social pressures and situations at school or through social media. Make a point of understanding what they are up against.

When speaking to them about cannabis, stay calm

liked getting sixth place and going to Circus Circus.” Stanley has been to the Reno Worlds with his family in the past, but this is the first year bringing a group from Cottage Grove down.

“They are looking at it as a chance for a vacation or a trip,” Stanley said. “I try not to make it where we have to go there and win by any means. It’s more of a learning lesson, because the competition is just unreal, there is so much talent down there, it’s going to be really tough but you are going to learn a lot from the best kids in your age and weight in the country.” Each bracket has a different number of kids and the talent level is different at every one of

and relaxed, stay positive, don’t lecture, and be clear and concise about boundaries without using scare tactics or threats.

However, it’s ok to set rules, guidelines, and expectations and create rules together as a family or

them, according to Stanley.

“I think all of our kids who went stood out just because the parents made the drive and they showed up,” Stanley said. “It’s been a long season, we’ve been wrestling since October and here we are six-seven months later and we are still going strong, they still went out there and fought,” Stanley said. “Most kids won a match, there were a few who didn’t but they had really tough competition.”

“I liked being able to travel and see all the kids from different states and countries,” Cael Uram (Kade’s brother) said. “I also liked being able to watch my brother wrestle for a medal. Next year I want to be able to medal.”

class. Parents and educators can be clear about the consequences without using scare tactics or lecturing; clearly state what you expect regarding cannabis use.

Choose informal times to have conversations about cannabis, and do not make

Stanley noted that his son had the number two, three, and fourth ranked kids in the country in his bracket, showing just how much of a challenge the event can be, but it also presents a tremendous opportunity for growth.

“You get to see how other kids train, do certain moves and the way they compete,” he said. “I think it’s eye opening for these kids, wrestling is a real mental game going into a match. As you’re warming up for your match, you are seeing these kids and how they mentally are prepared. Mentally I think there is a lot of growth because of that. Our kids know how to wrestle and do the moves but it’s trying to put it all together and be confident in

a big thing about it. Yet, continue talking to them as they age, and let them know you are always there for them.

Finally, speak to them about peer pressure and talk with them about having an exit plan when they are

what you are doing. These kids that are really good, they are able to do that.”

The Cottage Grove Mat Club works with kindergarten age children through eighth grade students. There is a beginner’s mat club and an advance club. Mat Club begins in the fall and runs till summer time. The club’s mission statement is “to promote interest in the sport of wrestling among parents and the youth of South Lane County and to supervise, sponsor and financially assist a disciplined and competitive program of wrestling. We will endeavor to develop in the members’ the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty and respect for

offered marijuana. Peer pressure is powerful among youth, and having a plan to avoid drug use helps children and students make better choices. Ultimately, it is about assisting them to make good choices as they age.

authority and to stress the concept of parents and children working and playing together in all club activities so that the family will be strengthened in the process.”

This is Stanley’s first year leading the Cottage Grove Mat Club, but he has been part of the program for three years now.

Stanley is a 2009 Cottage Grove High School graduate where he won two individual state championships in 2007 and 2009. When Coach Charlie Kent accepted the role as head coach at Cottage Grove High School in 2023, Stanley took on the role as leader of the Mat Club.

“Someone gave up a lot their time to help me, I want to be able to give back in the sports that I coach to the future generations of Cottage Grove athletics,” Stanley said. “I think there is a lot of things you are going to start hearing about with Cottage Grove wrestling, as far as how good it’s going to get. We have such a great group of kids and a great group of parents, to help us get there. Within the next ten years I bet Cottage Grove has a state championship team at the high school,”

According to Stanley, there are currently standout wrestlers coming through the program.

“There will be a state championship team, along with quite a few individuals [champions],” Stanley said.

Follow local sports online at cgsentinel. See Cottage Grove High School game results at so.org.

Marcel Gemme is the founder of SUPE and has been helping people struggling with substance use for more than 20 years. His work focuses on a threefold approach: education, prevention, and rehabilitation.

KYLE MCGOWEN Cottage Grove Sentinel

Photo courtesy of CGHS Athletics

The Cottage Grove girls soccer team will be led by new head coach Sarah Leonard this fall.

Photo courtesy of Cottage Grove Mat Club Cottage Grove wrestlers Bentley Hicks, Lexi Houtz, Owen Houtz, Nayelli Romero, Jayden Stanley, Landon Stanley, Cael Uram, and Kade Uram participated in the Reno Worlds, held April 4-7 in Reno, Nevada.