T H U R S D A Y, A U G U S T 2 9 , 2 0 1 9 | V O L U M E 5 5 | I S S U E 3 5
SPRINGFIELD
LOCA LLY OW NED SINCE 1909
ONE DOLLAR
Hello, world! Say ‘hi’ to The Chronicle
BY NOEL NASH
PUBLISHER
–INSIDE–
I making:
t’s been nearly 110 years in the
Today marks the debut of
The Chronicle of Creswell, Cottage
Grove, and now Springfi eld. And
we couldn’t be happier as new
“parents.”
With plenty of help and input
from people throughout the
community, and a growing and
dedicated staff, we embark
HIGH SCHOOL
FALL SPORTS
PREVIEW
|
Executive Editor Erin Tierney shares her vision for the paper and
community. Pg.4
Cheryl Richard, sales and marketing director, notes opportunities
across platforms. Pg.4
are more to come.
Most immediately, we are now
printing and distributing more
than three times our previous
numbers. And we’re designing
front pages specifi c to zip code
today on a longer-term journey,
super-serving readers with hyper-
local content from the southern
Willamette Valley.
We’ve been adding new features
over the past few months, and there
“zones”: Creswell and Cottage
Grove, and the Springfi eld area.
Every person is entitled to a
newspaper that provides util-
ity, information, truth, entertain-
ment, context and perspective.
Along with Creswell and Cottage
Grove, Springfi eld residents are
now receiving all of that after a
two-year absence of a newspaper.
We look forward to serving our
entire audience, and growing with
this paradise we call home.
A ‘festering mess’
Whistle
Stop fate
decided
Sept. 9
Complete schedules for
Springfield HS, Thurston HS,
Creswell HS and Cottage Grove
HS
Complete week-at-a-glance
schedule Pages 6-9
BY ERIN TIERNEY
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Check out all of the
useful information in the
2019-20 Creswell Visitors and
Newcomers Guide inside today’s
paper. Scour the business and
service directories, and fi nd out
about great activities within 90
minutes of Creswell — the start-
ing point for fun and adventure!
The Whistle Stop building at 213 Mill Street was a total loss after a fi re in 2017 and has remained
disheveled ever since. Above, piles of debris overfl ow into the building’s lot in June. Below, the Aug.
27 photo shows some progress has been made, though new additions of broken down vehicles have
been added to the scene. The City of Creswell will decide whether or not to abate the historic property
next month. ERIN TIERNEY/THE CHRONICLE
CRESWELL — The heap
of charred boards, broken
glass and unsightly debris at
The Whistle Stop building
at 213 Mill Street has been
rankling the community since
it burned down in 2017.
Cleanup has been moving
at a snail’s pace, and now
the documented presence of
asbestos in the rubble of the
historic building is causing a
clamor among city offi cials.
City Councilor Ma r tha
McReynolds Jr. said the City
could “continue doing this
dance” with the building’s
property owners, or move to
abate this “festering mess” of
a property.
The building has been in
the Garton family since the
1980s, when Wade Garton
owned the building. It is now
owned by his grandsons,
Carlton “Rocky” and Beau
Garton. Beau Garton declined
comment, stating this was a
legal matter in which only his
attorney could speak.
See WHISTLE – 27
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6