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About The Chronicle : Creswell & Cottage Grove. (Creswell, Ore.) 2019-current | View Entire Issue (May 25, 2023)
THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2023 THE CHRONICLE 541-515-6233 chronicle1909.com info@chronicle1909.com 655 A Street, Suite E Springfield, OR 97477 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. OPERATIONS Noel Nash, Owner/Publisher Noel@Chronicle1909.com Denise Nash, Owner/COO Denise@Chronicle1909.com Dana Ufford, Office Manager, Notary Public Info@Chronicle1909.com SALES & MARKETING Rachael Landi, Director Sales@Chronicle1909.com NEWSROOM EXECUTIVE EDITOR Erin Tierney-Heggenstaller Erin@Chronicle1909.com REPORTERS Sarina Dorie, The Arts Info@chronicle1909.com Michael Dunne, Business Info@Chronicle1909.com Ron Hartman, Music Ron@Chronicle1909.com Pierre Weil, Sports Pierre@Chronicle1909.com COLUMNISTS Frank Armendariz, Outdoors Amanda Bedortha, Parenting Pat Edwards, Lorane Tiffany Monroe, Agriculture PHOTOGRAPHERS Bobby Stevens Info@Chronicle1909.com Bob Williams Info@Chronicle1909.com SUBSCRIBE TODAY ONLINE ONLY Monthly ..........................$6 Annually ......................$66 NEWSPAPER ONLY 1 year ............................$40 2 years ..........................$70 Note: 15% off for veterans and seniors 62+ Outside of Lane County 1 year ............................$60 The Chronicle (USPS permit 2781) is published Thursdays by Nash Publishing Group, LLC. Mailing address 655 A St., Suite E Springfield, OR 97477 Subscriptions are nonrefundable. Member of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association All text and photos are Copyright, ©2023, The Chronicle THE CHRONICLE — 5 OPINION / EDITORIAL Treatment courts save lives, taxpayer dollars In May we observe National Treatment Court Month. Amidst an increasing rate of fatalities from opioid overdose and the urgent need for solutions, treat- ment courts emerge as a beacon of hope. These specialty courts 4 which seek to address the substance use that underlie Chris Wig and exacerbate criminal charges 4 not Guest Column only provide participants with an oppor- tunity for redemption but also deliver substantial onancial beneots for taxpay- ers and improve community safety. The bottom line is that treatment courts save lives, save families, and save the taxpayers money. The treatment court is made up of an interdisciplinary team which works together to provide care, support, and accountability to program participants. Judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation ofo- cers, and treatment providers form the backbone of this team, and each brings perspective and expertise to the table. They collaborate closely to identify the needs of each participant, develop individualized case and treatment plans, and monitor progress throughout the program. This collaboration ensures participants receive the necessary tools and incentives to break the cycle of substance use and criminal behavior and enter long-term recovery. Lane County is home to four treatment courts. The Lane County Adult Treatment Court was founded in 1994 and was among the orst 20 treatment courts in the United States. The Juvenile Recovery and Progress (RAP) Court was added in 2000, followed by Veterans Treatment Court in 2011 and Mental Health Court in 2016. These programs are successful due to strong partnerships between the Lane County Circuit Court, Lane County District Attorney9s ofoce, Lane Public Defender Services, Lane County Parole and Probation, and treatment providers like Emergence. According to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, every dollar invested in treatment courts generates an impressive return on investment, ranging from $2 to $3 in cost savings. By steering individuals away from costly cycles of incarceration and toward evidence-based treatment programs, treatment courts not only reduce recidivism rates but also alleviate the burden on taxpayers. These courts offer a cost-effective alternative that not only saves dollars but also invests in the transformative power of recovery. The statistics further reveal that participants in treatment courts are up to 35% less likely to re-offend compared to those who undergo traditional sentencing. By providing a comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying causes of criminal behavior, treatment courts empower individuals to break free from the grip of substance use and irresponsible choices. Through counseling and access to support services that address social determinants of health, participants receive the support necessary for sustained recovery, leading to safer communities as the cycle of crime is disrupted. To fully unlock the potential of treatment courts, we must invest in their continued growth and accessibility. With that in mind, the City of Springoeld is currently exploring the possibility of creating its own municipal treatment court. Just last month, the City applied for funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance drug court discretionary grant program. If approved, this grant could bring up to $900,000 into our community over four years to help our neighbors ond recovery and make our streets safer. Chris Wig serves as Executive Director of Emergence Addiction and Behavioral Therapies. Emergence deliv- ers substance use, mental health, and disordered gambling treatment to people in Lane and Linn Counties. CORRECTION / CLARIFICATION In the May 18 issue in an article entitled <25 Years Later: Survivors, community renect on Thurston Shooting,= the wrong last name was attributed to sources Grace, Mary Jo, and Dave. The correct last name is Sanders, not Sanderson. The Chronicle strives for accuracy and regrets this error. Fifty first names only Noel Nash, publisher Among the reasons my wife and I purchased The Chronicle was a desire to invest in our communities, to uplift and edify through accurate storytelling and credible coverage. Perhaps no month more than this May has demonstrated that commitment. For instance: We relaunched Roast, Toast & Boast 3 a casual business-networking event that was founded last year by Rachael, our new Sales & Marketing Director. Held the second Monday of each month from 8:30-10 a.m., the gathering includes two short presenta- tions 3 one by a local nonproot and one by a woman in leadership. Along with video and audio elements on our social media platforms, the guest speakers also write a short column for the following week9s paper. Scott, who runs Pegasus Playhouse in downtown Springfield, was our first nonproot speaker and is our gracious host for the event going forward. The theater is a terrioc venue, and I was able to meet Josh, Erik, Ray, Mike, Melinda, and Kristin while enjoying a coffee and toast. & We were among the guests at The Garden, owned and operated by Olsson Industrial Electric, that recognized host families and sponsors associated with the Springoeld Drifters 3 a wood-bat summer league team playing its home games at Hamlin Field. The season starts June 1, and it was a great evening with ballpark food right off the grill, cold beverages, and plenty of base- ball talk. Ike kicked off the event with a few remarks, speciocally noting the importance of host families and importance of commu- nity engagement. His wife, Jodi, sat with us during the dinner. Bo, Cameron, Curt, Kyle, Dave and Nita, Jay, Thad, Tommy, Randy, Steve, and Caden were just a few people we found time to get to know a little bit. I spoke with Jeff (reporter) and met Sean (photographer) for a story The Oregonian published May 21 regarding the media land- scape in Eugene and surrounding areas. Michael had me on his Rainmaker podcast that aired on KLCC to discuss my background and The Chronicle9s mission. He makes it easy and comfortable to talk on air. I exchanged a few emails and a phone call with Charlie, a state representative from our area, regarding public notices. And chatted with Robert at Middleoeld Golf Course. We attended the Flannel Ball and Boomerama in the past few weeks. Of course, The Chronicle partnered with the Creswell Chamber of Commerce on the annual Mother9s Day weekend yard sale. This year it included a map designed by Ellyn, and a QR code that let readers down- load the addresses on their phone. The BNI Eugene Metro chapter continues to play an important role for our newspa- per. I9ve been able to meet with Summer, Margie, and Ian. I met Milo and Neal at a BNI bowling social. Ryleigh Norgrove, body still warm When Dave approached me about writing a story to commemorate the 25 year mark of the Thurston shooting, I was honored, intimidated and humbled. Mary Jo and Grace were honest, venerable and incredi- bly kind. I9m so thankful I got to meet them all. & Walking around the Grove, I bumped into Dana, Alex, Jess and Gail. Lots of big hugs I9m going to hang onto. Bruce has been a great help this month 3 he9s a fantas- tic organizer always working for the good of the Grove. Duane and Jonathan also reached out to say goodbye, and though we met under challenging circumstances, it9s always great to hear from them. There are so many more names I could write here, but I don9t have the room! I9ve been noored by all of the support I9ve received. I9m going to miss you all, too. Pierre Weil, reporter This month was heavy in the Cottage Grove coverage, with multiple trips down for baseball, softball, and track. Early in the month I went to watch CG softball play, although I noticed they didn9t play at the high school. I called Garrett, CGHS athletic director, and he let me know the team plays at Harrison Elementary. There I watched the Lions face off against North Bend and had a great chat with head coach Adam, who also coached Springoeld High in 2018 and 919. While on the phone with Garrett, he mentioned an upcoming track and oeld meet that CG was hosting, and so I headed down again for the Wally Ciochetti Invitational. I talked with Ricky, head of the track and cross country teams, before the meet. I also talked with Brennen, one of CGHS9s best athletes, after he became the second CGHS athlete to ever run the 400m in under 50 seconds. & Also this month was the 2023 Oregon State Hanmadang, a martial arts expo and tournament held at the Bob Keefer Center. I spent a lot of time chatting with Lada, one of the main orga- nizers for the entire event. I also had the pleasure of meeting Jessica of Next Step and Rodger of Deevers and Sons, both of whom gave away scholarships to martial arts students. LETTER TO THE EDITOR Best wishes, Ryleigh Norgrove Dear Editor: Ryleigh Norgrove moving on! I have very much enjoyed Ryleigh's journalism over the past year and I'm sorry to see her go but also recognize that it's an important role of a quality newspaper to ond and develop talent, then take pride when they move on to the next step in their career. Congratulations Ryleigh! Have a blast at NYU. And congratu- lations to The Chronicle for furthering the career of such a one journalist. John F. Helmer, Eugene Chronicle featured on NPR for Oregonians, The Oregonian KLCC: Oregon Rainmakers: Noel Nash, Owner and Publisher of The Chronicle Listen here: tinyurl.com/KLCCChronicle The Oregonian: New Oregon newsrooms oll void as other media retreat Read here: tinyurl.com/OregonianChronicle