October 2023
Editorial
by Rusty Savage
I hope the second issue of the North Doug-
las Herald pleases our readers, as the first one
seemed to. I have to thank the many who have
called, written, emailed and stopped me on the
street to show and express their enthusiasm for
having a local newspaper again. I am very glad
to be on this journalistic adventure with all of
you.
As the Herald grows and matures, it is
my expectation that the future will prove that
printed news is not dead. As you read through
this Paper and soak up information, I hope that
our readers will get a little bit of a warm feeling
of satisfaction.
Satisfaction in the sense that, sitting on a
lounging chair or the couch or any favorite
roosting place, you can enjoy reading the
newspaper. No search buttons or endless feeds
through the maze of internet and phone scroll-
ing news. Just relaxing and reading through the
local news items, some sports or community
events and all the tidbits that make up ‘what’s
going on around us’
Well thats about all I can say about that. I
enjoy reading a newspaper for a little relaxation,
I hope you feel the same way.
It’s been busy these last few weeks. I have
talked to a lot of people around North Douglas
and in South Lane County. It’s been a big part of
my day, lately, whether I am talking to prospec-
tive advertisers and business related contacts, or
just the folks I meet in a busy day.
People talk about the issues and instances
that have some effect on them. Now, the more
that I have been talking to so many folks, mostly
but not all, in this North County, I have heard
an equal portion of, good, bad and indifferent.
I find that to be a pretty good balance of influ-
ence. Not only that but, it means there is still a
fair to good chance whatever happens, you’ll
have 1/3rd of folks who understand and only a
third who probably dont.
What I mean by that is that it becomes appar-
ent that there should always be the assumption
that some will agree with you and some wont.
But everyone is probably not going to and that
shouldnt change or end the conversation.
Back to my point, Reedsport to Oakland
or Winston to Cottage Grove or here in Drain,
the people I have been talking to are mostly
working folks who have something to say about
something. There are so many things in our
region that gets folks going.
I mean there are a lot of issues and the more
I hear about things, the more it means to me to
try look at these things. The great thing is, that
it’s about our day to day lives. Things are a com-
bination of good, bad and indifferent all around
us. It’s not just all bad. Or good.
And the truth is, on an individual basis, its
not just good, bad and indifferent, it’s actually
grades and shades of all.
So lets look at the good and the bad and the
indifferent, which none truly are, and see what
we find. We’ll celebrate the good, try and tame
the bad and be a better example to the indiffer-
ent.
Thats my goal as your Publisher and Editor
of this Newspaper. Another thing about balance
is that it promotes fairness and though it’s taken
a hit or two over time, I believe the American
spirit is founded on the search for fairness.
Thats about it for this month, looking
down at the galley, the October issue looks
good, I hope you like it. And if you do, I’d like
you to do me a favor. Support out Advertisors.
We cant thank them enough for making it pos-
sible to bring you this paper for FREE. Show
them your appreciation, and be sure to tell those
who you dont see on these pages - how much
you would like to see them here.
Letters from the Librarian
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
- L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables
Fall has begun in earnest at the library. As the seasons
change, remember our new hours reflect the earlier sun-
sets. Check out books and materials Tuesday, Thursday,
Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.; Wednesdays Noon to
6 p.m.; and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Looking for something to read after hours? Of course
the wifi is on and works out to the parking lot from 8 a.m.
to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Your library card is also good
24/7 on the Libby app, where you can borrow audio and
e-books from the catalog of more than 50,000 choices.
In the month of October, the library and community get ready to celebrate the library
district’s fifth anniversary of formation. The past five years have truly been a blur of
opening, exciting programming, increasing hours, changing programming due to state
mandated closures, reopening, and renewing our commitment to in-person and “virtual”
offerings alike. From toddler story times to knitting groups, from summer reading to
winter authors’ events, from writing and technology classes to teen advisory boards, we
have a lot of life going on inside the library building!
Speaking of the building, many of us have fond memories of this building and the
community’s efforts to create such a vibrant gathering place and library. At the time
this building was in its planning stages, more than 35 years ago, the library itself was a
branch of the Douglas County system and was housed in a small portion of the old City
Hall building. Things were cramped --bookcases went to the ceiling!-- and hours were
limited.
What a victory for the community to pull together and build this library and civic cen-
ter building, donating it to the City of Drain to maintain and use as a meeting space and
gathering place. For decades the County library branch operated here at the “new” Civic
Center and Library, but when the County closed all of its libraries in 2017, the people of
Drain and surrounding North Douglas community voted with an overwhelming major-
ity to reopen a library as a special district. This permanent tax base allows the library to
have stability for materials purchasing and library staff expenses. The building is still
maintained by the City of Drain through a generous Oregon Community Foundation
endowment. The County system may be gone, but libraries and communities are thriving.
The North Douglas Library District is grateful for the continuing legacy of community
support and involvement.
The library is truly a place where everyone belongs. And it’s “more than books.” Stop
in, stay a while, and maybe even check out something new.
Miriam Sisson, Director
Mildred Whipple Library, North Douglas Library District
ndld.org
541-836-2648
Page 3
More football highlights from North Douglas War Eagles playing
Bandon.War Eagles players can be seen, including Caden Reigard, Wyatt
Reed, Jayden Churchwell, Tristan McMullin and Kyle Bilyew in these and
front page photos, curtesey of Becky Gerrard, OSAA photographer.
Dollar General is Coming to
What’s the Controversy?
Have you heard? The Dollar General is
coming to Yoncalla. Yes its a done deal, I spoke
to Shane Mast of Oregon Life Homes and he
verified that the deal is done and Yoncalla will
have a shiny new Dollar General store very
soon. Once the new wears off of that news,
you might want to stop and ponder the reality
of what the effects of that convenient little
establishment might be.
Dollar General went from 8,222 stores in
2008 to 18,130 stores in 2022. The chain holds
the title for most retail stores in the U.S. and
recently passed the 19,000 store milestone.
Basically, Dollar General alone opens about
three stores a day.
Some are betting that the rapid expansion
is a part of a plan to get into small-town health
care and even banking. It could also be to
expand its practice of selling customer data,
claiming access to rural customer info no one
else has. Whatever the speculation, there is one
blatant truth. It’s simply about profits. Dollar
General opens so many stores because profits
grow with each and every one. Each time a
new store opens it nets them an instant 20%
return. Dollar General’s profits went from
under $110 million in 2008 to $2.4 billion last
year.
You can’t talk about Dollar Stores
without talking about the “Dollar Wars”.
Dollar General is aggressively advancing on
the Dollar Tree/Family Dollar territory (Dollar
Tree owns Family Dollar. At this point it
would appear that Dollar General is winning
the fight and Dollar Tree is lagging behind.
Dollar General sees room for 12,000 more
Yoncalla
Story by Rusty Savage
stores across the country. Dollar Tree is even
more optimistic, believing the U.S. market
can support another 15,000 Family Dollars and
10,000 Dollar Trees.
All in all there is a lot of energy and planning
going into the expansion of these enterprises
and the effects may have more impact on the
communities than their bottom lines. For all
of its intentions to bring economical choices
to rural consumers, there are some facts that
doesn’t stack well with that business plan.
Dollar General claims to offer customers
affordable household essentials where other
retailers won’t go.
“It is not unusual for us to hear from
communities, especially in rural areas, asking us
to bring a Dollar General to their hometown,” a
company spokesperson said.
Lets start with the fact that every state
in the contiguous U.S. has a dollar store in it.
While most chains, like CVS and Starbucks,
stick closely to big metro areas, Dollar General
doesn’t necessarily stick to that plan. Besides
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