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About North Douglas herald. (Drain Or) 2023-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2024)
Page 2 North Douglas Herald January 2024 January 1st, 2024 Volume 2, Issue #1 The North Douglas Herald Newspaper is published once a month in Drain Oregon. The North Douglas Herald is owned and operated by Oregonians, published and printed in the State of Oregon. It is our mission to bring the news and information that our Readers will find pertinent, useful and with some insight to our common values and sensibilities. Total Print run of the Herald is currently 3500 issues. Subscriptions are currently at 2695. Sub- scription are free to Douglas county and Lane county residents. Out of County Subscriptions are $7.50 for 6 months and $12.00 per year. Subscriptions can be obtained online at: www.ndherald.com/subs.html Free Classifieds for Lane and Douglas county residents can be entered at: www.ndherald.com/classifieds.html To submit Photos, Recipes, Jokes, Cartoons, artwork and the like: send email to editor@ndherald.com All online submissions can be sent and de- livered to the any one of the following depart- ments: editor@ndherald.com submissions@ndherald.com| schoolnews@ndherald.com classifieds@ndherald.com reports@ndherald.com churchdirectory@ndherald.com citydesk@ndherald.com news@ndherald.com sales@ndherald.com vitalstatistics@ndherald.com If you would like to receive a bundle of newspapers to distribute to your cus- tomers or visitors to your location, please go to: www.ndherald.com/locations.html If you see breaking news or if you have a news report, you can email to news@ndherald.com. Any photo attach- ments preferred in .jpg or .pdf format. Free Papers can be found, upon availability, in all of the following town’s and these fine establishments Drain Rays Food Place, 308 N 1st St Country Cabin Coffee & Laundry, 438 W “B” Ave Hwy38 The Rose Bar, 413 Umpqua Hwy 38 Mildred Whipple Library, 205 W. “A” Ave Drain Post Office, 228 W. “C” Ave Yoncalla Eagle Valley Supply, 2570 Eagle Valley Rd Food Center & Deli, 2580 Eagle Valley Rd Elkton Arlene’s Cafe & General Store 14858 State HWY 38 Elkton Station 14940 State HWY 38 Riverbanks Speedy Mart 32841 State HWY 38 Reedsport TRMF Smokes, 1898 Winchester Ave. US-101 Don’s Main Street Family Restaurant, 2115 US-101 Recreation Station, 1575 Winchester Ave US-101 S Creative Mercantile, 392 Fir Ave Lower Umpqua Library, 395 Winchester Ave. Cottage Grove Old Mill Farm Store, 327 South River Rd Kwik Pik Market #2, 925 E Gibbs Ave Daves Corner Market, 633 N 9th St Dari Mart, 1200 E Main St Cottage Market, 603 OR HWY-99 Medication Station, 1041 N Pacific HWY-99 Winchester Bay Beck’s Winchester Bay Market, 245 8th St Pelican Market, 75298 Pacific Coast HWY US-101 Oakland Bart’s Oakland Market, 204 SE 1st St Sutherlin Kwik Pik Market & Deli, 551 W Central Ave Smitty’s Food Mart & Deli, 1367W Central Ave Center Market, 1230 W Central Ave Center Market #32, 206 E Central Ave S-Mart, 333 E Central Ave Central Food Mart, 1021 E Central Ave North Douglas Herald PO Box 581 Drain OR 97435 541 221-3283 www.ndherald.com Government Editorial 2024. It’s hard to believe that a new year has come and the old year is out. But you better believe it because time marches on, the old man retires and the new baby is born. I guess that is the metaphor. As hard as it might be to accept this passage of time, it is important to look to that future, but don’t forget the past - we have to remember the lessons learned, the paths taken and the memories made, so that we can forge ahead with our hearts and minds intact and engaged. C’mon 2024, let’s get busy. Speaking of time and old men and such, it is to this editor’s chagrin that I can make the big blunders on a few of the stories we are reporting. Misspellings, grammar and just plain typos are bad enough, but now I find that sometimes the problem is in the transport. I would like to apologize to Bonnie Pyles for inadvertently giving her a new name. Bonnie is the owner of Exclusively Bridal and is a prominent activist and volunteer for many positions around Drain and is on the Drain Chamber of Commerce. Her name is not Ivy Bonnie Pyles, it’s, of course, Bonnie Pyles. She has been a great contributor to the North Douglas Herald since we rolled out the first issue back in September. Bonnie texted us some wonderful pictures that we published last month and she gave some descriptions to accompany her photos. At the end she reminded us “I’m Bonnie Pyles”. Well I’m sure it has happened to you - Damn autocorrect! It came out Ivy on the text and I thought “How thoughtful, she has shared a little of herself”, and so I made sure to add Ivy to front of all of her credits, thinking I’m pretty sharp. Well after the newspaper comes out, I get a call and Bonnie says, “What makes you think my name is Ivy?” Uh oh! Well thankfully she is a good sport and has a great sense of humor, but the next time you see her, please don’t call her Ivy. Thanks Bonnie I appreciate you. And of course that wasn’t the only boo boo I’ve made on these pages. But we are trying to improve our system and now have two proof reading stages., first after editing and a second time when all the pages are compiled. Thanks for all of you who put up with our little mishaps and blunders. With the new year in front of us, I was looking at all of the plans and intentions that tend to take shape at the beginning of the year. Does your desire to make a new plan of action for the new year give you an expectation of change or renewal? New Years resolutions are notoriously short lived, at least that is the reputation, if not the expectation. Why is that? We don’t have the fortitude or attitude to follow through with the shortcomings or misgivings we have spotlighted so clearly at the beginning of the year. Human nature. That is what we fight to overcome. Complaisance and defeat, that is the obstacle, so that we can follow our dreams and continue to step forward in faith.and in perseverance. I know the odds aren’t with us, but let’s go ahead and make some resolutions and try again. Rome wasn’t built in a day and we can pick up where we left off and forge on ahead and make some changes needed. In my travels these last few months, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the towns and cities across North Douglas and South Lane counties. I have visited many businesses and business owners as well as various city officials, and it strikes me Know your local Representatives! Drain that some communities are thriving and vibrant with business and citizen activities and projects. We are all, pretty much in the same economie situation but there is a definite disparity in the flavor and hospitality across the municipalities. Digging deeper into the successes of cities like Reedsport and Sutherlin, even small towns like Oakland and Yoncalla, I’m finding some common themes. First of all, I believe solid and positive leadership that is forward looking, is a definite anchor to meeting future goals. It’s a cliche, thinking out of the box, but it is the best description of the mindset needed to figure out the tangled web of good living conditions verses the economic and cultural pitfalls obstructing us. Good leaders can do, not only this, but also lead and motivate people and groups of people towards civic action and community building. The second notion that comes to mind, is the citizens and residents. The more that citizens are involved in the conversations of change and improvements, the larger and faster those changes and improvements will take place. The cities and towns that incorporate and promote their citizen groups and committees to find the needs and wants and wishes of their townsfolk, benefit greatly from the insight and diversity and hard work. People do for their communities. Good city government does not work to consolidate the vision of the few, instead it will listen and learn and lead and work with those good folks who are the backbone of the community. A third factor is business. Business needs to flourish if a community is going to prosper. There is a problem keeping good businesses in town if there isn’t incentive for them to stay. The biggest incentive is profit. A business cannot survive without profit. It’s a cycle we have seen in our region over and over. Populations dwindle and the businesses fail or move away and it spirals down. It is in the best interest of the cities and towns that they have a thriving business community. When business thrives, then employment goes up and with it, the economy. Business brings jobs and jobs bring people and people make communities. Some examples of city programs that are really supporting business activities are the Oregon Main Street Program and Urban Renewal projects. I believe the vision and leadership of cities like Reedsport and Sutherlin, have leveraged an upward momentum that is working with great strides towards economic and resource improvement and reversing the blight and erosion in their towns. Vision, Goals, Collaboration and Teamwork. If you see a need in your community, consider volunteering. If you find your city government is petty or out of step, consider running for office or find someone with character to support for office. Someone that has some vision and common goals of the community. Join a committee and let your voice be heard over the naysayers, the negative Nancy’s and the Drama Queens. If you don’t do it , who will? Remember that citizens have the power to govern themselves and they do it best when they work together. This is the United States of America, be sure to use your awesome power of the VOTE, Not sparingly but with foresight and strength of character. Happy New Year 2024 - Rusty Savage Mayor: Erin Sparhawk Council Position #1: Grant Vaughan Council Position #2: Kevin VanPelt Council Position #3: Katie Decker Council Position #4: Aaron Lymath City Administrator: Jeni Stevens City Council Meeting:01/08/24 6pm Yoncalla Mayor: Kathleen Wertz Councilors: Dan Wagoner Gene Vroman Harold Gilpin Bryce Wertz City Administrator: Jennifer Bragg Council Meeting: 01/09/24, 6pm Elkton Mayor: Daniel Burke Council President: Joan Smith Council Members: Kim Moore Dan Shepherd Sandra Galli Public Works Supervisor: Gary Trout Council Meeting:01/11,/24, 8:30am Oakland Mayor: Bette Keehley Counselor: Jan Wier Counselor: Kent Rochester Counselor: Sky Ironplow Counselor: Betty Tamm Council Meeting: 01/09/24 7pm Sutherlin Mayor : Michelle Sumner Council President Debbie Hamilton Councilor Lisa Woods Councilor Joe Groussman Councilor Larry Whitaker Councilor Shawn Smalley Councilor Gary Dagel City Manager Jerry Gillham Council Meeting: 01/08/24 7:15pm Reedsport Mayor : Linda McCollum Council Position #1: Rob Wright Council Position #2: DeeDee Murphy Council Position #3: Chuck Miller Council Position #4: Allen Teitzel Council Position #5: Rich Patten Council Position #6: Debby Turner Council Meeting: 01/08/24 7:15pm Cottage Grove Mayor: Candace Solesbee Councilor Ward 1: Chalice Savage Councilor Ward 2: Jon Stinnett Councilor Ward 3: Dana Merryday Councilor Ward 4: Greg Ervin Councilor: Mike Fleck Councilor: Alex Dreher Council Meeting;: 01/08/24 - 7:00pm 01/22/24 - 7:00pm County State & Federal Douglas County Commisioners: Tom Kress(Chair) Tim Freeman Chris Boice Jennifer Miller Lane County Commissioners: Dist 1: Ray Ceniga Dist 2: David Lovall Dist 3: Laurie Trieger Dist 4: Pat Farr Dist 5: Heather Buch Oregon House Representative: District 02: Virgle Osborne Oregon State Senator: District 1: David Brock Smith U.S. Senate Oregon: Jeff Merkley Ron Wyden U.S House of Representatives: District 4: Val Hoyle Secretary of State: LaVonne Griffin-Valade Attorney General: Ellen Rosenblum Governor: Tina Kotek Vice-President: Kamala Harris President: Joe Biden It is important to know your representation in your State, Districts and Municipalities. RE- MEMBER it is vital to your freedoms to vote.If you would like to have your own towns municipal officers listed please send title & names only to citydesk@ndherald.com
