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About North Douglas herald. (Drain Or) 2023-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2024)
Page 6 Community Pages Lower Umpqua Library District the Reedsport Library is Busy Lower Umpqua Library District is continually incorporating new ideas into our collections. In addition to Pacific Northwest, Music CDs, Anime, and Classics, we recently started a World Languages section. Included are books, audiobooks, and DVDs. Materials are available in languages such as Spanish, Korean, Russian, and others. This section is still in its infancy but we anticipate its continued expansion. Spanish language magazines will become available soon. Any donations of materials in other languages would be appreciated. Are you looking for a place to hold an event or gathering? Lower Umpqua Library District has a meeting room available. Visit or call the library to check availability. If you are a for profit event, we will charge $30 for three hours, but meeting room use is otherwise free (although there is a $50 refundable deposit in case of damage). We are happy to help promote your event by posting signs in the library and setting up a related book display. The library collaborates with several community organizations to offer support and bring awareness of what is available in our district. The Reedsport K9 Shelter has a board where they post dogs available for adoption Sutherlin: State of the City Continued from Page 1 our urban renewal program based upon those similar to Sutherlin and had achieved success. We were then able to ascertain a best practices model of formation and utilize the services of a firm to lead us through the legal requirements, financial implications and important collaborations necessary for success. An Urban Renewal District was formed along with a task force in partnership with community organizations, the City Council, Sutherlin Downtown Development, Inc. and the Chamber of Commerce. The city also utilized the services of the Oregon Main Street Organization in facilitating a special workshop on how to establish a positive North douglas Herald January 2024 Remove the Winchester Dam to Rebuild the Douglas County Economy & Ecology There can be no doubt that the Winchester Dam will be removed. History will justify that its removal was necessary. Once the dam is gone and the private water ski lake drained, Douglas County, with wise and proper planning, will experience an economic boom that is much needed for a timber dependent economy. Our migratory native fish will naturally repopulate in the North Umpqua River. Eventually the fishing season will be opened twelve months a year. This will result in jobs in guiding anglers, renting hotels rooms, boats and cars, goods and services as well as hospitality. All the makings of a more diversified economy. There is another option as well-- creating a whitewater park just west of where the dam stands. It would be in conjunction with Amacher park. This could generate millions of dollars for Douglas county. The removal of two dams and the installation of a two and one-half mile white water course on the Chattahoochee River in Columbus, Georgia created an economic boom resulting in increase demand for hotel rooms and related services. The revenue brought in by this project far exceeds the project’s and which have been adopted since we started this promotion. Also available are applications to adopt and a donation bucket. The Lower Umpqua Gem and Lapidary Society has a display at the library, which showcases their members’ beautiful treasures. If you are interested in joining their group, they meet the second Tuesday of the month at 2:00 pm at the Winchester Bay Community Center. If you would like more information about these groups, come see us at the library and we will point you in the right direction. There are currently two regularly scheduled programs at the library, a knit and crochet group and preschool story time. Additionally, we are looking for people who would be interested in starting a book club and we are open to ideas about how such a program might work. Please contact the library if you economic climate in the community through beautification efforts in the downtown and in attracting new businesses. The result was a comprehensive Tax Increment Financing and Urban Renewal plan. The priorities were clear and concise, 1. Create economic prosperity, 2.Beautify the downtown, 3.Improve the quality of life for all of the citizens of Sutherlin. The goals set were based on four areas of work including; 1. Creating jobs, 2. Eradicate blighted areas of town, 3. Create a vibrant downtown for businesses and livability, 4. Partner with the school district for a multi-use sports park. A financial decision was made to kick start the projects with a loan from the city to the Urban Renewal District. Based on the recommendation of the Urban Renewal cost. Furthermore, it was a culmination of genuine community effort involving scientists, engineers, bureaucrats and professional kayakers. Closer to home, with the removal of the hazardous Colorado Dam, and the help of a coalition of community groups, Bend, Oregon was able to create a whitewater park along a section of the Deschutes River. As a conclusion of careful planning three distinct channels were created. One for floating and inner tubing. Another for whitewater enthusiasts and the the third is a habitat channel for clear fish passage and habitat protection. Needless to say, the success of this project has enhanced and diversified Bend’s economy along with providing meaningful jobs. We need to transform our economy. A United Way study in May 2023 (www.unitedforalice.org/oregon) revealed that fifty two percent of the households in Douglas County are economically challenged or live in poverty. Simply stated: we are the second poorest county in western Oregon. Improved fish runs and recreational whitewater tourism can generate additional dollars to help raise our county out of poverty. A more diversified economy will enable our children and grandchildren to find jobs in Douglas might be interested in participating. Alex Kuestner, Library Director/District Manager Lower Umpqua Library District 395 Winchester Ave Reedsport, Oregon 97467 (541) 271-3500 www.luld.org by John Hunter County. Today, big timber companies pay exponentially less in taxes than thirty years ago. Automation in the industry has resulted in an average loss of one thousand jobs per year statewide. Clearly, the future for jobs lies elsewhere. The times have changed since Winchester dam was built, 120 years ago. Due to an increase awareness of the harm caused by dams there is a serious movement to remove many of our needless and hazardous ones. They have been removed on the Rogue River and the fish have rebounded. One has been removed on the Klamath River and three more are scheduled for removal next year which will result in a four hundred mile stretch of free flowing river. The result of follow up studies documenting the increase in the Klamath River’s health once these dams are removed is eagerly anticipated. The Winchester Dam serves only to create a private water ski lake for a select few property owners. Its removal can provide an opportunity to create a more variegated economy for the benefit of all of Douglas County. The time has arrived. Removed the Winchester Dam! Historic Oakland Weekly Programs KNIT AND CROCHET GROUP Thursdays 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm In the meeting room All skill levels welcome PRESCHOOL STORY TIME Wednesdays at 11:00 am In the children’s section Story and Craft \ Show and Tel Continued from Page 5 Kitchen with treats for all and fantastic photo opportunities for everyone. This is the first year and it will be retuning next season.” These are ambitious undertakings but the city of Oakland focuses their efforts to make it a community, not just a place to live. Surrounded by meadows, mountains and the Calapooya creek, clean air and water abounds. She went on to say, “We are really working hard on the big infrastructure project funded by FEMA and we continue to keep Oakland a showplace of neatness and green well-manicured parks.” Bette surely reflects the city pride and character of this historic and thriving community and her final statement was simply, “Thanks for the opportunity to share Oakland”. Task Force, loan dollars were assigned to the downtown storefront grant program, parking improvements in the downtown, new business development, wetland credits, new economic development and attracting economic investment. The current authorized projects are; 1. A Sports Park Facility, 2. Downtown development to stimulate economic investment, building restoration and location incentives. 3. An industrial park, 4. Development along the Central Avenue corridor to include multi- family housing. The future for Sutherlin encompasses the establishment of partnerships, uniting resources, cleaning up impoverished neighborhoods, seeking and encouraging workforce housing development for current and future employees of local businesses, making traffic safety improvements, attract commercial and retail business, the storefront grant program for the beautification of the downtown and developing partnerships for the construction of buildings on industrial lands. A gateway partnership is also proposed for an Umpqua Wine Interpretive Center. The ‘Jewel in the Crown’ for the City of Sutherlin is the Ford’s Pond Community Park. A reclaimed logging pond transformed into an urban oasis consisting of 202 acres. A wildlife preserve with three wetland habitats, a 2 mile paved walking path around the pond, an inclusive playground ( to be completed in July of 2024), covered picnic shelters, fishing, boating and bird watching. This is a collaboration between the City of Sutherlin and the Friends of Ford’s Pond to create a place “Where Everyone Plays.”
