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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.”