September 2024
FREE
HWY 38 Paving Project Begins
12 Miles Between Elkton and Drain
Vol #2 Issue #9
YSD Rocks Community BBQ
Story by Rusty Savage
Drain, OR – Construction was scheduled
to start in August on a project that will pave
12 miles of Oregon 38 between Elkton and
Drain and repair four bridges.
Workers and vehicles began congregating
in Drain at the end of August and Flaggers
were seen coordinating traffic in Drain on
September 3rd. ODOT says that the 4 way
stop signs and intersection modifications at
HWY 38 and HWY 99 will be completed
on September 5th. Pavement and slide
repairs are scheduled at several areas,
mostly between the Elk Creek Tunnel and
Drain. Highway traffic may be restricted
to a single lane day and night through the
week. Flaggers are provide traffic control
and drivers should expect delays.
Paving work is scheduled for the first
week and the grind/inlay will continue into
September. The paving area will extend
along Oregon 38 from Hancock Mountain
Road (milepost 38.1) to Third Street in
Drain (milepost 50.3). Drivers can expect
weekday lane closures with flaggers and
delays.
Rumble strips: The project will install
centerline rumble strips along the highway.
Rumble strips help improve safety by
creating noise and vibration that alerts
drowsy or distracted drivers when they drift
out of their lane.
Cracks and damage on HWY 38 are being repaired
Bridges: Contractors will provide repairs
to highway bridges at Hardscrabble Creek,
at each end of the Elk Creek Tunnel, and
near Hancock Mountain Road.
Stop signs: As part of the project,
ODOT will adjust the traffic control at the
intersection of Oregon 38 and Cedar Street
in Drain to provide a permanent four-way
stop.
Through September: Highway drivers
can expect intermittent lane closures through
the end of September for striping, sign
installation and other work.
Contractor: Knife River Materials is
the prime contractor for the $6.4 million
project. For more information: Visit the
project webpage or contact ODOT Public
Information Officer Dan Latham at 541-817-
5200 or Dan.Latham@odot.oregon.gov.
Over the past 8 years, the Yoncalla School
District has implemented a community BBQ
to kick off the school year. This year was no
exception as the BBQ attracted a record number
of participants even with the rainy weather.
Beyond its mouthwatering flavors, the BBQ has
become a reflection of the unity, celebration, and
shared bond that the district hopes to forge with
its community. Over the past 10 plus years,
the Yoncalla Early Works project has helped
to be a catalyst for change in this small rural
community. It has promoted a unique type of
school/community partnership that has helped to
move the district forward through tough times.
Event coordinator Erin Helgren said, “When I
get to leave the community and go out and share
the incredible things that have happened, or I see
families speaking their truth with pride, I ’m able
to recognize that we
are kind of a big deal. And, so that has been our
hashtag: Yoncalla ’s kind of a big deal.”
The Yoncalla Early Works project started as a
collaboration with the Yoncalla
School District, Ford Family Foundation,
and Children ’s Institute. It was designed as a
pilot project to see what would happen with a
community based school approach. Over the
years many important educational milestones
have taken place including a strong parent
engagement focus.
Co-founder Jerry Fauci stated,“Yoncalla
Early Works is set apart from other education
programs in that it ’s designed to make
change with the community, not for the
community.”Over the years, the teachings of
the Early Works project have been transferred to
the elementary school. The district is now in the
process of making changes at the middle school/
high school level.“There have been growing
pains along the way, but we are beginning to
make progress at the upper levels in getting
authentic parent engagement to be a part of our
system throughout the district,” said Brian Berry,
Superintendent at YSD.
As the Yoncalla School District continues to
explore the extraordinary relationship between
our BBQ and community, we continue to focus
on our Board goal of community engagement
and how this now beloved tradition has
become a cornerstone of social connection and
togetherness throughout our community.
Midnight Rampage in Cottage Grove Trashes 9 Businesses
Cottage Grove, OR- 37-year-old Jacob J. Scott
is facing multiple charges after he allegedly
ripped a disabled-parking sign from the ground
and went on a rampage, smashing store front
windows up and down Cottage Grove’s Main
Street in the early morning of August 21st.
Cottage Grove police said Jacob J. Scott,
37, is facing charges of criminal mischief and
assaulting a public safety officer after allegedly
punching a Cottage Grove police officer during
his arrest. The officer was later taken to a local
hospital where he was treated and released.
Calls came in around 12:30 a.m. on August
21 of a man breaking store front windows.
Police say he attacked at least nine businesses
in the 700 and 800 blocks of Main Street before
he was arrested.
According to Sara Brown, who was awake
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