North Douglas herald. (Drain Or) 2023-current, December 01, 2024, Image 1

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    December 2024
FREE
Vol #2 Issue #12
Introducing the Willamette Valley Motoplex Experience
Story & Photos by Rusty Savage
You can’t miss the site of the Harley-Davidson
and Indian dealerships on the south side of Eugene/
Springfield, as you approach on I-5N. The Indian
Dealer is relatively new but the Harley-Davidson
store has been there since the ‘90s and now the
dealership includes the, historic, Royal Enfield line
of motorcycles. Since it opened at that location,
The Hughes Flying Boat
Now Latest Oregon Entry in the National Register of Historic Places
Story by Milo Banks
Oregon’s State Advisory Committee
on Historic Preservation recommended
the property’s nomination at their October
2023 meeting. The National Park Service,
which maintains the National Register,
accepted the nomination on October 15,
2024.
The Hughes Flying Boat (H-4
Hercules), often referred to as the “Spruce
Goose”, is nationally significant for its
association with Howard R. Hughes,
Jr., one of the most influential figures in
American aviation history, and for the
seaplane’s service as a research and testing
platform for innovative mechanically
Continued on Page 7
there have been a number of different owners and
I want to introduce you to the newest owner and
general manager, Joshua Sklaroff. Josh is not new
to motorcycles or Harley-Davidson motorcycles,
specifically.
“I’ve always had a passion for motorcycles
since I was a kid ever since seeing my Dad on his
Harley when he retired from the military. So I started
Continued on Page 5
Pass
Creek Park Closure Controversy
Story and Photos by Rusty Savage
It came as quite a surprise to
many people when Douglas County
announced the permanent closure of
Pass Creek Park last September, citing
low occupancy rates and not enough
revenue to cover operating costs. The
Douglas County Board of Commisioners
(BOC) has been accused of not playing
fair in it’s continued efforts to close, sell
and privatize the Park in spite of local
opposition.
Pass Creek County Park and
Campground is located right off of
Interstate 5 in Curtin, about 12 miles
south of Cottage Grove. 22 acres in size, it
has a day-use park, pavilion, playground,
a pond, and 30 full hook-up campsites,
restrooms, and showers.
“Pass Creek County Park simply
does not generate enough revenue to
cover the annual costs to operate the park
or to support additional investments,”
said Mark Wall, director of the Douglas
County Parks Department. “The Parks
Department is intentionally managed to
be financially self-sustaining. Therefore,
as a department that operates without
any general fund support, it is imperative
that we make fiscally responsible, and
Continued on Page 13