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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 2015)
New drug dog — 5A Off and running Chase nets different suspect — 3A Jamborree starts 2015 gridiron season, page 1B Parent Partnership — 9A $ PUUBHF ( SPWF 4 FOUJOFM WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015 SOUTH LANE COUNTY'S MOST AWARD-WINNING NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1889 VOLUME 127 • NUMBER 10 Four apply for Ward IV City Council seat Council expected to discuss appointment before its Sept. 14 meeting BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel T he application deadline for those interested in becoming Cottage Grove’s next city councilor passed Fri- day, and it looks like there will be four potential candidates for the position. Councilor Kate Price resigned from the Council’s Ward IV seat at the beginning of July, citing a move out of the ward, which takes in residents living south of Madison Ave. and east of Highway 99. The deadline for those applying for ap- pointment to the position came and went Friday afternoon. City Recorder Trudy Borrevik said there are four potential candidates, who must be registered voters in the ward. An application has been received from Police Chief announces retirement IT consultant Greg Ervin, who currently serves on the City’s Budget Committee, Borrevik said. Also applying was Amy Slay, an 11-year veteran of Weyerhaeuser who describes herself as a single mother on her application. Emily Robinson, a Grants Hearing employee who is active with the Pay it Forward Cottage Grove Facebook group, and Chloe Beckes, owner/operator of Jack Sprats restaurant on Main Street, have also applied. Borrevik said the applications will be forwarded to members of the Council, Also inside: who may choose to have a special meet- ing to conduct interviews, likely next week. Depending on scheduling, the Council will likely discuss the possible appointment of one of the candidates at its Sept. 14 or 28 meeting. Councilor Jeff Gowing was the last to be appointed to a seat on the Council fol- lowing the retirement of Lynn Miller in 2009; Gowing was subsequently reelect- ed to a full term. G OING TO THE DOGS Commander Scott Shepherd will serve as interim Paying it Forward Fundraiser aids online group, page 3A BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel T he Cottage Grove Police Department will have a new boss starting next week. Police Chief Mike Grover announced his retirement from the City of Cottage Grove on Friday, a move that was announced via the City’s Friday Update and is effective beginning Saturday, Sept. 5. A 46-year veteran of law enforcement, Grover has been with the Police Department since April of 1983. He was made its interim chief in No- vember of 1991 and became Chief the following October. In addition to his 32 years of service in Cottage Grove he served with Lane County and Police Chief Lakewood, Colorado. Mike Grover “His expertise and integrity will be missed,” the update read. City Manager Richard Meyers announced that he has appointed Commander Scott Shepherd as Interim Police Chief. Shepherd has been with the department since July of 1994. Meyers said Shepherd will serve as interim chief for a term of at least six months, after which a formal re- cruitment process will take place. “You want to look around and get the best person possible, but you also want to give an opportunity for someone that is qualifi ed,” Meyers said, adding that Shepherd has already begun training for the position. Better buses Grant helps Creswell upgrade, page 6A photo by Jon Stinnett Mary and Stephen Nisewander and their dog, Thor, are excited about their plans for a dog park behind their car wash on Main Street. Dog park planned on Main Street BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel W hen Steve Nisewander comes into Cottage Grove to check on his family’s car wash on Main Street, he often brings his four-year old Malamute, Thor, for a romp in the empty lot behind the business. Now, it appears that should Nisewander’s plans come to pass, Thor will soon have a lot more company. On Sept. 16, plans for a dog park in the 120x250-foot tract of land between Lulu’s Car Wash on Main and the Row River Trail are sched- uled to be reviewed by the Cottage Grove Planning Commission. Ap- proval by the Commission and, lat- er, the City Council, should bring the dog park — a feature sought by Please see PARK, Page 11A Rainfall, cooler temps prompt lower fi re-restriction level BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel A bit of much-anticipated rainfall graced the Willa- mette Valley over the weekend, in the process easing concerns and restrictions regarding the danger of fi res in the area. The website Weather Un- derground, located at wun- derground.com, listed rainfall amounts of just over a tenth of an inch on both Saturday and Sunday at a weather station southeast of Cottage Grove, with about a quarter-inch report- ed in the month of August. The rain “has helped tremendously with the fi re danger,” accord- ing to South Lane County Fire and Rescue, which in response lowered the fi re danger level in the District to Level 2 begin- ning Monday. This level allows for the use of power equipment each day after 8 p.m. and before 1 p.m., according to a Facebook post from the District. A chorus of lawnmowers could be heard in Cottage Grove early Monday in response to the news. The Oregon Department of Forestry also eased its own fi re restrictions for lands under the control of the agency on Mon- day. “While the cooler tempera- tures and rain showers over the weekend were not enough to end fi re season, it did bring much needed relief to the area. These mild conditions allowed the Douglas Forest Protective Association to drop the fi re dan- ger to ‘moderate’ and to make adjustments to both the public and industrial fi re restrictions,” according to a news release from ODF Fire Prevention Spe- cialist Kyle Reed of the Douglas Forest Protective Association. “After we received the fi rst round of rain early Saturday morning, we were able to re- view and update the Public Use Restrictions” said Reed. “The major changes to the Public Use Restrictions now allow the mowing of dry grass with power equipment before 10 a.m. or af- ter 8 p.m. and allows campfi res within DFPA’s designated camp- grounds again. All other Public Use Restrictions remained the same.” Reed added that, thanks to the moderate conditions, DFPA was also able to lower the Industrial Fire Precaution Level to IFPL 2 of all DFPA protected land, a change that went into effect Monday at 8 a.m. During IFPL 2, the following industrial ac- tivities are prohibited between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.: Power saws, except power saws at loading sites; cable yarding; blasting; welding or cutting of metal. A two-hour fi re watch is also required when an industrial op- eration has fi nished working for the day during IFPL 2. Reed reminds that while changes have been made to both the industrial and public fi re re- strictions, fi re season remains in effect and everyone still needs to be aware of the threat of new fi res. In a fi re update dated Mon- day, ODF also added that “fi re- fi ghting resources are scarce due to the large fi res burning in Oregon and Washington, and any new fi res would strain the fi re protection system.” “Generally in Southern Or- egon, fi re season runs into Oc- tober,” said Reed. “As condi- tions change between now and the end of fi re season, the Public Use Restrictions and IFPL will be adjusted accordingly. It is important that both the public and industrial operators stay up- dated on the current fi re restric- tions by visiting www.dfpa.net or by calling DFPA’s 24 hour in- formation line at 541-672-0379 for the latest fi re restrictions.” Lane County also eased cer- tain fi re restrictions in response to the change in the weather. On Monday, the County announced that it is ‘lifting its campfi re ban for Lane County parks and its partial closure of the Howard Buford Recreation Area at Mt. Pisgah in response to the De- partment of Forestry’s reduction of fi re precaution levels in the area. “Campfi res are now allowed in designated Lane County park fi re pits, and all trails at the Howard Buford Recreation Area (Mt. Pisgah) are open to the public,” said a Monday news release. “We are glad to be able to re- open Mt. Pisgah trails and allow fi res in designated fi re pits,” said Lane County Parks Supervisor Mike Russell. “Our parks are wonderful places for residents and visitors, and we want peo- ple out on our trails and in our campgrounds enjoying them- selves and celebrating the last few weeks of summer.” Lane County Parks encour- ages visitors to remain cau- tious and aware of the potential for wildfi re and take necessary steps to help protect parks and open spaces. Rain Country Realty Inc. N ING T S I L EW 545 Cresswood Loop, Creswell Vaulted ceilings, 3 bedroom, 2 bath with fenced yard. Built in 2002 with 1161sqft. Principal Brokers Teresa Abbott ..................221-1735 Frank Brazell....................953-2407 Lane Hillendahl ................942-6838 We wish you a safe and sober Labor Day weekend Brokers Laurie Phillip....................430-0756 Valerie Nash ....................521-1618 from your friends and neighbors at Rain Country Realty Inc. $199,500 Licensed in the State of Oregon ! CONTACT US www.cgsentinel.com On the Internet (541) 942-3325 By telephone (541) 942-3328 By fax cgnews@cgsentinel.com By e-mail P.O. Box 35, Cottage Grove, OR 97424 By mail Corner of Sixth and Whiteaker, Cottage Grove In person WEATHER CONTENTS HIGH LOW 69 46 Some showers Calendar....................................... 11B Channel Guide ............................... 4B Classified ads................................. 6B Obituaries....................................... 2A Opinion .......................................... 4A Public Safety .................................. 5A Sports ............................................ 1B 75 CENTS
