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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2015)
Rotary marks a milestone, page 3A Traffic sting stats — 5A Farmer celebration — 3A How Bazaar! — 11A HARRIERS PEAKING IN ADVANCE OF DISTRICT MEET, PAGE 1B $ PUUBHF ( SPWF 4 FOUJOFM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 SOUTH LANE COUNTY'S MOST AWARD-WINNING NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1889 VOLUME 128 • NUMBER 17 Worksession details Harrison school bond process BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel A sizeable crowd joined the South Lane School District Board of Directors Monday night to discuss ef- forts to secure a bond levy to replace the aging Harrison Elementary School building in Cottage Grove. Moved to the Cottage Grove High School library to accommodate the crowd, the meeting functioned as a school board worksession but was also billed as a “community conversation” about the bond process, a conversation that included presentations about the need for a new Harrison building, the work that’s already been done to try ther inadequate or non-existent district- wide. Technology is also inadequate at every school, and maintenance of the Warren H. Daugherty Aquatic Center — an aging district facility that’s also been the subject of scrutiny during the bond process — has almost become unmanageable, according to Parent, who added that the District feels it has the “perfect opportunity” to secure a bond from voters to pay for these and other upgrades. She explained that the bond used to build the current Cottage Grove High School drops signifi cantly in cost in 2017 and that a new bond could contin- ue where the old one left off. A similar plan in other school districts has led to to secure the bond and brainstorming about what the proper school might look like. Board President Tammy Hodgkinson welcomed the group and spoke of how much “forward momentum there is to get this ball rolling.” Superintendent Krista Parent then addressed the need for a new Harrison. The building on 10th Street was built in 1948 to house just 125 students, though Parent said it’s now tasked with housing about 450. With regard to other items that may be covered by the bond, there are about $5 million worth of deferred maintenance projects throughout the District, Parent said, and security and fi re protection are ei- the passage of bonds, she said. In addition, the Oregon Legislature recently passed Senate Bill 447, which could provide $4-8 million in matching grant funds for the South Lane bond process — the criteria include the per- centage of students at the poverty level and a fi rst come, fi rst served approach beginning in May of 2016 (the District also hopes to put the bond before vot- ers in the May, 2016 election). Parent pointed to a community sur- vey with 55 percent of respondents saying they’d support the bond even if it raised their property tax rate and 89 percent that said they would sup- port the bond if it didn’t raise taxes. An advisory committee has recommended Please see BOND, Page 8A Trick-or-treating set for Friday, Oct. 30 Health Fair focuses on quality of life C lose to two-dozen ven- dors and guest speakers showcased offerings that aim to bolster health and well-being at the fi rst Cottage Grove Health and Wellness Fair. Representa- tives from local in-home and se- nior care facilities, rehabilitation centers, product manufacturers, spiritual health advocates and health-care workers presented their wares at the Cottage Grove Bible Church Monday. Speakers touched on topics including foot care, nutrition and Medicare. Grove Medical Equipment and the Cottage Grove Care- giver's Association organized the fi rst event, which Grove Medical's Michele Savage said is expected to become an annual occurrence. "It's all about fostering a healthy lifestyle, about promot- ing quality of life and commu- nity awareness," Savage said. a 25-year bond that could raise about $29.5 million to build a new school and make other upgrades. Still, there are questions as yet unan- swered, such as where the current Ken- nedy High School building would be relocated from the Taylor Street prop- erty where a new Harrison would be built. Four athletic fi elds would also be lost at the property with the construc- tion of a new school. The District has formed planning and campaign committees to spearhead the bond efforts, and if the bond passes, it hopes to open the new Harrison school in the fall of 2018. Group makes decision to hold event Friday instead of Saturday evening BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel A photo by Jon Stinnett Representing Oregon Telecommunications and Relay Service, Linda Diaz (left) talks with Ellie Golding about telephone options available for those with a variety of disabilities, including trouble hearing, memory loss and loss of vision. group of local leaders recently gathered to plan Cottage Grove’s Halloween fes- tivities, acknowledging a diffi - cult decision that has been met with approval by some and dis- may by others. Cottage Grove has hosted Halloween trick-or-treating downtown for some time now, and for the past few years, Main Street has been closed for trick- or-treating during the event. It’s an arrangement that has drawn massive crowds downtown, but having Oct. 31 itself fall on a Saturday this year prompted a look at whether Friday or Sat- urday evening would be best for trick-or-treating. Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, the Cottage Grove Main Street Pro- gram and the Sentinel met with downtown merchants — who typically supply the “treats” for the annual trick-or-treating — to try to determine which would be the best night for the event. They say the response was split pretty much down the middle between those who prefer Fri- day and those who feel it should happen on Saturday, though the group eventually decided that trick-or-treating will take place Friday from 3-5 p.m. with the Downtown Art Walk following at 6 p.m. It’s a decision that irked at least one local resident, who voiced her disapproval at the Monday, Oct. 12 meeting of the Cottage Grove City Council. During a public comment peri- od, Tinika Ossman-Steier stated that having downtown trick-or- Please see HALLOWEEN, Page 8A Donations bolster Library's children's book collection Youth Servic- es Librarian Valarie Johns shows the inscription in a new book that identi- fi es it as a donation at a ribbon-cut- ting for new children's books held after Friday's storytime. Foundation, library friends and individuals donate new books BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel A n added bit of pageantry accompanied the Cottage Grove Library’s weekly Storytime for Tots Friday morning. Following the stories and songs for kids, the Library held a ribbon-cutting to dedicate new books provided by a grant from the locally based Pilcrow Foundation, the Friends of the Cottage Grove Library and two individuals. Founded in 2013, the Pilcrow Foundation works to provide new hardcover children’s books to small public libraries throughout the United States; its director, Karren Tim- mermans, hails from Cottage Grove, and the Foundation is based here. “Libraries are often the center of the com- munity, where people come together to learn and share ideas,” said the Foundation’s web- site. “Providing quality children’s books to rural public libraries ensures an opportunity for active engagement within the community and lifelong learning.” The foundation provides a two-to-one match of community donations toward the purchase of new books, and the Foundation matched the $400 gift from the Friends of the Library to put $800 toward the purchase of 93 new children’s books. These included board books, picture books, juvenile fi ction and books for the Spanish-language juvenile section. In addition, Hal Berenson and Laura Ackerman donated 23 math and science books valued at over $400. “We got a great list of books to choose from, though we had a hard time choosing them,” said Valarie Johns, Youth Services Li- brarian. “This is pretty much equal to our en- tire children’s book budget, and it’s going to allow us to provide a much-needed update to our collection.” photo by Jon Stinnett Rain Country Realty Inc. PRI ED C U D E R CE 545 Crestwood Loop, Creswell Large corner lot has room for RV, Boat or other toys. 2002 Home boasts 3 bedrooms, 2baths, vaulted ceilinga and large kitchen with extra storage. Come and get it! NT O R F RIVER Principal Brokers Teresa Abbott ..................221-1735 Frank Brazell....................953-2407 Lane Hillendahl ................942-6838 130 Creekview Lane, Drain 6 plus acres on Elk Creek with home, 2 cabins, shop and storage. Beautiful pastures and can be divide into 3 lots each with a small home or build new. Make an appointment to see now! Brokers Laurie Phillip....................430-0756 Valerie Nash ....................521-1618 $255,000 $194,500 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 67 46 Sunny Calendar....................................... 11B Channel Guide ............................... 8B Classified ads................................. 5B Obituaries....................................... 2A Opinion .......................................... 4A Public Safety .................................. 5A Sports ............................................ 1B 75 CENTS
