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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 2015)
Symphony, part II — 5A Faith Page — 6A Concerning Creswell — 9A Girls' soccer tops Sky-Em, page 1B $ PUUBHF ( SPWF 4 FOUJOFM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015 SOUTH LANE COUNTY'S MOST AWARD-WINNING NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1889 VOLUME 128 • NUMBER 18 Council votes to ban smoking in parks Another 'yes' vote is needed to enact the ordinance BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel T he Cottage Grove City Council passed a unani- mous vote to prohibit smoking in the City’s parks on Monday night, though the Council’s rules dictate that it will require another passing vote at a subse- quent meeting to enact the ordi- nance. City Manager Richard Mey- ers explained to the Council that Mayor Tom Munroe had expressed an interest in banning smoking in the parks, and by the comments and vote from the Council, it appears they share that interest. The Council is ex- pected to revisit the ordinance again at its Nov. 9 meeting, at which it will likely be adopted. Currently, city codes prohibit smoking inside park buildings, with reference to the Indoor Clean Air Act, and a recent council discussion regarding the use of electronic smoking devices, or “vaping,” amended the defi nition of “smoking” to mean “inhaling, exhaling, burn- ing, or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, pipe, weed, plant or other tobacco- like product…in any form,” which also includes “the use of an electronic smoking device.” Councilor Jeff Gowing indi- cated a concern that the ordi- nance didn’t specify a stance on the use of chewing tobacco, to which Meyers responded that the new rule would state that no person may use a tobacco prod- uct, which would include chew- ing tobacco. A light crowd observed the proceedings Monday night, with the few public comments reg- istered in support of the parks smoking ban. Garrett Bridgens, a school- district employee, said he came to address the Council as a fa- ther who has had to tell his chil- dren he can’t use the swings at City parks because there were people smoking there. “There are places we want kids to be able to go to be in a smoke-free environment,” Brid- gens said. Elizabeth Boram thanked the Council for “considering mak- ing this place as healthy as pos- sible.” A nurse by occupation, Boram said she had witnessed “sad things about mothers who smoke and have smoke around children.” She also asked if the ordinance addressed marijuana smoke, to which Meyers re- sponded that smoking marijuana in public is already illegal. Jessica Pemberton said that, as a former smoker, signs in- forming her that it was illegal to smoke near building entrances opened her eyes to the impact smoking can have on others. “I fi gure that if people see signs there (at the parks) say- ing not to smoke, maybe they would actually move away from Also inside: Please see PARKS, Page 10A Head, Hands, Heart, Health Supporters of 4-H hoping it can make a comeback in South Lane County BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel T he rain beat steadily on the metal roofs of the barns at the Western Oregon Exposition Fairgrounds on Sunday, but the much-needed showers did little to dampen the mood inside. There, youths busied them- selves with sack races, balloon games and a “needle in the hay- stack” search that substituted coins for needles — the kind of “wholesome fun” that one par- ent and volunteer said epitomiz- es the program the event aimed to promote. A few dozen kids and their parents attended the second in a series of meetings that doubled as a way to get the word out about 4-H — the youth mentor- ing and development organiza- tion that boasts over six million members aged 5-18 nationwide — in southern Lane County. Or- ganizers say a chicken barbeque held last month drew about 80 youths to learn about 4-H, a plus for an organization that’s hop- ing to rebound from the loss of county funding that essentially ended its offerings in the area. In previous years, Lane Coun- ty partnered with the Oregon State University Extension Ser- vice to offer 4-H here, but hard economic times, coupled with the County’s loss of federal tim- ber funds, forced the County to cut its funding to the Extension in 2008. “Every state in the nation has 4-H, as does every county, but our county doesn’t support it, so we have to do it ourselves,” said Ken Ball, a Community Club Leader who’s been involved with the program for decades. TARDIS Free library goes up downtown, page 3A photo by Jon Stinnett Tara Eckstine helps son Augie get ready for a sack race with Everett Eckstine and Colton Crudele during a 4-H event at the WOE Fairgrounds Sunday. There are 4-H clubs operating in East Lane County (headquar- tered in Pleasant Hill) and Lon- don Springs, but Ball and others are hoping the South Lane group has a bright future after a lack of activity until about a year ago. Still, the lack of funding means that membership fees are need- ed to fund 4-H programs, which Ball said can be a diffi cult pros- pect for area families. “I’d way we have about 20 percent of the membership we used to, judging from the turn- out at the Lane County animal auction,” he said. “I’m not sure we’ll ever be as big as we used to be.” “But we’re staying hopeful,” interjected Brittney Kuebler, a club leader who began her in- volvement in 4-H and the WOE Fair at age six. Please see 4-H, Page 10A Invasives Non-native crayfi sh concern ODFW, page 5B Ribbon-cutting dedicates Row undercrossing BY SAM WRIGHT The Cottage Grove Sentinel T he afternoon of Wednesday, Oct. 21 saw the offi cial unveiling of an underpass for the Row River bike path. The path itself is a widely popular attraction in the community, and dur- ing last week’s ribbon cutting, speakers stated that the underpass (which takes cyclists and other users under Row Riv- er Road) is a necessity. The path saw its fi rst fatality in 2007. The victim of the tragedy was Claude Weimer, a new member of the Cottage Grove community (just six months) who was hit by a car. Four years later, Michele Portmann was hit and killed by a car on the same path at the same crossing. East Lane County Commis- Transportation Planning Manager, also praised the success of the project. “It’s unfortunate that these things are precipitated by a tragic event, but it really makes people want to act,” she said. Standing to cut the ribbon were the family members who survived Weimer and Portmann. Weimer’s wife, Elaine, held the gigantic scissors to cut the rib- bon while Portmann’s sister, Marsha Yandell, watched on. The tunnel was accompanied by an- other project (under the same $1 mil- lion federal grant) to rebuild a crossing at milepost 5.4. Cottage Grove resident and cycling enthusiast Don Strahan feels the tunnel is a huge improvement for the safety of cyclists. sioner Faye Stewart was there to speak at the unveiling. “When you fi nd yourself in a position where you really need to act, it’s really important that this all came together,” Stewart said. “Through hard work and great partnerships, we were able to ac- complish what you see today.” Individually, the city of Cottage Grove and Lane County struggled to fi nd the funds and resources to begin the project, which totaled $1 million. “Coming together to do it all, and partnering with Weitman Excavation made it possible,” Stewart said. Stewart, who is also a Cottage Grove resident, recalled his worries using the path with his children, and said he now feels much safer. Lydia McKinney, the Lane County photo by Greg Lee Elaine Weimer, wife of Claude Weimer, and Marsha Yandell, sister of Michele Portmann, cut the ribbon todedicate the new undercrossing. Rain Country Realty Inc. ALE S T R SHO 122 N “M” St Don’t let the price fool you – bring an offer. Studio with 3 car garage priced at C Principal Brokers Teresa Abbott ..................221-1735 Frank Brazell....................953-2407 Lane Hillendahl ................942-6838 1019 Bear Creek Rd. K E E R 6 flat usable care, currently in Hay. Large home with unfinished 2nd floor, on Bear Creek Rd. Just 10 minutes south of the Grove $125,000 but will look at anything. Brokers Laurie Phillip....................430-0756 Valerie Nash ....................521-1618 $349,950 Licensed in the State of Oregon ! 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