COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL December 16, 2015
Cottage Grove Retrospective
A look back at Sentinel stories from 30 and 60 years ago
How can I protect
myself from a fl ood?
F
loods are one of the most
common hazards in the
United States. However, all
fl oods are not alike. Some fl oods
develop slowly, sometimes over
a period of days. But fl ash fl oods
can develop quickly, sometimes
in just a few minutes and with-
out any visible signs of rain.
Be aware of fl ood hazards no
matter where you live, but espe-
cially if you live in a low-lying
area, near water or downstream
from a dam.
Dec. 11, 1985
Christmas Spirit falls on CG
From the working world, to fund raising and charity efforts, and
to those who just welcome the good times in general, Cottage Grove
rang in the Christmas season in earnest last week. The Tree of Joy at
the Cottage Grove Bank kicked off another year on Wednesday, but
the weekend's activities had something for everybody. Santa Clause
performed his own tour by visiting children at the city's three major
shopping areas. It also was the day downtown clothing merchants
held a fashion show behind Homestead Furniture.
POLICE BLOTTER
Dec. 7
Information, Gateway Blvd
A reporting person named
Eric requested a CAD note to
document ongoing incidents
of suspicious behavior by a
customer over a period of
time. The customer stays in
the offi ce for about 30 minutes
whenever there are only female
employees on duty and Eric
isn’t there. He is concerned
for their personal safety, the
customer is currently not there
now. The caller was advised to
have employees call whenever
customer comes to the location
and exhibits odd behavior.
Tips to stay safe during a
fl ood
Dec. 18, 1975
'We'll put the tracks here...'
The old Southern Pacifi c depot at 9th and Main streets will
soon be moving to a newly cleared site in the city's regional park,
a wooded area northwest of the Cottage Grove freeway off-ramp.
According to Jay Turley, staff assistant, the building's move is ten-
tatively set for Tuesday.
Cottage Grove Police Department 24-Hour Anonymous Tip Line: 767-0504
Criminal Mischief, Holly &
Kalapuya
An area resident reported
unknown subject placed a “no
parking, fi re-lane” sign from
another unknown location
on the ground adjacent to the
Mcfarland Cemetery sign at the
corner of Holly and Kalapuya.
The unknown suspect dug a
hole and planted the sign but
did not secure it. The caller
knocked down the sign and laid
it on the ground. It is unknown
when the incident occurred.
Dec. 8
Burglary Attempt, Main St.
A caller advised that subjects
were attempting to break into a
business on Main St. the previ-
ous night. The case was taken
for attempted burglary and
criminal mischief.
Fraud, Goodwill
A caller advised that a clerk
had accepted a fake 20 dollar
bill the night before. The caller
has confi rmed it with the bank.
Motor Vehicle Accident, Row
River Rd.
Subjects advised that they were
struck by a vehicle. It was
unknown if the vehicle was still
on scene. One injury occurred
and the injured subject was
transported by medics to the
Cottage Grove ER.
Dec. 9
Theft, Whiteaker Ave.
A caller advised that they had a
new laptop computer stolen off
of their front porch last night
that had just been delivered.
The laptop is described as a
Dell 15.4 inch Lattitude laptop
computer. The approximate
value is $95. The serial number
is unknown.
Dec. 12
Suspicious condition, Eighth
St.
Caller advised of two subjects
pulling a wagon picking up
food set out for the food drive.
Fire damages
home's attic
Crash leads
to serious
injuries
S
South Lane County Fire and Rescue person-
nel are reporting no injuries as the result of a
fi re in the attic of a home at the corner of Ash
and “O” streets in Cottage Grove Monday
morning.
Division Chief Justin Baird said fi re crews
responded to the home at 10:45 a.m. Monday
and required about an hour to extinguish a
fi re in the home’s attic. Much of the damage
caused by the fi re was contained in the attic,
though Baird said the Red Cross responded
to assist the family in the home due to the
loss of electricity as a result of the fi re.
outh Lane Fire personnel said
a white minivan overturned
at Milepost 2 on Row River Road
just outside Cottage Grove at 7:30
p.m. Sunday. Medics transported
the driver to PeaceHealth with seri-
ous injuries, thougn he could not be
identifi ed by press time Monday.
5A
Listen to the radio or televi-
sion for information.
Be aware that fl ash fl ooding
can occur. If there is any pos-
sibility of a fl ash fl ood, move
immediately to higher ground.
Do not wait for instructions to
move.
Be aware of stream, drainage
channels, canyons and other ar-
eas known to fl ood suddenly.
Flash fl oods can occur in
these areas with or without typi-
cal warnings such as rain clouds
or heavy rain.
If you must prepare to evacu-
ate, you should do the follow-
ing:
Secure your home. If you
have time, bring in outdoor fur-
niture. Move essential items to
an upper fl oor.
Turn off utilities at the main
switches or valves if instructed
to do so. Disconnect electrical
appliances. Do not touch elec-
trical equipment if you are wet
or standing in water.
If you have to leave your
home, remember these evacua-
tion tips:
Do not walk through mov-
ing water. Six inches of mov-
ing water can make you fall. If
you have to walk in water, walk
where the water is not moving.
Use a stick to check the fi rmness
of the ground in front of you.
Do not drive into fl ooded ar-
eas. If fl oodwaters rise around
your car, abandon the car and
move to higher ground if you can
do so safely. You and the vehicle
can be swept away quickly.
Selections from the City's
Friday Update
Councilor-at-large Sockball fi ght
vacancy
To celebrate the arrival of
CITY BEAT
Cottage Grove City Councilor
Heather Murphy will be leaving
her at-large position after Dec.
31. The City is taking applica-
tions for the position. The dead-
line to submit an application for
the Councilor at-large position
is Friday, Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. Ap-
plications are available online
at www.cottagegrove.org or at
City Hall in the City Manager’s
offi ce.
Second week of
leaf pickup
The Public Works Depart-
ment will resume collecting res-
idential leaves from city streets
this week. The third and fi nal
week of leaf pickup will be Dec.
28-31. For specifi c tips on leaf
placement in streets and other
safety considerations, please re-
view the Leaf Pickup Brochure
on-line at www.cottagegrove.
org or call 541-942-3349 to re-
quest a copy of the brochure.
winter, the Cottage Grove Youth
Advisory Council, in coordi-
nation with the Cottage Grove
Main Street Program, will be
holding a “sockball fi ght” in
the Cottage Grove Armory on
Friday, Dec. 18 from 5:30-7
p.m. The City is seeking dona-
tions of new socks in one of the
collection boxes at City Hall,
the Community Center or lo-
cal schools. Once donated, the
YAC will prepare the socks to
be used as a part of the sockball
fi ght. After the sockball fi ght,
the socks will be donated to lo-
cal organizations to distribute to
those in need.
A sockball fi ght is essentially
a snowball fi ght using balled
up socks instead of snowballs.
Spectators will be welcome to
watch the fi ght; however, there
are no guarantees that a stray
sock won’t get into the specta-
tor area.
The City says the sockball
fi ght is being held to provide
more activities downtown and
provide some entertainment
for kids while parents can shop
downtown.
OFFBEAT
Continued from page 4A
up so that the lights could stay
on all the way up until the time
the ship went down — appar-
ently unaware of the connection
between that extra convenience
and the evening’s deadly steam
explosion — their jaws must
have dropped. The newspaper
6
also had a word or two of praise
for the Captain Harry Hobey’s
“heroic direction of the life-sav-
ing,” noting that he went down
with the ship in grand old mari-
time style. (It later transpired
that he was killed when the fun-
nel fell over on him, probably as
a result of the steam explosion.)
But a day or two later, the sto-
ry was already starting to wear
a little thin. Passengers, now re-
covered from their ordeal, were
telling of the panicky inexperi-
ence shown by the crew, most of
whom had obviously never done
a lifeboat drill in their short
young lives; the rough, rusty
and leaky condition of the life-
boats themselves; and the total
lack of coordination or manage-
ment by the ship’s offi cers.
Board Position #3 Available
-day
weather forecast
THURSDAY Dec. 17
FRIDAY Dec. 18
47° | 48°
38° | 49°
Rain
Rain
SATURDAY Dec. 19
SUNDAY Dec. 20
37° | 47°
38° | 45°
Showers
Poss. Showers
MONDAY Dec. 21
TUESDAY Dec. 22
39° | 45°
36° | 45°
Poss. Showers
Snow
B4UBIDIBRNORBLOAWAYCZIA
South Lane County Fire & Rescue services a 132 square mile
area for fi re/rescue/EMS services based on voter approved taxing
rates, levies and bonds equaling $1.80/$1000 beginning with fi scal
year 2016-2017. The current voter approved permanent and levied
rate is $1.50/$1000 of assessed property value including a house
and fi ve acres within the District’s boundaries. The District further
provides advanced life support ambulance service to an area totaling
850 square miles. The area outside the District’s 132 square mile area
does not provide tax revenue. The District operates from four fi re
stations and staffs the Cottage Grove and Creswell stations 24/7 with
a combination of career/resident and community volunteer personnel.
The Saginaw station is staffed 24/7 with off duty residents and the
Camas Swale station with community volunteers. The District is
managed by the Fire Chief who reports directly to the fi ve member
Board of Directors. All other District personnel report to the Fire
Chief utilizing a chain of command.
South Lane County Fire and Rescue has a current Board Position
(#3) vacant due to a member resignation. An appointment would place
somebody in this position who would fi nish out the remaining 2 years
of the term. The district is seeking an individual who has the desire to
contribute to ongoing efforts aimed at enhancing and improving fi re
services in the South Lane County community. Interested applicants
must be at least 18 years of age, be an elector, or a property owner
within the district. Interested candidates should submit a letter of
interest including a brief description of their background, and why
they believe they should be appointed to fi ll the vacant seat. Letters
of interest must be submitted to the district offi ce at 233 E. Harrison
Ave Cottage Grove, OR 97424 by 5:00pm Friday January 8, 2016.
All candidates for SLCFR Board Position #3 should attend the
South Lane County Fire and Rescue Board Meeting to be held at our
Cottage Grove Station located at, 233 E. Harrison Ave Cottage Grove
OR 97424 on January 21, 2016 at 6:00pm.
Horner wrote, with consid-
erable bitterness, that he never
saw a single ship’s offi cer on the
deck where the lifeboats were
being launched; everything was
left to enterprising passengers
and the overwhelmed, demoral-
ized crew. He helped launch boat
after boat until the ship sank be-
neath his feet, but he never even
saw one of the ship’s offi cers un-
til he was taken aboard the res-
cue boat, after about eight hours
of shivering in the sea. When he
did see them, it was clear from
the pristine condition of their
clothes and uniforms that they
hadn’t been doing much hard
work that night.
“You wouldn’t believe it, but
all the offi cers of the Alaska
were in the same condition,
didn’t even get their shoes wet,”
he wrote. “How do you suppose
they did it? They testifi ed in S.F.
that they didn’t leave the sink-
ing vessel until all passengers
were off … so you draw your
own conclusions.”
The federal inspectors, after
hearing all the testimony, drew
their own conclusions as well,
fi nding all three surviving ship’s
offi cers negligent a few days lat-
er; however, all were cleared of
all charges at their formal hear-
ing the following month.
(Sources: Allen, Cain. “Ed-
gar Horner and the Wreck of
the Alaska,” Oregon Historical
Quarterly, Spring 2001; Port-
land Morning Oregonian, Aug.
8, 9, 11, 12 and 19, 1921; www.
wrecksite.eu)
Finn J.D. John teaches at Or-
egon State University and writes
about odd tidbits of Oregon his-
tory. For details, see http://fi nn-
john.com. To contact him or
suggest a topic: fi nn2@offbe-
atoregon.com or 541-357-2222.
SCHOOL BOARD REQUESTS
APPLICANTS FOR
BUDGET COMMITTEE
The South Lane School Board of Directors is selecting
citizens to serve on the District Budget Committee to
represent Position 6. All positions serve a three-year
term.
To be eligible for appointment, a school district budget
committee candidate must:
· _Not be an offi cer, employee or agent of the district
· _Be a qualifi ed voter of the district
Interested citizens are asked to obtain an application
from the District Service Center located at 455 Adams
and return it to Superintendent Krista Parent or Mary
Dubbs, Board Secretary, South Lane School District,
P.O. Box 218, Cottage Grove, OR 97424.
The deadline for application submission to the South
Lane School District offi ce is January 31, 2016.