Chatterbox — 6A
Cat burglar — 7A
Beyond the Grove — 8A
Ice!
Freezing rain snarls
I-5 traffi c, page 5A
$ PUUBHF ( SPWF 4 FOUJOFM
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2016
SOUTH LANE COUNTY'S MOST AWARD-WINNING NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1889
VOLUME 128 • NUMBER 28
Cascade Home Centers sold
BY JON STINNETT
The Cottage Grove Sentinel
A
fter two decades in business to-
gether, the Devine and Gillett
families are moving on.
On Thursday, George Devine and
Gene Gillett, co-owners of Cascade
Home Center stores in Cottage Grove
and Creswell along with their wives,
Teri and Deanna, announced that, effec-
tive Jan. 1, they had sold their stores to
the Ringer family, which operates three
Gold Beach Lumber stores on Oregon’s
south coast.
It’s a move that’s been in the works for
two or three years, as Gillett and Devine
worked to formulate an “exit strategy”
from their business that would allow
them to spend more time with family
and enjoy other pursuits.
“It’s time to turn the business over to
people who can take it further,” Gillett
said.
The deal has been offi cial for about
a year, they said, during which they’ve
done a fi ne job of keeping the change
under wraps.
“Trying to keep a secret like this is
hard, especially in a small town,” Devine
said.
Twenty years ago, Devine and Gillett
purchased Witt’s Home Center at the
corner of Sixth Street and Washington
Avenue in downtown Cottage Grove.
Cascade Home Center has since experi-
enced marked growth, with the Devines
and Gilletts expanding the store’s foot-
print to include several surrounding
buildings. In 2011, Cascade was granted
a 25-year easement from the City of
Cottage Grove that allowed the business
to close Washington Street between its
storefront and lumberyard, a controver-
sial move at the time that Devine and
Gillett said kept the store from relocat-
ing out of downtown Cottage Grove. A
major renovation followed. They pur-
chased Creswell Hardware in 1999 and
later renamed and relocated the business
in 2003. Throughout their ownership,
George Devine and Gene Gillett have
Please see CASCADE, Page 11A
Also
inside:
First Baby!
photo by Jon Stinnett
George Devine and Gene Gillett announced that they've completed the
sale of Cascade Home Centers in Cottage Grove and Creswell.
Kamaya Gray is CG's
fi rst of 2016, page 3A
Four to interview
for vacant City
Council seat
G O ASK A.L.I.C.E.
Council expected to appoint a
candidate at its Jan. 25 mtg.
BY JON STINNETT
The Cottage Grove Sentinel
T
photo by Jon Stinnett
Teachers with South Lane School District attempt to barricade a classroom door during a drill
similating the presence of an active shooter at Cottage Grove High School Monday.
Training teaches ways to counter
an active shooter in school
BY JON STINNETT
The Cottage Grove Sentinel
C
lasses were not in session
for students in South Lane
School District Monday. Instead, it
was the District’s teachers, custodi-
ans, food workers and other employ-
ees who reported to Cottage Grove
High School for a vivid lesson in
how best to respond in the event of
an active shooter at area schools.
Lane County Sheriff’s Depu-
ty Scott Denham said that about
150 district personnel were on
hand Monday for training in the
A.L.I.C.E. method of response to an
active shooter at school, a training
described as “intense” and “emo-
tional” by some of the teachers
present. Denham, who supervised
the training, said district employees
were “very receptive” to the lessons
taught by A.L.I.C.E, which stands
for “Alert, Lockdown, Inform,
Counter and Evacuate.”
The training was split into two
segments, with employees of Cot-
tage Grove High School, Kennedy
High School and Lincoln Middle
School viewing a one-hour Power
Point presentation followed by
a scenario involving a simulated
school shooting and seven separate
stations that built on the A.L.I.C.E.
methodology. Elementary-school
employees underwent the training
in the afternoon. Offi cers from six
law enforcement agencies including
the Cottage Grove Police
he Cottage Grove City Council has four can-
didates from which to appoint an additional
at-large councilor this month.
Back in November, Councilor Heather Murphy
announced her upcoming departure from one of
the Council’s two at-large positions effective Dec.
31. A Dec. 18 deadline was set for applications for
appointment to the position, and the City received
paperwork from a diverse group that includes a
student, a local radio personality, the former direc-
tor of the local watershed council and an IT con-
sultant.
Henry Lancaster, 20, listed the presidency of
the student body at Kennedy High School and
membership in the City’s Youth Advisory Coun-
cil as assets. He was also the former captain of
the state-champion chess club at Cottage Grove
High School and is currently apprenticing with
leatherworker Jack Gates. Lancaster wrote that
he seeks an involvement in politics, citing a need
for communication to keep residents informed of
Council business and current events, including the
Council’s outreach to local schools. He also men-
tioned “health and sanitation issues” as a priority.
City statutes dictate that City Councilors must be
18 years of age, be registered voters and reside in
their ward for 12 months.
Kenneth Roberts is known to many as a person-
ality on radio station KNND in Cottage Grove. He
also recently sought a position on Cottage Grove’s
Planning Commission, though two available seats
were awarded to their incumbents. Roberts has
served on the City budget committee. He wrote
that fi lling empty buildings such as the old Ray’s
and Kwikee sites are major Council concerns, in
addition to proper growth and infrastructure up-
dates.
“It has been my dream to serve my city that has
given me so much,” Roberts wrote.
Greg Ervin, another member of the City’s budget
committee, owns his own IT consulting company
UP
805 Gateway Blvd
3 bedroom, freshly
redone with new carpet
and paint (inside and
out). Cute house and
great investment at this
price
2
ES
R
C
A
.41
Police search for
Creswell man, page
8A
Principal Brokers
Teresa Abbott ..................221-1735
Frank Brazell....................953-2407
Lane Hillendahl ................942-6838
39372 Row River Rd
2 bedroom, 1 bath with
room for expansion.
New roof and siding
with cedar underneath.
Fixer with small barn
(large shed?) and lots of
Fruit Trees. 2 AP’s
Brokers
Laurie Phillip....................430-0756
Valerie Nash ....................521-1618
$129,900
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
Missing!
Please see COUNCIL, Page 11A
$134,900
CONTACT US
Local enthusiast
describes the
renaissance, page 3A
Please see ALICE, Page 11A
Rain Country Realty Inc.
ED
D
A
R
G
Gamesquall
WEATHER
CONTENTS
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Mostly Cloudy
Licensed in the
State of Oregon
Calendar....................................... 11B
Channel Guide ............................... 4B
Classified ads................................. 6B
Obituaries....................................... 2A
Opinion .......................................... 4A
Public Safety .................................. 5A
Sports ............................................ 1B
1 Dollar