City Beat — 5A On the Applegate — 3A Getting the picture — 6A Still missing Search for John Jarrell continues, page 3A $ PUUBHF ( SPWF 4 FOUJOFM WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 SOUTH LANE COUNTY'S MOST AWARD-WINNING NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1889 VOLUME 128 • NUMBER 34 County health assessment prioritizes needs Also BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel M embers of the public were invited to Cot- tage Grove Community Medi- cal Center last week to help determine Lane County’s health needs and goals for the next three years. An event held Wednesday, Feb. 10 to unveil the annual Community Health Needs As- sessment also included the op- portunity for attendees to choose from a list of priorities for the 2016-19 Community Health Improvement Plan, and the top priority as voted on in Cottage Grove concerned the social and economic implications of poor health. According to PeaceHealth Senior Communications Spe- cialist Monique Danziger, Cot- tage Grove prioritized two items: Promoting access to the economic and social opportuni- ties necessary to live a healthy life and promoting healthy be- haviors and engaging the com- munity in healthy living. Danziger said it’s notable that community members are recognizing the direct impacts that social and economic factors can play with regard to living healthy, including factors such as high-quality education, se- cure jobs with good wages and housing that is both safe and affordable. Partners dedicated to community health could po- tentially focus on issues related to employment, fi nances, edu- cation, housing and transporta- tion. With regard to healthy be- haviors, the focus going forward will be on issues related to nutri- tion, physical activity, reducing substance abuse, sexual behav- iors and stress management. Representatives from United Way of Lane County, Lane County Public Health, Peace- Health and Trillium came together to reveal the 2016 Community Health Needs As- sessment (CHNA), which lists both progress in the three years since the last Community Health Improvement Plan and improve- ment needed to sustain such progress. Danziger wrote that the most notable improvement to public health in Lane County involves access to healthcare, whether through additional numbers of those receiving care through the Affordable Care Act or the opening of the new Veter- ans Administration hospital and other facilities. Recruiting of additional primary health care physicians has also improved healthcare access for the Coun- ty’s residents, she said. But there is still a long way to go toward a healthier Lane County, and chronic diseases and accidents remain the Coun- ty’s leading causes of death. To- bacco use, obesity, physical in- activity and alcohol use are still the most prominent preventable causes of death. The CHNA surveyed 2295 Lane County residents, asking them what they enjoyed most about living here. The availabil- ity of parks and natural recre- ation issues fi gured strongly, as inside: Please see HEALTH, Page 10A No Camping Committee set to present Harrison design to School Board on Feb. 22 Dorena Grange members circle fi ve new in- ductees into their Grange on Friday. The Grange has struggled to fi nd enough members to fi ll its offi ces in recent years. BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel A committee dedicated to the design and planning of a potential new Harrison El- ementary building will present a report to the South Lane School Board at its Monday, Feb. 22 meeting. South Lane Communications Coordinator Garrett Bridgens said the design planning com- mittee will present its report in anticipation of the School Board’s drafting of an offi cial reso- lution to place a $35-plus million bond levy to build a new Harrison on the ballot for the May 17, 2016 election. School District offi cials have sought to re- place the aging Harrison building — which was constructed in 1947 — for some time, and plan- ning for a bond levy to replace the school began in earnest in early 2014 with the formation of a 40-plus member bond advisory committee. The School Board voted to pursue a 25-year bond that would be used to build a new school, pro- vide technology and safety upgrades throughout the District and renovate the Warren H. Daugh- erty Aquatic Center. On Monday, the Board will vote whether to move forward with the bond, and if it does, the Board will have to fi le offi cial ballot paperwork with Lane County Elections by March 17. A fl ier that advocates of the bond levy have been disseminating throughout the community parcels out the intended use of the nearly $36 million that would be raised if the bond is ap- proved by voters: Construction of a new Har- rison building at the Taylor Ave. site of the former Cottage Grove High School is expected to cost about $18.9 million; safety and secu- rity upgrades district-wide, including security cameras and fi re security systems, is slated at about $1.45 million. Deferred maintenance projects such as roof replacements are listed at about $2.3 million, and network and technology upgrades are expected to cost about $1.25 mil- lion. The aquatic center upgrade is listed at $2.9 million. Renovating the current Kennedy High School location to accommodate an early learn- ing center is tabbed at just over $1 million, and relocating Kennedy to the former Delight Valley building is expected to cost $412,000. A $6.1 million line item for “other costs” including fur- nishings, fees and permits is also included. Bridgens said South Lane Superintendent Krista Parent had given 36 presentations to Please see BOND, Page 10A Police attempting to contact offenders, page 3A Old Almanac photo by Bruce Kelsh Classic tome still has wisdom to share, page 6A Dorena Grange fi ghts to survive BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel T oward the end of a ceremony held Fri- day afternoon to induct fi ve new recruits into their organization, members of Dorena Grange No. 835 surrounded their new Grangers in a welcoming embrace. Though the circle that closed in around new mem- bers Jim and Sharon Kness, Bill Anthony, Marilyn Wil- ber and Steve Barnes was a regularly prescribed fea- ture of the ceremony, the Grange had good cause to be extra thankful for their inclusion in its ranks. The Grange faces dangerously low membership numbers that could force the closure of its facility on Row River Road southeast of Cottage Grove and its consolidation with another Grange Hall, and many, including long- time Worthy Master Joe Snook, hope such a move is not necessary. Please see GRANGE, Page 10A Police change tactics regarding drug offenses With County prosecuting more felonies, attempted-possession misdemeanors become rare BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel A recent change in tactics at the county level has also altered the way the Cottage Grove Police Department charges those suspected of some crimes in the City, Interim Police Chief Scott Shepherd said. Lane County District Attorney Pa- tricia Perlow recently told the Senti- nel that her offi ce had prosecuted 80 more low-level, drug-related felonies per month since last August in an ef- fort to intervene before more serious crimes can be committed and defen- dants can amass a lengthy criminal history. “We’ve been referring many of them to the County’s drug treatment court,” Perlow said. “The goal has been to intervene in criminal activity earlier so that we can stop referring so many people to prison.” The change came about due to grant funding made available by the passage of Oregon House Bill 3194, which has funded more lawyers to prosecute low-level offenses. In tan- dem with the recent passage of a levy to fund more beds at the county jail, Perlow said the new way of business has helped the County keep a handle on criminality, though the grant fund- ing does expire in 2017. A 26-year veteran, Perlow was appointed to head the D.A.’s offi ce last July after the retirement of Alex Gardner. She is currently campaigning for election to the position in November. The fact that the District Attorney’s offi ce has been prosecuting drug- possession cases has not escaped the attention of the Cottage Grove Police Department, and Shepherd said of- fi cers with CGPD have largely cur- tailed a practice of charging those it fi nds in possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia with an attempted pos- session charge — a misdemeanor — so that they can be charged in Cottage Grove’s Municipal Court as opposed to felony charges that the County would not be able to handle. “They’re prosecuting many of those cases in the County’s drug court,” Shepherd said. “Because of the added attention people get through the drug court and the ability to have those offenses removed from their record through successful inter- ventions, we’ve stopped those types of charges except for the occasional attempt charge where it may be nec- essary.” Shepherd called the interventions available through the drug court a “good thing,” though he added that it will take some time to see if the change in policy is really working. “They’re just restarting the pro- gram now,” he said, “so it will be a matter of time before we see whether it makes a difference. 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