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. My hope is that
the added attention some defendants
may get through drug court will be
benefi cial.”
Rain Country Realty Inc.
G
A
E
R
AC
E
39372 Row River Rd
2.41 acres
with small 2 bdrm
home, fruit trees and
small barn.
Near Recreation
and River
E
R
C
2 A
S
Close to town 3
bdrm, 2 bath home
with lots of square
footage on 2 acres
includes hot tub,
and fencing.
$116,000
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
Valerie Nash ....................521-1618
Licensed in the
State of Oregon
CONTENTS
HIGH
LOW
59 42
Rain
Broker
$345,000
CONTACT US
Principal Brokers
Teresa Abbott ..................221-1735
Frank Brazell....................953-2407
Lane Hillendahl ................942-6838
31752 Gowdyville Rd
Calendar....................................... 11B
Channel Guide ............................... 5B
Classified ads................................. 7B
Obituaries....................................... 2A
Opinion .......................................... 4A
Public Safety .................................. 5A
Sports ............................................ 1B
1 Dollar