COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL March 30, 2016
Cottage Grove Retrospective
A look back at a Sentinel stories from 40 years ago
March 25, 1976
Wagon to start rolling to Valley Forge
The early morning sun rises.
Seated high up in the front of
his Conestoga wagon, buckskin
fringe blowing in the breeze,
Cottage Grove wagonmaster
Dave Gastman calls out the or-
der to begin another day on the
trail.
“Eastward ho?”
That is correct. Mr. Gastman,
a Cottage Grove resident who
has spent many months ona
wagon seaat, will soon be head-
ing east with the Bicentennial
Wagon Pilgrimage.
The bicentennial train is form-
ing up right now in Ft. Laramie,
Wyo. Mr. Gastman, with his
American Heritage Wagon, will
join the train before its April 1
departure date.
Plans call for the wagons to
follow the Oregon Trail as far as
St. Joseph, Mo., and then break
up into smaller groups head-
ing by various routes to Valley
Forge, Penn.
July 4 is the target date. Once
at Valley Forge, the wagons will
be on display for two months.
“They fi gure around two
and a half million people will
see those wagons in the two
months,” Mr. Gastman says.
Those wagons will include an
assortment of state wagons and
MR. Gastman’s, which has been
recognized as the Lane County
Wagon.
This week, Mr. Gastman
loaded his wagon on a truck and
headed for Sisters. He plans to
look at some horses there and
also hopes to shape his animals
up for the planned trip.
“I’ve got one horse that is a
little too jumpy to go through
towns yet,” Mr. Gastman says.
When the animals are ready,
Mr. Gastman will start for Ft.
Laramie.
He will have to make about
50 miles a day to reach the rally
point on time. So his plans call
for riding the wagon during the
day and then, when evening
falls, carrying the wagon by
truck the necessary distance to
stay on schedule.
Mr. Gastman’s wife, Lillian,
a Cottage Grove elementary
school teacher, will join him
later in the trip after school is
dismissed for the summer.
But two women, Debbie Davis
of Lorane and Francis Milligan
of Goshen, will accompany the
62-year-old wagonmaster. The
two will help drive the wagon
and operate the 28-foot support
van that will be with the wagon
throughout the trip.
“Both of the girls have given
up good jobs to go on the trip,”
Mr. Gastman says. “But, then
again, they’ll never get this op-
portunity again in their lives.”
Later on, the group will be
joined by a Eugene couple, Mr.
and Mrs. Irvin Fergasun.
Mr. Gastman says everyone
will share the work.
We’re all going to be photog-
raphers and publicity men,” the
wagonmaster says. “We’ll take
long turns doing that.”
Life on the trail will be like
that experienced by the original
pioneers, hardwork faces every-
one.
“I’ll have a camp outfi t with
the wagon and we’ll camp out as
POLICE BLOTTER
Cottage Grove Police Department 24-Hour Anonymous Tip Line: 767-0504
March 21
March 23
Suspicious Subject, Ash Ave.
A caller reported that two male
transients were digging through
garbage and recycle bins
throughout the neighborhood
and leaving trash and debris
on the street. A second caller
reported that the subjects were
being verbally abusive to him
down the road of the initial call.
Offi cers contacted the subjects
who were advised of the com-
plaints and moved on.
Intoxicated Subject, Main St.
A caller advised that a very
mentally disturbed male was
inside of a business throwing
things around. The subject
was last seen wearing a leather
jacket and blue cap. The caller
was unable to understand the
subject.
Motor Vehicle Accident, N
14th St.
A caller reported that she just
struck a bicyclist in her car;
the rider was complaining of
minor wrist pains. The offi cer
contacted the involved parties
where the cyclist declined med-
ics. A civil compromise was
reached between the parties.
The cyclist was advised that he
failed to yield to the vehicle in
the roadway and was riding on
the sidewalk.
6
much as we can,” Mr.
Gastman says. We’ll
show pictures and go
around and talk about
the trip to schools and
other places in the
towns we visit.
Also, members of
the group will sell a
special American Her-
itage calendar to raise
money for the trip.
The calendar shows
a map of the wagon
train’s planned route
and talks about the
reasons for the trip.
Mr. Gastman also
hopes to use this trip
as a launching point
for his plans to build
an old-style ranch in Dave Gastman
this area. The planned
ranch, to be called the
ranch.
American Heritage Ranch, is an
So far, Mr. Gastman is using
old dream.
his own money to fi nance the
In the dream, Mr. Gastman wagon trip. He says the trip will
sees the 200-acre ranch as a cost about $1,500.
place where youngsters, handi-
During the trip, Mr. Gastman
capped persons and families and his party will entertain visi-
could go to see how ranching tors to the wagon with stories
used to be done.
of the trip. They will also show
The non-profi t organization slides of Oregon, furnished b
will feature a ranch, old-time the state and Bohemia, Incorpo-
town, fi shing lake and other rated.
visitor facilities. But, most of
When the trip and display pe-
all, Mr. Gastman says it will be riod period is over, Mr. Gastman
a special place for handicapped says he will truck the American
youngsters to come and enjoy Heritage Wagon back to Cottage
nature.
Grove. The wagon will serve as
Mr. Gastman says money col- a reminder of the planned ranch
lected during the trip, as dona- and as an inspiration to its own-
tions or from the sale of the $2 er.
calendars, will fi nance the trip.
“This wagon will be used on
Funds in excess of the trip’s the ranch,” Mr. Gastman prom-
costs will go into the planned ises.
Criminal Mischief, Row
River Rd.
A complainant at the police
department advised police that
her vehicle was shot at yes-
terday afternoon (March 22)
between 2:30 and 3 p.m. She
told police that there is a bullet
hole on the driver’s side of her
car above the front tire.
contacted the subject on 15th
and Main St. and took him into
custody for public urination; he
was transported to the police
department for processing.
March 27
Suspicious Subject, Gateway
Blvd.
A patron of a business on Gate-
way Boulevard reported that a
male subject was sitting outside
the entrance sharpening a large
hunting knife. The patron was
concerned for her safety when
exiting the business. Offi cers
then contacted the subject,
who was sitting outside to use
the WiFi connection. Offi cers
advised him of the complaint
and is moving on.
Mental, Main St. Police
Department
A man called 911 stating that
he has found out that he his
carrying a time capsule for the
Illuminati and that he also talks
to the president via images
and can read people’s minds.
The caller also said that he has
telepathy and his brain is carry-
ing something he needs to pass
down. The caller said he would
be en route to the police depart-
ment and was willing to go to
the hospital for a blood test to
prove that what he was say-
ing was true. The caller never
showed up and he never gave
his exact location.
March 26
Suspicious Condition, Coiner
Park
A caller advised police of a
male subject wearing yellow
pants was urinating in the
direction of traffi c. Offi cers
-day
I would like to thank the doctors and
staf for the excellent care I received
at the Peacehealth Cottage Grove
Community Hospital during
my recent stay there.
CITY BEAT
The City said it has had a number of complaints regarding
individuals rummaging through garbage cans on garbage
days. Those rummaging remove garbage or throw out
garbage from the can with no regard to the neighborhood
in search for cans or bottles to be redeemed for deposit. Un-
der state law, such trash picking is illegal. It is dangerous,
typically results in trash in the yard or street and could also
result in identity theft if other items are found in the trash.
The City urges those who see anyone digging through any
trash can or recycling bin to call the Police Department,
even if it is not their trash can.
Scenic Bikeway Committee
City Manager Richard Meyers attended a meeting of the
State Scenic Bikeway Committee in Madras last Wednesday
and then on Thursday rode the Madras Mountain Views Sce-
nic Bikeway. Meyers said the Committee rode the bikeway
to determine any needs or issues associated with the Scenic
Bikeway and to hear about successes the community has
experienced as a result.
Meyers said that towns such as Madras, Metolius and Cul-
ver have experienced many of the same successes Cottage
Grove has regarding the Bikeway and they are continuing
to promote the Scenic Bikeway and enhance the tourism
experience. The City Manager was appointed to the State
Scenic Bikeway by the Oregon State Parks Department to
represent cities from throughout the state on the committee.
Police Department training
Cottage Grove Police Department’s newest offi cer Joshua
Dumas will be attending the Department of Public Safety
Standards Training Basic Police Academy one month earlier
than originally planned. The CGPD was contacted this week
by DPSST advising that there was an academy slot open in
April. Dumas will attend April 18 through Aug. 12, 2016.
He joins class No. 359.
Oregon drivers
reminded to remove
studded tires by
Thursday, March 31
T
he Oregon Department of
Transportation recently
announced that it will not ex-
tend the 2015-16 studded tire
season past March 31. Studded
tires are allowed in Oregon from
Nov. 1 through March 31 each
year. The law allows ODOT to
extend the studded tire season
when necessary, but current
weather forecasts do not support
an extension this year.
ODOT is making this deci-
sion in cooperation with the
Washington Department of
Transportation, which is also
announcing today it will not ex-
tend its studded tire season past
March 31. (Both states have the
same deadline.)
“Please don’t wait until the
deadline to remove your studded
tires,” said Luci Moore, ODOT
Maintenance and Operations
Engineer, “especially if you
aren’t driving in the mountain
passes between now and then.”
Sunny
Sunny
SATURDAY April 2
SUNDAY April 3
43° | 65°
43° | 63°
PRACTICING THE ART OF TRANSMISSION REPAIR SINCE 1991
44° | 69°
43° | 69°
Poss. Showers
Mostly Cloudy
MONDAY April 4
TUESDAY April 5
42° | 57°
45° | 59°
Partly Cloudy
Poss. Showers
CALL FOR A QUOTE
Manual & Automatic Transmission Repair
Tune ups
30-60-90K Services
Brakes, belts, hoses and cooling system
services
Muffl ers & Custom Exhaust
Drive-train repair such as clutches, u joints
and differentials
All makes and models.
ODOT encourages drivers to
consider other types of traction
tires or chains to help minimize
roadway damage caused by
studded tires. A 2014 study con-
cluded studded tires cause about
$8.5 million in damage each
year to state highways.
Other types of traction tires
are available. These traction
tires meet the Rubber Manufac-
turers Association standards for
use in severe snow conditions
and carry an emblem on the
tire sidewall of a three-peaked
mountain with a snowfl ake
in the center. Research shows
these tires cause no more dam-
age than standard all-weather
radial tires, while providing bet-
ter traction than studded tires on
bare pavement.
Drivers with studded tires on
their vehicles after the deadline
can be charged with a Class C
traffi c violation.
Save for
a rainy
year.
Laurette Jones
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FRIDAY April 1
From the
City's Friday
Update
Curb shopping, trash picking or street scavenging
weather forecast
THURSDAY March 31
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In person: 116 N. Sixth Street, Cottage Grove
Email: cgnews@cgsentinel.com
Office phone: 942-3325