COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL FEBRUARY 28, 2018 5A
Cottage Grove Retrospective
A look back at Sentinel stories from 30 and 60 years ago
New city manager plays devil's advocate: '88
By Pete Malliris
Sentinel staff of 1988
Bill Bixby didn’t ride into
town wearing a black hat over a
furrowed brow and a six-shoot-
er at his hip when he took over
as Cottage Grove’s city manag-
er last January. But if the cur-
rent situation at city hall were
a movie, Bixby would be the
natural, albeit reluctant, villain.
The horns and trident of the
devil’s advocate might be a
more appropriate costume for
the Massachusetts native. Re-
gardless of how you look at him,
Bixby’s new job has made him
the bearer of some bad news.
While surveying the city’s
fi nances, Bixby found that its
1988-1989 budget is about
$350,000 shy of what it needs
to maintain current services.
The defi cit may require sub-
stantial personnel cuts in city
staff, Bixby told the city council
at its last regular meeting.
All indications say Lance
Holmstrom’s position as the
city’s one-man economic devel-
opment department, although
strongly supported by many
community circles, can’t escape
the inevitable budget axe.
Bixby identifi ed other possi-
ble reductions in funds for the
parks, library and engineering.
He suggested the possibility of
cutting two police positions as
well.
Some public criticism is un-
POLICE BLOTTER
avoidable, no matter where the
cuts are made. But Bixby said
it’s important for the city to
show taxpayers it can live with-
in its means.
“If a government can’t man-
age its budget, then it loses
credibility with its constitu-
ents,” Bixby said.
He realizes his recommenda-
tions might be criticized when
the time comes to make the cuts.
“It’s the responsibility of the
city manager sometimes to per-
haps take unpopular positions.
It gives the public somewhere to
focus the discussion on,” Bixby
said.
Citizens will get a chance to
make its position regarding the
budget known Monday, March
14 at the city council’s regu-
lar meeting during a scheduled
public hearing.
Bixby never enjoyed a hon-
eymoon when he moved to Cot-
tage Grove from the Arizona
desert where he was the manag-
er of Mohave County.
Amid the turmoil of im-
pending budget cuts and ques-
tions from the public regarding
the city’s fi nances, Bixby has
burned the midnight oil to pre-
pare himself. He is a familiar
fi gure at city hall on evenings
and weekends, examining the
budget.
“People ask very detailed
questions and they expect an
answer. We need to have an-
swers,” Bixby explained.
Cottage Grove Police Department 24-Hour Anonymous Tip Line: 767-0504
February 18
National Beat
News from the state and around
the nation
From around the state
•
Oregon lawmakers are taking on net neutrality this
week by debating a bill that would stop the state from
working with internet companies that do not comply
to the open internet rules that were in place prior to
the Trump Administration’s reversal of net neutrality.
The FCC announced in December that it would no
longer enforce net neutrality—an idea that all online
traffi c and websites would be managed equally by
providers.
•
A confi rmed case of dog fl u has been reported in
Grants Pass. The illness is highly contagious and is
akin to the virus that affects humans. Symptoms in-
clude lethargy, nasal discharge and coughing.
•
A Springfi eld man who was arrested on charges of
making threats against President Donald Trump, will
undergo a psychiatric exam. Thomas Murphy, 36, was
arrested on Feb. 16 for making four threats via his
social media against the president. Murphy reportedly
has a history of mental illness.
•
The Southern Poverty Law Center—an organization
that tracks hate groups around the country—released
its yearly report, noting an uptick in white suprema-
cy groups. The U.S. reportedly now has 954 active
hate groups, four percent more than 2016. Oregon and
Washington have a combined 14 active hate groups
including two KKK groups and the National Socialist
Movement.
•
According to the Oregon Department of Transporta-
tion, 97 percent of the sidewalks adjacent to the state’s
highways are not in compliance with the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA). The law requires that
public spaces provide equal access to individuals
with disabilities. In an audit of the nearly 30,000 curb
ramps along state highways, 97 percent did not meet
ADA standards.
February 21
Three 10-year-olds reportedly started a small campfi re un-
der a play structure at Harrison Park. The juveniles were con-
Two cars were seen driving recklessly on River Rd. around
tacted and transported to their parents.
1 a.m. The cars had left a bar in Creswell and one, that was
possibly stolen, struck a parked vehicle and left the scene and
Staff members at the Dollar Tree found a bag of syringes was then chased by the other.
inside the men’s restroom at 10:22 a.m.
A possible DUII was seen on Taylor St. after an individual
A coffee shop employee reported a male customer loitering sat at a green traffi c signal for fi ve minutes and then proceed-
in the seating area after being verbally aggressive towards ed to drive “all over” the road.
staff and other customers. The individual was been asked to
leave.
A man on E. Madison St. was seen ransacking a utility
trailer. The complainant reported that the man appeared to be
tweaking.
February 19
A male subject was seen passed out on the bike path area
A woman reported that her soon-to-be ex-husband has been
near
the I-5 overpass.
sending sexual pictures of her to third parties.
A woman came to the police station to report fi nding infor-
A woman on Hwy. 99 reported that she chased off two sub-
mation
on Facebook that claimed a student was going to take
jects who were in a space that was supposed to be vacant and
a
gun
to
Cottage Grove High School.
locked up but she was hearing noises that sounded like some-
one is trying to break in again.
From around the nation
•
The armed offi cer on site at the high school in Park-
land, Florida did not enter the building on Feb. 14 as
a former student shot and killed 17 people. Scot Pe-
terson released a statement through his attorney con-
tending that he was being falsely labeled as a ‘cow-
ard’ and that his “actions were appropriate.”
•
The United States Supreme Court has declined to hear
the challenge to the Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals (DACA) brought by the Department of Jus-
tice. The move protects DACA—a program that al-
lows individuals brought to America illegally as chil-
dren to work toward citizenship--through March 5.
•
The American Academy of Pediatrics announced on
Monday that it recommends all children 12 years and
over be examined for depression once a year through
an online questionnaire.
•
President Trump announced this week that he would
ban a gun accessory meant to simulate an automatic
fi rearm with or without congressional support. The
“bump stock” ban would need congressional approval
according to the Department of Justice.
February 22
February 20
An individual was brought into custody after being in pos-
An individual making a delivery to Kennedy High School session of “multiple different drugs” in addition to needles.
at 4:03 a.m. reported a suspicious condition when the alarm
During a search incident, CGPD found an individual had a
system was engaged.
meth pipe.
A man on K St. reported that an unknown subject threw a
rock through their sliding glass door.
An individual requested assistance to check a tool shed that
someone had been living in and potentially storing drugs in-
Disorderly subject was reported on Main St. when a man side of.
was seen yelling in the middle of the road and threw an object
at a nearby building.
February 23
A suspicious condition was reported on 13th St. when an
A disorderly subject was reported when an employee on
individual saw two men exit a BMW and walk around a Gateway Blvd. confronted an individual for digging through
house with fl ashlights. The individual was unsure if the home trash cans.
was occupied.
February 24
6
-day
A woman on Main St. reported that juvenile females were
pelting her residence with soda cans and paper cups. The
woman reported that she had detained the juveniles and that
they are trying to physically fi ght with her.
weather forecast
THURSDAY March 1
FRIDAY March 2
43° | 28°
44° | 26°
Snow
Showers
SATURDAY March 3
SUNDAY March 4
45° | 30°
49° | 30°
Showers
Sunny
MONDAY March 5
TUESDAY March 6
49° | 30°
53° | 34°
Sunny
Sunny
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Oregon state representation
Senator Floyd Prozanski
District 4 State Senator
PO Box 11511
Eugene, OR 97440
Phone: (541)342-2447
E-Mail : sen.fl oydprozanski@state.or.us
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State
Representatives
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DUSTIN TULLAR & RUSS OWENS
541-942-8022 • COTTAGE GROVE
Rep. Cedric Hayden, Republican
District 7 State Representative
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: (503) 986-1407
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/ hayden
E-Mail : rep.cedrichayden@state.or.us
Oregon federal representation
Peter DeFazio (House of Representatives)
405 East 8th Ave.
#2030
Eugene, OR 97401
Email: defazio.house.gov/contact/email-peter
Phone: (541) 465-6732
Ron Wyden (Senator)
405 East 8th Ave., Suite 2020
Eugene, OR, 97401
Email: visit wyden.senate.gov
Phone: (541) 431-0229
Jeff Merkley (Senator)
Email: visit merkley.senate.gov
Phone: (541) 465-6750
