COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL MARCH 28, 2018 3C
Harrison crew is made up of Cottage Grove natives
BY GARRETT BRIDGENS
SLSD Communications Coordinator
South Lane School District Project Manager Matt Allen esti-
mates that around 250 workers are involved in the construction of
the new Harrison Elementary School. Many of those workers live in
the area and some live right here in Cottage Grove. Allen who grew
up in Cottage Grove, graduated from Cottage Grove High School,
and still lives in Cottage Grove, has seen the positive impact of
having so many locals working on this project.
“You see them go the extra mile. You just see it. Everywhere you
go you see it and they’re happy. It’s not just showing up to go to
work…and now you are starting to see the fruit’s of their labor in
the fi nished product,” said Allen.
The foreman for OEG, the main electrical contractor, Jason Ber-
ry who also grew up in Cottage Grove, graduated from CGHS and
still lives Cottage Grove, says that it’s a bit strange building a new
school on the place where he went to high school.
“It’s weird, I remember standing up there (Currin Field) and go-
ing to football games, and my kids went to the old high school, all
my aunts and uncles, my mom went to the old high school,” said
Berry.
But Berry also feels a greater sense of pride about working on
this job in his hometown.
“Absolutely (I do), I might even have grandkids who go to this
very elementary school someday and it makes me want to do a bet-
ter job and to make sure it’s safe and looks good. Yeah, there’s defi -
nitely a lot of pride working on a local project like this,” said Berry
Cottage Grove resident, Michael Cordin, who also works for
OEG, says that he has enjoyed working on a local job.
“It’s great. I wish we had more projects like this down here, and
it’s really special because it’s a school, and helping out the commu-
nity,” said Cordin.
Cordin grew up in Cottage Grove, and lives here with his wife
and three kids, and says that it’s been great to work on a job that will
impact the community he lives in and he hopes they will see all the
hard work that has gone into building it.
“Well I hope they see all the new technology that we have put
inside here, smart boards, nice new gyms…yeah, I just hope they
see how nice of a project this is when we are done. Every job has it’s
own special unique things to it, but this one, my family all went to
school here, my wife went to school here. It’s real nostalgic, coming
up here and building it,” said Cordin.
One of the special aspects of this project and the new school is
that it is bringing the community together. It is clear the work being
done on the school has come with local people putting in extra ef-
fort to make sure it’s done right.
“It’s a cool feeling to know that it is more than them just showing
up to do the work. That they are actually there because it’s some-
thing that is going to benefi t the whole community,” said Allen.
From the early design phase, to being on site everyday during
construction, Allen has been involved in the entire process for
building the school. His days typically start in the pre-dawn hours
and end long after most of us are home. When you hear him talk
about the school, you can hear the pride and excitement he has to
fi nish the school and open it next fall.
“What I look forward to the most is the fi rst group of kids that
gets to go through that school. When those kids go in and see it
for the fi rst time or go running through that gym, or their reaction
when they go into the library, or sitting and eating in the cafeteria, a
cafeteria that doesn’t have to be torn down as soon as they are done
eating so they can have PE, I can’t wait for that.”
South Lane School District Project Manager Matt
Allen (left) jokes around at the end of the work day
with Michael Cordin, a Cottage Grove resident and
electrician for the new Harrison Elementary School.
March Students of the Month
YONCALLA
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ALIYAH JOHNSON
Aliyah is a 1st Grader in Mrs.
Johnson’s class at Yoncalla
Elementary. Her family includes
Mom and Dad, Rocksi and
Dustin Johnson, and her brother
Levi. At home Aliyah likes to play
board games, pick lowers and
watch TV. She was nominated
by her teacher for her
“outstanding” math reasoning
skills. She excels in doing four
step problem solving. She
really listens and thinks hard
about each problem. She also
displays great citizenship. She
is always polite and has a great
smile and positive attitude. Her
future goals are to become a dog
trainer, because her dog minds
her very well at home.
NORTH DOUGLAS NORTH DOUGLAS
MIDDLE SCHOOL
ELEMENTARY
Lilian Christensen is an
8th grade student at North
Douglas Middle School.
Lilian is very respectful,
responsible with her class
time, contributes creative
ideas, and is an engaged
learner.
LILIAN
CHRISTENSEN
MIGUEL ALCANTAR
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Cottage Grove Sentinel
116 N. 6th St. • 541-942-3325
www.cgsentinel.com
116 N. 6th St. • 541-942-3325
www.cgsentinel.com
LATHAM
ELEMENTARY
BOHEMIA
ELEMENTARY
As a 5th grader at Latham,
Abbigale Hemenway is a
hard worker who has a
positive attitude. She is
helpful to her classmates
and her teacher by making
good choices. Abbi has a
fun sense of humor. We
are proud to have Abbi
represent Latham as our
Student of the Month.
VINCENT GAQUIT
ABBIGALE
HEMENWAY
Stacy’s Covered
Bridge
541-746-1583
401 Main St, CG 541-767-0320
epud.org
He is a 5th grade student
in Mrs. Olsen’s class. He
is an all around amazing
student and kid! He’s always
willing to help a peer or staff
member, works extremely
hard on everything he does
and always has a smile. He
is a leader in the classroom
and the school and a great
role model for his peers
and younger kids. Vincent
constantly shows GRIT and
will take on any task in class
putting forth his best effort.
His positive attitude and
kind actions are contagious!
STACY’S COVERED BRIDGE RESTAURANT
401 MAIN STREET • COTTAGE GROVE
541-767-0320
COTTAGE GROVE NORTH DOUGLAS
HIGH SCHOOL
HIGH SCHOOL
This month Cottage Grove
High
School
nominates
Miranda McCasline. Sarah
Cunningham states that
Miranda is dedicated to
understanding the material,
completes all her work
and helps others.
Sarah
appreciates
Miranda’s
participation
in
class
discussion
where
she
always has an answer and
is willing to contribute.
Congratulations Miranda!
MIRANDA
MCCASLINE
South Lane County
Fire & Rescue
233 Harrison Ave • 541-942-4439
southlanefi re.org
Miguel Alcantar is a 4th
grade student at North
Douglas
Elementary
School.
Miguel
is
well organized, very
responsible,
always
turns in his work, puts
out excellent effort,
and achieves fantastic
grades.
116 N. 6th
St. Douglas
• 541-942-3325
North
Fire & Rescue
531 South Cedar St.
www.cgsentinel.com
Drain, OR 97435
YONCALLA
MIDDLE SCHOOL
BOBBY HORNE
Cottage Grove Sentinel
116 N. 6th St. • 541-942-3325
www.cgsentinel.com
YONCALLA
HIGH SCHOOL
Adrianna is an honor roll
student, enrolled in college
classes, involved in FBLA,
and is the National Honor
Society president. She also
is a volunteer ire ighter for
the North Douglas County
Fire Department. Adrianna
plans to attend UCC next
year to inish her associate’s
degree and become a
forensic psychologist.
ADRIANNA
BARRONE
North Douglas Fire & Rescue
531 South Cedar St.
Drain, OR 97435
Robert is a friendly young
man who likes school. He
works hard and has been
doing extra work lately to
improve his grades.
His
favorite classes are shop and
band. He likes that in shop
he can be creative and in
band he can play music and
he enjoys playing music. His
Hobbies are: Riding his bike,
sports (baseball, football
and track). His future goals
are: go to college and be a
forensics specialist and also
learn how to be a mechanic.
ELIJAH ALLEN
Consistently has a great
attitude in and out of class
Works hard and puts his
best effort into everything
he does. Embodies our core
values. Great example and
model of school behavior
Someone you can trust to
do the right thing at the
right time. Hobbies: Sports,
Weight lifting, Video games
Future Plans: Go to college
and get a master’s degree in
athletic training.
Cottage Grove Sentinel
116 N. 6th St. • 541-942-3325
www.cgsentinel.com