COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL MAY 16, 2018
from A1
BUDGET
Lord and Lancy Nelson
Tracey's ocean loving family has two res-
cue hunting dogs; Lord Nelson, a German
short hair Pointer named aft er the English
naval commander, and Brenna a fi ve-year-
old Vizsla and Pointer mix named aft er a
"mermaid" in Th e Secret Life Of A Mer-
maid movie. Th eir family also includes two
cats, Surfer and Windy.
Aft er the family's previous
dog died, Nelson was in as
much grief as his human family
so Tracey took him to dog foster
homes to pick out his new
sibling.
the hour drive!
"When Nelson was a year old he treed
his fi rst bear and soon aft er fought off
three coyotes that circled us on our walk,"
explains Tracey. "Now on our daily hikes
both dogs have large-noisy "bear bells" dan-
gling from their thick collars alerting wild
animals to our presence."
need help and your location.
Tracy's dogs attended a dog obedi-
ence and training club and learned about
boundaries, tracking and fi eld work,
agility, freestyle, scenting, Rally-O, and
circus school. Th en, she taught them to
jump onto logs, benches, and rocks on the
command "up" so they can safely "share the
trail" with hikers and mountain
bikers. Th e command "up" is
also a mental exercise, teaches
rules, and aff ection because the
dogs are rewarded with a treat.
Th is trick is how we scored on
the wonderful photo above!
"We walked into a room and
But during an agility compe-
saw a terrifi ed Brenna hiding
tition things did not go as well.
behind her foster mother," said
Hunting dogs do not care about
Tracey. "She was in a fi ght or
speed because they are all about
fl ight mode, growling with her
scent and sight. On command
hackles up. Lord Nelson took
Nelson began running the 12
one look and scented the air re-
stations marked with bright-
vealing that Brenna was female,
four inch orange cones: up and
young, not a leader and scared,
over the jump, around the poles,
Tracey and her hunting dogs, Lord Nelson and Brenna, use bells to scare
so he acted appropriately. He
up
the ramp, down the slide, up
bears.
calmly walked over and submis-
the ladder etc. Th e last station
sively laid down in front of her."
was a big ring with a long sock.
Th ere was no fi ght, growl, or chest out
Pointers smell things over a mile range,
Nelson noticed its orange cone and being a
like one might expect from an alpha dog.
so the bells work wonders for dogs that go
fl usher he grabbed the cone, ran through the
Th e stately Lord Nelson simply fell at her
crashing off forest trails aft er a scent. Tracey sock, popped out the other end, and ran to
feet in love. When Nelson lowered his head, can hear their location and because bears
the fi nish line still holding the bright cone.
she came out from hiding and nuzzled his
aren't adorned with bells, hikers are happy
Th e audience erupted in hysterics. Nelson
nose. She sniff ed him from stem to stern,
that it's dogs making the noise and not
did not win because "proudly grabbing the
while that big ol' oaf just laid there. Once he charging bears.
cone" was not part of the competition.
got up, the two dogs started playing which
Tracey blows a whistle when it's time for
"I still have lots to learn about dogs as
translates to "aff ection". He had picked his
her dogs to return. During winter months
trying to meet their needs while having fun,"
mate, Lady Brenna Nelson.
their sharp ears hear the whistle over
said Tracey. "At the end of the day in our
Brenna had never been in a car, so on
howling wind, rain and rushing water. It
'den' we two humans, two dogs and two cats
their way home she climbed on top of Nel-
is a good idea for hikers to carry whistles
contentedly curl up in our king bed under
son and he patiently let her stay there for
in case of emergencies to alert others you
the covers."
FREE FISHING
It’s free to fi sh, crab or clam
in Oregon on Saturday and
Sunday, June 2 and 3.
During these two days, no
fi shing licenses or tags (includ-
ing a Combined Angling Tag or
Columbia River Basin Endorse-
ment) are required to fi sh, crab
or clam anywhere in Oregon for
both residents and non-residents.
Although no licenses or tags are
required, all other fi shing regu-
lations apply including closures,
bag limits and size restrictions.
“Free Fishing Weekends are a
great opportunity for friends and
families to get out and enjoy a
day or two of fi shing,” said Mike
Gauvin, ODFW recreational fi sh-
eries manager. “Trout, warmwa-
ter fi sh, ocean fi shing, crabbing
and clamming are just some of
the great opportunities available.”
Oregon State Parks are also
free to visit on June 2-3, with
day-use parking fees waived both
days and free camping on Satur-
day, June 2 (an $8 reservation is
required to guarantee a camping
spot).
ODFW and partners are also
hosting a number of fi shing
events around the state. Volun-
teer angler education instructors
will be loaning out fi shing gear
and giving tips on how to catch
and clean fi sh at most events.
For more details and contact
information for these events,
visit https://myodfw.com/arti-
cles/2018-free-fi shing-days-
and-events.
11A
three or four things and then they open it up for question but here
we go page-by-page.' Th en it justifi es and helps the budget com-
mittee and the board realize what’s in the document, what’s there
and what’s available. So, that is a district process. Th at would look
diff erent in Creswell or Drain,” said Tucker.
Items that were questioned included the reduction of the amount
spent on textbooks. Last year the price total was $125,000, when a
new math curriculum was added. Th is year, it's $60,000.
“Unfortunately, it becomes about priorities and yes, the text-
books are a priority. But I guess as we have conversations amongst
us when we get to that point of saying it’s that or a full-calendar, at
this point we just have to make these choices,” said Tucker.
Some of the highlights of the budget that Tucker pointed out at
the start of the meeting include no cut days next year, adjustment
in custodians for the new Harrison Elementary School, a medical
assistant position for medically fragile students, and the addition of
a community classroom at Lincoln Middle School that will include
a teacher and an education assistant.
One of the long-term budget items that will also be impacting
this budget is the implementation of a new bus fl eet by 2025. To
ensure that all of the buses in the SLSD fl eet are up to the Depart-
ment of Environmental Quality emission standards, the district is
budgeting for three new buses per year, including in the upcoming
year.
While in some states the approval by the budget committee
marks the end of the process, here the next step of the process is
for the budget to go up for vote at the school board meeting on
June 4.
“At the board meeting it will be just the board, there will be an
opportunity for public input. If there’s no public input the board
will have the opportunity to do that and then somebody will make
a motion to adopt what the budget committee approved tonight,”
said Tucker.
While the intricacies of the budget can change from year to year,
Tucker began the meeting by reminding those in attendance that
85 percent of the budget goes to paying employees.
“Th e reality is this is a people business,” he said.
HOUSING
from A1
development manager Faye Stewart told the council.
Aff ordable housing has been the discussion of several city coun-
cil meetings as well as the catalyst for Faye and councilor Mike
Fleck to begin meeting with contractors and developers to explore
the obstacles they face in doing business in Cottage Grove.
In March of this year, local realtors placed rent in Cottage
Grove between $600 for a one-bedroom apartment to $1,600 for a
three-bedroom apartment.
According to Stewart and city planner Amanda Ferguson, the
city is currently contracted to update its housing needs analysis,
a study that reports on the city’s buildable land. Stewart told the
council Monday night that one of the recommendations stemming
from the document will be to develop a housing strategy imple-
mentation plan. “(It) will let us delve into diff erent tools to improve
housing in Cottage Grove,” Stewart said.
Under the Oregon Department of Land Conservation’s program,
cities can request assistance with the development of housing
needs analyses, code audits, code updates and housing strategy
implementation plans, according to Stewart’s offi ce.
Projects that receive aid from the program must be completed
by June 30 of 2019. Th e housing needs anal ysis, currently being
complied by Echo Northwest, is expected to be on the council’s
agenda this August.
Davis Shows N.W.
Carnival
Bohemia Park
May 31 – June 3, 2018
Get your Pre-sale Armband coupon today and Save.
$20.00 each or $25.00 at the Gate
*Good For One Armband per ticket on any One Day.
Rides – Games – Food
Get your pre-sale tickets at :
Scarpelli’s Short Stop
Grocery Outlet
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce