COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL • JULY 11, 2018 •
Coaching legend plots ‘Last Race’ at
old aquatic center before new upgrades
A special event is planned
for this Saturday, July 14, to cel-
ebrate Cottage Grove’s Warren
H. Daugherty Aquatic Center
upcoming scheduled for mod-
ernization.
For over 30 years, legendary
Cottage Grove High School
swim coach Bud Taylor drew
swimmers together at the
aquatic center, helping to fos-
ter swimming and water polo
programs that garnered state
championships, launched ca-
reers and became the envy of
coaches across the state.
On Saturday, Taylor will
again gather swimmers, sup-
porters and friends of the War-
ren H. Daugherty Aquatic Cen-
ter together for ‘Th e Last Race,’
meant to serve as a tribute and
send-off for the old pool, which
is scheduled to undergo a year-
long modernization process
beginning on Aug. 17.
In the early 1950s, concerned
Cottage Grove residents band-
ed together in response to a
rash of drownings among local
youth to raise funds to build a
community pool. Local timber
magnate Warren H. Daugh-
erty contributed the remainder
of the funding that led to the
then-outdoor pool’s opening
in 1955.
Th e Aquatic Center quickly
became Cottage Grove’s pre-
mier summer gathering spot,
and Taylor would later help
lobby its owner, South Lane
School District, to cover the
pool and establish high school
swimming and water polo pro-
grams.
Success soon followed and,
A
5
Pet tips
‘N’ tales
By Mary Ellen
“Angel Scribe”
Barnyard Angel
M
ZACH SILVA/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
The historic Warren H. Daugherty Aquatic Center will undergo an 11-month upgrade begin-
ning in August.
for more than six decades, the
facility has also served as the
place where thousands of local
young people learned to swim
and recreation and fi tness op-
portunities were provided for
all ages.
In May of 2016, local voters
approved a bond to replace the
aging Harrison Elementary
School, a bond that also ear-
marked funds to make technol-
ogy and security upgrades at
South Lane schools, in addition
to renovating the pool. As part
of its renovation, the aquatic
center’s irregularly shaped pool
will be transformed into an
eight-lane, 25-yard pool that’s
ideal for competition.
Its plumbing and HVAC sys-
tems will be overhauled and
modernized, and a new family
changing room and lobby are
planned to enhance the visitor’s
experience. Fundraising eff orts
are also underway to raise the
approximately $175,000 still
needed to fully fund the pool’s
update.
Construction will necessitate
at least an 11-month closure for
the pool, though many high-
school swimming and water
polo programs will be housed
at other area venues during the
closure.
Events planned for Th e Last
Race on Saturday include the
presentation Swimming Hall of
Fame awards, pool games and a
pancake breakfast.
Schedule:
• Pancake Breakfast — 10:30
to 11:30 a.m.
• Swim-a-Th on Awards —
11:30 a.m. to noon
• Firecracker games — noon
to 2 p.m. (bring your bathing
suit)
• Lunch — 2-3:30 p.m.
Th en at Coach Taylor’s barn,
beginning at 3:30 p.m.:
• Swimming museum dis-
plays
• Intros and social hour
'• Stories from emcee Bill
Kuzmer
• Swimming Hall of Fame
Awards.
ichael J. Russ, an inspirational speaker, teaches
secrets to happiness and success. He fi nds inspi-
ration through his 17-year-old dog, Angel.
Fift een years ago, an Australian Shepherd wondered onto
his girlfriend Sandi’s property. She was leaving for a horse
show so she placed the dog in her tack room and asked Mi-
chael to check and feed it until she could take it to an animal
shelter.
“I had no interest in having an animal at the time,” said
Michael. “When I went to check and feed it, I was stunned
by the dog’s beauty and gentle nature. She was thrilled to
see me and we made an instant connection. I made a snap
decision to take her and named her Angel. But when I tried
loading her into my Tahoe, she was in no mood for a ride.”
Was it because her fi rst family had taken her for a ride and
never come back?
“When I gently lift ed her up, all four of her legs sprang out
and locked like brakes to the open door’s edge.”
When Sandi returned, Michael surprised her with, “You
are not taking my Angel to the Animal Shelter!”
Michael soon learned there were things his adoptee did
not understand how to do; climb stairs, eat kibble and sleep
in or on a bed. Because he was dealing with many odd be-
haviors, he called a dog clairvoyant.
Th e Doggy Whisperer said, “Angel fell or was pushed out
of a red pickup truck near Sandi’s barn. She is used to being
outside, ate canned food and does not understand aff ection.
She has no idea what to do with stairs, only barks when
necessary and can’t understand why anyone would want to
get onto a piece of furniture. She’s like the Dalai Lama, she
doesn’t have an angry cell in her body and wouldn’t hurt a
living soul,” the Doggy Whisperer added.
‘Every Trail Tells a Tale’ at annual Bohemia Mining Days
All are invited to the 59th
annual Bohemia Mining Days
Festival, July 19-21, in Coiner
and Bohemia parks. Recog-
nized as an Oregon Heritage
Tradition, BMD attracts fes-
tival goers from throughout
Western Oregon to enjoy live
entertainment, food, cultural
heritage demonstrations, three
parades, games and contests
that honor the town’s unique
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and colorful history.
For three days this summer,
Coiner Park transforms into
“Bohemia City” to celebrate the
early history of the town and
the nearby Bohemia Mining
District with themed meals,
three parades and a feud.
Th e free event off ers a va-
riety of activities for people
of all ages to enjoy. Th ursday
evening’s Bloomer Parade
kicks off the celebration trav-
eling from the Historic Down-
town District to Bohemia City.
Th e Friday morning Kiddie
Parade is a perennial favorite
featuring kids and pets. Satur-
day morning’s Grand Miners
Parade is a slice of Americana
showcasing local organiza-
tions and businesses — and
politicians too.
Other events include a 5K
run/walk, a historical trea-
sure hunt on a time-traveling
train, a carnival, pony rides,
amusements, plays and pan-
ning for real gold. New attrac-
tions this year are a zip line,
rock-climbing wall, a 7,000 sq.
ft . interactive Alice in Won-
derland-themed kids zone, the
OPB “Bohemia Mines” doc-
umentary screening, a Buster
Keaton Weekend and covered
bridge guided tours.
Th is year’s theme, “Every
Trail Tells a Tale,” highlights
the history of how familiar
geographical names east of
town and in the Bohemia Min-
ing District came to be.
BMD resurrects the legend-
ary 1895 Slabtown vs. Lema-
ti Feud (that legally split the
town into two for a decade) in
a fun competition. To enhance
the experience, dress in a west-
ern or Victorian-era costume,
chose a town and compete in
mining-themed contests on
Friday and Saturday and win
cash prizes.
For more information and a
festival schedule of all events,
visit www.bohemiaminingdays
.org.
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Michael was not prepared to fi nd an Angel in the barn.
“Armed with that information, I was able to give Angel
the understanding home she deserved,” said Michael. “Part
of her pre-adoption legacy is that she never had a toy or re-
ceived love and I was secretly glad she did not like sleeping
on our Fur-niture.”
Sandi’s Corgi embraced her new sister and taught her how
to climb stairs, chase balls and sleep in a dog bed.
“Every morning at about 5 a.m., Angel comes to the side
of my bed so I can hang my hand over the edge and gently
massage her. If I stop, she puts her paw back in my hand
to keep it going. Wait! Could this be a ploy to get me out
of bed and take her for her morning ‘Aussie walkabout’ or
‘sniff tour!’” Michael joked, explaining that Angel is also
their street’s goodwill ambassador, saying “Hello” to every
living being.
“Aft er these many years, the dog’s name and life has prov-
en to embody everything I thought an Angel would be,”
Michael said. “She has been a Godsend by helping me re-
main calm and patient. When she plays me with her soulful
brown eyes and cute perky ears for a treat, I always give in.
“One weekend, our pet store had a Cat Adoption day
when Sandi and I were there to buy dog food, not a cat. Out
of the blue, Sandi said, ‘I want to adopt that 15-1/2-pound
Calico that looks like a Snickers Candy.’”
Th e dog whisperer was right! When Snickers walked past
Angel for the fi rst time, she paid it no attention. As it turns
out, the cat is another spiritual being.
“She’s my morning meditation partner,” Micahel said.
Angel’s funniest habit: She loves wearing head gear! Espe-
cially reindeer antlers and Minnie Mouse ears. She will pose
for a camera and prance around proudly.
TIPS:
“Today, Angel’s hearing is almost gone; so I gesture and
clap to get her attention,” said Michael. “Occasionally, she
ignores me, looks away and trots off to keep sniffi ng around
especially when she thinks her walkabout should be longer.
I oft en wonder if she is employing selective hearing.”
Contact Michael at www.michaeljruss.com
Share your fun, amazing or crazing pet tips and tales at
angelscribe@msn.com or Follow Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on Facebook
at www.facebook.com/PetTipsandTales. Adopt loving pets online
at www.PetFinder.com. For spay or neutering, call the Humane
Society at 541-942-2789.