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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2018
A look at
the 'Latham
School Report'
By Zach Silva
zsilva@cgsentinel.com
At the Dec. 3 school
board meeting, the
South Lane School Dis-
trict (SLSD) explained
the “Latham School Re-
port.” Th e 40-page re-
port was compiled by
district offi cials to help
the school board make
an informed decision on
whether to close Latham
or keep the 165-year-old
school open for at least
another fi ve years.
In the Dec. 5 edition,
Th e Sentinel reported
on the Dec. 3 meeting
(“SLSD Talks Latham
Future.”)
In this edition, Th e
Sentinel takes a closer
look at the document
itself. To read commen-
tary alongside the actual
report, visit cgsentinel.
com.
What follows is a
breakdown of each sec-
tion in the report.
Th e school board is
scheduled to meet again
Monday, Dec. 17, in a
special session begin-
ning at 5:30 p.m. at the
school district offi ce to
again discuss the con-
tents of the report.
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For a complete six-
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see page A5.
CGSENTINEL.COM
Local woman celebrates 104th birthday
By Caitlyn May
cmay@cgsentinel.com
W
hen Vickie Whetham was
born, the world was a dif-
ferent place. Th e eight-hour work
day had just been announced by the
Ford Motor Company (with a $5
daily wage).
Bread was 3 cents a loaf.
Ella Fitzgerald wouldn’t grace the
stage for at least 20 years.
And prohibition had yet to come
and go.
When Whetham was born 104
years ago on Dec. 6, 1914, none of
the people in the room with her at
Magnolia Gardens to celebrate, had
been born yet.
“Everybody is her friend,” said
Anna Epperson, who has known
COURTESY PHOTO
104-year-old Vicki Whetham surrounded by her favorite color of pink.
Whetham since she, herself, was a
child.
room at Magnolia Gardens to cele-
brate Whetham last Th ursday. Th e
room glowed pink with pink table-
cloths, pink cupcakes and carna-
tions tinged pink as well — Wheth-
am’s favorite color.
Th e crowd followed the birth-
day girl’s wishes and donned pink,
matching her own pink sweater and
pearls.
Whetham’s table fi lled quickly
as Magnolia staff led the room in
a chorus of “Happy Birthday” and
as the melody to “You are my Sun-
shine” fl oated around the room as
well, Whetham held back tears.
Until just recently, Whetham
has made her way around Magno-
lia Gardens — where her stay has
pre-dated all of her nurses and
Epperson joined a group of two
dozen people who gathered in a
Helping keep pool afl oat
See BIRTHDAY 11A
City Council
approves
garbage hike,
new CGPD
guns
By Caitlyn May
cmay@cgsentinel.com
Th e Cottage Grove City Council
met for the fi nal time in 2018 on Mon-
day night discussing and deciding on
an agenda that ranged from ordinance
amendments to budgetary changes.
Introduction:
Th roughout the pro-
cess of creating the re-
port, the district has
been clear its intentions
with the report are not
to make a decision but
rather provide the neces-
sary information to the
board.
“It did not give recom-
mendations or conclu-
sions,” said interim su-
perintendent Dr. Larry
Sullivan. “Th e goal was
to give the most objec-
tive data that we could
provide so that the board
could make an informed
decision. Th at was the
framework for the re-
port.”
Enrollment:
According to SLSD,
Latham’s enrollment has
been on the decline since
2014. At the beginning
of the 2014-15 school
year, the school had 133
students whereas now
WED
49º/40º
PHOTO C/O GARRETT BRIDGENS
Weyerhaeuser Cottage Grove Sawmill Manager Brent Czaban presented a $20,000 Weyerhaeuser
Giving Fund Grant to South Lane School District on Thursday. The $20,000 donation grant is for
the construction of the warm water recreational and therapy pool that is being built as part of
the modernization of the Warren H. Daugherty Aquatic Center. Weyerhaeuser has about 110 em-
ployees who live in the Cottage Grove area with many of them having families with children who
attend South Lane School District schools and access the community swimming pool. Construc-
tion on the pool began in October of this year and is expected to be ready for the 2019 water polo
season in the fall.
Garbage service:
During the last council meeting, the
board instructed staff to prepare a reso-
lution that would approve a 2.4 percent
increase for the Cottage Grove Garbage
Service. Monday’s meeting saw that reso-
lution passed with councilor Mike Fleck
absent and councilor Garland Burback
recusing himself from the vote. Th e new
rates, which go into eff ect on Jan. 1 would
see the monthly rate for a 35-gallon gar-
bage can increase to $20.60. A 65-gallon
pail would cost $29.50 per month and a
95-gallon pail would go to $41.20. Week-
ly containers ranging from one yard to
six yards would jump to $116 to $527 per
month.
“I did the math, as someone who
doesn’t use the service,” said councilor
Greg Ervin. “And the cost to maintain a
vehicle to take to the dump, it’s more ex-
pensive than using the service.”
Per dump services would range be-
tween $95 and $133 for a four or six-yard
container.
New guns:
Cottage Grove Police Chief Scott Shep-
herd came before the board to request
the transfer of appropriations within the
See COUNCIL 11A
See LATHAM 10A
EDUCATION
Planning for the future
Church of London mem-
bers are raising funds to
repair its 159-year-old bells
Local ASPIRE program
helps students plan for
post-high school education
PAGE A5
PAGE A3
INDEX
COMMUNITY
Church bells
Calendar ...................................... B12
Channel Guide ............................... B5
Classifieds ...................................... B7
Obituaries ...................................... A2
Opinion ......................................... A4
Sports ............................................ B1
Marriage & Family Counseling
Learn to positively overcome confl icts
and create stronger relationships for life.
Alan D. Walker
A Masters Level Christian Counselor
cgnews@cgsentinel.com
(541) 942-3325 ph • (541) 942-3328 fax
P.O. Box 35, Cottage Grove, OR 97424
Corner of Sixth and Whiteaker, Cottage Grove
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VOLUME 130 • NUMBER 60
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