4A | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
Cottage Grove Sentinel
116 N. Sixth St.
Cottage Grove, Ore. 97424
NED HICKSON , MANAGING EDITOR
Opinion
| 541-902-3520 | NHICKSON @ CGSENTINEL . COM
The First Amendment
C
ongress shall make no law respect-
ing an establishment of religion or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the
press, or the right of the people peaceably
to assemble, and to petition the Govern-
ment for a redress of grievances.
“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” —Thomas Jefferson (1800)
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Learning the ins, outs and importance of journalism
(Editor’s Note: Viewpoint submis-
sions on this and other topics are al-
ways welcome as part of our goal to
encourage community discussion and
exchange of perspectives.)
J
ournalism is something that ev-
eryone knows. But few understand
just how important journalism is in
connecting people, creating a sense of
community and providing informa-
tion so that community members can
make informed decisions.
Those are just three examples of
how important journalism is. Yet, I
never would have considered some of
them if it wasn’t for the opportunity to
job shadow Ned Hickson at the Cot-
tage Grove Sentinel. This opportunity
showed me new sides of journalism
and the newspaper.
I learned through my experience at
The Sentinel how much effort is put
into putting out a newspaper every
week. It isn’t a 9-to-5 type of job — it
is a work-in-the-moment type of job.
I personally found this important
because it always keeps the job fresh
and keeps people on their toes, ready
for anything. Most of all, it makes the
Guest Viewpoint
By Tyler Rhyne
Cottage Grove High School senior
job more interesting because anything
could happen — and you must be pre-
pared for anything.
Something else I learned was how
important personal character is in
journalism. We all are humans, and
we all make mistakes. It’s impossible
not to. But being able to realize and
correct your mistake — and not take it
super personally — is important.
It shows how our local journalists
not only want to get the information
out to the public, but also ensure it’s
correct. And when it isn’t, admitting it
and correcting it is just as important
to them.
That commitment creates a bond; a
community of trust.
Lastly, I was able to learn that it is
a worthwhile pursuit. That’s because,
with this type of job, you impact the
community directly and are a key
source of information. You are helping
people stay informed, and that helps
others in the community. These and
many more are the reasons I feel jour-
nalism is beyond important, and why
I have personally chosen to study it in
college.
It provides a way to connect with
the community and gives people a
way to help others. But without the
opportunity I was given at The Senti-
nel, I wouldn’t have truly known how
important a community newspaper
and journalism truly are.
LETTER
Wonderful community
support for carousel
I would like to thank the wonder-
ful citizens of South Lane County
and Chamber members who par-
ticipated in Business After Hours
at King Estate Winery and the tem-
porary home of the restoration of
the carousel on March 21. It was a
record-breaking event for partici-
pation.
The mood was wonderful fellow-
ship and networking.
The carousel is 95 percent com-
plete, with only some electronics
and lighting to be added. We are
still moving forward with a tem-
porary operating location at Brad’s
Chevrolet.
Stay tuned for events and fund-
raisers that the carousel committee
is working on at the present time.
Coming up soon: Jr. tea parties for
young people, with date, time and
location yet to be determined. The
committee is headed by Linda Sex-
ton and Destiny Duerst.
The musical venue committee is
working on quality musical pro-
grams once a month at Calvary
Chapel. The carousel committee is
very grateful that we are being al-
lowed to use the sanctuary for qual-
ity musical family programs. We
have a commitment from the Cas-
cade Chorus, and the tentative date
is the third Sunday evening in May.
Prices will be kept at a minimum so
families may enjoy the upcoming
musical programs.
Carousel Board members Alice
Nowicki, Ken Schrieber, Destiny
Duerst, Cindy Weeldreyer, and
Don Williams.
Linda and Don are presently
looking at a golf tournament in
September as a fundraiser for the
carousel.
These are but a few of the fund-
raising events that will be coming
to the South Valley to obtain prop-
erty and build a permanent home
for the Cottage Grove Carousel.
We also have opportunity of ob-
taining a mystery collection that
may be a world record, where we
could promote, not only covered
bridges, bike trails, two recreation-
al lakes and an operating carousel,
but the world’s largest collection of
the mystery item!
—Don Williams,
Board President, Friends of the
Cottage Grove Carousel
Send letters to:
nhickson@cgsentinel.com
HOW TO CONTACT YOUR REPS
Oregon state
representatives
Oregon federal
representatives
• Sen. Floyd Prozanski
• Rep. Peter DeFazio
District 4 State Senator
PO Box 11511
Eugene, Ore. 97440
Phone: 541-342-2447
Email : sen.fl oydprozanski@
state.or.us
(House of Representatives)
405 East 8th Ave.
#2030
Eugene, Ore. 97401
Email: defazio.house.gov/
contact/email-peter
Phone: 541-465-6732
• Rep. Cedric Hayden
Republican District 7 State
Representative
900 Court St. NE
Salem, Ore. 97301
Phone: 503-986-1407
Website: www.leg.state.or.
us/hayden
Email: rep.cedrichayden@
state.or.us
• Sen. Ron Wyden
405 East 8th Ave., Suite
2020
Eugene, Ore. 97401
Email: wyden.senate.gov
Phone: (541) 431-0229
• Sen. Jeff Merkley
Email: merkley.senate.gov
Phone: 541-465-6750
S entinel
C ottage G rove
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