COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2019 | 5A
Pet Tips
‘n’ Tales
Betty Kaiser’s Chatter Box:
Remembering Miss Neely — she was a pistol!
Betty Kaiser
T
oday’s column is one of
fond remembrances of
Jan Neely, a beloved girls’
athletic coach and teach-
er who taught at Cottage
Grove High School from
1952-1987.
A Christian, she passed
from this world into heav-
en on June 16, at the age
of 92. Her former students
and co-workers will tell you
that she is gone but not for-
gotten. Their memories in-
spired this column.
She still means a lot to
her students and co-work-
ers. For instance, if you
walk around the Cottage
Grove High School cam-
pus, you will find yourself
on the Coach Neely Fitness
Trail. A plaque was placed
there in 2012 in honor of
this very respected teacher
by a group of her former
students.
At the dedication, she
received a personal tour of
the trail in a golf cart.
Janice Jean and her twin
sister, Jean Janice, were
born on June 16, 1927, in
Grants Pass, Ore. They
both graduated from the
University of Oregon and
later earned master’s de-
grees from the University
of Washington.
They both taught wom-
en’s physical education.
Jean lived in La Grande
for 30 years where she was
a teacher at Eastern Ore-
gon College until she re-
tired and moved to Cottage
Grove with Jan. She passed
away in 2009.
Former Athletics Direc-
tor Jerry Braunberger was
fresh out of college when he
came to CGHS in 1961. He
and his wife, Sherrie, fond-
ly remember Jan’s warm
greeting and acceptance of
them. Soon, Jan was orga-
nizing activities for the fac-
ulty wives — most memo-
rably, a weekly badminton
group that continued for
years.
Sherrie remembers that,
“Jan set up the group and
taught us how to play but
she was hard to beat!”
Jerry said he really got
to know her when they
coached track together
(along with softball, soccer,
lacrosse, etc.) He stressed
that she was well-liked and
developed strong relation-
ships with her students.
Whatever she did, her
emphasis was always on the
importance of physical ac-
tivity for all ages. She would
encourage all ages to exer-
cise by saying, “You need to
be active for a busy life.”
Jerry said that Miss Neely
was an equal opportunist
for women in sports —
even in an era when girls’
sports in school were far
less important than the
boys. He added that, “She
was an excellent teacher
and extremely dedicated
She was a dynamo!”
After hearing from grad-
uates of several CGHS eras,
it’s evident she coached,
taught, mentored, encour-
aged, supported and moti-
vated her students all while
teaching them new skills. I
think it’s fair to say that she
was a superstar teacher to
her students. One with a
sense of humor.
As you will learn from
the following comments
about their “Miss Neely,”
you might also say that she
taught with love.
Cheryl R. from the class
of 1966 says: “Growing
up there were three wom-
en who deeply influenced
me: my mother, my pater-
nal grandmother and Miss
Neely. She was not only a
wonderful teacher, coach
and advisor, but also a won-
derful role model to me and
to hundreds of young wom-
en. She always inspired us
to do our best and be our
best version of ourselves. I
know I am a better person
for having her in my life.”
Janece N., also from the
Class of 1966, said, ”I have
wonderful memories of
Miss Neely ... definitely a
woman before her time!”
Jan S., also from the Class
of 1966 says: “My memo-
ries include powerful words
to describe the role model
she was for me - dedicat-
ed, motivational, positive
influence, genuine, caring
and she paved the way for
girls’ athletics by the way
she positively interacted
with people. She provided
an unbelievable experience
in physical education with
a curriculum involving bas-
ketball, volleyball, tennis,
softball, gymnastics, fenc-
ing, archery, etc. I chose
elementary teaching for my
life-long career and Miss
Neely was a definite inspi-
ration and role model in my
life!”
One member of the class
of 1959 recalls how kind
and caring Miss Neely was
while her PE teacher. It was
this teenager’s senior year.
She fell in love, got mar-
ried and became pregnant.
Morning sickness made it
impossible for her to keep
up in soccer. Miss Neely
noticed, didn’t ask ques-
tions but suggested that her
student “Go sit on the side-
lines and learn by watch-
ing.” Now that’s teaching
with compassion.
Finally, Marie L. (class
of 1957), has some hilari-
ous stories of trips that the
various teams took to out
of town sporting events.
There were no buses for
girl athletes, so parents and
Miss Neely did the driving.
To pass the time, the girls
would come prepared with
prankster signs to flash out
the back window. A cou-
ple of their favorites read,
“Help! We’re being Kid-
napped!” or “Single Driver.”
They were afraid to put up
the one that said, “Drunk
Driver.”
As they giggled, Miss
Neely would just say, “What
are you girls doing now?”
and keep on driving to the
next GAA meet.
Today, all agree that
they are grateful for hav-
ing known her. She was an
excellent teacher, mentor,
role model and friend who
greatly influenced their
lives forever. There were
many formal accolades and
awards for her but as one
former student said, “She
was a pistol and got things
done!”
Now you have to wonder
what kind of athletics she is
organizing in heaven.
There will be a Celebra-
tion of Life service for Miss
Janice Jean Neely at River-
side Community Church of
God, this Saturday, July 20,
at 2 p.m.
Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox at 942-1317 or
email bchatty@bettykaiser.
com
LORANE NEWS
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6-day
weather forecast
for The Sentinel
• The Crow Car Show
was great with 145 car en-
tries and an incredible Kid-
zone. The Crow Booster
Club issued a big “thank
you” to all who came — it
showed great support for
our district students.
• Lorane Grange meets
tomorrow, July 18, at 7
p.m. Final plans for the fair
booth are on the agenda
and its potluck snacks.
• The Lane County Fair
is next week, July 24-28.
The first day is Grange Day,
with free cookies, coffee
and water for those who
stroll through the pavilion
enjoying the Grange booth
displays. All kids age 10 and
under get in free dressed up
as veggies or fruits on this
day.
• The Community-wide
Garage/Yard Sale in Lorane
is Aug. 3. It’s free this year
to be on the map. Email
Louise at LoraneSale@ya-
hoo.com to be put on the
list. Anyone wanting to
rent a table at the Grange
can contact Jeri Porter at
641-942-2448. Tables are
$10 for the day.
• The second Sunday
in August is the annual
Community Potluck Pic-
nic at the Grange at noon,
but come early and visit.
Then, the annual Lorane
Volunteer Fire Department
Ice Cream Social will take
place at the fire hall from
1 to 5 p.m. Come enjoy de-
licious pies and ice cream,
visit and take in all the ac-
tivities.
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
81° | 53°
80° | 52°
Transmissions Plus &
Partly Cloudy
Sunny
AUTOMOTIVE
SPECIALTIES
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
PRACTICING THE ART OF TRANSMISSION REPAIR SERVICE SINCE 1991
82° | 54°
82° | 54°
Sunny
Sunny
MONDAY
TUESDAY
87° | 57°
Sunny
85° | 57°
Sunny
Prepare more than a policy
to plan in event of disaster.
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Transmission Repair
Tune ups
30-60-90K Services
Brakes, belts, hoses and
cooling system services
Muffl ers & Custom Exhaust
All makes and models.
We can develop your business’ emergency plan.
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DUSTIN TULLAR & RUSS OWENS
541-942-8022 • COTTAGE GROVE
By Mary Ellen
“Angel Scribe”
Pet Emergency purr-paredness
Christine planned ahead on how to save her dog,
Dolly, and herself in case of a natural disaster.
I
n light of recent natural disasters, I interviewed
Christine who was taking the “bull by the horns” to
be paw-pared for an emergency.
“I need to plan ahead for several reasons,” said Chris-
tine Ballantine, founder of the Western Canada Pe-
kingese Club, whose reasons were, “My artificial hip,
seven flights of stairs and saving my seven-and-a-half-
pound Pekingese, Dolly. So, I took a Humane Society
pet emergency class. Everyone hopes they will never
have to use their emergency kits, but it is better to be
prepared and not use it. Having a list on hand in case of
a natural disaster is paramount because once an evac-
uation is ordered, panic supersedes normal thinking.”
And those with pets need to paw-pare extras.
TIPS:
“I can endure hardship, but knowing I was not pre-
pared to help my dog would add to the devastation of
an evacuation,” said Christine.
Her “flight” bag is an airline under-seat “Sherpa” bag
with an over-the-shoulder strap. She placed crate pads,
pee pads and a dog blanket on the bottom. She includ-
ed clean up items such as: A small terry towel, paper
towels, poop bags, grooming brush, collapsible dishes,
a plastic bag with a week’s worth of dry food, treats, bis-
cuits, a couple of leashes tied to the handle and a pet
first aid kit.
The extra leashes are in case you find a roving animal
to help. Dog toys were included along with a safe chewy
to keep her busy and her teeth clean and her spare dog-
gie water bottle with attached dish. Christine includes
bagged water in her own grab-n-go bag for them both;
and both bags are in her front hall closet near the door.
In a plastic Ziploc bag, include the following: Cop-
ies of your pet’s vaccination certificates, vet’s address,
photographs of both your pet and you together, pet’s
microchip number and an identification tag attached
to a light buckle collar to place on your pet. The Sherpa
bag also has home information in it.
You and your pets can be housed separately at an
evacuation center, so ID is a paramount requirement
with proper fitting buckle collars. Make your own by
using a black marker and cardboard wrapped in heavy
see-through packing tape. Include an out-of-the area
friend’s contact information in case you are incapaci-
tated/hospitalized.
“I also have a small collapsible, fold-up exercise pen
with a floor,” said Christine. “I also included Dolly’s
medications and children’s liquid Benadryl for any al-
lergic reaction, Polysporin antibiotic cream, non-ste-
roid veterinary eye antibiotic and saline solution plus
Kaopectate and measured medicine syringes. I keep
exercise pens and ‘Vari-Kennel’ crates in my car. I am
prepared to help other pets if needed. A Rubbermaid
tub in my car holds canned pet food with pull tab tops
(and a can opener.)”
Internet pet First Aid classes, emergency kit ideas and
supplies for both pets and people at https://shopsafe-
typroducts.ca/first-aid-kits/first-aid-kits/pet-kit-38 or
online at www.shopsafetyproducts.ca/emergency-pre-
paredness/emergency-preparedness-kits
Extra Tips:
• Have a carrier for each pet, their vet records, toys,
towel, favorite blanket and a photo of each animal in
case one escapes. Have them microchipped.
• Include cleanup products for carsick animals, and
purr-chase harnesses for cats because they can’t be car-
ried or left in carriers for days on end.
• Floods: Bungee cord pet cage to floatation device
like swimming kick board or a cooler.
Retired fire chief, Dan Olsen, adds, “We also have a
bottle of hydrogen peroxide (for cuts and scratches),
duct tape (for emergency repairs), paper towel rolls and
toilet paper. We use a ‘grab and go’ backpack for pet
and people essentials with a small cooler and five gallon
bucket (with lid) in the car with supplies.”
• You can find the Federal Emergency Management
(FEMA) pet webpage at https://www.fema.gov/help-
ing-pets.
Share your fur-avorite pet memory or adventure at
angelscribe@msn.com. Visit Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on Face-
book at/www.facebook.com/PetTipsandTales
Humane Society for Neuter/Spay Assistance Program.
541-942-2789
