CGSENTINEL.COM
THURSDAY EDITION | DECEMBER 26, 2019 | $1.00
S entinel
C ottage G rove
Est. 1889
VOL. 131, NO. 50
S ERVING
THE COMMUNITIES OF
C OTTAGE G ROVE ,
C RESWELL ,
D ORENA , D RAIN ,
E LKTON , L ORANE AND
Y ONCALLA
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(541) 942-0555
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WEATHER
Clouds and rain with
a high of 47 and a
low tonight of 37.
Full forecast on A5
COMMUNITY
Special Winter
Artwalk Friday.
A3
PHOTOS BY DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
SPORTS — B
The Tree of Joy program (above) distributed gifts to 240 children who asked for presents this year; volunteers (below) carry presents
to awaiting recipients in front of Trinity Lutheran Church on Dec. 20.
Local families receive holiday gift boxes
By Damien Sherwood
family over. They’ll have great-
er needs for food. So this is just
something we love doing.”
In November, families signed up
and qualified for the food boxes by
providing proof of income.
“We don’t turn anybody down,”
said Fleck of qualifying families.
“Everybody who applies will get a
food box, period.”
While most of the food was
purchased from Grocery Outlet, a
portion of it is also a result of the
community’s generosity.
“We try to save a lot of product
from local donations throughout
the year so that we don’t have to
buy quite as much,” said Fleck.
dsherwood@cgsentinel.com
Local girls get big
opportunity.
B1
• RECORDS
Obituaries
Official notices
A2
• LORANE NEWS
On Dec. 20, the Holiday Food
Box and Tree of Joy programs
stocked local families’ houses with
presents and food boxes stuffed
with holiday meal ingredients.
Throughout the day, cars drove
past Trinity Lutheran Church
where the gifts were loaded by vol-
unteers into eager recipients’ vehi-
cles.
The goal of the programs is to
provide for low-income families
during the holidays.
“Of course, the holidays are a
tougher time,” said Executive Di-
rector of Community Sharing
Mike Fleck. “Many folks will have
See JOY 7A
A5
• CLASSIFIEDS
Listings and public
notices
B6-B7
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Electric vehicles, higher-mileage cars to see fee increase
By Mark Brennan
Special to The Sentinel
The cost to register a
high mileage hybrid ve-
hicle or an Electric Vehi-
cle (EV) in Oregon will
rise significantly on Jan.
1. The increased amount
vehicle owners can expect
to pay will depend on the
fuel efficiency rating of the
vehicle, which will now be
the primary factor in de- Oregon Department of initiation and implemen-
termining the cost to reg- Transportation (ODOT) tation set to begin in 2020.
These increases have
“Drivers of more efficient vehicles will pay
been approved by legisla-
more to register and renew their tags so they tors because of the grow-
ing number of families
contribute more for use of the roads.”
that have chosen to pur-
chase an EV. While sales of
— Oregon Department of Transportation
EVs in the U.S. numbered
361,307 in 2018 — an in-
ister it.
funding plan, which was crease of 81 percent over
The new fees are part of passed three years ago in
See FEES 6A
a series of changes to the the form of HB 2017, with
541- 942-3325 ph • 541-942-3328 fax
P.O. Box 35, Cottage Grove, OR 97424
Trillium break with PeaceHealth to take effect
go into effect Jan. 1 when
Health Net and Trillium
dsherwood@
Medicare Advantage plans
cgsentinel.com
will no longer be accepted
PeaceHealth’s break with by the nonprofit health
Centene Corporation will care system.
By Damien Sherwood
While the Medicare
Open Enrollment period
ended Dec. 7, those who
qualified with Trillium or
Health Net plans will still
be able to switch Medicare
Advantage plans or switch
from a Medicare Advan-
tage plan to original Medi-
care between Jan. 1 and
Jim Goodling - Mike Grant
330 OR-99 Suite C • Cottage Grove, OR 97424
541-942-0165
See BREAK 6A
No plastic for
shoppers
beginning Jan. 1
By Damien Sherwood
dsherwood@
cgsentinel.com
Starting Jan. 1, Ore-
gon consumers will see
the Sustainable Shopping
Initiative take effect at
the cash registers of their
local retailers and restau-
rants.
The initiative, House
Bill 2509, passed in the
2019 Oregon legislative
session and prohibits
retail stores and restau-
rants from providing
single-use checkout bags
while placing restrictions
See PLASTIC 8A