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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 2020)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Oregon schools officially close for remainder of school year By Jared Anderson for The Sentinel Oregon’s public schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year, according to an an- nouncement by Ore. Gov. Kate Brown earlier today (April 8). “School, and learning, will continue as best as we can using remote means,” Brown said. Regarding seniors who were concerned about graduation, Brown stat- ed that, “All of our high school seniors who were on track to graduate pri- or to the statewide school closure will receive a pass- ing grade for their courses. This allows us to maintain Oregon’s current gradua- tion requirements. I refuse to punish students, many of whom have been in Or- egon’s schools for over a decade, because they could not attend classes for a little over two months.” For seniors who did not have passing grades in mid- March, Brown stated that school districts will “fo- cus their efforts by finding creative ways to get these seniors the extra attention they need to get across the finish line. It encourag- es our schools to develop alternative learning plans for our seniors, and we are already seeing schools deploying creative tactics that are locally driven and reflect the best interest of our kids.” ODE direct Colt Gill stat- ed that seniors have until August to get their grades up for graduation. “This year’s seniors… I want them to know I be- lieve in them, their teachers believe in them,” he said. The move to distance only education has been ex- pected after ODE released instructions for schools to begin shifting from sup- plemental education to dis- tance learning beginning this week. For Brown, closing the schools for the rest of the year came down to safety. “It is first and foremost to protect our kids and our teachers. It is impossible to adhere to social distancing measures in our classrooms and our schools,” she said. “Oregon’s education work- force is typically older and potentially more vulnera- ble to COVID-19. We need to make sure we’re keep- ing our students, teachers, principals and school staff Food For Lane County’s Mobile Pantry is now oper- ating four days a week with an added site in Cottage Grove. The pantry unit will be located at Bohemia Middle School from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday. Free food will be distrib- uted to low-income house- holds. Participants who arrive by car should stay in their vehicles. Those arriving on foot will also be served, but should remain at least six feet apart at all times. The program is in part- nership with NAACP Eu- gene/Springfield and the Willamalane Parks & Rec- reation District. For more information on all FFLC programs, visit www.foodforlanecounty. org/covid-19. LRAPA softens countywide ban on outdoor burning rules After consideration of all aspects involving the coro- navirus (COVID-19) and the tight burning window to decrease fuels in rural areas ahead of fire season, the Lane Regional Air Pro- tection Agency’s (LRAPA) Board of Directors voted to immediately curb Lane County’s outdoor burn ban. Instead, county residents are encouraged to volun- tarily stop outdoor burning activities as communities respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “The Board cannot stress strongly enough that we en- courage everyone to follow state guidelines and volun- tarily refrain from outdoor burning,” said Joe Pishio- neri, chairman of LRAPA’s board. “Please check with your local municipality on additional restrictions they may impose to protect the health of your community.” The voluntary request to not burn aligns with oth- er state agencies such as the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Oregon Depart- ment of Forestry (ODF), Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office (OSFM), Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), and Oregon Health Authority (OHA). Additional information of these agencies’ recom- mendation all Oregonians refrain from outdoor burn- ing can be found at: https:// bit.ly/2X9Qn78 “Smoke from backyard burns impacts all neighbors sharing an airshed,” says LRAPA Director Merlyn Hough. dents for distance learning. Some have sent packets and there have been emails of information from their teachers. You can contact the school through, cglazier@ cal.k12.or.us for any other information. • Crow High School principal, Mr. Rodemack, shared some ways to help you and your child. First, communication: With the teachers, remem- bering no question is too small; Second: Create a work space for your student where they can focus; Third: Set up schedules, including breaks; Fourth: Be patient, it’s new to everyone, and; Five: Enjoy the moments; “love it, embrace it, and cherish how mich time we now get to spend with our families.” • Those in need of Chromebook will get the opportunity to check one out this week. We have an amazing district staff who want the best for our stu- dents. • Please remember that the Lorane Family Store is working very hard to keep its shelves stocked so you do not have to run into town. If you need any inter- esting reading, contact Pat Edwards or the store for her Groundwater monthlies. She has some available and will see that they are in the store for you to pick up. • The Lorane Deli is still preparing food to order un- til seven pm every Tuesday through Sunday. Just call to place your or- der to pick up. While many miss visiting, everyone has been good about distanc- ing. • Anyone needing food from the food pantry should contact Marty at 541-520-3643. If you have food for the pantry, call her as well. • Lorane Grange may postpone its May meeting until later in the month. Decision will be made by the end of this month. Meanwhile, everyone please keep practicing so- cial distancing. It may be hard but we can all do this. If you get lonely, call or text a friend; video chat with family; go out and work in your yard; or just enjoy a walk around your place. This too will pass; be safe and patient. LORANE NEWS Contributed by Lil Thompson for The Sentinel Easter is now over and we are into another week of living differently. As we’ve seen, there is always the promise of bet- ter days ahead and excit- ing things to look forward to. With the sunshine, we can be on our properties working and enjoying our homes. So this week, our school children have begun a new adventure of distance learn- ing. • Our CAL Teachers and Administration have worked hard to prepare themselves and their stu- 6-day weather forecast FRIDAY SATURDAY 74° | 43° 66° | 44° Sunny Sunny SUNDAY MONDAY 68° | 45° 64° | 46° Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 66° | 46° 62° | 45° Showers Showers Get a plan—not just a policy. Transmissions Plus & AUTOMOTIVE SPECIALTIES PRACTICING THE ART OF TRANSMISSION REPAIR SERVICE SINCE 1991 We are committed to keeping our customers our staff and our community safe during this Corona Virus outbreak and to that end we have been wiping down commonly touched areas such as door handles, steering wheels and shift knobs on every vehicle before and after getting in them. We are also disinfecting the ofϔice and shop at every opportunity throughout the day. Due to the Corona Virus outbreak we will not be able to maintain regular business hours for at least the next couple of weeks. If you need your vehicle serviced or repaired, please leave a message at 541-942-8022. We will be checking messages throughout the week and will return calls and schedule work as we can. You can also email us at autospecialties@hotmail.com. We will do what we can to help. Intoxalock customers in need of recalibration, installation or removal, please leave a message and we will coordinate a time with you. (541) 942-0555 We are looking forward to life returning to normal once this national emergency is under control. WE LIVE IN THE SAME TOWN WE WORK IN www.automotivespecialties.biz DUSTIN TULLAR & RUSS OWENS 541-942-8022 • COTTAGE GROVE APRIL 16, 2020 | 5A Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales safe as well.” Brown repeatedly men- tioned the sacrifices that both parents and students have made during the pan- demic. “To all the moms and dads, I can’t imagine what you’re up against,” she said. “Balancing parent- ing during this very scary crisis. While I know that many of you have lost a job, or are a first responder, or are trying to work from home with your kids there, all the time worrying about education and figuring out homeschooling. This is re- ally hard on parents, too.” Brown thanked every Oregonian for their sacri- fice, adding, “I also know that the measures we put into place are necessary actions right now to save lives.” Mobile pantry moves location of Cottage Grove service | By Mary Ellen “Angel Scribe” Pets and Cooties Mister E. (Mystery) self-quarantines in an open cup- board. P et parents are fortunate to have something furry to hug and hold in overwhelming quarantine moments. Following are several virus safety tips and practices from our 18-year-old Persian cats, Myster E. and his sis- ter, Whyspurr. Realizing that pet food may be difficult to come by and to avoid lining up to buy it, we began making their food. The benefit of their new diet is that all vomiting from canned foods has stopped. I am not sure if there is a mystery ingredient that is added to pet foods, but the end results were wearing the cats, me and the rugs out! Whatever we are having for dinner, so do the cats. We will cook up an extra hamburger patty, or full chicken leg, turkey or open an occasional can of tuna. We learned that cats enjoy cooked green beans, broccoli, carrots, cel- ery and even cauliflower. We are still in the experimental stage of recipe mak- ing. Currently, we add 1/8th veggies to 7/8ths meat, toss in some warm water, and a tad of ‘U-Stew Powder for Cats’ by ‘Know Better Pet Foods’ because it includes the necessary taurine and digestive aid (www.knowbetter- petfood.com) We pop the mixture into a blender and buzz it up as the cats dance at our feet. When we place their meal onto plates, they gobble it up. Blender left overs are put in a freezer baggie, onto a cookie sheet, frozen flat and stacked in the freezer like a deck of playing cards. We won’t run out of pet food and their renewed energy has them running and playing. Cold food is hard on digestion, so their food is defrost- ed and served warm to assimilate for higher nutrition. Our cats love going for walks in their stroller. Myster E. insists on riding — surfer-like — on top of the stroll- er like a Cadillac’s hood ornament. Passers-by stop, chat and pat him. We had to stop walking for several reasons. Since the virus is contagious, and we wash all incoming mail and groceries, then we don’t want a kind A-symp- tomatic friend, stranger or neighbor touching him trans- furr-ing microbes to where we kiss him. Also, the virus floats in the air and stays active on sidewalks. People spit, cough and sneeze, so running the stroller’s wheels over human excretions and then rolling them into our home had to stop. For these reasons, dog parents have stopped people from patting their dogs and wash their dog’s feet with Dawn soap upon returning home to eliminate virus mi- crobes. We leave our shoes outside so we don’t bring lingering virus cooties into our home and walk them throughout the house. We bought grass seed to plant indoors for our cats’ health, a ‘Da bird’ feather toy to entertain them and cat nip to rub over their toys (www.dabird.com) Also, BASS’s bio flex’s teal brush for humans and pets is designed to relax you as you brush your hair or your pets’ bodies. It feels like someone is massaging you. Our elderly cats normally resist grooming, but with this brush they won’t get out of our laps. (https://www.bass- brushes.com/the-bio-flex) For treats and exercising we use the cats’ stalking in- stincts by hiding kibbles around the house, like Easter Egg hunts, for them to seek and eat. Pets help us feel less isolated, loved and are a gift during difficult times. The more you play with yours, the more you bond and laugh. Enjoy your fur babies while keeping yourself and them safe. TIPS: If you don’t have a pet, adopt one. Shelter pets are iso- lated in cages and will be happy to go home with you. Train and bond with a pet companion while you have this extra time: Search for a furry housemate from the safety of home at www.petfinder.com If your pet uses litter or pee pads, have a four-month supply on hand. If you purr-chased extra bagged pet food, keep it in a cool dry place so it won’t go rancid. Mark canned food lids with the purchase date to use it before the next incoming cans. Caution: Many disinfecting sprays and wipes, and es- sential oils are toxic to pets. Pets licking their paws and fur ingest the chemicals. We use a vinegar and water mix to clean our home and litter box. Disclaimer: This article, based on personal experience, is for informational purposes only and is not intended to prescribe, treat, diagnose or cure. Always consult your Veterinarian.
