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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2021)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | Shelter It has been reasoned by those working in the local warming shelter commu- nity that the criterion for activation at 29 degrees or below encourages prior- ity use of Eugene’s Egan Warming Center (which activates at 30 degrees) and thus reduces shel- ter-seeking traffic from outside areas. Fleck reported that clients of the new shel- ter were predominantly male. “In an abundance of caution, we did not have children on the site at DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL all,” he said. “We figured This past winter, the warming shelter program saw that if anybody showed more than 58 stays from 28 people seeking shelter. up with children, that we would try to put them up Ultimately, no families The shelter also operat- in a motel.” showed up, however. ed under strict rules about from A1 a smoke detector, shelf space and lockable doors. The city’s site preparation and facility costs for estab- lishing the warming shel- ter were covered by federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds, falling under “care for homeless populations” criteria for re- imbursement. Keeping with the Bed’s for Freezing Nights activa- tion threshold, the Com- munity Sharing Warming Shelter only activates when nights dip to 29 degrees Fahrenheit or below. It stays open from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. the following day. what could be brought through the gate. “No drugs or parapher- nalia are allowed on site, period. No weapons are allowed on site. We check,” said Fleck. Besides the Pallet Shel- ter amenities, the warming shelter offers a range of its own provisions such as storage lockers, toilets and washing stations, a smok- ing area, access to first-aid supplies, donated clothing, referrals to other resource agencies and bike and car parking. There is a “hospitali- ty suite” in the center of the site with snacks, hot drinks, hygiene products and donated clothing for all and pets are even allowed, APRIL 15, 2021 | 5A though must be cleaned up after. Community Sharing guarantees that all personal data collected will be pro- tected as well. With the warming shel- ter season ended, the city staff have previously stated that the Pallet Shelters will be housed with the city and the site will be opened up to other possible uses during the off-season. Going forward, Fleck hopes to further refine the process and is open to new models for the next season. “It was a real feel-good experience for me,” said Fleck. “It was a lot for us to undertake, but I would ab- solutely do it again.” Pet Tips‘n’ Tales: Kit and Kaboodle Condo Comforts By Mary Ellen “Angel Scribe” Selling their large family home was brilliant! They left all that house and yard work behind and moved into a townhouse. Even the family’s Siamese siblings, Kit and Ka- boodle, benefitted. “Kit Kat, 10 years old, was named after our favorite chocolate bar because of her chocolate-brown markings,” said Kari’s mother, Tracy. “A year later, Kit Kat’s parents had another litter and we ad- opted her brother, Kaboodle, now nine years old. Town- house life suites them, they appear happier.” The condo’s southern win- dow exposure pours sun in for their napping pleasure and the kitties exercise by running up and down the 32 steps. In adition, there are two porches to enjoy fresh air. “Their favorite perch- ing spots are at the top of each level of stairs staring down at us like furry birds,” said Tracy. “They also pride themselves on scratching our bamboo laundry basket.” Siamese cats are like dogs who enjoy going for walks with their humans. So, their kitties join them on their mile walks. For safety, Tracy attached a GPS tracking device to their collars. A clicker indicates which direction to search if they stray and it beeps so they know we are looking for them. The device is like Kari and her Apple-Head Siamese condo cats, Kit and Kaboodle, teach the comforts of life in the modern world. a walkie-talkie that lights up so she can spot them at night. “We walk around our qui- et block with them trotting along beside us — without leashes,” said Kari. “Because they have the tracking collars we don’t worry about losing them. They investigate under bushes which they could not do so easily on leashes. We whistle, encouraging them to rejoin us.” The GPS came in handy one day when they could not find the cats. With three busy teens and husband, the cats sneak out the door. So, Tra- cy beeped their collars and found Kaboodle, but couldn’t locate Kit Kat. “I pressed the clicker again and followed its screen, which indicated that Kit was next to the wall — but there was no cat!” Tracy said. “Ap- parently, she had snuck out our door and into the neigh- bor’s condo and was sitting on the other side of the wall, awaiting rescue. I phoned my neighbor and she unlocked her door with her cell phone so I could retrieved Kit Kat.” Cats are purr-fect for their family’s busy schedules. A dog would be a difficult com- mitment. But cats don’t bark so they don’t bother neigh- bors, they enjoy the peace- ful life of sitting on laps, and they are independent and af- fectionate. “I love my cats. They are adorable, great company and easy to care for, but the main reason is because they are such loving creatures,” adds Tracy’s daughter, Kari. TIPS: “We installed a cat door into our porch’s sliding-glass door,” said Kari. “We keep their kitty litter on the porch in the summer, and in win- ter in the bathroom. Kit and Kaboodle also have a tall scratching post outside to climb and enjoy the view. “Indoor cats need grass like outdoor cats. It is filled with healing chlorophyll, so we planted them some on the porch.” six feet distanced when masks are off for eating. • Only 38 in-per- son days left, so please be safe. Any student with a fever over 100.4, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing should stay home. Applegate Elementary has been in-person since January and doing great. Let’s keep up the great work. For more information, call the school office - 935-2227. • Heidi Brown has been chosen as the Crow-Applegate-Lorane new Superintendent/ Elementary Principal. We welcome you to our community and wish you great success. • Thank you, Lorane Christian Church, for continuing outside ser- vices for those not quite comfortable with in-per- son. Everyone is careful to wear masks and keep the distance even with so many having been vaci- nated. Tell us your fur-avorite pet memory/adventure: angelscribe@msn.com LORANE COUNTRY NEWS Contributed by Lil Thompson for The Sentinel 541-726-7689 541-942-9635 Eugene/Springfi eld Cottage Grove • Exciting news on several topics this week. First, the County Terri- torial Road Project on Stoney Point resumed on Monday. Please slow down, watch for construction workers plus their vehi- cles and flaggers. They hope to finish this sec- tion by summer, so ev- eryone will need to be alert and cautious during the next several months. • Crow Middle/High School will eliminate its A/B hybrid schedule and resume full in-person classes on Monday, April 19, Monday through Thursday. Classes will run from 8:20 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. with virtual instruction for those distance learn- ers in the afternoon. The ODE require- ments of masks and dis- tancing will be followed except for when eating. Students will maintain Install, Service, and Replace Pumps and Water Filtration Systems 6-day Test Water Quality And Water Flow Rate weather forecast FRIDAY SATURDAY 79° | 45° 82° | 46° For service after hours, Call (503)991-9159 Sunny Skies Sunny Skies SUNDAY MONDAY 82° | 46° 77° | 45° Sunny Skies Partly Cloudy TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 72° | 43° Cloudy 70° | 41° Partly Cloudy Get a plan—not just a policy. Bonded Licensed Insured CCB# 225978 Brandon Ervin (Owner) Tel: 541.649.8100 24 Hr. Service: 503.991.9159 Email: ervinfamilypumpservice@gmail.com Winter Heating Tune-Up Only $119* LLC We’ll make sure your system is running eff ectively and effi ciently. Call for details and an appointment today, and beat the winter rush! 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