4A | MAY 6, 2021 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
Cottage Grove Sentinel
116 N. Sixth St.
Cottage Grove, Ore. 97424
ned hickson, managing editor | 541-902-3520 | nhickson@cgsentinel.com
Opinion
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ongress shall make no law respect-
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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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LETTERS
Support OSU Extension
On May 18, Lane County
voters have the opportunity to
continue much needed funding
for our Lane County OSU Ex-
tension Office and support its
valuable programs.
These programs provide reli-
able, unbiased, research-based
education and advice that
strengthens local economies,
sustains natural resources, and
promotes healthy communities,
healthy families and healthy in-
dividuals.
In last week’s Sentinel, Friends
of Extension Member Leigh
Reider detailed the specific pro-
grams and services this funding
request provides. Additional in-
formation is available at www.
FriendsofExten sionLane.org.
Since its founding at Oregon
State College in 1911, this state-
wide program has been based
in “Beaver Territory.” Howev-
er, Ducks (and all Oregonians)
benefit greatly from a well-sup-
ported extension program.
Driven by research, volunteers
and public financial support,
the OSU Extension Service
provides taxpayers with a great
return on their relatively small
investment.
The unexpected life-changing
events of 2020 are a stark re-
minder of how — going forward
— we must remain vigilant and
be prepared to succeed in the
uncertain future awaiting us.
OSU Extension programs
contribute to food security, eco-
nomic development, wildfire
resiliency and emergency pre-
paredness.
For these programs to con-
tinue and to be successful they
need our support and participa-
tion.
Please join me and others by
voting yes on Measure 20-319.
—Cindy Weeldreyer
Cottage Grove
Keep experience on
the school board
At a time of great potential for
our town and schools, after a
decade of economic disruption
and challenges, our seasoned
school board is poised to usher
in the future we all want for our
youth and school district.
Many of our current board
members have children still in
our schools and all have spent
the last few years building the
policies that best support dis-
trict educators in getting kids
the job skills they need to meet
the 21st century.
As a retired school board
member, it seems to me that
replacing our veteran school
board leadership now with peo-
ple green to a complex process,
regardless of how well-inten-
tioned, would be shooting our
future in the foot.
Our children need jobs and
training for that future; the en-
tire state has finally figured that
out and Salem is funding it bet-
ter — our current school board
and district know how to make
that work in our town; give
them the time they need to pull
this off.
—Alan Baas
Cottage Grove
In support of
Duerst-Higgins
It’s an honor for me to say I
support Sherry Duerst-Higgins
for school board. She’s experi-
enced, knowledgeable and cares
deeply about our kids and com-
munity.
She listens.
And, she knows how to bring
diverse groups of people togeth-
er while providing leadership
filled with compassion and con-
viction.
Please join me in voting for
Sherry Duerst-Higgins for
South Lane School Board.
—Len Blackstone
Cottage Grove
Don’t restore mural,
re-think it
I am all for CG’s historic pride.
I understand that it is important
and something to acknowledge
and celebrate.
However, I don’t understand
the extreme push to get the
outdated Buster Keaton mural
restored. Honestly, the mural
is downright creepy (This is no
fault of the artist and I mean
no disrespect; the character is
creepy).
When entering historic CG,
the mural is completely off-put-
ting. It’s not a good backdrop for
photos. It really doesn’t benefit
CG whatsoever. We have such
a beautiful Opal Whiteley mu-
ral and I find myself wondering
why this huge BK mural is such
a focal point?
If you look at the data from
the Census, it shows that the de-
nhickson@cgsentinel.com
mographics of CG 65-and-old-
er crowd is approximately 16.2
percent. This tells me that the
majority of CG’s population
probably has no interest in “The
General.”
Ones who were interested in
it are phasing out and that’s just
a fact.
Another factor is that the
fundraising goal was $1,100 shy
of the goal. I think this speaks
for itself in the public’s interest
in restoring the mural. Instead
of the big focus on BK, why can’t
we have a mural that showcases
“Animal House,” “Stand By Me”
and Buster? Especially when
Animal House is all over the
windows of the Chamber, right
across the street.
I hope that the restoration is
reconsidered and a more cur-
rent mural is painted. Believe
me, it will benefit CG and ap-
peal to the many new residents
and tourists that visit.
—Amanda Hogan
Cottage Grove
Voting Duerst-Higgins
for school board
I have known and worked
with Sherry Duerst-Higgins
for many years. She has always
been one to volunteer wherever
needed.
We first worked together
when she drug me onto the
booster club in 1982. She led
us to raise funding for many
sports, sent a wrestling team to
New Zealand and built a weight
room for the sports teams.
She never stops.
She has served as a leader of
many local, regional and state
organizations. She has been
honored by the Oregon School
Boards Association for service
on that board as well as many
others. She is the driving force
behind Community Sharing.
Her many years on the South
Lane School board makes her
the most knowledgeable and
prepared for her continuing that
service.
Sherry is all about service to
our kids, making sure they get
a quality education and sup-
porting a high standard for our
educators.
It would be a loss to the com-
munity to not have Sherry on
our school board.
—David Hemenway
Cottage Grove
HOW TO CONTACT YOUR REPS
Oregon state
representatives
• Sen. Floyd Prozanski
District 4 State Senator
PO Box 11511
Eugene, Ore. 97440
Phone: 541-342-2447
Email : sen.floydprozanski@
state.or.us
• Rep. Cedric Hayden
Republican District 7 State
Representative
900 Court St. NE
Salem, Ore. 97301
Phone: 503-986-1407
Email: rep.cedrichayden@
state.or.us
• Rep. Peter DeFazio
(House of Representatives)
405 East 8th Ave.
#2030
Eugene, Ore. 97401
Oregon federal
representatives
Email: defazio.house.gov/
contact/email-peter
Phone: 541-465-6732
• 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
• Heather Buch
Lane County Commissioner
- District 5
Email: Heather.Buch@lane
countyorg.gov
125 E. Eighth Ave.
Eugene, OR 97401
Or call 541-682-4203
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