2A | JULY 15, 2021 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
On The Record
Umpqua National Forest moves to ‘High’ fire danger
The Umpqua National
Forest increased the fire
danger to “High” on all
ranger districts across the
forest, effective at 12:01 a.m.
July 1, 2021.
Similarly, the Industrial
Fire Precaution Level ad-
vanced to level 2, on June
28. Public Use Restrictions
(PUR’s) Level 1 went into
effect at 12:01 a.m. on July
1, 2021.
Fire danger is quick-
ly increasing across the
country and more recently
across the Northwest. The
Umpqua National Forest
has responded by request-
ing additional resources
and fire detection flights,
increasing fire and law
enforcement patrols, and
monitoring regional and lo-
calized weather forecasting.
Fire agencies in south-
west Oregon are urging
caution for all those partic-
ipating in outdoor activities
this season. The right con-
ditions can mean that just
one small spark from an
unattended campfire, oper-
ating equipment, or a vehi-
cle can ignite fine fuels.
“It is important for us all
to adhere to fire use restric-
tions. Summer is heating up
quickly and with tempera-
tures well above normal we
could be in for a long fire
season. These restrictions
are critical to lessen the
likelihood of human caused
wildfires,” Forest Supervisor
Alice Carlton stated.
It is important for every-
one to be aware of current
public use restrictions. A
full list of restrictions can
be found online at www.
fs.usda.gov/detail/umpqua/
news-events/?cid=FSE-
PRD926277.
All motorized vehicles
need to take appropriate
precautions and only park
in areas free of dry vegeta-
tion when out in the woods.
If you are towing or utiliz-
ing a trailer, make sure that
chains are not dragging
(which could cause sparks).
The public is encouraged
Please Join us Celebrating
Martha Settelmeyer’s Life
Sat: July 17 -
”Open House”
any time between
1 & 3pm
Timberland owners close access to
private lands for fire season
With a combined tim-
berland acreage of around
600,000 acres, a group of
private timberland owners
consisting of Seneca, Lone
Rock Resources, Giustina
Resources, Campbell Glob-
al, and Giustina Land &
Timber Company, closed
public access to their lands
starting June 28.
Due to drought condi-
tions, and above-average
temperatures, Oregon is
already experiencing a bad
fire season. The number of
DEATH NOTICES
ANDERSON - Douglas
Henry, 74, of Creswell, OR
died July 3. Arrangements
by Smith Lund Mills Fu-
neral Chapel in Cottage
Grove, OR.
GIRAUD-Ernest Jean
Giraud, 72, of Cottage
Grove passed away June
9, 2021. A Celebration of
life will be held at the Cot-
tage Grove Faith Center,
Thursday, July 15 at 1:00
PM. Arrangements in the
care of Smith-Lund-Mills
Funeral Chapel.
DUERST - Roy Arnold,
91, of Cottage Grove, OR
died July 8. Arrangements
by Smith Lund Mills Fu-
neral Chapel in Cottage
Grove, OR.
SNAUER - Dean James,
86, of Cottage Grove, OR
died July 8. Arrangements
by Smith LundMills Fu-
neral Chapel in Cottage
Grove, OR.
ADAMS - Merlyn Mil-
dred, 40, of Cottage Grove,
OR died July 1. Arrange-
ments by Smith Lund
Mills Funeral Chapel in
Cottage Grove, OR .
fires so far this year is al-
ready 1.5 times higher than
the 10-year average, and the
acreage affected has been
more than four times great-
er than the 10-year average.
Landowners have been
monitoring fuel conditions
this spring, as well as re-
viewing snowpack, weather
forecasts, and drought im-
pacts.
The limited precipita-
tion across the region this
spring has significantly af-
fected the moisture content
of woody debris, as well as
the condition of live vegeta-
tion fuels and their suscep-
tibility to fire ignition and
spread.
Since most of Oregon’s
Published weekly in the
Cottage Grove Sentinel
and online at cgsentinel.com
Stephen Munchus 70, of Cottage
Grove, passed away April 24, 2021,
from a long battle of melanoma.
Stephen was born August 8, 1950 in
Newark, NJ. He graduated high school
in 1968 from Monte Vista High School
in Spring Valley CA. He also received
an AA degree in Culinary Arts at LCC.
Stephen is survived by his wife Lau-
ra Munchus; Stepson Neil Swanstrom
and sister Cher Johnson.
Stephen was preceded in death by his parents John and Harriett
Munchus; and his brother Jack Munchus.
Arrangements in care of Andreason’s Burial & Cremation Ser-
vice of Springfi eld, OR.
1934-2021
S entinel
C ottage G rove
Contact: Meg Fringer
541-942-3325 x1200
mfringer@cgsentinel.com
H. Ray Th ompson, 86, of
Dorena, OR passed away on
July 5, 2021. He was born on
December 12, 1934 in Santo,
TX to parents Jesse J. and Dol-
lie (Marsh) Th ompson. Ray’s
family left Texas in 1952,
moving to Santa Maria, CA
where he graduated from high
Why Choose Us
Online Cremation Arrangements
At Smith•Lund•Mills
We offer a value-added service to our community,
the option to make cremation arrangements
entirely online.
With a few simple steps you can plan and pay
for a cremation without leaving your home.
Visit smithlundmills.com today
and click on, “Get Started.”
(541) 942-0185
123 S. 7th St., Cottage Grove
Visit smithlundmills.com for more information.
1921-2021
1950-2021
PUBLIC MEETINGS,
TRUSTEE NOTICES,
PROBATE,
AUCTION &
FORECLOSURE
NOTICES,
AND MORE.
at - CG High School pictures,
visiting, ice cream.
Katie Kowalko
Stephen Munchus
Public Notices H. Ray Th ompson
The Lowest Rates in Lane County
wildfires are started by peo-
ple, public visits to private
land have the potential to
be dangerous for both the
public visitors as well as the
timberlands.
“This historic heatwave is
smashing records. It is im-
portant for us to proactive-
ly close our lands down to
the public for the safety of
our timberlands, firefight-
ers, and all Oregonians,”
said Casey Roscoe, Sene-
ca’s senior vice president of
marketing and communi-
cations.
The group has timber-
land in Benton, Coos, Cur-
ry, Douglas, Jackson, Jose-
phine, Lane, Linn and Polk
counties.
to enjoy public lands and
help keep them protected
by minimizing fire igni-
tions.
For more information on
current fire restrictions, call
540-830-3806 or 541-957-
3200.
school and met the love of his
life, Lonteen Woody. He and
Lonteen were married for 66
years. Ray made a career as an
instrument technician in the
electrical industry for South-
ern California Edison. He re-
tired in 1991, moving to Cot-
tage Grove, OR. Ray was an
avid Keno player who enjoyed
small town life. Ray is survived
by his wife, Lonteen Th omp-
son, Dorena, OR; 3 children,
Sheri of Kernville, CA; Terry
of Cottage Grove, OR; Kathy
Th ompson, Escondido, CA; 5
grandchildren; 2 great-grand-
children. Ray was preceded in
death by son, David in 2007.
Arrangements in the care of
Smith Lund Mills Funeral
Chapel, Cottage Grove, OR.
Katie loved the Lord all her
life, and on July 1, 2021 she’s
now with Him forever. She was
born in Saskatchewan, Canada
to John and Mary Burkart on
November 25, 1921. She was
the sixth of seven children, and
was preceded in death by her
four sisters and two brothers.
As a young woman, Ka-
tie worked with her father
as a market gardener. Later,
she went to work “under the
glass” at a local nursery and
helped to make the bouquet
given to Queen Elizabeth on
her 1939 visit to Canada. Fol-
10/22/1949 – 07/02/2021
brought to you by:
Steven W. Coons was born
on October 22, 1949 to W.
Glenn and Josephine (Galdabi-
ni) Coons. He joined a sister,
Carol E. Coons and a brother,
Joe G. Coons. He was deliv-
ered in Mrs. Butler’s Nursing
Home in Cottage Grove, OR
and his birth was attended by
Dr. Axley.
At the age of 1 ½ years old he
contracted rheumatic fever and
was bed ridden for over a year.
He attended Drain Elementa-
ry School and graduated from
Drain High School in 1967.
Steven enlisted in the U.S.
Week of July 15th Winner is: 1132 E. Adams Street
Yards will be selected each week by nominations.
To nominate a yard you can call City Hall (942-5501)
or Chamber of Commerce (942-2411)
Katie’s most notable quality
was her positive life view. She
was quick to laugh and enjoyed
making others smile, too. In
retirement, she and Nick trav-
eled annually to Th e Fountain
of Youth Spa and RV Resort,
where she regularly performed
a “stand-up” comedy act. She
was a resort celebrity!
Katie touched many lives
during her 99 years on this
earth. She had many life-long
friends. She is survived by
her sons Ken (Judy) and Dale
(Ginger), grandchildren Katie
and Kendal, step grandchil-
dren Donna and Bobby, and six
great grandchildren (Alyson,
Hannah, Emma, Kilee, Jordan
and Silas).
A memorial service and lun-
cheon will be held on July 31st,
at 1 pm., at Riverside Church of
God in Cottage Grove, Oregon.
Arrangements in the care
of Smith-Lund-Mills Funer-
al Chapel and Crematorium.
Interment at Fir Grove, Cem-
etery.
Steven Wynn Coons
Yard of the Week
Cottage Grove Sentinel
116 N. 6th • (541) 942-3325
lowing her father’s calling to
ministry, the family moved to
California. Th ere Katie taught
Sunday School and led youth
activities. While attending a
Youth Conference, she met
several students from Pacifi c
Bible College (now Warner
Pacifi c College) who urged
her to attend. So she moved
to Portland, Oregon and there
met Nick Kowalko who was
attending to further his minis-
terial training. Th ey married in
Portland in 1947.
Katie and Nick pastored at
Th e Church of God in Canada,
Aberdeen, Washington, Rain-
ier and Springfi eld, Oregon.
Th ey also served in Cottage
Grove, Oregon, where they re-
tired as pastor’s emeritus. Of
all of her many church activ-
ities, being the choir director
was her favorite.
Katie also worked in Eugene
as a secretary for SAIF (State
Accident Insurance Fund) and
later as a legal secretary for a
private attorney.
Army in May of 1969 and was
released from duty November
1971. He did his training at
Fort Lewis in Washington. He
was sent to Vietnam where he
was serving in the Army‘s Navy
as a Water Craft Operator off
the coast of Vietnam. Aft er he
returned, he was stationed at
Fort Eustis, VA until he com-
pleted his service. When he
was released from the Army
he was awarded the National
Defense Service Medal, Viet-
nam Service Medal, Republic
of Vietnam Campaign Medal,
Army Commendation Medal,
Combat Infantry Badge and
a Good Conduct Medal. He
returned to his home on Buck
Creek Road near Drain, OR.
In 1976, he moved to 3500
Anlauf Road, Yoncalla, OR. He
continued to reside there until
his death on July 2, 2021.
He worked for Portable
Rock. Th en he worked for
Boucock and Dupper Logging.
Aft er that he worked with El-
mer Dupper doing reforesta-
tion work. He then worked
for Backus and Williams until
he suff ered a heart attack. Af-
ter his recovery he worked for
D & R Logging until it closed.
He then began logging his own
property.
Steven was always interested
in model trains. He got his fi rst
model train set in the 1950’s
and it grew from there. A cous-
in worked for Southern Pacifi c
and through him Steven be-
came friends with a number of
railroad employees and retired
railroad employees. He had
an archive of Southern Pacifi c
photos and other memorabilia.
He attended the monthly meet-
ings of the Liars Club which is
made up of retired railroad em-
ployees.
He is survived by his sis-
ter, Carol C. Wigle of Philo-
math, OR and his brother Joe
G. Coons and wife Kittie Jo
of Yoncalla, OR; and nephew
Joseph G. Coons, Yoncalla,
OR. He was preceded in death
by his parents, grandparents,
numerous aunts, uncles and
cousins. Other than his time in
the U.S. Army he resided in the
Drain and Yoncalla, OR area
all his life. Donations may be
made to North Douglas Better-
ment or charity of your choice.
Funeral services will be held
at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July
17, 2021 at Smith Lund Mills
Funeral Chapel, 123 S. 7th St.,
Cottage Grove, OR. Interment
at Comstock Cemetery.
