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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 2021)
2A | SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL On The Record Search warrant shuts down criminal marijuana operation in Yoncalla The Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office was assisted by A large-scale criminal marijuana grow operating under counties are seeing a large number black-market marijua- the guise of a legal hemp operation has been shut down by na grows which have been disguised as sanctioned hemp DINT, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC), grows popping up in local communities. These operations the Douglas County Water Master and the Douglas Coun- law enforcement in Douglas County. The Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office and Douglas Inter- are being financed and run by organized crime enterprises. ty Public Works Department. agency Narcotics Team (DINT) executed a search warrant in the 1000-block of Scotts Valley Road Wednesday, Sept. 1. The warrant stemmed from an inves- 1928-2021 tigation into a large-scale black-market company and the State of Cali- marijuana grow. Law enforcement became fornia Public School Employee aware of the operation on tips from con- System. He moved to Cottage cerned citizens. Grove and lived with his uncle When law enforcement arrived, approx- until his uncle’s death. He was imately 30-50 workers began fleeing the a member of Delight Valley location on foot. An individual identified Church of Christ and attend- as “the manager” of the operation, 44-year- ed until he no longer could old Jose Francisco Figueroa-Aguilar of drive. Jim’s cooking specialty Modesto, California, was ultimately ar- was preparing a dozen Dev- iled Eggs to take to potlucks rested and lodged at the Douglas County and other dinners. He always Jail on charges of Unlawful Possession and thought the eggs could be im- Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana. James H. Horton, 93, of proved; however, there were Deputies located multiple vehicles, tents Cottage Grove, Oregon passed never any left overs. Jim loved and two RVs concealed under green hous- away on Sunday, August 8, to grow a garden to share with es and in the timber. The property was also 2021, from complications of his friends and neighbors. His found to be littered with garbage, fertilizer, surgery. He was born on June yard was always immaculate, containers and human waste; all of which 9, 1928, in Cheyenne Wells, green and full of fl owers that he were adjacent to Elk Creek. Colorado to Harvey and Es- also shared with people. James Two large swimming pools were being ter (Anderson) Horton. James will be cremated, and his ashes was one of ten siblings, all who will be tossed into the Pacifi c utilized as water holding tanks being fed have preceded him in death. Ocean (his words). A memori- by water pumps from Elk Creek. The wa- James was in the United States al service will be held at Trinity ter pumps are required to be metered, but Army for eight years. He then Lutheran Church at 11:00AM Jose Francisco Figueroa-Aguilar was identified as “the manager” of were not. worked for the Boeing aircraft on September 11, 2021. Approximately 150 greenhouses con- the Yoncalla grow operation and lodged in the Douglas County Jail. taining 49,152 marijuana plants were lo- cated on the property. Testing conducted on the marijuana through- 1943-2021 out the grow revealed high levels of tetrahydrocannab- All applicants will be considered for was able to succeed for 27 years. Jerry was inol (THC). There were no employment without regards to race, color, hemp plants located any- proud that he still had all of his fi ngers after religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender where on the property. The 27 years. identity and national origin. All applicants street value of the marijuana He met his wife, Jean (Mather), at a located is estimated to be must have experience taking care of the elderly wedding in Cottage Grove and they were as well as a great attitude. As a caregiver, you $50,000,000. married on June 26 th , at 6:26pm (so he could Harvesting of the mar- must be able to pass a background check. For remember) in 1993. They were married for ijuana plants had begun, more enquiry about the Caregiver job, you can 28 years. however it did not appear contact Mark (chillingtong@gmail.com) After retirement in 2006, Jerry & Jean that any of it had been re- Part-time - 5 hours per day leased into the community bought a motorhome and traveled all over Monday-Friday - $20 per hour before the execution of the the country from late fall to early Spring for search warrant. 10 years. They have been to all the states on Due to the sheer size of the mainland in the motorhome. They met the illegal operation, law lots of great people along the way and made enforcement spent two days a few lasting friends. conducting eradication and In 2010 he met the “Mistress” his wife destruction of the marijua- allowed him to have!! He loved his 1941 na plants. The investigation Pre-Planning makes matters easier for those Jerry Everett Maddux 78, of Cottage Grove, you love. is ongoing and additional Cadillac. He could be seen driving it around OR, passed away on September 1, 2021, charges may be pending. Pre-Planning allows you to provide guidance peacefully at home with his wife by his side. town every chance he could and driving in Douglas County, as well parades and cruises. to your family after your death. Jerry was born February 8, 1943, in Bisbee, as multiple other Oregon James H. Horton Jerry Everett Maddux In Home Caregiver Why Pre-Plan? Visit us on the web Pre-Planning allows you to control potential expenses of a funeral and disposition. Pre-Planning provides an advanced opportunity to assemble life data. CGS entinel . Com (541) 942-0185 CGS entinel 123 S. 7th St., Cottage Grove Visit smithlundmills.com for more information. AZ. He grew up in Tucson, AZ. After Jerry was a very lovable and funny guy. He graduating from high school, he joined the was funny right up till the end. He could al- Navy and became an airplane mechanic. He ways make people laugh with his repertoire served on the USS Midway during the Viet- of jokes. He loved people. nam war. With an honorary discharge from Jerry leaves behind the “love of his life” the Navy, he went to work at United Airlines Jean; his son Richard (Faun) Maddux of San as a mechanic on the airplanes. When they Martin, CA; his daughter Rebecca (Erik) went on strike one time, he started building Knuth of Modesto, CA; two Stepsons, Brian furniture & cabinets, and found out he really Kelly of Vancouver, WA and Steven (Jenn) liked that type of work. One day he saw an Kelly of Villanova, PA; six grandchildren, ad in the San Francisco newspaper, a cabinet Kevin Lars, Jakob & Allison Knuth, Brand shop for sale in Cottage Grove, OR. He got & Connor Kelly; three sisters, Carol (Bill) the map out to see where it was. He fl ew up Irwin of San Diego, CA; Melvina Guyn, of here and ended up buying the cabinet shop. Tucson, AZ; and Shirley Barnes, of North He left United Airlines 13 years to the day Port, FL; and many nieces & nephews. from when he started. A memorial service will be at the Walker Jerry moved to Cottage Grove in 1979 just Church, 32904 England Rd., Creswell, OR as the recession started. He struggled for a on September 11 th at 11am. Pastor Randall few years, but hung in there. He never had Wood preforming the service. Arrangements any formal training on building cabinets by Smith Lund Mills Funeral Chapel and or furniture, he just had the talent to fi gure Crematorium. Donations can be made to it out. His cabinets were beautiful, and he Greenhill Humane Society if you wish. Yard of the Week brought to you by: Cottage Grove Sentinel (541) 942-3325 Week of September 9th Winner is: 2251 W. Harrison Avenue 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)
