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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 2021)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | OCTOBER 14, 2021 | 3A Oregon recognizes Indigenous Peoples’ Day This Monday, Oct. 11, the State of Oregon rec- ognized Indigenous Peo- ples’ Day in place of the traditional Columbus Day holiday. Earlier this year, Ore- gon lawmakers voted to make Oregon the 11th state to officially change the name of the Colum- bus Day holiday going forward to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The stated intent was to recognize the history and contributions of indige- nous people. Governor Brown said it is also a day to recognize the harm that has been caused by colonialism and past fed- eral policies. Fourteen states – Al- abama, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklaho- ma, Oregon, South Da- kota, Vermont and Wis- consin – plus the District of Columbia and more than 130 cities observe Indigenous Peoples Day instead of or in addition to Columbus Day. “Oregon’s Indigenous, Tribal, and Native peo- ples have been stewards of our forests, fish, wild- life, lands, and waters since time immemorial,” said Brown on Monday. “Today, we recognize not only that historical and cultural heritage, but our continuing partnership with Oregon’s sovereign Tribal governments as we work together towards a more just and equitable future. The Lane County Board of Commissioners also voted last month to declare the second Mon- day in each October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. “In spite of what many of us were taught as chil- dren, Christopher Co- lumbus did not ‘discover’ the Americas. There were thriving and vibrant In- digenous cultures across this continent long before Europeans arrived,” said Board Chair Joe Berney. “This declaration is one step toward recognizing the many contributions Indigenous people have made to our communi- ty, particularly the Ka- lapuya peoples whose traditional homeland is where Lane County now stands.” The declaration was brought forward at the request of the Board of County Commissioners and was drafted with help from Indigenous com- munity leaders and oth- ers who have worked on similar efforts in the past. The declaration reads, in part, as follows: “Lane County shall utilize the second Monday in Octo- ber as an opportunity to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of Indigenous people of this land, to celebrate the thriving cultures and values of the Indigenous Peoples of our region, and to stand in solidarity with Indige- nous peoples elsewhere.” Commissioner Jay Bozievich voted against making the holiday, say- ing society unfairly judg- es Christopher Columbus by today’s morals, adding that Columbus did things that were amazing for his time, such as navigating the Atlantic Ocean. “We’re replacing a hol- iday to try and honor people that were forci- bly forced off their land. I don’t think it’s neces- sary to do that,” he said. “You could have both and have an honest discus- sion about the entirety of mankind, how we’ve moved and displaced other people.” The concept of Indig- enous Peoples’ Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations at the United Nations-sponsored Inter- national Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas. Since 1934, Colum- bus Day has been a na- tional holiday officially celebrating the anniver- sary of Italian Explorer Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. Columbus Day became a permanent holiday after the Knights of Colum- bus successfully lobbied Congress and President Franklin D. Roosevelt to make Oct. 12 the desig- nated date. In 1971, Columbus Day was made a federal holiday on the second Monday in October. It is one of 10 official federal holidays and according to the Pew Research Cen- ter Columbus Day is the most inconsistently ob- served US national holi- day. Lane County joins the cities of Springfield, Eu- gene, Corvallis, Portland and others in recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Signs of movie-making Photos by Damien Sherwood The City of Cottage Grove staff has finished installing the final three Oregon Film Trail signs, making a total to five signs in the area. The Cottage Grove Film Trail signs recognize locations used in the filming of “The General,” “Animal House,” “Stand By Me,” “Emperor of the North” and “Lost in the Stars.” The signs are located: in All-America Square; along the Row River Trail at 14th Street; at the Currin Covered Bridge; above Dorena Dam on the Row River Trail and at the end of the Row River Trail at the Culp Creek Trailhead. The Oregon Film Office and the Cottage Grove Historical Society made this project possible. The Oregon Film Trail is a statewide network of recognizable trail markers, placed at significant filming locations and stra- tegic points across Oregon. The Trail stitches together many communities, locations and notable films since the early 1900s. Oregon’s film history constitutes hundreds of feature films and television shows (over 500 and growing) that have utilized thousands of locations around the state. For more information about the Oregon Film Trail visit: www.historicoregonfilmtrail.com. City awarded DLCD grant The City of Cottage Grove received notice last week that the Department of Land Con- servation and Development (DLCD) award- ed a Planning Assistance Grant for the City’s Affordable Housing Strategy Implementa- tion Plan application. The plan will review and analyze current programs such as the Multi-Unit Property Tax Exemption (MUPTE) and look at other programs the Cottage Grove City Council could adopt to support creation of afford- able housing. The grant will cover the costs of hiring a consultant to work with the city in creating the plan. DLCD has chosen ECONorthwest as the consultant for the project. The next steps are drafting a scope of work and forming an Advisory Committee made up of city councilors and key stakeholders to work with city staff and ECONorthwest cre- ating the plan. The final plan is expected to be complet- ed and ready for city council consideration next July 2022. Are you ready? D ISASTER P RE PAREDNESS Know Your Coverage A natural disaster can be a trying time, so it’s important to take stock of things before an emergency. What does your insurance cover? Do you have an accurate list of all your belongings, in case tragedy strikes? You know all that fine print on your home and vehicle insurance plan? Read it. It’s important to know what type of insurance you have, what it covers and how much it covers for dif- ferent types of tragedies. Make a point to sit down with your insurance agent to dig into all the details, to make sure you’re comfortable with your deduct- ible levels, amount of coverage and different types of coverage. It might seem trivial now, but these could be absolutely critical in the event of a di- saster. Know those things beforehand, and make sure you will be covered. Flood prep According to the Red Cross, most standard home- owner’s insurance doesn’t cover flooding, so it’s important to have protection from the floods as- sociated with hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains and other conditions that impact the U.S. Even if you don’t live in a flood plain, enough rain and storms still could potentially drive wa- ter toward your home and property. Do some research to determine which creeks or rivers are nearby, and pay attention the next time it rains to determine how water flows around your proper- ty. If water levels were to rise enough, could they impact you? If you think you may need coverage, check with your insurance provider to see what options are available. Be Ready for a Flood Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters and — even if you don’t live on an obvious flood plane — they still can wreak havoc on your home. As the Red Cross notes, conditions that cause floods include heavy or steady rain for several hours or days that saturates the ground. Flash floods occur suddenly due to rapidly rising water along a stream or low-lying area. Be aware of what’s happeninga You will likely hear weather forecasters use these terms when floods are pre- dicted in your community, and it’s important to know what they mean: “Flood/ flash flood watch” means flooding or flash flooding is possible in your area; “flood/flash flood warning” means flooding or flash flooding is already occur- ring or will occur soon in your area. The Red Cross recommends those affected by storms listen to area radio and television stations and a NOAA Weather Radio for possible flood warnings and reports of flooding in progress or other critical information from the Na- tional Weather Service. What to do during a flood As the water rises, be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. When a Know what you have If your home or property is destroyed by a natu- ral disaster, your insurance company will almost certainly need a running list of the items that were in your home and potentially lost. It’s much easier to take stock of your belongings while you actually have them, and it can save time and en- ergy to already have a list in place and ready for use in the event of a disaster. Keep a hard copy backed up in a safe, and store a digital copy in the cloud, so you can access it from anywhere if needed. By doing this outside of the heat of the moment, you’re much more likely to remember items and have a much more accurate tracking of what was lost. flood or flash flood warning is issued for your area, head for higher ground and stay there. Stay away from floodwaters. If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around and go another way. Six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off of your feet. If you come upon a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than 2 feet of moving water. Keep children out of the water. They are curious and often lack judgment about running or contaminated water. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood danger. After the flood The Red Cross recommends you only return home only when officials have declared the area safe. Before entering your home, look outside for loose power lines, damaged gas lines, foundation cracks or other damage. Parts of your home may be collapsed or damaged. Approach entrances carefully. En- sure that porch roofs and overhangs have all their supports. Make sure all the pieces are in place to render you and your family prepared in the event of a natural disaster. • Listen to radio or television newscasts for the latest weather information, and follow all evacuation directions and suggestions. • Keep a stock of non-perishable food items as well as bottled water on hand inside your home. • Keep a 72 Hour Kit on hand inside your home that is easy to get to in the event of a disaster. For more information and tips on disaster response and preparedness, contact your local emergency services center. South Lane Fire & Rescue • 233 Harrison Ave, Cottage Grove 541-942-4493 • 55 South 1st Street, Creswell 541-895-2506 Twitter: @southlanefi re Facebook: southlanecountyfi reandrescue