Storms impacts area with multiple closures, minor flooding
Last week’s storms left downed trees and some power outages, but otherwise, Sweet Home largely escaped the flooding and other issues experienced by communities to the…
LATEST NEWS
Students create fish art project for Main Street median
In the metals shop on a recent morning at Sweet Home High School, Bode Nichols and Cohen Gutierrez were bending rebar into L-shaped stakes, using a gas-powered torch. In the next room, Cadin…
Samaritan announces temporary pause for labor and delivery services in Lebanon
Shortage of regional OB-GYN workforce cited as cause for the closure Samaritan Health Services announced in a press release that labor and delivery services at Samaritan Lebanon…
Heavy rain results in sewage flowing into river
Heavy rainfall, combined with saturated ground conditions, resulted in the City of Sweet Home overflowing diluted raw sewage into Ames Creek, the city reported Wednesday, Dec. 10. The creek…
Council member expresses concerns about proposed absence restriction
Prior to its regular meeting on Dec. 9, the City Council held a work session to review proposed changes to the city’s charter. Councilor Angelita Sanchez expressed concerns about a proposed…
Local logging firm named to ODF Merit Award
RDL Northwest, a logging firm headquartered in Lebanon, is one of two companies honored with the Merit Award for the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Northwest Oregon Region. Owner Rick…
MOMS Club provides playdates, connection
They say new mothers always talk about poop. Well it’s certainly one of the things this group of mothers talk about, but being a mom introduces a whole new level of what one might find…
SPORTS
Girls win close defensive hoops battle with Estacada
By Keeghan Gittins For The New Era Sweet Home’s girls basketball team’s schedule was tweaked last week by the storms, but the Huskies still got one game in, a 28-26 win over Estacada at home.…
Sweet Home records triumphs at Thurston; Bailey Chafin returns
By Ryker Burr For The New Era After what would’ve been the first chance to wrestle in front of its home crowd was cancelled due to storms earlier in the week, Sweet Home’s wrestlers headed to…
Boys lose two in hoops, but stay close to No. 1 team
By Keeghan Gittins For The New Era Amid some schedule changes due to turbulent weather, Sweet Home’s boys lost both their basketball games last week, at home to Estacada and then, after two…
Swimmers deliver individual, relay wins in home meet
Sweet Home’s girls and boys faced some of the top swimming teams in their divisions in a home meet Friday, Dec. 19, the girls finishing second to Marist, 92-81, and the boys third with 73…
COMMUNITY
From Our Files: Jan. 7, 2026
Jan. 11, 1951 Seven newly built school bus stop shelters are now in use, and more are expected. The shelters are financed by a benefit dance and built by the Active Club members. The…
From Our Files: Dec. 31, 2025
Jan. 4, 1951 Too heavy, too high and too wide, reads the citation at the justice court regarding the huge Douglas fir which was parked along the highway last week. Dale C. Morgan was…
Letters to Santa 2025
Editor’s note: Following are the annual wish lists produced by local second-graders in Sweet Home schools Sweet Home Charter School Photos by Sarah Brown Dear Santa, I want…
OPINION
Opinion: Resurgence of public participation a plus
One of the things that’s struck me in returning to The New Era is how the community has rebounded from COVID. Even in the summer of 2023, when we thought we were “retiring,” things…
Opinion: Welcome news ends epic trip
By John Marble I woke up slowly this morning, several hours too early, gradually coming to grips with the knowledge that it was Thanksgiving day. A hard rain was pounding on the old…
FROM OUR FILES
From Our Files: Dec. 24, 2025
Dec. 28, 1950 Donn Bonham, former editor of The New Era, is now in Korea with the marines. Encamped near Pusan with a marine replacement unit, Bonham is a member of a four-man rifle team after being…
From Our Files: Dec. 17, 2025
Dec. 21, 1950 Late trains are the principal cause of overdue Christmas mail delivery, but mail carriers will deliver gifts on Christmas Day. The local post office is faced with an economy wave,…
OREGON JOURNALISM PROJECT (OJP)
Confronted by a grassroots backlash, Democrats consider repealing unpopular gas tax hike
Repealing the controversial bill could deprive Republicans of a powerful campaign issue in an election year. By Nigel Jaquiss Oregon Journalism Project At politically oriented holiday…
Oregon parents disproportionately exempt school-age children from vaccines
Oregon has the nation’s third-highest opt-out rate, leaving more than 50,000 children vulnerable to serious disease. By Khushboo Rathore Oregon Journalism Project Oregon’s already low…
If you build it, will they come?
Oregon’s leading politicians want to bet billions of dollars on a new shipping terminal. Critics say it’s a costly mistake. By Nigel Jaquiss Oregon Journalism Project City leaders recall when…