Trading moon missions for Main Street stories
Editor’s note: The New Era welcomes a new staffer, Brandon Cominsky, who arrived earlier this month to give us some help in covering news. We’ve asked Brandon to…
LATEST NEWS
Former CenturyTel building could become apartments
A developer may be turning a long-vacated building in downtown Lebanon, often referred to as the “old CenturyTel building,” into residential space. The Lebanon Planning Commission held a…
ODF: Entire state now in fire season
As of June 15, all Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) districts are in fire season. This means that to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires, fire restrictions may be in place where you…
Caleb Gay takes helm as Sodaville’s new mayor
Sodaville Mayor Brian Lewis formally resigned during the City Council’s meeting on Thursday, June 19, marking his last day in office. Reading from a prepared statement, Lewis expressed his…
LFD, ODF respond to brush fire behind water plant
Lebanon Fire District responded early Saturday afternoon, June 20, to a report of a structure fire in the area 2500 River Drive. While responding, new dispatch information reported that the…
Small Woodlands group announces scholarship recipients
By Bonnie Marshal LCSWA scholarship co-chair Nearly $20,000 in educational funding was approved June 4 by the Linn County Small Woodlands Association. University scholarships relating to…
Final vote counts: Winners stay on top in local races
June 16 marked the date that counties must provide an abstract of votes for the May 19 election, which ends the election. Vote totals for nearly all candidates rose in the 30 days following…
SPORTS
Linn County high school basketball teams square off in tournament
Nearly all of Linn County’s high schools squared off in a summer tournament hosted by Sweet Home High School Saturday, June 20. The event included both varsity and JV brackets and games were…
JBO Action in Lebanon
The Lebanon 2 team and Sweet Home Black team faced off in Senior National JBO baseball June 16 at Lebanon High School. Above, a Lebanon player dives back to first after a pick off attempt as…
Future Huskies develop their court skills at basketball camp
Sweet Home’s girls basketball team held its Little Huskies basketball camp last week.Here, obviously on Dressup Day, are participants in the event, which included sessions for elementary…
Sweet Home seniors Honored for athletic achievement, leadership, service
By Satina Tolman For The New Era Sweet Home High School senior athletes were recognized for their dedication, leadership, and accomplishments during the annual Sports Awards Night, hosted June…
COMMUNITY
Shop Hop trip a sticker experience for SH couple
By Janet Eastman The Oregonian/OregonLive Suzette and Eric Andersen of Oregon went on a journey as distinctive as the quilts they create. They drove a total of 7,000 miles from their home in…
Scene Around Town: June 24, 2026
Scene in Stitches A “Garden Vignettes Textile” class used Lebanon’s Japanese healing garden as inspiration for a creative moment in time using fabric layering and embroidery stitching to…
Sweet Home celebrates new downtown mural with ribbon-cutting ceremony
A project that was years in the making officially came to life June 17 as community members gathered at the corner of 13th Avenue and Long Street for the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating…
OPINION
Opinion: IP 28 would harm state
Editor’s note: Efforts to get Initiative Petition 28, also known as the “Peace Act, a proposed ballot initiative aimed at the November 2026 ballot that would effectively criminalize…
Remembering the Cost of Freedom: A Memorial Day poem
By Satina Tolman For many, Memorial Day now marks the start of summer days, Of crowded camps and barbecue smoke drifting through the haze. Storefront windows flash their signs in…
FROM OUR FILES
From Our Files: June 24, 2026
June 28, 1951 Sweet Home’s Mayor Eugene Ellis issued a letter to residents urging cooperation with water restrictions, and the City Council declared an emergency regarding the current drastic threat to the…
From Our Files: June 17, 2026
June 21, 1951 A new flare-up in the 240-acre Wiley Creek fire southeast of Foster caused fresh consternation among Santiam Lumber company crews which have manned the huge blaze since it broke out several…
OREGON JOURNALISM PROJECT (OJP)
Six Oregon cities have some of the highest rates of alcohol-induced death in the nation for people 65 and over
An aging population, lack of rural treatment and health care, low alcohol taxes, and a pervasive drinking culture all contribute to the high death rates. By Khushboo Rathore Oregon…
Prosperity Council likely to streamline state’s economic development agency
The agency missed its job creation target nine out of the past 10 years. The solution: a lower target. By Nigel Jaquiss Oregon Journalism Project Amid a flagging economy, Gov. Tina Kotek’s…
Oregon’s aging population poses challenges for economic revival
Gov. Tina Kotek’s Prosperity Council will propose fixes later this month. By Khushboo Rathore Oregon Journalism Project As the Governor’s Prosperity Council finalizes recommendations this…
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