SH boys dominate to win 11th state wrestling title; girls 5th
By Ryker Burr For The New Era “This year’s team is the most solid top-to-bottom team I’ve coached.” Those are the words of Steve Thorpe, who just won his eighth state…
LATEST NEWS
Zoo breeds hope for one of world’s rarest birds
The Oregon Zoo in Portland is well-known for its California condor recovery efforts, but now it’s working to save an even rarer bird: the sihek (Guam kingfisher), extinct in the wild for…
Rice, others honored by chamber
Cindy Rice and Michael Hall, both longtime leaders in a wide variety of local public service activities, were named Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Citizen and First Citizen at…
WesternUOregon announces new master’s program in nursing
Western University of Health Sciences has announced it is introducing a Master of Science in Nursing-Entry (MSN-E) program in Lebanon to prepare students from non-nursing backgrounds to enter…
New recycling rules expand ‘acceptable’ list, incentivize package producers
Hours have been spent arguing over Pringles cans. That’s what Julie Jackson, municipal manager at Republic Services, told a group of attendees at the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce Forum Lunch on…
City Hall park to be fitted with outdoor fitness court
The City of Sweet Home accepted a grant that will help fund an outdoor fitness court next to City Hall. City Manager Jason Ogden said during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 24, the…
Consultant maps plan for jail levy poll
The Lebanon City Council met with a consultant to discuss a potential levy for the municipal jail during a meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Betsy Schultz, of PNW Strategies, explained there…
SPORTS
Eagles beat Enterprise in 2A playoffs; now face No. 1 Trinity
East Linn’s boys dispatched Enterprise 67-54 Friday, Feb. 27, in the first round of the 2A Division state basketball playoffs. No. 8 East Linn couldn’t get rolling, scoring only five points in…
Sweet Home, Lebanon compete at national cheer competition
A week after winning state titles at the OSAA state 4A and 5A championships, Sweet Home’s and Lebanon’s competition cheer teams were in Anaheim, Calif., to compete in the USA Spirit Nationals.…
Warrior boys 11th in state wrestling behind Wynn; Duty 2nd
By Ryker Burr For The New Era Lebanon’s boys wrestling team finished 11th at the state tournament in Portland last weekend with three placers, including individual state champion Seth Wynn.…
Warrior girls down Crescent Valley to secure fourth in MWC
By Mike Warner For The New Era Lebanon clinched a fourth-place finish in the Mid-Willamette Conference girls basketball standings last week with wins over Crescent Valley and Central. The…
COMMUNITY
Events: March 4, 2026
Sunshine Industries fundraiser dinner Sunshine Industries will hold its annual fundraising event from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Boys & Girls Club, 880 18th Ave., Sweet Home.…
Volunteer volleyball coach charged with luring
A Sweet Home woman was charged with luring a minor after a parent discovered communications with their child. On Oct. 31, 2025, the parent of a juvenile contacted the Lebanon Police Department…
New officer, who grew up locally, emphasizes relationship in work
By Satina Tolman For The New Era For Officer Tye Moore, putting on the badge isn’t about authority; it’s about relationships. The newest member of the Sweet Home Police Department to graduate…
OPINION
Dear Editor: AI not trustworthy, even in telling stories
Editor: I advise readers of the Feb. 24 issue to pay attention to the story about artificial intelligence, not to be trusted without oversight regarding making your will or other…
Opinion: Individualists rugged, not frigid
By Lucian Gideon Conway III “We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.” – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, in his Inaugural Address…
FROM OUR FILES
From Our Files: March 4, 2026
March 8, 1951 A snow storm left nearly 16 inches of the white stuff in the city, appearing in about four layers in as many days. The snowfall, believed to be a record for this time of year – at least,…
From Our Files: Feb. 25, 2026
March 1, 1951 Three ministers, armed with petitions bearing 385 signatures (many of which came from the east Albany area), successfully argued their anti-liquor cause before the city. The City Council…
OREGON JOURNALISM PROJECT (OJP)
Some members of Kotek’s Prosperity Council unhappy about tax change
The governor says she wants to stimulate new investment in Oregon. A prominent critic says a pending bill would do the opposite. By Nigel Jaquiss Oregon Journalism Project One of the…
Amid housing crisis, Oregon issuing building permits for multifamily units at slowest pace in 12 years
Investors are wary and public subsidies are not enough to move the needle. By Khushboo Rathore Oregon Journalism Project Oregon is in a housing crisis. The state needs to build 95,000…
Longtime state Sen. Rod Monroe dies at age 83
The East Portland Democrat left a mark on Oregon that reflected his focus on health. By Nigel Jaquiss Oregon Journalism Project Former state Sen. Rod Monroe (D-East Portland) died Feb. 20 at…