Green Peter drawdown scheduled for December
Portland-based U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel plan to lower Green Peter and Lookout Point reservoirs in early December to help threatened fish migrate…
LATEST NEWS
Chief: SHFAD contemplating back-up fund for next fire season
Delays in expected payments from various other government agencies for services from local firefighters have left Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District short to the point that layoffs were…
Commissioners get invite to Brownsville newspaper celebration
By Alex Paul Linn County Communications At their October 20 meeting, Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker were invited to help The Times of the Central…
Sweet Home at the center of a psychological thriller
State Detective Ian Hayes arrived in Sweet Home to investigate a body found beneath the pavilion at Sankey Park, but the deeper into the investigation he got, the harder it became for him to…
Lebanon to start water flushing, leaf pickup
The City of Lebanon Public Works Department began its annual flushing of the public water system on Oct. 26. The process is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete. Annual water…
Samaritan, MultiCare announce official date for affiliation
Samaritan Health Services and MultiCare Health System announced in a press release they plan to begin their partnership on Nov. 1. All public agencies reviewing the affiliation have either…
SH council addresses drawdown, Ames Creek, CEIP
The City of Sweet Home and City Council declared a state of emergency during City Council’s meeting on Tuesday, Oct 13, in preparation for the 2026 Green Peter Drawdown. Since 2023, the city…
SPORTS
Local teams tune up for districts at Corvallis cross-country meet
All three east Linn County cross-country teams competed Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the Happy Hustle at Corvallis’ Crystal Lake Sports Park. The meet was the final season tune-up for East Linn…
Sports Roundup: Oct. 28, 2026
Lebanon Volleyball It’s been a tough road for the Warriors on the volleyball court this year, as they finished their season with a 3-0 loss at home to West Albany Thursday, Oct. 22. That…
Warriors fall to W. Albany in final regular-season football game
By Mike Warner For The New Era Lebanon finished its regular football season with a trip to conference powerhouse West Albany Friday night, Oct. 23, finishing with a 27-12 loss that leaves the…
Huskies clinch first conference football championship since 2018
By Ryker Burr For The New Era Friday night, Oct. 23, No. 2 Sweet Home checked off one of its main goals for the 2026 season: win every game played at Husky Field. They did just that, and a…
COMMUNITY
Singing Christmas Tree show cancelled
What would have been the 44th performance of Sweet Home’s Singing Christmas Tree during the first weekend of December has been cancelled. Leaders of the organization, which has been putting on…
Mrs. Claus workshop seeks holiday donations
For 9-year-old Scout Jagich, giving away toys and books he had outgrown came down to one idea: Other children deserve to enjoy Christmas, too. “I want them to have a happy Christmas as I do,”…
Scene Around Town: Oct. 28, 2026
Boys & Girls Club Auction in Sweet Home Local residents gather, above and left, for the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Santiam’s fall auction, held at the Sweet Home facility…
OPINION
Multiple topics on the table
Editor: I know there are a lot of letters and comments going out regarding who to vote for and that’s good; people are using their freedom of speech and right to vote. I have…
SH ‘fortunate’ to have Coleman
Editor: As your former state representative and current county commissioner, I see firsthand how much a city’s mayor shapes what happens in a community. Sweet Home has been…
FROM OUR FILES
From Our Files: Oct. 28, 2026
Nov. 1, 1951 This year’s goal for the Community Chest drive is $5,565.70, almost half of which would benefit the Boy Scout troops in the area. Proceeds will also support the public library, city…
From Our Files: Oct. 21, 2026
Oct. 25, 1951 Diagonal parking in Sweet Home will be outlawed after final passage of a new bill enacted by the city. The change is on recommendation by the highway commission following Main Street’s…
OREGON JOURNALISM PROJECT (OJP)
In apparent conflict with its mission and history, ACLU takes sides in Oregon governor’s race
The civil rights group says it is nonpartisan and doesn’t get involved in candidate races but is spending heavily to support Kotek. By Nigel Jaquiss Oregon Journalism Project You can tell the…
PACs and megadonors shift millions as Oregon governor’s race enters final stretch
Incumbent Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek has outpaced Republican challenger Christine Drazan in fundraising for the Nov. 3 election, but both candidates’ donor bases have shifted since their 2022…
Social Security cost-of-living bump helps, but possible cuts still loom
In Oregon, ranked 11th for oldest population, many counties face disproportionate financial risks if Congress fails to prevent a projected 22% benefit cut by 2032. By Khushboo Rathore Oregon…