Second revived SH Rodeo bigger and better
The second year of the revived Sweet Home Rodeo outstripped its inaugural predecessor in both size and content. The event on Saturday night, Aug. 15, at the Rodeo…
LATEST NEWS
This time, Lebanon fire may ask for less on levy
In ongoing discussions about a likely levy meausure for the Lebanon Fire District, Chief John Tacy gave the LFD Board of Directors numbers needed to sustain the most necessary provision: medic…
SH City Council asked to resolve water bill dispute
The City Council was charged with settling a dispute during its regular meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11. City Manager Jason Ogden informed the council about a dispute between a local business and…
Waterloo City Council hosts annual picnic, conducts general city upkeep business
The City of Waterloo held its annual community picnic on Saturday, Aug. 15, inviting its residents to gather together under the canopy of conifer trees at Waterloo County Park for some food,…
Lebanon council considers noise complaint, surplus property
During the City of Lebanon’s City Council meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 12, the council considered a question concerning surplus property and heard a complaint about a generator allegedly keeping…
Linn County CASA expands, available for community questions
CASA of Linn County’s umbrella of care for children recently grew after taking under its wings cases from the recently shut-down CASA of Benton and Lincoln counties. CASA of Linn County…
Sarah’s Place celebrates 10 years of serving survivors
Sarah’s Place observed its 10-year anniversary this month, 10 years of providing care for sexual assault survivors across Benton, Lincoln, Linn and surrounding counties. After a sexual assault…
SPORTS
New SHHS athletic director brings wealth of coaching, Leadership
Tomas Rosa has said many times, publicly, that he’s grateful that he grew up in Sweet Home. A standout athlete at Sweet Home High School, he grew up with an absent father and says he’s the…
Football camp readies Huskies for season
Sweet Home’s football players got down to business last week with their annual summer camp, which this year only included the high-schoolers. The Huskies are coming off their best year since…
Warriors kick off football season with end-of-summer camp
Lebanon High School’s football team got things rolling last week with their Football Camp. Coming off a league championship in the 2025 season, in which they finished 8-2, 6-0 in…
OSAA Reclassification: big impacts for SH; changes for Lebanon, ELCA
By Ryker Burr For The New Era Sweet Home High School is about to experience a big change in its sports program starting this fall. That’s because, every four years, the Oregon School…
COMMUNITY
A&W celebrates 65 years in Sweet Home
Owners Josh and Patty Hankins hosted a celebration of their A&W eatery’s 65th year in Sweet Home Saturday, Aug. 15, with hot dogs for the vintage price of 65 cents, games, prizes and lots…
Debunking wildfire myths: What Oregon residents should know before fire strikes
With the wildfire season underway in Oregon, some common beliefs about fire danger can leave people unprepared when things change quickly. In a recent talk about wildfire preparedness, Maddie…
LFD medics spot, get help with fast-moving Hwy. 34 fire
Lebanon Fire District staff spotted and called in reinforcements to extinguish a fast-moving fire along Highway 34 on Monday evening, Aug. 10, the district reported. At approximately 4:15…
OPINION
Opinion: Answer to fires is adaptation
By Randal O’Toole Oregon has entered fire season earlier than usual this year, which means we are hearing repeated litanies from various interest groups. “If only we had more money…
Editorial: Getting better starts at home
A decade or two ago, I wouldn’t have devoted editorial opinion space to discussing the viability of newspapers. Not that I wasn’t concerned then, but we didn’t have conferences like…
FROM OUR FILES
From Our Files: Aug. 19, 2026
Aug. 23, 1951 The Sweet Home swimming team now has a name. Henceforth, the local splashers will be known as the Sweet Home Dolphins. Members of the team selected Lavonne Shaw as president, Beverly…
From Our Files: Aug. 12, 2026
Aug. 16, 1951 A crowd attending the annual Frontier Days festivities got their first glimpse of the new community pool in use when swimmers entertained with choreographed performances and an…
OREGON JOURNALISM PROJECT (OJP)
New filings in Oregon Youth Authority sex abuse lawsuits allege long-term cover-up
Thirteen former OYA staff say top management ignored years of complaints about ‘Dr. Cold Fingers.’ By Nigel Jaquiss Oregon Journalism Project Thirteen former Oregon Youth Authority staff have…
Spotlight: State Rep. Mark Owens
The Harney County Republican’s district covers 37% of Oregon. Much of it is burning this summer. By OJP Staff State Rep. Mark Owens (R-Crane) can see the fires from his front porch. This…
Oregon wildfire season has blazed past all records, with no end in sight
The record 2.3 million acres burned have far surpassed the previous 2024 record—even before the peak season. By Khushboo Rathore Oregon Journalism Project On recent days in Prineville, smoke…