Gala concert evokes memories of legends
By Satina Tolman For The New Era SHOCASE brought back its annual gala Saturday, April 11, at the Sweet Home High School auditorium, offering an evening of elegance and…
LATEST NEWS
Local women killed in Hwy. 34 crash
Two people, Lebanon and Sweet Home residents, were killed in a head-on collision Saturday evening, April 11, near Milepost 14 on Highway 34, outside of Lebanon, Oregon State Police reported.…
County Veterans Services reports landing $1.5 million-plus for locals
By Alex Paul Linn County Communications Linn County Veterans Services helped local veterans obtain more than $1.53 million in benefits during the nine months from July 1, 2025, through March…
Sweet Home man arrested on sex counts
A Sweet Home man was arrested Wednesday, April 8, on multiple sex charges, Sweet Home police reported. Richard Duane Lippert, 72, arrested at 3:36 p.m. on three counts of sodomy I, three…
Chinese AI firm suspected of hacking area newspaper’s Facebook
For nearly half a century, McKenzie River Reflections has chronicled life along the McKenzie River, serving as a trusted voice in our community since 1978. But last week, the newspaper…
OSU Extension report outlines 2025 activities and programs
OSU Extension-Linn County offered and was involved in a wide variety of activities in Linn County, according to the annual “Investing in Linn County 2025 Impact Report,” issued recently by…
Montgomery Gentry to perform as Fair’s Friday headliner
Southern rock artist Montgomery Gentry, featuring Eddie Montgomery, will round out the 2026 Linn County Fair main stage entertainment lineup, performing at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, July 17, the…
SPORTS
Eagles sweep series with Mohawk to even league record
East Linn’s only losses so far were in late March to No. 1-ranked Crosshill Christian 10-0, 11-0, 25-5, to open Special District 3 play, but bounced back to beat Gaston 7-6 on April 6 in a…
Lebanon girls’ golf roster numbers soaring as program takes shape
Lebanon’s girls golf team is on the upswing, big time, from where the Warriors were just three years ago. That was when Coach Bart Baldwin arrived to take over a program with a roster barely…
Locals come away with wins at Banks track meet
Sweet Home and East Linn Christian both competed Saturday, April 11, at the Rob Frank Invitational hosted by Banks. The meet included a mix of 19 schools, almost all from northwest Oregon.…
Sports Roundup: April 15, 2026
SH boys second at Trysting Sweet Home’s boys finished second in a six-team Oregon West Conference match Monday, April 6, at Trysting Tree in Corvallis. The Huskies shot 350, behind Cascade…
COMMUNITY
Donation boosts Lebanon museum fundraising efforts
“Lebanon has a history worth preserving, and the town should have a museum.” That’s the message the Lebanon Museum Foundation wants the community to understand and believe, according to Linda…
SH Marchers, speakers, highlight problem of child abuse
Sweet Home residents gathered Saturday, April 11, for the community’s annual March Against Child Abuse, hosted by the Sweet Home Police Department. The event included an approximately…
Scene Around Town: April 15, 2026
Seasons of Life Lebanon Community Chorus presented “The Rhythms of Life,” directed by Tami McWayne and accompanied by Bill Langdon, on Sunday, April 12, at Lebanon High School. Middle school…
OPINION
Dear Editor: Different look at HD11 Primary
Editor: As the Republican primary for House District 11 takes shape, I think it is worth taking a step back and looking at this race from a slightly different perspective. This is…
Dear Editor: Proven leadership matters in House race
Editor: As many of you know, I don’t typically align with Republican candidates, and I rarely involve myself in their primary elections. However, this year feels different—and…
FROM OUR FILES
From Our Files: April 15, 2026
April 19, 1951 Sweet Home’s high school board authorized a call for bids for the community’s anticipated new swimming pool after nearly five years of dreams, plans and fundraising. Bids will give pool…
From Our Files: April 8, 2026
April 12, 1951 “Two weeks from fighting snow to fighting fire” summarized the amazed and disgusted attitudes of weary firefighters, loggers pulled out of the woods and farmers whose lands were…
OREGON JOURNALISM PROJECT (OJP)
OJP Spotlight: Rep. Ken Helm
The Legislature’s leading land use expert irks some Democrats by backing a controversial farm-stand bill — and sharing his committee gavel with a rural Republican. By OJP Staff State Rep. Ken…
Oregon gas prices fifth-highest in nation
The Iran War has caused prices at the pump to surge across the country. Relief may be far off. By Khushboo Rathore Oregon Journalism Project Gas prices across the country…
Oregon’s Climate Protection Program costs far more than other states’ — and is far less accountable
Critics say the program is a poorly designed job killer. By Nigel Jaquiss Oregon Journalism Project WOODBURN — Tom Fessler and his son, Kyle, are trying to do the right thing,…