Local candidate lists take shape for Nov. 3 election
The final filing period for the Nov. 3 local and general elections ended Monday, Aug. 31. Here are the candidates who had filed at that point for the local elections…
LATEST NEWS
Business owner complains to City Council about water bills
What took up most of the City Council’s time during their regular meeting on Aug. 25 was finalizing a decision concerning a water bill dispute from a local business. During the Aug. 11 council…
USFS hiring firefighters for 2027
The USDA Forest Service is hiring wildland firefighter positions on the Willamette National Forest for the 2027 season. A variety of positions are open for individuals to support fire…
County Courthouse gets ADA-compliant entrance
The new ADA compliant entrance on the north side of the Linn County Courthouse is complete and open to the public. Linn County Administrative Officer Darrin Lane said the new courthouse entry…
County’s chip sealing efforts preserves roads, saves money
By Alex Paul Linn County Communications The Linn County Road Department chip sealed almost 43 miles of paved roads this summer, according to Kevin Hamilton, the Road Department’s Operations…
Commissioners approve Mill City Urban Growth Boundary expansion
By Alex Paul Linn County Communications Officer Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker quickly approved an application by the City of Mill City for a…
Hunters join forces with optics maker Leupold
The Oregon Hunters Association last week announced a new initiative to protect Oregon hunters against recurring attacks by animal extremists attempting to cancel hunting throughout the state.…
SPORTS
‘Hungry for more,’ Huskies look for football playoff win this year
By Ryker Burr For The New Era “I think they’re just hungry for more.” That’s what head coach Ryan Adams had to say of his Sweet Home High School football program, the defending 4A Special…
Young, but veteran Huskies looking for big year in cross-country
Five years ago, Dave Martin took over a Sweet Home cross-country program that had been decimated by COVID and a rotating sequence of coaches. The 2021 Huskies team totaled four boys and two…
Sweet Home swimmers finish summer season with lots of PR’s
Sweet Home Swim Club finished its summer league season recently and sent four swimmers to state long course championship meets. Head Coach Jessica Rice reported that the club had 12 new…
Young Warriors can’t hold off Ridgeview in football opener
By Mike Warner For The New Era With last year’s successes now a memory and some stars gone on to other challenges, Lebanon’s football team felt some early jitters in a 35-21 loss to Ridgeview…
COMMUNITY
LHS Hall of Fame: Tami Bickett
It’s that time of year again when alumni from Lebanon High School are recognized for the significant contributions they have made in this world. Among those to be honored this year is Tamera…
Number 22 keeps Betker family racing at Willamette
For Mike Betker, the No. 22 on his race car is more than just a number. It stands for his father, his daughters, and all the memories he’s made at different tracks. At Willamette Speedway,…
Sheriff’s Office taking sign-ups for Citizens Academy
Ever wondered what really sets a Sheriff’s Office apart from a Police Department? What happens behind the scenes when someone dials 911? Curious about how the jail operates? If you’ve ever…
OPINION
Editorial: AI’s biggest threat to students is failure to think
By Jennifer Puccio I recently spoke with a high-schooler who told me that she uses artificial intelligence (AI) to do her homework and “everyone does it.” I think this is the biggest…
Editor: OJP article missed the point
Editor: I am writing in response to the article “Medicaid Shortfall Follows Decade-Long Growth in State Spending,” posted in the Oregon Journalism Project (OJP) section on your…
FROM OUR FILES
From Our Files: Sept. 2, 2026
Sept. 6, 1951 Two Sweet Home boys, Charles Raymond Shives, 15, and Archie Vibbard, 13, were charged with first-degree murder after they confessed to shooting and robbing Herbert Ingram, 79, while he…
From Our Files: Aug. 26, 2026
Aug. 30, 1951 Results of the latest bloodmobile visit targeting Sweet Home’s lumber company employees were disappointing as only 64 of the 104 men who signed up showed up for their appointment. Only…
OREGON JOURNALISM PROJECT (OJP)
Obscure owner of a Salem computer shop owes state’s largest tax debt
For three years now, Oregon has been trying to collect a multimillion-dollar tax debt from a man of mystery. By Penny Rosenberg Oregon Journalism Project According to the Oregon Department of…
Early DOJ investigation focused on now-Curry County Sheriff John Ward, who faces calls to resign
The state investigated Ward after a state trooper accused him of stealing from a dead man. By Nigel Jaquiss Oregon Journalism Project Long before Curry County Sheriff John Ward lost the…
Five Things to Know About Oregon’s Record Wildfire Season
The Wrights Spring Fire as seen on the afternoon of Friday, August 7 from Sprague River Road. – InciWeb pho By Khushboo Rathore Oregon Journalism Project Oregon’s unfinished fire season has…