As 2011 comes to an end, The New Era staff looks back at a year full of some big ups and downs – from fires and financial woes to some big local successes and honors, particularly in business and sports. Here’s our summary of what’s gone down in our communit from January through June. We’ll review July through
January
n As 2011 began, approximately 380 acres of land property owned by Western States Land Reliance Trust had just been foreclosed by Linn County for nonpayment of approximately six years of property taxes, about $505,000.
Most of the property had been owned previously by Morse Bros. and Weyerhaeuser, and included a quarry site, the Willamette Industries Sweet Home Mill and other forest products businesses.
Managing Trustee Dan Desler had previously been arrested and charged with air pollution in connection with the demolition of old mill buildings, which contained asbestos. Charges by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality were dismissed and federal charges filed against Desler. His trial is scheduled for February in Eugene.
n The Sweet Home Economic Development Group boosted the Sweet Home Active Revitalization Effort’s budget from $50,000 to $70,000, increasing funds available for the Commercial Exterior Improvement Program, which has paid for several improvement projects at local businesses this year. The money was more than doubled based on investments by the benefiting businesses.
n The Oregon Jamboree unveiled a new website aimed at creating a true representation of what the annual festival feels like.
n Sweet Home’s first baby for the year was Kevin Dayton Ross, born to Luke Ross and Etta Prewitt on Jan. 1
n The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recorded 2.72 inches of rainfall on Jan. 15 and 16, leading to high water, flooding and mudslides, especially along the South Santiam River and Highway 20 east of Sweet Home.
n Marybeth Angulo joined the Sweet Home City Council after winning an election in November 2010.
n The Sweet Home Police Department reported a rise from 7,658 calls in 2009 to 9,547 in 2010, with an upturn in reported thefts and criminal mischiefs and a slight uptick in burglaries.
n The student resource officer position at the Sweet Home Police Department was reassigned to patrol duties to help the city save money to address diminishing ending fund balances and anticipated decreases in property tax revenues.
February
n The Sweet Home Police Department and the law enforcement employees union entered mediation to settle their next contract. Their previous contract had expired on June 30, 2010. After mediation failed, the two sides chose to enter binding arbitration.
n Dakotah Keys, who competed in high school track, received the Carpenter Award as boys athlete of the year at the 59th annual Oregon Sports Awards show.
n Fire destroyed Sweet Home Lanes bowling alley as owners Ron and Mary Ann Rettke narrowly escaped the flames. The cause was undetermined.
n Hawthorne School won a Pepsi Refresh grant of $5,000 to pay for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support program activities.
n Track and cross country Coach Bill Snow was named the Coach of the Year for a six-state region by the State High School Associations Coaches Association.
n The McCubbins family was filmed for the Swedish television program “99 Things to Do Before You Die for one of its members’ favorite pastimes, firing bowling balls from a cannon.
n Fire destroyed the home of Michelle Street, who lived with three daughters off Brush Creek Road.
n Dani Stafford received $2,800 she found at Hilltop Market. She had turned the cash in to the police. After following the Police Department’s policy for locating the owner of the cash, it remained unclaimed. The money was awarded to the 8-year-old girl.
n The Sweet Home High School cheerleaders finished second in the state 4A championship.
n The Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District reported a slight uptick in calls from 2009 to 2010, from approximately 2,200 calls to approximately 2,300 calls.
n The District 55 School Board voted to close Crawfordsville School as part of a package of budget cuts based on declining enrollment and state revenue.
n The Oregon Jamboree announced its newest staff member, a new mascot, Bunny McCoy, a miniature Dutch rabbit. Bunny lives at the Oregon Jamboree office.
n School District 55 was rated among the three most efficient districts in the state in a study by the Center for American Progress. The study compared spending to achievement.
n Barry Boydston was sentenced to nine years in prison for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend in December.
n Fair Share Gleaners moved to 1135 Long St., the former S&J Thrift Store, from its former location next to the Oregon Jamboree Office in the 1300 block of Long Street.
n Sweet Home High School swimmers brought home two trophies from the state championships. The boys tied with Newport for third place, and the girls placed fourth – their first trophy ever.
n Jerry Ray Milligan was arrested for allegedly murdering his son, Jerry Tyler Milligan, at the senior Milligan’s home, 1192 38th Ave. Milligan remains in jail awaiting trial or other disposition.
March
n The Sweet Home High School wrestling team placed second at state. Kris Newport and Colton Schilling won individual championships – the second for both.
n The Sweet Home High School boys basketball team was eliminated in the first round of state playoffs at Roosevelt – the second game of post-season play – placing among the top 16 teams in the state.
n Former Glide School District Supt. Don Schrader accepted an offer to become District 55’s new superintendent. He began working July 1.
n Leonard and Frances Olson celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Mr. Olson also turned 90. They have lived in Sweet Home since 1946 after moving from Aberdeen, S.D.
n Chamber of Commerce award winners included Mira and Mike Hall of the Point Restaurant, Business of the Year; Sue Olson, Distinguished Service; Kim Wilson, Junior First Citizen; Wendy Smith, First Citizen; and Pattie Woods, Woman of the Year.
n VIP honorees included Michael Hall, Darold Bolin, Rich Little, Glenn and Dee Dee Looney and Cheryl Wilson.
n Mike Severns was named Firefighter of the Year by the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District. He also was hired to fill a paramedic vacancy.
n A 65 mph windstorm knocked out power and damaged several homes in the area when trees and branches were blown down onto them.
n Danial Joseph Zeirzyna, 56, was killed in a crash when his vehicle plunged 150 feet down an embankment off Whiskey Butte Road.
n The Linn County Board of Commissioners approved the expansion of the Weber Quarry, located off Berlin Road near Skyline Road.
April
n The U.S. Forest Service named Cindy Glick the new supervising ranger for the Sweet Home Ranger District.
n School District 55 launched a redesigned website.
n The Sweet Home Genealogical Society announced that it was working on a new book called “Sweet Home: A History in Photos.” The society called for people to submit old photos. The book, released this month, has nearly 1,500 photos.
n Elite Performance Academy opened, focusing on helping youths develop their athletic skills.
n Samuel Edward Huxford, a 22-year-old veteran of the war in Afghanistan, died in a car crash.
n Kris Newport signed to wrestle at Southwest Oregon Community College.
n Wrestling Coach Steve Schilling was named the 2011 Oregon Athletic Coaches Association Middle School Coach of the Year.
n Ryan Regrutto and Avery Shamek won the Inaugural Up the Creek Trail Run, which had 22 runners at the 10K level and 14 in the 5K.
n District 55 School Nurse Jane Bubak was named the Oregon School Nurse of the Year by the Oregon School Nurses Assocation.
May
n The Chamber of Commerce announced the 2011 Sportsman’s Holiday Court. Members are Ami Olmsted, Kimber Swanson and Laura Grove.
n Sweet Home Public Library Director Leona McCann retired after 25 years in the position and 33 years at the library. Librarian Velma Cook also retired. Cook worked for the library for 29 years total.
n The City Council began considering whether to allow Sweet Home residents with less than a half acre of property to raise chickens.
n Olivia Johnson signed to run cross country for Corban College.
n Sweet Home High School seniors were the winners in the annual May Week celebration and competition.
n The Sweet Home High School choir finished second at the 4A state championship.
n The old mural on the VFW’s south and east walls was removed to make way for new paint and a new mural. The mural had been on the VFW since 2003, but the paint was deteriorating. The Sweet Home Active Revitalization Effort Commercial Exterior Improvement Program assisted with the design and funding.
n The Sweet Home High School baseball team defeated Taft and then lost to Newport in the round of 16 during its first state baseball appearance since 1991. The softball team lost to Stayton at home in the first round of state playoffs.
n In the face of budget shortfalls, the School District and its classified employees union reached an agreement to freeze pay for this school year. The union represents the district’s support personnel.
n Local attorney Mike E. Adams defeated incumbent John Fassler for the District 55 School Board representing Foster. It was the only contested School Board election. Kevin Burger won the Cascadia seat, succeeding Leena Neuschwander. Incumbents Mike Reynolds, Sweet Home, and David VanDerlip, Crawfordsville, retained their seats.
n Fun Forest, owned by Jim Cota and Scott Melcher, was featured in a national report on family-owned forests, outlining the challenges they face and policy recommendations.
n Dave Dahl, owner of Dave’s Killer Bread, was guest speaker at Sweet Home High School.
n The Linn County Sheriff’s Office investigated the death of a Unity man, William McDonald, 68, whose body was discovered after he had been stranded in a remote mountain area for nearly 70 days.
n The city of Sweet Home announced that water and sewer rates would not increase in the 2011-12 fiscal year.
n The East Linn Museum Society commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Civil War with exhibits that connected area residents to the war.
n Four local firefighters received honors at the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association Meritorious Awards Banquet. Battalion Chief Guy Smith received the Distinguished Conduct Award. Chris Barnes, Chad Calderwood and Eli Harris received a Unit Citation.
n Caroline Amendola, Cheryl Wilson and Krystal Juza were named valedictorians, and Carissa Swanson was salutatorian.
n Sweet Home High School finished fourth in state in girls track. The boys finished 16th. Maria Kropf was champion in two events. She later signed to run for Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz.
n Communications Supervisor Penny Leland was recognized for 30 years of service at the Sweet Home Police Department.
June
nTasha Saunders and Shelbey Gillespie signed with Chemeketa Community College to play softball.
n Gavin Kauffman was selected to play in the Oregon Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Basketball Series and the All-Star Baseball Series.
n Gavin Kauffman and Carissa Swanson were named the top male and female athletes for 2010-11 at Sweet Home High School.
n Mike Hall, owner of The Point Restaurant, was appointed by the Sweet Home City Council to succeed Councilor Laurie Osborne.
n Crawfordsville School closed after holding an open house and celebration of the school.
nDonald Rinehart graduated from high school after missing no days of school throughout his education.
n Records clerk and dispatcher Teresa Groshong was named Sweet Home Police Department Employee of the Year.
n Summer showed up late. While it wasn’t the wettest or coldest year on record, snowmelt took longer to run off. The weather helped keep Foster and Green Peter full most of the summer. According to the Oregon Climate Service at Oregon State University, weather was running about a month late throughout the spring.
n A wet spring meant a lot more debris than usual on Foster Lake. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removed much of the debris to protect operations. Linn County Parks and Recreation continued debris removal projects in the following weeks.
n A new garden at Sunnyside Head Start was dedicated to the memory of Karen Horton, a Head Start teacher. She was married to retired School District 55 Supt. Larry Horton. She died of cancer in 2004.
n Jerilyn Stone was recognized by the School Board for saving the life of a Hawthorne School student who had been choking.
n Supt. Larry Horton retired from School District 55. He is serving as interim superintendent at Reedsport.
n Robby Robinson was named head coach for the Sweet Home girls basketball program.
n Sweet Home High School graduated 176 seniors.
n A power line knocked loose by a crew working for K&B Plumbing fell into the parking lot at Thriftway, shocking a woman and knocking out power in Sweet Home.
n Former Sunshine Industries Executive Director John Strickler was arrested for aggravated first-degree theft in connection to a complaint of embezzlement by the organization. The case remains under way in Linn County Circuit Court. The organization provides jobs and social activities for developmentally disabled persons.
n The School Board passed a budget that included some $1.7 million in cuts and spending of limited cash reserves.
n Motorcyclist Paul Peloquin stopped at Sweet Home Dutch Bros, one of 162, to raise money for Shelly’s House in Salem.
n Praise in 3D competed in the TV program “America Sings” on the Gospel Music Channel.