May 17, 1973
The state Water Reseources Board rebuffed the latest effort of the Oregon Environmental Council to block eventual construction of a proposed Cascadia Dam and to have the South Santiam River designated as a scenic waterway.
Officials at Timber Service and Willamette Industries said there is no danger of the area around Indian Cave (a half mile east of Cascadia State Park) being logged off.
Persistent rumors claimed Timber Service sold the timber in the cave area to Willamette Industries and that Willamette intended to log it soon. The land was obtained by Timber Service in a trade with the State Highway Commission in 1962. Timber Service said they recently sold 63 acres of Hill Foundation land just east of the park to Willamette and timber in the cave area is under contract to Willamette, though Timber Service maintains management of it.
Sweet Home fire calls this week included a barn fire at Ellis Rainwater on Liberty Road. About $35 damage was caused by children playing with matches in the hay. Another call was made to the Fred Penfold residence for a fire caused by a pan of grease blazing on the stove. A car fire at Waverly Lane on Highway 20 turned out to be only steam from a broken radiator hose.
May 20, 1998
Ben Dahlenburg, Scout Troop 362 leader, was recognized with the Award of Merit at the Cascade Pacific Council recognition dinner.
It’s the highest award that can be presented to a scouting district.
Dahlenburg, a woodshop teacher, has been involved with scouting for 13 years. He started scouting as a kid and said his only regret is that he was two merit badges away from earning Eagle Scout.
Sweet Home Sanitation took in 400 cubic yards of appliances, 120 yards of wood waste, 120 yards of yard debris and 300 batteries during May Cleanup Week in the 27th community-wide effort to clean the city.
For varying reasons, the school district received four retirements and 11 resignations this year from teachers, creating 15 job openings so far this year. Three different forces were identified for the loss: educational institutions restricting applicants to their programs; a recent California law requiring smaller classrooms is encouraging teachers from neighboring states to move there; and teachers are taking advantage of good PERS rates.
Sweet Home’s first female letter carrier, Judy Howard, celebrated 30 years with the post office.
She started in 1968 as a clerk carrier, working the front window, casing mail and delivering a city route until she was promoted to supervisor in 1976. Howard said she’s noticed a definite increase in the amount of mail that is now automated, and an increased focus on customer service.