Dec. 9, 1971
A 1913 poster for a wood and steel hydraulic cider press was on show for guests at the “Narrows” Brocard farm as they waited for the original machine to show what it can do.
The press was purchased in 1913 by Joe Brocard, Sr., for use on his farm in New Brunswick, N.J. It was later used on the farm of his son, Joe Brocard, Jr., near Cambridge, Md. Joe Brocard III moved to Oregon three months ago, bringing with him the family heirloom.
The Brocard families scoured the countryside for 35 bushels of apples in order to initiate the tradition of welcoming Fall with a “cider pressing day” in Oregon. Joe Brocard Jr., Joe Brocard III, and Joe Brocard IV operated the machine, serving up 100 gallons of fresh cider for their new friends.
Sweet Home High School, along with an Albany school, called national attention to Linn County for their efforts in anti-litter campaigns during the earlier part of the year. The schools were presented with citations from Keep America Beautiful, presented by its western regional director.
The awards were given for the anti-litter and cleanup campaign conducted by the school last May when students cleared rubbish and overgrowth from the Osage Park area as an Earth Day project.
Kitty Thornton of the Linn County Mining Council, Sweet Home, was appointed secretary of the National Western Mining Council. Gus Hiller, president and organizer of the local council, was appointed to travel as area vice-president. His duties include organizing mining councils in Oregon and establishing councils in the state of Washington.
Dec. 4, 1996
Engaged, with a possible wedding by July 1997. That describes the possible merger of the governing boards of Samaritan Inc. and Mid-Valley Healthcare, Inc. Representatives announced that after several months of “dating,” and “engagement” was at hand.
Mid-Valley Healthcare, Inc. includes Lebanon Community Hospital and Mid-Valley Medical Group. The proposed merger is the result of rapid changes in health care nationwide. “Stand-alone community hospitals are a rapidly dying breed in our current healthcare environment,” said Alan Yordy, CEO of Mid-Valley Healthcare.
The Linn County Board of Commissioners placed Sweet Home’s Oregon Electric Railroad Depot restoration project at the top of its priority list for funding through the Northwest Economic Adjustment Initiative.
While the depot was listed as Linn County’s number one priority for receiving grants for construction, the Sweet Home Area Chamber of Commerce was listed at number five for its Calapooia Events Facility Project.
The NWEAI funds were set up in President Clinton’s forest plan to aid communities that are dependent on timber industries as they adjust to different economic climates.
Local high school and college students, professionals and teachers are among a group of players in a game called Magic: The Gathering, and are competing for status and prizes in a new international league called Arena.
The league, started earlier this year, opened in Sweet Home two weeks ago. Magic players in Sweet Home are now able to play in the league and be ranked among their peers throughout the nation and eventually the world. There are seven seasons of play per year, each lasting 49 days.
Ron Rettke, owner of Sweet Home Lanes, is running Arena in Sweet Home, and said he likes that players can compete against others outside of the area.
The Sweet Home Habitat for Housing has completed its first housing projects, welcoming two families to their new homes on Nandina Street. Construction started about a year and a half ago.
Sweet Home, the “Town of a Million Lights,” may go dark in holidays to come, unless support picks up for the annual holiday tree lighting and animated display at the Chamber of Commerce.
Darcie Vanderyacht, chamber executive director, said the thousands of lights that adorn the huge tree behind the chamber office are worn out and have been patched to the limit.
The animated displays, that delight youngsters and their parents, need either complete refurbishing or new ones built.
The problem is that while the annual event is enjoyed by hundreds, perhaps thousands, very little income is donated to help defray expenses.