Benny Westcott
491 posts
Virtue named Volunteer of the Year
Benny Westcott Sweet Home resident and Weyerhaeuser Santiam Lumber Mill operations manager George Virtue was named the Weyerhaeuser…
February 15, 2023
New Look, New HOPE
Benny Westcott The HOPE Center in the former First Baptist Church at 12th and Kalmia streets reopened its…
February 8, 2023
Planners discuss food trucks
Benny Westcott The Sweet Home Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday, Feb. 2, to recommend that the City Council…
February 8, 2023
FAC thanks students, teacher for homeless huts
Benny Westcott Community leaders recognized some 60 Sweet Home High School students and vocational education teacher Will Coltrin…
February 8, 2023
City departments reflect on 2022, make plans for 2023
Benny Westcott City department heads reflected on an often-tough 2022 and discussed plans for 2023 during a Tuesday,…
February 1, 2023
Home, finally
Benny Westcott An idea that has been years in the making for many community stakeholders finally came to…
January 25, 2023
Property owner: City carport rule isn’t solving problems
Benny Westcott Local property owner Josh Victor expressed his dislike of a city code that requires carports on…
January 25, 2023
Coleman named mayor
Benny Westcott Susan Coleman was named Sweet Home’s mayor – becoming the first woman to hold that top…
January 18, 2023
Army Corps officials hear Sweet Home feedback on plan for dams system
Benny Westcott A plan that will reshape management of 13 dams and reservoirs in the Willamette River Basin…
January 18, 2023
Towry named to lead Boys & Girls Club
Benny Westcott Former Sweet Home City Manager Ray Towry was recently named the newest executive director for the…
January 18, 2023
Years in the making, Taco Bell arrives in Sweet Home
Benny Westcott A number of years in the making, Taco Bell opened shortly after Christmas on Main Street…
January 11, 2023
Planning group OKs extension for phases of new subdivision
Benny Westcott The Sweet Home Planning Commission on Thursday, Jan. 5, unanimously granted an extension of a little…
January 11, 2023
School board votes down alcohol bid
Benny Westcott At the Jan. 9 Sweet Home School District Board meeting at the District Office, the board…
January 11, 2023
Wilson added to Jamboree lineup
Benny Westcott Rising star Lainey Wilson has joined the 2023 Oregon Jamboree Music Festival lineup, performing Saturday, Aug.…
January 11, 2023
Virtue sworn in as new deputy fire chief
Benny Westcott New Sweet Home Fire & Ambulance District deputy chief George Virtue was officially sworn in Friday,…
December 28, 2022
Sweet Home alums making marks
Benny Westcott As 2022 winds down, The New Era takes a look at how Sweet Home High School…
December 28, 2022
Homeless center work continues
Benny Westcott Work continues on the Family Assistance and Resource Center’s (FAC) managed outreach and community resource facility…
December 21, 2022
Police officer discusses K9 program with council
Benny Westcott Sweet Home Police Department Officer Brian Prather on Tuesday, Dec. 13, gave a presentation to the…
December 21, 2022
Linn S&R member helps rescue stranded family
Benny Westcott A Salem man and five friends rescued a family of five and a dog on Dec.…
December 21, 2022
Volleyball team celebrates meeting big goals this season
Benny Westcott The Sweet Home volleyball squad celebrated their season at a Dec. 9 banquet at the high…
December 14, 2022
Hawthorne principal on leave
Debbie Phillips, who has served as principal at Hawthorne Elementary School since July of 2021, is currently on…
December 14, 2022
Statewide gun control measure under fire
Benny Westcott Following its passage by a narrow 50.6% statewide majority in November, a controversial firearms measure has…
December 14, 2022
Veterans walk the Long Road on behalf of fallen
Benny Westcott Walking the entire length of U.S. Highway 20, America’s longest road, is a feat most people…
December 14, 2022
Teachers close to OK’ing pay in new contract
Benny Westcott Certified Union Representative Steve Thorpe told the School Board Monday night, Dec. 12, that the district’s…
December 14, 2022
City Hall annex moved to FAC homeless site
Benny Westcott Sweet Home’s old City Hall annex made a trip across town Tuesday morning, Nov. 29, to…
December 7, 2022