Articles written by Scott Swanson
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Citizens turn out to support police
Nearly 200 Sweet Home residents lined Main Street in front of the Sweet Home Police Department Wednesday evening, June 24, in a rally to support police officers. The "Back the Blue" event, organized b...
Employees, city agree on contract
The City Council, in a special meeting Monday night, June 29, approved a four-year contract with city employees to end nearly a year of negotiations. The 40-page document includes a number of changes from previous contracts that both City Manager Ray...
Defendant arrested after refusing to wear mask, walking out of proceeding
A Sweet Home man was jailed for contempt of court Wednesday morning, June 24, after he refused to wear a face mask during a Municipal Court proceeding and allegedly left the courtroom while the judge was speaking to him. John Kulbeth said he arrived...
City cuts deal with Enterprise to manage fleet
Sweet Home City Council members decided Tuesday, June 9, to contract with Enterprise to manage its vehicle fleet. City Manager Ray Towry introduced the subject by telling councilors that fleet management has been an “issue” for Sweet Home. When...
With state guidance, schools begin plans for fall
Sweet Home School District officials are figuring out how to implement guidelines released last week by the Oregon Department of Education for how schools should operate in the fall amid COVID-19. The...
Council moves to give Midway residents option to use wells
Property owners in the Midway area of the city who have wells may soon be able to disconnect from Sweet Home’s water system and use their own well water, as the City Council on Tuesday, June 9, began amending a city ordinance to allow that. City...
Local sports making slow return in SH
Local athletes were allowed back on the fields and into the gyms this week for the first time since mid-March. Monday, June 15, was Opening Day for many coaches and athletes, who were allowed to use...
Graduates get to finish line
If good things do indeed come in small packages, that may be the best way to describe the two days of graduation ceremonies held Thursday and Friday, June 4 and 5, at Sweet Home High School. In 23...
Board OKs $45.96M budget
Sweet Home School Board members unanimously approved the district's 2020-21 budget Monday, June 8, in a meeting held at Sweet Home Junior High. Six board members were present for the vote: Debra Brown...
Tumultuous times breed confusing emotions
These are certainly tumultuous times. June’s been a wild month, so far; certainly not what many of us expected as we cruised merrily into a new year back in January. Our staff can recall a lot of people (around us, anyway) anticipating “a good...
City applying for federal COVID aid funds
The City of Sweet Home is applying for a federal grant that would fund public facilities and housing improvements for low- and moderate-income residents, and childcare services for local healthcare...
Allison Miner, Zach Luttmer named Athletes of the Year
The Sweet Home High School Booster Club named Zach Luttmer and Allison Miner its Booster Club Boy and Girl of the Year in a virtual presentation hosted by wrestling Coach Steve Thorpe and club...
Cate claims victory; Sword not done yet
Jami Cate declared victory last week in the primary election for the state House District 17 seat, with a 34-vote lead over her closest competitor, Scott Sword, who says he isn't conceding yet. Cate,...
City seeking new engineer of record, treatment plants operator
Sweet Home City Councilors on Tuesday, May 26, gave staff members the go-ahead to seek bids for city engineering services and a new operator for the water/wastewater treatment plants. Council members...
City working to support at-risk businesses, build 'relationships'
So what’s Sweet Home’s economic development director to do during the coronavirus pandemic shutdown? “It’s been a whirlwind,” Blair Larsen said Friday, the first day of Gov. Kate Brown’s...
Coronavirus stirs appreciation for what could have been
Many of us likely didn’t give a lot of thought to the role of sports in our community until we didn’t have them. Amidst the demands of parenting, coaching – and covering sports, we were more focused on making things happen than thinking a lot...
Travis Thorpe to wrestle at SOU
In a private ceremony held in his back yard on the evening of Tuesday, May 5, Travis Thorpe signed to wrestle for Southern Oregon University. "He's not the first wrestler we've sent (to SOU)," his...
COVID-19 shutdown creates difficulties for SHHS post-grad adviser
At this time of the year, Kristin Adams typically sits in her Career Center office at Sweet Home High School, in front of a proverbial revolving door. 'She counsels, cajoles, challenges high school...
COVID-19 impacts on your newspaper
The other day I responded to a report of a fire, the results of which you can see on page 10-11. It wasn’t routine, and I’m not talking about the explosions that kept me and most of the onlookers well away from the roaring flames. What was...
Explosive fire destroys shop next door to Oak Heights School
Fire destroyed a 5th Avenue residential shop next door to Oak Heights Elementary Friday afternoon, April 10. Sweet Home firefighters responded to a report of the fire at 465 5th Ave. at 4:10 p.m. and...
Linn Shuttle buses keep rolling – with precautions
A Linn Shuttle bus rolls up to the stop on Kalmia, between 12th and 13th avenues. Three riders get on. Around the corner, the Dial-a-Bus parks in front of the library. Just a normal day for the...
After 15 years as half-finished 'eyesore,' duplex gets new life
A half-completed duplex that's sat nearly untouched for 15 years on the corner of Juniper Avenue and 5th Avenue is coming to life and is on the verge of being available to renters. Work on the...
Retired vet to tell tales from long career in SH
Shortly after his retirement from four decades of veterinary practice in Sweet Home at the end of 2016, Dr. David Larsen embarked on a second career: author. Actually, he'd been writing for a "long...
Remodel spices things up at SHEM, despite virus
Sweet Home Emergency Ministries volunteers are enjoying some massive upgrades to the aid organization's headquarters on Long Street, but thanks to the coronavirus shutdown, clients aren't – right no...
This anniversary will be one to remember
Fifteen years ago, on what we later realized was April Fools Day of 2005, my wife Miriam and I walked into the office we now occupy as publishers of your newspaper. Hard to believe, how fast that time has gone by. Our daughters, who were all in...
