Dec. 8, 1949
The final tabulation of Sweet Home’s school district’s census between ages 4 and 20 came back with 1,986, an increase over last year’s 1,974. The basic reason for the recent and prospective increases in school enrollment is the spectacular increase in the birth rate since 1940. The war babies of 1942 and 1943 are the first and second graders of the current school year. High birth rates in 1948 and 1949 suggest the basic change in the nation’s birth rate will continue for some years to come.
Dec. 5, 1974
A pickup truck smashed through the front window of Robertson’s Thrift Store, 897 Main St., after colliding with a Volkswagen in front of the store. The only injury reported was to Colleen Day Devlin, 19, who was driving the Volkswagen. She was treated and released from the hospital. The truck driver, Max Lewis Heath, 50, pulled away from the curb and started to make a u-turn when he collided with Devlin and spun into the thrift store.
City Council directed city staff to add to its proposed new sewer ordinance that homeowners be responsible for groundwater infiltration. Councilman Lawrence Barton said infiltration is a problem the city is facing, and City Manager Dave Crutcher said the new ordinance would help the problem by making the homeowner responsible for their side service connection. The Environmental Protection Agency is holding payment for the city’s new wastewater treatment plant until the city passes a comprehensive sewer ordinance. The city estimates 60% of its 1,200 sewer connections are “leakers” that would be subject to action under the suggested ordinance.
Dec. 8, 1999
Following public concerns over the Foster Mud Flats event last January, the US Army Corps of Engineers is requiring the South Santiam Four Wheelers Association to monitor soil and water quality around the event to address its effects on Foster Lake. Concerns revolve around pollutants and erosion.