Jan. 27, 1972
Last week’s storm that dumped 2.32 inches of rain on Sweet Home and even greater amounts in other areas caused heavier damage locally than in other parts of the Willamette Valley.
At least three bridges were washed out in Eastern Linn County, and numerous slides closed several roads with some still closed for indefinite periods.
Green Peter dam filled from 25 to 75 percent of its capacity, and Foster dam also filled completely.
Also hard hit was the upper Calapooia River area. One bridge across the main river at the Harold Jones place about 10 miles above Holley washed away completely. The Calapooia wiped out the Wayne Martinez home just above the Holley bridge. About 18 inches of water came into the home destroying clothing and household goods, and killing several chickens, rabbits, sheep and a goat. Martinez said the house is now unlivable.
Judging the record of 5-year-old Appaloosa stallion “More Troubles” owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jack Jeppsen, one would think him misnamed. Raised from a colt by Mrs. Jeppsen, the stallion has shown rare form for a horse of his age since his second try in competition in 1970. Judges then were very impressed – and apparently still are.
The only English-style jumping horse in the immediate area, he has earned an award of excellence from the Appaloosa Horse Club for his performance in the 1971 World Championship Show for Oregon Appaloosa Horse Clubs last summer. Jeppsen is now looking forward to the development of the first foal of her champion stallion. Yearling “More Faith” “is showing every evidence of being a national jumper just as her father,” Jeppsen said.
Amid nautical surroundings including a wall covered with fishing nets and table favors of miniature aquariums complete with guppies, the Sweet Home – East Linn Chamber of Commerce honored four top citizens at its 28th annual awards banquet. They are Gerald Jackson, Ray Riggs, Kirkly Smith and Genevieve Rice.
Jan. 22, 1997
Sweet Home’s Municipal Judge Jad Lemhouse is initiating a plan to recover a portion of more than $1 million in outstanding fines.
The first step is to automate more fully the Sweet Home court clerk’s office. The court’s uncollected fines had broken $1 million as of the end of the fiscal year 1994-1995.
The upgraded computer systems will help streamline work, and lead to an easier work load of collecting the debts, Lemhouse said.
Jason Mitchell, a UPS preloader from Lebanon, was driving to work on Highway 34 on a rainy day when, at one point, he thought he saw rain hitting the road, but it was actually rain hitting a lake of water that was covering the road. When he hit it, his car flipped over into a ditch, his soft top ripped open, and Mitchell started choking on water. He thought he was going to die, but at the last moment was able to free himself from his seatbelt and exit the car.
Jeff Elliott, also a UPS preloader from Sweet Home, saw Mitchell wave him down from the road, and the two recognized each other as coworkers. Just then, another car hit the water because the creek that usually goes under the road was flowing over the road at that location. The two men watched this car do a 180-degree turn, flip over, then float down the road. They realized it was the car of yet another coworker, Lisa Livingston.
Mitchell and Elliott trudged through the swift current to her car and pulled Livingston out. The experience has given Mitchell and Livingston a different outlook on life, as they both agree that each moment should not be taken for granted.
Quality time is at issue with high school officials’ plans to implement a block schedule at Sweet Home High School.
Principal Bill Westphal said that, during the last century, the high school day has been organized around short periods of time in which teachers speak, and students would absorb then regurgitate the information. By extending periods to 90 minutes, teachers would be forced to use different instructional strategies that introduces more engagement and meaning for students.
The current 7/6 schedule is in its fourth year, but it was intended to be a transitional period. Previous to the 7/6 schedule, students attended seven 48-minute classes each day. Teachers taught six periods. As District 55 went through budget cuts, teaching positions and class opportunities were lost, so the 7/6 schedule offered the same opportunity with less staff.