Jan. 6, 1972
The aftermath of a duck hunting trip for a group of boys resulted in one boy being hospitalized with a gunshot wound Dec. 29.
Jeffrey Stafford, 16, was struck in the lower back when a 16-gauge shotgun accidentally discharged in the hands of one of his companions.
Michael Thorne, 16, had picked up the gun with one hand as the youths talked in his home upon their return from the river where they had been hunting. Stafford was approaching the kitchen entrance when the shot occurred and was about 15 feet away from the gun.
He was taken to Lebanon Community Hospital and is said to be in good condition.
Kerry Moran, principal of Sweet Home High School, received a letter at the school that included $60 cash. The note read, “…enclosed $60 is the money I took several years ago when I took money for various games. Now that I’m trying to live my life for Jesus…” There was no signature.
Moran said school officials had not been aware of any missing funds, but the note was probably referring to gate receipts from school sports events.
“This incident strengthens my faith in people,” Moran said.
Dec. 31, 1996
Sweet Home police arrested Carmen Elizabeth Cline, 79, and charged her with attempted murder after she allegedly attempted to shoot her son, Neal Cline, with a .32 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
According to SHPD information, there was an argument between Neal Cline, Bonnie Cline and Carmen Cline. Carmen reportedly went to her room and returned with semi-automatic pistol, pointed the gun at Neal’s head and pulled the trigger. However, the pistol didn’t fire. The pistol had a fully-loaded ammunition clip, but there was no round in the chamber. Neal wrestled the pistol away from Carmen and she fled on foot. Police located her a short time later.
The Linn County Board of Commissioners approved a plan to repair the Crawfordsville Covered Bridge which was damaged during February 1996 flooding. Huge logs pounded the side of the bridge, tearing out large chunks of wood siding.
Cost of the project is an estimated $52,805. About $30,000 of that will come from state grants, and $20,000 from the county’s general fund.
The project will include repairs to the structure, built in 1932, as well as raising the bridge level with the currently used structure to decrease possible impact in the future.
The bridge was built in 1932 and bypassed in 1963.