March 30, 1972
A pioneer cemetery was recently deeded to the Sweet Home Cemetery District by the Evangelical Church of North America.
The 2.5-acre site on Whiskey Ridge began as a family plot in the early 1900s and was deeded to the Evangelical United Brethren Church.
The acreage was part of the homestead of John Thompson, who gave the land to the church with the stipulation that it be used only for a church site and cemetery. At the time, the church conducted services at nearby Willow Prairie School, so it was hoped a church would be built on Thompson’s land.
Thompson’s daughter, 93-year-old Lettie Sankey remembered the house her dad built there in 1889, and her daughter and paternal grandparents are buried there.
Now named Fir Grove Cemetery, the 100-square-foot plot is being cleared up from overgrowth, and burial sites are being identified.
Two people were rescued from Foster Reservoir after their sailboat capsized, dumping them into the cold water.
Michael Allen Short and Gloria Conrady were thrown out when the 10-foot homemade boat was flipped by high wind gusts.
Neither were hurt. Harold Robert saw the capsized boat while dining at The Point, and he assisted troopers from the Sweet Home Office and Linn County Fire Patrol Association to rescue the couple.
Mickey Hickman requested the community’s help to identify details about a photograph of a mare called “The Oregon Beauty.” The photograph depicts a mare with a golden mane not unlike Rapunzel. A man had given Hickman the photo, who then submitted it to a horse magazine.
The Oregon Beauty was taken on tour for display at fairs and other events until she was lost in a barn fire. Hickman hopes the man who gave him the photo will come forward to share further details about the horse.
March 26, 1997
A 3-year-old boy was found by Robert Jacques after becoming lost for an hour on Marks Ridge.
The boy, Cody Felkins, was playing with his dog in the backyard while his father, Randy Felkins, put brakes on his truck.
At one point, Randy realized he couldn’t hear his son anymore, so he went to look for Cody and couldn’t find him. Cody had headed into the woods with his puppy and a larger dog. Randy called out for Cody, but got no response, so he drove around the area to search and alert neighbors.
Fifteen-year-old Jacques was taking out the trash when he heard people calling out for Cody and inquired what was going on. A little later, he heard Cody crying. The voice was near a creek down a steep embankment, at least one mile from Cody’s home. Jacques took his dog to search for the boy. Cody was hip-deep in the stream and couldn’t get out, so Jacques grabbed him and the puppy to pull them to safety.
Cody said he was a woodsman, he was going hunting like his dad, and he wasn’t lost.
An urn filled with remains was found in the woods near Crawfordsville along West Brush Creek, near an area that people use as a dump site.
A couple was hiking when they found the urn, and Linn County Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Brewer said it looked as though the urn was left there intentionally.
Information on the urn indicated the deceased passed away 20 years prior, and the remains were cremated in Salem.
Linn-Benton Community College offers a free class for those who are apprehensive about computers.
The class teaches the basics of this modern technology such as how to turn on the computer, handle, insert and format disks, and copy and print files. After completing the course, attendees can sign up for college classes on computer operations, word processing and database programs.
Jan and Maureen Martin are fulfilling their dream of owning a dome home by building one on the corner of 49th and Airport Road.
They researched and toured dome homes, and took classes at the community college before diving into the construction of a 2,200-square-foot building. They estimate, after completion, it will cost less than $100,000 to build.