Nov. 30, 1950
A runaway auto wheel came to rest in the display window of Lew’s Sporting Goods store, spraying the corner at 12th and Main with shattered glass and causing an estimated $65 in damage. The driver of a Model A sedan was eastbound on Main when he saw his left rear wheel sail past him in front of Gilbert’s Supermarket. The wheel bounded 225 down the street, bounced from the curb to the marquee of Lew’s and ricocheted down through the plate glass window. It stopped atop a camp stove as part of an unscheduled window display.
Mr. and Mrs. Wright returned home from a Thanksgiving visit in Portland to find someone had forced entry through a back window and helped themselves to about $25 worth of pantry items, as well as a turkey.
Nov. 26, 1975
The Committee for a New County decided to unofficially establish Santiam County, even though it will not be sanctioned by law. Mollie’s Bakery was designated as the unofficial courthouse, and there will be an unofficial election, newspaper of record and elective offices. The new unofficial county will be within the bounds of the Sweet Home School District, and a sign on Hwy. 20 will read, “Welcome to Santiam County, Formed 1976.” A county flag is being designed and “By Dam, Vote Santiam” bumper stickers and buttons will be for sale. A petition to officialize the county is still being passed around.
Eighty people participated in the first annual Turkey Trot by Sweet Home Parks and Recreation. Six turkeys were given away as prizes. The object of the turkey trot was to run as close as possible to a pre-race predicted time. Three boys – Donald Epperson, Steve Swank and Raymond Bauslaugh – each ran within one second of their predictions, while third-grader Diane Kennedy was only four seconds away from her prediction.
Nov. 29, 2000
Voters approved a $1.9 million bond measure allowing Linn-Benton Community College to begin construction of a one-stop center in Lebanon serving East Linn County. In Sweet Home, the school district is expected to present a multi-million dollar bond to voters in March for building improvements and construction. If passed, the college would work with the district to develop an on-site college center in the high school.