Oct. 21, 1971
A group that started in 1968 as the Golden Gleaners Club with a handful of members is now 60-strong as the Senior Citizens of Sweet Home, Inc. The group met at various locations, but now has its own location at 1102 Main St.
Ideas and reality for a Senior Center in the downtown area for daytime activities were fleshed out by members until articles of incorporation and a site were solidified these past few months.
Plans are now under way for such things as a transportation pool, regularly scheduled visits to shut-ins and those in hospitals and rest homes, bake sales, bazaars, hobby shop workroom, and a social and recreational facility.
Egan Bros. General Contractor of Albany won the bid by the board of the East Linn Hospital District to convert the former Langmack Hospital into a medical clinic.
The board accepted the bid at $105,939, which included alternate options for carpeting instead of vinyl tile, repair the roof rather than renew the entire roofing, recessed lighting fixtures, and air conditioning.
The board, which will function as a landlord and provide the needed facilities, is actively recruiting physicians to come to Sweet Home and establish practice here.
Oct. 16, 1996
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is excavating at Ridgeway Logging on 46th Avenue and Highway 20 to determine the extent of soil contamination found at the property. The site was identified as a source of the trichlorethylene and perchlorethylene that has contaminated well water in the Midway area.
Caretakers at Sankey Park have reported an increase in vandalism, including graffiti and fires. The caretakers are uncomfortable about approaching the youngsters who might be causing the trouble, and are concerned they have knives.
The problem was discussed during the City Council meeting. The Public Works Director noted the problem is “greatly amplified” during the noon hour, indicating it’s coming from high school students or dropouts.
A water line broke and spilled about 400,000 gallons of water near Surrey Lane, causing a considerable amount of flooding. The spill cost the city about one-tenth of its four-day supply and took about two feet of water off the city’s reservoir. One garage was flooded with about 14 inches of water.
The break was in a six-inch lateral water main to a fire hydrant. The cause is unknown, but most likely from ground movement. Damage is guesstimated in the $2,000 to $3,000 range.
A delegation of Japanese local government officials toured the city to examine economic development efforts in rural communities in Oregon. Japan is suffering from problems similar to what Oregon has experienced with the decline of its timber economy, and is looking for ways to build co-ops between Oregon’s and Japan’s small communities.
Each year, as part of a 10-year program, young regional leaders visit Oregon and Switzerland as part of special training. The primary purpose of the tour was to observe the progression of economic development in small Oregon communities following the decline of the timber industry. Most in the delegation come from mountainous areas where timber served as a central part of their cities’ economic structure.