January
Scott and Miriam Swanson returned to The New Era and Lebanon Local after having sold it one and a half years ago to a former employee. They issued a statement that the business was near financial collapse and it would take a community to help keep it going. The community responded with donations and support necessary to keep the newspaper operating until it could regain its financial footing.
First baby of the year at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital comes from Lebanon couple Aleah and Caleb Vandehey. Selah Cove Vandehey arrived at 8:29 p.m. on Jan. 1, weighing 6.6 lbs. at 18.5 inches.
Being sworn-in to the Sweet Home City Council for the first time were Chelsea Augsburger, Ken Bronson and Aaron Hegge.
Lebanon City Council declined a proposal that would have allowed nonprofit organizations supporting low-income housing to be exempt from property taxes.
A train carrying agricultural materials derailed after a trestle collapsed in Corvallis, leaving a train car in Mary’s River and another two dangling.
A car crashed into a newly-installed bollard at the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce. This was the third crash at the building in two years.
Main Gym.
Brothers Trevor and Travis Ayres, suspects in an altercation in Sweet Home, fled from police and struck a passenger car in the process. When Travis was located a week later, he fled in reverse gear in his car, striking several cars, including police. He fled on foot, but was arrested.
Jerod Norman, of Sweet Home, was arrested after detectives believed him to be involved in the death of his girlfriend, Mariah King, who was allegedly found by Norman hanging in his shed.
Linn County residents Dustin and Jennifer Nehl were arrested in California for allegedly impersonating firefighters in the Palisades Fire evacuation zone.
Sweet Home boys won their second straight Oregon Classic Championship in wrestling.
Linn County Search and Rescue, and an OSP Fish and Wildlife K9 team located and rescued Nicole Decker, of California, who was lost in the snow off Hwy. 20 east of Sweet Home.
Highway 20 was designated “National Medal of Honor Highway.”
February
Lebanon Fire District announced that it will have to cut costs as it faces “a widening gap between revenue and expenses.” They plan to control spending, reduce staff, restructure operations, and look for new revenue sources.
New transitional housing units rolled into Sweet Home’s FAC Sleep Shelter. The “tiny homes” were funded through a grant and will be used as emergency shelter housing.
Crossroads Communities will host the Sleep Trailer in Lebanon for a three month trial period to determine if the eight-pod portable sleeping trailer could function well for homeless individuals.
Tyler Lanz was captured after he led law enforcement officials on a chase and crashed his motorcycle near Holley.
The girls team for Sweet Home swimming won seven of 11 events, an achievement marking the 50th straight year Sweet Home has won a district title.
Caleb Gay was sworn in as a new city councilor for the City of Sodaville, filling a seat vacated by Jeff Hensley, who did not run for another term this year.
At the East Linn Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Awards, Charlene Adams was awarded the Distinguished Service award, Freddy Bratton was named First Citizen and Colton Emmert was named Junior First Citizen.
Simone Dankenbring released the first two in a series of chapter books published by Little Bee books.
March
Several blocks on Airport Road in Lebanon begin to close for several months as construction begins for installation of a traffic signal at Airport and Stoltz Hill, and other additions to the area.
At the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Awards, Michael Kerrigone was named Man of the Year, Jenny Sheldon was named Woman of the Year, Heather McDaniel was named Senior First Citizen, Steve Patterson was named Junior First Citizen, and the Frankie Gray “Answering the Call” award went to Dale Hall.
Sweet Home City Council voted to place a ballot measure on the May election ballot asking if residents want to vote for their mayor instead of allowing the council to select one from among themselves.
Robert Leroy Hermans was declared deceased after, it is believed, he was struck by a vehicle while crossing South Santiam Highway in Lebanon near BiMart.
The Husky wrestling team place second at the 4A Division state wrestling championship, and four in the team brought home individual state titles.
An open house carnival at Green Acres Elementary in Lebanon raised enough money to nearly fill out the remaining funds needed to replace decades-old playground equipment.
Two fishermen were rescued from an island in the Middle Santiam River below Green Peter Dam after water from the dam began rising rapidly, trapping them.
The City of Sodaville provided a temporary solution to pothole-laden streets in “the Village” by packing gravel on Fisher, Maple and Park streets.
Kaitlyn Watts, of Brownsville, was rescued by passers-by after her car plunged off Hwy. 20 east of Sweet Home into the riverbank. Watts was pinned in while chest-high water rushed in.
Alisha Hendrickson, of Lebanon, was named a finalist for a 2025 Citizen Honors Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in South Carolina. Last year, she braved intense flames to rescue a teenager trapped in a car following a crash.
Santiam Excursion rolls out its newest activity: Rail Bike Adventures in Sweet Home. People can rent the rail bikes and pedal them from 18th Avenue to Foster Dam.
April
Holley Church revealed its long-awaited treehouse-themed children’s lobby.
The grandstand at Lebanon High School’s Heath Stadium was shut down due to structural concerns and changes in insurance coverage. Originally built in 1957, the grandstand now has deteriorating concrete, exposed rebar, and rust and corrosion.
Sudden wind gusts blew through Sunnyside Park, rolling over an ice machine, toppling trees and severely damaging an RV.
The Lebanon School Board decided to partner with the Lebanon Aquatic District to work on a $1 million project fixing major problems at the pool. They plan to fix the pool’s faulty gutter system, pumps and pipes, repair cracks, and resurface the pool.
CTS Inc., formerly Valley View Logging, held its third annual Spring Sawdust Fling Chainsaw Race, drawing in competitors from across Oregon.
Motorcyclist Donald Gibbs was struck in an apparent hit and run incident in Sweet Home. He was transported to a hospital.
Bob Reinhardt, of Idaho, brought a team to Sweet Home for a fast-track research project gathering information, stories and artifacts related to families who were relocated out of Foster for his “Atlas of Drowned Towns” project.
May
To stem losses, Samaritan Health Services announced it was considering cutting various services, such as general surgery, orthopedics, women and children’s services (including the birthing center), and urology. Residents flooded social media in protest.
SHEDG reveals plans to grow the “Sweet Events” idea, providing a variety of entertainment such as the Santiam Smoke Show barbecue competition, a treasure hunt, the battle of the bands Tune It Up Tuesdays, and the PNW Stampeders western line dance competition.
closure of Heath Stadium due to safety concerns.
New political groups in Lebanon form: Citizens for Lebanon, and East Linn Indivisible.
A hiker was rescued by Linn County Search and Rescue and SHFAD after getting stuck on the Gordon Meadows trail. The remote location and poor cell reception made pinpointing the hiker challenging.
Linn County’s new RV dump station opened up in Sweet Home, offering four paved lanes to alleviate county park systems as well as provide service to others.
Sweet Home voters supported the move by 80.01% to have its mayor elected rather than chosen by City Council.
In four days, two separate motorcycle accidents occurred on curves just west of Menear’s Bend on Hwy. 20, sending both riders with serious injuries to the hospital.
Voters rejected Central Linn School District’s $34.55 million operating bond request by 74.84%.
June
Cole Russell Allen, of Lebanon, faces manslaughter charges following a car crash outside of Lebanon that killed an Albany man. Deputies believe Allen was intoxicated and speeding.
Hannah Savedra was crowned Strawberry Festival Queen at the start of the festival’s “Berries Just Wanna Have Fun” event.
An apparent “swatting” incident led to school lockdowns in Sweet Home after police received a call from someone reporting his sister shot their parents in a residence near the high school.
America’s Best Restaurants Roadshow stopped in Lebanon to film a show at J&C BBQ & Catering. The film crew sampled some of the restaurant’s best meals, and learned more about the family-owned restaurant.
News staff at The Brownsville Times held a grand opening at the release of the first issue of its “revived” business. The 136-year-old paper folded in December 2024, but locals formed a nonprofit to bring the paper back.
After a year of exploration, Samaritan Health Services and Santiam Hospital and Clinics mutually decided to cease the pursuit of a formal affiliation.
An explosion on W Grant Street in Lebanon leads to one dead and two injured. The explosion took place inside a car, sending debris into nearby yards and setting other cars on fire. A woman who was living in one of the cars was found deceased.
The Native American Education Program organized its inaugural Willamette Valley Pow Wow at Boulder Falls Event Center. With 50 vendors and a full room, the organizers think next year’s event will need a larger venue.
July
After decades of complaints about traffic on one small stretch of road in Sweet Home, residents on 1st Avenue received four three-inch speed humps. Residents say the stretch on that street between Hwy. 20 and Hwy. 228 sees heavy traffic, speeding and prohibited commercial trucks.
Lebanon resident Jami Cate, who currently serves as House District 11 Representative, announced she will run for the Oregon Senate District 6 seat.
Sweet Home resident Angelita Sanchez, currently a city councilor, announced she will run for the House District 11 seat.
Home after they became aware of an attempt to oust schools
Supt. Terry Martin. The situation created a tumultuous start for
newly elected School Board members and the resignation of
one veteran board member.
School district staff and residents stood at the Sweet Home School District protesting a special session agenda that was scheduled to discuss the possible dismissal of Supt. Terry Martin, who was on vacation at the time.
Lebanon Police Officer Zac McKinney was honored for a life-saving action he took last month. McKinney responded to a call about an unconscious male, and performed chest compressions and CPR on the man until he began breathing, right as medics arrived.
Lebanon City Council held its first meeting at its new location: the community room at the Lebanon Public Library.
Staff members of the Lebanon Girod Birth Center and the emergency after-hours surgical services unit at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital protested in Lebanon in response to proposed cuts to those services.
With very little discussion on the matter, Sweet Home’s City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that would remove fluoride from its water system. It was learned the water has not been fluoridated for several years because the system has been broken.
Lebanon City Council held a work session to flesh out what it would take to reopen the city’s jail, which has been closed since 2023 due to limited staffing, as well as ORS and CIS requirements. It will take an estimated $1.2 million to operate the jail. Options for how to fund that amount were: an operational levy, increased City Service fees, or reduced city services elsewhere.
Natalie Conn was crowned Sportsman’s Holiday Queen.
Sweet Home’s historic A&W drive-in just got more historic-y by installing the entire original Burger Family statues. Papa, Mama, Teen and Baby Burger, all from the 1960s, were purchased in California and given a fresh coat of paint before going public.
SHEDG announced this will be the last year they put on the Oregon Jamboree Music Festival, citing financial strain due to rising production and talent costs, and declining ticket sales.
Linn County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a bloody woman lying in the road at Washburn Heights Drive. Deputies encountered the woman’s son, Oliver Mercer, who led them on a chase to Highway 34 and Denny School Road, where he crashed and shot himself in the head.
Wrestlers from around the state attended Sweet Home’s Santiam Wrestling Camp, which celebrated its 25th year this year.
The Sweet Home School District Board was reorganized after upheaval ensued when rumors that Supt. Terri Martin may be fired surfaced. An intended special session on the matter was canceled.
August
Anticipated state regulations may cost the City of Lebanon millions as it also looks to build out its at-capacity wastewater treatment system.
Sweet Home’s final Oregon Jamboree featured headliners Clay Walker, Shane Smith and the Saints, and Jordan Davis.
A local Lebanon business owner, Rachael Folger, of HNB House, is gaining attention from TV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines. Their Magnolia Market business has been ordering Folger’s handmade wooden embroidery kits to sell in their Texas shop.
A newly-organized nonprofit brought back the Sweet Home Rodeo after a 13-year absence.
Sweet Home Oregon Coalition for Artistic and Scholastic Enrichment (SHOCASE) held its first Plein Air event at Foster Lake. Artists sat by the lake while doing their creative work in an activity that was once popular in the mid-1800s: doing art outdoors.
Tell & Sell announced the owner and operator were set to retire after 32 years of operation. They turned the business over to the owners of The New Era.
The Sweet Home PD brought back its National Night Out, this time holding on 13th Avenue between Main and Long streets downtown. This was the first event to be held in the “Festival Street” location that the city plans to use for community events.
September
Samaritan Health announced it would not close its birthing center at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, following earlier suggestions that maternity care might be moved to Albany, which prompted protests from nurses and other Samaritan medical personnel.
New Principal Shelley Nurre began her first school year at Foster School in Sweet Home.
Lebanon Area Habitat for Humanity released its 31st homing project to Ted and Veronica McMahon, who came from Sweet Home with their two kids. The family spent three years helping to build the brand new house on a vacant lot in Sodaville.
Lorlee Engler, executive director at the Lebanon Community Pool, turned in her resignation to the Lebanon Aquatic Pool Board. It is believed she served in the position for more than a decade.
Member and former chair Floyd Neuschwander resigned from the Sweet Home School Board and former teacher and administrator Chris Hiaasen was sworn in to replace Erin Barstad, who had stepped down a month previously.
A new memorial was dedicated at the Samaritan Sweet Home Medical Center to honor the late Dr. Alan Blake, who practiced in Sweet Home for many years before suffering a stroke while on a mission trip to Ukraine in 2015. He passed on his 44th anniversary, Sept. 31, 2023.
Peggy Blair, a longtime local resident of Sweet Home and now of Lebanon, was named Oregon’s TOPS Queen for losing the most pounds, nearly half her body weight, over three years.
truck, started a grass fire and threatened a trailer on Berlin Road
in September.
After learning they had been serving areas outside of its district for free, essentially, the Lebanon Fire District sent letters to property owners asking if they would like to annex into LFD’s district. Annexed properties will begin paying taxes to the fire district, while those who don’t annex may be faced with costly charges if LFD responds to an emergency.
Oregon State Police announced they had identified the remains of a young woman, which had been discovered in 1976 approximately 17 miles east of Sweet Home, as Marion McWhorter, who was last seen shopping in Tigard.
Sweet Home’s girls soccer team recorded its first victory in more than two years with a win over Kennedy.
The City of Sodaville approved a monthly $10 maintenance fee on utility bills to build up a reserve for those times that the water system needs repairs and expansion.
Samaritan Health Services announced it will not close Lebanon’s birthing center. CEO Marty Cahill said more than 70 listening sessions with staff, clinicians and leaders solidified their commitment to sustain essential services close to home.
October
Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District announced it had received an $8.7 million grant for wildfire defense from the U.S. Forest Service, which also will benefit Lebanon and other east Linn County communities over the next five years.
Sweet Home’s football team beat Marist for the first time in more than 20 years, raising its record to 5-0.
Following weeks of searching, the body of former Lebanon teacher and coach Donald Carroll, 88, was located in the area of Upper Calapooia Drive and Blue River Reservoir Road, approximately 30 miles east of Hwy. 228. Carroll, who suffered from dementia, had disappeared two weeks previously.
New Sweet Home School Board member Robert Webster was sworn in to fill the Cascadia seat vacated by the resignation of Floyd Neuschwander.
A Lebanon motorcyclist, Jeremy Wayne Smith, was killed and his passenger, Delana Ann Marie Smith, also of Lebanon, was seriously injured when a car pulled out in front of them and they collided on Hwy. 20 west of Sweet Home.
Lebanon School District received a $25,000 prize from the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights Competition, and made it into the final round for a chance to win a $1 million prize toward homefield upgrades.
Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance Service received a nearly $127,000 grant to provide screenings for cancer and other medical conditions for its firefighters.
Victorian Chocolate owner Kelly Reetz in Lebanon faces at least $100,000 in costs after the roof collapsed during a heavy rainstorm earlier this year. Inspections revealed further damage in other parts of the building. The confectionary has been unable to produce candies since May.
Lebanon City Council discussed ideas on the possibility of installing solar panels that could alleviate the city of rising electrical costs.
Samaritan Health announced plans to merge with Tacoma-based MultiCare Health Systems in a move that, Samaritan said, would strengthen its ability to provide health services in the region.
November
The Sweet Home American Legion Post 133 moved into its new headquarters, the former Fir Lawn Lutheran Church, after renovations, which still needed to be completed at move-in.
Samaritan Health Services announced a merger with MultiCare, a Washington-based health service. MultiCare is expected to pay $700 million over the next 10 years to assume ownership of Samaritan’s assets.
Three Sweet Home cross-country runners qualified for the state championships at the district meet.
Lebanon Fire Chief Joseph Rodondi announced his plan to retire after leading LFD for six years. During his time here, he oversaw construction of the new Station 31, battled challenges presented by COVID, increased programs and social media, and built a system to raise up future local fire chiefs. John Tacy replaced Rodondi.
Sweet Home’s football team got an unexpected berth in the 4A state playoffs after apparently missing its opportunity in a 27-14 Halloween loss to Philomath. But the Warriors announced they were forfeiting the game because they violated an OSAA rule that prohibits junior varsity players from competing on successive nights, giving the Huskies their first trip to the playoffs since 2019.
City leaders in Sweet Home held a summit meeting to discuss food needs in the community, including difficulties being experienced by relief organizations.
Sweet Home sophomore Emma Whitton finished seventh at the state cross-country championships after placing fourth as a freshman. Senior McKenzie Miller, who was ill, finished 14th. Junior Ryker Burr was 34th for the boys in his first trip to state in cross-country.
Sweet Home’s football team lost a tight state playoff game 20-17 on the road at La Grande.
Santiam Travel Station, the former city-owned council chambers in Lebanon, was sold to the company that operates Santiam Excursion for $525,000.
Lebanon High School earned second place in the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights Competition. T-Mobile gave them a $100,000 check for their efforts.
The City of Waterloo hired Grace Reed as its new city recorder.
December
After serving Lebanon on a monthly basis with the Lebanon Local for more than nine years, newspaper owners Scott and Miriam Swanson announced plans to merge the paper with its weekly Sweet Home publication, The New Era, to provide weekly news for all of east Linn County.
Linn County commenced construction of a new mental health crisis center across the street from Albany General Hospital that will eventually provide 24/7 temporary respite for people who need behavioral health assistance.
Lebanon teen Zayne Hannah-Gray was found dead and a Sweet Home-area juvenile seriously injured following a two-car crash at McDowell Creek Drive and Berlin Road.
Organizers of the Sweet Home Alumni Foundation Christmas Tree Auction estimated the event raised some $50,000 for scholarships for Sweet Home High School graduating seniors. The scholarships are funded by the foundation’s endowment, which has exceeded $3 million, and foundation Board Member Greg Ego told the attendees that SHAF plans to award a record $120,000 in scholarships this year.
Sweet Home School District announced it has been promised $12.2 million in state matching funds if voters approve a bond measure that would simply extend the bond rate they currently pay over a longer period of time. The last bond financed for upgrades to Sweet Home Junior High. This one would be used largely to increase security and replace failing buildings on the high school campus. Combined with funds already saved by the district for the purpose, and the state grant, the proposed bond measure would raise approximately $40 million for facility needs, according to the district.
Sweet Home School Board members agreed to purchase a flag lot adjoining the Sweet Home High School campus for $90,000. The property will provide an opportunity to create safer bus access to the campus, district officials said.
In the continuing story of attempts to build a new well in Sodaville and finally free itself from buying water from Lebanon, Mayor Brian Lewis said, “This spring I wanna drill a well.” For years the city has been crossing hurdles to dig a sixth well, and is reaching the end of a rope that would provide them financial hope of being able to do so.
Sweet Home High School CTE students are in the process of creating an art installation that will feature 60 metal fish that will be placed in the Main Street median.
Charlie Kuskie was sworn in to fill a seat at the Waterloo City Council, which was recently vacated by Adam Beskow.
City officials in Lebanon presented a “State of the City” during a Chamber of Commerce lunch forum. The mayor said key challenges include aging infrastructure, budget constraints, staffing limitations, the Green Peter drawdown, and unfunded government mandates. The finance director reported recent budget concerns are now looking up after cutting costs and implementing a City Service Fee.
Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District and former staffer Zach Lincoln settled a federal lawsuit Lincoln had filed against the district, alleging violations of federal and state laws and its own policies in his dismissal.
Fire destroyed a rural residence off Old Hufford Drive, east of Sweet Home. Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District shuttled some 45,000 gallons of water to the remote site.
Sweet Home High School head janitor Darren Schultz and former teacher Dr. Harrison Neal collaborated in getting 215 desks that were being discarded by Western Oregon University for the high school, all in good condition and worth some $60,000 if purchased new.