Rollover crash east of SH
Sweet Home Police Sgt. Geoff Hamlin and Sweet Home Fire Lt. Josh Bondesen survey the scene of a crash that occurred Friday afternoon, Feb. 20, east of Sweet Home near Milepost 32 on Hwy. 20. According to Oregon State Police, the Kia Rio, driven by Jerry Thompson, 61, of Sweet Home, was eastbound when it left the highway and rolled into shrubs above Foster Lake. An OSP report indicated that medics did not find any major injuries, but Thompson, according to OSP, showed signs of impairment and was arrested for DUII. The Kia was towed, due to damage.
– Photo by Scott Swanson
All About Seeds, Plants
Participants in the Santiam Food Alliance’s Seedy Tuesday, at left, sort through seeds contributed to the event, which was held Feb. 17 at the Lebanon Library. The annual seed swap and gardeners’ gathering included a presentation on unusual vegetables by Linda Ziedrich and a Master Gardeners’ advice table and an information table staffed by the Lebanon Garden Club.
– Santiam Food Alliance photo
Off to Cheer Nationals
Sweet Home High School’s competition cheer squad got a very public sendoff Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 18, as they headed for the airport escorted by Sweet Home fire district’s ladder truck and a police unit, with sirens blaring and lights flashing. The cheerleaders were headed to Anaheim, Calif., to compete – along with Lebanon’s cheer team – at the USA Spirit Nationals last weekend. Check next week’s edition for details on how the local
teams did in that competition.
– Photo by Scott Swanson
Area Daughters Turn 90
The Santiam Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution celebrated its 90-year anniversary on Thursday, Feb. 12. Guests included Oregon State Regent Martha Burell, state officers and DAR members from throughout Oregon.
Organized on Feb. 13, 1936, Santiam Chapter remains active in east Linn County, focusing on historic preservation, education and patriotism. In 2025, members volunteered a total of 1,695 hours in the community. Recent projects include volunteering at Lebanon Pioneer Cemetery, recognizing high school Good Citizens and outstanding JRTOC students, participation in Lebanon Strawberry Festival, National Night Out and Albany Veterans Day Parades, and donating to Oregon Veterans Home Lebanon, FISH and Lebanon Soup Kitchen.
Santiam Chapters “America 250” project was donating books about the Revolutionary War era to the Lebanon Children’s Library.
DAR Membership is open to all women descended from a Revolutionary War patriot. For more information, visit SantiamChapterDAR.weebly.com/ or email [email protected].
– DAR photo