The New Era - All about Sweet Home since 1929

By Alex Paul

Linn County Communications Officer

Blake Nightingale spent a lot of time working on his grandparents' hazelnut farm near Brownsville.

It's where he cultivated a love of working outdoors, so the job as the park ranger for the Quartzville Corridor area suits him fine.

"I like farming and someday, maybe in 10 or 20 years, I might do some farming, but for right now, I really like what I do," Nightingale said.

Nightingale played football, basketball and track at Central Linn High School and attended Linn-Benton Community College.

"I started working for the parks department while at...