Legislative battle underway to protect McCoy’s Pharmacy
A David vs. Goliath legislative battle in Salem has independent rural pharmacies, like McCoy’s in Cottage Grove, fighting for their future against the prescription drug middlemen industry, known as Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs).
BACKGROUND
JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage
Grove Sentinel
Public works crews are in the process of establishing a new smaller homeless camp site at the vacant lot on 12th Street in Cottage Grove.
In 2023, the Oregon Audits Division released a report on Oregon Health Authority Pharmacy Benefit Managers that addressed “Poor Accountability and Transparency Harm Medicaid Patients and Independent Pharmacies”.
Cottage Grove City Manager
The report notes the complexity of the prescription drug system in the U.S. that involves many entities. In recent years, some efforts to decrease drug prices have targeted drug manufacturers. The report said, “There is growing public interest in assessing the role, value of, and significant power and influence held by third-party organizations known as pharmacy benefit managers.”
Mike Sauerwein said the city is behind its original Oct. 1 timeline is establishing the camp, following the Aug. 22 closure and cleanup of the 12th Street and Douglas Street homeless camps. During the transition, the adjacent Lulu Dog Park at 12th Street has been used as a homeless camp site with hours from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily.
“None of us have ever managed a homeless camp before, so we knew that date was a bit aspirational,” Sauerwein said. “We are hoping that this week we will be able to make the transition. Our goal was to provide folks with a safe and secure place to spend the night and that’s what we are doing.”
Large employers and health insurance companies pay PBMs to act as middlemen. PBMs are supposed to leverage their purchasing power with pharmaceutical companies to get discounts and rebates, with the goal of controlling prescription drug costs for patients. It is the strategies they employ to maximize their middlemen profit and their marketplace dominance that is creating concern in America’s statehouses and within federal agencies.
Sauerwein said city staff was cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to reestablish it as a dog park. Specific costs of that cleanup and establishing the smaller homeless camp at 12th Street were not immediately available.
HOW PBMs WORK
The state’s audit report notes that pharmacy benefit managers are influential within the U.S. health care system. The United States is the only developed country that uses PBMs for its public health programs. Three companies made up 80% of the 2020 market share of claims for PBMs.
The supply of prescription drugs starts with drug manufacturers, who develop and manufacture
The new mini homeless camp will include the same restrictions as the former larger camps.
Hankins
customers.
“The same rules will apply,” Sauwrwein said. “The camp will be available from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and the rules will be enforced through our contracting company, One Security of Eugene to help us during this transition period. They are a very experienced homeless camp management company.”
medications. Some of the largest drug manufacturers in the world include Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and AbbVie. Drug manufacturers then sell medications to wholesale distributors, who resell those drugs directly to pharmacies or collective groups who pool resources and negotiate on their behalf.
The final step in the supply chain happens
Sauerwein and other city officials have told the Sentinel, that there are no additional plans to offer any other long-term sheltering for the homeless.
when pharmacies fill and dispense medications to customers.
“Cottage Grove will follow state law as we understand it,” Sauerwein said. “That is what we are doing. To change that is up to the legislature. The city of Cottage Grove has no plans to do any kind of a shelter beyond what we are
PBMs have emerged as powerful intermediaries between insurers, manufacturers, pharmacies, and governments, though historically they were created as simple claims processing administrators.
Local LCC Center reopens for credit, non-credit classes
The mental health impact
facing Oregon’s wildland firefighters
In the fall of 2022, the community gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony that began an extensive remodeling of the interior of Lane Community College’s Cottage Grove Center on South River Road next to Cottage Grove High School. It culminated years of planning among LCC, South Lane School District and Lane County’s Public Health Department staff.
JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
Oregon’s wildfire season is expected to continue through this month, but the mental scares and impact of the season on the firefighters who battle blazes in Lane County and across the state, and their families, may last a lifetime, according to Jeff Dill, the founder of Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA).
currently doing, which is providing a location for folks to spend the night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.”
Read previous coverage about the homelessness challenges in Cottage Grove and follow new developments at cgsemtinel.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Sentinel.
PBM RESPONSIBILITIES
Some of the current responsibilities of PBMs include creating a preferred drug list, which is a list of prescription drugs a health plan will cover for its beneficiaries. Negotiating prices and rebates with drug manufacturers. Contracting with pharmacies and collective groups who negotiate on behalf of pharmacies to create pharmacy networks. Drug utilization reviews, which analyze the prescribing,
Florence, Newport protesters say ‘Hands Off’
The message was evident on a multitude of signs visible along Highway 101 on April 5- Protesters wanted the Trumps Administration’s Hands off of Social Security, Medicare, healthcare, reproductive rights, voting rights, the LGBTQ community and even Greenland and Canada.
CINDY WEELDREYER
For The Cottage Grove Sentinel
In 1975, when Birdy Hoelzle and her sister Gail opened The Bookmine they were familiar with The Village Green.
Their father traveled a lot and often brought its matchboxes home as keepsakes for his girls. The sisters were in their 20’s when they opened the Main Street bookstore and, to enhance their income, worked as waitresses at the resort.
“It was a wonderful place to work and, being new in town, it
the way” during the construction project.
Some of the center’s local advisory board members initially expressed concern that the redesign of the building would diminish LCC’s capacity to offer local courses. However, the critical need for a federally funded community health clinic in South Lane County and the opportunity it provided to offer more credit classes in the healthcare career path was compelling.
Dill established the FBHA in 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. He was than a Battalion Chief for a fire department in northwest Chicago.
“I saw our brothers and sisters struggle from the devastation that they saw, so I went back and got my degree and became a licensed counselor,” he said. “We started tracking EMS and firefighter suicides across America.”
Behavioral Impact
According to Dill, firefighters often don’t recognize the behavioral impact of their work.
The two-year construction process significantly reduced local class offerings to mostly virtual and offsite options. Center Administrator Holli Turpin has worked at the center for 13 years. She was delighted when the building reopened in January for Winter Term classes and provided instruction to 135 students in its first term of post-COVID, postconstruction operation.
She said changes at the Cottage Grove Center forced staff to adapt and reconfigure services but the overall goal of improving access to higher education remains.
SPRING TERM OFFERINGS
“We become cultural brainwashed,” Dill said. “Whether it’s structural or wildland fires. So, we are meant to believe we are supposed to act strong, brave, be help, don’t ask for help, and we don’t want to look weak and not ask for help.”
Dill added that while firefighters are on the front lines battling the wildfires, one of the biggest challenges they face is the unknown.
“It’s how rapidly theses fires can move, and the unknown is where is it going to end? Where will this fire go to and how long will it last? And that is a struggle,” he said.
The center offers four credit classes – two are in-person and two utilize a Zoom format. Most of the classes are also hybrid with one (or two shorter) in-person meetings each week and additional work online. Turpin said this can be a big help to students balancing their weekly schedule with work, childcare or other activities. The English as a Second Language (ESL) math class also returns spring term.
Grovers gather to remember Village Green Resort
Hundreds of demonstrators joined countless Americans around the country in protesting actions of Trump Administration and its employment of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). T he protest, called “Hands Off,” was held in all US States and over 1 200 locations according to the Associated Press. New sources around Oregon showed large-scale protests in every city from Coos Bay to Portland, to Bend to Eugene and Salem. Similar protests were held in smaller towns as well.
“So, when you are fighting that fire, you’re trying to do your best to stop it, and yet the wind kicks up at 60 miles an hour and it drags it further and further behind them. That aspect of the unknown is very difficult in wildland fires. The firefighters have that stress and anxiety, and that struggle to protect is a very difficult challenge for the wildland firefighters.”
shocked by the sexism practiced in the dining room,” she said. “The menu given to a woman had no prices on it and foot pillows were provided so ladies’ uncomfortable shoes could be removed while dining. It was a very different era.”
members of the family attended and shared personal memories.
The Florence Hands Off! rally. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com
THROUGH THE LENS
Florence ORganizes planner Leonora Kent said it would be hard to estimate the number of people since they spanned corners from the Siuslaw Bridge to Highway 126 She estimated 500, but said others she spoke to had higher numbers. She said three groups were present, Florence ORganizes, Indivisible and an impromptu group of Hands off protesters. At the protest, City Councilor Sally Wantz restated the words of Sen. Corey Booker, who told the Senate that the current state of America as not partisan, but a “moral moment.” Jamie Smith and Mark Levy led songs of protest in Front of City Hall.
He said he was given an important job of opening the boxes delivered to the guest rooms and recalled how cool he felt driving the orange golf cart around the property for assigned errands. Years later, another special memory was seeing the famous football player, O.J. Simpson, running on one of the resort’s paths.
In the community education realm, the center offers pickleball, Mud and Horses: Managing Small Farms (offered by the OSU Extension Office), a spring cohort for Project Management Certification begins April 15, and a Flagger Certification will also have spring class options. The center supports students needing to take proctored exams that are monitored to prevent cheating. Study rooms with high-speed internet support participation in main campus classes in Eugene and provide quiet respite for students with living situations that make studying a challenge.
It is often very difficult for family members of the firefighters to understand what emotions there are, and that many firefighters don’t express their emotions, according to Dill.
NEW HEALTHCARE CAREER CLASSES
According to the Canadian Press, protests even took place north of the border in Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and others.
Kris Woodard’s introductory remarks included personal memories he made through the lens of a 12-year-old who was often “in
A poem by Charles Castle, that concludes with “There is a high price for freedom
To the delight of those gathered, Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard,
“We ask the family members to try to understand the cultural,” he said. “Be direct. Challenge with compassion when something doesn’t look right or doesn’t sound right, and do an internal size up, which we ask the firefighters to do as well,” he said.” Internal size up means asking why am I acting this way, and why am I feeling this way? The best thing we can do is
A multi-agency workgroup meets regularly to create a joint training program that prepares students to enter the healthcare field. The group includes administrators and
CINDY WEELDREYER
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Cindy Weeldreyer / Cottage Grove Sentinel
Mike
and Sarah Myers are two of the five pharmacists at who serve McCoy’s 8,000+
Tony Reed / Country Media, Inc.
Veneta man faces internet crimes against children charges
JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
A Venette resident faces several criminal courts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse following a multi law enforcement agency investigation.
The investigation unfolded March 24, as the Lane County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) received a report of a suicidal subject who lived in the 88000 block of Crystal Street, Veneta.
“The involved subject, Andrew Page Bledsoe, had traveled to Portland, Oregon, to meet a 13-yearold female,” LCSO Sgt. Tim Wallace said. “Instead, Bledsoe encountered a private group that investigates child predators. He left the Portland area and told a friend he was suicidal.”
Deputies were unable to locate Bledsoe.
The incident did not result in criminal charges out of Portland, however a LCSO detective on the Lane County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force began investigating.
The investigation turned up potential internet crimes spanning multiple jurisdictions in Oregon, across the United States, and internationally. This evidence was discovered independent of the incident in Portland, according to Wallace.
The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies.
All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Information printed is preliminary and subject to change.
For specific details about cases listed, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Cottage Grove Police
MONDAY, MARCH 31
The investigation turned up potential internet crimes spanning multiple jurisdictions in Oregon, across the United States, and internationally. This evidence was discovered independent of the incident in Portland, according to Wallace.
Detectives requested assistance from the Oregon State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations due to the scope of the case. Together, the law enforcement agencies tracked Bledsoe to Caldwell, Idaho.
On April 3, the Lane County District Attorney’s Office was granted a nationwide arrest warrant for Bledsoe, and he was arrested minutes later by the Caldwell Police Department. As of April 4, Bledsoe was awaiting extradition to
07:53: Welfare check, 36000 block Row River Rd.
08:02: Trespass, 1700 block Clark Ave.
08:15: Abandoned vehicle, 700 block South R St.
09:14: Theft, 900 block Row River Rd.
09:53: Illegal parking, 100 block Thomas Ln.
09:55: Suspicious vehicle, Thayer/10th
10:04: Citizen assist, 400
block E. Main St.
10:17: Suspicious condition, 100 block N. 9th St.
Search
warrants served at Cottage Grove, Eugene, and Springfield marijuana operations
Over 10 000 marijuana plants in Cottage grove, Eugene and Springfield have been seized during an illegal drug operation investigation by the Lane County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).
On the morning of April 3
LCSO detectives and deputies served search warrants at:
• A greenhouse and residence in the 40300 block of Reuben Leigh, north of Lowell
• A warehouse in the 1400 block of N. 32nd Street, Springfield
• A warehouse in the 4200 block of W. 7th Avenue, Eugene
• A warehouse in the 600 block of Commercial Street, Eugene
• A warehouse in the 200 block of E. Palmer Avenue, Cottage Grove
• A planned dispensary in the 1600 block of Main Street, Springfield
Lane County, where he will
initially be charged with five counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the First Degree.
“This arrest is part of an ongoing effort by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable members of our community.,” Wallace said. “Thanks to the many agencies who participate in the Lane County ICAC Task Force and collaborate to make this work possible.”
“The investigation began recently when OLCC discovered the business, named Agricola, was operating far outside of the legal requirements regarding plant tracking, product location, and growing at unlicensed locations,” LCSO Sgt. Tim Wallace said. “A few of the locations were licensed, but not following legal requirements to operate.”
The Lane County Code Compliance Program and Oregon Watermaster will be following up with code
POLICE BLOTTER
10:34: Hit and run, 1200
block Gateway Blvd.
10:41: Alarm, 1500 block E. Main St.
10:53: Citizen assist, Washington/16th
10:56: Abandoned vehicle, 1300 block E. Main St.
11:19: Trespass, 100 block Hwy 99
11:49: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.
13:09: Found drugs, 900 block Row River Rd.
13:28: Suspicious subject, 800 block S. 3rd St.
14:12: Trespass, 100
block S. 5th St.
14:19: Barking dog, 1500 block Carobelle Ct.
14:34: Illegal camping, N. River Rd/Main
15:53: Trespass, 100 block S. 6th St.
16:20: Agency assist, 400 block E. Main St.
17:08: Missing person, 1200 block Gateway Blvd.
18:12: Sex crime, 700 block Hwy 99
18:20: Animal info, 1500 block E. Main St.
18:52: Suspicious vehicle, 3200 block Row River Rd.
19:01: Harassment, 100 block Taylor Pl.
19:07: Disorderly subject, Gateway/Harvey
19:46: Warrant service, 1300 block E. Jefferson Ave.
19:57: Abandoned vehicle, 800 block E. Benjamin Ave.
23:07: Suspicious vehicle, 700 block N. River Rd.
23:56: Suspicious vehicle, 100 block Gateway Blvd.
TUESDAY, APRIL 1
00:03: Business check, 900 block E. Main St.
00:46: Suspicious vehicle, 1300 block River Rd.
01:31: Warrant service, Gateway/Tyler
02:30: Suspicious condition, 1000 block Hwy 99
03:08: Alarm, 300 block S. 6th St.
05:21: Alarm, 100 block Gateway Blvd.
10:28: Abandoned vehicle, parking lot D
12:42: Suspicious subject, Thayer/Lane
13:56: Paper service, 77000 block Dugan Ln.
14:56: Abandoned vehicle, 16th/Gibbs
15:05: Illegal camping, Lane/99
15:30: Dog at large, 10th/Polk
15:53: Unlawful entry into motor vehicle, 200 block N. 14th St.
16:20: Agency assist, 1100 block Lord Ave.
17:04: Welfare check, Harrison/Blue Sky
17:07: Disorderly subject, 400 block E. Main St.
17:54: Civil, 600 block Benjamin Ave.
19:21: Warrant service, 16th/Gateway
20:19: Found property, 600 block E. Main St. 20:49: Warrant service, 99/Jefferson
23:25: Suspicious subject, 1500 block E. Main St.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2
02:17: Suspicious vehicle, 700 block Row River Rd.
02:31: Barking dog, 100 block North J St.
violations discovered on the properties, according to Wallace.
During the service of the search warrants, detectives located and seized 10 700 plants growing at several locations, as well as several hundred pounds of processed marijuana and marijuana products.
“Several people were contacted during the service of the search warrants. Their charges will be referred to the Lane County District Attorney’s Office for consideration,” Wallace said.
The Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), OLCC, the Oregon Watermaster, and the Lane County Code Compliance
02:42: Suspicious subject, 1400 block Gateway Blvd.
03:26: Suspicious subject, 1200 block Hwy 99
04:43: Alarm, 100 block Village Dr.
05:01: Suspicious vehicle, 900 block Row River Rd.
08:09: Theft, 1000 block S. 10th St.
08:39: Alarm, 300 block S. 6th St.
09:28: Citizen assist, 1400 block Hwy 99
10:02: Welfare check, 10th/Washington
12:56: Alarm, 300 block Holly Ave.
13:23: Citizen assist, 400 block E. Main St.
13:26: Agency assist, 100 block N. 22nd Ave.
13:53: Trespass, 100 block Gateway Blvd.
14:26: Vehicle impound, 100 block Gateway Blvd.
14:40: Agency assist, 900 block Row River Rd.
15:00: Theft, 1500 block S. 10th St.
16:41: Trespass, Lane Ct/ Lane St.
17:21: Hit and run, 900 block Row River Rd.
18:03: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.
18:45: Business check, 900 block E. Main St.
19:09: Suicidal subject, 800 block E. Main St.
19:56: Illegal camping, 300 block Kalapuya Wy.
19:59: Trespass, 900 block Row River Rd.
21:15: Illegal camping, 1400 block N. Douglas St.
21:38: Business check, 1100 block Hwy 99
21:47: Fire, Main/16th
22:14: Trespass, 200 block S. 13th St.
22:50: Dog at large, 2500 block E. Main St.
THURSDAY, APRIL 3
00:05: Business check, 900 block E. Main St.
01:36: Nuisance, 900 block N. 16th St.
01:37: Suspicious subject, 200 block Gateway Blvd.
02:12: Suspicious vehicle, 100 block Row River Rd.
06:07: Alarm, 1300 block S. 4th St.
06:11: Welfare check, 900 block Row River Rd.
Program, assisted the LCSO inb the investigation.
“This on-going investigation would not have been possible without the ongoing grant funding from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission’s Illegal Marijuana Market Grant (IMMEG),” Wallace said. The IMMEG grant was created in 2018 by the Oregon Legislature to assist local law enforcement agencies and district attorneys’ offices in their efforts to address the illegal marijuana market in Oregon.
Wallace said anyone with additional information is asked to contact LCSO at 541-682-4141 and reference case #25-1547
07:59: Disturbance, 700 block E. Gibbs Ave.
09:58: Juvenile trouble, 1000 block Taylor Ave.
10:21: Animal info, 600 block South R St.
10:40: Found dog, Main/ Gateway
12:00: Illegal camping, 300 block S. River Rd.
12:41: Suspicious vehicle, 1000 block Hwy 99
12:52: Hit and run, 600 block E. Jefferson Ave.
14:22: Vehicle impound, 77000 block S. 6th St.
14:26: Dog at large, 300 block Coop Ct.
15:24: Illegal camping, 200 block N. 12th St.
15:33: Dog at large, 900 block Arthur Ave.
16:07: Trespass, 600 block E. Gibbs Ave.
16:15: Animal info, 1300 block Birch Ave.
16:34: Prowler, 100 block Village Dr.
17:00: Dog at large, Hwy 99/ River Rd.
18:46: Illegal parking, 800 block S. 6th St.
19:24: Dog at large, 500 block Gateway Blvd.
20:32: Suspicious condition, Hwy 99/Harrison
20:45: Business check, 1200 block Gateway Blvd.
20:57: Mental subject, 1100 block S. 2nd St. FRIDAY, APRIL 4
03:23: Suspicious vehicle, 200 block Gateway Blvd.
04:04: Suspicious vehicle, 900 block Row River Rd.
08:46: Disorderly subject, 800 block E. Main St.
09:21: Dog at large, 10th/Grover
11:12: Criminal mischief, 600 block North M St.
11:36: Animal info, 1200 block Bryant Ave.
12:13: Disorderly subject, 1200 block Hwy 99
12:23: Motor vehicle crash, 7th/99
13:26: Warrant service, 1300 block E. Main St.
13:38: Assault, River Rd/ Madison
14:09: Animal info, 1200 block Bryant Ave.
14:35: Theft, 800 block N. 10th St.
Courtesy from the LCSO
Courtesy from the LCSO
The marijuana plants growing at a greenhouse north of Lowell.
Jim Gilroy wins 2024 Distinguished Service Award
CINDY WEELDREYER
Cottage Grove Sentinel
at the Cottage Grove Armory. The Distinguished Service Award is chosen by local service clubs (Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary and the Prospectors and Gold Diggers Club) and presented at the Chamber’s banquet each year. This year’s award was given to Jim Gilroy, a former mayor and longtime community volunteer.
This award is given in recognition of significant community contributions through outstanding dedication and volunteer service to Cottage Grove.
The Sentinel: Where did you grow up?
Gilroy: Boston, Massachusetts
The Sentinel: What motivated you to move to The Grove?
Gilroy: Although Mary and I were married in Eureka, Calif., we went to graduate school at Oakland University in Michigan where we received Elementary Certification in grades K through 8 and our Masters in Guidance and Counseling. We wanted to move back to OregonNorthern California and
applied for jobs in rural school districts close to social-educational centers to keep up on our education and raise a family. South Lane School District hired both of us in 1974
The Sentinel: Describe your business experiences in CG?
Gilroy: I left teaching to go into business, which was my undergraduate degree from Boston College. I worked for Pacific Power for 32 years. My last position was based in Portland for the last nine years and I commuted from Cottage Grove.
I retired from Pacific Power and worked as the Cottage Grove Chamber Executive for 18 months.
Siuslaw Bank (now Banner Bank) initially hired me to manage the Cottage Grove Branch and then added the Creswell Branch to my responsibility. Banner Bank then offered me the opportunity to do what I most coveted, a business development position where I currently help businesses grow their profitability and create jobs in our community. (Jim also served as Cottage Grove Mayor from 1985-1992.)
The Sentinel: What organizations are you involved in?
Gilroy: Although there are many organizations in the past 50 years, the current list includes:
Cottage Grove Community Development Corp., Cottage Grove Lions Club, Be Your Best Coalition, Peace
Health Medical Center and Foundation Boards, St. Vincent de Paul Board Member and the Downtown Cottage Grove Advisory Board Member.
The Sentinel: Describe what makes you proud to be a Grover.
Gilroy: All three of our children were born in the birthing room at the old Cottage Grove Hospital and went through the South Lane School District. All were successful with their college admissions and have all had successful career experiences. No matter what the circumstances are in times of trouble, the people of the Cottage Grove community find a way to land on its feet, looking to the future. To be named an
All-American City not once, but twice within 2 separate generations says a lot. Our decision to stay in Cottage Grove, no matter what the career opportunities were that would require a relocation, tells you of our personal commitment.
The Sentinel: How do you feel about winning the award?
Gilroy: When you look down the list of prior winners of well over 50 years, I feel humbled by the thought that my name is now on that same list. These are people who’ve made a difference in the quality of life we have now inherited. I’m most grateful for that recognition. Look for Chamber of Commerce Award Winner profiles at cgsentinel.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Sentinel.
Jim Gilroy proudly shows off his award.
Arlene Eunice Hanson
December 25, 1931 - April 1, 2025
Arlene Eunice Hanson, 93 passed away on April 1, 2025, in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Born on Christmas Day, 1931, in Sheyenne, North Dakota.
The daughter of Summond “Sam” and Edith (Frosaker) Rue, Arlene grew up in a loving family alongside her 16 siblings. Her early years were spent in Sheyenne, where she completed her schooling. It was there, in New Rockford, that she wed the love of her life, DuWaine Hanson, June 24 of 1949. They moved to Cottage Grove, Oregon in 1960.
Her homemaking that surpassed the walls of her house to embrace her children, Harley, Darrel, and Tammy. Her selfless spirit was further extended to her brothers Marvin and Roger Rue, sisters Helen Rue and Judy Kethcart. As grandmother to Roxanne, Alan,
educators from South Lane School District, PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center, Lane County’s Community Health Center and Lane Community College. A training room inside the building’s entrance will be used for classes.
TUITION COSTS
Currently credit tuition for Oregon residents is $144 50 per credit hour. Non-Credit class tuition is based on the class costs and minimum enrollment, so fees vary based on instructor pay, supplies costs, equipment needs, etc. Most high school graduates can qualify for an Oregon Promise grant, which covers most of the cost of the first two years at Lane. All students are encouraged to complete a financial aid form to determine how much
Allyson, Aaron, Erik, Shala, Megan, and Travis, 12 great-grandchildren and 2 great-greatgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband DuWaine and son Rodney.
Creative and selfless, Arlene was adored for her fruitful canning, her award-winning garden, in which she was once honored with ‘Yard of the Week,’ and her unparalleled skill in making blackberry jam. Her love for sewing and camping was known, but it was her affection for dogs that truly spoke volumes about her loving heart.
An inurnment was held Sunday, April 13, 2025 at Fir Grove Cemetery. Arrangements are in the care of SmithLund-Mills Funeral Chapel. Memorial Contributions can be made to Greenhill Humane Society.
federal and state aid they are eligible for.
“We cannot create a thriving community education program without community members who are willing to teach and others who are interested in learning.”
Russ Pierson, LCC Cottage Grove Dean
CENTER HISTORY
In 1977, LCC opened its Central Area Education Center at 216 South 6th Street. In 1983, the college purchased the building at 103 South 5th St. and renamed it the Cottage Grove Center. A successful 1995 bond measure funded the construction of a new building next to the site of the high-school-to-be at 1275 South River Rd. Two years later, with construction completed, a grand opening was held on Sept. 16 1997
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE & BUDGET
Russ Pierson, Dean of the Cottage Grove and Florence Centers, works closely with Turpin to manage its $34 000 operating budget and ensure the center’s long-term success.
“We have the attention and support of the college as we reopen the center for both credit and non-credit opportunities along with strong student engagement” Pierson said. “President Stephanie Bulger, Vice President of Academic Affairs Shelley Tinkham, and Associate Vice President Jennifer Frei are all very much engaged in supporting our efforts here in Cottage Grove.”
SURVEY RESULTS
Last December, an online survey invited community input on what the center would offer in 2025. Pierson and Turpin were pleased with the response.
“We had 102 responses, which is a phenomenal response rate on a per capita basis and is the equivalent to 1 200 responses in the metro area,” he said.
The survey revealed the following demographics: 75-percent of respondents were 40+ years-old; 43-percent were between 41-and 64-years-old, and 36-percent were 65+ years-old. The breakdown of survey responders’ educational goal is personal enjoyment (62 percent), degree completion (15-percent), job skill enhancement (15-percent) and a career certification (8-percent).
CHALLENGES
Pierson said he and Turpin are aware of the community’s yearning to bring credit classes back to the Cottage Grove Center and are pleased the goal has been achieved.
“Offering a class is only the first step, students need to enroll,” Pierson said. “As
APRIL 25-26
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
The Bookmine 50th Anniversary Celebration, Friday Art Walk 6-8 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. -5 p.m. at 702 E. Main Street in the Cottage Grove Historic District. Celebration of this milestone for Cottage Grove’s oldest bookstore and community gathering place.
APRIL 26
Twinberry Commons fundraising event to support the development of a Community Space, a Public Market, a Food Co-op and an Incubator Space. The event includes a daytime festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cottage Grove Public Market, 926 E. Main Street, and an evening dinner from 5 30 p.m. to 8 30 p.m. For more information see www.twinberrycommons.com. Twinberry Commons is a nonprofit organization supporting efforts to: Develop a Community Space that meets the needs of the local community for information about access to healthy, fresh, sustainably grown and produced foods; Learn new skills and Gain
knowledge through communitybased educational gatherings, events, and workshops. For tickets visit https:/givebutter.com/c/ MQd9fP
Free Compost Giveaway, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Center for Rural Livelihoods, 80574 Hazelton Road. Presented by Lane County and Center for Rural Livelihoods. Also available after May 3 at Community Sharing.
Cottage Grove Humane Society “Pins for Pets” Fundraiser, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Cottage Bowl, 740 Row River Road. Inaugural Cosmic Bowl and “Caught in the Act’ Karaoke with Jared. Standard prices for games and shoe rental. Bring your family and friends, bowl a few games, sing a few songs and help raise funds to support pets in our community. MAY 1-5 Rhythm and Blues Revue at Cottage Theatre, 700 Village Drive. Students pair off with adult performers in this annual fundraising event to support the
Cottage Grove High School performing arts programs.
MAY 3 Free Compost Giveaway, Saturday, Noon-4pm, Community Sharing, 1440 Birch Avenue. The compost will also be available self-serve during daylight hours at the Community Sharing Garden after May 3 MAY 16 and MAY 30
Storybook Theatre Dorena School Production (Name & Curtain Time TBA)
MAY 31
Hospital Auxiliary Fashion Show, Saturday, 2 p.m, at the Cottage Grove Armory, 628 E. Washington Ave. You’re invited to enjoy a fun afternoon of fashion and food. Tickets $25 (includes show and appetizers) Fashions provided by Carol Reeves and The Flower Basket. Catering by Sheilagh & Wine by Saginaw Vineyard (available for purchase). Basket Raffle & Silent Auctions. Tickets available at The Flower Basket, Auxiliary Members & CG Hospital front desk Proceeds used to provide needed medical equipment and supplies for the Hospital and Clinic.
LCC Cottage
welcome past, present, and
cial the remodeled
sional goals.
we celebrate this big win, we must figure out how to make these classes stick.”
“Currently our biggest struggle in the community education realm is finding instructors. We cannot create a thriving community education program without community members who are willing to teach and others who are interested in learning,” Pierson said. Anyone interested in becoming a community education instructor can go to www.ce.lanecc.edu click the browse menu and select Teaching Personal Enrichment.
FUTURE PLANS Center staff remains committed to increasing both credit and community education-based class offerings.
Pierson said. “We hope to offer registration events onsite and invite representatives from different disciplines to answer questions about their programs and help potential students understand how LCC can help them reach their educational and career goals. We hope to “build out” from a strong start with healthcare training to include other local Career/Technical Education (CTE) options and assist our high school with some of its targeted needs.”
Pierson believes there is much opportunity and possibility for LCC to unlock in the greater Cottage Grove Community.
“As we learn to navigate in the more connected, virtual world, there is still a strong role for in-person
education, it is still the ‘gold standard’ for ensuring student success.” Pierson said.
“We want members of our community to let us know what they want to see. We want their children, grandchildren and their friends to walk through our doors and participate here at LCC. If you’ve never been in, or it’s been a long while, you are welcome here.” Turpin added, “I hope the local community finds the center a welcoming resource as they work toward their educational goals. It is a place to study, learn, access technology, and meet other students. Most importantly, it is a supportive place to be.”
For more information and to reach the LCC Center, call 541-942-4202
Cindy Weeldreyer / Cottage Grove Sentinel
Grove Center Administrator Holli Turpin and Dean Russ Pierson
future students to visit and explore how benefi-
center can be in meeting personal, academic and profes-
NEWS & VIEWS
Two Lights for Tomorrow SUBMITTED
On the night of April 18 1775, Paul Revere, William Dawes, and others rode to Lexington, Massachusetts, warning minutemen and households about the approach of British forces. Behind him, lanterns in the steeple of the Old North Church were shining the agreed upon code made famous by poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “One if by land, and two if by sea.” The next day, April 19, were the battles of Lexington and Concord — and the colonists were well prepared.
As part of the nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the America 250 Oregon Commission joins semiquincentennial commissions across the country in Two Lights for Tomorrow, a multi-state initiative that reminds citizens everywhere that our shared history is grounded in coming together to build a more perfect union.
Oregonians are called to participate by shining two lights on April 18 2025, in their homes and community spaces.
“The America 250 Oregon Commission hopes that communities across the state
will join us in Two Lights for Tomorrow to kick off the semiquincentennial commemorations,” America 250 Oregon Commission Chairman and Oregon Historical Society Executive Director Kerry Tymchuk said.
“Any kind of light can be used in any size building, be it a home, office, museum, community center, or government building. Using the imagery of shining lights as a uniting call to action, Two Lights for Tomorrow reminds us of the importance of working together for a promising future.”
If you or your organization is interested in getting involved with the America 250 Oregon commemoration, contact oregon.250@ohs. org or sign up for the official America 250 Oregon email list.
The mission of the America 250 Oregon Commission is to coordinate, provide guidance, and ensure that Oregon’s official observance of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States is inclusive and shares the histories of Oregon’s diverse populations, including the histories of the Indigenous peoples who have resided here since time immemorial. Learn more at oregon250 org
KRISTOPHER
FORTIN GRIJALVA
XITLALI TORRES
Oregon Capital Chronicle
The protections and progress made through environmental justice organizing are not optional — they are essential. As Oregon faces the deepening impacts of climate change, the question before us isn’t abstract. It’s immediate and personal: Who shows up for Oregon’s most vulnerable communities?
Take the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, for example. This policy is already driving progress in Oregon. ACT requires manufacturers to sell an increasing percentage of zero-emission trucks — key for reducing diesel exhaust from freight corridors.
It’s a clear win for environmental justice, protecting families living near busy roadways, and advancing a cleaner economy. Yet ACT is under threat. Fossil fuel companies are trying to take Oregon backward with legislation that would create years of delays on existing clean air rules.
Low-income Oregonians, people of color, disabled people, children, and elders are on the frontlines of a crisis they did not cause. They are highly likely to live near highways, ports, and industrial areas where diesel pollution is most intense.
In Portland, Black, Brown, and Indigenous neighborhoods experience diesel pollution at rates two to three times higher than other areas. In Marion County, diesel pollution is four times higher than the state’s health benchmark. Statewide, 19 of 36 counties — from Malheur to Washington — have diesel pollution levels high enough to increase cancer risk.
EDITORIAL CARTOONS
And we know this burden falls heaviest on lowincome communities and people of color. Diesel pollution is responsible for more than 460 early deaths in Oregon each year.
These numbers reflect actual harm. They represent children with asthma who can’t play outside without an inhaler, elders hospitalized during extreme heat caused by the climate crisis, and neighborhoods forced to live with the daily cost of inaction.
Nationally, we’ve seen a disturbing trend: federal rollbacks to environmental protections, executive orders that sideline vulnerable communities, and industry-led efforts to weaken climate action.
What’s appalling is that Oregon isn’t just failing to resist this tide — we’re starting to echo it.
When our lawmakers entertain bills that mirror federal rollbacks, they are putting our most
Are
impacted communities at even greater risk. Now is the moment to be a firewall, not a follower of diminished protections.
Environmental justice requires more than platitudes. It means centering the communities most affected, enforcing pollution standards, holding polluters accountable, and investing in clean air and climate resilience. It means treating environmental justice not as a side issue but as a pillar of social equity.
This means vehemently upholding protections like ACT, the climate protection program, and other programs we know will benefit people in environmental justice communities.
Oregon needs to be a firewall. Our leaders must act with clarity and courage. Clean air, safe neighborhoods, and a livable climate are not luxuries — they are rights.
So again, we ask: Who is showing up for
Oregon’s most vulnerable communities? The answer must come in action, not excuses. Kristopher Fortin Grijalva is the transportation program director at Oregon Environmental Council. Xitlali Torres is the air quality and climate program coordinator at Verde, a Portlandbased environmental justice organization. https://oregoncapitalchronicle. com/2025/04/09/whosgoing-to-bat-for-oregonsmost-vulnerable/ Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com.
Getty Images
Oregon’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule is a clear win for environmental justice and protecting families living near busy roadways, clean air advocates say.
Courtesy
when the ballot is bought and sold
Who stands in the streets when our leaders stand silent
We must not be complicit
So we sing So we sing So we sing in the fight of our lives”
Less than a dozen counter protesters could be seen in the crowd with Trump signs. At times, pickups and SUVs displaying Trump flags and banners repeatedly drove by the protest sites, usually expressing opposition to the protest with their gas pedals. One SUV featured a banner of Trump’s likeness with the words “Daddy’s home” on it.
Despite their differences, demonstrations and responses were peaceful in Florence.
Another nationwide protest is set for April 19
NEWPORT RALLY
A similar rally drew approximately 900 people to both sides of Highway 101 in front of Newport City Hall along the Oregon Coast.
Lincoln City resident
Dr. Cary Greenwood said she came to the Newport rally to express her outrage about the Trump Administration policies.
“He is taking apart our democracy,” Greenwood said. “I am just outraged. I
Mccoys
From Page 1
dispensing, and use of medications.
LOCAL IMPACT
McCoy’s Pharmacy began in the Historic District in 1959. Today, it is co-owned by David Debysingh and fellow pharmacist, Michael Hankins. It serves approximately 8 000 customers in Cottage Grove,
An estimated 900 people gathered along both sides of Highway 101 in front of City Hall during the Newport rally. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com
want Trump and the entire group gone.”
Greenwood added that she believes such protests such as the one in Newport, will make a difference.
“It shows that people have a voice and people are exercising it. And it is our right in a democratic system, and we have to keep speaking out and making our voices heard,” she said.
Seven-year-old Gemma stood next to her mother and father holding up a sign that read: Justice For All.
“We are here to protest the Trump Administration and almost everything that they have been doing,” Gemma’s mother, Kate, said. Declining to provide the Newport family’s last name, Kate added bringing
Creswell, Drain, Yoncalla, Elkton, Sutherlin and Eugene from its newest location at 1645 E. Main St. Debysingh believes McCoy’s triumphs over the big box stores in customer service by treating customers like family and going the extra mile to meet their needs. As a small business, it can cut through the red tape that most big corporations face and give its patients a more efficient and common-sense experience
COTTAGE GROVE:
COTTAGE GROVE FAITH CENTER
33761 Row River Rd.
541-942-4851
Lead Pastor: Kevin Pruett
www.cg4.tv Full Childrenʼs Ministry available Services: 10:00am
DELIGHT VALLEY
Church of Christ
33087 Saginaw Rd. East
541-942-7711 • Pastor: Bob Friend
Two Services:
9am - Classic in the Chapel
10:30am - Contemporary in the Auditorium
LIVING FAITH ASSEMBLY
467 S. 10th St. • 541-942-2612
Worship Services Sundays: 9a & 11a
Youth Worship Sundays: 11a (all ages welcome) Mondays: 5:30p (6th-12th grades)
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP
AND ST. PHILIP BENIZI CATHOLIC
CHURCHES
1025. N. 19th St.
541-942-3420
Father John J. Boyle
Holy Mass: Saturday Vigil – 5:30 pm
Sunday – 10:30 am For weekday and Holy Day of Obligation schedule see website OLPHCG.net
Confession: 4 PM to 5 PM Saturdays or by
appointment
St. Philip Benizi, Creswell
552 Holbrook Lane
Sunday 8 am
her daughter to the rally was an important family affair.
“I am hoping she will learn about her freedom of speech and that it is important to stand up for what you believe in,” Kate said.
Oregon State Representative David Gomberg attended the Newport rally.
“The spirit of this crowd is enthusiastic opposition,” he said. “There is a collective concern here about our jobs. About the erosion of our personal freedoms, and about our collective futures.”
Gomberg said he’s been receiving calls to his office daily from people asking what they can do.
“They have to stand up. They have to speak out,” he said. “And that’s what gathering like this are all
concerning their medication needs.
Some patients are forced to go to other pharmacies because of a “preferred” or “non-preferred” status. To be a “preferred” pharmacy, it requires acceptance of a lower reimbursement rate. Some patients are forced to use mailorder pharmacies (owned by the PBM), which diminishes patient care and inconveniences them when their medications don’t show up.
ST. ANDREWS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1301 W. Main • 541-767-9050
Rev. Lawrence Crumb
“Scripture, Tradition, Reason” Worship: Sunday 10:30am All Welcome
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
CHURCH
820 South 10th Street
541-942-5213
Pastor: James D. Boram
Bible Study: Saturday, 9:15 am
Worship Service: Saturday, 10:40 Mid-week Service: Wednesday, 1:00
TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 6th and Quincy 541-942-2373
Vacancy Pastor: Steven Spencer Sunday School and Adult Education 9:15 a.m.
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. Comm. Kitchen Free Meal Tuesday 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. TLC Groups tlccg.com
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
334 Washington 541-942-3033 Worship 10am umcgrove.org
CRESWELL:
CRESWELL PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
75 S 4th S • 541-895-3419
Rev. Seth Wheeler
Adult Sunday School 9:15am
Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am website www.creswellpres.org
WALKER UNION CHURCH & CEMETERY
32904 England Rd, Creswell, OR (541) 649-1800
Pastor: Randy Wood Sunday Service at 11:00 AM Everyone is welcome! Follow us on our Facebook page: WalkerChurchOregon
If your congregation would like to be a part of this worship directory, contact us today!
15:02: Suspicious subject, 1200 block E. Main St.
15:43: Suspicious subject, 1200 block Hwy 99
17:02: Motor vehicle crash, Geer/99
18:04: DUII, 79000 block Sears Rd.
18:14: Agency assist, 33000 block Row River Rd.
18:51: Juvenile problem, 1300 block Main St.
19:01: Wanted subject, 3300 block Row River Rd.
19:05: Warrant service, 900 block E. Main St.
19:31: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.
about here in Newport and across the country. When they see public officials doing the right thing, they need to support them. We are looking to the midterm elections to hopefully change the direction that we are moving in right now.”
The Democratic Party needs to be more than an alternative, according to Gomberg.
“We need to do more than say we are not with President Trump. We need to be able to demonstrate a choice that is positive, constructive, and inspiring, and that’s what I am looking for in my party,” he said.
Follow developments at cgsentinel.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Sentinel.
PBMs won’t cover certain medications and can choose a more expensive brand name medication over a less expensive generic alternative. Debysingh believes it is because PBMs get a bigger rebate from the branded product, even though it costs the healthcare system and the patient more.
THE PROBLEM
According to Debysingh, PBMs were supposed to negotiate with manufacturers and keep prices down. They quickly learned how to manipulate the manufacturers, and especially the pharmacies.
“PBMs reimburse pharmacies less than cost of many medications, offering ridiculous ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ contracts to pharmacies, opening (or buying) their own pharmacies and steering patients toward them, buying and merging with health care insurance companies and big chain pharmacies (ex. CVS/Caremark, Cigna/Express Scripts, United Health Care/Optum),” he explained.
“Their strong lobby in Washington and Salem allows them to get away with clear conflicts of interest that puts pharmacies out of business (ex. Bi-Mart and now Walgreens.) They negotiate rebate deals with manufacturers and pocket those dollars whilst underpaying the pharmacies that actually purchase, dispense the product and educate the patients,” he said.
18:19: Illegal camping, 1400 block Gateway Blvd.
18:50: Found dog, 300 block S. 5th St.
18:57: Criminal mischief, 34000 block Row River Rd.
19:07: DUII, 1200 block Bryant Ave.
19:44: Burglary, 2100 block Getty Cir.
20:48: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.
22:19: Disturbance, 1700 block Hwy 99
23:33: Welfare check, 100 block S. 10th St.
22:51: Disabled vehicle, 100 block N. 9th St.
23:21: Suspicious condition, 1400 block Daugherty Ave.
SUNDAY, APRIL 6
01:41: Overdose, 1300 block E. Main St.
20:20: Welfare check, 1200 block Hwy 99
23:56: Welfare check, 10th/Taylor
SATURDAY, APRIL 5
00:08: Business check, 1200 block Gateway Blvd.
05:27: Business check, 900 block E. Main St.
07:55: Juvenile problem, 1800 block E. Main St.
08:29: Found property, 100 block Village Dr.
09:47: Warrant service, 400 block E. Main St.
11:42: Alarm, 1000 block Birch Ave.
11:47: Alarm, 300 block S. 5th St.
14:28: Dog at large, 200 block E. Madison Ave.
14:50: Disorderly subject, 1700 block Hwy 99
15:05: Criminal mischief, 100 block S. 10th St.
“PBMs refuse to reveal their profitability by citing trade secrets. They make billions of dollars in revenue, and they
“Although many people have never heard of pharmacy benefit managers, these powerful middlemen have enormous influence over the U.S. prescription drug system.”
Lina M. Khan,
Federal Trade Commission Chair
are just a middleman that has no direct patient contact. They unfairly and relentlessly audit pharmacies in an attempt to recoup monies to pad their coffers,” he added.
He said, “If PBMs continue to get away with these practices many pharmacies will disappear in the near future. There must be a change at the federal and state level to regulate them.
McCoys Pharmacy has been around since 1959 and we could be forced to close our doors if our legislators don’t protect us. No out-of-state company should be allowed to do business in Oregon if they underpay and take advantage of local businesses.
Debysingh notes that pharmacists are the most accessible health care professionals. They see their patients at least 4-12 times a year, they vaccinate most of America, offer
02:02: Mental issue, 500 block E. Madison Ave.
04:55: Repo, 800 block E. Quincy Ave.
05:27: Repo, 900 block Arthur Ave.
07:43: Motor vehicle crash, 34000 block Row River Rd.
09:47: Welfare check, Main/K
12:04: Hit and run, 900 block Row River Rd.
12:22: Theft, 900 block Row River Rd.
12:38: Hit and run, 100 block Gateway Blvd.
14:30: Suspicious condition, 1100 block Hwy 99
15:12: Business check, 900 block E. Main St.
15:27: Welfare check, 900 block Arthur Ave.
15:59: Missing person, 10th/Taylor
20:04: Found property, 900 block Row River Rd.
medication therapy advice freely, catch drug interactions and save lives daily, yet Medicare does not consider them as providers.
HB 3212 House Bill 3212 is in the legislative hopper to address these concerns. In the first hearing on the bill, on Feb. 4, members of the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care received nearly three hours of testimony from 58 speakers: 51 supported the bill, 6 opposed it and one was neutral. On April 4, the bill was discussed in a work group and supporters hope it will make it to a floor vote. If passed by the House, it heads to the Senate for consideration. If it passes there, it will be sent to Governor Tina Kotek’s desk for approval.
WHAT CAN BE DONE? Twenty-five years ago, Oregon had 215 independent pharmacies and today there are 90.
Debysingh encourages every patient to contact their state and federal representatives “to prevent the extinction of local community pharmacies and access to medications.”
Debysingh believes if PBMs are not mandated to be transparent and legislators don’t protect independent pharmacies from predatory business practices, the community pharmacy will become extinct and said it will be a huge loss to everyone. He said every small community in the state that has an independent pharmacy faces the same challenges as McCoy’s and could be forced to close their doors if the State Legislature does not act to protect them from detrimental PBM practices.
“I’m going to fight tooth and nail to keep our pharmacy going because the community depends on it,” Debysingh said.
Send your comments to:
State Representative Darin Harbick
Rep.DarinHarbick@oregonlegislature.gov
503-986-1412
Senator Cedric Hayden
Sen.CedricHayden@ oregonlegislature.gov
503-986-1706
Follow developments at cgsentinel.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Sentinel.
Jeremy C. Ruark / Cottage Grove Sentinel
Classified
LADD CONSTRUCTION, LLC
New or remodel, decks, siding, windows, doors, shops, fences. 541-913-1541 ccb# 239015
CGS 25-121 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF LANE In the Matter of the Estate of: JOHN JOSEPH COYNE, Deceased. Case No. 25PB01610 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Pat-
rick O. Coyne has been appointed Personal Representative. All persons having claims against the estate are hereby required to present them, with proper vouchers, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice, as stated below, to the Personal Representative at 711 Country Club Road, Suite 200, Eugene, Oregon 97401, or they may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings in this estate may obtain additional information from the records of the Personal Representative, the Court, or the attorney for the Personal Representative, K.C. Huffman. Dated and first published: April 16th, 2025. PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE: Patrick O. Coyne 33 West Sound Lane Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 203-809-9426 ATTORNEY FOR PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE: K.C. Huffman, OSB No. 002854 Bromley Newton LLP 711 Country Club Road, Suite 200 Eugene, Oregon 97401 541343-4700 541-343-4713 Fax kc@bromleynewton.com
CGS 25-122
Cottage Grove Mini Storage in accordance with ORS 87.162 will offer for public auction the following units for non-payment of rent and other fees. 1. Shannon Tennison #G-102 2. Joleen McDonald #B-071 3. Megan Phinney #D-343 4. Tasha Williams-Antoine #E-186 5. Jaylon Christian #F-118 unless payment in full is made before time of auction at 1520 HWY 99 N. Cottage Grove, OR 97424. Auction will be held May 3rd at promptly 11:00AM. Sealed bids on entire unit due in office at 11:30AM. “CASH ONLY” Published April 16th and April 23rd, 2025.
CGS 25-123
Notice is hereby given that David A. Halladey has been appointed and has qualified as the personal representative of the Estate of Delmar Lee Halladey, deceased, in Lane County Circuit Court Case No. 25PB03220. All persons having claims against the estate are hereby required to present their claims, with proper vouch-
ers, within four months after the date of publication of this notice, as stated below to the personal representative c/o Hamilton W. Budge, Jr., P.O. Box 10567, Eugene, OR 97440, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may
CGHS Track and Field teaching attitude, courage
JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
Editor’s Note: This update about the Cottage Grove High School Track and Field Program replaces one that was published Wednesday, April 2. The previous version was incorrect. The Sentinel is happy to set the record straight.
The 2025 Cottage Grove High School Track and Field Program is underway. The Sentinel reached out to Head Coach Ricky Knutson for insight into the new season.
The Sentinel: How did the team fair last season, winslosses, State performance?
Ricky Knutson: Boys: Team district champions (three consecutive years 22, 23 24) and 6th place at the state championships
Top State Returners: Carter Bengtson (2nd 3000m,
4th 1500m), Hayes Valley (2nd 110m hurdles, 7th 300m hurdles), Terran Stewart (8th 300m hurdles), Micah Hanke (8th 800m), Gavin Grogan (High Jump qualifier) Girls: 4th place team at districts
Top State Returners: Makya Alsup (2nd place javelin), Ella Cardwell (9th place 3000m, 9th place 800m)
The Sentinel: How many student athletes have turned out for CGHS track and field this season?
Knutson: Most likely around 80
The Sentinel: At this early point, what do you see as the strengths and the weaknesses of the track and field athletes as we move into the new season?
Knutson: Boys: Strong class of returning state qualifiers with lots of experience. The experience of competing at Hayward Field will be an advantage this season. The boys are strong in the hurdles, jumps, throws and distance events, but could use some help in the sprints and relays.
Girls: Both state qualifying girls return and there are a few newcomers that will also help the team. Depth will be a challenge.
The Sentinel: What teams in the league do you see as the most challenging for your team?
Knutson: Boys: Marshfield and North Bend are always strong.
Girls: North Bend is the defending champ, but Junction City and Marist will also be strong.
The Sentinel: What will be your coaching philosophy and your coaching staff’s goals for this season?
Knutson: The process is the goal. We always try take care of the day-to-day process and focus details. If we can do the small things correctly then it becomes much easier to do the larger things and the outcome is positive. The boys team will be looking to win a fourth consecutive league championship and possibly make a run at a top four (trophy) finish at the state championships. We’re hoping that the girls can contribute enough points at the district meet so that we can compete for the Sky-Em Coed championship as well.
The Sentinel: What do you hope the student athletes take away from their experience this season that will not only help them in the sports but also help them as they
move forward with their lives?
Knutson: We hope student athletes:
• learn that with hard work, dedication, consistency, and team work they can do hard things.
• learn that attitude is contagious and that it’s important that they are a positive influence on anyone that they may be around.
• participating in track and field that they develop the courage to try new and hard things that they may encounter later on in life.
• learn to handle success with class and understand that even with perfect preparation things may not go their way sometimes.
The CGHS girls team was scheduled to compete April 4 at the Oregon Relays ay Hayward Field in Eugene. The CGHS boys ream was scheduled to compete April 15 at the Sky-Em JV Meet at Cottage Grove High School. See the CGHS track and field schedule at osaa.org. Follow meet results at osaa.org and look for CGHS sport features online at cgsentinel.com and in the Wednesday print editions of The Sentinel
Pardon the dust: Walmart store gets a makeover
Cottage Grove Sentinel
The pet and baby items have been relocated. The parking places near the front door have been significantly reduced when Oregon is the wettest. Yet, with any building remodel project, the temporary inconvenience results in something much better.
The Cottage Grove Walmart store is one of more than 650 Walmart stores across American being remodeled this year, with 18 of those stores in Oregon. The Cottage Grove project began in February and is scheduled to be completed in May. A “regrand opening” ceremony is planned for May 23
The Superstore, located at 901 Row River Road, is getting a second remodel since the store opened in 1996. The original store had an automotive center and a snack bar just inside the front door.
Currently, departments are temporarily relocated so the remodeling crew can remove the store’s original white tile floors. The existing concrete floor beneath it is being cleaned and polished to replace the tiles in the 80,000 sq. ft. building.
Walmart Corporate Affairs Representative Anne
Hatfield told The Sentinel what the remodel will accomplish.
“The planned upgrades will give the store a new look with big, bold signage, new flooring, updated restrooms and displays that better showcases merchandise, she said. “The grocery, baby and pet departments will be expanded. A Mother’s Room will be added to care for the next generation of Walmart customers.”
Hatfield noted additional grocery pickup parking spots will make it more efficient to fulfill the growing number of online customer orders. The pharmacy will have wider aisles, a new private screening room and privacy checkout areas.
The makeover also includes a large custompainted mural at the store entrance that reflects the local culture and spirit of the Cottage Grove community.
Combie said she is a regular Walmart shopper and described the remodeling work as “an adventure.”
“I don’t come if I’m in a hurry,” she said. “The employees have been so gracious, kind and helpful. They even follow me to where I’m going to make sure I find what I’m looking for. Like many things, once it’s done it will be better.”
“We are thankful for the community’s patience while we upgrade their store and a big thank you to all the Walmart associates and contractors for making it all happen,” Store Manager Denton Bell said. “We are planning a re-grand opening ceremony on May 23 and everyone in the community is invited to see their new Walmart store.” The Walmart Cottage Grove is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and may be reach at 541-942-4600
Dora
Cindy Weeldreyer / Cottage Grove Sentinel Building materials and equipment have been placed at the Cottage Grove Walmart for the makeover as construction crews work around the clock to make the May 23 re-grand opening ceremony.
CINDY WEELDREYER