The Chronicle

08/31/2024

It isn’t every day that the Emerald Art Center (EAC) features a show from an award-winning, international artist like Anne Grgich.

Grgich’s art will be up from Sept. 3-27 with a reception during the Second Friday Artwalk on Sept. 13 from 5-7:30 pm. She will be teaching a workshop Sept. 26-27 from noon-4 p.m. at the EAC at 500 Main St.

SPRINGFIELD — It isn’t every day that the Emerald Art Center (EAC) features a show from an award-winning, international artist like Anne Grgich. She has shown in New York, France, the UK, Australia, and Canada. It would take pages to list all her national and international shows.  Grgich’s ar...

08/30/2024

On Wednesday Sept. 4, Friends of Cottage Grove Library (FCGL), the Cottage Grove Public Library and RISE of the Umpqua & Willamette Valleys will bring people together through fairy tales and folklore with their Food and Folklore e. This free event will take place in the Friendship Hall at First Presbyterian Church Cottage Grove, 216 S. 3rd St. from 6 p.m.-8 p.m., and childcare will be available.

COTTAGE GROVE — Fairy tales and folklore hold a special place in society. They teach the importance of right and wrong, the line between trust and naivety, self-confidence, and personal growth. On Wednesday Sept. 4, Friends of Cottage Grove Library (FCGL), the Cottage Grove Public Library and RISE...

08/29/2024

On Friday, Sept. 6, downtown Springfield will be bustling during the annual The BLOCK Party in the downtown area. Between 4-9 p.m., downtown will be popping with bouncy castles, live music, food booths, vendors, a marching band, jugglers, a live community mural, and the flash mobs. You may also see iconic cartoon character Homer Simpson from “The Simpsons” wandering around.

SPRINGFIELD — Ambiguous signs posted around Springfield read: “What is The BLOCK Party?” Well, we’re here to tell you. On Friday, Sept. 6, downtown Springfield will be bustling during the annual The BLOCK Party in the downtown area.  Chronicle archive photo / Bob Williams Between 4-9  p.m....

08/29/2024

Terrific action so far at the North Star Volleyball Jamboree at Springfield High.

08/29/2024

Beginning today with the inaugural North Star Volleyball Jamboree at Springfield High School. Springfield, Thurston, Pleasant Hill, Creswell and Cottage Grove are participating, and fans will get their first looks at standouts who include Cheyenne Green, Claire Crawford, Emily Krauss, Ruby Jackson and Anna Crawford.

CRESWELL – The Creswell and Pleasant Hill communities have become uniquely intertwined due to their spirited rivalry on the volleyball court these days. From Anna Baltrusch – who’s one of the most-decorated high school girls volleyball coaches in Oregon, with a powerful athletic lineage of dau...

08/29/2024

Thanks to BEST Roofing & Waterproofing for its amazing support of The Chronicle and high school sports across the southern Willamette Valley!

Reminder, the first-ever North Star Jamboree is happening today at 12:00pm at Springfield High in Springfield, Oregon! This tournament is a partnership with the Chronicle and the five schools that the paper covers every year. All proceeds from this tournament will benefit the Chronicle Foundation and the schools that are participating. Good luck to the talented players from Springfield, Thurston, Cottage Grove, Pleasant Hill, and Creswell.

08/29/2024

Good morning! Come see and support the best volleyball in the southern Willamette Valley TODAY at Springfield High. Noon-3:30 p.m.

08/28/2024

The August 29 edition of The Chronicle is hitting newsstands today and mailboxes tomorrow! This week's edition comes with the 28-page Fall Sports Preview highlighting all boys and girls high school sports for the 5 area schools we cover. Above the fold, readers can see our main story about the Annual North Star Volleyball Jamboree hosted by Springfield High School this year, along with a follow-up story on the vandalism that occurred in Cottage Grove and a story about the upcoming Springfield Block Party.

08/28/2024

Good morning! Tomorrow we kick off the volleyball season with the inaugural North Star Volleyball Jamboree among Springfield, Thurston, Creswell, Cottage Grove, and Pleasant Hill. The best of high school volleyball, and we appreciate the Oregon Volleyball supporting girls athletics. Jennifer Richardson will deliver a keynote address to the players before game action begins at 12:30 pm. Doors open at noon at Springfield High School.

08/24/2024

We’re excited to be a sponsor of the Eugene Heath & Wellness Expo. Come out and mind visit! We’ve got some frisbees from Eugene Car Care!

08/24/2024

Camas Swale, a community-based family medicine clinic at 117 Melton Road, closed its doors on July 18, leaving Creswell without a family care practitioner for the first time since October 2017.

What led to the closure came down to an amalgamation of “economic infeasibilities,” Armitage said.

CRESWELL — It was a good seven years, Dr. Damon Armitage said. Camas Swale, a community-based family medicine clinic at 117 Melton Road, closed its doors on July 18, leaving Creswell without a family care practitioner for the first time since October 2017. Above, practitioners and community member...

08/23/2024

Ever since he died by su***de more than two years ago, Levi Foster left behind a loving family and a lifelong group of friends struggling to make sense of what happened. As a U.S. Marine, he had served nine months in Afghanistan, returning home with some shrapnel in his hip.

Now, those who were closest to him can take comfort in knowing that Levi didn’t die in vain. His legacy will live on, thanks to this past weekend’s Levi Foster Rod & Classic Car Show in Cottage Grove. The event raised more than $7,500 for the VA – which will all go toward helping families affected by PTSD and su***de.

COTTAGE GROVE – Ever since he died by su***de more than two years ago, Levi Foster left behind a loving family and a lifelong group of friends struggling to make sense of what happened. As a U.S. Marine, he had served nine months in Afghanistan, returning home with some shrapnel[Read More...]

08/23/2024

We can't thank BEST Roofing & Waterproofing and the Oregon Volleyball for supporting the inaugural North Star Volleyball Jamboree featuring Springfield High, Thurston, Creswell, Cottage Grove, and Pleasant Hill. All proceeds go to the schools and The Chronicle Foundation nonprofit. Great video! See you all on Aug. 29, noon, Springfield High School.

08/23/2024

A UFO sighting in Creswell?

That’s right, but in this case, instead of Unidentified Flying Objects, it will be United Flying Octogenarians – and they will be descending upon Creswell’s Hobby Field Airport on Sept. 7 as they celebrate an extra special commemorative flight.

CRESWELL – A UFO sighting in Creswell? That’s right, but in this case, instead of Unidentified Flying Objects, it will be United Flying Octogenarians – and they will be descending upon Creswell’s Hobby Field Airport on Sept. 7 as they celebrate an extra special commemorative flight.  Two .....

08/23/2024

In May, the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) was awarded $4 million in federal drought resiliency funds for recycled water development. The money came after the Bureau of Reclamation passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, granting the state access to these federal dollars.

GLENWOOD — Oregon has been given an unprecedented opportunity to secure to propel climate action and invest in communities across the state. In May, the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) was awarded $4 million in federal drought resiliency funds for recycled water development. T...

08/23/2024

More big hitters are coming to the inaugural North Star Volleyball Jamboree – and we’re not talking about all of the on-court talent.

The preseason volleyball tournament, scheduled Thursday, Aug. 29 at Springfield High School, has the Millers playing host to Thurston, Cottage Grove, Creswell, and Pleasant Hill. While the games will be played from 12:30-3:30 p.m., players will be treated to a luncheon and keynote speaker from 11 a.m.-noon.

SPRINGFIELD – More big hitters are coming to the inaugural North Star Volleyball Jamboree – and we’re not talking about all of the on-court talent.  The preseason volleyball tournament, scheduled Thursday, Aug. 29 at Springfield High School, has the Millers playing host to Thurston, Cottage G...

08/23/2024

COTTAGE GROVE – Ever since he died by su***de more than two years ago, Levi Foster left behind a loving family and a lifelong group of friends struggling to make sense of what happened. As a U.S. Marine, he had served nine months in Afghanistan, returning home with some shrapnel in his hip.

Still, his su***de was a complete and total shock to everyone.

COTTAGE GROVE – Ever since he died by su***de more than two years ago, Levi Foster left behind a loving family and a lifelong group of friends struggling to make sense of what happened. As a U.S. Marine, he had served nine months in Afghanistan, returning home with some shrapnel[Read More...]

08/22/2024

Nine businesses on Aug. 21 suffered damage to their storefronts after a man on a rampage swung a metal sign post through their windows. Downtown is not down-and-out, though, and business leaders are assuring the community that Main Street remains safe and downtown is still open for business.

‘Isolated incident’ not keeping business leaders down COTTAGE GROVE – Nine businesses on Aug. 21 suffered damage to their storefronts after a man on a rampage swung a metal road sign post through their windows. Downtown is not down-and-out, though, and business leaders are assuring the communi...

08/21/2024

The Aug. 15 edition of The Chronicle is hitting news stands today and will be in mail boxes tomorrow! Above the fold, readers can see one story about the Levi Foster Rod & Custom Car Show which raised over $7,000 for PTSD relief for vets, food equity programs roll out in area farmers markets, an around-the-world flight that is making a stop at Hobby Field in Creswell, and more news about the upcoming North Star Annual Volleyball Jamboree which will be held at Springfield High School next Thursday, Aug 29th, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m..

08/19/2024

Mark your calendars!

08/18/2024

Hamlin Sports Complex, home of the Drifters, is usually filled with hotdogs, sunscreen, and cheers from the stands. Instead, on an idle Tuesday afternoon, the stands were empty and the home field, which usually features West Coast League players, was bursting with energetic children aged 6-14 in Drifters gear.

SPRINGFIELD – Hamlin Sports Complex, home of the Drifters, is usually filled with hotdogs, sunscreen, and cheers from the stands. Instead, on an idle Tuesday afternoon, the stands were empty and the home field, which usually features West Coast League players, was bursting with energetic children ...

08/18/2024

Earlier this week, the City announced its new plan to transition its Douglas and 12th street shelters to a single 7 p.m.-7 a.m. shelter.

The transition plan outlined at the Aug. 12 city council meeting stated that transition day will be Aug. 22, meaning that all unhoused people in the Douglas and 12th street shelters will be temporarily moved to Lulu’s Dog Park to abide by the City’s new dusk-to-dawn program.

COTTAGE GROVE – Earlier this week, the City announced its new plan to transition its Douglas and 12th street shelters to a single 7 p.m.-7 a.m. shelter. The transition plan outlined at the Aug. 12 city council meeting stated that transition day will be Aug. 22, meaning that all unhoused[Read More....

08/16/2024

The community market latrine in the town of Nano was a significant milepost for the project – past, present, and future.

From the time the first latrines were being installed in Nano, the Health Committee, the village Chief, and Village Council had wanted a certain public latrine fixed. The latrine was a public toilet for the village market and had been constructed as part of a Peace Corps project.

Part II of two. We pick up the narrative as villagers choose a latrine design and set forth a hopeful future. SPRINGFIELD – The community market latrine in the town of Nano was a significant milepost for the project – past, present, and future. From the time the first latrines[Read More...]

08/16/2024

Lane County’s grant application was among 21 applicants awarded over $19 million in environmental and climate justice funding, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in July.

“We feel pretty honored to be in the first cohort. We saw this coming. We were focused on the grant opportunity when … we watched the bill itself go through Congress,” said Stephen Adams, Lane County policy director. In total, the funding amounted to $19,555,386.

In first funding round, county among earliest in U.S. to receive money for new ‘resilience hubs.’ Lane County’s grant application was among 21 applicants awarded over $19 million in environmental and climate justice funding, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in July.  “We ...

08/15/2024

A new community-based mobile crisis program is set to launch on Aug. 18 — one that is designed to address the immediate needs of people experiencing behavioral health crises.

The Mobile Crisis Services of Lane County will assist folks in “an urgent or emergent, perceived or actual inability to cope,” said Sarah Macrorie, program manager at Lane Behavioral Health.

A new community-based mobile crisis program is set to launch on Aug. 18 — one that is designed to address the immediate needs of people experiencing behavioral health crises.  The Mobile Crisis Services of Lane County will assist folks in “an urgent or emergent, perceived or actual inability to...

08/15/2024

This week's cover highlights Cottage Grove business The Happy Hill Homestead flower farm, located at 250 Cooper Ave., which will be closing soon after four years in operation. It's also got some county coverage on both sides that focuses on Lane Behavioral Health's new mobile crisis services and the $19 million the county was awarded for climate justice. On the bottom is part two of the two-part series focusing on Springfield's connection to assisting communities in Togo.

08/15/2024

The Happy Hill Homestead flower farm, run by Cindy Ingram, is open every Sunday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in July and August. Guests can grab a pair of provided gardening shears and pick as many flowers as they can fit in a bucket. On the way out, guests can pay whatever they feel is right.

Last year to pluck flowers, eye art at Cottage Grove farm COTTAGE GROVE — An abstract artist is living on a happy hill in Cottage Grove, and she is inviting others to come and smell the flowers at her homestead. The Happy Hill Homestead flower farm, run by Cindy Ingram,[Read More...]

08/14/2024

The Aug. 15 edition of The Chronicle is hitting news stands today and will be in mail boxes tomorrow! Above the fold, readers can see one story about Lane Behavioral Health's initiative to provide mobile crisis services and another about the county securing $19 million in grant funding for climate justice. The photo in the middle teases to an article on page 14 about the Happy Hill Homestead flower farm in Cottage Grove.

08/11/2024

Over 100 children gathered at Holt Park last Wednesday to chill out with an eco-friendly water gun fight. There were also activities for different age groups, too, from more gentle water games to sensory activities.

CRESWELL — Read. Renew. Repeat.  That’s the theme for Creswell Library’s Summer Reading Program, and last week, it sure did leave a splash. Over 100 children gathered at Holt Park last Wednesday to chill out with an eco-friendly water gun fight. There were also activities for different age gr...