Week of October 17, 2024
Week of October 17, 2024
LEABURG: A two-vehicle crash on Monday near Milepost 24 of the McKenzie Hwy. took the life of a California man. According to the Oregon State Police (OSP), their preliminary investigation indicated that around 12:20 p.m., an eastbound Dodge Ram 3500, operated by Colton Lane Wellette (20) of Monroe, was pulling a gooseneck trailer loaded with bales of hydroseed. As the Dodge negotiated the curve around Leaburg Lake, the trailer overturned, spilling the load into the westbound lane. A westbound...
On Saturday, October 12th, around 1:30 p.m., McKenzie Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident at McKenzie Highway and Leaburg Dam Road. They arrived to find a single vehicle submerged in Leaburg Lake, approximately 20 yards off the shoreline. The single occupant was able to get to shore safely and declined medical assistance. Crews remained on scene until Lane County Sheriff's Office deputies...
VIDA: "We've structured what we've presented tonight not just to take a position but to look at the whole decision that has been made by EWEB to see what is the right thing to do," was how Bob Weeks summed up the purpose of a meeting that drew more than four dozen people last week. The gathering at the Vida McKenzie Community Center last Tuesday was sponsored by Neighbors For Neighbors, which grew out of the Save Leaburg Lake group. "It isn't for us to say the dam should stay," Weeks explained....
Residents of the McKenzie School District could change how school board elections are decided in the upcoming May 2025 election. If approved, petition 20-2024-75 would allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference on a single ballot in an at-large election. Sometimes referred to as “instant runoff voting,” ranked-choice voting (RCV) was not on a statewide ballot until this year. While Measure 117 will decide if Oregonians adopt RCV statewide, Benton County has already implemented...
The arrival of new modular homes at Lazy Days Park is becoming an ongoing sight. By Tuesday, four had already been delivered, and more were coming. The remaining ten homes are scheduled for delivery in November. Over the next month, homes will be transported from on-site temporary placements to permanent foundations. Transport on-site will result in short highway closures, with the Oregon Department of Transportation responsible for the logistics...
BLUE RIVER: After years of work, the Blue River Water District’s (BRWD) new well house is scheduled for a final electrical inspection next week and will be completed by the end of the month. Officials said the completion of the well houses marks a significant milestone in the district’s ongoing efforts to restore and modernize the water system following the devastation caused by the 2020 wildfires. The new well house is expected to safeguard the community’s water supply, ensure more...
Rural voters in Oregon and across the U.S. tend to be swing voters and may decide the outcome of this year's presidential election. Their biggest concerns are the economy, threats to democracy, and abortion - according to a new Rural Democracy Initiative poll. Sarah Jaynes, executive director of the initiative, said these voters want elected leaders to prioritize lowering costs and increasing wages for working people, not cutting taxes for the rich or deregulating corporations. "They're very...
McKenzie Varsity Sports Schedule This Week The McKenzie Varsity Volleyball team travels to Alsea on Tuesday, October 15, starting at 6:00 pm. The Eagles will host Triangle Lake on Tuesday, October 22, with match time again set for 6:00 pm. McKenzie's Cross Country teams travel to Harrisburg on Thursday, October 17, to participate in the Harrisburg Invitational 2024 meet. The Girls ' meters Varsity race starts at 5:00 pm, and the Boys ' K race will begin at 5:30 pm. The Eagle football team hosts Gilchrist on Friday, October 18. Kickoff is...
As president of McKenzie Valley Wellness, the local nonprofit rebuilding the Clinic, I interact with many people in the community. Usually that’s a fun part of my volunteer service. But not always. In spring, 2022, controversy had risen about McKenzie Valley Wellness (MVW), reflected in articles and letters to the editor in River Reflections. In April, 2022, I learned that Tony Casad was running as a write-in candidate for board seat #3, the position that I held, in MVW’s upcoming annual election of board members. On April 27, 2022, I...
While the Lane League wholeheartedly supports the establishment of an Independent Redistricting Commission within the Lane County Charter, we are strongly opposed to Measure 20-362. In a nutshell this is why: * An Independent Redistricting Commission MUST be truly independent and allow for a diversity of voices to be at the table, including minorities and communities of interest that have been traditionally shut out. * When and why redistricting occurs matters and should not be at the whim of elected officials who, for whatever reason, just...
One of the more interesting things about Oregon history is how much of a role “colorful characters” played in it. Until a few dozen years ago, historians didn’t much like talking about the contributions of prostitutes, swindlers, shanghaiers, and other underworld characters to Oregon’s history, preferring to talk about brave pioneers and clean-living homesteaders and noble missionaries and such. So it’s no surprise that the name and identity of the first woman of European extraction...
“You plant spring-flowering bulbs in fall; they grow over winter, flourish in spring, and go dormant in summer,” said Heather Stoven, a horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. “Once they’re in the ground, they do quite well over multiple years with little maintenance.” On top of that, bulbs are drought-tolerant. “That’s one of the great things about them,” Stoven said. “Since they go dormant in summer, they don’t need to be watered.” She said...
Oct. 6: 12:20 a.m: Disorderly Party - 38400 blk, Shotgun Creek Rd. A caller reported a large party with a bonfire and fireworks. The location was in Linn County. 1:07 a.m: Suspicious Conditions - 45100 blk, McK. Hwy. A large group of people was at the boat ramp after hours, playing music and shining lights around. 1:28 p.m: Disorderly Subject - 44800 blk, McK. Hwy. Deputies responded to a neighborhood dispute. The call was resolved without an arrest. Oct. 7: 11:13 a.m: Assist, Follow Up - Deerhorn Rd. & McK. Hwy. 7:38 p.m: Alarm - 37000 blk,...
Oct. 3: A 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle with a single occupant was westbound on Hwy. 126E near Milepost 50, negotiating a curve. Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit members responded to document the scene utilizing advanced measuring techniques. The motorcycle operator struck a single piece of firewood in the westbound lane of travel. After striking the firewood, the motorcycle operator lost control and began to slide. The operator was ejected from the motorcycle near the center, yellow line and came to a rest between the east...
Oct. 7: 14:30: McK. Hwy./Milepost 18. Public Assist. Public Assist, Move Debris from Roadway. Oct. 8: 0:16: 41000 Block Deerhorn Rd. Medical, Heart. Patient Assessed, Refusal Obtained. 6:20: McK. Hwy./MP. 32 MVA 6:20 No Patient Found, Vehicle Flagged 15:47: 45000 Block McK. Hwy. Medical, Heart. Patient Assessed, 1 Transported. 19:01: 88000 Block Twin Firs Rd. Medical, General. Patient Assessed, 1 Transported. Oct. 9: 13:49: 8800 Block Thurston Rd. Medical, General. Patient Assessed, 1 Transported. Oct. 10: 12:05: 88000 Block Keola Ln....
Oct. 11: 15:41: Motor Vehicle Accident, Unknown Injury - Aufderheide Dr./Milepost 56. Report of a green van off the side of the road - on wheels, tires were off and rims were removed. Oct. 13: 06:45: Medical – 52000 block, McK. Hwy. Female, Conscious, Breathing. Oct. 13: 09:50: Medical - 56630 N. Bank Rd. Male, Conscious, Breathing. 12:19: Check Smoke - USFS 1509 Rd. Seen from Buck Mountain trailhead, smoke only - no flames. The Upper McK. Fire District’s board of directors will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, October 21st,...
