Looking Back

January

Impacts from a double-header ice storm that plowed through the Pacific Northwest continued to be part of Reflections’ reporting. The storms had caused the Eugene Water & Electric Board to use reserve funds to cover initial clean-up costs of $9.4 million. More than half of the Lane Electric Cooperative’s system had been hit, resulting in about $5.9 million in damages.

Meetings in Blue River and Leaburg focused on the impacts of artificial lighting and how the bright white light impacts fish, insects, and humans. Bill Kowalik, chair of DarkSky Oregon, was there to provide examples of how and why people can tone down light pollution as well as how DarkSky designated communities might increase “Astro Tourism.”

Also in Leaburg, Bob Weeks, chair of Neighbors For Neighbors, chaired a gathering to explain that his group has been refining its strategies for convincing the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) to reconsider its year-old decision to remove the Leaburg Dam. “We’re just saying, look, we’d like this to be looked at again because we don’t think this decision is right.,” Weeks said.

At the McKenzie River Guides Association annual meeting fisheries biologists Jeff Ziller said that the total pounds of hatchery fish planned for stocking would be about the same for 2025.

February

Anticipation was in the air for a ribbon cutting and a “first peek.” Both happened east of Blue River when Homes for Good hosted a grand opening event at the former Lazy Days Mobile Home Park. The celebration marked the rebirth of the facility, which was planned to become home to 30 families again, with preference given to those who were displaced by fire.

People at a meeting in the Walterville Grange had an opportunity to hold history in their hands. Dr. Peter O’Grady, with the University of Oregon Museum of National and Cultural History, focused his talk on the Rimrock Draw Rockshelter site in eastern Oregon, sediments, Mazama ash from the Crater Lake eruption 7,600 years ago. About 60 people at the meeting had the opportunity to examine high-quality gravers, scrapers, perforators found in excavations underneath the rock layer at the Rockshelter site in eastern Oregon.

March

A local woman was rescued from her wrecked car after four hours in forty-degree water near Milepost 31 of the McKenzie Highway. Responders attempted to her for several hours before a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter recovered the 71-year-old woman. The rescue was complicated by high water, darkness, and the precarious location of the vehicle, which was stuck on a rock ledge just above Brown’s Hole.

The next week, a US Coast Guard Black Hawk helicopter airlifted two skiers from South Sister after one was injured while skiing. Both the injured skier and his companion were then transported to the St. Charles Medical Center in Bend.

April

The McKenzie River Guides Association the Mealey Legacy Award at their annual Guides & Wives Dinner. The new award “recognizes Steve Mealey’s remarkable achievements in developing and preserving the future of the McKenzie River Valley, its river, watershed, landscape, and fishing culture,” Tom Ripp said.

Money matters were discussed when Eugene Water & Electric Board’s commissioners met on April 1st. Both topics focused on the utility’s McKenzie River service area-the first relating to utility customers in the lower valley and the second focused on its remaining source of power generation east of McKenzie Bridge.

May

Thieves broke through the front door of the Blue Sky Market. According to Lane County Sheriff’s Office reports, surveillance video showed one of the three males threw a large rock through the glass front door to gain entry. Whether or not they got what they went in for, the same group returned at about 10:45 p.m. and again forced their way into the store.

While plans for rebuilding Blue River’s community water system were moving toward reality, the same couldn’t be said for creating a new upriver public septic system. That was the conclusion people attending a Blue River Water and Sanitation District board meeting heard. Following the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire, $15 million in federal funds had been committed to both projects. according to the water district close to $4 million had been spent on feasibility studies that haven’t produced an end product. In addition, only 14 people had expressed interest in hooking up to a public sanitation system.

In all aspects, it was a fantastic day to be at the Aaron and Marie Jones Community Track for the Special District 2 Championships. The meet produced 135 Boys Personal Records and 20 additional State Qualifiers by time and marks. For the girls, there were 97 Personal Records set and 7 additional State Qualifiers. That’s a total of 232 Personal Records.

June

Close to fifty people gathered at the Tokatee Golf Club for some serious information about fire safety and preparedness, particularly during the summer fire season. The importance of creating defensible space around homes, particularly the first 100 feet, was cited as critical for home survival during a fire when firefighters might not be able to reach every property.

A project was underway to reshape Quartz Creek bottomlands as a healthy floodplain forest. Details included increasing habitat diversity and providing slow water areas to support fish that allow sediment to drop out of the flowing water.

July

A crew from Canby spent their Independence Day on the grounds of the Tokatee Golf Club assembling an array of pyrotechnic shells designed to fly into the sky individually or from 20 to 30 at a time. That night the fruits of their labor took to the air as crew members took turns lighting fuses throughout the 10-minute long fireworks program.

While most of this year’s 360 mile Gravel Grinders route was on gravel, portions were on paved roads expected to provide some relief from the rougher dirt sections. Smoother, but still challenging, was the McKenzie Valley’s portion of the five‑day race.

Responding to a report from a passing motorist on the morning of July 18, fire crews used 1,000 gallons within the first 5 minutes of their initial attack. The intense fire at a warehouse at the McKenzie River Ranger Station took nearly 12 hours and lots more water to get under control.

August

Lane County announced it was moving forward with plans to strengthen and protect the historic landmark that spans the McKenzie River near Vida. Built in 1938 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 165-foot bridge is the second-longest covered bridge in Oregon and serves as the sole access for more than 80 southbank homes. Officials said the project will protect the bridge from the twin threats of earthquakes and wildfire.

Chinook salmon and bull trout got a better place to call home, tied to a major habitat enhancement effort completed by the Eugene Water & Electric Board at the Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project. Using helicopters to gingerly lower big loads of gravel and trees into the water, the work was targeted to breathe new life into a section of river located downstream of Tamolitch Falls-an area the utility says has historically lacked the “natural building blocks” needed for fish to thrive.

As summer wound down, the McKenzie School District’s August 20 meeting highlighted everything from new weightlifting equipment and drainage fixes to strategies for boosting enrollment.

In other action, a resolution was approved to raise construction excise tax rates to $1.67 per square foot for residential projects and 84 cents per square foot for non-residential projects.

September

Shiny cars, trucks and tractors rolled down Walterville’s Millican Road in September, joined by horses, goats, donkeys, bikes, walkers – and plenty of fire trucks – as the community turned out for the 71st annual Walterville Community Fair Parade. Leading the lineup of classic cars was Grand Marshal Rita Maxwell, at the wheel of a gleaming silver roadster. The car carried special meaning: her late husband, Dean, had driven the ’33 Ford Highboy at countless other events over the years.

Nearly four years after he vanished, the family of Shane Sprenger finally had confirmation of what they feared most – that the 47-year-old contractor from Blue River was gone. But the questions surrounding his disappearance remain unanswered, and the case was still under investigation by the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.

Good news for the month was that the Ridge Fire was 40% contained, with minimal fire activity reported across most of the area. Fire behavior had been limited to creeping, smoldering, and backing, though hotter and drier weather was still expected.

October

Blue River property owners received an in-depth update on a sweeping water infrastructure plan set to replace the community’s entire network of lines, hydrants, and service connections. The project would involve about 31,000 linear feet of pipe and was scheduled to continue through next September. Activities were start near the system’s 300,000-gallon water tank and progress downhill to maintain pressure in the system.

More than 30 emergency responders gathered at Trailbridge Reservoir to put their spill response skills to the test. The live “spill drill” simulated a fuel leak on the river, allowing teams to practice deploying fast-water containment booms, operate oil recovery equipment, and work through steps aimed at preventing a future spill from spreading.

Lane County’s governing board came to upriver to hear firsthand how recovery efforts are progressing. The meeting at the McKenzie School gym drew local leaders, residents, and business owners for a wide-ranging discussion on housing, infrastructure, and economic revitalization.

November

Twelve students from across Oregon, the West, and the Southwest gathered this month in Vida to learn the craft and history of the whitewater dory – a design that began on the McKenzie and went on to conquer rivers across the country.

The workshop, hosted by the McKenzie River Discovery Center, was led by veteran boatbuilder and river guide Brad Dimock, along with fellow Colorado River dory builders Cricket and Glade Zarn.

An afternoon accident in Walterville left 16-year-old Thurston High School student and standout athlete, in critical condition and fighting for her life.The collision occurred when Teagan Merritt was asleep in the back seat of a vehicle driven by her friend. Police said they were legally stopped when a pickup “rear ended” their vehicle. Merritt is still undergoing treatment to recover from her injuries.

Crews in Leaburg were busy with hammers and saws at the McKenzie River Discovery Center while work was also well underway 110 miles away in Portland. There, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) was busy refining the center’s exhibits by placing prototype components directly on its museum floor so visitors could try them out and offer feedback.

The Springfield Board of Education removed its chair and vice chair during a special meeting following an investigation into complaints that the two overstepped their authority. The board voted to remove Chair Jonathan Light and Vice Chair Ken Kohl from leadership. Light was also formally censured, though both remain on the board unless they resign or are recalled.

December

An article about a grassroots food pantry that began with a nun delivering groceries from the trunk of her car was one of the year’s most popular. It detailed plans to build a $700,000 facility for the McKenzie River Food Pantry started Sister John Maureen Backenstos, a member of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, who spent 35 years ministering to residents along the upper river.