Simmons crowned Sportsman’s Holiday Queen at coronation ceremony
By Ryker BurrFor The New Era Miu Simmons was selected as this year’s Sportsman’s Holiday Queen during the coronation ceremony held Wednesday, July 15, at Community…
LATEST NEWS
Lebanon to decide fate of municipal jail
The Lebanon City Council approved reinstatement of council stipends and referral of a tax levy during its meeting on Wednesday, July 8. The city has historically provided a monthly stipend to…
Miner’s Meadow fire draws multi response
Multiple local agencies responded Monday afternoon, July 13, to a fire in the area between Yellowbottom and Old Miner’s Meadow. Sweet Home Fire and Oregon Department of Forestry personnel…
Body of Nevada man recovered after fall on Mt. Washington
The body of a climber from Nevada was recovered on Mt. Washington Friday morning, July 10, by searchers from multiple agencies, Linn County Undersheriff Micah Smith reported last week.…
County Veterans Department assistance numbers on the rise
By Alex Paul Linn County Communications Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker were told Tuesday morning, July 7, that the Linn County Veterans Services…
Brush fire on Lebanon outskirts burns acre-plus
A brush fire burned more than an acre in the area of Brewster Road and East Grant Street outside Lebanon Sunday evening, July 12, Lebanon Fire District reported. LFD firefighters responded at…
SH Fire acquires new emergency vehicles
The Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District announced it has acquired three new pieces of emergency response apparatus during the past few months. A new ambulance replaces a 2005 ambulance box…
COMMUNITY
Royer seeks replacement to lead Kids Food Pak effort
Toy Royer is looking for someone to take over Kids Food Pak as she prepares to step down after seven years as the program’s facilitator. Royer said in a recent interview that she has been…
Police Logs: July 22, 2026 Edition
Information herein is sourced from law enforcement and fire agencies. Details, which may not always be available in time for our weekly publication, are updated on our website as information…
Death Notices: July 22, 2026 Issue
Shawn Joseph Banker, 45, of Lebanon, passed away July 14, 2026. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements. For updated information, visit www.sweethomefuneral.com. Funeral…
Rosemary Yoakum
Nov. 30, 1960 – July 15, 2026 Rosemary Yoakum, 65, of Cascadia, passed away July 15, 2026. She was born Nov. 30, 1960 in Salinas, Calif., to Bessie (Combs) and Wallace Shimmon. Rosemary grew…
Phillip Slater
1947 – 2026 Phillip “Phil” Slater, 79, of Independence passed away from pancreatic cancer on July 6, 2026. He was born in 1947 in Sweet Home, the son of Lee and Edith Slater. He grew up in…
SCHOOL NEWS
Theft costs SHHS track program $10,000-plus
Burglars stole more than $10,000 worth of equipment from a storage shed at Husky Field in Sweet Home Saturday night, June 27, police and track Head Coach Nathan Whitfield said. Whitfield said…
SH School Board finalizes bond election results
Sweet Home School Board members, in a special meeting Monday, June 22, declared the results of the May 19 election in which voters passed a $40 million general obligation bond to fund school…
From boardroom to podium: Pickles and Weber leave legacy at Lebanon High School
When Addy Pickles and Cade Weber crossed the stage as members of Lebanon High School’s (LHS) Class of 2026 earlier this month, they left behind more than academic and athletic…
SH School Board finalizes bond election results
Sweet Home School Board members, in a special meeting Monday, June 22, declared the results of the May 19 election in which voters passed a $40 million general obligation bond to fund school…
SH Junior High Field Day
Sweet Home Junior High ended its school year June 11 with its annual Tiger Olympics, which was, well, pretty epic this year. The event pits homeroom classes against each other in various…
OPINION
Opinion: Housing Act just political theater
By Randal O’Toole A recent bill passed by Congress aimed at making housing more affordable will lead to almost no improvements in affordability. In fact, some provisions of the law will make…
Opinion: 250th one-of-a-kind celebration
As a journalist in a small community where “everybody knows your name,” covering events often means being a participant. Last Saturday, that was a pretty affirming experience. I can’t say I…
Dear Editor: Does he have guts to do right thing?
Editor: Last night I was sitting across from the business offices in the 400 block of Main Street (Hwy. 20), watching all the fireworks going off in the various neighborhoods. It was almost…
Dear Editor: McKern’s piece on horses elicits memories
Editor: I always enjoy Roberta McKern’s stories. Her piece in the July 1 edition, about horses, reminded me of a pair of books I read from our library, “1491” and “1492.” I found them…
Dear Editor: Hurt doesn’t have to be the last word
Editor: I’ve noticed something about our current generation – many of us have been taught to center our struggles so much that we sometimes begin to identify with them more than we grow beyond…