Jail levy takes center stage in Lebanon candidate forum
The League of Women Voters of Linn County (LWV) and Rotary Club of Lebanon hosted a Q&A forum for Lebanon’s mayoral and city councilor candidates on Tuesday, Sept.…
LATEST NEWS
Missing Albany male found in Green Peter Reservoir
An Albany man was found when divers found his body in Green Peter Reservoir on Monday, Oct. 5. On Sunday, Oct. 4, at approximately 2:23 p.m., the Linn County Sheriff’s Office 911 Center…
Teen’s death after football game stirs SH community
Sweet Home High School sophomore Mason Flores has died after sustaining a head injury in a football game a week before, his family and the school district announced Monday. In a game against…
Commissioners approve Mill City border expansion
By Alex Paul Linn County Communications At their Sept. 29 meeting, Commissioners Roger Nyquist and Will Tucker gave final approval to Linn County Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map amendments,…
SH fire officials get ‘unique’ chance to share wildfire strategy
Two Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District staffers participated in late September in a national program designed as a meeting of the minds on how to solve wildfire challenges. Fire Chief Nick…
Lebanon pool closure extends past two months
Lebanon pool enthusiasts are getting anxious as the Lebanon Community Pool rolls into its ninth week of being closed for maintenance. The pool was closed on Aug. 8 to begin major renovations…
October is Fire Prevention Month in Oregon
Look around your home, and you’ll likely see dozens of devices powered by lithium-ion batteries. Cellphones, tablets, laptops, power tools, toys, e-bikes, and more rely on these compact,…
COMMUNITY
Back to Hogwarts brought magic to Lebanon’s fall market
Downtown Lebanon was filled with Harry Potter magic, local vendors, and fall activities during Back to Hogwarts: Fall Market & Festival, which took place on Oct. 3. More than 160…
LHS Hall of Fame: Mike Royer
It’s that time of year again when alumni from Lebanon High School are recognized for the significant contributions they have made in this world. Among those to be honored this year is Mike…
Scene Around Town: Celebrating Autumn
Above, Colleen Healy points out entries to her kids, Annabelle Mobley, left, and Lincoln Healy, in the pie baking competition at Sweet Home’s 20th annual Harvest Festival Saturday, Oct.…
Events: Oct. 7, 2026
Upcoming City Meetings These are regularly-scheduled meetings. Sometimes the dates or times are changed due to schedule conflicts among members, work session additions, holidays, etc. Last…
Circuit Court: Oct. 7, 2026
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…
SCHOOL NEWS
FFA teams get dirty
Local FFA students, above, converged on the Sayer Farm south of Crawfordsville Thursday, Oct. 1 for the annual soils competition put on by Linn Soil and Water Conservation District. A state…
Prize-winning teacher helps Lebanon students find path in health care
Leah Rainey says her teaching journey began with a 30-minute phone call to her old high school health teacher. When she was in college and needed to interview someone in the health field for a…
WesternU CHS research examines falls among older adults in rural Oregon
A researcher at Western University College of Health Sciences Northwest (CHS-Northwest) is studying falls among older adults in rural Oregon and how to prevent them. Dr. Kendra Cherry-Allen,…
Sweet Home school board addresses gym repairs, immigration policy and millions in grant spending
At its Sept. 14 meeting, the Sweet Home School Board approved an emergency contract to repair the high school activity gym, adopted an immigration enforcement policy for district property, and…
Lebanon school board weighs facility priorities
Facility needs dominated the Lebanon Community School District Board’s Sept. 10 meeting, with board members discussing aging school buildings, the Waterloo property, and a possible Lebanon…
OPINION
Bechtel wise choice for council
Editor: I am pleased to support Matthew Bechtel for Sweet Home City Council. Matthew has taken the time to learn how our city works. His service on the Sweet Home Budget Committee matters most…
Council choices both involved
Editor: With our elections only a few weeks away I felt the need to send a message to the citizens of Sweet Home. There are two candidates I wish to support. The first is Susan Coleman,…
Happy to have mayoral vote
Editor: I am beyond thrilled that I will be able to cast my vote for the mayor of Sweet Home. I for one never liked that position being passed from one City Council member to another. I am…
Is ‘re-elect’ the right word?
Editor: Curious things are going on in Sweet Home. I have noticed “Re-elect Mayor” signs. If I’m not mistaken, we, the people of Sweet Home, just passed a charter change that said we would…
Rest in peace, Joan – and please ignore that typo
My introduction to Joan Scofield came in 2006, when she marched into The New Era newspaper office and told us we needed a proofreader. That was Joan’s style: straightforward but not at all…