Strawberry Festival welcomes “Summer Lovin’” fun
Summer nights are back again, but “strawberry nights” are on the picnic table this summer. For 117 years, the community has welcomed summer with sweet berries, bright…
LATEST NEWS
Teen with ties to Sweet Home charged in federal ‘swatting’ case
An Oregon teen with ties to Sweet Home was arrested May 21 in connection with dozens of bomb threat “swatting” calls to Ohio schools, forcing them to go into lockdown in March, according to…
Commissioners OK Wildfire Ready Project grant plan
By Alex Paul Linn County Communications Young people who are part of the Linn County Juvenile Department’s work crew will have the opportunity to learn about creating defensible space and…
First steps taken for sidewalk on Sweet Home’s Mountain View Road
Sweet Home City Council adopted the city’s $43.9 million budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year and approved a contract to begin a sidewalk project on Mountain View Road during its regular…
Fire damages historic barn on SH’s Airport Road
Fire damaged an historic barn near the intersection on Airport Road, between 49th and 50th avenues, adding to an already busy day for Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District. SHFAD reported…
County parks ready to roll after busy windstorm cleanups
By Alex Paul Linn County Communications The Linn County Parks and Recreation Department had a busy winter, due in part to a major windstorm that downed many trees in Detroit-area campgrounds…
Commissioners remember former colleague Wooten
Former Linn County Commissioner Cliff Wooten loved his family and the people of Linn County, Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker agreed at their weekly meeting…
COMMUNITY
‘Murder’ party at Sweet Home library
Hannah Bodi was “so excited” when she found four black feathered costume wings at a yard sale recently because it was the perfect accoutrement for a special party she was taking her kids to in…
Scene Around Town(s): June 3, 2026
Hopelessly Devoted to Blooms For its third year in a row, the Lebanon Garden Club hosted flower design classes ahead of the city’s Strawberry Festival in an effort to encourage increased…
Powwow celebrates Native American culture
The continuous beating of drums and a room filled with people in traditional Native American regalia helped visitors feel immersed in the multi-tribe powwow event held Saturday, May 30, at…
Strawberry Festival to reveal new strawberry shortcake float
The Lebanon Strawberry Festival announced it will reveal a special surprise this year during Saturday’s grand parade. For generations, the World’s Largest Strawberry Shortcake has been one of…
Meet the 2026 Strawberry Court: Tatum Cole
“Strawberry Nights,” the theme for the Strawberry Festival’s 117th year, invites the Strawberry Festival Court to reflect on the iconic film “Grease,” a movie about friendship, confidence,…
SCHOOL NEWS
New club gives SHJH students chance to create art, relationships
Tiffany Jacobs says she’s always enjoyed art, and she decided to provide students at Sweet Home Junior High a chance to explore the creative process – and experience benefits that come with…
Lebanon High announces awards, scholarship winners
LHS Awards & Scholarships Lebanon High School was the location for the annual awards banquet on Monday, May 18, when seniors from the Class of 2026 were awarded more than $185,000 in local…
After athletics maneuvering, Lebanon schools budget proposal approved
Lebanon Community School District Budget Committee members on Thursday, May 21, approved a $99.4 million budget for 2026-27 after making some modifications to allow some $2 million in cuts…
Sweet Home schools committee approves proposed 2026-27 budget
Fresh off the news of the passage of the Sweet Home School District’s $40 million School Bond, district Budget Committee members on May 20 approved 1 $93.6 million budget for 2026-27. District…
Lebanon schools Budget Committee struggles with proposed athletics cuts
Members of the Lebanon Community School District Budget Committee are wrestling with how to keep sports – particularly middle school football – intact, while cutting $2 million from the budget…
OPINION
Remembering the Cost of Freedom: A Memorial Day poem
By Satina Tolman For many, Memorial Day now marks the start of summer days, Of crowded camps and barbecue smoke drifting through the haze. Storefront windows flash their signs in bold and…
A Memoir: Everyone has to Go
By Xander Eddings Everyone knows the pain of losing someone. The agonizing, harrowing, gut-wrenching pain as you watch a person drift away, leaving you feeling empty again. How your chest…
Dear Editor: Thoughts of love in the springtime
Editor: “’Tis spring, and a young man’s fancy turns to…” you know, luv. “Oh, my heart races every time I see her/him!” “If she/he would be mine, wouldn’t everyone envy me!” “We’d go to my…
Dear Editor: Urban renewal has pros, cons
Editor: I lived in suburban Clackamas County 32 years before moving to Linn County. For much of that time the county was a hotbed of population growth, planning fiascos, and speculation. As…
Dear Editor: Grant opportunity may not be there later
Editor: As you may be aware in the last 5 years our school district has been systematically updating our schools. In the process they have been fiscally responsible and have done an amazing…