Cake artisan returns to defend ‘Halloween Wars’ title
Her passion to be creative and her love of baking ultimately made Liz Marek well-known worldwide for her edible art. Marek, Class of 1999 at Lebanon High School, is…
LATEST NEWS
LPD officers describe operations, successes, needs at Forum Lunch
Lebanon Police lieutenants Taylor Jackson and Ryan Padua found themselves in front of the crowd Friday, Sept. 25, at the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce’s Forum Lunch in the absence of Chief Frank…
SH councilors get updates on variety of capital projects
A work session and regular session for Sweet Home’s City Council on Tuesday, Sept. 22, revealed plan updates for the former City Hall building, the current City Hall’s east wing lease, the…
Linn County Crisis Center opens in Albany
By Alex Paul Linn County Communications The Linn County Crisis Center opened Monday, Sept. 21, at 1050 7th Avenue SW, across from Samaritan Albany General Hospital. The Crisis Center will…
Commissioners get update on Juvenile Department
The Linn Benton Juvenile Detention Center had 32 admissions in August, Juvenile Department Deputy Director Rob Perkins told the Linn County Board of Commissioners at their Sept. 22 meeting.…
Sodaville resident seeks financial relief for water leak
A Sodaville resident is asking the city for financial relief on his water bill after a leak was discovered on his side of the meter, but determining who’s responsible may require some careful…
Rabid bat found last week in Albany area
A bat found in the Albany area on Sept. 22 has tested positive for rabies. Linn County health officials are reminding residents to avoid all contact with bats and other wild animals. This case…
COMMUNITY
After 50 years, logger Richard Malusky still loves woods
In 1975, Richard Malusky wanted a job in the woods, and when he got it, he never left. Malusky, now 70, this year celebrated half a century as a logger with, now, Weyerhaeuser Corp. He’s…
Scene Around Town: Sept. 30, 2026
Tomato-stravaganza The annual TomatoFest, hosted by the Linn County Master Gardeners Association, was held Sept. 26, 2026, at the Lebanon Senior Center in Lebanon. The free public event…
LHS Hall of Fame: Col. Donald M. Brown
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 Col.…
Longtime museum volunteer, columnist says goodbye
A Farewell Message By Roberta McKern The time has accumulated for me to give up writing about the East Linn Museum. The intent of doing so was originally to support having the museum and to…
P.E.O. Chapter DD awards scholarships
Sweet Home P.E.O. Chapter DD has awarded scholarships to four Sweet Home women. Luka Ogden, Zoey Erevia and Isabel (Sayer) Ertsgaard were each awarded the Oregon Scholarship, while Brittany…
SCHOOL NEWS
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…
WesternU HCOM researchers explore new treatment for muscle injuries
A researcher from Western University of Health Sciences in Lebanon is leading a study that may help doctors discover new ways to treat muscle injuries. Dr. Belinda McCully, a researcher and…
OPINION
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…
Dear Editor: Disgusted by vandalism
Editor: Recently, my son and I changed the American flag at the Union Cemetery in Crawfordsville, for the second time this year. These are flags furnished by American Legion Post #51 of…
Opinion: Lessons from 9/11 were often too temporary
My memories of 9/11 are getting a bit hazy, perhaps because I’m not really a morning person and I was fast asleep when it happened. I remember being awakened by a phone call at 5 a.m. from my…
Editorial: AI’s biggest threat to students is failure to think
By Jennifer Puccio I recently spoke with a high-schooler who told me that she uses artificial intelligence (AI) to do her homework and “everyone does it.” I think this is the biggest nightmare…
Editor: OJP article missed the point
Editor: I am writing in response to the article “Medicaid Shortfall Follows Decade-Long Growth in State Spending,” posted in the Oregon Journalism Project (OJP) section on your website on July…