LHS Hall of Fame: Tami Bickett
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…
LATEST NEWS
Business owner complains to City Council about water bills
What took up most of the City Council’s time during their regular meeting on Aug. 25 was finalizing a decision concerning a water bill dispute from a local business. During the Aug. 11 council…
Local candidate lists take shape for Nov. 3 election
The final filing period for the Nov. 3 local and general elections ended Monday, Aug. 31. Here are the candidates who had filed at that point for the local elections in Lebanon, Sodaville,…
USFS hiring firefighters for 2027
The USDA Forest Service is hiring wildland firefighter positions on the Willamette National Forest for the 2027 season. A variety of positions are open for individuals to support fire…
County Courthouse gets ADA-compliant entrance
The new ADA compliant entrance on the north side of the Linn County Courthouse is complete and open to the public. Linn County Administrative Officer Darrin Lane said the new courthouse entry…
County’s chip sealing efforts preserves roads, saves money
By Alex Paul Linn County Communications The Linn County Road Department chip sealed almost 43 miles of paved roads this summer, according to Kevin Hamilton, the Road Department’s Operations…
Commissioners approve Mill City Urban Growth Boundary expansion
By Alex Paul Linn County Communications Officer Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker quickly approved an application by the City of Mill City for a…
COMMUNITY
Number 22 keeps Betker family racing at Willamette
For Mike Betker, the No. 22 on his race car is more than just a number. It stands for his father, his daughters, and all the memories he’s made at different tracks. At Willamette Speedway,…
Sheriff’s Office taking sign-ups for Citizens Academy
Ever wondered what really sets a Sheriff’s Office apart from a Police Department? What happens behind the scenes when someone dials 911? Curious about how the jail operates? If you’ve ever…
William (Bill) Allen Rauch
William Rauch April 23, 1947 – Aug. 27, 2026 William (Bill) Allen Rauch, 79, passed peacefully late in the evening on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, after enjoying the lunar eclipse and with a…
Marilyn Lois Koontz
Marilyn Koontz Feb. 8, 1946 – Aug. 17, 2026 Marilyn Lois Koontz, 80, passed away peacefully on Aug.17, 2026, at Evergreen Hospice House in Albany, surrounded by her family. Marilyn was…
June C. Johnson
June Johnson Feb. 20,1965 – Aug. 11, 2026 June C. Johnson, 61, formerly of Lebanon, died Aug. 11, 2026 in Germany. She was born Feb. 20, 1965, the daughter of Dr. Howard and Marilynn…
SCHOOL NEWS
Eighteen new teachers arrive in Sweet Home schools
Sweet Home School District is adding 18 new teachers this fall. Here is a list of some of the new arrivals, with details as provided by them: Phillip Ayer will teach science at Sweet Home…
Lebanon schools welcome 21 new teachers
Lebanon Community School District is adding 21 new teachers this fall. Here is a list of some of the new arrivals, with details as provided by them: Brook Brown will teach fourth grade at…
New Oak Heights principal running halls – in different way
Ryan Adams sits at his new desk at Oak Heights Elementary School in Sweet Home, a place where he has a lot of history – seven years, to be exact. Adams is now principal of the school he…
LCSD announces electric vehicle policy for schools
Lebanon Community School District has updated its policy regarding electric bicycles (e-bikes), electric scooters (e-scooters), and other wheeled recreational devices on school campuses.…
SH School Board starts process of issuing bonds
On August 10, the Sweet Home School Board unanimously approved two resolutions to help fund upcoming district projects, taking the next step with the voter-approved general obligation bonds…
OPINION
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…
Editor: Medicaid shortfall impacts patients’ access to care
Editor: I am writing about the article “Medicaid Shortfall Follows Decade-long Growth in State Spending” posted in the Oregon Journalism Project (OJP) section on your website on July 27…
Opinion: Answer to fires is adaptation
By Randal O’Toole Oregon has entered fire season earlier than usual this year, which means we are hearing repeated litanies from various interest groups. “If only we had more money to…
Editorial: Getting better starts at home
A decade or two ago, I wouldn’t have devoted editorial opinion space to discussing the viability of newspapers. Not that I wasn’t concerned then, but we didn’t have conferences like the one I…