Author: paedwards

Sweet Lorane Community News – May 19, 2016

May 19, 2016Newspaper Columns, , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
May 19, 2016
By Pat Edwards

I’m writing this column almost a week before you read it because I have gotten myself into commitments for the whole weekend and I need every minute of prep time in the days leading up to it. Our family’s big event… and the one that I’m most looking forward to, is our son Rob’s 50th Birthday BBQ which, by the time you read this was last Saturday. I have been working on a commemorative birthday album for Rob for the past few months. I scanned almost every picture we’ve ever taken of him and helped myself to some that others have taken from his Facebook page and have designed a 13″ x 10″ hardbound photo album/book to present to him. I’ve also included messages and memories that other friends and family members submitted to me for inclusion. These are the publishing projects I most love. I did it for his sister Gloria a year ago, too… it seems I’ve begun a tradition. The one black cloud hanging over the Saturday festivities (literally) is the weather forecast for thunderstorms.

I inadvertently committed myself to counting ballots for the Lane Electric Coop election  on Friday, too. I’ve done it before and I’ve had a lot of fun. The staff at the LEC office makes sure we feel welcome and appreciated… they even provide lunch. Usually, my good friend, Judie Brantley, also of Lorane, and I partner while doing the counting and she and I have proven to be a pretty good team. Since I don’t get a chance to see her as often as I once did, it’s a fun way to reconnect.

Then on Sunday morning (last Sunday morning to you), Jo-Brew and I head to McMinnville to give one of our Highway 99 talks at the library there. By the time we get back, I have no doubt that I will be totally exhausted.

Speaking of Lane Electric Coop, I think this week would be a good time to include…

A Bit of Lorane History:

“In the 1920s, Lorane obtained its first electrical generating plant. The Blaine Addison family put in a Delco plant and wired their home and store for electric lights. There was a ‘pumphouse’ where the motor was housed which had shelves of glass batteries to keep the motor running. The house and store were destroyed by fire in 1932, but Harold Shortridge managed to save the old Delco plant and set it up again by the Lorane I.O.O.F. Lodge building.

“On April 3, 1933, permission was given to W.T. Anderson by the Lorane High School board to use the high school auditorium for a talk to be given on ‘Electricity and Power for the Community.’ The first electric power lines were put up by Pacific Power Co. in the late 1930s. They came into Lorane from Cottage Grove and provided power to those along the route into Lorane central, Territorial Road south and as far north as the ‘Y’ where Old Lorane Road meets Territorial Road. The REA had plans to run lines into Lorane from Eugene before World War II. Meter boxes were installed at homes along the way, but no electricity was supplied to the people along Territorial Road north, Old Lorane Road and Siuslaw River Road until after 1945, when the War had ended.

“Josie Doughty remembers buying her first electric refrigerator/freezer and washing machine from the 1947 Oregon State Fair.

“Before the time that electricity came to Lorane, and for some time afterwards, carbide lights, kerosene lamps and gasoline lanterns were commonly used.” (From Sawdust and Cider; 1987; 2006)

Sweet Lorane Community News – May 12, 2016

May 12, 2016Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
May 12, 2016
By Pat Edwards

With all of this beautiful late spring/early summer weather, most of us are busy trying to keep up with the mowing and getting those weeds pulled at home. What many of us don’t think about, though, is that, thanks to local volunteers, the local cemeteries are being prepared for Memorial Day to honor not only our veterans, but the special people who have passed before us. The Lorane Grange and Rebekahs are no exception. On Monday, May 16, the Lorane Grange had a work party to mow and clean up the Grange Cemetery located on the hill next to King Estate. The King family has provided access to it from their north parking lot. If you haven’t had a chance to visit it, you should. The views are fantastic and a lot of Lorane’s history lies there.

The Lorane Rebekah’s are having their workday at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery on Saturday, May 21 at 9:00 a.m. and hope that volunteers from the community will join them in the task. Please bring gloves, weedeaters and other hand tools.

I didn’t get this information in time to put the Lorane Grange Cemetery cleanup in my column last week, but they do this each year and both organizations could really use help from the community.

A weavers group is being formed at the Independent Yarn Shop at 819 E. Main in Cottage Grove and Lorane resident, Marilyn Wilber, is encouraging those in the community who are interested to sign up. Marilyn, who is a local crafter, has told us that Pat Olivier has been a weaver for 45 years and she wants to pass on her craft to others. She will welcome students with all skill levels who are interested in learning various types of weaving. The classes will be held twice a month. For more information, call Marilyn at 541-942-6073 or email her at desertflower66@gmail.com. You can also sign up with Julie or Sami at the yarn shop, 541-942-6924.

This seems like a great opportunity to remind everyone of the rug hookery group that has been meeting in Lorane this past year. They meet twice monthly. The evening meetings are on the first Thursday every month from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lorane Fire Hall and daytime meetings are on the third Wednesday of each month from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Rebekah’s Lodge.

Local long-time Lorane resident, Linda Johnson, is now home following heart surgery. Her daughter, Bridgett Johnson-Elliott said it best: “Mom’s surgery was a success; her heart has a brand new aortic valve and a fresh single artery bypass ready for life’s next journey around the sun! It’s beating as strong as a hummingbird. We’re so proud of you.”

You’re bound to heal twice as fast now that you’re home, Linda. Congratulations! We’re glad that the surgery is over and you can now spend your days healing during Mother Nature’s best time of the year surrounded by her bounty which you have always loved.

Another medical update is provided by Michael Matchulat for those who have been sending prayers for him in his battle with cancer. His latest scan shows no new tumors, the lymph nodes have not enlarged, and it appears that the large tumor in his colon has shrunk. Michael continues to keep us all updated with his outrageous  humor and is giving to others in the form of volunteering to help with the Crow Middle School track meets this spring. Thank you, Michael!

Sweet Lorane Community News – May 5, 2016

May 5, 2016Newspaper Columns, , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
May 5, 2016
By Pat Edwards

Oh! How I love this time of the year. I hope that each of you is enjoying the sunshine and even the light, scattered showers to help with the watering duties as much I as I am.

Recent discussion on the Lorane Facebook page indicates that there are a couple of orphaned cougars that are attacking small livestock in the area. Some goats have been killed and the half-grown cats were seen bothering some horses, too. Apparently the horses are ok, thank goodness. One Lorane resident feared that dogs had killed two of his 65 pound lambs, but the consensus is that they were probably victims of the cougars, as well. Living where we do, it’s necessary to keep small animals securely housed at night, especially now when there is a definite problem.

The Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District will be hosting a fun event on Friday, June 3. At 6:00 p.m., it will feature the opening of a 50-year old time capsule that was buried beside the flag pole at Crow High School on December 26, 1967. The event will take place on the front lawn of the high school. Hotdogs will be cooking on the Cougar grill and available for all participants who come to witness the opening of the time capsule. Members of the class of 1967-68 are especially encouraged to attend the event as are all CHS alumni.

Once opened and the contents removed, the time capsule will be filled with new mementos of our time period and buried so that it can be reopened again in 50 more years. They are hoping for a big turnout to celebrate the past 50 years, so please pass the word to others who might like to witness a bit of Crow history.

The Crow-Applegate-Lorane district office asked me also to let Lorane parents know that the high school’s 541-686-5024 number is not currently working. Until it has been fixed, you can reach them by calling their 541-935-2100 or the high school’s 541-935-2227 numbers, but long distance rates will apply if you are calling from a 942 number on a land-line that charges for long distance. It should not affect cell phone users whose long distance is covered, however..

A local Lorane resident is advertising for someone locally who can provide caregiver services for her 92-year-old mother. They need to line up at least two who can work the different shifts. Only non-smokers will be considered and they must be able to lift and pivot the woman to\from her chair to a commode when necessary. It pays $11.00 per hour and the shifts they need someone for are 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. For more information, please call 541-942-1566 and leave a detailed message with name, phone number, and hours interested.

Someone else is seeking a ranch hand. Check out the Lorane, Oregon Facebook page for more info.

Jo-Brew and I spent a very enjoyable morning in Portland last Wednesday. We were invited to give a talk to the “Seasoned Adult Enrichment Program” at Clackamas Community College about the history of Pacific Highway/U.S. Highway 99 through Oregon. There were about 30 people in attendance for the 2-hour talk and they made us feel very welcome. The talk went well, we sold several books and made some new friends. All-in-all, it was a fun day!

I hope that we continue to bask in this gorgeous sunshine without hot, hot temperatures for awhile. Enjoy!