Category: Newspaper Columns

Newspaper columns that I have written for the Fern Ridge Review in Veneta, Oregon and the Creswell Chronicle in Creswell, Oregon. I began writing them for the Fern Ridge Review on August 4, 2010; on December 6, 2012, the Creswell Chronicle began printing them, as well. I am still the Lorane columnist for both papers.

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!

Sweet Lorane Community News – April 28, 2016

April 28, 2016Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
April 28, 2016
By Pat Edwards

Thank you to Lil Thompson once again for passing on some Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District news that I can use in this week’s column. There’s not a lot of Lorane news to report right now and I haven’t come up with any ideas to share, so it’s very welcome.

Lil also reminds me that the Lorane Grange meets this month on Thursday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. The grange is just one of our local organizations that could use new members to help carry on their many services to the community. We have very active service groups at not only the grange, but the Lorane Rebekahs, the Lorane Christian Church, the Lorane Fire Department, the Theta Rho group for young girls, a Boy Scout group, a Lorane Community Association, the Lorane Bread Basket which provides food and help to families in need, and the Senior Meals Program. I may have missed others and I apologize if I did. They could all use an infusion of new members who want to work through these organizations to serve our community. Hopefully the new Lorane Directory page on Facebook will be including information on each of these organizations, their meeting days/times, their visions and needs and their contact information. Helping others always seems to help make the problems in our own personal lives much more manageable.

Now, for the school district news…

On May 12, the C-A-L School District will be hosting a Kindergarten Roundup event at 3:15 p.m. at Applegate Elementary. If you have a child who will be 5 years of age prior to September 1, 2016, he or she is eligible for the 2016-17 school year.  Applegate offers a full-day program, five days a week. Come meet your teacher, see the classroom and allow your child to interact in a classroom setting. Be sure to bring your child’s immunization records and a copy of their birth certificate. For further information, call the district office at 541-935-2100.

Because the area schools are aging, the district has been working with an architecture firm, community members and staff to develop a 10-year Master Plan for repairs, renovations and/or replacements of the current buildings and property. In order to allow district residents to review the findings and see, firsthand, what is being discussed, there will be two open house events and tours of the schools held in May. The first will take place on Tuesday, May 10 at 6:00 p.m. at the Crow Middle/High School. Then, on Saturday, May 14, a second open house will be held at the Applegate Elementary from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Your input is being sought once you have had a chance to review what is being considered.

Congratulations to the staff and students at the Crow High/Middle School for making the U.S. News and World Report’s top schools in Oregon list.

Don’t forget to treat your favorite mother to the Crow Grange’s Mother’s Day Breakfast on Sunday, May 8, if you’re fortunate to still have your mother in your life. I no longer am able to do special little things for my mother. She passed away at the age of 96 in 2012 and I still miss her. It’s an unbreakable bond for many people… it has been for me. Honor your mother… and your father… for giving you, not only life, but the tools to allow you to maneuver and make your way through this crazy world we live in.