Tag: Crow-Applegate-Lorane

Sweet Lorane Community News – December 29, 2016

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
December 29, 2016
By Pat Edwards

The Lorane Directory Facebook page is adding a file for people to list their comments and feedback on various services they have used in the area. The first entry is one provided by Chris Nwk Blanchard. His family on Lorane Highway had been out of electricity for 10 days following the ice storm. They thought that Lane Electric would fix it, but didn’t realize that they would need to have a licensed electrician come to their home to repair some damage there before LEC could hook them back up to the main line. It was two days before Christmas and Chris put out a plea on the Lorane Facebook page to electrical contractors in the area who might be willing to do a last-minute job for them so that their electricity could be restored in time for Christmas. An angel in the guise of Chris Leturno of Superior Electric who lives in the Crow area immediately responded and had the work done in time to allow Lane Electric to get the family’s power restored. Not only was their best Christmas gift a warm house and restored electrical power for the Blanchard family, but, in addition, there was no charge from Superior Electric to do it. This is what holiday and community spirit are all about… neighbors helping neighbors. Thank you Chris Leturno for your kindness and goodwill. It will live on in the Lorane Directory as a recommendation for your services. I hope residents will post their recommendations for other local services they want to share, as well.

I hope that everyone had a safe and happy New Year. Our house is always pretty quiet, as Jim and I usually stay home and spend a relatively normal evening… and this year was no different. I guess that we earned the title of “party-poopers” quite some time ago.

School for the Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District will be back in session on Monday, January 2, but Friday, January 6, is the first half-day scheduled to prepare student progress reports. During the scheduled half days, the Rural Art Center has a great program in place for students who want to stay and attend three hours of creativity with professional artists and a healthy snack. A suggested donation of $10/afternoon is requested, but there are scholarships available if this is a hardship. If your child is interested in attending these, contact Michael at 541-844-0543 or ruralartcenter@gmail.com for more information. There is no bus service afterwards, however, so children must be picked up promptly at 3:00 p.m.

The program for Friday, January 6 is “Baskets.” Donna Crispin, a fiber artist, will show those attending how to weave a basket with a wooden base using reeds and yarn to create a lovely, small and unique basket.

The program on Friday, February 10 will be on “Rope and Cordage.” Students will make their own jump rope with yarn and then learn how to make cord out of dried leaves. A full schedule of the RAC half-days of art activities can be found in the most recent “District Buzz” newsletter at http://www.cal.k12.or.us/district/news/12-7-16.pdf.

Shortie and I went for a walk up Easy Acres today and met a Lane County road maintenance crew cleaning up the broken branches and limbs littering the sides of the road. It’s been a huge job for them, but I really appreciate the things that they do to make our roads better and nicer to travel. I asked one of the crew members to pass on my thanks to one of his colleagues, in particular, who does such a great job of mowing the sides of the roads along Lorane Highway, especially, each summer and fall. He certainly puts a lot of TLC into the work he does.

Again, Happy New Year to all of you. Let’s hope it’s a much better one than 2016.

Sweet Lorane Community News – October 6, 2016

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
October 6, 2016
By Pat Edwards

Fall is finally upon us and there has been enough rain to end the fire season. LRAPA (Lane Regional Air Protection Agency) has even opened rural backyard burning of yard debris a week early. It has been allowed, providing weather conditions are acceptable, since last Saturday, October 8. Before lighting that match or igniter, you must call ahead (541-726-3976) or check the LRAPA website at http://www.lrapa.org to find out if burning is allowed on that particular day in our area, however.

The Crow-Applegate-Lorane Booster Club, which also includes the district’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is in dire need of new members. Marissa McNutt Cooper has recently posted a plea to area residents to become members.

“I am hoping to spread the word to people who have children at Crow who might be interested in joining (the Booster Club). If they don’t get some new members soon, they may have to close, which would be catastrophic for our district. They fund an astonishing amount (usually around $20,000-$30,000 annually) for the entire district. Last night alone (Thursday, October 6), they approved close to $5,000 in funds requested for supplies for Science Classes at the high school, new welders, welding hoods and welding jackets for the shop and automotive class, and supplies and materials for the drama club. They also provide sports scholarships, buy new curriculum for the elementary and they’ve purchased new projectors for all of the classrooms. The list is endless. They meet once a month, usually the first Thursday of the month.”

This is a vital organization in our community. The boosters sponsor large fundraising events throughout the year that enable our area’s students to get the best education possible from our small school district. Until the state legislature figures out a better system for school funding, we are all going to have to do what we can on a community level. We all get frustrated with national and state elections and feel that we have no voice. But we do have a voice at the community level and if each community takes care of its own, then we are making a difference that may extend even further. We are all busy these days, but we need to find the time for something as important as this. For information on how to join, contact Linda Lay, Crow-Applegate-Lorane Booster Club President (541-844-5840), or one of its members.

Mark October 15 on your calendar! Roberta Pietila Miller and Pam Kersgaard have organized a community apple cider pressing at Roberta’s house, across from the Lorane Grange, on Saturday, October 15 starting at 10:00 a.m. All you have to do is bring your own apples and containers. They’ll break for a potluck lunch and proceed until all of the apples have been processed. For questions or more info, contact Roberta (360-318-6028 or e-mail robertamiller77@yahoo.com) or Pam Kersgaard through the Lorane, Oregon Facebook page.

Another date to mark is Sunday, October 23. Groundwaters will be presenting a program, Groundwaters LIVE! at the Applegate Regional Theater, 87230 Central Road, Eugene, in the former Central School gymnasium, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. to launch our just-completed 2016 Groundwaters anthology. We will feature 11 of our 63 contributors who will each read 5-minute portions of their stories and poems that are included in the book. The readers list includes: Jeanette-Marie Mirich, Jo-Brew, Vicki Sourdry, Demetri Liontos, David Erickson, Karen Wickham, Sherry Hunter, Michael Foster, gael Doyle-Oroyan, Eunice Scruggs and Stanley Buck. Refreshments will be provided and books will be available to purchase before, during the break and afterwards. There’s no admission… it’s free! Please come join us!

Attention all female Crow High School alums who played basketball for the Cougars! A women’s alumni basketball tournament is in the planning stages in conjunction with the annual men’s tournament to be held on December 9 and 10. Four teams from all age groups are being formed. If you are interested in participating, please contact Marissa McNutt-Cooper (541-517-6608) or a booster club member. More information can be found on the Lorane, Oregon Facebook page.

Sweet Lorane Community News – February 4, 2016

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
February 4, 2016
By Pat Edwards

Yuck! Three weeks ago I came down with a cold, and I’ve still got it! It’s like a group of waves that roll in on the beach. When it first hit, the symptoms began to ebb after a few days and then, Wham! I was hit with a few more waves carrying with them an assortment of coughs, sneezes, eternal congestion and now eye infection. Yesterday, I finally broke down and visited the Cottage Grove Walk-In Clinic since my doctor was booked up and they put me on some antibiotics and an inhaler. I’m feeling better today, but I’m holding my breath that there’s not another breaker heading my way. The nurse at the clinic told me that I was not alone… that record numbers of people were experiencing the same type of long, drawn-out upper respiratory infection this winter.

With all of my whining out of the way, I am hanging my head in shame because I’m truly one of the lucky ones. I am blessed with much better health than many others. How can I complain when such beautiful people around me have so much more to deal with, health-wise, than me?

Today, we got word from former Loranian, Stan Davis, that his wife – our wonderful, beautiful, beloved Debbie Davis – is having to undergo a second craniotomy to remove a brain tumor. Stan’s message, while extremely sobering, carried a signature bit of humor passed on from Debbie, herself. In his message, he said, “…It is in the speech center, and she is wondering if I would, maybe, prefer a mute wife?? Hmmm…” The tone is typical Debbie who has always brought sunshine into all of our lives. Our love and prayers are with you both, Debbie and Stan! I’m sure they’d love to have some others sent their way, too.
The Crow-Applegate-Lorane School Board is still looking for members for the district’s budget committee. The committee met for the first time last Thursday, February 4, but there will be two more meetings. If you are interested in serving the school district in this way, please call the district office for further information (541-935-2100).

The Crow Middle/High School students who want to play a spring sport (baseball, softball or track) is required to attend the upcoming Spring Sports Sign-Up and Parent Meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 16 at the high school. Parents will need to attend with the students.

Don’t forget the Friendship Dinner hosted by Lorane Christian Church at Sizzlers on Gateway Blvd. in Springfield on Sunday, February 21 at 5:30 p.m.

Also, mark your calendars for the next Lorane Grange Dinner and Bingo Night which will be held on Saturday, February 27. They are going to try something besides spaghetti this time – possibly an assortment of finger foods as well as those yummy desserts. The blackout bingo pot is up to over $300. Bring the whole family. It’s so much fun.

A Bit of Lorane History (honoring Stan Davis’ family):

In the early 1900s, Frank Davis lived on his homestead, due west of the former Delwin Doughty homeplace. The farm buildings were situated on top of a hill with the barn perched right at the edge of a canyon. One evening about dusk, Chancy, who lived on north Territorial Road where the former Cliff Stevens’ place is located, heard the sound of distant yelling coming from the direction of his brother’s homestead, some two miles away. Because Frank’s wife Elma was due to have a baby at any time, Chancy feared that she might be having complications. He hurriedly saddled a horse and galloped full speed in the direction of his brother’s homestead. Every few minutes he heard a loud yell. Upon arriving, he leaped from his horse, just as another full-throated “holler” rent the air in the direction of the barn. As he ran towards the barn, he was met with the sight of Frank Davis standing next to his barn with his back to the canyon. He was bent at the waist with his head tucked between his knees yelling into the canyon beyond – listening to his own echo. (From Sawdust and Cider; 1987; 2006)