Tag: Hannah Edwards

Lorane Community News – March 31, 2016

Special prayers and wishes need to go out to Tami Drullinger Oswald whose husband  Rick (Oz) Oswald died last Tuesday, March 22 in an avalanche on Mt. Bailey near Diamond Lake where he worked as a ski guide and an avalanche control specialist.  A memorial service was held last Saturday, April 2, at Lorane Christian Church followed by a potluck at Lorane Grange.

Tami grew up in Lorane and went to the local schools before moving away following graduation. We send our heartfelt condolences to Tami, their son Ryan, and to her mother, Connie Loveall and father, Bob Drullinger, for their loss. More information about Rick “Oz” Oswald can be found at http://www.theinertia.com/mountain/avalanche-kills-lead-guide-at-oregons-mount-bailey-cat-operation/

What a blessing this past week has been to those of us who have been longing for some warm dry days to chase away the winter blues. The 70 degree weather was about perfect and the sunshine significantly raised my spirits.

Jim, our son Rob and I spent a fantastic day in Glide last Tuesday, watching the Creswell High School track team compete. I love the Glide venue. Our older granddaughters have competed there numerous times for Crow High School. Another granddaughter, Hannah, competed in the javelin, discus and 100 meter hurdles for Creswell and we were able to pull the car right up to fence by the track and place our chairs out in the warm sunshine while we watched Hannah chuck her spear in the infield. While we were sitting there, we looked up and saw two large eagles soaring in wide circles above us as if they were watching, too.

Hannah improved her previous throws from the week before by 4 feet, so we were all quite pleased. In addition, her cousin, Stephanie Kau, who is coaching the throwers at Glide High School this year, was running the event. It was a regular family affair!

The Applegate Regional Theater, Inc. of Veneta who has provided a non-profit umbrella to Groundwaters for many years, has recently purchased the former Central School on Central Road out of Crow for their theater. There are a lot of items left in the school that they are offering for free. I thought that it might be of interest to local organizations, especially. The offerings include chairs, furniture, book/magazine holders, dishes/silverware… (lots of glasses), makeup, soaps, lotions, TV’s, overhead projection screens, computer monitors, record albums, clothes, bathroom cabinets/mirrors… and SO much more!! You are asked to call Sharron at 206-939-2732 to set up a time to view the offerings.

One of our most well-kept secrets in Lorane is “What’s Happening with the Lorane School?” Well, I just found out. The owners have recently set up a website where you can go to see what’s happening at http://www.theloraneschool.org. The most recent plan is to begin regular yoga classes conducted by owner Rich Mitchell. According to the website, “The plan is to develop a dedicated movement studio in the school. We would like to equip and decorate it as well as possible, as we feel it would serve to draw in quality instruction for weekend classes and workshops. So, we need to charge for classes, and feel $7 per drop-in class and ten classes for $50 is fair. We can use a punch card system. All first year proceeds will go to developing the studio.”

They also have a game room set up and tiny homes (or at least one, right now) are being built there.

In a related update, the Lorane Fitness Group has dropped Thursdays from their schedule. They will be meeting Tuesdays only at 6:00 p.m. at the Lorane Grange through April and will then break for the summer.

Lorane Grange’s next spaghetti dinner and bingo evening is Saturday, April 16.  It will be the last one until September.

Sweet Lorane Community News – March 3, 2016

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
March 03, 2016
By Pat Edwards

The Rural Art Center- and Lorane Grange-sponsored Lorane Talent Show is still a month away, but they are still looking for new talent and have added more information about what they are hoping to present. For those of you who are too shy to share your singing voice, your dexterity with a musical instrument or your nimble dancing feet with an audience, there is still hope for sharing other talents you may have. Bring your artwork or craft projects – pottery, quilts, hooked rugs or whatever you make or do that brings you and your family enjoyment. They will be displayed and possibly even judged… April 3 at 3:00 p.m.

UPDATE: Norm Fox is back home from his extended hospital stay. He returned home on March 1 and seems to be doing much better.

I received word from my granddaughter, Hannah Edwards, that a fellow student at Creswell High School – a young man from Lorane’s neighbor to the northeast – is fighting for his life at the time of this writing.

On Tuesday, March 1, Blake Nelson was rushed into surgery after doctors found that Blake’s fever and swelling in his leg was related to a bacterial infection which caused compartment syndrome. They have since found necrotizing fasciitis (flesh eating bacteria), and strains of staph bacteria in his lungs, his mouth and other parts of his body.

Blake has been in the ICU at Riverbend Medical Center, intubated and anesthetically unconscious, and will have more surgical operations until medical staff feel that they have controlled the spread of bacteria in his body. He is expected to be in the hospital at least for two weeks if all goes well.

As a CHS wrestler, Blake’s “strong spirit and bright personality are un-matched.” His coach, Wayne Joseph Roberts, has set up a GoFundMe account for the family and asks us each to keep Blake and his family in our thoughts and prayers. Please add yours to ours. That’s what neighbors do, after all!

I hesitate to go into this next topic. I’m not a political person, nor will I become one now, but I have some observations and comments that I have felt strongly that I must share.

I have been raised with an enduring pride in my country and the foundations from which it was built. I’ve taken pride in voting and doing what I could to participate in the rights that are afforded me. I’ve tried to keep myself informed on the candidates, issues and measures that each election involves, and I’ve cast my votes according to my heartfelt belief in what I felt expressed my informed opinion… not by party line.

But, right now I join so many others in a growing discomfort and actual trepidation on how our political canvas is being painted this year. It’s the first time that I have feared for the future of our country. How can I vote with my heart and my head when both, if the current trend continues, tell me that neither candidate will take us confidently into the future? How are we expected to choose between the lesser of two… maybe not evils… but of two candidates that I have no confidence in?

I know that there are those of you who will disagree with me, but these are the conclusions I have come to and unless some Independent “messiah” appears on the horizon who will rekindle our hopes for strong leadership in this country, this may be the first Presidential election that I’d consider sitting out… or at least writing in the name of someone who would have absolutely no chance to win. There is no way that I can put my mark beside either name.

Sweet Lorane Community News – February 11, 2016

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
February 11, 2016
By Pat Edwards

Those of you who love and respect Debbie Davis as much as I do, will be glad to hear that her craniotomy surgery this past week went well and she is recovering nicely. Her daughter, Anna, said that she was expected to go home last Friday… that’s where healing really can begin! Debbie has proven time and again how strong she is and I have no doubt that she will continue to battle the cancer that keeps trying to sneak up on her and one day she will be declared the winner.

It’s strong courageous people like Debbie and Michael Matchulat who are literally fighting for their lives against cancer that make me realize that this world has some amazing people who are daily showing us how precious life is.

Loranian Michael Matchulat has been very open with his fight against the cancer that has invaded his colon, liver and lungs and his words on Facebook are inspiring others who are heading down the same road. Last night, Michael posted an update about the fact that the new meds that he is on are “way more bearable and have eliminated almost every (bad) side-effect.” When someone mentioned his amazingly positive attitude, Michael immediately responded with what I consider a golden nugget of advice for others and their loved ones who are in the same position: “Just remember one rule: Be sad sometimes. Optimism is often confused with positivity. Don’t make cancer fighters be positive; it tells them their emotions are wrong.” I shared his words with an especially good friend in Montana who has just begun the journey down that road and I know that they are so appreciated.

One of our former long-time residents, Walt VanDecar, passed away on  February 7, according to his daughter, Rose. She and Walt’s stepchildren, Susan and Kenny Keeler, went to the Lorane and Crow schools and his wife, Mary Ann, was active with the Lorane P.T.C. for many years. Walt was a sheep rancher and shearer, and after moving from the Crow area, he worked closely with Cleve Dumdi in the Monroe and Junction City areas. Our condolences go out to Rose, Mary Ann and the rest of the family. I know that he will be sorely missed.

Disclaimer: The following is a “proud grandma” alert… I just got word from our son, Rob, that our two Creswell granddaughters, Hannah and Natalie Edwards both came home today with report cards sporting 4.0 GPAs! In addition, Miss Nat was named Student of the Month at the middle school.  Congratulations, girls! Grandpa and I are so proud of you both. Hey! How could I NOT brag a bit?

I’ve got a date with both of my girls for this coming Saturday. We’re all going to get pedis, followed by lunch and maybe some shopping in celebration of Hannah’s 15th birthday on February 3. (You Creswell and Cottage Grove driver’s might want to be on the alert!) Actually, Hannah has a headstart on driving. She’s driven the tractor during haying season and has practiced on her Uncle John’s long driveway in Saginaw for the last couple of years. I have no doubt that she is going to do just fine. It’s so much fun being a grandma… and great grandma!

Ok… back to Lorane… The only other news I have right now are reminders of events that I’ve covered pretty thoroughly in the past couple of columns:

There’s a mandatory parent/athletic meeting scheduled at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 16 for all Spring Sports at Crow Middle/High School.

Sunday, February 21 is the Lorane Christian Church Friendship Dinner at Sizzler’s in Springfield at 5:30 p.m.

The next Lorane Grange dinner and bingo is Saturday, February 27 at 5:30 p.m.

I hope you’ve all been enjoying the sunshine this past week!