Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
June 2, 2016
By Pat Edwards

On Sunday morning, May 31, another of Lorane’s long-time residents, Donna Moulton, passed quietly away following a long illness. She was surrounded by family and according to her grandson, Chris Blanchard, “She went peacefully and was able to spend her last days in her own home in Lorane. She loved Lorane, and didn’t ever want to leave.” No service is being planned, but her husband Bernie would enjoy having friends stop by, according to family members.

The property and house that Donna Moulton and her husband Bernie lived in on South Territorial Road has a lot of history attached to them. The home is one that Gary Thompson built for his parents in 1967. They obtained the property in 1951, and at the time, the old historic Cartwright House/Mountain House Hotel sat near the site where the Moulton’s home sits now.

“The Thompsons offered the old home and 107 acres of land to several historical societies. For many years, efforts were made by various agencies and concerned citizens to raise the $35,000 needed for purchase. The Lane County Museum Commission urged the Lane County Parks and Recreation Commission to buy the property for a county park site. The commission appointed a committee which concluded that the Cartwright House should indeed be preserved as the oldest public structure in Lane County, but that the commission was not the agency to do it. They recommended that publicity should be used to stimulate interest in the private sector. Taking not only acquisition but maintenance as well into consideration, the commission felt that no one had come up with a feasible solution or a means of raising the funds needed.

“While standing unused, the old house began to deteriorate rapidly. Following her husband’s death on July 10, 1970, Grace Thompson (Gary’s mother) decided she could no longer keep it in good condition and as increasing taxes made it unfeasible to keep it for sentimental reasons, the decision was made to tear it down.” (Sawdust and Cider: A History of Lorane, Oregon and the Siuslaw Valley, 1987 & 2006)

According to Lisa Livelybrooks, the Rural Art Center’s Ukulele Club performed on May 14 at the Uke Jam at Cozmic Pizza to a full house. It was one of six student groups to perform. Their next performance will be on July 7 during the Crow-Applegate-Lorane’s Spring Elementary Music Performance at Applegate Elementary.

The RAC Uke Club, formed in October 2015, is free. It is underwritten by grant funding from Spirit Mountain and Cow Creek Foundation and meets weekly on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in the band room at Crow Middle/ High School. The group encompasses all skill levels and ages, ranging from 4th graders through adults. It currently has 10 members. The club will take a break during the summer, but will resume in the fall. Lisa hopes that you will consider joining!

Just a reminder that Crow High School graduation will be held on Friday, June 10 at 7:00 p.m. in the gym. There will be 23 graduates.

The Valedictorian is Teancum Jentzsch. He is the son of Troy and Coleen Jentzsch of Lorane. He will be attending Lane Community College, and from there, transfer to Oregon State University to earn a civil engineering degree. He was Student Body President his senior year, a National Honor Society member, played football, baseball, and participated very successfully in wrestling. Teancum also volunteered to help youth interested in wrestling and teaching middle school student-athletes how to block.

The Salutatorian is Rylan Larsen. He is the son of Hans and Kristi Larsen of Crow (Hans is a Lorane Elementary alum). Rylan has been accepted to George Fox University with a career goal of becoming a physical therapist. During his high school years, he was a member of the National Honor Society and was its president his senior year. Rylan was Class President his sophomore year, participated in football 3 years, and basketball and track & field all 4 years. He also volunteered on two missions/humanitarian trips to Mexico and volunteered during Vacation Bible School all fours years.

The rest of the graduating class includes Cameron Behlke, Dalton Bowman, Lawson Brooks, Grayson Clark, Trent Clark, Harrison Counts, Trevor Knoop, Gunnar Lassen, Aaron Lawson, Thomas Martin, Audrey Millard, Evangeline Nickle, Vanessa Oldale, Cameron Schwartz, Wyatt Stewart, Fernanda Torres, Alex Willis, Nicholas Willits, Yeshua Wogoman, Bryce Wood, Alyana Woods.

Congratulations to the Crow High School Class of 2016!