Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
August 3, 2017
By Pat Edwards

Sadly, I need to report on the passing of two local residents this week… one from Lorane and the other from Crow.

Naomi Klatt, mother of local resident and wildlife artist, Karen Pidgeon, and Kate Morrow, passed away this past week. For those of you who didn’t know her, Naomi lived in a small house on Fire Road. In June 2015, Naomi and her caretaker were rescued from the burning house by neighbor Norm Maxwell when he discovered the fire at 2:00 a.m. Thanks to Norm’s quick response, both made it through the fire in good shape, but the house had to have extensive repairs done before Naomi could move back in.

Naomi has been in poor health for quite some time and she passed quietly last week. Jim and I send our condolences to Karen, Katherine and the rest of Naomi’s family.

The community of Crow lost one of its own this week. Mike Wiederhold passed away unexpectedly last Monday night, July 31, while playing tennis. He and his wife Janie live on Briggs Hill Road and their son Guy attended school at Crow and graduated in 2008. According to Mike’s obituary, he was known for “building deep relationships with his friends and neighbors and impressively documenting all facets of his life through journals, notes and messages.” Rest in peace, Mike. You will be missed.

Beth Booth is turning 100 years old this month. Two celebrations are planned. The local celebration is to take place at the Lorane Grange Hall from 10:00 a.m. to noon on August 26. Another one will be held earlier at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 13th and Pearl Street, on August 20 from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.

Beth has lived for many years – since 1976 – on the north side of Stoney Point. If you haven’t had a chance to meet her, she is an amazing woman who kept (and rode) her horses well into her 80s.

Try to make one of her celebrations if you can. She is a woman whose long life definitely deserves to be celebrated!

The Lorane community is gearing up for its annual Community Potluck (beginning at noon) and Ice Cream Social (1:00 to 4:00 p.m.). Both will be taking place on Sunday, August 13. This year, we’ll be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Lorane Fire Department. I’ve talked about it in the last several columns, so I won’t go into a lot of detail, but they are adding several of the former Lorane Elementary School’s carnival booths for entertainment at the Ice Cream Social and the Lorane Community Association is needing volunteers to run the booths between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Give Marissa McNutt Cooper a call (541-517-6608) if you are willing to help. They will also welcome donations of pies and cakes, I understand.

Here’s a reminder of an upcoming event that I reported earlier… The Lorane Christian Church is sponsoring its annual “Worship in the Park” at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 27, this year. It will once again be held at the Martin family’s, Farmin’ Creek event center on Siuslaw River Road. A potluck lunch will follow the church service, as well as horseshoes and swimming in the pond.

Lane County has been experiencing extreme temperatures and dry conditions resulting in some recent wildfires around Mt. Pisgah and other outlying areas. Please be sure to use caution and follow the restrictions now in place against using lawnmowers, chain saws or other equipment that can cause sparks after 10:00 a.m. each morning.

Our experience of a few years ago showed us what can happen when caution is not used. It is believed that a careless motorist threw out a burning cigarette and caused the large Chambers Mill fire that burned at least 180 acres between the Mitchell and Matchulat places on Territorial Road south of Lorane. It took crews of firefighters and volunteers several days to get it under control and could have been so much worse than it was.
Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen again if at all possible!