 The artist Jo Marie and Guild President Sharon Jesson pose by the Kids Kits shelf at the Applegate Art Guild. The year was 1985. Ronald Reagan was sworn into his second term in office that January 20th and on January 28th, the song We Are the World was recorded by an ensemble known as USA for Africa to raise money for famine relief. Route 66 was officially removed from the U.S. Highway System after 60 years, and the wreck of the Titanic was finally located in the north Atlantic. One of the biggest mistakes in marketing history took place when Coca-Cola changed its formula and released New Coke which was a dismal failure. Rent for an apartment was typically $325 a month, a gallon of gas cost $1.09, the average house cost $89,000 and a stamp set one back a total of 22 cents.
In entertainment, Calvin and Hobbes were introduced to comics readers, TV viewers tuned into The Cosby Show, Murder She Wrote, Dallas, Dynasty, and Miami Vice. If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon, The Sicilian by Mario Puzo, Family Album by Danielle Steel, Texas by James Michener and The Mammoth Hunters by Jean Auel topped the New York Times Bestseller List and radio listeners sang along with such tunes as Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham!, Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears and I Want to Know What Love Is by Foreigner. In Veneta, a group of artistically minded women decided they wanted a way to get their work out where it could be seen and admired and thus began the Applegate Art Guild. First located on E. Broadway, the guild operated out of a private home with members meeting on the first Monday of every month and paying dues of $5. Bob Bettencourt became the guild’s first director, and it wasn’t long before it had to move to the now vacant building next to the food court. The Guild remained at this location until 1988 when it then moved to a building on Highway 126 near Dixie’s Café. At this point, it boasted 55 members and one of its good works was to raffle off an oil painting to help raise funds towards the purchase of a seeing eye dog for local resident Terry Muller, who had lost her eyesight to diabetes. Guild members also painted the exterior of the locker rooms for the original city pool. In 1989, the guild achieved nonprofit status. Two years later in 1991, the guild moved to the old church building that is now home to Our Daily Bread and soon after began holding shows at such places as Lane Electric. Unfortunately, this location did not last after the furnace quit and the paintings that hung on the guild’s walls became at risk for developing a type of mold called bloom. This was deeply disappointing as the extra room here allowed the guild to be able to include crafters and hold painting and drawing classes. It had been hoped that they could also offer classes to children after the school district found it necessary to eliminate certain electives. Now, it looked as though the guild might have to disband. Fortunately, more space was found at the Fern Ridge Center Mall in 1994, but when the rent rose to an untenable rate, the guild moved once more to an empty store front at the West Lane Center where it remained until staying in Veneta city limits became impossible. Now, the Applegate Art Guild calls the Applegate Regional Theatre campus home and creations by various artists bedecks the walls of the small but comfortable area where artists fashion their works and teach others how to do the same. Currently, the guild only has 18 members, but they hope to see this number rise and they are always open to suggestions as to how to accomplish this and what sorts of things the guild should offer. Currently, the guild offers several classes with the artist Jo Marie teaching woodburning, current President Sharon Jesson teaching painting with acrylics, Emily Fraizer teaching two types of weaving, Elizabeth Chamberlain teaching book binding, Carol Lewis teaching handmade greeting cards and Dana Doyel teaching the making of glass bead earrings. For those with children who enjoy art, the guild offers small packets of goodies such as paints and paint brushes that sit on a pair of shelves and await being used by little hand as they create miniature masterpieces that can hang with pride on a refrigerator door. For 40 years now, the guild has persisted and when the chips have been down, it has persevered in staying a part of the community. While many of the guild’s members have grown old and gone on to their Heavenly reward, those who enjoy being a part of its membership now hope that that guild will continue and that others will be able to enjoy having a space to create their art and show it off, while also imparting their knowledge to others. Having a space to express their creativity has been important to them, and it is their hope that others with an interest in art might like to wander through the guild’s doors and see what the guild can offer them.
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 Laura White is right at home as Fern Ridge Library’s new Assistant Director. While growing up in Salem, she was encouraged by her friend’s mother Mrs. Richards, who worked as a librarian, to obtain her library degree one day. While this never happened, she did find her niche in working at bookstores once she graduated from the University of Oregon.
It was while working at Barnes & Nobel that she met Brian Juenemann, then an employee of the University of Oregon’s bookstore, during the formation of the Reading in the Rain program that was begun by Tsunami Books Scott Lanfield. Originally, Lanfield was going to start this program with the reading of Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey, with Kesey himself giving a talk. However, when Kesey passed away, Lanfield opted to expand this program to involve all area bookstores as well as both the Eugene and Springfield Public Libraries. When White’s path crossed with Juenemann at Reading in the Rain, he informed her that he was leaving his position at the University of Oregon bookstore to work for the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association and encouraged her to apply for his old job. White did so, and was hired as the store’s Event Coordinator, which she described as a “fun job” as she got to work with various groups and departments at the college. The University then decided to no longer have a book department in favor of selling textbooks online and Covid also hit with a vengeance, resulting in White’s being out of a job. Eventually, she began to work part-time at Tsunami Books, and it was while she and the Tsunami crew were at PNBA conference in Portland, that she crossed paths with Juenemann once more. Juenemann told White about a position coming open at Fern Ridge Library, which he himself had heard about from Director Colin Rea, who was volunteering at the conference and had mentioned then Assistant Director Laura Blankenship’s impending retirement. As he did with the U of O job, he encouraged White to apply. White, for her part, wasn’t particularly interested, but after receiving a link from a friend about the position, she gave it a look and was impressed that it was in fact her dream job as it incorporated parts of all the other positions she had held. This was combined with the “sweet memory” she had of being at Fern Ridge Library years before at an event that featured author Garth Stein and his book The Art of Racing in the Rain approximately ten years before after Rea contacted the U of O bookstore who then provided copies of Stein’s book. “I wanted to see if the feeling was still there,” White states while explaining why she finally decided to apply. During the online interview process, White says she loved meeting Blankenship and describes both her and Rea as “wonderful.” She was offered the job shortly before Christmas, but because she could not leave Tsunami Books during the height of the Holiday season, she continued to work there two days a week while learning the ropes at the library. Now that she has taken over as Assistant Director, White is making some changes to some existing programs such as changing the name of the Death Cafés led by Deanna English, retired RN and death doula, to something more pleasant and English is also considering leading a book group on death and dying as she and White try to find a time for her programs that will work better for people than the current time does. White is also working to change the Hobby Hangout program so that participants will be able to come once a month with a project to work on while the following session would feature a guest who would teach certain things such as paper making. This month, the first of a series of “Good to Know” programs will have a guest teach how to write a letter to the editor or to a congressperson, and next month will feature a session on how to care for houseplants. White is open to suggestions from people about other things they would be interested in learning. Come autumn, she may decide to add a non-fiction book group to the slate of programs, but at this point, tax season is in full swing with AARP taking over the Konnie Room on Monday’s and Saturday’s and then Summer Reading will be commencing soon after. “I’m still getting my feel for the library, coming from a retail background” says White. “It’s exciting to be a part of something so vital to the community, a place where people can be entertained, learn something, be around others.” White says that she also enjoys talking with the substitutes who are working on their library degrees and remarks about how many opportunities there are to learn. Everyone has been “so welcoming”, and she describes the library’s volunteers as “amazing.” It is White’s hope to be a part of Fern Ridge Library for a good long time and already she has made a positive impact in the short time she has been on staff. She may not have gotten that library degree (Mrs. Richards still asks) but she has done well and Fern Ridge Library is lucky to have her.  Illegal dumping is an issue throughout Lane County and the Fern Ridge area is not exempt. Recently, bags of garbage and an old recliner were left near the railroad crossing in Veneta and a boat filled with garbage bags was left at the pullout on Territorial near the Long Tom River.
County Public Information Officer Devon Ashbridge says there is no lack of work for the two Abatement Officers who work hard to address this issue and will respond to anything left in the country right of way. Because the two officers have such a large area to cover, they rely on people making reports, as happened in the case of the illegal dumping at the railroad tracks. Once they have responded and the mess is cleaned up, Ashbridge says officers will comb through it to look for clues as to who the responsible party is. If they can be identified, they will be hit with a stiff fine as punishment. Ashbridge says that illegal dumpers typically look for roads with a pullout or where there is room for a vehicle to pull off the road or turn around. She cites Bolton Hill Road as a place where illegal dumping is common, despite the fact that there is a transfer station at that location. Ashbridge also acknowledges that places such as Highway 126 from Veneta to Eugene are bad for litter, but this roadway falls under the authority of the Oregon Department of Transportation while the County Corps of Engineers were responsible for removing the trash filled boat from the pullout by the Long Tom River. Ashbridge asks that people who see illegal dump sites please report it by calling 541-682-4533 or emailing [email protected] or by filling out an online form at lanecountyor./waste.  Helen Louise Casmey Hardenbrook-Peitersen
April 7, 1942 - February 21, 2025 Helen Louise Casmey Hardenbrook-Peitersen of Elmira, Oregon, passed away peacefully on February 21, 2025. She was born to parents Margaret Mary Menard and Earl Arthur Casmey, in Longview, Washington, on April 7, 1942. She came into the world feet first, born right after her twin sister, Mary Lou Vaughan. Helen was also the sister of Carol and Richard, all of whom preceded her in death. She is now reunited with her parents, sisters, and brother in Heaven, along with her beloved son, Frank Richard Pacheco, who passed away in 1983, and her late husband Harold Hardenbrook, who passed in 2011. Helen's family was her heart and soul. She is survived by her only daughter, Heidi Louise Bhan, with whom she shared an unbreakable bond, and stepdaughter Barbara. She also leaves behind her husband Jim, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many other beloved family members and friends. Helen was raised in Sweet Home, Oregon, and after graduating from Sweet Home High School in 1959, she went on to marry and start a family. Her strong faith, love for God, and deep sense of devotion to her family guided her every step. On July 5th, 1992, she married Harold Hardenbrook, and they shared a beautiful 19 years of marriage before Harold passed away in 2011. Helen began a distinguished career as a U.S. Postmaster in 1977, moving to Elmira in 1980 to become the Elmira Postmaster. She was incredibly proud to be named Postmaster of the Year in 1993, a testament to her dedication, radiant and compassionate soul, and tireless work ethic. Her successful career was one of dedication and service, and she was incredibly loved, recognized, and respected by her colleagues and her community. After retiring in 2005, Helen found her joy and peace in the beauty of nature, the love of her family, and the comfort of her faith. She loved camping, spending time at the coast, and travelling on road trips around the country. She loved to play card games with her daughter and grandchildren, and she had an amazing gift for sewing and creating beautiful things. Her love and devotion to her family were evident in everything she did, and she took great pride in being a constant presence in their lives. Although Helen will be deeply and profoundly missed, her unending love, faith, and kind spirit will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her. A memorial service to honor and celebrate Helen's life will be held on March 8th at 11:00 at Olivet Baptist Church, Veneta. Family and friends are invited to come together to remember her and celebrate the love and joy she brought into their lives.  Walk down Broadway towards City Hall and you will see them clustered on a small lot across from the Broadway Grill. Modified motor homes and trailers that are seeing new life as food trucks offer those who wander in a selection of foods from boba tea to hot dogs to Mexican cuisine. But they are struggling, and multiple factors are at play as the small businesses fight to survive. Luava’s Place owner Savannah Celeste isn’t sure what the future holds for her. Serving such fare as baclava in her European oriented business, she has learned recently after a visit from Fire Marshall Brian Sayles that she is required to install a fire suppression system, which will be spendy. Unlike a sprinkler system that releases water to extinguish a blaze, a fire suppression system uses gaseous, chemical or foam agents in bringing a fire under control. For places that use highly combustible substances such as gas or oil, a fire suppression becomes necessary due to water not being as effective in quelling flames when these substances are combusted. For Celeste, this will cost $10,000 because two spots will need to be welded in her trailer for this to be able to occur and there will also need to be a deep cleaning before the welding can even be done. Celeste has been given an extension until the end of the year to get this take care of. The food truck pod got off to a bumpy start upon opening when a $300 cord was stolen so the copper within could be stripped and sold. This meant that Doggie Style Hot Dogs owner Tim Lycett had to scramble to try to save his food and wound up having to replace $500 worth that was ruined without the necessary refrigeration. These days however, local homeless citizens keep watch for the owners and report anything suspicious. It is also helpful, Lycett notes, that nearby brush has been cleared, thereby removing a hiding spot for those who would wish to commit a theft from the food trucks. Nonetheless, staying in business has become a struggle to the point that Kento’s Japanese food and La Fresca have left for other locations due to a lack of business that has come from the food trucks’ location. This leaves only Boba Works and Morelos along with Celeste’s and Lycett’s businesses at the pod. Celeste, whose business name is a combination of her children’s names, Lucien and Ava, tries to do events to help her business remain profitable such as providing orders at Veneta Elementary every Friday and suppling food at a recent wrestling tournament at Elmira High. She tries to come up with ways to offer specials and she and husband James are planning to raise pigs for the meat. She has expanded her menu to include breakfast burritos and sandwiches such as BLT and grilled cheese and lemonade. But, between rent, phone, and Wi-Fi bills, it has gotten difficult and to add to difficulties, the city of Veneta has required the payment of fees for the privilege of operating a food truck. A grant through the state had been a possibility but is now no longer being done. Because of the need for fire suppression systems, approximately half of the 30,000 food carts in Lane County may have to close. Celeste recently made a post on the community Facebook pages to ask what food truck operators can do to bring people to the Broadway site and those who read the post were generally supportive. In response to people’s concerns, Luava’s Place, which formally had hours from 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. now operates from 10:00 a.m. until 8 p.m. Luava’s is also open on Sunday’s from 12:00 p.m. until 6 p.m. Lycett opens his Doggie Style Hotdogs from 11:00 a.m. until 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday during the winter but will be open six days a week come summer. These hours mean he will have to do his shopping at 7 a.m. so he can begin cooking at 9 a.m. to be ready for those who show up between 9-10 a.m. Food shopping, too, has become a challenge, Lycett says, as Cash & Carry, where he purchases many of his supplies, is being bought out and prices are being raised. High egg prices are also factoring into difficulties in turning a profit. People have complained about the prices that are asked for the food at the food trucks, but Celeste points out that everything is made to order. There has been talk of adding a fire pit or heaters at the food truck pod and last summer Smitty’s, the owner of the food truck pod, opened the sliding doors of the vacant building next door and served alcohol. Food truck owners want to have indoor seating but there are issues with the building and an architect needs to be found to rectify this. Also, a ramp for the disabled needs to be installed out front. The future of the food trucks is unknown at this point but those who are still there don’t want to have to leave. Celeste and her family live out here and this food truck is convenient for her. She doesn’t want to have to see this dream come to a crashing end any more than Lycett wants to have to say goodbye to Doggie Style Hotdogs. But with only 3-5 customers currently visiting the food trucks during the winter months versus 20-30 in the summer, it is uncertain if they will be able to survive these various expenses. All they can do is work hard and hope that more business will come their way despite their location being off the main drag. In the meantime, they continue to do what they have been doing and run their businesses while hoping that things will change, and they won’t have to make the painful decision to close.  Savannah Celeste and Tim Lycett pose at a picnic table at the pod after a conversation about the food trucks' struggles.  Danielle Parker has spent the last 34 years in early childhood education. Beginning as an aide at Churchill High School’s Child Development Center while a student at Elmira High, she has made the teaching and nurturing of preschool aged children her life’s work.
After high school, Parker attended Lane Community College and obtained her degree in Early Childhood Education and then proceeded to teach preschool in Eugene until the school was closed in 2006. It was then that her husband suggested she start a school of her own in Veneta. She liked the idea and began to look around for a suitable place to do so, finally finding space at the Cornerstone Worship Center on Jeans Road, though the school is not affiliated with the church. Fern Ridge Child Development Center began small with three classrooms and a handful of students. These days, the center boasts six classrooms and an afterschool program. Eighteen teachers round out the staff and four high school students also work at the afterschool program for school credit and extra cash. The center’s programs are open to children from age six weeks to 12 years, though only four babies at a time are currently allowed to be enrolled. There is a cook on staff who prepares the children’s lunches in the church kitchen and all staff members must pass a criminal background check and be certified in CPR and first aid. Regular 15-hour child development training sessions are also required. Typical of preschool, such concepts as shapes, colors, letters and numbers are taught as are life skills and problem solving. The children also engage in circle time, go over the calendar, sing, and dance. The center is licensed for 60 kids though 85-90 are enrolled, with some attending only in the morning and some of the children share a time slot and only come on certain days. Originally, the center also had school-aged children come in the afternoon as part of its afterschool program. Then, Elmira Elementary officials came to them in 2018 and inquired about them starting a program at the school. Parker and her staff agreed and today, students from Veneta Elementary are bused to Elmira Elementary where the high school students and adult staff serve the kids in the program a snack and engage them in sports activities in the gym and activities such as Legos and crafts in the cafeteria. The center doesn’t do a lot of advertising, preferring instead to rely on word of mouth and while Parker has considered moving to bigger quarters, she doesn’t want the center to become too big as she likes having a close relationship with parents, something she could not do if the center were to serve many more children. Unlike other schools and school programs, the Fern Ridge Child Development Center stayed open during Covid, and it was stressful. Approximately 20 school-aged kids stayed in one classroom and did their lessons over Zoom while sitting six feet apart and wearing masks. The smaller children, meanwhile, remained in their classrooms rather than comingling on one of the two small playgrounds and much work was done cleaning and sanitizing. It’s a happy, busy place, this preschool, and the children are cared about by the staff and well cared for. A life’s calling for Parker has helped enrich the lives of countless children who have passed through the center’s doors over the past 19 years and countless more will be the beneficiaries of this introduction to education and will enter elementary school prepared to continue to learn and grow. One preschool’s closing has benefited an entire community, and the Fern Ridge area is all the richer for the Fern Ridge Child Development Center being a part of it.  A fire burns in a small fireplace in the waiting area of G Street Integrated Health in Veneta Attempting to schedule an appointment to see the doctor can be trying at best these days and impossible at worst. Most physicians are scheduled out at least three months, so seeing one for illness or injury isn’t really possible unless a trip is taken to either an Urgent Care or an emergency room. For a patient, it is frustrating and demoralizing and dealing with office staff who don’t seem to care too much care only makes an unpleasant situation worse. Jennifer Ocker wants to change this, and to this end, she founded G Street Integrated Health in Springfield in 2019 with the objective of offering to all citizens of Lane County a completely integrated community health center that is able to provide services for the entire family. Despite Covid engulfing the world just a year later, the clinic has grown, and the staff has remained dedicated to their mission of providing good medical care. Seeing further need, however, Ocker, who specializes in administration, has opened another clinic in Veneta. The Fern Ridge area holds a special place in Ocker’s heart. Her father, Dr. Rob, practiced in the medical building on Territorial many years ago and as a fourteen-year-old, Ocker worked at the clinic as a file clerk during her summer vacation. She describes this clinic as being “near and dear” to her heart. Originally, Dr. Rob, who now resides in Mexico, asked Ocker to get the building ready to sell in 2010 and after sitting empty for several years, it was purchased in 2016 by Eugene Urgent Care who eventually became rebranded as NOVA. Best Med took over from NOVA, but those in charge didn’t seem to understand “county medicine” Ocker explains, while relating a tale of a woman who arrived 10 minutes late for an appointment after becoming stuck in traffic on Highway 126 from Eugene when a car accident slowed things down and had to reschedule, something the new clinic would not require a patient to do. Ocker also relates how her father would often take salmon and elk for payment in lieu of money. When Best Med closed the clinic down, the building sat vacant for another three years until Ocker decided to bring it back to life and work began on the Veneta office of G Street Integrated Health. On January 6th of this year, the doors officially opened after the interior was painted, new carpeting was put down and a new HVAC system was installed. A non-profit with a board of directors, the clinic has gotten off to a good start. Currently, the clinic only offers primary care, but Ocker hopes to see this change as word gets out and the clinic grows. There is no Urgent Care as of yet, but walk-ins will be accessed to see if what they have come in for is something quick like needing treatment for a UTI or perhaps the removal of a tick. While the clinic in Springfield does have a behavioral therapist on staff, there is not one at the Veneta office yet while Ocker tries to determine if there is a need. Addiction treatment can also be added if necessary as there is a treatment specialist in Springfield who would be able to visit the Veneta office. Community ties run strong in the Veneta clinic. The office staff are both local, a Medical Assistant used to live in the Fern Ridge area and Physician’s Assistant Carrie Patterson is a graduate of Elmira High. Keeping things in the family, Ocker’s son Jace is the clinic’s accountant. Should the need to expand arise, the clinic already owns four tax lots south to Bolton Rd, East, and plans for this summer include painting the exterior, (the cedar came from Dr. Rob’s Ham Road property in Creswell.) and working on the landscaping. “We’re only limited by our imagination,” Ocker states plainly when speaking of plans for the clinic’s future. Appointments at the clinic are scheduled out only three weeks and the staff does have to be mindful of how many new patients they can take at this time. The clinic boasts both a small lab, and x-ray facilities and hopes to add more services as things progress such as performing minor procedures. G Street is a delegate for Vaccines for Children program which provides immunizations for youngsters whose parents or guardians may not be able to afford them. For those who don’t qualify for the Oregon Health Plan, there is a sliding fee. Medicine practiced the way it should be is what one will find when they walk through the doors of G Street Integrated Health. It is run by individuals rather than a corporation and providing all-inclusive care while showing kindness and empathy to all are of utmost importance to the staff. The practice of medicine doesn’t have to be impersonal; it doesn’t have to be profit driven at the patient’s expense. It can be done so patients are seen and heard and cared about. G Street Integrated Health is proof of this.  A welcome signs greets those who come into the waiting area.  Dawn Dean has devoted her life to teaching. After obtaining her degree at Bushnell University, she began to work as an Instructional Assistant in the Western Placer Unified School District near Sacramento, California, and then moved to working in the resource room. It was a natural transition for her to become a substitute teacher, and when she began to teach 5th grade in Creswell, it was where she would remain until becoming Veneta Elementary School’s new principal last autumn after the retirement of former principal Lisa Latham.
Dean, who received her Administrative License from the University of Oregon, would have been happy to remain a 5th grade teacher, had a position as a principal not come up. In fact, when she interviewed for the Veneta Elementary job, she confided to her husband Troy, that she didn’t think she’d gotten it. However, she received a call on a Tuesday, one day after the interview took place, and was told the district wanted, in fact, to hire her. In the months since taking the helm, Dean has found she loves being a principal. “I used to love on the students as much as I was able,” she reflects. “Now, I can love on the students, staff, and the families.” Dean has been told that it is not wise to make a lot of changes in the first year of being a school principal and she is heeding this advice. Once the school year ends in June, she will then reflect on what went well and what could be changed and then make a decision. In the meantime, she will focus on the students, whom she describes as “caring” and “loving” and the staff, which she describes as “amazing.” She tries to make a point of being out of her office as much as she can so the students can see her, and they can interact. She also keeps her hand in teaching and will fill in for teachers who must be absent for one reason or another, most recently taking a P.E. class so the teacher could be away coaching a sports team. During last December’s tree lighting, Dean, who grew up in California singing in choirs and participating in drama, led a school choir in singing a selection of carols. Family is important to Dean as well. Married to Troy, a pastor and professor at Bushnell University, for 30 years, she is the mother of three sons – Tanner 26, Dakota 25, and Chase 24. For ten years during their childhood, she was a stay-at-home mom, a time she recalls with immense fondness as being there for them at this age was of great importance to her. Tanner is following in his parents’ footsteps and is an Instructional Assistant at Shasta Middle School in Eugene. He is working on getting his master’s degree so he can teach. Dakota works in the fashion industry in New York and Chase works in the tech field. Dean is proud of her sons and what they have accomplished, all of whom she describes as “single and available.” Life hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Dean and her family, however. Several years ago, she was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma the “size of a marshmallow but not as fun to eat.” Brain surgery was required so it could be removed and today, Dean, who possesses a strong religious faith, enjoys full health that she credits to God and His goodness. Dean looks forward to spending many years as Veneta Elementary School’s principal and getting to know the myriad children who come through its doors just as she once got to know her 5th grade students. She loves Veneta Elementary, and she hopes she can be as much of a positive influence on the children here as she was when she was in the classroom so that when they look back years from now on their elementary school experience, it will be with fondness towards a principal who truly cared for their wellbeing and wanted to make their days at Veneta Elementary School the best they could be. Fun fact: Dean worked at Disneyland right out of high school doing sales on Main Street. At one point, she was asked to play Snow White but said no after learning she would have to sign an agreement to stay out of the sun so her skin would be pale due to the cosmeticians using the same amount of make-up on everyone who played a character.  Lane County Sheriff’s Deputies have taken one suspect into custody and are searching for a second in conjunction with several Veneta area burglaries.
Within a two-week period during October of last year, a restaurant, a residence, and a market were burglarized. Austin James Blaylock, 30, was identified by deputies as one of the suspects. After search warrants were issued at two Veneta residences associated with Blaylock, evidence was found linking him to the crimes and he was taken into custody on two counts of Burglary in the 1st Degree, four counts of Burglary in the 2nd Degree, five counts of theft in the 1st Degree, Theft in the 2nd Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. As of January 14th, he remained in custody at the Lane County Jail. Deputies have also identified Charles Guy Younkin-Stec, 33, of Veneta, as an additional suspect in the burglaries. A search warrant was applied for and granted for his trailer, located in the 88300 block of Ridiculous Road. Before it could be served, however, Crow High School was burglarized and suffered a loss of more than $10,000 worth of items. Deputies then learned that Linn County had discovered evidence linking Younkin-Stec to a residential burglary from earlier in the summer of 2024. Younkin-Stec has not been able to be located and taken into custody for the seven listed burglaries, partly because local residents associated with him have refused to cooperate with authorities. Younkin-Stec has caused significant hardships and financial loss to Veneta-area businesses, residents, and students. Anyone with information on his whereabout is requested to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4141.  DeAnna Townsend poses in her office with mixed breed puppy Fiona. DeAnna Townsend saw a need and decided to fill it. Her work at the Veneta Service Center assisting the unhoused brought to her attention just how food insecure they are, and this in turn, led to her requesting a Little Free Pantry that could be installed just outside of the Service Center building.
A part of the Waste to Taste program, a food rescue and free food box program that works in partnership with bakeries, grocery stores, restaurants, and farms to salvage food and redistribute it to those in the community, the Little Free Pantries work to address hunger at a ramped-up level. LFP’s are maintained by a crew of volunteers and the owner of the property where the LFP is sited accepts responsibility for its care. Veneta was fortunate enough to receive a specially painted LFP and it was accessible 24/7. It proved popular, but because of the mental illness suffered by some members of the homeless population, there would always be a mess that would have to be cleaned up. Townsend realizes that those who are doing this are unwell, but more recently four youths have taken to vandalizing the LFP and a decision was made to remove it from its prior location due to a desire to balance providing this service with protecting patrons of the Service Center, the majority of whom are seniors. Often, there would be broken glass near the front entrance and other items strewn about would also present a tripping hazard. Townsend says the youths responsible for the vandalism were caught on the security cameras that were installed two months ago in response to the messes and appear to be either in fifth grade or early middle school. The Service Center’s location between Dairy Mart and American Market means kids frequently pass by as they go to one store or the other to purchase candy and soda pop. It is unknown who the kids responsible are, but the video has them at the Service Center after dark. “They are doing this to be stinkers,” Townsend states matter-of-factly. Things finally reached a point where the Board of Directors, in agreement with the volunteers whose task it was to maintain the LFP, decided it had become too much to have to clean up the mess left behind daily. It was time for it to go. It saddened them to have to make this pronouncement, but they saw no other alternative. Then, Savannah Celeste, owner of Luava’s Place, offered to host the LFP in front of her business and it was given a second chance to feed the hungry. Townsend toted the LFP down the block on a hand truck to its new home where it will still be monitored via cameras so offenders will be caught as continued messes are all but guaranteed. Townsend stresses that the LFP is not designed to have strings attached and if it is destroyed, it will be replaced by Waste to Taste. Nevertheless, it is disheartening to see the destruction wrought by those whose minds are not functioning properly but even more so by youngsters who seemingly have no respect for the property of others. At the same time, Townsend says, some of the unhoused have pushed the limits and have had to be told if they cannot be respectful, they cannot be on the Service Center property following gatherings that have taken place after hours beneath the covered area behind the building. Drinking and smoking have occurred and when staff have been working late, they have reprimanded those who have been partaking in this behavior to stop. Meanwhile, Townsend and others continue to work to meet the needs of the unhoused via programs that provide tents and tarps as well as air mattresses, cots, tie downs, and hygiene products courtesy of money received in a grant. Showers are available once a week and laundry can be dropped off on Wednesday and picked up on Friday. There is a general sense of compassion for the unhoused and work will continue to see that they have food they can easily access and at least a rudimentary shelter to protect them from the elements. While it may get frustrating at times, Townsend and the others who strive to assist those in need know they are not there to judge those who are unwell and unhoused but to care enough to want to extend a hand, a smile, and acknowledge their humanity while doing what they can to make things just a little easier. |
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