 VENETA MAN SEEKS HELP IN PROVIDING AILING WIFE A NEW HOME
By Helen M. Davis Donate Here Barbie and Ken Wallstrom have enjoyed being able to give back to the community whether it be running a small restaurant for the Country Fair crowd or through the lessons Barbie once gave to children to impart her love for and knowledge of horses. If there was a need, they were willing to address it. Now, they are asking for help from others. Things for the Wahlstrom’s began to take a turn for the worse in 2005 when Barbie was t-boned after another driver ran a red light at Barger Street and Beltline Road in Eugene. The collision left her with damage to her cervical and lumbar spine which rendered her incapacitated. The insurance money that was awarded by the company of the other driver didn’t go far as it was split three ways between the Wallstrom’s, their attorney, and their insurance company, but it was enough to just get by. Then, Ken was injured on the job in 2016 after falling ten feet from a ladder. Surgery repaired his torn pectoral muscles and his damaged rotator cuff, but he, too, was left disabled and limited in what he can now do. Still, they persevered and went about their lives despite the chronic pain they were both left with. Barbie had her horses, which brought her great joy and Ken had his various projects. Things took another turn, in June of 2022, when Barbie went to the doctor after suffering from bruising and extreme fatigue. Her physician took one look and ordered her to go to the emergency room at Riverbend. After a wait of 12 hours, during which Barbie was in extreme pain due to her issues with her spine, a blood test was ordered and came back positive for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. For the uninitiated, ALL is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The word acute stems from the disease’s rapid progression as it creates immature blood cells rather than ones that are mature. Lymphocytic leukemia refers to white blood cells known as lymphocytes, which the disease affects. Barbie was admitted to Riverbend where she stayed for five days until being transferred to Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. Once released from there, the Wallstrom’s stayed at the Rood House, which Ken likens to a Ronald McDonald house for adults, for another 100 days while Barbie had the necessary treatments. In October, she readied for a bone marrow transplant by having her immune system done away with to lessen the likelihood of Graft vs. Host Disease, which occurs when donated stem cells received during an allogenic (from a donor) transplant view the patient’s body as a threat and wage an attack. In November, Barbie returned to OHSU and had her transplant after a donor was found in San Diego. Not only was this an act of providence, but in further testament to the existence of miracles, the donor was a match in all twelve points. Typically, doctors seek an 8–10-point match. Afterwards, the Wallstrom’s stayed in the Rood House for another 100 days while Barbie had 2-3 check-ups a week and received necessary fluids. On February 7th, the Wallstrom’s returned to their 40-acre farm on Suttle Road. At 1:00 a.m. the following morning, daughter Kaliegh Wallstrom, 25, called Ken at the trailer where he was staying to protect Barbie’s non-existent immune system and informed him the house was on fire. Lane Fire responded, and fought the blaze until 2:00 p.m. the next afternoon, but the house was lost, a result, it was later determined, of a faulty socket. Seven cats perished in the blaze and the Wallstrom’s were left with nothing. Needing some sort of shelter for Barbie and Kaleigh, Ken brought in a 5th-wheel that they are temporarily calling home while he does his best not to endanger Barbie while she is still so compromised. She has gone into remission thanks to the transplant, but she is struggling with acute Graft vs. Host Disease, and it is necessary for her to take medication that costs a whopping $40,000 a month, a price that OHP initially balked at until Barbie’s doctors got involved. Ken wants very much to rebuild so Barbie, to whom he has been wed for 40 years, can have a decent roof over her head in what could be her final days, but with finances so depleted and with his own disability this hasn’t been at all easy. Blueprints have been drawn up and revised and Ken has plans to cut trees on the property down and have them milled for the house to save costs, but they need help, and he has begun a GoFundMe in hopes of obtaining donations of either money, materials, or assistance. He hopes to do as much of it himself as his own health allows, save for the foundation, to keep expenses down. He’s hopeful that someone will respond and there have been a few, but help is still needed to give Barbie the home he wants her to have for whatever time God is giving her. Flyers have been left at Caris Pharmacy and at The Farm Store among other places and Ken wants people to know that in this time of rampant scams, this is not fake, the need is real. Whatever funds are left over from donations will be, in turn, donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Barbie’s name. We never know what is in our future and things can change in the blink of an eye as has been demonstrated time and again. It is our hope that in our time of need people will respond in a kind and compassionate manner and that someday, somehow, we can “pay it forward.” Ken is hoping for the same thing. All he wants is for the woman he has loved for so long to be comfortable in whatever time she has left, and he is hoping and praying that those in the community and even beyond, can help to make this happen.
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ACCIDENTS TIE UP TRAFFIC ON TERRITORIAL
By Helen M. Davis A pair of accidents tied up traffic on Territorial Highway February 21st, shutting down a short section of the road and necessitating the rerouting of cars onto a nearby street. At 4:30 p.m., a northbound pickup lost control and wound up in a ditch on the southbound side, according to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office. The occupants, who did not appear to be using seatbelts, were transported to the hospital for treatment. Shortly thereafter, a second crash involving a motorcycle took place nearby as traffic waited to turn onto Lamb Road, which was being used as a detour. The rider was also transported to the hospital. The identities of all involved were not released. Fire personnel and deputies responded to both incidents.  For Carolyn Curtis, the Broadway Grill is more than just a business. It is a calling. Though owning such an establishment was never what she would have termed a “lifelong dream,” she felt led to open it as she had experience in the industry and knew the Fern Ridge Community needed a good family restaurant they could enjoy. Previously, Curtis, a lifelong Elmira resident who graduated from Elmira High in 1982, was employed by Our Daily Bread as well as Crazy Al’s, the Noti Pub, Hack’s, and Yukon Jack’s so she knew a thing or two about how a restaurant is run. Located on Broadway in a stucco building kitty corner from American Market, the Broadway Grill was the original location for St. Thomas Beckett Catholic Church and then became home to several different pizza establishments before Curtis took over in 2016. When Curtis initially opened the Broadway Grill, she didn’t have enough money to pay for the necessary environmental health license, so she borrowed the funds from her son-in-law’s mother, the only thing closest to a loan she has taken out. Within a week, she replaced worn out equipment save for an old broken-down oven/grill combo that only worked on high. A month later, it, too, was given its walking papers and replaced with a new oven and flat-top grill affectionately known as “the Cadillac.” Along with Curtis’s son-in-law, her three daughters Leslie Hall, Stephanie Curtis, and Sammie Curtis also work at the restaurant as do a server and a cook. Everyone knows not only their job but all the positions so if needed they can segue into another role when the need arises. “I have the best crew of people,” says Curtis. “They are my tribe. If one is sick, another steps in.” Because of Curtis’s following from her previous restaurant jobs, building a good clientele was not difficult. Those who were already acquainted with her were curious to see what she had to offer and have continued coming back, even supporting the restaurant during the pandemic with the purchasing of to-go meals. The menu at the Broadway Grill is one of comfort food mainly with different types of hamburgers and sandwiches available and soups. Dinners are determined by the day of the week with each day featuring a dish such as salmon, baby back ribs, spaghetti, chicken fried steak, eggs, and biscuits. Friday and Saturday evenings see a fancier menu and the restaurant also satisfies sweet tooths with patisserie type food such as cookies, brownies, macaroons, cakes, torts, cheesecakes, and pies that Curtis makes herself. Typically, these goodies sell out quickly and Curtis has developed a reputation for her baked goods. While the Broadway Grill is closed on Sunday’s, Curits will open it for special events such as anniversary’s, birthdays, and retirement parties. She recently did three Sundays in a row and will open if someone has 25 or more people in their group. Soon, she will be opening for a bridal shower. Mother’s Day is celebrated with a buffet at the restaurant and Curtis also caters the city of Veneta’s yearly breakfast and will cater a wedding in June. The restaurant sees a regular fluctuation of diners beginning at noon when the lunch crowd comes in. Then it quiets down until 2:00 when “a little rush of patrons” trickles in to eat and then there is “Happy Hour” which runs from 3:00 – 5:00. During this two-hour period, cocktails are $7, and appetizers and drafts are discounted. The dinner hour then commences from 5:00 – 7:00, but lately, Curtis has been keeping things open until 7:30 or even 8:00. She takes pride in serving local craft beers and local wines but also has a selection of soft drinks for the teetotalers in attendance. Curtis just signed another five-year lease so she isn’t planning on going anywhere soon, but when the time comes for her to see what else life has to offer, she has no doubt her daughters will take over the Broadway Grill and it will continue to serve the locals who have come to love its fare. The Broadway Grill is a place where everyone is welcome, and it is hoped that they will come back again and again to be treated to a warm meal, a cold beverage, and a home baked goodie. It is a place that aims to become a landmark for its friendliness for years to come replete with warm smiles, happy hellos, and ‘60’s music playing over Pandora. Come check it out. You’ll be glad you did.    
Though it may be a small town, Veneta is not immune to crime and recent incidents have driven this fact home.
On January 10th, a residence on Spare Street was burglarized while the owners were absent (an investigation is continuing and no arrests have yet been made) and on January 22nd, a suspicious car was seen traveling through neighborhoods off Bolton Hill and the driver was observed looking in backyards and apparently checking out houses as though casing them. Earlier this month, an 11-year-old boy was frightened as he was seemingly followed by a scruffy looking man as he walked to the West Lane Center after being let off the bus early following school at Willamette Leadership Academy. The youngster, upon reaching the center, went into Ray’s Food Place and had a pair of employees escort him to his mother’s car. It was determined by Lane County’s Sheriff’s deputies, who were notified, that the man in question was a local transient who spends time at the West Lane Center on an almost daily basis. The child’s fear, however, was understandable as was his mother’s as she thought her son had been endangered. On Facebook, there are reports from Veneta citizens who have had gas siphoned from their vehicle’s tanks and their gas caps stolen and an intruder milling about their property early in the morning in another incident. Others have also reported unwanted persons in their yards and broken car windows. These sorts of things can and do shake a person’s sense of security as their home is violated. It is also a source of frustration as so few of these crimes result in an arrest and when they do, the punishment is oftentimes not much more than the proverbial slap on the wrist. Meanwhile, those who have been victimized have to worry about the possibility of identity theft and fraud. So, what can one do to protect their belongings and avoid suffering a loss? The Lane County Sheriff’s Office has tips that they are more than happy to share in the hopes of preventing citizens from falling prey to criminals. Many of these tips are common sense, but they bear sharing, nonetheless. To prevent your vehicle from being broken into, the sheriff’s department suggests parking in well-lit areas away from large trees or shrubs where a thief can easily hide from view. For added protection, many retail parking areas have security cameras that can be parked by which can be an excellent deterrent to would be thieves. It is also good practice to lock your vehicle doors even when parked on your driveway and to not keep anything inside it no matter how inconsequential it may seem. What you may consider unimportant may prompt a break-in. Storing a spare key anywhere on the car is never a good idea and car alarms are excellent ways to discourage theft. If this is not possible, then it is wise to invest in a steering wheel locking device. As for protecting one’s home, the sheriff’s department suggests keeping shrubbery trimmed to decrease places for a criminal to hide and making use of good outdoor lighting such as motion sensor. Keeping ladders secured is also a good idea as they can be used to access upper levels of a two-floor home. Bikes should be locked or stored indoors, and doors should also be kept locked as well. There are things one can do inside the home to protect oneself such as keeping keys hidden and safes attached to walls. A log should be kept of serial numbers for electronics and the door between the kitchen and the garage should always be kept locked. Emergency numbers should be programmed into cell phones and phones should be kept near one’s bed for easy calling for help should assistance be needed. While away from home, it is wise to inform a trusted family member, friend or neighbor that you will be gone so they can keep an eye on your house. Timers to turn on lights, etc., to make it appear that someone is home are a good investment and it is also helpful to have someone put your garbage/recycling out on the appropriate day, so it appears the house is occupied and have someone gather your mail and newspaper delivery or have them temporarily stopped. For long absences, it is suggested that someone keep your lawn mowed as an unkempt lawn is a giveaway that nobody is home and never use fake hide-a-key rocks on your porch. Never post on social media that you are leaving as this is an announcement to the world that you will be gone. It is a disconcerting feeling to know somebody has violated the sanctity of your home or vehicle, but by employing good common sense and taking precautions that risk is reduced. Having a good security system installed is highly recommended and may help lead to identifying a thief should one decide to see what they can steal. It’s time to fight back intelligently against the would-be criminals and do what we can to make their thievery as difficult and unpleasant as possible.
It was a bitterly cold afternoon on January 13th, and the area was being pounded by the worst ice storm the county has seen in many years. Veneta’s Transportation Maintenance Coordinator Jake Jensen was slowly negotiating his way home at approximately 2:30 on Highway 126 after assisting a coworker on Highway 36. As he approached the Knowles Creek tunnel in Mapleton, he saw that the westbound lanes were blocked by fallen trees resulting in motorists becoming stranded in the winter weather.
Armed with three power saws, extra chains, fuel, and a lot of determination to get the job done, Jensen got right to work clearing dozens of ice laden trees that had fallen after the bitter cold caused them to also freeze from the inside. Some motorists also lent a hand, moving limbs out of the way as soon as they were liberated from the tree they had grown on. Jensen, a seventeen year employee of the public works department was battling extreme fatigue, 18-degree temperatures, freezing rain and fast encroaching darkness as he worked but he toiled on until a path just wide enough to drive through was finally created. Jensen said he had to rotate his saws as he worked, keeping the two he was not using in the cab of his truck so they would not freeze and used up six sets of chains in the process of cutting a path to freedom for those entrapped. While he worked as quickly as he could, Jensen could hear other trees going down all around him seemingly nonstop. At one point, he encountered a trio of vehicles enroute to Florence. Before continuing east, he got them turned around so they could follow him back to Veneta before both Highway 126 and Highway 36 were closed for the next three days. Other associates who were made aware of what was happening out on the highway via continuous updates by Jensen to dispatch dropped what they were doing and went to aid in removing the fallen trees from the roadway, though Jensen did all the saw work. At one point, Jensen decided to turn his bright headlights off so he would be unable to see how many more trees were left to cut up and allow himself to focus on just one tree at a time. At one point, a tree struck Jensen’s truck, causing damage to the Variable Message Sign and rack, but he continued undaunted in leading the convoy of vehicles back to safety. It wasn’t until 9:00 that evening, when Jensen finally arrived in Veneta, six and a half hours after he initially left Highway 36, exhausted but filled with the knowledge that he had done what he had to do. All told, over a dozen vehicles and the numerous passengers within were freed from the tangle of trees thanks to Jensen’s willingness to put others over self and no small amount of can-do attitude. For Jensen this was just a day’s work, but for those he rescued, it was so much more. Had he not come along, those motorists who were stranded on a cold, icy, winter afternoon may have been forced to spend the night in their vehicles, in the darkness of the Coast Range mountains while at the mercy of nature while awaiting daylight and hopefully, help. As it was, they were able to reach their destinations and safety. A modest man who does not feel comfortable talking about himself, Jensen is a hero, and he deserves our thanks for doing what he did. He might tell you he was just doing his job, but to those he helped and for those who love them, it was so much more. He and all those involved in this rescue are applauded for their dedication to keeping the public safe. Caption – Jake Jensen, Veneta Transportation Maintenance Coordinator Trees lay across an ice shrouded Highway 126 |
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