 Michael Donovan Jr. and friend Michael Donovan Sr. seems like a jovial sort. Friendly, loquacious, he’ll share stories about his time as a drummer for various bands and wax poetic about his animals, many of them rescues. But, beneath the smile and the easy laugh is a heart that has been so badly broken, it may never be fully repaired. This is what happens when one loses a child to the scourge known as Fentanyl.
A formidable man-made opioid, fentanyl is akin to morphine but 50 – 100 times more powerful. It has been used as an intravenous anesthetic in the U.S. since 1960, and is prescribed today, many times in patches and lozenges for the treatment of severe, chronic pain from cancer and other illnesses as well as injuries. However, Fentanyl production has shifted from pharmaceutical companies to being produced by drug cartels. Dealers progressively mix Fentanyl into a number of drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamines. It is put in fake prescription pills such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and valium (diazepam) that are sold on the street. Two milligrams of Fentanyl can be deadly depending upon a person’s body size and one kilogram (traffickers typically distribute it by the kilogram) can potentially kill 500,000 people. Michael Donovan Jr. had battled addiction in his native N. Adams, Massachusetts, and had known his share of heartache including the loss of his young son after an unsuccessful court fight with the child’s mother, and a falling out with his mother, Michael Sr.’s ex-wife, with whom he hadn’t spoken in two years. Michael Jr. struggled with these twin losses and Michael Sr. was concerned enough to bring him to Oregon to live with him in his home in Veneta. Michael Sr. knew that Michael Jr. used marijuana and that he had had past issues with methamphetamines, but he had hoped that this was behind him. When Michael Jr. was able to land a job at American Market on Broadway within two days of his arrival, Michael Sr. was sure this was the beginning of the turning of a new leaf for his son. Michael Jr. was well liked by those who would shop at the market and was especially popular with the kids who would come in. Not wanting them to make the mistakes he had made; he would warn them about the dangers of drugs. Sadly, it was a danger he, himself, would fail to heed. Michael Jr. became involved with another woman and began doing meth with her. Though Michael Sr. was suspicious, it was difficult to prove anything. When he asked Michael Jr.’s new girlfriend if he was using, she denied it. Michael Sr. and Michael Jr. worked opposite shifts, so they would have most of their interaction on the weekend, but Michael Sr. wanted to give Michael Jr. his space as he was an adult, and he admits to not thinking anything of his son’s sudden burst of energy and lack of sleep. He just couldn’t. On June 25th of last year, the employee who worked the day shift at American Market arrived and found Michael Jr. dead on the floor. He was only 38 and would soon have turned 39. Toxicology tests revealed that he had suffered a Fentanyl overdose. Michael Sr. had worked a gig the previous night on Lorane Highway and when he received a message on his phone from the Lane County Sheriff’s office, “I just knew,” he says, his eyes clouding over as he recalls that horrific day. “Everyone talks about what it’s like to lose someone to an overdose, how they understand,” he says, “but unless you’ve been there, you can’t possibly know.” In the days that ensued, Michael Sr. learned just how valued Michael Jr. was in the Veneta community from the bank teller who told him about how much she and her kids had loved him, to the overflowing memorial service that was held at the store. Some people, he says, have stated that they don’t wish to go to the store without Michael Jr. there. Now, Michael Sr. must go on without his son and the dreams he had had of the two of them operating a food truck and serving such things as pulled pork and meatballs, things he calls “comfort food.” He draws on his strong Catholic faith to get him through, and it has given him comfort to wear the Miraculous Medal he found tucked among Michael’s belongings. It also helps to know that Michael Jr. believed in God and had told his father that “you might be getting to me” when speaking about the Catholic religion. It is Michael Sr.’s hope to raise awareness of the dangers of Fentanyl and to this end he has ordered bracelets and often wears a customized T-shirt in Michael Jr.’s memory. He longs to find a way to reach out to the community. “The biggest thing is to get this out to the community. He tried to help everyone but was not at peace deep down.,” Michael Sr. sadly states. “This is a community battle; conversations need to be had. How do you address it?” Maybe it starts by people realizing that even a small town such as Veneta is not immune to the scourge wrought by Fentanyl and that there needs to be education regarding its danger, it’s lethality, so that more lives will hopefully not have to be lost to this insidiousness. No parent should have to bury their child after such an unnecessary, preventable death. No one should have to grieve the too-soon loss of a life and the potential that it held, potential that will never be realized. Michael Donovan Sr. will never know what kind of future he and his son might have had together, but he does know he wants others to be spared the pain he carries with him, a pain he wouldn’t wish on anyone. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office did investigate Michael Donovan Jr.’s death, but the case was closed after his dealer, street name “Niner,” suffered a fatal overdose of Fentanyl in a case of cruel karma.
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 Bradley Storrey (left) and Jesus Coronado-Valle (Right) carefully apply white paint to the names in the bricks On Friday of last week, beneath azure skies and warm temperatures, a group of four resumed work on the veteran’s memorial at the Veneta city park. It was tedious work, scraping excess paint off the names of various service personnel etched in the bricks, but it was also a labor of love for Jonathan Phillips, himself a serviceman, and his crew of three high school honors students from Elmira High on this summer morning. Phillips, a trustee at Jack Kelly Post 9448, agreed to take on the project when it became apparent something needed to be done when the clear coat began to flake off and look unsightly. Knowing that high school students need 20 volunteer hours and honor society students need an additional 20 hours for a total of 40 hours in order to graduate, Phillips spoke with Forrest Cooper who teaches the Options class that was begun due to Covid and was given the names of Araya Price, Bradley Storrey, Jesus Coronado-Valle, Hannah Yaskovic, and Emily Weston who all agreed to participate. On Saturday June 15th, the group met and toiled for ten hours removing the old clear coat and painting the names in the bricks while making the discovery that they “suck at painting” and scraping out each letter individually, was just not working. This revelation led to them using larger paint scrapers that are more efficient and make the task much easier after first applying a coat of paint over the names. Only Price, Storrey, and Coronado-Valle showed up to finish the job and as they worked, country music played on a portable stereo and conversation flowed easily as the project was discussed and questions were asked and answered. Once the excess paint was removed from the bricks, the next step would be the application of a clear coat for the finishing touch. This memorial is just one of two ways that the city of Veneta honors its veterans. To get a loved one immortalized at the memorial in the park, one must contact the Jack Kelly post of the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars). When the demand is great enough and enough funds have been secured, they will then cut more bricks, according to Phillips. To have a banner hung on Broadway in a loved one’s honor, the Chamber of Commerce must be notified and the details of the person’s service along with a fee must be submitted. Phillips, who serves in the Oregon National Guard, was surprised by twin Daniel with a banner of his own. Currently, Phillips works at The Farm Store, but come the end of the year, he will deploy to Iraq after several months of training and will operate a C-Ram, which he says is a big anti-air gun. Previously, he served in Qatar. It is commendable what Phillips, and his crew are doing to make the memorial look new again. For them, it is more than just a way to spend time on a summer morning or earn volunteer hours. It is more than an obligation to fulfill or a way to draw attention to oneself. It is an act of caring about those who served, many of them giving their lives in the process, and their families, some who have welcomed their loved one back, some who have grieved their loss. It is a way to say that these people who displayed such valor under such daunting circumstances will not be forgotten and the freedoms that we enjoy as a result of their sacrifices are not taken for granted. If, in the process of completing this project, someone should thank Phillips for taking this on, or the students should walk away with a feeling of accomplishment, this is just icing on the cake. Thank you, Jonathan, for your service. We are truly indebted to you.  Araya Price gives a thumbs up after a job well done.  Daniel Phillips grew up scouting with his twin brother Jonathan and now as an adult still keeps the Boy Scouts “kicking along.” He not only serves as a commissioner for the Fern Ridge area scouts, but he also assists scouts all over Lane County. It’s in his blood and what he loves to do. In January, while attending a meeting to discuss plans for Memorial Day, talk turned to the flagless flagpole at the West Lane Center, and it’s having fallen victim to the ravages of time. After standing sentry for 40 years, the top bearing and pulley system became a casualty of the weather and Old Glory was found laying on the ground near Banner Bank by employees of Ray’s Food Place. West Lane Center owner John Hammer was not interested in maintaining the flagpole. He had become disillusioned after having the fountain by Ixtapa removed when people would not stop throwing their litter into it. Nonetheless, it was decided that something should be done so Phillips got to work on getting the necessary repairs done to the flagpole so the flag could fly once more. It was a team effort, however, as it was Pat Coy who located the old flag after hearing rumors about its location. Phillips collected the flag in February from where it had been kept since 2023 and then launched into the task of attempting to source and locate all the pieces needed to get the flag flying once again. It took a total of three months just to get a lift and this was done courtesy of Peterson Cat in Springfield who generously donated one of theirs two different weekends so Phillips could first go up to figure out the threads so he could order what was necessary and then to make the repair the following week after researching what was needed. Once the repairs were complete, the flag was flown until dusk and then it was discovered that the light on Banner Bank was nonfunctional. Banner Bank, which had been working with Phillips, hired an electrician to replace the lighting and covered the cost. Now there is dedicated lighting, a requirement for flying the flag, so it does not have to be taken down at dusk any longer. On May 11th, a flag raising ceremony was held and Veneta Mayor Keith Weiss performed a dedication. BSA Troop 50 (now Scouting America) has also stepped up and will assist Phillips in caring for the flag, raising and lowering it on holidays, etc. They participated in the ceremony and a new flag that measures 15x25, slightly smaller than the Garrison Ford, now flutters proudly against a cerulean sky just as its predecessor once did. Phillips wants to thank all those who made it possible for Old Glory to fly again and this includes Lewis Rucker of Roger’s Towing who supported the transportation of the lift and the project in its entirety, Peterson Cat for donating the lift two weekends in a row, Swanson Brother’s Mill for their cash donation, Banner Bank for the lighting system, the Fern Ridge Chamber of Commerce, the VFW (they plant the flags along Territorial and Highway 126 on holidays such as July 4th), and Boy Scout Troop 50. Phillips says he “loves utilizing local sources” and is very grateful to all who participated while not seeming to realize just how much thanks he is owed for his own efforts. No longer is the flagpole barren and lonely looking and this is in no small part due to what Phillips was willing to undertake on top of what he already does to help the community. Now the West Lane Center is complete once again. The flagpole has been dedicated as the West Lane Flagpole and its maintenance will be an ongoing thing with a budget sustained for future repairs and an all-out effort made to do the best job possible to give the flag the care it deserves.  Daniel Phillips poses with a part for the flagpole  Daniel Phillips and Boy Scout Troop 50 ready the new flag at the dedication ceremony May 11th.  A man is in custody after an attempted rape in Eugene.
Lane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of East 24th Ave. and Henderson Ave. on May 30th after receiving a report of an attempted rape. The victim was able to describe the suspect and the vehicle he drove, which had just departed from the area shortly before deputies arrived. An investigation was begun and on June 1st, a deputy became aware of a matching the description of the suspect’s in Veneta, and the owner was then identified as Bobby Allen Boyd, 50. Once additional follow-up was conducted, Boyd was taken into custody on June 4th and lodged in the Lane County Jail on charges of Attempted Rape in the First Degree.  Annie Molnar likes to give back. This past week she and her employees have been feeding nutritious lunches to children at Mt. Pisgah and are currently in the middle of a contract with Whole Earth Nature School in Eugene as they hold their overnight camp at Belknap Hot Springs. They enjoy being able to help in this way, so a recent burglary hit hard.
Late on June 2nd or early June 3rd, Molnar is not sure when, someone scaled the fence around the property on the corner of Territorial and Hill Roads and proceeded to steal 3 10x10 pop-up tents, all of which had brand new covers and are used for various events and outdoor catering. A large gas can was also taken, though it is unknown if it was full, along with two hand trucks, 20 lbs. of shredded cheddar cheese, 15 lbs. of sliced ham, 1/3 of a gallon of ranch dressing and ½ a gallon of mayonnaise. The food items were kept in outside refrigeration as part of The Emporium’s mobile kitchen that is utilized when they do their catering. The cheese was purchased for a happening this weekend. Now, Molnar says the supplies will have to be repurchased as event season is rapidly approaching and these supplies will be needed. Upon discovering the loss, Molnar put a post on Veneta’s community Facebook page and the tents, along with one hand truck, were rapidly replaced, for which she is grateful. “I feel blessed and thankful that the community wants to see us strive and thrive,” Molar states while recalling the break-in. The Emporium is home to 25 area artisans and the venue acts as a caretaker of their art. The various dishes that Molar and her help prepare are treated as art as well. Previously, The Emporium has suffered from some vandalism as well as graffiti and have had solar lights pilfered, but this burglary is a first. The pop-ups should be easy to find if they are around and Molar feels deep gratitude for how the community has stepped up thus far. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the thefts.  Perkins Peninsula remains closed while authorities try to evict the current host and the public has been asked to be respectful and allow them to work things out.
Bruce Wayne Peterson was taken into custody on May 2nd on charges of menacing and unlawful use of a firearm. Peterson reportedly fired the gun towards the ground during a domestic dispute while in the trailer where he resides. As sheriff’s deputies attempted to arrest him, Peterson raised his arms in compliance with their orders and as he did, the robe in which he was clad blew open as the incident unfolded in the vicinity of a children’s Babe Ruth T-Ball game. Peterson has been given a trespassing notice but remains at the park while county parks employees go through necessary extra steps to have him removed, according to Information Officer Devon Ashbridge. Ashbridge states that gates will not reopen until this is resolved out of “an abundance of caution.” The Babe Ruth league has been made aware of the closure and has been encouraged to make other arrangements. The Parks Department has given those in charge a list of other locations, but Ashbridge says this is ultimately up to the teams as the league is a separate entity from the parks. Walk-ins, Ashbridge stresses, are in violation of the closure which has been “hard and stressful for everyone.” Larger Lane County parks have year round caretakers to perform limited maintenance and to keep a eye on things. |
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