School bands on rise in numbers, public awareness
Lori Tuter stands on a podium and taps her music stand in a packed classroom of some 40 energetic students. “Let’s warm up,” she tells them. The hubbub ceases, as…
LATEST NEWS
Second community service officer helps bridge SHPD and public
By Satina Tolman For The New Era Jennifer Gaspard has worn many uniforms in her career, but the one she puts on today feels like the perfect fit. After more than two decades in law…
Local woman wonders where her seahorses are
Who would steal seahorses? That’s what Laurie Horner is wondering as she ponders the loss of a sculpture from her front yard that featured three of the horse-shaped fish. Horner was leaving…
County veterans services sees client increase since move
By Alex Paul Linn County Communications Since moving to its new office in July 2024, Linn County Veterans Services has seen an increase in the number of veterans and family members who have…
Sheriff’s dive team searches for 18-year-old in North Santiam
Linn County Sheriff’s personnel spent the latter part of last week searching the North Santiam River near the Mill City Bridge for a missing male, Karandeep Singh, 18, who is believed to have…
Trail extension planned for Yellowbottom
The Bureau of Land Management has announced plans to begin improving a walking trail at Yellowbottom Recreation Site in summer 2026, which will connect to the existing Rhododendron Trail and…
New information signs installed on I-5
Work has been completed on four traffic cameras and message signs on I-5 between Albany and Salem, the Oregon Department of Transportation reported Oct. 3. In response to unreliable travel…
SPORTS
Husky XC teams place at Philomath Mariman meet
Sweet Home’s young cross-country teams continued to progress Saturday, Oct. 11, both the boys and girls placing in the top four at the Mariman Invitational hosted by Philomath. “I was really…
Husky boys engineer turnaround after bad soccer loss
After a disappointing night against No. 1 Stayton, Sweet Home’s boys rebounded to tie Cascade in Oregon West Conference soccer. The Huskies had a bad night at home against the Eagles in a 10-0…
Huskies can’t get a break in football loss at Junction City
It was one of those nights when nothing seemed to go Sweet Home’s way on the football field. Weather conditions, mistakes and miscues combined with a stubborn Junction City opponent to leave…
Huskies face tough league week, fall to Cascade and Philomath in volleyball
By Keeghan Gittins For The New Era Sweet Home’s volleyball team slipped to fourth place in the Oregon West Conference, tied with Newport, coming into this week, following losses to Cascade and…
COMMUNITY
Events: Oct. 15, 2025
‘No Kings’ rally Oct. 18 in Lebanon East Linn Indivisible will hold a “No Kings” rally from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Academy Square in Lebanon. All are…
Elks donate to veterans
Sweet Home Elks Lodge #1972 welcomed veterans from the Edward C. Allworth Veterans Home inb Lebanon who came up for their monthly steak luncheon. The Sweet Home Elks presented the Veterans…
Earl “Butch” Eugene Jones
Earl Jones July 28, 1951 – Oct. 7, 2025 Earl “Butch” Eugene Jones, 74, of Sweet Home, passed away Oct. 7, 2025. He was born July 28, 1951, to Betty Ruth (Byrd) and Gene Earl Jones in…
OPINION
Editor: Devote energy to needs, not debate
Editor: Among the first settlers in this area was the Ames family. They arrived in what is now the area of Sankey Park and were so delighted by the beauty and peace they found there…
Editor: Kirk’s example a worthy one
Editor: I watched Charlie Kirk off and on over the past years, admiring his way of standing for what he believed without shutting down the viewpoint of those who debated him. He was…
FROM OUR FILES
From Our Files: Oct. 22, 2025
Oct. 26, 1950 KGAL owner Gorden Allen reported construction on the powerful new radio station in Lebanon is progressing “satisfactorily.” He hopes to have the 1,000-watt station’s 250 foot transmitting tower…
From Our Files: Oct. 15, 2025
Oct. 19, 1950 A Halloween and hard-times party will be held at the high school by the Sweet Home Rock and Mineral Society. Fines will be imposed on all party-goers who arrive in dress clothes. Plans…
OREGON JOURNALISM PROJECT (OJP)
Battle over canned cocktails enters another round
Oregon producers want to sell their products in grocery stores. Grocers want that too, but the OLCC and Oregon beer and wine distributors are opposed. By Nigel Jaquiss Oregon Journalism…
Travel Oregon board member’s company gets six-figure, no-bid contract from agency
Travel Oregon’s CEO claims the Department of Justice gave the travel agency permission to go forward with the contract, but DOJ disputes that. By James Neff Oregon Journalism Project David…
Port of Arlington faces dissolution
It’s extremely unusual for a government entity to miss filing audited financial statements three years in a row. BY NIGEL JAQUISS Oregon Journalism Project…