Sweet Home candidate forum answers community-submitted questions
The November 2026 election cycle invites Sweet Home residents to elect their mayor for the first time in probably more than 80 years.* Given this historic event, some…
LATEST NEWS
Fire destroys home on Marks Ridge
A fire blamed on ash from a wood stove destroyed a house on Marks Ridge Drive late Monday afternoon, Oct. 19. According to Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District, the two residents at the…
County commissioners receive building and planning report
By Alex Paul Linn County Communications Linn County issued 284 total permits in September, Planning & Building Department Director Steve Wills told the Board of Commissioners at their Oct.…
Army Corps Virtual Meeting re: Green Peter
The Portland District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold a virtual meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, to discuss the upcoming drawdown at Green Peter and Lookout Point reservoirs. USACE…
Unattended burn pile spreads to grove of trees
An unattended agricultural burn pile spread beyond its intended area, causing fire to move into a grove of trees in the 31000 block of Sandridge Road near Glaser Drive just before 5 p.m. on…
Secretary of State cautions about unofficial election mail
The 2026 General Election is under way, and Oregonians are beginning to receive mail and other communication related to their vote. To prevent confusion and combat misinformation, Secretary of…
Dog lost to house fire in Lebanon
A fire at a home on Maple Street in Lebanon Sunday morning resulted in the death of the residents’ dog. Lebanon Fire District reported that the Linn County dispatch center was notified of the…
SPORTS
Sweet Home Girls Soccer
Sweet Home goalkeeper Rylee Mabe, above right, attempts to stop a shot in a game Tuesday, Oct. 13, against Creswell. At left, Tayler Sullivan battles a Creswell player for the ball. It was a…
Warriors notch another league win, set stage for W. Albany
By Mike Warner For The New Era Lebanon’s football team continued its resurgence from a deflating loss to No. 1 Silverton two weeks prior with a decisive 56-24 win over South Albany Friday…
East Linn stays in race for volleyball playoffs
East Linn Christian’s Ashlyn Davisson, above, delivers a spike past Monroe defenders during the Eagles’ win over the Dragons Thursday, Oct. 15. At left, Tessa Salvage keeps the…
Warrior boys fall to Silverton in close soccer match
Lebanon’s boys lost 6-0 at Corvallis on Tuesday, Oct. 13, then fell 2-1 to Silverton at home Thursday in the first week of Mid-Willamette Conference play. Both those teams are 2-0 coming into…
COMMUNITY
Scene Around Town: Oct. 21, 2026
Dive Back In After being closed for 10 weeks to complete renovations and repairs on high-priority maintenance issues at the Lebanon Community Pool, swimmers dove in to the waters when the…
Micah Carpenter’s faith shaped his life of service
Micah Carpenter, 20, of Albany, was found deceased in Green Peter Reservoir on Oct. 5 after going missing during a camping trip near Sweet Home, according to the Linn County Sheriff’s…
Robert (Bob) Alan Church
Robert Church Nov. 27, 1971 – Oct. 10, 2026 In loving memory of Robert Alan Church. Robert (Bob) Alan Church, 54, was born on Nov. 27, 1971 in Klamath Falls and died due to a shooting on…
OPINION
New rule endangering Americans’ healthcare
Editor: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has a dangerous new rule beginning Oct. 22 that will threaten the healthcare of millions of Americans. The rule, “Indefinite…
Maluski is writer’s choice for state house
Editor: Having met both candidates for state representative for the 11th District, I am convinced Ivan Maluski, Independent, is the best choice. He supports legislation for…
FROM OUR FILES
From Our Files: Oct. 21, 2026
Oct. 25, 1951 Diagonal parking in Sweet Home will be outlawed after final passage of a new bill enacted by the city. The change is on recommendation by the highway commission following Main Street’s…
From Our Files: Oct. 14, 2026
Oct. 18, 1951 A Sweet Home resident was preparing a borrowed rifle for a hunting trip with his son was killed accidentally when the gun discharged, striking him beneath the jaw. He was rubbing down…
OREGON JOURNALISM PROJECT (OJP)
Social Security cost-of-living bump helps, but possible cuts still loom
In Oregon, ranked 11th for oldest population, many counties face disproportionate financial risks if Congress fails to prevent a projected 22% benefit cut by 2032. By Khushboo Rathore Oregon…
Your potluck might be a crime in Oregon
One North Oregon Coast couple learned the hard way. Here’s what they’re doing about it. By Penny Rosenberg Watt and Jennifer Childress are law-abiding residents of Nehalem, but both have had…
State housing agency regularly exceeds benchmark for construction costs
Oregon has the nation’s second-highest rate of homelessness, yet the state keeps funding affordable housing that costs far more than the national average. By Nigel Jaquiss Oregon Journalism…