Looking Back

January

Remnants of the prior year included the discovery that someone had broken into the outdoor mailbox at the Walterville Post Office, taking it out of service for an investigation by the U.S. Postal Service. Just down the road, McKenzie and Eugene/Springfield firefighters responded to a vehicle fire east of the Thurston Road/Hwy. 126 intersection to encounter an abandoned travel trailer fully engulfed in flames. No license plates or VIN numbers were found to help identify the trailer's owner.

Also in January, a proposal to allow industries to permanently stash climate-polluting carbon dioxide beneath U.S. Forest Service land drew fire from opponents who were wary of carbon dioxide leaking from storage wells or pipelines and harming forest trees.

Then, the “Iceathon” impacted everything from turning on a light to mail delivery. Everyday activities were suspended when blizzard-like conditions hit Oregon. “The ongoing challenge of ice accumulation on trees, power lines, and devices is significantly impeding our power restoration efforts” was an understatement from one utility after the ice storm cut power and heat from thousands of households and contributed to a blaze that destroyed the home of a Leesburg family.

February

Permit challenges from environmental groups caused two fish hatcheries to close. Based on the temperatures of the warmer water they release, concerns around adverse impacts on important native species, including threatened Bull Trout and Spring Chinook salmon, caused ODFW to transfer fish raised at the Leaburg and McKenzie hatcheries to the Willamette Hatchery in Oakridge.

Water woes in Blue River were linked to community supply pipes being “discovered” as the town moves to rebuild. Unfortunately, the Holiday Farm Fire of 2020 removed all traces of fences and other unofficial landmarks commonly used to mark property boundaries.

An article on Oregon history detailed inventor Thomas B. Slate’s dream of a business empire built on shiny silver steam-powered airships that didn’t fly high for long.

March

A state-of-the-art garbage handling facility approved by the Lane County Board of Commissioners was challenged by an association of family-owned garbage and recycling processors. The LCGRA sent a letter to Lane County detailing major legal issues with their 25-year $150,000,000 contract to utilize technology and equipment designed and built by a local manufacturer.

Several people who testified at a Eugene Water & Electric Board meeting opposed plans that had been in the works for decades. Some said they’d received threats to cut off the electrical service of ratepayers who opposed the installation of wireless smart meters. Some of the sources of their power were reduced by the temporary shutdown of the Walterville Hydroelectric Project after an unexpected increase in water seepage near the Walterville Powerhouse was discovered.

As the month ended, a solution to the challenge of hiring and retaining bus drivers took some readers by surprise. Dubbed “Split-Load,” the tongue-in-cheek program claimed to increase the number of district vehicles on the road while providing a new income source for school financing. Others realized the story was part of our annual April Fool’s edition.

April

A wowed crowd was on hand when the doors swung wide at the newly rebuilt Community Center in Vida. “Wows” were shared again inside when they found the open central gathering room and a fully equipped kitchen.

Prescribed fire, the controlled use of burns, was gaining favor as an increasingly important strategy in response to wildfire seasons posing more significant threats to the Northwest. A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator explained in a story, "Prescribed burn is one of the best tools we have for making our forests more resilient against catastrophic wildfires.”

In Rainbow, a Hot Springs sword swinger who eluded K9 trackers was eventually cornered in a Port-A-Potty and arrested. The Crawfordsville man was reportedly “huffing from a nitrous oxide tank, swinging a double-handed sword, and making threats” before a chase ensued after his vehicle sped away from responding law enforcement.

May

Some drifted, some drove, but all had the picturesque Eagle Rock Lodge in mind as they made their way to an annual gathering in Nimrod. Once again, the McKenzie River Wooden Boat Festival was a tribute to local river history and the craft of wooden boat building. This event boasted over forty boats displaying both tradition and creativity.

An incident starting at a mental health clinic in Bend wound its way across the Santiam Pass before ending with a local car crash in May. During the investigation, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office determined the case started when a 21-year-old man requested a ride-share service to Sisters and then assaulted and dragged the driver out of the vehicle before speeding off.

The McKenzie River Discovery Center at Leaburg Lake hosted the second “Listening Session” in May for a proposal to see if the McKenzie area could benefit from a “Main Street” approach. Focused on boosting or stabilizing their economies, the program has already helped communities around the state.

June

A year’s worth of work on entrepreneurship and marketing was on display and for sale during Market Night at the McKenzie Community School gym. Products ranged from homemade jerky to crocheted headbands, hand-crafted driftwood trees, and wire-wrapped jewelry.

Rescuers responded after an elderly male fell 40 feet down a cliff near the base of Sahalie Falls. On the scene, medics found bystanders helping the patient, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was unable to walk.

July

Animated American and Oregon flags, joined by Tokatee’s own logo, generated smiles from the sky. A fleet of illuminated drones was the source as they again took to the air for the Golf Club’s annual celebration.

Doors were pried open and smashed during an early morning break-in at the Leaburg Store. In the process, a burglar attached a tow strap to an ATM inside the building and ripped off the front door. Below-normal numbers of returning Chinook salmon brought an end to angling in the McKenzie River in July and remained in effect through the end of the year. ODFW took the step to protect unexpectedly small runs of wild and hatchery Chinook salmon observed at the Leaburg Dam this year.

People walking around the fragrant grounds of the McKenzie Lavender Farm Lavender Bloom found plenty to delight the eyes and soothe the senses. Many left laden with bundles of U-cut lavender as well as ceramic, acrylic, wood, metal, or fabric handcrafted treasures.

August

A controlled burn that reignited on Forest Service land also touched off fears that the area could be entering an age of “forever fires.” During a public meeting, officials outlined how the Ore Fire had grown from embers a month after a controlled burn was thought to have been extinguished.

An article that month noted investor interest in Oregon’s timberlands for nature-based solutions to remove greenhouse gases. The story included a quote from Fortune Magazine: “The investment arms of massive banks are getting into the game, too.” It also mentioned that in April 2016, Rosboro announced it had sold approximately 95,000 acres of its high-quality timberland in Western Oregon to Campbell Global of Portland.

Plenty of drivers looked at least twice after being surprised when a 10-foot giraffe went by. What the unsuspecting motorists were the result of two months' restoration by taxidermist Curran Manzer, who had spent two months restoring it- rehydrating the skin and glues along with repairing areas that had pulled away from its foam core before ferrying it over to the new owner’s shop in Veneta.

September

The McKenzie River Discovery Center received good news when the county okayed a special use permit allowing commercial uses on the 46-acre property. Envisioned as an education destination and a stepping stone for economic development, supporters hoped to soon renovate the interiors of three buildings and rebuild a barn that burned in 2020.

Upstream Lane County reported it would be working to determine the feasibility of constructing a separated bike/pedestrian bridge in Blue River. Two alignment options were being looked at “to support emergency vehicles and withstand an earthquake.”

The Board of Commissioners authorized $500,000 to upgrade land-based Internet service available on utility poles exposed to disruption from natural hazards. The work would be part of a $20 million grant Lane Electric received for a modern fiber-optic-based network expected to outperform existing cable and copper-based networks.

David Lewis offered an alternative history of Native peoples when he explained that although no major tribe lived here, people came through. He added that those interactions were most likely to have involved late summer visits for fishing or berry picking.

October

Buckskins and burros were among the sights, while the Crazed Weasels and a curved-dash Oldsmobile provided background sounds to round out the Santiam Wagon Road Exhibition. The event brought the 1800s back to life on part of the unique route between Albany and Bend that sent settlers eastward to reach the rich pasture lands of Central Oregon.

The county clerk approved recall petitions for Blue River Water and Sanitation District members and the Blue River Park and Recreation District. Opponents claimed Tony Casad and Josh Cloke limited public access and had personal agendas.

A California man lost his life in a two-vehicle crash on the curve around Leaburg Lake. Monday near Milepost 24 of the McKenzie Hwy. During the incident, a gooseneck trailer loaded with bales of hydroseed overturned, spilling the load into the westbound lane. A westbound Toyota Corolla collided with the debris.

“Conservative or liberal?” was the question facing Oregon’s House District 12 voters. People had an opportunity to hear from Democrat Michelle Emmons and Republican Darin Harbick during a McKenzie River Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event at Ike’s Pizza.

November

Blue River’s Complete Community Plan got a full “thumbs up” from county commissioners as they approved zoning amendments to expand community boundaries and allow higher-density development. Details meant owners of one-acre residential properties could build two homes and an Accessory Dwelling Unit (sometimes called a “granny flat”) on their lots.

Only 38% of homes have been rebuilt, and the costs of rebuilding have risen 40%. In response to those numbers, the McKenzie Community Land Trust announced plans to break ground for a cluster of six new homes that they hoped would provide affordable homeownership opportunities for local families who live and work in the McKenzie Valley.

A shoulder-to-shoulder crowd packed the O’Brien Memorial Library, echoing a feeling of rebirth while celebrating the grand opening of a replacement for the building lost in the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire. Besides being bigger, the facility also offers an online catalog, computers for patrons, e- and audiobooks, and high-speed Internet connections.

December

An overflow crowd turned out in Springfield to view a documentary exploring the evolution of the McKenzie River Drift Boat. “Oregon’s Boat” showcased the ingenuity and craftsmanship behind the development of the iconic vessel and its impact on the recreational economy.

People also turned out for more water-related opportunities as some Holiday Lights brightened the night. A flotilla of decorated rafts passed through McKenzie Bridge and Rainbow, while downstream at twilight, the surface of Leaburg Lake mirrored the glow of a flotilla of drift boats.

A one-acre parcel could become the site of a memorial to the Holiday Farm Fire. Located at the junction of Hwy. 126 and the west end of McKenzie River Drive, the lot includes a historic piece of the old McKenzie River Hwy. and seems to be a former homestead, judging by river rock features like an old retaining wall and a large chimney.

On Wednesday, ODFW staff responded to a report of a large koi, most likely intentionally released into the McKenzie River near the Armitage Boat Landing. Concerns arose because the invasive species can live up to 25 years, reproduce rapidly, and survive frigid winters.