Dec 14 2020 thru Dec 20 2020

What are you doing with your pets this year during holiday time? This year will look a little different. We will be staying home but we can still have decorations, special food, and family time. Family time includes (our) pets. This year, more than ever, we need cheer and sparkle. B

My earliest memory of fishing wasn’t the time I actually caught my first fish. It was of my grandfather Manuel plucking me out of the surf by my pants belt after taking a tumble when the 12-foot surf rod I was so anxious to hold knocked me off balance. I was about four and a half years old and although I got rolled over a few times in the surf when I came up, I still had hold of the rod. That was six decades ago but I still remember it like it was yesterday.

CRESWELL – Empire Video has been a staple of the community since its grand opening March 14, just two days after the first round of government-mandated shutdowns due to the pandemic. Owner and movie enthusiast Wes Violette has an unmatched passion for films and familiarity for video stores that outlives brands such as Blockbuster. And before you ask, yes, Violette is a fan of the infamous 1990’s film, Empire Records.

The council, which includes a vacant seat and council president Amy Knudsen serving as interim mayor, dove into a presentation by city planner Maddie Phillips to “refine the downtown commercial zone,” including street and sidewalk design, and way-finding signage. “We have made incredible strides,” she said.

State recreation officials advocated for Parkpulse.io, a web tool that helps plan outdoor recreation during the pandemic.

SPRINGFIELD – Rick Braziel, a veteran law enforcement professional tasked with reviewing the Springfield Police Department’s behavior during the July 29 protests in Thurston, heard from more than 30 residents on Dec. 10 during a community forum. While acknowledging his status as an “outsider,” he heard plenty of straight-talk accounts from eyewitnesses and participants in the protest and counter-protest that turned violent in July.

Lane County health officials say nearly 100,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine will be available to qualified residents this week, and a second dose will be available in January. But, officials caution, the vaccine won’t be effective unless we can achieve herd immunity.

CRESWELL – Friends and family of Audrey Stewart will remember her fondly for her love of music, children and the church. She passed away on Nov. 30, 2020 at age 93. Audrey moved from Riverside, Calif., to Creswell in 2015, after Colleen and son-in-law, Tom Partridge, invited her to live with them.

Feb. 27, 1955 – Dec. 5, 2020

Jan. 27, 1935 – Nov. 29, 2020

June 16, 1931 – Dec. 8, 2020

March 30, 1932 – Nov. 12, 2020