SPRINGFIELD – PeaceHealth officials, facing a surge in Covid patients and packed ICUs during the circulation of the highly contagious variants, instituted restrictions for visitor access that took effect on Aug. 3.  “We recognize the importance of having loved ones visit patients in our hospitals…

Smith Often, the word “therapy” conjures images of sitting in a room and talking. And, while talk therapy serves many people well, it isn’t the best fit for everyone – especially people who don’t love talking about themselves, people who process their experiences internally, or people…

EMMA ROUTLEY/CHRONICLE PHOTO Stan Simonsen of Creswell’s Cascade Home Center said building supply sales remain brisk. For the lucky people who are coming out of the pandemic relatively unscathed, a large question looms: Is now a good time to tackle a home or business improvement…

RON HARTMAN/CHRONICLE PHOTO Comedian Bruce Jingles performs at Covered Bridge Brewing Group’s Comedy Showcase last week. COTTAGE GROVE – Bruce Jingles is eagerly awaiting the expected wintertime release of his Netflix special. “My Mother’s Gift” is the working title so far. After his mom died…

PHOTO PROVIDED CRESWELL – Dedicated memorial benches for Denny Olsen and Connie Dersham on Wednesday, July 21, at the Creswell Heritage Foundation’s Old Schoolhouse site at 295 S. 2nd St. Olsen’s bench is on the left and Dersham’s is on the right. Denny’s surviving wife…

TV IMAGE/NBCDrones form a globe over the stadium during the opening ceremony that was missing an in-person audience. “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” I enjoy a philosophical question even if…

Martinez-Cruz CRESWELL – An adult woman was found safe in Creswell, after being kidnapped by a Eugene resident on July 18.  That Sunday, a missing person was reported at 1:58 a.m. in downtown Eugene, near West Broadway and Olive streets. Family and patrol officers canvassed…

EMMA ROUTLEY/CHRONICLE PHOTO Uyen Thi “T” Nguyen will be taking her portraits of Cottage Grove people into Eugene and Springfield. If you have visited historic downtown this month, you have no doubt noticed art hanging in local businesses, 10 of them to be exact. This…