The Chronicle Year in Review

This year was anything but ordinary. The unnerving combination of war, inflation and social unrest wasn’t what anyone expected as life was just beginning to move forward from the Covid-19 pandemic.

But 2022 has proven to be a year of resilience, too.

The Southern Willamette Valley emerged from isolation to reopen and reinvent itself— and as we turn a new corner, we are reminded of this year’s pivotal moments and their lessons

Marquee events were back in full force: Graduates crossed stages to cheers from roaring crowds. The Fourth of July in Creswell was once again a sea of red, white and blue. Bohemia Mining Days in the Grove brought prospectin’ and summer fun back to Main Street. To top it off, downtown Springfield restarted its September BLOCK Party.

High School Sports Zone premiered in The Chronicle — taking on the challenge of covering five communities worth of hard-won victories and crushing defeats.

Workers too, banded together to demand equitable pay at PeaceHealth, Weyerhaeuser and Starbucks.

Creswell made headlines, “looking at all those chickens,” as the city continues to court the possibility of Foster Farms returning to town, and Cottage Grove banded together to debate and discuss how to care for the unhoused, building an innovative shelter unlike any other in Lane County.

The landmark U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade tasked local organizations to brace for the impact of out-of-state travelers seeking family planning services and enraged activists.

Challenges in local law enforcement were brought to the forefront of community discussions – resulting in increased accountability and oversight. In Springfield, Chief Andrew Shearer took up the mantle, leading the city through protests and funding efforts. In Creswell, long-time Sheriff Scott Denham retired to join his family in Texas , replaced by Sgt. Tom May, and in Cottage Grove the sudden resignations of the chief and captain resulted in a changing of the guard.

Cheers to a happy, healthy and productive 2023, from all of us at The Chronicle. 

Bohemia Mining Days, July
Cottage Grove Rodeo, August
Springfield Fourth of July
Springfield BLOCK Party, September

This week’s top highlights…

Southern Willamette Valley smacked with ice, accidents
BOB WILLIAMS / THE CHRONICLE The Pacific Northwest’s winter ice storm of 2022 was everything it was forecast to be: frigid temperatures amid sleet, snow, high winds and a strong…
Southern Willamette Valley smacked with ice, accidents
BOB WILLIAMS / THE CHRONICLE The Pacific Northwest’s winter ice storm of 2022 was everything it was forecast to be: frigid temperatures amid sleet, snow, high winds and a strong…
Chicken plant flying under the radar
CRESWELL – The once prevalent clucking regarding reopening Foster Farms seems to have turned to radio silence. The plant, once located at 33464 West Lane has not been operating since…
Chicken plant flying under the radar
CRESWELL – The once prevalent clucking regarding reopening Foster Farms seems to have turned to radio silence. The plant, once located at 33464 West Lane has not been operating since…
Lane nurses to bargain; virus lingers
Health infrastructure in Lane County has dogged challenge after challenge this year – the ongoing Covid pandemic, the nationwide nursing shortage and rural access to health care are just some…
Lane nurses to bargain; virus lingers
Health infrastructure in Lane County has dogged challenge after challenge this year – the ongoing Covid pandemic, the nationwide nursing shortage and rural access to health care are just some…

In case you missed it…

Running history finds home at Dorris Ranch

By RYLEIGH NORGROVE / [email protected]

Fast Forest at Dorris Ranch, December 6, 2022

SPRINGFIELD — When you see someone do the impossible, everything becomes possible. 

That’s what former olympian Ben Blankenship hopes to bring to sustainability – and Springfield, too. 

Blankenship is the founder of Endless Mileage, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering sustainable environments and programming that inspires the next generation of track and field athletes to break barriers. 

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