Morning Lookout: The Reading Koalas prep for battle in Salem

Good morning, Lookout Eugene-Springfield,

Brace yourself, this is a long one — but don’t bounce until you’ve read about the party …

Sometimes a reporter pitches a story, and you know from their enthusiasm that it’s going to be a great read. That’s how I felt when Lilly St. Angelo told me she wanted to write about a team of girls from Buena Vista Elementary, the Reading Koalas. The four fifth graders compete in the Oregon Battle of the Books and will head to Salem this weekend for the state championship. It’s a sweet story told by a reporter with first-hand experience on the subject.

Growing the tax base is key to public government. It’s especially important when a city is facing a multi-million dollar budget deficit. Eugene is hoping that adding four economic development staff will spur growth, thus growing the tax base. Grace Chinowsky looks at the positions and the trade-offs that might need to be made to fund them.

When I was in third grade, we took two buses to get to school. This included a 30-minute layover in a parking lot. Often, we would pass the time making and flying paper airplanes. One of my most vivid memories was the day my oldest brother, Thomas, made the perfect plane, and boy, did it fly — across a field, over a long-since-demolished bowling alley, and across a street; we never saw where it came down. According to Google Maps, the distance is at least 500 feet. It was sweet.

I tried many times to recreate that perfect plane. I never could. Maybe I’ll give it another go Saturday at the Paper Plane Contest hosted by Hodgepodge Books and Taps. It’s one of Annie Aguiar’s best bets for things to do this weekend.

I am not sure I ever considered walking around a city, hiking. It’s just walking around. But, as Bill Sullivan writes, urban hiking is a great way to explore cities, and in Oregon City, find, as he writes, FREE BEER. It’s actually FREE wifi, great BEER, but one of many cool things to visit in the city.

As the college softball season winds down, Oregon is heating up. The Ducks are coming off a sweep of Iowa, improving to 30-9 on the season and 11-2 in the Big Ten. Tyson Alger writes that the team is led by Elon Butler, who went 6-for-6 Saturday.

Tomorrow, April 10, is the one-year anniversary of Lookout Eugene-Springfield. Since then, we have built the largest newsroom in Lane County and the second-largest local newsroom in Oregon. This is because of our members, many of whom believed in us before we published our first story. To everyone who supported Lookout by reading stories, sharing our social media posts, or sending in words of encouragement: Thank you.

We want to celebrate this milestone with you. If you are a member, you should have received an invitation to a party happening in a few weeks. If you are not yet a member, but like parties, join now and get a party invite with your membership. Are you a member but didn’t get an invite? Let me know, and I’ll send you a link.

Stories you might have missed Wednesday …

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Book lovers to best friends: 4J fifth graders head to Battle of the Books state championship

By Lilly St. Angelo

The four girls from Buena Vista Elementary first bonded over their love of books. After years of close family friendships and daily preparation, the Reading Koalas and their supporters will travel to Salem for the Oregon Battle of the Books state competition on April 11.

Eugene council votes to add economic development staff, at cost of $800k

By Grace Chinowsky

Mayor Kaarin Knudson broke a tie vote on the council to approve the the addition of four positions. It is part of a long-term strategy to boost jobs and tax revenue in Eugene. But facing a budget shortfall, it remains unclear how the city will pay for the new employees.