Lookout PM: Meet the ‘mayor’ of Bethel

Good evening,

As long as I’ve worked in news, I’ve heard readers — that’s what we lovingly call you all, by the way: “readers” — I’ve heard you readers bemoan the fact that we don’t publish enough “good news.” Possibly true.

And it’s also true, surely, that lots of people are out there working behind the scenes without much credit or fanfare to make their communities better. So, we’re planning to profile someone like this every Tuesday.

Grace Chinowski kicks things off today with a sketch of Lin Woodrich, an active neighborhood volunteer who’s been referred to as the “mayor of Bethel.”

If you know some unsung local hero who deserves to be sung about, let us know who it is: newsroom@lookoutlocal.com

Eugene’s slow-moving riverfront redevelopment of the former EWEB property is back in the news. Two apartment buildings have gone up, but much of what was planned has not yet been started. Now, the private developers of the site have sent a letter to the Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries saying the project is no longer feasible because the bureau is requiring developers to pay construction workers “prevailing” — which is to say, union — wages. The Oregon Journalism Project has the story.

Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner was in Salem yesterday speaking to lawmakers about license-plate reader cameras, which have been controversial in a number of Oregon communities, including Eugene and Springfield. It looks like lawmakers might take up the issue at the state level at their session next year. The Oregon Capital Chronicle reports.

Opening arguments were made yesterday in a lawsuit alleging wrongful death in a Eugene police officer’s shooting of Eliborio “Eli” Rodrigues Jr. Jaime Adame was in court covering the trial.

A man in a frog costume walking back to work after an ICE protest. That’s the gist of photographer Isaac Wasserman’s latest Lane County slice-of-life image.

In our opinion section today, Eugene physician Bill Walter writes a guest column about the many barriers faced by lower-income people trying to access health care; plus a letter-writer says the video showing ICE arrests at the Lane County Jail showed nothing of concern.

Anything on your mind? Keep the letters to the editor coming (350 words or less, please): lte@lookoutlocal.com

Have a news tip on something we should cover: newsroom@lookoutlocal.com

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DAILY DIGEST

Meet Bethel’s busiest volunteer

By Grace Chinowsky

Lin Woodrich, 72, has become one of Bethel’s most consistent voices at Eugene City Council meetings. She wears many volunteer hats as she works to put neighborhood priorities on the city’s agenda.

Riverfront developer says project no longer feasible due to wage issue

By Nigel Jaquiss / Oregon Journalism Project

An attorney for the companies that planned to build more housing on the old EWEB site along the Willamette River recently wrote to the state complaining that a requirement to pay “prevailing wages” for construction means the project is not likely to proceed.