*All information presented herein is obtained from publicly available Oregon court and law enforcement records. The Oregon Public Records Law, as detailed in the Attorney General’s Public Records and Meeting Manual, allows public access to these records. Every individual named or referenced is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. April 26 9:34 a.m – Stacy Rene Chitwood, 61, was cited for speeding. 41/20.  1:47 p.m – Unidentified male, was cited on a Lebanon Municipal Court warrant.  3:56 p.m – Caller reported being scammed on FaceBook. Officer responded, report ta ..read more

Lebanon Fire was dispatched at approximately 12:12 a.m. on April 23 to a structure fire in 33000 block of Ford Mill Road in Lacomb. Initial reports stated that there was a shed on fire with livestock inside. BC31 was the first arriving unit and found a 20′ x 30′ shed that was fully involved and spreading to a vehicle that was parked close by. The first arriving engine was able to make a quick knock down on the fire and keep it form spreading to other parked vehicles. Lebanon Fire District responded with two engines, three water tenders, two ambulances and a battalion chief vehicle, totaling 1 ..read more

Members of the Lebanon Fire District responded on the evening of April 24 to a reported house fire in the 100 block of Taylor Street. Initial dispatch report was fire coming from vents in the kitchen. The incident commander arrived to find smoke coming from the residence. After performing a walk around of building, the IC declared an offensive attacked and ordered the first arriving engine to pull an attack line through front door and begin suppression efforts. Once initial crews made their way through the structure, it was determined that the fire was coming from underneath the house. After ..read more

Stella Lang, one of this year’s Strawberry Festival Princesses, was born and raised in Lebanon and grew up admiring the princesses who came before; now it’s her turn. Lang, whose mother Becky Lang was a Strawberry Festival Princess in 1998, said she wanted to be a princess since she was little, as she grew up playing dress-up in her mom’s princess dresses and tiaras. She said other princesses inspired her too, including babysitters and friends from church. Lang packed on extracurriculars like debate team and teaching herself to play both piano and guitar, building a substantial resume while al ..read more

When Molly Theodoroff moved to Oregon from California, she didn’t know anyone, so when the Strawberry Princesses came to her school, they left a lasting impact. “Seeing that these girls were so competent and passionate about what they do and how excited the (kids) were to see them,” Theodoroff said, “I was like, ‘I wish people were that excited to see me.’” Theodoroff’s favorite part of being part of the court is forming deep community connections, and now Theodoroff has the chance to inspire a new generation of little girls to be Strawberry Princesses. “If you look (in detail), a lot of (them ..read more

Kaelyn Aguirre first saw the Strawberry Festival Princesses in sixth grade, when they visited her school and sparked her interest in the court. Aguirre said she’s enjoyed visiting schools the most, often finding kids who recognized her from coaching. Her favorite part of the festival itself is the rides and treats such as funnel cake. “I actually have never been to a coronation,” Aguirre admitted. “I think that’s so weird because now I kind of wish I did so I could see what I’m getting myself into!” Aguirre is friends with former Princess Elizabeth Baker, who gave her a breakdown about intervi ..read more

Jannah Jimenez sees beyond the tiaras and gowns that come with being a Strawberry Festival Princess; she looks at the role as a chance to empower girls. “The five princesses (bring) something like women’s empowerment,” Jimenez said. “To me, like, it’s just like I said growing up, ‘Wow, I want to be just like them.”’ Jimenez, who was born in Salem and raised in Lebanon and Scio, grew up going to the Strawberry Festival and parade with her parents and two brothers every year. Now she gets to keep the traditions alive as part of the newest era of Strawberry Princesses. “It’s different once you gr ..read more

Addison Cable, one of this year’s Strawberry Festival Princesses, is good at getting things done, from being a senior senator and event coordinator at school, to her planned degree in business administration. Cable and her family moved from California to Lebanon, where her father’s family had lived for generations, just in time for the 100th Strawberry Festival. After watching other Strawberry Princesses take the stage and cut the shortcake since preschool, now at 17, she gets her chance. “I just really want to meet people,” Cable said. “I feel like it’s cool to see how many people there are a ..read more

Josiah Hurst, of Sweet Home, was the talk of the town in Lebanon during the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce Biz Expo on April 18. Dressed crisply in a red plaid shirt and blue jeans, the 12-year-old stood at a booth displaying his works of art with his parents and siblings on-hand to help. “This is his first time trying to sell it commercially,” mother Sarah Hurst said. “Since he started making them, he’s just been giving them away as gifts.” Calling his “business” Sweet Home Intarsia, Hurst put up for sale his art designs that were pieced together like a puzzle from different types of wood. “I ta ..read more

Sodaville city councilors during their April 18 meeting expressed frustration over a years-long process to build a sixth well that now faces a hurdle, setting them back. For nearly a decade the City of Sodaville has been “chipping away” at a water expansion project on resident Ray Jackman’s property, and they were expecting $365,000 in funding to help with the project. Mayor Brian Lewis told the council that shortly before former City Administrator/Recorder Alex McHaddad left last month, he was told the city would need to file for water rights for the well on Jackman’s property. To receive the ..read more