By Christy Solo and Wayne Lee – Editor and Sports Editor
Eagle Point
October began with homecoming at the high school complete with a parade down Main St. The game was against visiting South Eugene and both teams came into the game with a combined record of 0-14. Someone was going to get their first win of the season, and it was the Eagles who posted a 42-6 victory. It was the only game Eagle Point would win all year while South Eugene never did come close to a win and just forfeited their final game to end their season.
Eagle Point volleyball also had a rough start to their season. With just two seniors on the roster, the Lady Eagles were on the road from Aug. 28 until Sept. 4 with just one home match during that time. They were able to begin the league season at their home court but ended the month 2-9 in league and 8-12 overall.
On October 15 Eagle Point police responded to a domestic violence complaint near Onyx St. and encountered a man with a knife near the Covered Bridge. The man attacked the officers, injuring one and was shot dead by police. The injured officer was transported to the hospital, “with non-life-threatening injuries” and both officers were placed on administrative leave while Oregon State Police investigate the incident.
The city council was presented with a rare opportunity when Sienna Hills, whose final project to build out the last five acres of that development was previously approved, came back with a voluntary redesign to address the concerns of neighbors who objected to three large two-story townhomes towering over their backyards. The developer returned with a new design that moved the townhomes to the other side of the property where they would back up to Hwy 62. The new design was enthusiastically received and unanimously approved.
The council also gave approval to the Skycrest Development proposal to develop 49.9 acres of affordable housing near Alta Vista and Bingham Brown roads as per SB 1537.
The football team closed out their season with a 42-0 loss at Churchill. They finished the season 1-8 while the volleyball team finished 2-8 in league play and 8-13 overall. And there were plenty of Halloween events throughout town for trick-or-treaters of all ages. Unfortunately, the month ended in tragedy.
Shady Cove
The Upper Rogue Independent shrank in size in October – but not in content! Our printer advised they would no longer carry the newsprint size we had been publishing on and moved us to a narrower size beginning at the end of October. They still charge us the same for less product, so there’s that (now with bonus Dec. 24, 2025 price increase due to tariffs).
During the Oct. 9 Planning Commission meeting Parry announced that planner Joe Slaughter had resigned and she was looking to the Rogue Valley Council of Governments for a replacement.
She said the plan to redo all of the planning ordinances with the DLCD grant was still on and anticipated it would take all of 2026 to complete the project.
Edwards said he was in favor of “cleaner” codes but wanted to be sure they weren’t solely based on a template, but left room for the uniqueness of Shady Cove.
Commissioners spent the balance of the meeting reviewing some recent, complex planning applications as an exercise in that very uniqueness Edwards spoke of.
There was an addition to the Oct. 16 City Council meeting agenda: Placing the City Administrator on Leave. The subsequent motion to “Place the City Administrator on paid administrative leave to allow an investigation into her concerns” carried 3/0.
The next added item was to hire an interim city administrator.
Both Richardson and Mitchell stressed the importance of hiring an administrator right away as no city business could be conducted – including paying city employee salaries – until an interim was in place.
Richardson had two applications from RVCOG and the motion was to have the attorney draw up a contract to hire Dale Shaddox, who had previously twice served as the city’s interim admin. The motion carried with two yeses and one abstention (Winfrey).
Council then moved on to the business of appointing councilors to the two vacant seats. Both Kathy Nuckles and Jeff Vanier were appointed 2/1 with Winfrey as the no vote both times.
They were immediately sworn in and the meeting continued.
First was a discussion on the estimate to hire a third-party auditor to go over the 22/23 audit. The estimate was for $10K. Vanier was especially vocal in opposition.
Richardson explained no one wanted to pay any additional amount, but the city had no option. The audit had to be completed, and the city’s auditor insisted on the third-party review.
A resolution to approve a formal process for public records requests was tabled because the draft document was 21 pages long, and everyone agreed no citizen or entity would read all of that.
Council discussed scheduling a workshop to work on a more streamlined version.
During the very brief Oct. 21 council special meeting Richardson wanted to give the full council of five a chance to discuss both applicants for interim Admin.
Council had only approved for the city’s attorney to draw up an employment contract for Shaddox in the Oct. 16 meeting.
After discussing both candidates, the motion to hire Shaddox carried 5/0.
Following adjournment, Shari Tarvin approached council and presented a letter which read in part, “I am submitting this formal written grievance to inform you of my intention to file and Ethics Complaint against you regarding the improper Executive Session” which took place Oct. 15.
Note: This complaint was dismissed by the Oregon Ethics Commission Nov. 14, 2025.
Additionally, two previous complaints filed by Parry against Mitchell and Richardson were also dismissed by OEC Oct. 10, 2025. Complaints to OEC are not public documents until the case is finalized.
During the Oct. 29 Shady Cove Council special meeting, interim admin Shaddox came up with a viable Plan B for the Hannah’s Way project. He proposed taking part of the money from the Urban Renewal District as money comes into URDs from growth to the city and he “doesn’t see any growth in the immediate future.” He felt they could take the balance from the new city park fund and work done on the park for the balance of the fiscal year could be done in “small increments.”
The motion to approve Plan B carried, with the caveat that council will hold a supplementary budget meeting in January to add the Hannah’s Way line item and review the budget in total as they know they are close to going over on other line items.
Council then approved the final contract for the second-party to review the 22/23 budget per the city auditor’s request.
Shaddox suggested agendas be changed to allow for public comment on agenda items to fall as each agenda item comes up versus at the start of the meeting.
During council comment Mitchell asked that council schedule another workshop for the new city park.
There were two obituaries in October: Lois Hawley Wilson and Henry Callison McQueen Jr.
Other October News: A structure fire was quickly doused in Eagle Point.
