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Articles by Sarah Butler
Eugene, do the right thing and support Athena Aguiar for city councilor | Letter to the editor
For five years before I moved to Coburg, I lived in Eugene’s Ward 5. My neighbors and other folks I knew in the district did not support the current city councilor. He seemed too contentious, arrogant and more conservative than we liked. But, somehow, he held on to his position for 20 years and is running yet again. When a 20-year incumbent continues to hold power and support people and policies that are very unpopular, it’s definitely time for a change.
Clean Energy Fund backers allege opposition broke campaign finance rules
QuickTake: Supporters of the ballot measure filed a complaint saying Stop the Hidden Tax on Eugene reported contributions late. The group denies the allegations. The Secretary of State’s Office has 10 business days to decide whether to start an investigation. A complaint filed Tuesday, Oct. 20, with the Oregon Secretary of State’s office alleges that the political action committee opposing the Eugene Clean Energy Fund ballot measure failed to report $40,000 in contributions on time.
Jeffery Allan Carter
Jeffery Allan Carter. Photo courtesy of Smith Lund Mills Funeral Chapel & Crematorium Jeffery Allan Carter, 58, died Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Smith Lund Mills Funeral Chapel & Crematorium is handling the arrangements.
John A. Elliott III
John A. Elliott III. Photo courtesy of Sunset Hills Funeral Home, Crematorium and Cemetery John A. Elliott III, 88, of Springfield, Oregon, died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Springfield, Oregon. At John’s request, no service will be held. Sunset Hills Funeral Home, Crematorium and Cemetery is handling the arrangements.
Isaac James Nathaniel Tilton
Skip to content Isaac James Nathaniel Tilton, 52, died Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. Services will be held from 1-3 p.m., Oct. 22, 2026, at Sunset Hills Funeral Home. Sunset Hills Funeral Home, Crematorium and Cemetery is handling the arrangements. Sign up for Morning Lookout for the latest news and get our weekly news roundup along with every death notice and obituary delivered to your inbox every Saturday.
Morning Lookout: 4J faces another daunting deficit
Editor’s note: The system we use to send emails is having some personal problems, and we are unable to send Morning Lookout as usual. Had you received it, here’s what it would have looked like … Good morning, Lilly St. Angelo was at the 4J school board meeting last night, where it appears the district will face another $30 million budget deficit next year.
Set a slower pace in Sardinia, where lines are short at historic sites — and quiet balconies beckon
Last week I took you halfway around the Italian island of Sardinia. We visited beaches, castles and the mysterious Nuraghe towers that can only be found on this one Mediterranean island. Because we are on “island time” for this tour, we’ve rested a while before exploring the sea caves and hiking trails on the second half of my recommended itinerary. In the first week we landed at Olbia, took a ferry to the islet of La Maddalena and visited an archeological museum in Sassari.
Sarah Butler's comforting apple crumble
Updated / Monday, 19 Oct 2026 15:51 Sarah Butler's comforting apple crumble Prep time: 15 minutes Bake Time: 25 minutes Serves: 4-5 You will need: 8" square or 9 x 13" deep dish 3 large Bramley apples, peeled, cored, and cut into chunks 3 tbsp caster sugar ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground nutmeg 30ml water 70g plain flour 70g jumbo oats 90g caster sugar 100g cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes 30g crushed hazelnuts (optional) Preheat the oven to 190°C/170°C fan/gas mark 5.
Sarah Butler's colcannon with ham & parsley sauce
Updated / Monday, 19 Oct 2026 15:47 Sarah Butler's colcannon with ham & parsley sauce Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook time: 3 hours (slow-cooked ham) Serves: 4 1400g Hampshire Ham Fillet 2 onions halved 3 garlic cloves 1 bay leaf 3 tbsp brown sugar 4 whole cloves 4-6 whole peppercorns 8 large rooster potatoes 150ml warm milk Salt and pepper 1 head of cabbage leaves cut finely 2 spring onions, diced 80g butter 150ml water 40g butter 2 tbsp flour 400ml full-fat milk 200ml cream 50g parsley chopped 1...
Bordering Madison Meadow, three houses go up where one once stood
QuickTake: Builder Chris Stebbins is taking advantage of Eugene’s middle housing code on a lot abutting the popular Friendly neighborhood refuge. The process does not move quickly. Chris Stebbins always saw the potential of the location. He bought the house at 651 W. 23rd Ave., just west of Jefferson Alley, in July 2011, according to the real estate site Redfin. The two-bedroom, one-bath, 780-square-foot house was built in 1940 and sold for $180,000. Oh, and it was orange.
QuickTake: Longtime tennis players who have enjoyed the Y’s four indoor courts are feeling squeezed by competing visions of how best to use the space. Court space for indoor tennis has long been at a premium in Eugene, with the four Eugene Family YMCA courts on Patterson Street seeing heavy use by tennis and pickleball enthusiasts.
Sarah Butler's mini quiches with coleslaw: Today
Updated / Thursday, 24 Sep 2026 16:20 This base recipe can be adapted to work with a variety of flavour combinations. This base recipe can be adapted to work with a variety of flavour combinations.
Sarah Butler's pork & veggie sausage rolls: Today
Updated / Thursday, 24 Sep 2026 16:20 These flakey sausage rolls are perfect for school lunches and snacks on the go. These flakey sausage rolls are perfect for school lunches and snacks on the go. Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 20 minutes Makes: Approx.
As YMCA explores plans for Patterson St. facility, tennis players vent frustrations
QuickTake: Longtime tennis players who have enjoyed the Y’s four indoor courts are feeling squeezed by competing visions of how best to use the space. Court space for indoor tennis has long been at a premium in Eugene, with the four Eugene Family YMCA courts on Patterson Street seeing heavy use by tennis and pickleball enthusiasts.
Eugene Marathon reports record-breaking numbers on first day of registration
More than 2,200 people registered for the Eugene Marathon, half-marathon, 5K and “Duck Dash” for kids in the first 24 hours of registration for the events, to be held April 24-25, 2027.
As distance running booms across the country, Eugene Marathon reaps the benefits
QuickTake: Demand for entry to road races is higher than ever. With registration reopening Sept. 1 for the 2027 Eugene Marathon, half-marathon and 5K, race director Ian Dobson talks about the growth of the event and urges area athletes: Sign up now. The summer is easier. The team at the Eugene Marathon — race director Ian Dobson and his team of three employees — can take a breather and think about what they want the next year’s race to look like.
Banana Ball had Autzen Stadium – and this reporter – embracing the fun
QuickTake: Amid the grief at losing a friend, I got some smiles from the Savannah Bananas, and I know my buddy would have, too. I can’t pinpoint exactly when my opinion of the Savannah Bananas turned from rotten to ripe. To be clear, I’m not anti-Banana, and the traveling circus of surprisingly talented baseball players doesn’t need my approval. They’ve sold millions of tickets around the country and 60,000-plus packed into Autzen Stadium on Saturday for the first of two shows — err — games.
Planet Fitness locations pop up locally where Rite Aids have closed
QuickTake: A Massachusetts company operates four clubs in Eugene and Springfield — with more on the way. The site of a former Rite Aid pharmacy at 1970 Echo Hollow Road will reopen as a Planet Fitness gym in the fall. The former Rite Aid on 1560 Coburg Road? That’s now a Planet Fitness, too. It opened May 15. Those two locations join two other local Planet Fitness locations — one on West 11th Avenue and another, which opened last week after renovations, at 4223 Main St. in Springfield.
Jet Skis, anglers, rowing crews: Concerns about competing uses of Dexter Lake
QuickTake: The reservoir, which is home to a 2,000-meter rowing race course, is also popular with recreational boaters, people riding personal watercraft and anglers. Some say there is plenty of room for all, but others worry about tension between different users simmering just below the surface. Every Saturday at 7:30 a.m., the Oregon Association of Rowers masters team sets its rowing shells into the water at Dexter Lake. Members of the team range in age from 40 to 75.
June is not too late to plant vegetables, though maybe skip the peas and spinach
QuickTake: Tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, squash and other veggies can thrive here if they're planted in June. I was shopping for plumbing parts this weekend (the problem persists), and to get into the store, I had to pass rows of tomato, pepper, lettuce, squash and other vegetable plants.
Ducks hurdler Aaliyah McCormick poised for title defense at NCAA championships
QuickTake: Three Oregon runners advanced to the 1500-meter final, matching the Ducks’ men’s performance yesterday. Oregon senior Aaliyah McCormick ran the third fastest time of her career in her heat of the 100-meter hurdles, 12.58, Thursday, June 11, at the NCAA Track and Field Championships. But she wasn’t satisfied, especially with her start. “I am happy. It’s just I know I can do better,” said McCormick, the defending NCAA champion, after advancing to Saturday’s final.
Bandon, a picturesque coastal town with a history of rising from ashes, is worth a visit
QuickTake: Bandon’s “Old Town” — three blocks of shops, boutiques and galleries — is actually the most recent of four cities built on this site. Bandon is not only the most picturesque town on the southern Oregon Coast, but it’s also the most stubborn. I’m going to suggest that you stroll a scenic 4.8-mile loop from Old Town to Face Rock. Meanwhile, allow me to recount a few tales of Bandon’s perseverance.
‘I see myself winning the final’: Birnbaum leads Ducks qualifiers at NCAA championships
QuickTake: The Oregon men are in second place after the first day of competition. The Ducks’ 1500-meter ace Simeon Birnbaum is not shy. He wears diamond studs in both ears. A gold cross around his neck. Shades that he keeps on, even in the dim light of the media tent. He rarely smiles. He spoke to reporters after his first-round race at the NCAA Track and Field Championships Wednesday, June 10.
Auburn hurdler breaks world record during NCAA championships at Hayward
QuickTake: Ja’Kobe Tharp of Auburn University ran 12.75 in a preliminary heat of the men’s 110-meter hurdles. Tharp is the defending NCAA champion in the event. There’s a new world record holder in the men’s 110-meter hurdles — and it’s a 20-year-old college junior. Running in the second of three preliminary heats of the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Track & Field Championships Wednesday night at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ja’Kobe Tharp of Auburn University clocked 12.75 seconds.
Ducks in hunt for podium as NCAA track and field championships set to begin at Hayward
QuickTake: The men’s team is ranked second heading into the meet. The women’s team is currently No. 3. Could the Ducks win NCAA track titles this weekend? It’s possible for both the men’s and women’s teams. But everything would have to go perfectly — and a lot would have to go wrong for other teams — for Oregon to top the podium at the NCAA Track & Field Championships, which begin Wednesday, June 10, at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene.
Neighbors saw a need and filled it — with strawberries
“Fun” is not the word that came to mind back when I’d drive a long distance in a van full of reluctant adolescents to pick 100 pounds of strawberries, especially if the patch was sparse and weedy. My efforts to make it enjoyable, such as letting the kids throw a rotten berry at me every time they picked 50 and buying ice cream on the way home, did not prove all that helpful.
Hike at Nestucca Bay on northern coast is often overlooked — but worth a stop
QuickTake: The hike begins at a parking turnaround in the midst of a coastal meadow reminiscent of the meadows at Cascade Head, a cape that’s closer to Lincoln City. Although the panorama at Nestucca Bay isn’t as spectacular as on that more famous headland, the flowers are. One of the prettiest new hikes on the Oregon Coast is a 2.3-mile loop through the meadows and Sitka spruce forests of a peninsula in Nestucca Bay.
Ducks rout Yale, but rivalry history will have to wait at Eugene Regional
QuickTake: Oregon opened the Eugene Regional with a 14-2 win over Yale, but a Washington State upset of Oregon State means the Ducks and Beavers can’t meet until at least Sunday. The Oregon Ducks did their part. History, however, will have to wait until at least Sunday. The Ducks blasted Yale 14-2 Friday evening at PK Park in Oregon’s opening game of the Eugene Regional, a victory that moved Oregon into the winner’s bracket of the tournament.
Sarah Butler's summer berry tiramisu
Updated / Wednesday, 27 May 2026 15:33 Sarah Butler's summer berry tiramisu A fresh and vibrant twist on a classic tiramisu, this no-bake dessert layers zesty Limoncello-soaked ladyfingers with sweet strawberries and a light, creamy mascarpone filling. It's the perfect make-ahead dessert for spring and summer entertaining.
Sarah Butler's steak sandwich with caramelised onion
Updated / Wednesday, 27 May 2026 15:12 Sarah Butler's steak sandwich with caramelised onion Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 50 minutes Servings: 2 90g whole egg mayonnaise ½ garlic clove, minced 1 large onion, peeled and finely sliced 20g butter 1 tbsp brown sugar ½ tbsp balsamic vinegar Pinch of salt and pepper 2 striploin, fillet, or ribeye steaks Tip: Allow the steaks to come to room temperature before cooking. Marinate lightly with extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, and rosemary.
South Eugene girls team wins state tennis championship, the first in the school’s history
QuickTake: The doubles duo of Ellie Cho and Ellie Park overcame familiar rivals from Sheldon in the final. The South Eugene High School girls tennis team won the 6A state championship Saturday, May 23, at the Tualatin Hills Tennis Center in Beaverton, scoring 12.5 points in the tournament. Westview was second, with 12 points, and South Medford and Sunset tied for third, with 11. Sheldon tied for sixth with three other teams, scoring 8 points.
A skeptical Oregonian finds inspiration aplenty in the Midwest
Most travel comes with a single theme. Business or leisure. A veggie plate or a meat plate. But not both. On a recent trip to the Midwest, my experience was a foot-long shish kebab that had it all: chicken, beef, shrimp, pineapple, tomatoes and more.
And the most popular baby names in Oregon are …
QuickTake: Oliver reigns supreme on the boys’ side, for the 10th year in a row. For girls, there’s a newcomer. The Social Security Administration has released its annual list of the most popular baby names in the country and in each state, and once again, Oliver is the most popular boys’ name in Oregon. Oliver has held the top spot for a decade, since 2015, when Liam topped the list. New names to the boys’ top 10 this year include Hudson and Jack, while Elijah and James dropped out.
Former Duck, now NFL star, talks to athletes about financial literacy
QuickTake: Kayvon Thibodeaux plays for the New York Giants. He’s touring universities to share tips on how students can invest in themselves, and he stopped by his alma mater recently. As an edge rusher for the Ducks, Kayvon Thibodeaux was dominant: In 32 games from 2019 to 2021, he recorded 19 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss.
Sarah Butler's pear pavlova with brandy chocolate sauce
Updated / Wednesday, 6 May 2026 16:24 Sarah Butler's pear pavlova with brandy chocolate sauce Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 2 hrs 15 min Serves: 6 6 egg whites 350g caster sugar 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar 1 teaspoon cornflour 600ml double cream 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste 50g icing sugar, sifted 1 tin pears, drained and sliced A few mint leaves (optional) Icing sugar, for dusting For the brandy chocolate sauce 100g dark chocolate (70%), chopped 100g milk chocolate, chopped 40g butter...
Sarah Butler's smashed cheeseburgers
Updated / Wednesday, 6 May 2026 16:16 Sarah Butler's smashed cheeseburgers Smashed burgers cook really quickly, so they're great if you're in a rush! Great with wedges or fries.
Eugene Marathon expects record number of runners this weekend
QuickTake: The three races — a 5K Saturday morning, and the half and full marathons that run concurrently Sunday morning — sold out earlier than ever, three months before the events. Organizers of the Eugene Marathon are expecting a crowd. Becky Radliff, the marathon’s director of marketing and events, said this year’s Eugene Marathon and half marathon races Sunday, April 26 have 1,500 more people registered than last year.
My neighbor is a Superfund site: J.H. Baxter’s pollution lingers near thousands
QuickTake: Families living near the J.H. Baxter Superfund site, several of whom have lost loved ones in recent years, have unresolved questions about contamination and ongoing risks to their health. Public records show chemicals detected downstream from the facility, but regulators have yet to clearly explain findings from environmental testing. Kersti Landeck bought another load of bagged soil this spring for her garden, which lies beneath the fruit trees her late brother-in-law ate from.
Here’s how Lane County runners did at the Boston Marathon
QuickTake: Perfect weather conditions and a tailwind meant fast times, for pros and local elites alike. Massachusetts weather in April is a mixed bag. You can get hot days, with temperatures into the 80s. Or you can get blizzards. Those running the famed Boston Marathon, on Patriots’ Day in New England, have seen extremes. This year, Monday, April 20, was a perfect day in Boston — at least by marathoners’ standards.
Oregon’s Simeon Birnbaum sets collegiate record in the 1500 meters
QuickTake: Birnbaum took more than a second off the previous record, set last year. Simeon Birnbaum, a University of Oregon junior, set a collegiate record in the men’s 1500 meters at the Oregon Invitational Saturday, April 18. His time, 3 minutes, 31.69 seconds, was nearly a second and a half faster than the previous record, 3:33.02, set by Liam Murphy of Villanova in March 2025.
Here are the 28 Lane County residents running the Boston Marathon
QuickTake: The famed footrace, which starts in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and runs 26.2 miles to Boston, draws speedy endurance athletes from all over the world. The 2026 race is April 20. Diza Hilles ran last year’s Boston Marathon in 3:58:35, averaging just over 9 minutes per mile for 26.2 miles. Diza Hilles waves to the crowd during the 2025 Boston Marathon. In doing so, the Eugene resident earned herself a return trip for 2026. It will be her 12th Boston and her 20th marathon overall.
In a Eugene courtroom, friendship was on display
QuickTake: Sharon Schuman knew many people in the community, and her closest friends turned out in force. For three painful days, they bore witness: Friends and family of Sharon Schuman dotted the rows of Courtroom 306 in the Lane County Courthouse, listening to testimony.
Sarah Butler's chocolate cake with walnuts
Updated / Friday, 20 Feb 2026 18:40 Sarah Butler's chocolate cake with walnuts and ganache frosting Prep time: 15 minutes Bake time: 35-40 minutes Serves: 6 You will need: An 8-inch round cake tin with a removable base 200g butter, softened 200g light brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 4 eggs 200g self-raising flour 1 tsp baking powder 3 tbsp cocoa powder Pinch of salt 100ml milk For the ganache frosting 400ml double cream 200g milk chocolate 200g dark chocolate 100g chopped walnuts 5-6 whole...
Sarah Butler's slow-cooked beef curry
Updated / Friday, 20 Feb 2026 18:37 Sarah Butler's slow-cooked beef curry Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 4–5 hours Serves: 4 2 tbsp curry powder 1 tbsp garam masala 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp paprika 3 tbsp olive oil 1.5 lb (700 g) stewing beef, cut into chunks Salt and black pepper, to season 30 g butter 2 onions, chopped 4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped 1 red pepper, diced 1 red chilli, finely diced 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated 1 tin chopped tomatoes 300 ml water 1 bay leaf 2 tbsp fresh...
Sarah Butler's Lamingtons cake
Updated / Monday, 26 Jan 2026 15:32 Sarah Butler's Lamingtons cake: Today Prep time: 20 min Chill time: 30 min Makes: 15 125g butter, softened 220g caster sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 3 eggs, room temperature 260g self-raising flour 125ml milk 450g icing sugar (confectionary sugar), sifted 30g cocoa powder 25g butter melted 150ml boiling water 340g desiccated coconut Preheat oven to 180C/350F (or fan forced 160C/320F). Grease 8" x 12" cake pan. Line with baking paper.
Sarah Butler's white soda loaf
Updated / Monday, 26 Jan 2026 15:28 Sarah Butler's white soda loaf Prep time: 5-10 minutes Cook time: 55-60 minutes Makes: 1 x 2lb loaf 300g self-raising flour 1tsp baking powder 50g caster sugar 25g ground almond (optional-use flour as a replacement) Pinch salt 370 buttermilk 25g butter melted 1 tbsp plain yoghurt 1 egg Preheat oven to 200C, 180C fan, gas 6. Line a 2Lb bread tin. Sieve the flour and baking powder into a bowl. Add the caster sugar.
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