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Western Pond Turtle

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Abraham Finlay

A few days ago I came across this Western Pond Turtle in the ponds at Stewart Park. Western Pond Turtles eat a variety different foods including fish, beetles, lily pads, and cattail roots. Western Po...

A few days ago I came across this Western Pond Turtle in the ponds at Stewart Park. Western Pond Turtles eat a variety different foods including fish, beetles, lily pads, and cattail roots. Western Pond Turtles can be found in most ponds with lots of fish, logs, and other aquatic plants.  

Ryan Finlay

Josh Gaunt

Moses Finlay

The Jerry Bruce Community Campus holds its third annual charity golf scramble on Sunday, May 3, at Bar Run Golf & RV Resort in Roseburg. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. and an awards ceremony at 1:30 p.m.

The scramble format tournament offers $1,800 in total team prizes for the three lowest gross scores: $800 for first, $600 for second, and $400 for third. Golfers will also compete in longest drive and closest to the pin contests throughout the round. A $5,000 prize awaits anyone who records a hole-in-one on the par 3 15th hole, with additional ace prizes available on other par 3s.

Entry costs $600 per foursome or $150 per individual, with a cart included. A 50/50 raffle will also be held during the event. All proceeds benefit United Community Action Network, a nonprofit serving families across Douglas County that operates on the Jerry Bruce Community Campus.

Mark Tsuchiya, Event Manager. Contact available through the registration page.

Registration is open at birdease.com/jbcccharitygolf.

The Jerry Bruce Community Campus holds its third annual charity golf scramble on Sunday, May 3, at Bar Run Golf &amp; RV Resort in Roseburg. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. and an awards ceremony at 1:30 p.m.The scramble format tournament offers $1,800 in total team prizes for the three lowest gross scores: $800 for first, $600 for second, and $400 for third. Golfers will also compete in longest drive and closest to the pin contests throughout the round. A $5,000 prize awaits anyone who records a hole-in-one on the par 3 15th hole, with additional ace prizes available on other par 3s.Entry costs $600 per foursome or $150 per individual, with a cart included. A 50/50 raffle will also be held during the event. All proceeds benefit United Community Action Network, a nonprofit serving families across Douglas County that operates on the Jerry Bruce Community Campus.Mark Tsuchiya, Event Manager. Contact available through the registration page.Registration is open at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" class="!text-blue-600 !cursor-pointer hover:!underline" href="https://birdease.com/jbcccharitygolf">birdease.com/jbcccharitygolf.</a>

Hannah Finlay

Roseburg tournament raises money for United Community Action Network

The Jerry Bruce Community Campus holds its third annual charity golf scramble on Sunday, May 3, at Bar Run Golf & RV Resort in Roseburg. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. and an awards ceremony at 1:30 p.m.

The scramble format tournament offers $1,800 in total team prizes for the three lowest gross scores: $800 for first, $600 for second, and $400 for third. Golfers will also compete in longest drive and closest to the pin contests throughout the round. A $5,000 prize awaits anyone who records a hole-in-one on the par 3 15th hole, with additional ace prizes available on other par 3s.

Entry costs $600 per foursome or $150 per individual, with a cart included. A 50/50 raffle will also be held during the event. All proceeds benefit United Community Action Network, a nonprofit serving families across Douglas County that operates on the Jerry Bruce Community Campus.

Mark Tsuchiya, Event Manager. Contact available through the registration page.

Jerry Bruce Community Campus Hosts Third Annual Charity Golf Scramble

The third annual Southern Oregon Nonprofit Summit will take place April 8 and 9 at the Aviva Health Community Conference Space, 150 NE Kenneth Ford Drive, Roseburg!

The two-day program is designed for nonprofit professionals at all levels, from executive directors to staff working to expand their organization's reach. Sessions aim to provide attendees with strategies they can put into practice immediately.

Registration is $125 for both days or $75 for a single day.

Registration: www.aviva.health/nonprofitsummit

The third annual Southern Oregon Nonprofit Summit will take place April 8 and 9 at the Aviva Health Community Conference Space, 150 NE Kenneth Ford Drive, Roseburg!The two-day program is designed for nonprofit professionals at all levels, from executive directors to staff working to expand their organization's reach. Sessions aim to provide attendees with strategies they can put into practice immediately.Registration is $125 for both days or $75 for a single day.Registration: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" class="!text-blue-600 !cursor-pointer hover:!underline underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="http://www.aviva.health/nonprofitsummit">www.aviva.health/nonprofitsummit</a>

Two-day conference for nonprofit leaders set for April 8-9 in Roseburg

The third annual Southern Oregon Nonprofit Summit will take place April 8 and 9 at the Aviva Health Community Conference Space, 150 NE Kenneth Ford Drive, Roseburg!

The two-day program is designed for nonprofit professionals at all levels, from executive directors to staff working to expand their organization's reach. Sessions aim to provide attendees with strategies they can put into practice immediately.

Registration is $125 for both days or $75 for a single day.

3rd Annual Nonprofit Summit Hosted by Aviva Health

John Payne Lindsey, 79, of Roseburg, Oregon, was unexpectedly called home to heaven on Dec. 12, 2025, surrounded by his family. John was born March 19, 1946, in El Centro, California, to Claude and Loris (Payne) Lindsey. 

John was raised in the Imperial Valley of California, and graduated from Holtville Union High School in Holtville, California, before moving on to trade school to become a licensed hairdresser. John married his late wife, Linda (Holmes) Lindsey, on Feb. 2, 1969, in Winterhaven, Arizona, after just six short weeks of knowing each other. They were married for just shy of 40 years before her passing. John and Linda made their home in Santa Maria, California, until moving to Oregon, in 1975, eventually settling in the Roseburg area where they raised their three daughters Jennifer, Christina and Karen. 

John worked as a hairdresser for 49 years, sharing his talent and humor with countless clients who became friends over the years; many of whom received their very first haircut from him. John enjoyed bible study, baking, gardening, long drives, creating bonsai, carving, listening to music and a good Hallmark movie.

He was preceded in death by his wife Linda (Holmes) Lindsey; granddaughter Sydney Johannis; and his parents Claude and Loris (Payne) Lindsey. He is survived by his daughters Jennifer Lindsey, Christina Lindsey-Freed (Bryan), and Karen Johannis (Steven); granddaughter Eloise Johannis; brother Christopher Lindsey; sister Patricia Reed (David); and many nieces, nephews and in-laws close to his heart.

John’s love, laughter, and twinkle in his eye will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on March 19, 2026, at the Winston Community Center in Winston, Oregon, and all are welcome to join in remembering John. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation or a charity of your choice.

John Payne Lindsey, 79, of Roseburg, Oregon, was unexpectedly called home to heaven on Dec. 12, 2025, surrounded by his family. John was born March 19, 1946, in El Centro, California, to Claude and Loris (Payne) Lindsey.&nbsp;John was raised in the Imperial Valley of California, and graduated from&nbsp;Holtville Union High School in Holtville, California,&nbsp;before moving on to trade school to become a licensed hairdresser. John married his late wife, Linda (Holmes) Lindsey, on Feb. 2, 1969, in Winterhaven, Arizona, after just six short weeks of knowing each other. They were married for just shy of 40 years before her passing. John and Linda made their home in Santa Maria, California, until moving to Oregon, in 1975, eventually settling in the Roseburg area where they raised their three daughters Jennifer, Christina and Karen.&nbsp;John worked as a hairdresser for 49 years, sharing his talent and humor with countless clients who became friends over the years; many of whom received their very first haircut from him. John enjoyed bible study, baking, gardening, long drives, creating bonsai, carving, listening to music and a good Hallmark movie.He was preceded in death by his wife Linda (Holmes) Lindsey; granddaughter Sydney Johannis; and his parents Claude and Loris (Payne) Lindsey. He is survived by his daughters Jennifer Lindsey, Christina Lindsey-Freed (Bryan), and Karen Johannis (Steven); granddaughter Eloise Johannis; brother Christopher Lindsey; sister Patricia Reed (David); and many nieces, nephews and in-laws close to his heart.John’s love, laughter, and twinkle in his eye will be deeply missed by all who knew him.A memorial service is scheduled for 10:30&nbsp;a.m.&nbsp;on&nbsp;March 19, 2026,&nbsp;at the Winston Community Center in Winston, Oregon, and all are welcome to join in remembering John. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation or a charity of your choice.

Izzy Ca

Elijah Finlay

Esther Finlay

Kathy Guentner

Steffanie Moore

John Payne Lindsey, 79, of Roseburg, Oregon, was unexpectedly called home to heaven on Dec. 12, 2025, surrounded by his family. John was born March 19, 1946, in El Centro, California, to Claude and Loris (Payne) Lindsey. 

John was raised in the Imperial Valley of California, and graduated from Holtville Union High School in Holtville, California, before moving on to trade school to become a licensed hairdresser. John married his late wife, Linda (Holmes) Lindsey, on Feb. 2, 1969, in Winterhaven, Arizona, after just six short weeks of knowing each other. They were married for just shy of 40 years before her passing. John and Linda made their home in Santa Maria, California, until moving to Oregon, in 1975, eventually settling in the Roseburg area where they raised their three daughters Jennifer, Christina and Karen. 

John worked as a hairdresser for 49 years, sharing his talent and humor with countless clients who became friends over the years; many of whom received their very first haircut from him. John enjoyed bible study, baking, gardening, long drives, creating bonsai, carving, listening to music and a good Hallmark movie.

He was preceded in death by his wife Linda (Holmes) Lindsey; granddaughter Sydney Johannis; and his parents Claude and Loris (Payne) Lindsey. He is survived by his daughters Jennifer Lindsey, Christina Lindsey-Freed (Bryan), and Karen Johannis (Steven); granddaughter Eloise Johannis; brother Christopher Lindsey; sister Patricia Reed (David); and many nieces, nephews and in-laws close to his heart.

John’s love, laughter, and twinkle in his eye will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on March 19, 2026, at the Winston Community Center in Winston, Oregon, and all are welcome to join in remembering John. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation or a charity of your choice.

In Memory of John Lindsey

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – A Roseburg man is in custody tonight charged with the murder of his 11-month-old son.

On Sunday, March 15, 2026, shortly before 10:00 a.m., a 9-1-1 call was placed by 27-year-old Jared Scott Jeremy Stoller of Roseburg. Stoller reported to dispatchers that his 11-month-old son, Jackson James Stoller, was missing from his hotel room at the Relax Inn in Sutherlin, Oregon. Sutherlin Police Officers responded to the call and determined there to be suspicious circumstances involved. The Douglas County Major Crimes Team was activated to assist in the investigation.

Stoller was interviewed by detectives from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and eventually confessed that he had murdered Jackson days earlier at a location in Roseburg. Stoller told detectives that he had disposed of the child’s body in the South Umpqua River.

Divers from the Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, assisted by boats from the Oregon State Police and Douglas County, located Jackson's body just before 6:00 p.m. in the river near the 3500-block of Old Melrose Road. His body was turned over to the care of the Douglas County Medical Examiner’s Office. An autopsy is expected to take place in the coming days.

Detectives arrested Stoller and lodged him in the Douglas County Jail on the following charges:





Murder in the First Degree



Abuse of a Corpse in the First Degree

The Douglas County Major Crimes Team is continuing to investigate the homicide. The Sheriff’s Office has been assigned as the lead investigating agency. The Major Crimes Team consists of investigators from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Roseburg Police Department, and Oregon State Police working in consultation with the Douglas County District Attorney's Office.

Additional assistance was received from Douglas County Search and Rescue, Sutherlin Police Department, Winston Police Department, Myrtle Creek Police Department, and the Oregon Department of Human Services – Child Welfare Division.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional details are expected to be released at this time. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact investigators at 541-440-4471 referencing Case #26-0836.

Via Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – A Roseburg man is in custody tonight charged with the murder of his 11-month-old son.On Sunday, March 15, 2026, shortly before 10:00 a.m., a 9-1-1 call was placed by 27-year-old Jared Scott Jeremy Stoller of Roseburg. Stoller reported to dispatchers that his 11-month-old son, Jackson James Stoller, was missing from his hotel room at the Relax Inn in Sutherlin, Oregon. Sutherlin Police Officers responded to the call and determined there to be suspicious circumstances involved. The Douglas County Major Crimes Team was activated to assist in the investigation.Stoller was interviewed by detectives from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and eventually confessed that he had murdered Jackson days earlier at a location in Roseburg. Stoller told detectives that he had disposed of the child’s body in the South Umpqua River.Divers from the Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, assisted by boats from the Oregon State Police and Douglas County, located Jackson's body just before 6:00 p.m. in the river near the 3500-block of Old Melrose Road. His body was turned over to the care of the Douglas County Medical Examiner’s Office. An autopsy is expected to take place in the coming days.Detectives arrested Stoller and lodged him in the Douglas County Jail on the following charges:<ul class="!mt-4 !mb-6"><li class="!-my-2">Murder in the First Degree</li><li class="!-my-2">Abuse of a Corpse in the First Degree</li></ul>The Douglas County Major Crimes Team is continuing to investigate the homicide. The Sheriff’s Office has been assigned as the lead investigating agency. The Major Crimes Team consists of investigators from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Roseburg Police Department, and Oregon State Police working in consultation with the Douglas County District Attorney's Office.Additional assistance was received from Douglas County Search and Rescue, Sutherlin Police Department, Winston Police Department, Myrtle Creek Police Department, and the Oregon Department of Human Services – Child Welfare Division.The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional details are expected to be released at this time. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact investigators at 541-440-4471 referencing Case #26-0836.Via Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

 – A Roseburg man is in custody tonight charged with the murder of his 11-month-old son.

On Sunday, March 15, 2026, shortly before 10:00 a.m., a 9-1-1 call was placed by 27-year-old Jared Scott Jeremy Stoller of Roseburg. Stoller reported to dispatchers that his 11-month-old son, Jackson James Stoller, was missing from his hotel room at the Relax Inn in Sutherlin, Oregon. Sutherlin Police Officers responded to the call and determined there to be suspicious circumstances involved. The Douglas County Major Crimes Team was activated to assist in the investigation.

Stoller was interviewed by detectives from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and eventually confessed that he had murdered Jackson days earlier at a location in Roseburg. Stoller told detectives that he had disposed of the child’s body in the South Umpqua River.

Divers from the Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, assisted by boats from the Oregon State Police and Douglas County, located Jackson's body just before 6:00 p.m. in the river near the 3500-block of Old Melrose Road. His body was turned over to the care of the Douglas County Medical Examiner’s Office. An autopsy is expected to take place in the coming days.

Detectives arrested Stoller and lodged him in the Douglas County Jail on the following charges:

The Douglas County Major Crimes Team is continuing to investigate the homicide. The Sheriff’s Office has been assigned as the lead investigating agency. The Major Crimes Team consists of investigators from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Roseburg Police Department, and Oregon State Police working in consultation with the Douglas County District Attorney's Office.

Additional assistance was received from Douglas County Search and Rescue, Sutherlin Police Department, Winston Police Department, Myrtle Creek Police Department, and the Oregon Department of Human Services – Child Welfare Division.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional details are expected to be released at this time. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact investigators at 541-440-4471 referencing Case #26-0836.

Roseburg Man Charged With Murder of 11-Month-Old Son

Winston, OR — K9 Nike, a Belgian Malinois who has served in law enforcement for more than eight years, will retire from the Winston Police Department on March 1. Born in the Netherlands in 2016, Nike was trained in the Dutch police dog sport of KNPV before serving with the Roseburg Police Department and transferring to Winston in 2022. Over his career, he was deployed approximately 110 times and recorded 65 captures, recovering evidence including drugs, guns, and knives. After retirement, Nike will become an ambassador for the Friends of the Umpqua Valley Police K9 Programs. Ownership will transfer to his handler, Officer Cordell, and Nike will live at home with Cordell's family. A community retirement gathering will be held on Friday, March 6, from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM at the Winston Community Center, 440 SE Grape Avenue.

Winston, OR — K9 Nike, a Belgian Malinois who has served in law enforcement for more than eight years, will retire from the Winston Police Department on March 1. Born in the Netherlands in 2016, Nike was trained in the Dutch police dog sport of KNPV before serving with the Roseburg Police Department and transferring to Winston in 2022. Over his career, he was deployed approximately 110 times and recorded 65 captures, recovering evidence including drugs, guns, and knives. After retirement, Nike will become an ambassador for the Friends of the Umpqua Valley Police K9 Programs. Ownership will transfer to his handler, Officer Cordell, and Nike will live at home with Cordell's family. A community retirement gathering will be held on Friday, March 6, from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM at the Winston Community Center, 440 SE Grape Avenue.

Gina Stiffler

John Evans

Winston Police Dog Retires After Eight Years of service.

K9 Nike to Retire From Winston Police Department

ROSEBURG, Ore. — The city of Roseburg officially opened its rebuilt tennis and pickleball facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the completion of a $2.5 million project that replaced aging courts dating to the 1950s and 1960s.

The new complex, located in Stewart Park, features eight tennis courts and ten pickleball courts. It replaces eleven courts originally built in 1959 and 1970 that had deteriorated over more than five decades of use. The facility is the only public outdoor court complex in the Roseburg area.

Funding came from three sources: a $750,000 grant from Oregon State Parks, roughly $500,000 from the city, and $1.25 million raised by the community through the Umpqua Valley Tennis Center, a local nonprofit that has operated for more than 50 years.

Eric Ball, president of the UVTC, said the project traces back to a 2018 master plan developed after the group assessed the poor condition of the existing courts. That plan sat dormant for five years until a member identified the state parks grant opportunity in 2023. The organization applied in April of that year and received the award that November. Construction went out to bid in March 2025, and JRT Construction, based in Oakland, Oregon, began work the following June. The project took approximately nine months to complete.

Ball credited a long list of donors for pushing the community fundraising past the million-dollar mark. Among the larger contributors were the John and Gene Loosely Foundation, the Ford Family Foundation, Umpqua Health Alliance, Ranco Systems, Lone Rock Timber, North River Boats, and several individual donors. Ball also noted that local pickleball tournaments organized by community members generated significant revenue for the project.

The upgrades extend beyond the playing surfaces. The complex now includes LED lighting for evening play, security cameras, a coded gate-lock entry system, ADA-accessible design, and concrete spectator seating positioned between the tennis and pickleball sections.

Roseburg Mayor Larry Rich presided over the ceremony and emphasized the role of local contractors and community investment in bringing the project to completion.

City Manager Nikki Messenger said the project offers a model for future park improvements in Roseburg. She noted that the city used tourism-related funds for its portion of the financing, a decision she described as a first for a project of this scale. The reasoning, she said, was that the UVTC's track record of hosting tournaments would generate hotel stays, restaurant visits, and retail spending sufficient to justify the investment.

Messenger also said the city is developing a new master plan for Stewart Park and considering additional improvements elsewhere in its park system. She encouraged residents to participate in that planning process.

Ball framed the project in generational terms, noting that children who grew up playing on the original courts, himself included, now have a facility built for the next several decades of youth athletics. Local youth tennis players turned out in force for the ribbon cutting, and high school teams have already begun practicing on the new courts this week.

The courts are open to the public. For inquiries and access information, residents can contact the Umpqua Valley Tennis Center at (541) 673-3429 or visit www.umpquavalleytennis.com. A reservation system for the outdoor courts is expected to be announced in the coming weeks, and a separate grand opening celebration is planned for later this year. Additional details will be posted as they become available.

The Umpqua Valley Tennis Center is located at 1201 NW Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR 97471. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed 12:30 to 2 p.m.), and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ROSEBURG, Ore. — The city of Roseburg officially opened its rebuilt tennis and pickleball facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the completion of a $2.5 million project that replaced aging courts dating to the 1950s and 1960s.The new complex, located in Stewart Park, features eight tennis courts and ten pickleball courts. It replaces eleven courts originally built in 1959 and 1970 that had deteriorated over more than five decades of use. The facility is the only public outdoor court complex in the Roseburg area.Funding came from three sources: a $750,000 grant from Oregon State Parks, roughly $500,000 from the city, and $1.25 million raised by the community through the Umpqua Valley Tennis Center, a local nonprofit that has operated for more than 50 years.Eric Ball, president of the UVTC, said the project traces back to a 2018 master plan developed after the group assessed the poor condition of the existing courts. That plan sat dormant for five years until a member identified the state parks grant opportunity in 2023. The organization applied in April of that year and received the award that November. Construction went out to bid in March 2025, and JRT Construction, based in Oakland, Oregon, began work the following June. The project took approximately nine months to complete.Ball credited a long list of donors for pushing the community fundraising past the million-dollar mark. Among the larger contributors were the John and Gene Loosely Foundation, the Ford Family Foundation, Umpqua Health Alliance, Ranco Systems, Lone Rock Timber, North River Boats, and several individual donors. Ball also noted that local pickleball tournaments organized by community members generated significant revenue for the project.The upgrades extend beyond the playing surfaces. The complex now includes LED lighting for evening play, security cameras, a coded gate-lock entry system, ADA-accessible design, and concrete spectator seating positioned between the tennis and pickleball sections.Roseburg Mayor Larry Rich presided over the ceremony and emphasized the role of local contractors and community investment in bringing the project to completion.City Manager Nikki Messenger said the project offers a model for future park improvements in Roseburg. She noted that the city used tourism-related funds for its portion of the financing, a decision she described as a first for a project of this scale. The reasoning, she said, was that the UVTC's track record of hosting tournaments would generate hotel stays, restaurant visits, and retail spending sufficient to justify the investment.Messenger also said the city is developing a new master plan for Stewart Park and considering additional improvements elsewhere in its park system. She encouraged residents to participate in that planning process.Ball framed the project in generational terms, noting that children who grew up playing on the original courts, himself included, now have a facility built for the next several decades of youth athletics. Local youth tennis players turned out in force for the ribbon cutting, and high school teams have already begun practicing on the new courts this week.The courts are open to the public. For inquiries and access information, residents can contact the Umpqua Valley Tennis Center at (541) 673-3429 or visit <a rel="noopener noreferrer" class="!text-blue-600 !cursor-pointer hover:!underline" href="http://www.umpquavalleytennis.com">www.umpquavalleytennis.com</a>. A reservation system for the outdoor courts is expected to be announced in the coming weeks, and a separate grand opening celebration is planned for later this year. Additional details will be posted as they become available.The Umpqua Valley Tennis Center is located at 1201 NW Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR 97471. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed 12:30 to 2 p.m.), and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ky Bendele

Roseburg’s rebuilt outdoor Stewart Park complex is now open with eight tennis courts and 10 pickleball courts.

ROSEBURG, Ore. — The city of Roseburg officially opened its rebuilt tennis and pickleball facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the completion of a $2.5 million project that replaced aging courts dating to the 1950s and 1960s.

The new complex, located in Stewart Park, features eight tennis courts and ten pickleball courts. It replaces eleven courts originally built in 1959 and 1970 that had deteriorated over more than five decades of use. The facility is the only public outdoor court complex in the Roseburg area.

Funding came from three sources: a $750,000 grant from Oregon State Parks, roughly $500,000 from the city, and $1.25 million raised by the community through the Umpqua Valley Tennis Center, a local nonprofit that has operated for more than 50 years.

Eric Ball, president of the UVTC, said the project traces back to a 2018 master plan developed after the group assessed the poor condition of the existing courts. That plan sat dormant for five years until a member identified the state parks grant opportunity in 2023. The organization applied in April of that year and received the award that November. Construction went out to bid in March 2025, and JRT Construction, based in Oakland, Oregon, began work the following June. The project took approximately nine months to complete.

Ball credited a long list of donors for pushing the community fundraising past the million-dollar mark. Among the larger contributors were the John and Gene Loosely Foundation, the Ford Family Foundation, Umpqua Health Alliance, Ranco Systems, Lone Rock Timber, North River Boats, and several individual donors. Ball also noted that local pickleball tournaments organized by community members generated significant revenue for the project.

The upgrades extend beyond the playing surfaces. The complex now includes LED lighting for evening play, security cameras, a coded gate-lock entry system, ADA-accessible design, and concrete spectator seating positioned between the tennis and pickleball sections.

Roseburg Mayor Larry Rich presided over the ceremony and emphasized the role of local contractors and community investment in bringing the project to completion.

City Manager Nikki Messenger said the project offers a model for future park improvements in Roseburg. She noted that the city used tourism-related funds for its portion of the financing, a decision she described as a first for a project of this scale. The reasoning, she said, was that the UVTC's track record of hosting tournaments would generate hotel stays, restaurant visits, and retail spending sufficient to justify the investment.

Messenger also said the city is developing a new master plan for Stewart Park and considering additional improvements elsewhere in its park system. She encouraged residents to participate in that planning process.

Ball framed the project in generational terms, noting that children who grew up playing on the original courts, himself included, now have a facility built for the next several decades of youth athletics. Local youth tennis players turned out in force for the ribbon cutting, and high school teams have already begun practicing on the new courts this week.

The courts are open to the public. For inquiries and access information, residents can contact the Umpqua Valley Tennis Center at (541) 673-3429 or visit 

. A reservation system for the outdoor courts is expected to be announced in the coming weeks, and a separate grand opening celebration is planned for later this year. Additional details will be posted as they become available.

The Umpqua Valley Tennis Center is located at 1201 NW Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR 97471. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed 12:30 to 2 p.m.), and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Western Pond Turtle

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Jerry Bruce Community Campus Hosts Third Annual Charity Golf Scramble

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Roseburg Man Charged With Murder of 11-Month-Old Son

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Roseburg Cuts Ribbon on New Outdoor Tennis and Pickleball Facility

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