Editor's note: Today we continue our monthly feature in the Daily Courier called Community Builder - interviews with individuals who are making a positive impact in Southern Oregon.

By Steve Boyarsky for the Daily Courier

This month's conversation is with Scott Bandoroff and Zuna Johnson. Scott started a nonprofit called Uniting for Ukraine Rogue Valley that works to bring Ukrainian families to the U.S., while Zuna has been supporting them by teaching English.

EUGENE - You never know when you're going to fall in love.

Illinois Valley's Jacob Hinds certainly wasn't expecting it when he started his senior football season last fall, but nine months later, he's the Class 2A state champion in the discus and has a new love for track and field.

Hinds was the Cougars' quarterback and admits to being obsessed with football.

He ran for a touchdown in an easy season-opening win, but then he developed an enlarged spleen.

A man who started a wildfire that threatened homes in the Prospect area last year has been civilly committed after he was found to be an “extremely dangerous” person under state law.

The finding means an adult has a “qualifying mental disorder” resistant to treatment and, from that disorder, has committed a violent act, including arson.

By Kathleen Alaks Associated Press

Craterian Performances has announced the Craterian Theater's 2026-2027 season.

Among the acts coming to the theater are musicians Andy Grammer, the a cappella group Naturally 7, AJ McLean, 3 Redneck Tenors, a father-daughter musical duo, a jazz rockabilly group, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra with a tribute to Frank Sinatra and an interactive Beatles experience.