February 25, 2026

Good morning Douglas County! Here are today's updates live from the Roseburg Receiver Communications Center.

After nearly six decades in the grocery business in Southern Oregon, the Olsrud family has confirmed it is pursuing a sale of Sherm’s Thunderbird Markets, Inc., including four store locations and a warehouse in Medford.

Owner Steve Olsrud said the company’s holdings are available and that interested parties can contact the company directly. He did not provide details such as a sale price, and said the effort had not been posted as an online real estate listing at the time of the report.

Statement: goal is continuity and “business as usual”

General Manager Bob Ames issued a statement saying the company is seeking a buyer who will keep the stores operating as they have for years, while continuing to serve the community and care for the company’s 500-plus employees. The statement added that Olsrud, 78, has chosen to begin a succession plan and that the message from leadership is “business as usual.”

Stores included in the sale

The company’s locations listed include:

• Klamath Falls - 1877 Avalon St.
• Medford - 2347 W Main St. (Thunderbird)
• Medford - 2230 Biddle Rd. (Food 4 Less)
• Roseburg - 2553 NW Stewart Pkwy.
• Plus a warehouse in Medford

How the company began - and expanded

The family-run business traces back to founders Sherm Olsrud and Wanda Olsrud, who previously operated Wilson’s Sausage Kitchen in Eugene. In 1967, they moved to the Rogue Valley and purchased a six-year-old Thunderbird Market in Medford, keeping the Thunderbird name but adding “Sherm’s.”

Growth followed over the years:

• 1974: expansion into Klamath Falls with the purchase of a former Mayfair Market
• 1977: opening a Biddle Road store in Medford, first operated as a Sherm’s Thunderbird and later transitioned to a 24-hour Food 4 Less format
• 2000: a fourth location added with the purchase of a struggling Food World store in Roseburg

Sherm Olsrud died in 2019. Wanda Olsrud died Dec. 29, 2025, at age 100. Steve Olsrud has led the company in recent decades.

Community giving and local recognition

The company is widely associated with philanthropy across Southern Oregon, with support described as ranging from food banks and health care entities to school districts, sports organizations, and youth programs including 4-H and Future Farmers of America. The company also offers multiple scholarship funds through its website.

One long-running local feature highlighted was the meat department’s display of photos of 4-H and FFA youth with animals purchased at auction.

Among sites carrying the family name: the 12,000-square-foot Olsrud Arena at The Expo in Central Point, funded in 1999 and later expanded to add restrooms and showers for youth participants.

The family was also recognized at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center after a $12 million donation in 2022 supporting a range of services including care for women and children, cancer and cardiac care, mental health, and other services.

A traffic stop along Interstate 5 Saturday morning led to the seizure of more than 40 pounds of methamphetamine, according to Oregon State Police.

Police said an OSP trooper stopped a passenger vehicle traveling northbound near milepost 168 just before 11 a.m. on Feb. 21. The trooper reported noticing indicators of possible criminal activity and later conducted a consent search of the vehicle.

During the search, police said a duffel bag located in the trunk contained 40 resealable plastic bags filled with methamphetamine. The total weight of the drugs was listed as 40.5 pounds.

The driver was taken into custody and arrested on charges of possession and distribution of methamphetamine. The case remains under investigation, and no additional details were released.

February 25 is the 7th anniversary of the start of the massive storm, known as “snowmageddon”.

On Sunday February 24th in 2019, Douglas County residents expected rain to intensify with the potential of eventual flooding in some areas over the next several days. Only KPTV Portland Chief Meteorologist Mark Nelson saw that something different was likely to happen. On Sunday afternoon Nelson’s forecast began to call for up to a foot of snow – or more – in some areas between Eugene and Roseburg.

The storm brought in 8 inches of snow overnight in many parts of Douglas County. That led to roadways that were littered with fallen trees. Many rural roads were blocked for days. Power was knocked out to tens of thousands of people. Then on February 26th, 6 more inches of snow fell in many areas. In all, it was the most snow to hit the county in around 50 years.

While many homes around Roseburg had power restored within a day or so, rural residents, especially in the north portion of the county, had a two or three week wait for the power to come back on.

Storm damages were estimated at over $11 million.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding small businesses and private non-profit organizations in Oregon of the March 24 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides which occurred March 13th-20th of 2025.

The disaster declaration covers the Oregon counties of Douglas, Coos, Curry, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Lane.

Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private non-profits, including faith-based organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

The EIDL’s are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

For complete information and to apply online, go to: www.sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955.

The Roseburg High School Band program will have its annual Bingo Night fundraiser in the RHS Student Center on Tuesday, March 3rd.

The doors will open at 6:00 p.m. for bingo card sales with the first game starting at 6:30 p.m. Card sales will end at 7:00 p.m. with the dessert auction beginning at 7:15 p.m. Bingo games will continue until all the prizes have been won. Raffle prizes will be drawn at random times throughout the course of the evening.

Bingo cards cost $5 to play for the entire night. Participants can specify if they want the money to benefit the RHS band program, or a specific student. Money raised during the event will help offset the cost of band trips and other activities.

For more information about the RHS Band program, go to: https://www.rhsbands.com/

First Presbyterian Church in downtown Roseburg will continue its Lenten Meditations in Music series on Friday from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Held weekly, the series is designed to provide a time for gathering and prayerful contemplation during Lent.

This week, a women’s vocal trio will be featured with Tonnie Bernhardson, Sharon Kercher and Donna Spicer, accompanied by Luella Cox.

The church is at 823 Southeast Lane Avenue. The presentation will also be available on the church’s Facebook page and its YouTube channel.

For more information on Lenten Meditations in Music, go to: https://www.fpcrose.org/

Limited Time Events

• In Studio Classes @ Create & Sip Studio | January 8 - May 17th | Every Week on Wed - Sun
• "Shifting Landscapes" + Add'l Exhibits @ Umpqua Valley Arts | January 9 - March 6 | Every week Tuesday - Friday | 10 AM - 6 PM | Link

Monday, February 23rd

• DJ Trivia Night @ Workman's Bar & Smokehouse | 7PM
• Open Mic Night @ Little Brothers Pub | 6 - 8 PM

Tuesday, February 24th

• Bingo @ Roseburg Elks Lodge #326 | 6:30 PM
• DJ Bingo @ Workman's Bar and Smokehouse | 6 PM
• DJ Trivia @ Urban NY Pizza & Grill | 7 PM
• Free Line Dancing Lessons - Elements Lounge @ Seven Feathers Casino Resort | Every week on Tuesday | 7 - 9 PM | Link
• Open Mic Night @ Kodiak Bar & Grill | Every week on Tuesday @ 6 - 8 PM
• Tuesdays! Free Line Dancing Lessons at Elements Lounge in Seven Feathers Casino Resort | 7 - 9 PM | Link
• All Ages Jazz Jam @ North Forty Beer Company | 5 - 7:30 PM | Link

Wednesday, February 25th

• DJ Trivia @ Backside Brewing Co. | 6 - 7:30 PM
• Karaoke/Open Mic Night @ Idle Hour Tavern | 9 PM - 12:30 AM
• Open Mic at Brix | Every Wednesday | 6 - 8 PM | Link
• Karaoke Night at The Wild Rose Saloon | 7 - 10 PM | Link
• Trivia Night @​ Lookingglass Brewery | 6 - 9 PM
• Trivia Night @​ Little Brothers Pub | 6 PM
• Bingo @ Roseburg Senior Center | (Every Wed and Fri) - Doors Open at 5 PM, starts at 6:30PM. Food available. Ages 7+. $1 for non-members.
• Live Music: Bob Hall @ Two Shy Brewing | 6 - 8 PM | Link

Thursday, February 26th

• DJ Trivia @ North Forty Beer Company | 7 - 8:30 PM
• Kick Up the Dust - Line Dancing Lessons @ Workman's Bar & Smokehouse | 7 - 8 PM
• Karaoke Night at Kodiak | Every Thursday and Saturday | 8 PM
• DJ Bingo @ Brix Bar & Grill | 7 - 9 PM | Link
• Draper Jam Night | 8 - 11:30 PM | Link
• Thirsty Thursday Cornhole Night @ Lookingglass Brewery | Every week on Thursday | 6 - 8 PM | Link

Friday, February 27th

• Friday Pizzas! @ Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards | 12 - 4PM
• Karaoke Night @ Winchester Pub & Grill | 8 - 11 PM
• Karaoke Night @ Workman's Bar and Smokehouse | 9 PM - 12 AM
• Bingo @ Roseburg Senior Center | (Every Wed and Fri) - Doors Open at 5 PM, starts at 6:30PM. Food available. Ages 7+. $1 for non-members.
• Karaoke Night at Kodiak | Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday | 8 PM
• Home & Garden Show @ Douglas County Fairgrounds | Feb 27 - Mar 1 | 10 AM - 6 PM | Link
• Supper Club Dinner @ Melrose Vineyards | 5:30 - 8:30 PM | Link

Saturday, February 28th

• Umpqua Valley Farmers Market | 9AM - 1PM | SE Jackson St | Link
• Roseburg Saturday Market - Outside Winter Market | 10AM - 2PM | Harvard Ave - Rife's Home Furniture Parking Lot (Every Saturday until December 20th)
• Karaoke Night @​ Brix Bar & Grill | (Every Saturday) @ 7 - 10PM
• Karaoke Night @ Lookingglass Brewery | 6 - 8PM | Link
• Karaoke Night at Kodiak | Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday | 8 PM
• Home & Garden Show @ Douglas County Fairgrounds | Feb 27 - Mar 1 | 10 AM - 6 PM | Link
• Cheese & Thank You Kickoff | Columbia Bank - 445 SE Main St in Roseburg | Link
• Release Party w/ USA Today Best Selling Author Lisa Shelby @ Yours Truly Bookshop | 12 - 2 PM | Link
• Peace at Home Fundraiser| Seven Feathers Casino Resort | Link

Sunday, March 1st

• DJ Trivia Night @ Brix Bar and Grill | Every Sunday | 6 - 8 PM
• Home & Garden Show @ Douglas County Fairgrounds | Feb 27 - Mar 1 | 10 AM - 6 PM | Link
• Live Music: Wild at Heart @ Melrose Vineyards | 3 - 5 PM | Link

• We now have 19,086 Facebook group members!! Thank you all so much for being here!
• There is now an opportunity to advertise your local business with The Roseburg Receiver! If your company is interested, please email info@theroseburgreceiver.com. Your ad will be featured in The Roseburg Scoop emails, videos, website, and much more.
• Project Skywatch is still underway to get deployed in the Spring; however, more funding is still required. To donate, become a business sponsor, or read more information of Project Skywatch, visit https://www.theroseburgreceiver.com/project-skywatch/
• Roseburg-based IT and cybersecurity company Integotec is partnering with The Roseburg Receiver this spring to support Project Skywatch, providing full camera and equipment installation (excluding hardware), including cabling, custom mounts, lift rental, and ongoing support/management; the project is nearing initial funding but still seeking monthly sponsors to keep cameras online long-term, and Integotec will also contribute weekly cybersecurity tips and content to the platform.

The Roseburg Receiver is powered by the community. If you have local news, helpful information, an incident update, or an upcoming event to share, please email us at info@theroseburgreceiver.com so others can stay informed.

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• Protect privacy: For public safety or incident-related posts, please do not share personal or identifying information (names, addresses, license plates, etc.). Event posts, community announcements, and press releases may include names when appropriate.
• Safety first: Never post while driving

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That is the scoop for this Wednesday morning. Enjoy your day!

- The Roseburg Receiver Team