Mystery vibrations shake Sweet Home block after water main break

Residents report strange noises and discolored water before city crews locate and repair the issue.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Glenda Hopkins, a volunteer at the East Linn Museum in Sweet Home, Oregon, first noticed a persistent strange noise and vibrations emanating from the museum building. Soon after, nearby resident Shawnee Conley reported similar vibrations in her home and discolored water coming from her faucets. Several other homes on the block experienced the same issues, leading city public works crews to quickly identify and repair a water main break in the street across from the museum.

Why it matters

Water main breaks can cause significant disruptions to residents, leading to property damage, service interruptions, and safety concerns. This incident highlights the importance of a responsive and proactive municipal infrastructure maintenance program to quickly address such issues and mitigate the impact on the local community.

The details

City public works employee Wes Glenn used sounders, or listening devices, to quickly locate the water main break across the street from the East Linn Museum. Crews then cut through the road to access and repair the broken water main, which was causing the vibrations, discolored water, and other issues reported by nearby residents.

  • On Thursday, February 5th, Glenda Hopkins first noticed the strange noises and vibrations at the East Linn Museum.
  • Shortly after, Shawnee Conley reported vibrations in her home and discolored water from her faucets.

The players

Glenda Hopkins

A volunteer at the East Linn Museum who first noticed the strange noises and vibrations emanating from the building.

Shawnee Conley

A resident who lives across the street and a few houses down from the East Linn Museum, and reported experiencing vibrations in her home and discolored water from her faucets.

Wes Glenn

A public works employee who used sounders to quickly locate the water main break that was causing the issues reported by residents.

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What they’re saying

“It just started vibrating in the house.”

— Shawnee Conley, Resident (sweethomenews.com)

What’s next

City crews will continue to monitor the area and ensure the water main repair is holding and that there are no further issues for residents.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the importance of a well-maintained municipal infrastructure and the need for responsive public works departments to quickly address issues like water main breaks that can significantly impact local communities.