T h e Ca nyo n W e e k ly
May 18, 2011
Volume 2, Issue 20
News and Life - For Our Side of the Mountain!
Ser ving the communities of L yons, Mehama, Elkhorn, Mill City, Gates, Niagra, Detroit, Breitenbush, Idanha and Marion Forks
Your Election Results May 17 Special Election Ballot: Constested Candidate Winners
Lyons-Mehama Water Board Members: Position 1 Bruce Matthis 65.14% Position 3 Richard Voltin 72.36%
Santiam Canyon School District 129 J Board Members (Gates/MC Schools): Position 3 Rick Posekany 51.83% Position 4 Keri Sanders 42.88 % North Santiam School District (Mari-Linn School): Director, Zone 5 Mark Valentine 47.57% Results are as reported May 17, 8pm.
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Two arrested, one sought in connection with Lyons area theft ring Local resident is hopeful that her property will be found Although still unconfirmed by authorities, local homeowner Jane Farris of the Little North Fork is hopeful her belongings are among those found after the recent theft ring arrests. Two weeks ago, her garage was emptied of its contents in broad daylight. “My neighbor saw a blue-gray Jeep Cherokee with a covered trailer parked near my home,” said Farris. “The creeps even asked him for a jump startafter they stole my battery charger.” Marion County Deputies cracked a vehicle & trailer theft ring Friday morning, arresting two men and recovering
a stolen vehicle, four stolen trailers and a large quantity of stolen property. Working on an anonymous tip, Deputy Tom Barber drove to the area of Fern Ridge Road SE. As Barber arrived he spotted two men and a red Jeep Cherokee. Upon seeing the deputy, one man sped off in the Jeep and the other fled on foot. Jeremiah Rew, 35, of Lyons was found hiding in the bushes of a nearby home who was then arrested for trespassing. The red Jeep was found later and identified as one stolen from the city of Stayton on Thursday. A (Con’t on back page)
Man found dead after 68 days near Marion Forks, 3 miles from help Jerry William McDonald, 68, was stranded 4 miles from Marion Forks for 68 days. He kept a series of homemade calendars; this one shows his last entry on April 18.
Local restaurant owner Wayne Rettinger was surprised to hear about the tragedy so close to home. “It’s kind of strange,” said Rettinger, owner of Marion Forks Restaurant. “He was only three miles from here. We could have helped him.” The Linn County Sheriff’s Dept is still investigating the death of Jerry William McDonald, 68, of Unity, OR, who was stranded near Marion Forks for 68 days - after his vehicle had become stuck in the snow. McDonald had apparently
tried to get his vehicle out with a jack and by using rocks for traction. Discovered May 12 by a U.S. Forest Service survey crew on FS Road 517, about 3 miles from Hwy 22, McDonald’s body was found in a sleeping bag in the back of a 1997 GMC canopy pickup. The preliminary findings indicate that his death was consistent with starvation and/or hypothermia. Officals did not find any signs of foul play, but they did find (Con’t on back page)