The Canyon Weekly May 23, 2012
Volume 3, Issue 21
News and Life - For Our Side of the Mountain! Serving the communities of Lyons, Mehama, Elkhorn, Mill City, Gates, Niagra, Detroit, Breitenbush, Idanha and Marion Forks
Tragedy on the North Santiam
75 cents Check us out online for free in full color!
www.TheCanyonWeekly.com
Your purchase helps us keep your news fresh and local. Thanks for helping us grow the Santiam Canyon!
Two lives are lost, recovery efforts suspended as river levels rise
On Friday afternoon, a 911 call was dispatched to Gates Fire Department, 2 people were reported in the river near Niagra Park. Jacob Allen of Gates and his good friend, Eric Johnson of Keizer, had set out to take Jacob’s two young sons, 5 year old Anthony Berlin and 3 year old Angel, to go fishing along the banks of the Santiam. They chose a trail on the south side of the river on the far end of Gates Bridge East to explore. Anthony scurried off for a moment and slipped into the water. Johnson dove into the river to save the child but tragically drowned in the attempt. Allen jumped in after his friend and son, unable to reach them he pulled himself back to safety aware that three year old Angel was now on the banks alone. He grabbed Angel and ran up the trail to the logging road to flag down a passing motorist who called 911.
Gates Fire Department Assistant Chief Dan Benjamin was first on the scene and was Left: Rescue crews prepare to search. Right: a view from the quickly joined south side of the Niagra area where the family was fishing. by Deputies from Linn and cies searched the dangerous waters and the Marion Counties and the Lyons ambulance. banks of the North Santiam River. Mr. Johnson’s body was recovered by divIn order to facilitate recovery efforts, the ers later that day in a pool near the incident. US Army Corps of Engineers gradually reAnthony was nowhere to be seen. duced flows from Big Cliff Dam from 3,600 A rapid and intense search ensued. Dive cfs Friday evening down to 1,800 cfs by Teams, search teams and swim specialists Saturday morning decreasing the turbidity using flotation devices and underwater cam- and danger to the rescue teams and alloweras engulfed the area. Helicopters from ing for a continued and more intense search REACH Air Ambulance and a Black Hawk for Anthony. Excess water flowing into the from Oregon Army National Guard and North Santiam above (cont’d on page 16) over 130 rescue personnel from 16 agen-
The Santiam Canyon School District met in a open special session last Tuesday evening to decide how to fit the local schools into a budget deficit of over $700,000. After serious consideration, the district voted to close Mill City Middle School for the 2012-13 school year. They will house grades K-6 at Gates Elementary, and seventh and eighth grades at Santiam High School. The vote was decided by a 2-3 margin,
with school district board members Grenbemmer, Sanders and White voting in favor of closing Mill City Middle School, while Posekany and Lemke voted for Gates Elementary to close. The overall agenda for the meeting was to decide which of the three schools in the district would remain open, and which would be closed. The public was invited to first speak their mind. “We’ve got some people working here that
School district votes to close Mill City Middle School
really shouldn’t be here,” said Butch Aerni of Mill City. “Maybe the days of the good old boys are gone.” “I hope you make the best decision for the community,” said Steve Higgenbothem, who recalled the closing of the schools in Detroit years ago - schools that remain empty and in disrepair to this day. Teri Hart, a Mill City Middle School teacher, voiced concern about the Talented and Gifted students. “The chain (cont’d on page 2)
Canyon Weekly donates cash to local causes with each subscription Our readers cares about what happens in the North Santiam Canyon - and so do we. Dozens of non-profit organizations Exist to help make our home a better place to live. In addition to covering the events and fundraisers of these groups We at The Canyon Weekly want to thank all the individuals that keep the wheels turning, For each new or re-newal subscription, from now until Christmas, we’ll donate $5 to the local non-profit of your choice. see Page 15 for more information 1