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August 1, 2012
Volume 3, Issue 31
www.TheCanyonWeekly.com
Family loses camera with last photos of paralyzed swimmer Search is on for camera lost at Elkhorn Valley Campground; contains last images of man who was injured
The family of Joe Mills, a Portland resident, is searching for their lost camera - or more specifically, their lost digital SD memory card, which contains the last images of Mills walking before he was critically injured by diving near the Little North Fork river in Lyons last Saturday. Mills, currently at Salem Hospital, dove into Canyon Creek and hit his head on the bottom, crushing his C5 vertebra. He is paralyzed from the shoulders down. Earlier Saturday, Mills and his family were camping at Elkhorn Valley Campground. His aunt, Virgina Large, had taken the last
photos of Mills hiking - but lost her camera somewhere along the way. Large believes she left it on a picnic table somewhere near the campground. A few hours later, Joe Mills was severely injured. “I’m not worried about the camera, it’s the SD card has Joe’s last walking pictures on it,” said family members Les Large. The camera is a pocket-sized Nikon Coolpix in a black case that snaps in front. Large is offering a reward for return of the SD card with images. Despite the devastating injury, 37 yr old
Joe Mills was able to put some pressure on his hands yesterday, said Les Large. Mills has three children and “had a great job and everything was looking up for him.” Fundraising efforts have started to help keep the family close to Mills while he’s hospitalized in Salem. They’re setting up an account at Bank of America and dedicated a Facebook page to Joe Mills Recovery. “The camera can be replaced, but the photos can’t,” said Large. He can be contacted at 503-868-7144 with any information. Lyons Ambulance responded to the incident.
Mill City man arrested after stealing gas in Detroit Police follow in slow speed chase from Gates to Detroit Dam; $60 gas theft results in $80,000 bail charge
Press release - A 37-year old Mill City man led deputies and police from several law enforcement agencies on a 30-minute slowspeed chase before giving up being arrested on Sunday evening. Norman Hice is charged with stealing his ex-girlfriend’s car while they were camping at Detroit Lake. At 7:08pm, he got $60 worth of gas at the Rivers Run Gas & Deli store in Detroit, but left without paying. The clerk provided deputies with the license number and description of the 1999 Cadillac Deville driven by Hice. It was later spotted traveling westbound on Highway 22 by Sr. Deputy Dave Zahn. Zahn attempted the stop the Cadillac, but Hice accelerated to 80mph and passed sev-
eral cars over the double yellow line of the curving highway. He nearly struck several eastbound cars head on while completing this passing movement. The chase was terminated by Deputy Zahn because of the risk it posed to other drivers. Several minutes later, Zahn again spotted the Cadillac slowed behind heavy traffic near Railroad Avenue in Gates. Hice then turned onto Railroad Avenue and followed it as it loops back to connect with Highway 22 east of Gates. He then turned eastbound on Highway 22 and drove back toward Detroit Lake. He drove at a slower speed, obviously aware that deputies were following him with their emergency equipment activated. By now, patrol cars from the Oregon State
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Police and Linn County Sheriff’s Office had joined the attempt to stop the Cadillac. The entire incident took about 30 minutes. Hice ultimately pulled off in a gravel area near the dam at Detroit Lake, stropped the car and extended his arms out the window to surrender. He was taken into custody without further incident. Hice’s ex-girlfriend, Lori Shamberger, 23 of Stayton, who owned the Cadillac, appeared at the scene of the stop and momentarily interfered with the deputies as they tried to place Hice into custody. She was temporarily detained but later released without charges. Deputies learned that she had a restraining order preventing Hice from contacting her, but they were camping together. Hice was booked into the Marion County Jail and charged with Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle, Theft 3 (for the gas taken from the deli), Elude, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering, Driving under the Influence, Driving while Suspended, Violation of a Restraining Order, and a Parole Violation for Theft charges out of Linn County. His bail is $80,000, but he is being held without bail on the Parole Violation. He is due in court on July 30th at 3:00pm. The Cadillac was returned to Shamberger. 1