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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 30, 2016)
SINCE 1979 • VOLUME 38, NO. 1 SECTION A SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 “ It doesn't matter where you live, there are annoyances, but you don't desecrate something because you have to pick up some yard debris.” — Tree owner $1.00 Tree dispute lands in city council’s lap By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes The fate of a giant sequoia on private property might rest in the hands of the Keizer City Council. On Monday, Oct. 3, the council will hold a public hearing on whether to ex- tend heritage status to the tree on Dennis Lane North and prevent it from being limbed by a neighbor. Keizertimes spoke with one of the owners of the tree and they requested we not use their name. “We’re just trying to pro- tect it,” the owner said. “It’s majestic, that’s the only way to describe it.” The current owners have lived at the home for six years, but are concerned about a neighbor’s recent desire to cut back a portion of the tree that hangs into their yard. “The neighbor wanted to cut so much of it, it would have ruined it,” the owner said. “It doesn’t matter where you live, there are annoy- ances, but you don’t desecrate something because you have to pick up some yard debris.” The owner said they are not the only ones who have appreciated the tree. “We’ve had a couple of garage sales and people ask about it and wonder at it,” the owner said. Trees can be nominated for inclusion in the Oregon Heritage Tree Program for a variety of reasons. Trees as- sociated with signifi cant his- torical events, those associ- ated with the life of a person or group, trees that represent a signifi cant and distinguish- able entity within a commu- nity or location, and trees of signifi cant age, size or spe- cies are all eligible. Within Keizer, heritage trees can be designated based on their “location, size, age, botani- cal interest, commemorative plantings or historical signifi - cance.” Nominations for heritage tree designations come from members of the public. Whatever the council de- cides on the matter will be a precedent. To date, there are no heritage trees in city limits. “We really haven’t gone through this process before and that’s why we’re erring on the side of caution by having a public hearing,” said Public Works Director Bill Lawyer. Please see TREE, Page A7 LEFT: Owners of a giant sequoia in the 300 block of Dennis Lane North are seeking a heritage tree designation by city offi cials. If approved, the tree would be the fi rst of its kind in Keizer. Keizer man jailed after armed robbery PAGE A2 Lakepoint Church's Servefest PAGE A3 KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald Keizer man named Veteran of the Year A highly-decorated Keiz- er veteran has been named Veteran of the Year by the Veterans Commemoration Association(VCA). U.S. Marine Capt. F. David Parker, Ret., was nominated by the Oregon Chapter of Para- lyzed Veterans of America and will be honored at a banquet Thursday, Nov. 10, at Ameri- can Legion Post 51 in Lebanon. Tickets for the banquet, which begins at 6 p.m., are $27.50 and are available by calling 541- 981-2390 or via email at al- banyveteransdayparade@gmail. com. Parker will also help lead the 65th annual Veterans Day Pa- rade in Albany on Friday, Nov. 10. The parade begins at 11 a.m. Parker, a native Oregonian, enlisted in the United States Reserves in 1959 and then the Marine Corps in 1960. He re- mained on active duty until 1983 when injuries sustained in an aircraft accident forced a medical retirement. Parker served more than two years in Vietnam with the First and Third Tank Battalions. He was awarded three Purple Heart medals, holds the Viet- nam Medal of Honor and Cross of Gallantry. Purple Hearts are awarded to armed forces mem- bers who are wounded in ac- tion. Homecoming royalty PAGE A8 Please see VETERAN, Page A8 Man caught mid-shave in strangers' home A Woodburn man was ar- residence and was located later rested Tuesday, Sept. 27, after in the area of Lockhaven Drive he was discovered shaving in Northeast and Verda Lane the home of a Keizer couple. Northeast. Offi cers identifi ed Keizer police offi - the man based on a cers responded to the description supplied report of a burglary by the victims and his at 5:45 p.m. in the partially shaved head. 5700 block of Kal- Entry to the home mia Drive N.E. The was made by break- husband had recently ing through a fence returned home and leading to the rear of found a stranger in a the house and then bathroom shaving his opening a sliding head with a razor. glass door. E. Avila The wife was Eric Avila, 39, home at the time was taken into cus- of the incident, but was in a tody without incident and bedroom and unaware of the is charged with burglary and intruder. criminal mischief. The couple told police they Anyone having additional were fearful and intimidated information about his inci- and told the man to leave as dent is asked to contact Of- they were calling the police. fi cer Jeremie Fletcher at 503- The suspect ran from the 390-3713, ext. 3467. KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald Margarita Lentfer and Carol Burks present Paige Merrill with a certifi cate of appreciation at the fi fth anniversary celebration of the Whittam Community Garden. Community garden grows row-by-row By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes Carol Ann Burks went to the Marion-Polk Food Share (MPFS) in 2004 looking to volunteer. She expected to be pack- ing food boxes, but she end- ed up helping water a com- munity greenhouse. “I told them I wasn’t a gardener, but that was what they needed help with,” Burks said. Then she was put in charge of the small team of volunteers watering at the greenhouse. When it came time to distribute seeds, the coordinator told her she should have a plot. Again, she said, “I am not a gardener.” After some more encour- agement, she took on a plot at Keizer’s Whittam Com- munity Garden where she reaped a bountiful harvest in 2014. In 2015, she was asked to coordinate the efforts at Whittam and she had to stop telling herself she wasn’t a gardener. “You don’t have to be a gardener, you just have to be willing and get your hands dirty,” Burks said. On Sunday, Sept. 25, the Whittam Community Gar- den celebrated its fi fth an- niversary inviting present and past volunteers to come and be appreciated for their work. Please see GARDEN, Page A9 Olys deny Lady Celts PAGE A13