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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (July 20, 2016)
S ERVING THE S ILVERTON A REA S INCE 1880 50 C ENTS ● A U NIQUE E DITION OF THE S TATESMAN J OURNAL V OL . 135, N O . 31 W EDNESDAY , J ULY 20, 2016 SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM Man accused of abuse ran ministry WHITNEY M. WOODWORTH STATESMAN JOURNAL Police are searching for more potential victims after a Silverton man, who ran a Chris- tian ministry and co-owned a lo- cal coffee shop, was arrested on sex abuse charges. Andrew Stutzman, 38, was charged with 10 counts of sec- ond-degree sex abuse following his arrest on July 1. Court docu- ments listed one female victim and stated the abuse took place between 2012 and 2016. Silver- ton police Detective Josh Boatner said the victim, now an adult, was underage at the time of the alleged incidents. Police began investigating Stutzman in June when the vic- tim came forward. During the weeks-long investigation, Boatner interviewed the victim, who said Stutzman began the abuse when she was 16. An indictment filed through Marion County Circuit Court al- leged Stutzman engaged in sex- ual intercourse with the victim in five different instances and had other forms of sexual con- tact five times. Boatner said police are look- ing for other victims. Stutzman started a youth group with his wife and had frequent contact with teens. The website for the Silver- ton-based A.C.T.S. Ministry list- ed Stutzman as one of the church’s leaders. The minis- try’s Facebook page promoted teen-oriented events such as hikes at Silver Falls, concerts Andrew Thomas Stutzman and outreach in downtown Port- land. Business records from the Oregon Secretary of State’s Of- fice list Stutzman as the regis- tered agent of Gear-Up Coffee, at 430 McClaine Street in Silver- ton. In the aftermath of his ar- rest, a sign posted on social media stated that, as of July 3, the coffee shop would be under the sole ownership of Aaron Miller and Luci Miller. Aaron confirmed the switch was made because of Stutzman’s arrest. “We’re trying to keep our business running and be here for the community,” he said. Stutzman, his wife, and the Millers purchased the coffee shop in 2015. The coffee shop was a frequent meet-up spot for Bible studies, book clubs and teens associated with Young Life, a nonprofit, Christian youth outreach organization. Stutzman’s proximity to teens concerned some local par- ents, who recalled evening trips to Portland and late-night ex- cursions their teens had attend- ed with Stutzman. He was reportedly involved with Young Life, but a repre- sentative from the Oregon Cas- cades Region chapter said Stutzman was not listed as a leader with Young Life, and said the organization runs criminal background checks on adult volunteers and employees. Boatner also said Stutzman was not a Young Life leader. According to court records, Stutzman was convicted in 2013 of public indecency in Clacka- mas County. He was sentenced to 15 days in jail and three years See ABUSE, Page 3A WATER WORRIES MARION COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE A sign reminds motorists to safely share the road with tractors and other farm equipment. Keep road safety in forefront of mind this season JUSTIN MUCH STAYTON MAIL MOLLY J. SMITH / STATESMAN JOURNAL Detroit Lake is shown on May 26. Low water levels have frustrated both boaters and businesses on the reservoir. Concern over lake’s low level prompts meeting ZACH URNESS STATESMAN JOURNAL DETROIT - For the second year in a row, low water in De- troit Lake is likely to affect recre- ation and tourism in the Santiam Canyon. The reservoir east of Salem is projected to drop to 1,544 feet above sea level by July 23, mark- ing the lake’s third-lowest level on that date since 2000. Docks in the lake will hit dry land by August, and marinas will be forced to cut back their moor- age for boat owners. It’s an unwelcome develop- ment in this tourist-dependent town, especially after last sum- mer’s even lower water levels. “The tough thing is that it’s been a phenomenal year up to this point,” said Scott Lunski, owner of Detroit Lake Marina. “But in a few weeks, this will make an impact, and it hurts ev- erybody. August is the busiest month — it’s the money-making month — and to have this happen is very disappointing.” To look for solutions, the Fed- eral Lakes Committee in Detroit is hosting a collection of agencies and lawmakers at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 20 at Gates Fire Hall. The public is welcome to listen to a presentation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the lake, and give testi- mony to lawmakers in atten- dance, including Oregon Con- gressman Kurt Schrader. The hope is to find long-term solutions for businesses like De- troit Lake and Kane’s marinas, which have to shorten their sea- sons or reduce operations in low water years. The ripple effect of less boats on the water is fewer dollars flowing through town, harming jobs and the economy, said Mar- ion County Commissioner Kevin Cameron. “What we hope to do is come up with a plan to help these guys in the long run,” said Cameron, who has a house in Detroit and keeps a boat at the lake. “It’s a big hit to people up here, who are try- ing to make ends meet.” Detroit Lake Marina will con- tinue to offer boat rentals and gas, and will keep its store open until Labor Day. Beginning this week, however, it will reduce its moorage — the number of boats parked at its docks. Last year, Detroit Lake and Kane’s marinas had to move their docks entirely to stay in business, as the reservoir dropped to the lowest summertime levels in its history. The reality of facing these challenges two years in a row — and the possibility it could be- come a more common occur- rence — makes the meeting a crucial one for Lunski. “If the Corps can’t alter the way they manage the reservoir level, they need to help business- es adapt to where the water level is typically going to be,” Lunski said. See LAKE, Page 3A School board divided on ethics issue CHRISTENA BROOKS SPECIAL TO THE STATESMAN JOURNAL Did former Silver Falls School District Chair Tim Roth do the community a favor by taking loads of fill dirt from the football field turf project or did he unfairly gain a valuable commodity due to his elected position? Now the Oregon Gov- ernment Ethics Commis- sion will decide, but a ma- jority of the school board in Silverton voiced sur- prise and outrage over the way new board member Todd White raised the is- sue. “We didn’t receive any direct communication from you,” Aaron Koch, new vice chair, said. “I have a hard time with the way this has been carried out. I’m frustrated and disappointed.” Koch castigated White for filing his ethics complaint without first raising his concern at a meeting. White’s con- cern about an estimat- ed 25 truckloads of dirt dumped last month on Roth’s property by K & It’s that season on country roads around the region; slow-moving swathers, combines, and tractors tethered with im- plements become fre- quent sights – and poten- tial hazards. Tailing a tractor pull- ing a wide farm imple- ment can be an eye-widen- ing experience, watching the plow, disc, spray boom, seed drill or the like thread through a curving country road, sometimes eluding mailboxes, gar- bage bins, even cars, by mere inches. That experience is no less eye-widening to the harvester driver, often charged with white- knuckling a wide front- header down the road and through potential obsta- cles while avoiding hur- ried oncoming motorists. To shed light on the po- tential hazards and pro- mote safety, Marion County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with Ore- gon Aglink and the Agri- culture & Turf division of Papé Machinery on a cam- paign for rural road safe- ty. A Papé spokesman said there has already been a clash this summer be- tween a windrower and a vehicle, flipping the latter near McMinnville. Those are the types of clashes this campaign aims to end. “Farm safety is impor- tant to all of us whether we are in the agricultural business, following a trac- tor on our way to work, or going to a family event,” said Jake Barge, General Manager for Papé Ma- chinery, Ag & Turf. “With school now out and sum- mer heating up, we want to remind all drivers to use caution and share the road with farm equip- ment so we all keep mov- ing down the road safely.” While ag machinery is most commonly spotted on country roads, circum- stances often necessitate negotiating them through city streets and state highways to get from field to field. Regardless of the location, safety is para- mount. “In the last 3 years we have had 2 fatal motor ve- hicle crashes involving farm equipment,” said Marion County Sheriff Lt. Chris Baldridge. “We have had additional fatal See SAFETY, Page 3A Top 3 Silverton Offi ces SOLD! * #1 HARCOURTS NWORG 97 Properties (52%) $28,728,317 (51%) #2 $16,897,968 #3 $10,184,800 See ETHICS, Page 3A The Market is... Online at SilvertonAppeal.com NEWS UPDATES PHOTOS » Breaking news » Get updates from the Silverton area » Photo galleries INSIDE Births ......................................3B Briefs......................................3A Calendar ...............................2A Classifieds..............................3B Life..........................................4A Obituaries .............................3B Police logs .............................3B ©2016 Printed on recycled paper Call us NOW for a complimentary, No obligation market evaluation. *as per WVMLS. 119 N. Water St. Silverton, Or 97381 • 503.873.8600 • Harcourtsnworg.com
