WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018 ❚ SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM
PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
Silverton honors locals at banquet
47th Annual First Citizen Banquet to
spotlight 4 individuals, 1 business
Christena Brooks Special to Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
During the dark days of winter comes Silverton’s
annual celebration of its bright stars, the volunteers
who bring light and warmth to their community
through service.
Four individuals and one business will be recog-
nized on Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Silverton Area Cham-
ber of Commerce’s 47th Annual First Citizen Banquet
at the Oregon Garden.
The evening’s honorees are First Citizen Andy Bel-
lando, Future First Citizen Joseph Schmitz, Distin-
guished Service recipient Sue Roessler, Judy Schmidt
Lifetime Achievement winner Bob Holowati and Busi-
ness of the Year Les Schwab.
Andy Bellando, First Citizen
“Andy has been an incredible volunteer over a long
span of time,” said Silverton Mayor Kyle Palmer.
Finding time to volunteer is notable because Bellan-
do also works the more-than-full-time job of superin-
tendent of the Silver Falls School District.
Amusingly, when notified that a dozen people were
waiting outside his Schlador Street office earlier this
month, he briefly wondered if they were protesters –
before being surprised by balloon-toting members of
the First Citizen Committee.
“I’m honored. I’m thrilled,” he said. “I would not
consider myself a First Citizen.”
Bellando, 56, has been an educator for 33 years, 30
of them in the Silver Falls School District. He’s been a
teacher, principal and district administrator, working
the last eight as superintendent.
On the side, he’s been a chamber board member,
First Citizen Committee chair, chair of Silverton’s
Oktoberfest grants
largest since 2010
150th-year celebration, Homer Davenport Festival vol-
unteer and Rotary Club member.
He’s a 12-year board member for Silverton Area
Community Aid, committee member for the City of Sil-
verton, and chaperone and judge for youth events in-
cluding middle school ski trips, Oregon Battle of the
Books, Pentagames, Mr. SHS, Future Farmers of
America and Marion County Fair.
For Bellando, volunteering has “always been a way
of being,” that started when he was a teenager. In addi-
tion to typical club activities, as an Oregon State Uni-
versity student, he organized sheep-shearing contests
throughout Oregon.
His inspiration to volunteer goes back to his high
school days and a beloved, service-minded FFA advi-
sor. Along the way, others have motivated him too, in-
cluding an event speaker whose words he took to
heart: “It’s not about me, but it’s up to me.”
See BANQUET, Page 2A
Detroit Lake
project could
foul Salem
water supply
Zach Urness Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
A major construction project at Detroit Lake could
foul the source of Salem’s drinking water and lead to
citywide water shortages, city officials said in com-
ments submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engi-
neers.
The Corps is planning to build a 300-foot tower
and floating screen at Detroit Dam to improve water
temperature and fish passage for salmon and steel-
head in the North Santiam River.
But the $100-million to $250-million project could
require draining the reservoir for one or two years,
leading to a dramatic impact on Salem’s water sup-
ply, which comes from the North Santiam.
See WATER, Page 3A
The 2018 Mt. Angel Oktoberfest is slated to take place this year Sept. 13-18. ANNA REED/STATESMAN JOURNAL
Fest’s philanthropic contributions up to $3.3 million
Justin Much Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
Mount Angel Oktoberfest Board of Directors an-
nounced that a strong 2017 event afforded organizers
$103,000 to be distributed to various community
groups and nonprofits, its largest distribution since
2010.
Festival spokeswoman Monica Bochsler said the
2017 grants bring the festival’s cumulative philan-
thropic contributions to $3.3 million. She added that
the festival’s strong economic showing enabled it to
retain funding for events and entertainment planning
for the 53rd Oktoberfest in 2018.
The 2018 festival is scheduled for Sept. 13-18.
Recent festival grants were allotted to 52 organiza-
tions from 10 communities in December, roughly five
months ahead of when the checks were sent in previ-
ous years. Oktoberfest Board of Directors determined
that administering the awards earlier would provide
nonprofits more flexibility in preparing upcoming
yearly budgets.
Bochsler noted Oktoberfest infrastructure — ad-
vertising, porta-potties, electrical setups, coordina-
tion, and entertainment — also accommodates
crowds that provide opportunities for more than 50
nonprofit food booths.
In addition to the Oktoberfest grants, the food
booths generated an additional $750,000 in gross
revenue for these groups.
“Many of these organizations make the majority of
their annual revenue during the Oktoberfest,” she
said.
Nonprofit organizations interested in operating an
Oktoberfest food booth in 2018 should visit www.ok-
toberfest.org.
During the Oktoberfest Board of Directors Jan. 25
meeting, board members were provided with a list of
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has proposed
building a 300-foot tower at the Detroit Dam to
improve water temperature and fish passage for
salmon and steelhead. Opponents of the plan are
concerned about its impact on Salem’s water
supply, irrigation and the impact on tourism and
economy to Detroit. MOLLY J. SMITH / STATESMAN JOURNAL
Silverton man
dies in crash
on Highway 22
Lauren Hernandez Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
See FEST, Page 2A
Funds distributed annually by Mt. Angel Oktoberfest. GRAPHIC COURTESY OF MOUNT ANGEL OKTOBERFEST
Online at SilvertonAppeal.com
Vol. 137, No. 6
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Two men who died in a two-vehicle crash on High-
way 22 at milepost 76 near Santiam Pass just before
the merge with Highway 20 on Jan. 21 have been
identified.
Joshua Lyons, 34, of Portland was traveling east-
bound in a black Nissan Armada and lost traction
while trying to drive on snow-covered roads. He hit
the front of a silver Chevrolet Silverado pulling an en-
closed trailer traveling westbound around 4:35 p.m.,
according to Oregon State Police.
Lyons and his passenger, Timothy Hays, 47, of Sil-
verton, died at the scene.
The driver of the Silverado, Alan Freeman, 54, of
Salem, was treated for minor injuries and released
from Salem Hospital.
Two of Freeman’s passengers, Shaun Dorschel,
33, of Salem and an unnamed juvenile passenger also
were treated for minor injuries and released.
Donald Suklis, 56, of Jefferson, Freeman’s third
passenger, was sent to St. Charles Hospital in Bend
with serious injuries. His condition is unknown at
this time.
The westbound lane was closed for roughly five
hours.
The Oregon Department of Transportation and
Gates Fire Department assisted Oregon State Police
at the scene.
Email Lauren Hernandez at lehernande@states-
manjournal.com, call 503-399-6743 or follow on
Twitter @LaurenPorFavor