Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (April 18, 2018)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018 ܂ SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Garbage haulers lag on recycling rules Marion County customers claim they were told rules did not change Tracy Loew Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK Nearly six weeks after Marion County announced strict new curbside recycling rules, local garbage com- panies still haven’t notified their customers. Some customers told the Statesman Journal their haulers have told them the rules have not changed and instructed them to continue under the old rules. And all but two of the companies’ websites contain outdat- ed recycling information. “We are certainly all on board,” said Kevin Hines, general manager of the Mid-Valley Garbage and Recy- cling Association, which represents the garbage com- panies. “We’re developing some brochures to send out to our customers,” he said. Hines said there is not an exact time for that to hap- pen, but it will be soon. The companies also will soon post a uniform list of recyclables on their websites, he said. Marion County scaled back its curbside recycling program, effective March 5, in response to China’s re- fusal to take most recyclable materials from western countries. China was the world’s largest importer of recycled paper and plastic and took most of Oregon’s recycling. Among the items no longer allowed: shredded pa- per, egg cartons, milk boxes and most plastic contain- ers. Since then, Salem’s Garten Services, which takes about half of the county’s recycling, has noticed no change in the materials it is receiving, spokeswoman Gaelen McAllister said. In addition to continuing to get now-banned items, the company still is getting things that never have been included on the list of approved recycling — things like dirty diapers, garden hoses and metal See GARBAGE, Page 3A Sorters pull non-recyclables at Garten Services in Salem in January. Marion County scaled back its curbside recycling program, effective March 5, in response to China’s refusal to take most recyclable materials from western countries. ANNA REED/STATESMAN JOURNAL Trump to not touch state-legal pot programs Trevor Hughes Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK ‘Optimistic’ outlook for Detroit Lake Lake anticipated to reach ‘full pool’ this summer America’s fast-growing marijuana industry could be poised for supercharged expansion after Presi- dent Trump promised to respect state-legalized pot in a deal with a Colorado senator who had been blocking presidential nominees. Republican Sen. Cory Gardner on Friday an- nounced he’d received assurances from the presi- dent that federal agents would leave alone states like Colorado that have legalized recreational cannabis. Gardner had been blocking nominees to the Depart- ment of Justice since January over the issue, and on Friday relented. “President Trump has assured me that he will sup- port a federalism-based legislative solution to fix this states’ rights issue once and for all,” Gardner said in a statement. Gardner didn't elaborate on what specific legisla- tion Trump said he would support, although Con- gress is currently considering several bills that would legalize cannabis at the national level. Following the announcement, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, told the Statesman Journal in a statement, "We have not had similar negotiations but would appreciate President Trump extending his as- surances to all states that he respects their rights to Detroit Lake is on schedule to reach its regular summer water level this year. FILE PHOTO See POT, Page 3A Zach Urness Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK Events at Detroit Lake: Detroit Lake could use some good news. After three summers impacted by drought and wildfire — not to mention a disruptive project looming on the horizon — the tourist town east of Salem could use a normal, motorboat-filled season. And this week, Mother Nature delivered. The recent deluge of rain brought the lake up to 1,550 feet above sea level, right where it should be this time of year. Even with snowpack below normal, the heavy dose of spring rain should allow “a pretty good recreation year,” said Erik Petersen, operations project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Willamette Ba- sin system. “We’re expecting the reservoir to fill, and we’re ex- pecting all the facilities to remain useable through the summer months,” Petersen said. “We still need con- tinued showers, but at this point, I’d say we’re opti- mistic.” That outlook is a welcome development for an area that’s seemed snake-bit the past few years. Detroit Lake was plagued by drought in 2015, when the reservoir hit its lowest summertime level in histo- ry, and in 2016, when it never completely filled. Last year, the lake was full and in excellent shape, only to have multiple wildfires foul the air and torpedo an expected tourism boon from the total solar eclipse. In a normal summer, the 11-mile long reservoir lures over 300,000 people to its campgrounds, marinas, and restaurants to fish, hike and camp. “Last year tourism took a big dip in our prime sea- son,” said Elaine DeGeorge, owner of the Lodge at De- troit Lake. “All of the local business owners felt it.” DeGeorge said hopes are high for a big rebound season, beginning with the Detroit Lake Fishing Der- by May 18 to 20. “We look forward to seeing the visitors return and to make some memories at our beloved lake," she said. A good season at the lake should also provide a dis- traction from the elephant in the room — a massive ܂ Kokonee Derby: April 28 ܂ Detroit Lake Fishing Derby: May 18 - 20 ܂ Fireworks Over the Lake: July 7 ܂ Detroit Lake Water Ski Show: July 27 project that could drain the lake for one or two years around 2021. The Corps released plans in December to build a 300-foot tower and floating screen at Detroit Dam to improve water temperature and fish passage for salmon and steelhead in the North Santiam River. But the $100- to $250-million project sparked alarm over its potential impact to water supply in Sa- lem and Stayton, for farmland irrigation, and to the economies of Detroit and the Santiam Canyon from the loss of recreation at the popular reservoir. The Corps is currently in the earliest phase of this project, and multiple years of planning remain before a final decision and plans around 2020. In the meantime, business owners are focusing on a good summer of 2018. "With each passing day, we get more and more ex- cited as we watch the water levels rise,” said Dean O’Donnell, president of Detroit Lake Recreational Area Business Association. “We have many fun events planned throughout the spring and summer to entice people to get up and enjoy the lake and sur- rounding area.” Man, 64, falls 50 feet into Henline Creek Jonathan Bach Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK Emergency responders rescued a 64-year-old man Friday after he fell about 50 feet into Henline Creek, authorities said. The Florida man, whom the Marion County Sher- iff 's Office did not identify by name, had been on Henline Falls Trail in the Willamette National Forest. He had been hiking with his son but took a fall down an embankment into the creek, authorities said. Crews hiked for about a mile before rescuing the man from the water, authorities said. He was taken to Santiam Hospital afterward for treatment. "Sounds like he'll be fine," said Lt. Chris Baldridge with the sheriff 's office. "They got to him pretty quickly." Email jbach@statesmanjournal.com, call 503- 399-6714 or follow on Twitter @jonathanmbach. Zach Urness has been an outdoors writer, photog- rapher and videographer in Oregon for 10 years. He loves camping, hiking, fishing and boating at Detroit Lake with his family. He can be reached at zur- ness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors. Online at SilvertonAppeal.com Vol. 137, No. 17 News updates: ܂ Breaking news ܂ Get updates from the Silverton area Photos: ܂ Photo galleries Serving the Silverton Area Since 1880 A Unique Edition of the Statesman Journal 50 cents ©2018 Printed on recycled paper Emergency responders rescued a 64-year-old man who fell approximately 50 feet into Henline Creek. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARION COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE