WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018 ܂ SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM
PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
Did dry weather aid in algae spread?
Heat could have added to toxic
bloom’s growth, officials say
Zach Urness Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
One of the hottest and driest months of May on rec-
ord may have contributed to the growth and spread of
the toxic algae bloom wreaking havoc in Salem’s drink-
ing water.
The algae bloom was originally spotted in Detroit
Lake on May 8 and reached highly toxic levels around
May 21, according to officials.
The record heat and dry conditions apparently kept
the bloom strong, allowing the toxins to spread from
the reservoir, into the North Santiam River and finally
into Salem's drinking water for the first time at danger-
ous levels.
Salem issued its second do-not-drink alert
Wednesday for vulnerable populations following the
discovery, for the second week in a row, of high levels
of cyanotoxins in the drinking water.
"We have a toxic algae bloom at Detroit Lake just
about every year at this time," said U.S. Forest Service
Detroit district ranger Grady McMahan. "In most
years, we get some rain that helps dissipate the bloom
and kind of clear out the lake. But this year we just
didn't get rain."
The month of May was parched by every standard.
It was the fourth-driest and sixth- hottest May in rec-
ords dating back to 1892, National Weather Service of-
ficials said.
In a normal May, the Willamette Valley and Cascade
Foothills would get 2.5 to 3 inches of precipitation.
This year, only a quarter inch of rain fell, NWS officials
said.
Hot and dry conditions can fuel the growth and po-
See ALGAE, Page 3A
The algae bloom was originally spotted in Detroit
Lake on May 8.
PHOTO COURTESY OF U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Grateful parents
say ‘thank you’
Silverton preschool teacher receives trip of a lifetime
Deputy seen
in punching
video is
reassigned
Whitney Woodworth Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
Teacher Meg Feicht is surprised by parents who raised money to send her on an Italian vacation.
CHRISTENA BROOKS / SPECIAL TO THE APPEAL TRIBUNE
Christena Brooks Special to Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
Parents wanting to say thank-you at the end of the
school year typically give teachers flowers, food or
collectibles made by their kids.
Last week, a group of grateful parents gave their
beloved preschool teacher a trip to Italy.
In just three days, families of past and present stu-
dents and other community members secretly col-
lected nearly $5,000, and then many of them packed
a downtown restaurant on Friday to watch teacher
Meg Feicht get the surprise vacation of a lifetime.
“You have sowed love generously and intentionally
your whole life,” said fundraising coordinator Sum-
mer Sheldon, as Meg sat, shocked, at her table. “We
are here to say thank you in a very small way for what
you have given this community and all of us – and es-
pecially to our students.”
Nearly everyone inside the restaurant, Gather, was
there because of Meg. Still, she didn’t realize she was
the honored guest until Sheldon and co-coordinator
Krystina Bielemeier walked through the door with
balloons – and dozens of friends stood up from their
tables, cheering and clapping.
Through her tears, the preschool teacher finally
managed, “For once in my life, I’m speechless!”
Feicht is the powerhouse behind Silverton Chris-
tian Preschool, a popular program run by Silverton
Friends Church. For 13 years, she’s been gently intro-
The Marion County Sheriff ’s Office has reassigned
a deputy caught on video repeatedly punching a
homeless man while taking him into custody June 4.
A KGW camera operator captured footage of five
deputies arresting Kevin Straw, 28, for allegedly dis-
rupting a search and rescue mission for two missing
fishermen in Detroit.
In the video, Deputy Jake Thompson appears to
punch Straw in the back of the head more than 20
times.
Thompson, who was previously on patrol with the
enforcement division, also had worked providing po-
lice services at the Chemawa Indian School through a
contract with the sheriff ’s office. He joined the sher-
iff ’s office as a reserve officer in 2004 and was hired
full-time in 2011.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Marion County
Sheriff Jason Myers said officials are investigating
the arrest and the use of force. During the review,
Thompson will be temporarily reassigned to a non-
patrol assignment.
Myers said upon the conclusion of the investiga-
tion, the sheriff ’s office will request another review
by an outside law enforcement agency to ensure
transparency.
The other involved deputies were identified as
Derrick Ramseyer, who was hired in 2007, Dave
Zahn, hired in 1998, Ethan Griffith, hired in 2008, and
Mark Ferron, hired in 2006.
Officials with ACLU Oregon called the deputies’
actions unjustified and violent. ACLU Oregon exec-
utive director David Rogers called for an investiga-
tion into the incident.
“Repeatedly punching someone who is appre-
See DEPUTY, Page 3A
See TEACHER, Page 2A
Marion County deputies take Kevin Straw, 28, into
custody, as seen in this video screenshot.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KGW
Why does Gates have cleaner
drinking water than Salem?
Bill Poehler Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
GATES – For more than a week, residents of Salem
have dealt with toxins in their drinking water.
But in Gates, population 489, the water has been
clean. Recent tests of Gates’ drinking water haven't
detected any of the cyanotoxins produced by blue-
green algae and found in Salem.
Gates’ water is drawn closer to Detroit Lake – the
site of the blue-green algae bloom –than any other
city along the North Santiam River.
In theory, Gates' water should have more cyanotox-
ins than other towns, but its more advanced water fil-
tration has proved effective.
“I had a conversation (with the Oregon Health Au-
thority) when this first happened, and they said your
tests are coming back where there’s no detects, so
See CLEANER, Page 3B
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