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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 2020)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 ❚ SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Missing Silverton man’s body found in rural Marion County Virginia Barreda Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK Authorities located the body of a missing Silverton man Sunday at the base of an embankment near Scotts Mills in rural Marion County. On Saturday, Marion County Sheriff ’s Office depu- ties responded to the Crooked Finger area after receiv- ing a call about a Subaru Legacy found on a logging road. The caller told deputies they initially saw the Suba- ru three weeks earlier at the same location and were concerned it was still there. The vehicle’s owner, William Tracy, 46, had been re- ported as missing to Silverton Police on Feb. 21. Marion County Sheriff ’s Office Search and Rescue team began a coordinated search of the area where the vehicle was found, approximately 8 miles south of Scotts Mills. On Sunday afternoon searchers located Tracy’s body at the base of an embankment. Investigators believe Tracy’s death was accidental as the result of a fall off of the embankment. Due to the body’s remote location, searchers were not able to safely bring the remains out of the wooded area until See MISSING MAN, Page 3A Authorities located the body of a missing Silverton man Sunday at the base of an embankment near Scotts Mills in rural Marion County. MARION COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE Care facilities defend vulnerable from COVID-19 Staff, residents and families face challenges Capi Lynn Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK Campgrounds across Oregon at state parks are closing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. STATESMAN JOURNAL FILE Oregon shuts down campgrounds statewide Zach Urness Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK Oregon is closing campgrounds across the state in an effort to halt the spread of COVID-19. The three state agencies that offer camping will gradually shut down all campgrounds while allowing a grace period for people currently camping or that al- ready had reservations at Oregon's 50 state parks through April 2. All beaches, trails, roads and parks remain open for day-use. “The overarching message is that camping is clos- ing, so if you are at home in Oregon and wanted to come camping, change your plans,” Oregon Parks and Recreation Department spokesman Chris Havel said. “We are honoring reservations already made until April 2 so that we don’t have a flood of people arriving that suddenly have no place to go.” In other words, camping will be closing down. But to help reduce chaos near Oregon’s 50 state park campgrounds, and not dump people in local commu- nities, they’re offering a small window, Havel said. After April 2, all state campgrounds will be com- pletely closed. That decision remains in place until May 8. In addition to state parks, campgrounds in Clatsop, Santiam, and Tillamook state forests will close March 23. Also, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is closing its wildlife areas to overnight camping effec- tive March 22. See CAMPING, Page 2A NORPAC being sued by buyer for $7M Bill Poehler Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK The company that won the right to purchase some of the assets of NORPAC Foods in bankruptcy court has sued the farmer-owned cooperative for $7.1 mil- lion. National Frozen Foods, a vegetable processing company owned by entrepreneur Frank Tiegs, filed suit in bankruptcy court March 6 alleging the compa- ny misclassified 19.7 million pounds of inventory dur- ing the purchase. NORPAC filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection in August 2019, stating it had $164 million in debt and $315 million in assets. The Tiegs-owned Oregon Potato Company won a bidding war in bankruptcy court with Simplot to pur- chase the Quincy, Washington processing plant, as- sets like intellectual property and contracts and the goods NORPAC had processed and had in inventory for $107 million in December. Days later, NORPAC sent the company an invoice reflecting a purchase price of $10,262,443 for all fruits and vegetables it had in its possession, according to the asset purchase agreement. The lawsuit states its inspection of the millions of pounds of inventory determined the fruits and vege- tables NORPAC classified as finished product con- tained sand, excessive stalks and products contain- ing insects or foreign materials. “Debtor contends that it did not miss-classify any inventory that should have been classified as hold product, that VegCo did not overpay for the inventory, and that it owes National nothing,” the lawsuit states, though NORPAC has yet to file a formal response to the suit. The asset purchase agreement provided for a $2 million fund as part of the escrow in case of a pur- chase price shortfall. The lawsuit asks for that amount plus another $5.1 million. “NORPAC breached its duty to negotiate in good News updates: ❚ Breaking news ❚ Get updates from the Silverton area Photos: ❚ Photo galleries Long-term care policies The veterans’ home, one of two owned and oper- ated by the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, has 151 residents. See SENIOR CARE, Page 2A See NORPAC, Page 2A Vol. 139, No. 14 Online at SilvertonAppeal.com Salem-Keizer assisted living, residential and memory care facilities are following state guidelines and screening all visitors to prevent the spread of CO- VID-19 among the community’s most vulnerable population. At Bonaventure of Salem, that includes a health questionnaire and temperature check. Taking the temperature of all visitors, as well as every resident and staff member every day, are added preventative measures implemented by Bonaven- ture Senior Living, which has three facilities in Sa- lem-Keizer. Physical therapists and home health and hospice workers are screened before entry, too. “Our job is to work really hard to not let it get in the building and our community,” Chief Operating Offi- cer Pam Gray said. “Visitors and families are being extremely appreciative and understanding.” As of Friday afternoon, Gray reported no pre- sumptive cases of the novel coronavirus at any of Bonaventure’s 25 facilities in Oregon, Washington and Colorado. But for many who work in her field, the fear is not if, but when, the first case strikes and how to stop the pandemic from sweeping through a concentrated vulnerable population. COVID-19 is considered espe- cially dangerous for the elderly and people with un- derlying health conditions. Of the 40 deaths reported in Washington, 24 are linked to a nursing home in Kirkland. Closer to home, there’s an emerging outbreak at the Edward C. Allworth Veterans’ Home in Lebanon. State health officials have announced the nursing home has nine presumptive cases of the novel Coro- navirus. The first two were announced Wednesday afternoon, six more Thursday evening, and one on Saturday. Patients who tested positive are all male veterans. All are quarantined at the veterans’ home. An Infection Control and Specimen Collection Strike Team from the Oregon Health Authority was deployed to the 154-bed facility. The nursing home reported on its Facebook page that the team would be collecting samples for COVID-19 testing of all resi- dents and care providers. “At this time, we have activated lock-down proto- col and are not permitting outside visitors or new ad- missions,” the March 11 post said. “We understand how important it is for family members to communi- cate with your loved ones, and we encourage you to connect through Skype, calls, texts or emails. Our staff will assist in setting this up if needed.” Serving the Silverton Area Since 1880 A Unique Edition of the Statesman Journal QEAJAB-07403y ©2020 50 cents Printed on recycled paper Cynthia Morris, executive director of the Medford Bonaventure community, takes the temperature of a visitor to the Bonaventure of Salem on Friday. Mandatory screening is required for all visitors. KELLY JORDAN / STATESMAN JOURNAL