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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020
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APPEAL TRIBUNE
NORPAC settlement with farmers approved
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A bankruptcy judge has approved a
settlement agreement between the for-
mer NORPAC Foods processing compa-
ny and some 100 member farms, which
means they’ll collectively receive $4.5
million.
Continued litigation between the de-
funct food processor and growers would
have been highly complex and could
have derailed the current bankruptcy
process, the Capital Press reported.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Peter McKit-
trick said during a Friday court hearing
that the court appreciates the work that
went into the settlement.
Settlements have been reached in al-
most all the major lawsuits involving
the cooperative, which is now called
North Pacific Canners & Packers after
selling its name and intellectual proper-
ty.
Earlier this year, the judge warned at-
torneys that NORPAC’s bankruptcy was
turning into a “big pile of litigation” that
could lead to “fighting over an adminis-
tratively insolvent estate if we’re not
careful.”
If the deal between farmers and the
cooperative had collapsed, it likely
would have forced the bankruptcy to
convert from a Chapter 11 debt restruc-
turing into a more time-consuming
Chapter 7 dissolution, according to Al-
bert Kennedy, lawyer for NORPAC.
In that case, it would have meant the
end for the cooperative’s proposed
bankruptcy plan, under which $28 mil-
lion would be distributed to unsecured
creditors who’d be repaid for about 25%
to 50% of what they’re owed by year’s
end, he said.
Payments to individual growers will
range from about $1,400 to $300,000
under the settlement deal, though the
$4.5 million represents less than 28% of
what the farmers said they were owed
for crop deliveries.
Trucks in front of the NORPAC Packing Plant #8 in Salem. Layoffs were
announced at the plant Nov. 13. DAVID DAVIS / STATESMAN JOURNAL
Animals
Continued from Page 1B
How to help
Salem Friends of Felines is looking
for donations of pet goods, including
food and litter. Donors can drop off sup-
plies between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tues-
days through Saturdays and between 11
a.m. and 4 p.m. on Sundays at 980 Com-
mercial St SE.
Monetary donations can be made
through the Friends of Felines website.
The shelter is still doing adoptions by
appointment due to COVID-19.
Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary
After the 54-acre farm refuge in Scio
was placed on a Level 1 evacuation
warning, staff made a plea Wednesday
on Facebook requesting help in evacu-
ating its 350 rescues.
And by Thursday, the sanctuary se-
cured a spot for nearly every animal, ac-
cording to a staff update on Instagram.
Volunteers also helped build chutes
in various pastures to safely move ani-
mals into trailers in case of an evacua-
tion.
The refuge typically houses at least
130 pigs, 75 chickens, 12 cows, 13 horses,
two donkeys, roosters, ducks, turkeys,
bunnies and a bison.
"In the midst of all of the chaos, peo-
ple have come together for the animals
in the most moving and truly beautiful
way," staff wrote. "We are grateful for ev-
ery single one of you."
How to help
Funds can be donated to Lighthouse
Farm Sanctuary through Paypal or Ven-
mo.
Volunteers with trailers are needed to
help staff move animals to their safe
destination.
For volunteering opportunities, fol-
low Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary on In-
stagram and Facebook, or contact 541-
636-7288.
Green Acres Farm Sanctuary
With help from volunteers, Green
Acres Farm Sanctuary in Silverton was
able to evacuate its 200 animals from
the pasture Tuesday during a level 2 no-
tice.
The sanctuary's animals have gone to
several different places, including Ore-
gon State Fair Grounds, Polk County
Fairgrounds, other sanctuaries, and
with individuals who've taken them in.
"The outpour of people willing to
pitch in to (help) total strangers is amaz-
ing," said sanctuary co-founder Tina
Crow.
The volunteer, nonprofit farm typi-
Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary, shown here in a file photo, has secured places to relocate all of its rescue animals if the Scio
farm needs to evacuate. STATESMAN JOURNAL FILE
cally houses chickens, ducks, goats,
sheep, pigs, horses, turkeys and a don-
key.
Crow said she's keeping a close eye
on the fire and crossing her fingers that
the evacuation will be lifted soon.
"We're optimistic. We're hoping it's only
going to be a few more days."
How to help
Crow said staff will post ways to help
on their Facebook and Instagram pages.
When conditions improve, volun-
teers will be needed to help transport
animals from their current locations
back to the sanctuary and to help clean
ashes and fire debris from the site.
The sanctuary is taking monetary
donations through Facebook, Paypal
and its website.
A wish list of needed supplies — in-
cluding a hay elevator, a wood chipper,
wheelbarrows and gift cards to Wilco
and Petco — can be found on Amazon.
For volunteer opportunities, contact
503-873-8186.
Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center
The Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center in
South Salem is opening its doors to all
wildlife affected but the Santiam Can-
yon fires.
"We're here to help," Director Jessy
Gill said. "We have a lot of property out
here. We'd definitely be a resource for
someone with a trailer full of animals,
for example, where (the animals) could
come and stay temporarily."
The 60-acre wildlife rehabilitation
and care center, established in 2005,
nurses on average between 150-200 ani-
mals until they can return to the wild. It
has an additional 35 permanent resi-
dents.
The animals, ranging from a golden
eagle to sugar gliders to skunks, are
cared for by five staff members and 12
volunteers.
Gill said the rehabilitation center has
not received any wildlife since the fires
began, except for a bird with suspected
inhalation issues.
Those who spot animals that are in-
jured or threatened by fire, and want to
help, should be prepared with a blanket
and a carrier to transport the animal to
the refuge.
"I think people envision (animals)
running from the fire, but that's not nec-
essarily the case," Gills said. "It's devas-
tating. It's going to take a long time for
that area is inhabitable again."
How to help
The wildlife center is taking in all
wildlife species (not domestic animals),
including sugar gliders, guinea pigs,
parrots, squirrels, songbirds, squirrels,
rabbits, raptors, ducks, geese, etc.
Those who want to donate supplies
can drop off food (including canned
goods, meats, produce), linens, towels
and medical supplies between 8 a.m.
and 6 p.m. every day at 9483 Jackson
Hill Road.
For more information, contact 503-
540-8664 or visit the Turtle Ridge Wild-
life Refuge Center website.
Taking care of your pets, farm
Simple Cremation $795
Simple Direct Burial $995
Church Funeral $2965
SALEM
275 Lancaster Drive SE
(503) 581-6265
TUALATIN
8970 SW Tualatin Sherwood Rd
(503) 885-7800
PORTLAND
832 NE Broadway
(503) 783-3393
TIGARD
12995 SW Pacifi c Hwy
(503) 783-6869
EASTSIDE
1433 SE 122nd Ave
(503) 783-6865
MILWAUKIE
16475 SE McLoughlin Blvd
(503) 653-7076
Privately owned cremation facility. A Family Owned Oregon Business.
“Easy Online Arrangements”
www.CrownCremationBurial.com
OR-GCI0348841-02
Miller
Continued from Page 1B
the line.
It broke off the 4-pound-test line
near the bank, but not before we got a
good look at a whitefish checking in at
what had to be 5-plus pounds.
It was the largest anybody had ever
seen.
And the only whitefish that any of us
hooked that summer.
Only Mick, the Ahab of whitefish an-
glers.
The frosting on the fishcake was dur-
ing an outing back home at the Goleta
Pier a couple of years later.
animals during wildfires,
evacuations
Here are some additional tips and re-
sources for keeping your pets and live-
stock safe during the wildfires.
For pet owners living in locations
with poor air quality due to wildfires:
h Shorten walks for dogs, limit expo-
sure to air
h If possible, bring outdoor dogs and
cats inside
h Keep in touch with your family vet-
erinarian in case of a pet health emer-
gency
h For evacuees, make a list of dietary
restrictions, special needs and medica-
tions for pets
For livestock and wildlife:
h Bring livestock closer to your prop-
erty
h Have an evacuation plan ready
h Wildfire evacuees who have no
choice but to let their horses go can
write contact information using oil
markers on their hooves
h Make a list of dietary restrictions,
special needs and medications for ani-
mals to provide to their temporary care-
taker/shelter
h For wildlife, place a shallow dish of
water outside for animals passing
through
Other resources:
Individuals looking for shelter for
themselves and their pets and/or live-
stock can check the Oregon Fairs Asso-
ciation Wildfire Evacuation Resources
page for an updated list of open state
fairgrounds.
Virginia Barreda is the breaking
news and public safety reporter for the
Statesman Journal. She can be reached
at 503-399-6657 or at vbarreda@states-
manjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter
at @vbarreda2.
Michelle, naturally, caught the only
Pacific lobster that any of us ever had
seen outside of the live tank at Castag-
nola Brothers seafood market.
I mean really; who does that?
Only Mick.
When she retires, I hope she can
make it north for frequent Salem visits.
I’d like to take her fishing again and
talk about old times.
Holding my own fishing rod, thank
you very much.
Happy early birthday, kiddo.
FISHING THOUGHT FOR THE
WEEK: Most frequent comeback to dis-
paraging comments about fish photos?
It looked bigger in the water.
Contact Henry Miller via email at
HenryMillerSJ@gmail.com