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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021
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APPEAL TRIBUNE
Salem wildlife center fights eviction
Whitney Woodworth
Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
A longtime Salem wildlife center —
which intakes hundreds of skunks, ea-
gles, raccoons and other local wild ani-
mals a year — is fighting eviction from
its current home in south Salem and ac-
cusing its landlords in court of fraud.
Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center is one of
the few places in western Oregon that
can provide a home for thousands of in-
jured and orphaned animals year-
round, said Mary Bliss, who founded the
nonprofit in 2005.
In early 2020, the wildlife center relo-
cated its refuge to a property on Jackson
Hill Road South in south Salem. Leaders
entered into a 25-year lease with land-
lords Dean and Amy Yeager, and paid
more than $30,000 to the couple for
building renovations on what would be-
come the wildlife center.
R. Grant Cook, an attorney for Turtle
Ridge, said the landlords then had a
change of heart.
"With an incomplete building reno-
vation leaving (a key) structure unin-
habitable, the landlords decided they
wanted the wildlife refuge off of their
property," Cook said.
Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center has been battling with their landlords over leased property on Jackson Hill Road
south of Salem. BRIAN HAYES / STATESMAN JOURNAL
Seeking a new home
Dueling lawsuits
The Yeagers attempted to raise the
rent and allowed a cattle operation onto
the property that significantly disrupt-
ed the center's operations and dis-
tressed the animals, according to a law-
suit filed by Turtle Ridge against their
landlords.
“What my client has had to endure
from the Yeagers over the past months
despite the incredible work it does, I be-
lieve, is unconscionable,” Cook said.
Marion County Judge Channing Ben-
nett ordered the Yeagers to pay the wild-
life center $60,0000 after the couple
failed to appear in court. But the money
is not yet guaranteed — Cook said his
clients will likely file an amended com-
plaint and that the legal case is far from
over.
Cook said the case will likely be rein-
stated.
After months of disputes, the Yeag-
ers brought their own legal action to
evict the wildlife center.
The eviction lawsuit accused the
wildlife center of violating the terms of
the lease by performing "illegal veteri-
narian work," doing electrical work on
the property and disrupting the "quiet
and peaceful enjoyment of the Landlord
and other tenants on the property."
Officials with Turtle Ridge refuted
the Yeagers' accusations and said in
court filings the landlord's conduct to-
ward them constituted "fraud and mis-
representation."
The eviction case remains open.
A history of legal troubles
Amy Yeager initially responded to a
request for comment from the States-
man Journal and said she was preparing
a "list of facts" but failed to send the list
A bald eagle rescue at Turtle Ridge
Wildlife Center.
A skunk being fed at Turtle Ridge
Wildlife Center.
TURTLE RIDGE WILDLIFE CENTER
TURTLE RIDGE WILDLIFE CENTER
Bliss said she was unaware of the
Yeager's financial troubles.
“They live in a mansion on the prop-
erty," she said. "We weren’t aware of the
bankruptcies filed. At the beginning,
there was so much enthusiasm. This is
just crushing us."
She said because of the instability,
the center was not able to fundraise as
usual.
As a result of the dispute, Turtle
Ridge might be in a need of a new prop-
erty. Bliss said an ideal property would
be five to 10 acres zoned for farming, ag-
ricultural or exclusive farm use and with
housing onsite for the director to pro-
vide 24-hour care.
Bliss hopes someone with this land
could donate a stable property to the
center, similar to what a resident did for
the Cascades Raptor Center in Eugene.
How to help
or respond to follow-up requests for
comment.
Court records show a long history of
litigation, bankruptcy and revoked li-
censing involving Dean and Amy Yeag-
er.
Multiple lawsuits have been filed
against the couple and Dean Yeager over
the years.
Dean Yeager has been sued for med-
ical malpractice and agreed in 2008 to
permanently surrender his medical li-
cense and never reapply for an Oregon
medical license after the Oregon Med-
ical Board proposed taking disciplinary
action against him for repeated acts of
negligence and unprofessional conduct.
The Yeagers previously operated
Jackstone Inc., a construction business,
but they surrendered their license and
the company is now inactive.
The Construction Contractors Board
reports almost $30,000 in unpaid
claims by the company to homeowners,
suppliers and subcontractors and
$1,985 in unpaid civil penalties.
Dean Yeager filed for Chapter 7 bank-
ruptcy in March. Court records show he
previously filed for bankruptcy in 2010.
Cook said the Yeagers initially want-
ed to create a wedding venue on the land
and use the wildlife center as a selling
point. After the wedding venue plans
fell through, their relationship with
their tenants soured, he said.
Social media indicates the Yeagers
currently operate an Airbnb on the
property. Their residence in court rec-
ords is also listed as being on Jackson
Hill Road SE.
The properties, tucked in the farm-
land south of Salem, feature a main
house and a collection of buildings, in-
cluding the Turtle Ridge main building.
“We cannot allow such reprehensible
conduct by landlords to go unchecked,"
Cook said. "The biggest tragedy here is
that the refuge is forced to expend pre-
cious time and limited resources toward
fighting this legal action brought by the
Yeagers, with the victims being the
wildlife patients.”
More than 3,000 animals came into
Turtle Ridge's care last year, brought in
by residents, veterinarians, law en-
forcement and others.
The center is permitted by the Ore-
gon Department of Fish and Wildlife
and U.S. Fish and Wildlife. They are able
to release the bulk of the animals back
into the wild.
Some non-releasable animals be-
come part of their educational program.
Those who find an animal in need can
contact the center's helpline at 503-
540-8664.
Those interested in donating proper-
ty can contact Bliss at 503-362-9016 or
Director Jessy Gill at 503-560-9035
Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center is also
accepting financial donations.
For questions, comments and news
tips, email reporter Whitney Wood-
worth at wmwoodworth@
statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-
6616
or
follow
on
Twitter
@wmwoodworth.
Justin and Hope welcome Sophie Maxx
Sramek at 4:18 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2021.
She was the first baby born at Salem
Hospital. COURTESY OF SALEM HEALTH
Babies
Continued from Page 1A
year.
Sophie's middle name comes from
both sides of the family — after dad's
great grandfather, Max, and mom's
grandmother, Maxine, hence, the two
XXs.
The hospital sent the family home
with a gift basket filled with toys, sup-
plies and coupons. It weighed more
than Sophie did.
While Sophie is in good health, one
family member seemed concerned.
"I'm a little afraid now," older brother
Leo said.
When mom asked the 5-year-old
why, he said: "cuz I think she's gonna be
the new boss."
Silverton's first baby was a girl, too,
and COVID-19 restrictions put a crimp
on photo opportunities for parents Ma-
ria Avalos and Gilberto Coria.
They welcomed their daughter Keh-
lani Marie Coria at 11:31 a.m. Jan. 1 at
Legacy Silverton Medical Center.
A team at Salem Health's Family Birth Center welcomes the first baby of 2021 - Sophie Maxx Sramek - at 4:18 a.m. Jan. 1.
From left to right: Registered Nurse Alyssa Rendon, Dr. Jodell Boyle and Dr. Robert Harder. COURTESY OF SALEM HEALTH
"Due to COVID, they aren't taking
(newborn) photos anymore," Avalos
said. "They weren't able to take pictures
of us since nurses can't be in the room as
much."
Dad did get some video of the birth,
which mom never expected to happen
so quickly.
Avalos checked in at about 6 a.m. and
heard staff mentioning she could deliv-
er the hospital's first New Year’s baby.
She had a feeling it might not happen
until the following day, but Kehlani was
eager to arrive.
She weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces.
She and her parents went home with
two gift bags from the hospital, one con-
taining diapers and the other newborn
essentials including onesies, mittens
and toys.
Avalos has a different set of chal-
lenges at home this time around.
"My 3-year-old kind of wants to help
all the time," she said. "When I had her, it
was just me and her. Now it's me, the ba-
by and a toddler."
Capi Lynn is the Statesman Journal's
news columnist. Contact her at
clynn@StatesmanJournal.com or 503-
399-6710, or follow her on Twitter
@CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiL-
ynnSJ.