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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 2016)
SINCE 1979 • VOLUME 38, NO. 6 SECTION A JANUARY 8, 2016 $1.00 Stolen car pulled from river By CRAIG MURPHY Of the Keizertimes It’s not every day a car gets pulled from the Willamette River at Keizer Rapids Park. But that’s just what unfolded this week. On Monday, a Hyundai Elantra wagon was towed out of the river, after having been originally spotted in the water on Dec. 28. “We don’t know where or when the car was put in,” offi cer Rod Bamford with the Keizer Police Department said. “It was put in at least a week ago. We had some people that could see the roof in the river last week, but the water was too high to get out there. A Marion County deputy with marine patrol took a boat out and got the license plate, but we couldn’t recover it at that point.” Armed with the plate information, offi cers were able to determine the vehicle was stolen. Lt. Andrew Copeland with the KPD said the case goes back more than a year and a half. “The vehicle was reported stolen on May 4, 2014,” Copeland said. “The unknown suspect drove the stolen vehicle into the river several months ago. We were unable to recover the stolen vehicle initially because the water was still too high, but the water receded enough for us to access the vehicle and tow it out of the area.” Keizer Public Works Director Bill Lawyer company hadn’t given out full payment because it was unknown if the vehicle was a total loss or not. “I don’t believe there is a way to determine when the vehicle was put in,” he said. “We’re not going to waste taxpayer resources trying to fi gure that out. It was evident it had been in there for quite some time. It was originally silver. With the amount of grime on it from being in the river, that was consistent with it being in for quite some time.” Both Bamford and Copeland said the amount of water damage meant there was no way to get any fi ngerprint or DNA evidence to trace a suspect. Photos courtesy Tricia Aloisi This once silver Hyundai Elantra wagon, reported stolen in May 2014, was pulled from the Willamette River at Keizer Rapids Park this week. mentioned the case during Monday’s Keizer City Council meeting and noted the Hyundai had Washington plates on it, though the vehicle had been stolen from a Keizer driveway. “Someone tried to get rid of it and it didn’t work,” Lawyer said. Jerry Nuttbrock towed the vehicle out Monday, as Bamford and a Public Works employee were on hand. “I know cars are dumped into lakes,” Bamford said. “But this is my fi rst time in 22 years of law enforcement I’ve recovered a stolen vehicle in that matter.” Bamford said the Hyundai’s owner was glad the car was recovered, in part because her insurance Hoping full bellies make warm hearts Volunteers prepare Thanksgiving dinner at St. Edward Catholic Church in November. Monthly free dinners are being served, starting Jan. 27 at St. Edward. Leaving some big shoes to fi ll Submitted George Goesch (left) and Scott Ayres. By CRAIG MURPHY Of the Keizertimes An era ended quietly in Keizer last week. After 53 years as a State Farm insurance agent, George Goesch retired without fanfare at the end of the year. The lack of fanfare was George’s desire. He politely declined a request for an in- terview from the Keizertimes. George turned 80 on Wednes- day. The agency at 5095 River Road still had George’s name on the door Tuesday, but is now being run by Scott Ayres. “It’s good,” Ayres said this week. “They’re big shoes to fi ll. But it’s also pretty excit- ing, having the chance to work with some of his clients. The reception so far has been re- ally warm. I’m excited to bring some fresh folks in here.” Ayres previously ran an in- surance agency with a different company for 11 years, starting from scratch in 1999. He was recruited to join State Farm and spent the last six years in corporate, helping coach agents about fi nancial services. “I don’t feel a lot of pressure, because I’ve run an agency be- fore. Obviously George Goesch is a titan in this community, a real staple. A lot of people have told me that,” Ayres said with a chuckle. “But at the same time, a lot of people have also said they are glad this offi ce is still open.” Ayres only got to work with George Goesch during the brief transition time. “He gave me some bits and pieces of the business, how to take care of people, things like that,” Ayres said. “George has a great sense of humor. A lot of what he shared was about keeping things light hearted. His ability to relate to clients is something I try to take after him on.” Ayres noted there is a big difference in taking over an agency in 2016 versus starting one in 1999. “How people are buying in- surance, expectations and needs are changing,” he said. “But it’s still mainly a relationship busi- ness. You try to have a good conversation with people.” While George has retired, his family is still heavily in- volved with State Farm. It all started when George went to work for the company on Oct. 1, 1962. Son Sam became a Keizer State Farm agent in June 1981. Another son, Joel, became a State Farm agent shortly after that in Washington. Both are still agents. Please see GOESCH, Page A7 new sales event By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes Phil Bay, a Keizerite and one of the coordinators of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints’ Just Serve group, knows a good cause when he sees one. “We’re always on the look- out for ways to give back to the community and not just our own church,” said Bay. “When we heard about the Community Dinners, I knew we would have no trouble rounding up 20 people to help out.” The Community Dinner Bay references is a new com- munity service project be- ing sponsored by St. Edward Catholic Church, Marion- Polk Food Share and a grow- ing coalition of local churches and community groups. On Jan. 27, St. Edward is open- ing the door of its community center and commercial kitch- en to prepare a free meal for anyone who wants to attend. In February, the Latter Day of Saints will be preparing and serving. Keizer Christian Church and Lakepoint Com- munity Church have both committed to future dates and the Keizer Chamber of Com- merce’s MAK (Men of Action in Keizer) group is penciled in for March. The dinners will be Park master plans changed PAGE A3 AVID expands at CCMS PAGE A5 held the fourth Wednesday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m. “We have mostly solid commitments through May,” said Bonnie Henny, business manager at St. Edward. “But it doesn’t have to be a church group, we are open to any group willing to help out.” Group leaders will work with organizers at St. Edward to train in using the kitchen and serving meals. “St. Edward is really throw- ing the doors open to us and giving us the space and leader- ship to make it possible,” said Bay. Swimmers drown Vikings PAGE A10 Please see DINNER, Page A7 Marijuana retailer rules passed after a change By CRAIG MURPHY Of the Keizertimes An ordinance regarding a marijuana retailer permit pro- cess was approved Monday night, but only after a change was made to make it more ed- ible to Keizer City Council- ors. Councilors in Keizer and across the state have spent plenty of time since the end of 2014 trying to fi gure out local rules about recreational mari- juana, approved by Oregon voters in November 2014. A permit process was passed 6-1 in December, but After council president Dennis Koho made a mo- tion to adopt the ordinance as written, the vote failed by a 5-2 count, with only mayor Cathy Clark and councilor Amy Ryan voting in favor. Immediately after the vote, councilor Brandon Smith proposed removing one line from the ordinance, reading “The marijuana retailer shall have no marijuana in edible form.” That led to some discus- sion. since the vote wasn’t unani- mous it came up for a second vote on Monday. It wasn’t unanimous this time, either. Please see RULES, Page A7 0 % FORD FUSION APR FORD ESCAPE FOR 60 PLUS MONTHS REBATE 2,000 CASH $ FORD FOCUS PAGE A2 KEIZERTIMES fi le/ Eric A. Howald Time to get into America’s Best-Selling brand. 1 get into the Topics to watch in 2016 ON 2015 FOCUS Keizer * www.skylineforddirect.com 2015 CY Sales Jan. thru Nov. Not all buyers qualify for Ford Credit fi nancing. 60 months at $16.67 per month per $1,000 fi nance regardless of down payment. Not available on electric, hybrid and Fusion Energi models. Take new retail delivery from dealer stock by 2/1/16. See dealer for qualifi cations and complete details. 1 *