By David Howell

IFA Nurseries Inc. has renamed its Canby nursery for a longtime manager and local resident whose influence remains great despite health problems. The 1887 N. Holly St. nursery held a surprise dedication ceremony Friday, Feb. 4, for Lovelle Lack.

IFA Board Chairman Bill Dryden presented Lack with a plaque and hugged him, while other IFA officials stealthily pulled off the tarpaulin covering the new "Lovelle Lack Nursery" sign.

Lack, 60, who has worked at the nursery for 32 years, was moved by the brief ceremony and touched by his colleagues' sentiments.

"A lot of people made me who I am," he said. "It's not Lovelle Lack who made this nursery, it's all of us together. And it's all of us together who will see it go on.

''I really appreciate this, but, again, there are a lot of people behind it. There are a lot of people who are responsible for who I am today, and I'm grateful for that."

Lack was flanked by Verna, his wife of 41 years, daughters Laurie Bothwell of Canby, and Sara Wright of Vancouver, Wash., and grandchildren, Kelsey, 2, and William, 7 months. (Daughter Pam Lewis of Oregon City was unable to attend the ceremony.)

The IFA Board of Directors passed a resolution Friday authorizing the nursery name change.

"He's been a fixture in the community for years," said IFA Nurseries President Dave Stearns.

"We wanted to dedicate his years of service, not only to the nursery, but also to the forest products industry."

IFA directors, executive staff, former officers, employees, friends and family members all gathered to honor Lack.

A former nursery superintendent recalled Lack's upbeat demeanor and praised his Christian sense of values. Others gently teased Lack as they recounted amusing stories through the years.

"It was very emotional," Stearns said. "We've had people here who have been affiliated with the company since 1941. All executives from 1941 to the present gave testimony about Lovelle."

Stearns said Lack's legacy to the forest products industry will be a long and meaningful one.

"In particular, what he has meant to the environment, with the replanting of conifer trees . . . IFA has been responsible for over one billion trees being replanted into Northwest forests, and Lovelle Lack deserves a major piece of that effort."

Lack, who lives with his wife on South Dave Road near Barlow Road, has been rehabilitating since suffering a stroke in 1997. He is now semi-retired, and uses a cane to help him walk.

"As nursery manager, Lovelle was in charge of over 100 employees, and was reponsible for fulfilling seedling contracts for over 100 different

Northwest timber companies," Stearns said. "Lovelle oversaw everything. ''He supervised staff, all the equipment and, most importantly, the cultural aspects of the nursery to make sure that the highest quality seedlings went back into Northwest forests.

''There's no doubt he's very well respected by all the timber company regeneration foresters, and by his peer groups in the industry."

And there's even less doubt that he is very well thought of by all those at IFA Nurseries

Buckle up. Or else.

The Canby Police Department will have two extra officers on patrol Feb. 11-20 as part of the annual Three Flags Campaign.

The Molalla Police Department, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police are also taking part in the seat belt enforcement effort.

The campaign, which involves hundreds of law enforcement agencies in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, seeks to reduce the number of deaths and injuries which occur in car crashes by increasing public awareness of laws regarding safety belt use.

"We emphasize enforcement of safety belt and child restraint laws," said Canby Traffic Safety Officer Jorge Tro, who is in charge of the local police effort.

"We'll have extra officers on duty to emphasize that. The whole goal is to reduce injuries and fatalities in traffic accidents."

In Oregon, surveys show 88 percent of people wear seat belts, putting the state in the U.S. Top 5, Tro said.

However, Tro conducted a survey of seat belt usage in Canby on Thursday that showed only 81 drivers in 100 vehicles were wearing their seat belts. "It's low," he said. "The state average is 88 percent, and I'd like to see it higher in Canby."

And ODOT Transportation Safety Division statistics highlight why people need to wear them on every journey, short or long.

The fatality rate for people wearing safety belts in crashes is 1 in 1,078. The fatality rate for people not wearing safety belts is 1 in 63.

"Those cold numbers tell a hard truth," a Three Flags pamphlet states. "You, or your child, friend or loved one, are 20 times more likely to die in a crash if riding unrestrained by a safety belt or child restraint device."

The campaign suggests children 12 and under be buckled up in the back seat to avoid possible injury from airbags, and for maximum safety in any collision.

And the most usual local excuse people give police for not wearing a seat belt?

"I forgot, or I just pulled out of the market or gas station," Tro said. "As a traffic safety officer, I'm pretty strict on seat belt use because I know it can save lives."

Tro said officers will also be looking out for motorists who wear seat belts improperly, such as tucked under one arm, or behind the back. Lap belts must always be worn, too.

"For people who wear them improperly, it's also a citation," he said. Typically, the court sets a fine of between $50 and $90 for failure to wear a seat belt, Tro said.

The Canby Police Department received a $5,000 federal grant for the Three Flags campaigns, the second of which will be held in July, and the third of which will be held in September.

The number of Oregon police departments and law enforcement agencies taking part in the campaign has grown from 67 in 1996 to more than 100 in 1999.

Patrols will also be paying particular attention to enforcing driving under the influence of intoxicants and speed laws.

Top 10 Tips for Buckling Up

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

Union Pacific Railroad Co. will begin crucial work to its tracks, barriers and signals on April 1, which should allow the traffic light serving the new Canby Market Center to be fully functioning by July.

The Omaha, Neb.-based company recently reported the North Redwood Street project had been lowered in its list of priorities and would begin in July, but the firm changed its tune last Friday.

"The railroad has rescheduled other pending projects to move up the construction of the Redwood project to begin April 1, 2000," read a letter from Union Pacific Industrial and Public Projects Manager John Trumbull to the city of Canby.

"The proposed work will take approximately two months to complete." The concerted efforts of city staff, North Redwood Street resident Mike Potter, Clackamas County Commissioner Mike Jordan, and Gramor Oregon Inc. officials appear to have helped convince Union Pacific of the pressing need to complete the 99E intersection project.

Trumbull could not be reached for comment on Friday afternoon or by Monday afternoon's press deadline.

"My feeling is I'm pleased the railroad saw the importance of getting their work done," said Canby City Administrator Mark Adcock. "We've tried to impress on them all along the importance of the project, and their important role in the project.

''Of course, it was our preference that the work would be done prior to the (Feb. 16) opening of Fred Meyer, as it was initially intended and as our initial talks had outlined.

The city has been liaising with Union Pacific for about two years, said Adcock, who began working for the city last summer.

''In the future, on joint projects with the railroad, we'll try to get better commitments from them in terms of timing, but I am appreciative of them moving the project forward," he added.

Canby Community Development Director Jerry Pineau expressed similar sentiments.

"It's great," he said. "Our main concern was that we wanted to have a safe intersection sooner rather than later."

The Canby Fire Department has expressed concern to the city that failure to have a fully functioning traffic light as soon as possible could result in higher traffic accident numbers. At least three injury accidents have been reported at the new intersection since December.

The Highway 99E-Redwood-Sequoia traffic light will be turned on Feb. 9. Drivers exiting North Redwood Street will only be able to travel southbound on 99E until Union Pacific has completed its work. Once the work is done, the traffic light will be made fully functional.

By finishing the work by July, the completed intersection will allow visitors to the Clackamas County Fair and Rodeo in August to avoid potentially lengthy travel delays. It should also ease people's daily commutes.

On Tuesday, city and fire department staff, ODOT workers and Gramor officials will meet for an on-site inspection at North Redwood Street. The group will gather to determine the location of new rail barriers, road markings and signage.

ODOT plans to replace existing signs stating that Redwood Street is closed, which has upset at least one local resident.

A new southbound 99E sign will read: "Vehicles entering highway 250 feet."

A broken star-patterned Amish-made quilt will again serve as one of the top items up for auction during the Hope Village 2000 Benefit Auction.

The auction will be held March 4 at Zion Mennonite Church, 6124 S. Whiskey Hill Road in Hubbard, and all proceeds will benefit the 32-acre senior living village in Canby. This is the seventh annual auction.

For the second year in a row, a preview dinner will be held the night before, on Friday, March 3. Hors d'oeuvres at 6:30 p.m. will be followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Cost of the dinner is $20 per person.

Reservations must be made by March 1. Last year's dinner filled up fast, so early reservations are encouraged, said Jerry Barkman, Hope Village executive director. Reservations and donations can be made by calling the Hope Village office at 266-9810.

"It's a good dinner," Barkman said. "It's a chance to get together and visit."

Plus, dinner attendees can win door prizes and get an advanced look at the items that will be up for silent auction at 9 a.m. and the 10 a.m. oral auction on Saturday.

"Last year, we had a variety of arts and crafts stuff, antique and new," Barkman said. "We'll take donations up until the day of the auction. We really want to stress collectible items, antiques, etc. We also have a couple donated computers."

In addition to the two auctions, a "country store" will be set up. Attendees will be able to purchase smaller donated items for a set price.

JillMarie Wiles, of Beneficial Auctioneers of Canby, will call the oral auction. Cinnamon rolls, coffee and lunch will be available on Saturday.

Besides the Amish quilt, made by an Amish family in Pennsylvania, at least seven other large quilts made by the Zion Mennonite Church quilters will be up for auction. Many of the quilts will be on display during the church's annual quilting workshop Tuesday-Thursday at the church.

Other items include: a Damon Stoudamire autographed basketball, Portland Trail Blazer ticket sets, and various trips, including a three-night stay in a home in the San Juan Islands.

Last year's auction netted $25,000 for Hope Village. The highest proceeds of any previous year was $11,000. Barkman hopes to meet or beat the $25,000 mark again this year.

"Proceeds will go to the community center," Barkman said. "The floor is there; we're waiting for the walls."

The Hope Village complex is located on the southwest corner of South Ivy Street and 13th Avenue in Canby. It currently is home to 120 assisted living residents at Marquis' Vintage Suites, 55 low-income senior living occupants at the Cascade House, and 50 residents in the independent living Garden Homes.

The community center will be a centrally located building that can be used by all residents, as well as by community groups.

The goal is to have the first 3,500-square-foot phase of the center done by August, Barkman said. The initial portion of the eventual 8,000-9,000-square-foot facility will contain offices, a conference room, restrooms, a quilting room, and a large meeting/activity room.

The large room will later become a workshop, after the second phase's 200-seat assembly room, kitchen and front office is complete. The third phase will consist mainly specialty rooms.

"With the number of residents we have in this place now, the first phase will be sufficient for two or three years," Barkman said.

Once Hope Village is completely built out, the senior living community will be home to 400 residents.

Work will begin soon on a second apartment building behind the Cascade House. The new building will be part affordable housing and part market-rate housing, with larger, more expensive apartments for people who have requested them, Barkman said.

Hope Village was an idea hatched in 1983 by Ivan Kropf, who recently died. In 1991, H.O.P.E. (Housing Outreach Project for the Elderly) purchased the Canby filbert orchard.

Workers broke ground on the project in April 1996, and a year later Frank and Mavis Morris moved into the first Garden Home.

"It's been amazing how this place has worked out," Barkman said. "People in the community understood the vision and paid off the $450,000 for the land. It was almost all paid off before we broke ground, and it was almost all donated money."

Barkman said the project has been well received in the area, and Hope Village has drawn residents from throughout the region.

"I think we've been good for Canby," Barkman said. "Outside of Rackleff House, we're the only nursing facility in town, the only assisted living.

''I think we're providing a very important service to the people in town. It is a community-based project."