Chairman of
the board
Photo by Steve Wilkowske
The Canby Skate Park officially opened under rainy skies Saturday, but the poor weather didn't prevent 9-year-old Cody Pottratz and other local skating enthusiasts from enjoying themselves. The grand opening of the $241,000 facility featured speeches by local dignitaries, live music - and, of course, contests in which skaters displayed a dizzying array of moves.
Court scrambles to keep
pace with city's growth
By David Howell
of the Herald
There are many ways to gauge the growth of a city.
New home construction starts, greater congestion on the roads and longer lines at
fast-food restaurants all give the impression the local community has become bigger in
recent years.
Naturally, there are many other indicators of growth, with all of its ensuing pluses and
minuses.
One such indicator is the rise in crimes and misdemeanors.
The caseload at the Canby Municipal Court has increased massively, resulting in lengthy
Thursday court dockets and standing-room-only crowds in the Council Chambers.
As Canby's population has grown during the past 10 years, so, too, have the number of
crimes, and, subsequently, the number of court cases.
Canby Municipal Court Judge John Henricksen knows better than anyone just how times have
changed, and he addressed the issue during his 22nd annual report to the Canby City
Council last month.
He conveyed statistics that illustrate just how busy the local court - the second-oldest
city court in the state - has become.
"This community has grown very, very large," he said. "Since 1979, when I
was appointed out here, we had 350 cases per year. As of June 20, 2000, we had 6,021 cases
(within the previous 12 months)."
Of the 6,021 cases, 268 were major traffic crimes, including DUII, driving while suspended
and eluding a police officer; 5,133 were other less serious traffic infractions; and 620
were crimes such as domestic violence, theft, assault and shoplifting.
Henricksen said the court currently handles about 500 cases per month. In fiscal year
1990-1991, the court closed 1,942 cases. In fiscal year 1999-2000, it closed 6,021.
The marked increase in the court's caseload has had one tangible benefit for the city.
The court collected $437,852 last year, including $265,651 in court fines, Henricksen
said, noting the court's total budget in 1979 was just $15,000.
The money generated by the fines, speeding tickets and revenue assessments exceeded the
court's July 1, 1999, through June 30, 2000, expenditures by $284,631.
As a result, $193,441 of the excess revenue goes to the city for general fund expenses,
and $91,189 goes to the county and the state.
Despite the rise in caseload, "the court is in excellent shape," said
Henricksen, noting the efforts of his two court clerks and Ron Russ, who has interpreted
for many Spanish-speakers in court proceedings.
"(Russ) has enlisted the support of others to teach community standards to our
Spanish friends," he said.
Henricksen also discussed various pilot projects under way in Canby.
The Community Accountability Board was established earlier this year, and is aimed at
diverting first-time offenders away from the court system and toward making reparations to
the community through work, such as painting over graffiti or cleaning up parks.
Henricksen said the county-initiated program is progressing well, as is a similar program
for youthful offenders, and community members are volunteering their time and efforts to
try to set a true course for wayward people.
"We're doing this as an aid to the community," he said. "Everyone's
watching your community to see if it (the diversion program) works."
Henricksen said 254 violations were written last year to stores selling cigarettes to
minors, but the number has now been reduced to about 60, thanks to the efforts of
student-led stings and greater police enforcement in the Juvenile Tobacco Enforcement
Program.
"I think the impact of that program has been wonderful," he added.
Henricksen informed the council a small "new faction" of people opposed to the
government, laws, licenses and taxes reside in the area, and refuse to attend court or pay
fines.
In the near future, Henricksen said the court needs more room to seat all the people on
the docket, to ensure none are outside the court as he relays important legal information,
and to ensure it meets fire district requirements for occupancy numbers.
Police search for clues in
Logging Road assault case
By David Howell
of the Herald
The Canby Police Department is seeking assistance from the general public
in hopes of identifying the suspect in a kidnapping and sexual abuse incident that
occurred two weeks ago.
Police report an adult female was taking a walk along the Logging Road near the 300 block
of South Redwood Street at 5:45 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, when she was accosted by a
Hispanic male riding a blue 10-speed bicycle.
The suspect grabbed the victim and pulled her off the Logging Road into the trees. He then
sexually assaulted the victim before leaving the area, police reported.
Police said the unnamed victim was traumatized by the attack, and is recovering from the
harrowing ordeal.
The suspect is described as a stocky Hispanic male, about 5-foot-6 or 5-foot-7 in height,
and between 25 and 30 years of age.
Police said the suspect has short black hair and speaks English.
"No witnesses have come forward," Canby Police Detective Dolores Kilpela said.
"I'm really hoping once we get this picture out we'll get more leads."
The kidnapping and sexual abuse case is unusual for Canby, she said.
"It's a strange occurrence," Kilpela said. "It's strange for Canby, and
it's strange for a person to be assaulted on a very well-traveled public path during
daytime."
However, the Logging Road area of southeast Canby is not familiar to such serious crimes,
she added.
"I haven't heard of any other problems on the Logging Road," she said.
"It's generally very safe . . . The important thing is not to panic, but we certainly
should always be very aware of our surroundings whether walking along the Logging Road, or
anywhere else.
''It's always best to walk with a friend. If anything happens, run and get out of there .
. . because the important thing is to be safe."
Police request anybody with information in the case, or people who were in the Logging
Road area at the time of the incident, call Kilpela at 503-266-4024, ext. 260.
Candidates for council,
mayor form alliance
By David Howell
of the Herald
Councilor Terry Prince, a candidate for mayor of Canby, recently joined
City Council hopefuls Patrick Johnson and Teresa Blackwell in running a three-person
election ticket.
Campaign signs for the trio have been posted on lawns and at intersections around Canby,
and signs for council incumbents also have been placed as the race to be first past the
post in the Nov. 7 general election gears up.
Johnson, a writer for a Portland-based Internet company, and Blackwell, who works for
Clackamas County's maintenance support division, are running for local elected public
office for the first time.
Also running for three available City Council seats are incumbents Barry Lucas, Roger
Harris and Randy Carson, along with newcomer Paul Dawson. Prince is challenging Mayor
Scott Taylor for the city's top elected post for the second time. He lost a close election
in November 1996.
Johnson, Blackwell and Prince are focusing their joint campaign on four proposals, but
each has his or her own individual issues, too, Johnson said. "We have four or five
issues we share in common, but we also have our own individual ideas," Johnson said.
"We started with an overall theme. One of them is to do with rebuilding trust, and to
go back to the Urban Renewal District issue, and talk to neighbors about it . . . We don't
think the city should act as annexation applicant again."
Under the tagline "It is Time For a Change," the trio's press release focuses on
four main themes: Rebuilding Trust; Paying Their Fair Share; Develop Smart; and Keeping
the Programs You Love.
All three candidates opposed the planned annexation of 301 acres of farmland into the city
limits for future industrial and commercial development that voters defeated by a 2-to-1
margin Sept. 16.
Blackwell is a member of the Canby Planning Commission which unanimously recommended to
the City Council the annexation should not be put on the ballot because its members deemed
it failed to meet two of 10 criteria.
"The city should no longer be the applicant on annexation issues; instead it should
operate as a check and balance for the people of our community," the release said.
In addition, the trio say new development should pay its own way, and that they believe
Advanced Financing Districts should be used to pay for infrastructure that would benefit
developers.
"We believe it is essential that the city of Canby use the long established A-B-C
annexation plan - and update the plan for today," the release states. "This will
allow for phased development of the Canby Logging Road Industrial Park. When we do decide
to develop we need to bring all of the affected service agencies to the table before
development occurs. That is why it is important that the city remain neutral on annexation
issues."
The release also said the three candidates are committed to keeping partnership programs,
such as Canby Kids, Canby Adult Center, OCTS and Centro de Canby.
"These programs are the backbone of our community, and the things that give Canby its
character," the release states.
Blackwell and Johnson formed an election coalition in August, saying they share a common
vision of where Canby should be heading in the future. Prince joined last month.
Johnson created a citizens action committee, Canby Citizens Against Corporate Welfare, in
July, ran cable TV ads against the annexation measure, and distributed fliers to residents
in new subdivisions in southeast Canby.
The three council candidates who garner the most votes will win seats in the six-person
first-past-the-post Nov. 7 election. The top three vote-getters will earn four-year terms
on the council.
Dawson, 34, is a regional sales representative for a South Carolina medical systems
company.
"I appreciate all the support I received while qualifying for the ballot,"
Dawson said in a news release. "I am looking forward to a competitive race and,
ultimately, serving on the City Council.
''I am running independently of the other candidates, and I will not be involved in any
joint campaigns or coalitions.
''Most of the people I have met with want to see changes made to the City Council, and I
hope to be part of that."
Editor's note: All candidates for Canby city government are invited
to submit a 500-600 word synopsis of why they are running for office, and what they see as
the key issues in Canby's short- and long-term future. Opinion pieces from candidates will
be published in the order they are received.
Chili Cookoff
adds some
spice to a really big show
By David Howell
of the Herald
Dig out the classic chili recipes. Pull out the pots and pans.
And start stirring up an award-winning bowl of the hot stuff. It's chili time, once again.
The ninth annual Canby Herald Chili Cookoff is preparing to heat up for another day of
food, fun and fund-raising.
This year's event will take place Saturday, Oct. 7, at Hoffman's Dairy Garden on Knights
Bridge Road, just west of Canby. It will be held in conjunction with the Giant Pumpkin
Weigh-Off.
The cookoff runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., or until all the tasty chili runs out.
At least eight teams of chili cookers, many of whom have competed in past years, will be
seeking to win either the People's Choice Award or the Judges' Choice Award.
The annual event is always geared toward a worthy cause. All proceeds generated from this
Saturday's cookoff will go to Canby Kids Inc. to fund local sports programs for the
community's children and teen-agers.
Live music will be staged, and the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off will attract crowds from
throughout the region.
"We're hoping for a big turnout," said Juan Mejia, a Herald advertising sales
representative and a Chili Cookoff coordinator.
For more information, or to enter the 2000 Canby Herald Chili Cookoff, call the Herald's
advertising department at 503-266-6831.
