Salem-News.com Albany articles Page 18

Albany to Begin Winter Testing of Santiam-Albany Canal

The canal was dug by hand in the 1870s.

(ALBANY) - City of Albany staff and consulting engineers and hydrologists will return to the Santiam-Albany Canal this winter to continue checking the stability of the stream banks and looking for problems.

The city started a comprehensive assessment of the condition of the canal in late September by increasing the water level while looking for problems that might result.

Continuing with the test in the wet weather season, surveyors will set benchmarks for global positioning systems, and city staff and consultants will walk the length of the 18-mile canal to check it visually.

Police in Linn And Benton Counties to Participate in Two Shop With Events

Each child has a $25.00 shopping limit and works their way around the store with a police officer to find gifts for family and friends.

(ALBANY ) - For the 12th year, Corvallis and Albany-area police officers will shop together with local disadvantaged and foster children for Christmas gifts as part of a local program called "Shop With a Cop".

Last year, 153 children shopped with state, county, and city police officers in the two very successful events while purchasing videos, clothing, toys and other special gifts.

The event is sponsored mainly through donations from police officer associations, private individuals, and K-Mart, Target, and Wal-Mart.

Two Killed, One Critically Injured in Thanksgiving Morning Crash

OSP is requesting anyone who may have witnessed the driving of the Chevrolet Blazer or the crash to contact Trooper Mark Davie at (503) 378-3387 ext. 252.

(ALBANY) - The Oregon State Police is continuing to investigate a Thanksgiving day morning two-vehicle head-on crash on Highway 34 about 1/2 mile west of Interstate 5 in which two people were killed and a third person critically injured.

On November 23rd, at approximately 6:30 AM, a 2001 Chevrolet Blazer driven by 52-year-old Sary Rath, from Albany, was eastbound on Highway 34 when, for an unknown reason, it crossed the paved center median and crashed head-on with a westbound 1998 Dodge Durango.

Both vehicles came to rest blocking the westbound lanes.

The drivers of both vehicles were pronounced deceased at the scene.

Rath was using safety restraints police said.

The passenger in the Chevrolet Blazer, 17-year-old Chomkocma Vann, from Albany, was using safety restraints and was critically injured.

He was transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis.

The driver of the Dodge Durango, 27-year-old Gregory Gathings, from Lebanon, was not using safety restraints.

His vehicle's airbag deployed police said.

Oregon State Police troopers from Albany and Salem offices responded to the scene.

Albany Seeking New City Council Representative

Applicants must be at least 18-years- old, have lived in Albany for at least one year, and in Ward I for at least 90 days.

(ALBANY ) - The Albany City Council is seeking a new representative from Ward I to replace Councilor Doug Killin, who is Mayor-elect and will take office January 1st, 2007.

The Albany City Charter requires that a position left vacant midterm be filled by appointment by the remaining members of the council.

The council is seeking applications from residents of Ward I who are interested in serving the remaining two years of Killin’s term.

Public Hearing Set For Albany Surplus Property Near Jefferson

The property that is the subject of the public hearing is located at 38159 Scravel Hill Road NE.

(ALBANY) - The Albany City Council will hold a public hearing at its next regular meeting at 7:15 PM, Wednesday, to consider whether it is timely to sell property that consists of 100.2 acres of land and a single-family home located north of Albany near Jefferson.

The city bought the property on March 1st, 2002, to gain access to the Santiam River and a new intake for drinking water to supply the Albany-Millersburg Joint Water Treatment Plant.

Train Derails and Hits Home in Albany

The home was not destroyed, and the family and their six cats and three dogs were allowed to return after the train car was removed.

(ALBANY) - A freight train derailed in Albany early Sunday morning with one of the derailed cars striking a local home. Albany Fire Spokesperson Wanda Omdahl says the 7:00 AM incident could have been much worse, "We arrived to discover that 8 train cars had derailed and hit the home located at 739 SE 6th. The residents of the home were present at the time but no one was injured."

She says the family evacuated along with about six other residents because live wires down onto their home after the train cares derailed and knocked out a power pole.

Albany Oregon Man Arrested in Child Pornography Case

The arrest of David Brown ended a two-week investigation into allegations that he had downloaded and stored large amounts of child pornography onto his personal computer.

(ALBANY) - On Friday, Albany Police Detectives arrested 44-year old Albany resident David Jonathan Brown on 25 counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and lodged him in the Linn County Jail.

Albany Police Detectives seized the computer and numerous DVD's and, pursuant to a search warrant, located images of child pornography.

Governor Congratulates PepsiCo on New Oregon Manufacturing Facility

The $250 million dollar South Albany facility will create 500 family wage jobs for the area, with average salaries of more than $45,000 plus full health benefits for workers.

(SALEM) - Governor Kulongoski Thursday congratulated PespiCo’s decision to locate a new major facility in South Albany.

“PepsiCo’s manufacturing, bottling and distribution facility will create 500 good, family wage jobs for Oregonians,” said the Governor. “The partnership between state and local government and the private sector that helped make this announcement possible represents the type of collaboration needed to keep our state’s economy competitive and strong. I congratulate PepsiCo on their decision, good corporate stewardship, and long-term investment in our state.”

Remains Found in Shallow Grave in Linn County

Authorities said the remains so far don’t fit any of the county’s missing persons cases.

(ALBANY) - Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller says a hunter discovered skeletal remains Monday near the Big Springs Snow Park north of the Santiam Junction of Highway 22 and Highway 20.

The remains were found west of the snow park and in a condition that led investigators to believe the body was been in the area for less than one year, Mueller said.

City Hall Day Thursday in Salem, Albany, And Dallas

City Hall Day is being held simultaneously in 20 host cities across Oregon, providing an opportunity for city officials, state lawmakers, and candidates to share ideas and perspectives before the 2007 legislative session.

(SALEM) - The Cities of Salem, Albany and Dallas will be hosting a public forum for state legislators, local elected officials, legislative and local office candidates as part of the statewide City Hall Day on Thursday.

The events put state legislators directly in touch with local elected officials, who represent the same constituents, to talk about local concerns that could be affected by state legislative action.