The Canyon Weekly July 25, 2012
Volume 3, Issue 30
News and Life - For Our Side of the Mountain! Serving the communities of Lyons, Mehama, Elkhorn, Mill City, Gates, Niagra, Detroit, Breitenbush, Idanha and Marion Forks
Check us out online for free in full color!
www.TheCanyonWeekly.com
75 cents Your purchase helps us keep your news fresh and local. Thanks for helping us grow the Santiam Canyon!
Local kids take home top awards at fair
The Santiam Canyon kids, backed by strong adult leadership, shone brightly at the Linn County fair last week in Albany. 4-H clubs such as the Diamond Back Clovers, representing young herdsmen, equestrians
and farmers from Mill City, Gates, Lyons Mehama, Scio and Stayton provide a nurturing learning environment that will benefit our kids for a lifetime. Amber Tinney of Lyons is the group leader for the Diamond Back Clovers, with 34 participants in all. “Our kids did Pictured above: Braydon Mizell showing his well bred swine. Pictured left: amazingly well, Evan Breen and his very patient rooster. Photography by Cora Nordmo. and had so much said Mrs.Tinney. fun. The older ones The Santiam High School Future Farmers help the younger ones. I’m very proud,” of America were also well (cont’d on page 4)
Fatal crash on McCully Mtn kills one, injures two Alcohol, excessive speed appear to be factors that led to crash down steep embankment, trapping occupants
A single vehicle crash on McCully Mountain in Lyons claimed the life of Jeremy William Pierce and injured two others, officials said. On July 19, a little after 8pm, a caller to 911 reported hearing a loud crash and someone screaming for help on West McCully Mountain Road. When the caller investigated further, he discovered a severely damaged 2001 Chevrolet pickup had crashed into a large tree, about 30 feet down a steep embankment. Three people were trapped inside the pickup. Alcohol, excessive speed and reckless driving appear to be factors in the crash. Pierce, 25, of Lyons (the owner and driver of the pickup) was found deceased and trapped in the driver seat. Skye Maley, 23, of Mill City, was trapped in the right front passenger seat and Samantha Letterman, 20, of Lyons, was trapped in the back seat of the
extra cab portion of the pickup. Rescue crews worked for well over an hour to extricate the injured occupants. Lyons Rural Fire Protection District (LRFPD) responded to the crash, calling in other agencies for help due to the extremely steep embankment. The loosely soiled terrain made it difficult to access the vehicle safely and hampered the removal of the patients, according to LRFPD Captain Bob Bivans. The deceased driver, William Pierce, was not wearing a seat belt and the driver’s side airbag had not deployed. The right front passenger, Skye Maley, was transported by ambulance to Santiam Memorial Hospital in Stayton with serious nonlife threatening injuries. Maley was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash and the front passenger side airbag had deployed. The rear seat passenger, Samantha Letter-
man, was transported by ambulance to the Mari-Linn School, where she was transported by REACH helicopter to Salem Memorial hospital with serious non-life threatening injuries. Letterman was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision. Fire and EMS crews from Lyons, Sublimity, Stayton, and Santiam Ambulance responded to the scene. Linn County Sheriff’s deputies were assisted by members of the Albany Police Department working as part of Linn County Major Accident Investigation Team. West McCully Mountain Road was closed for four hours during the investigation. A Shiatsu dog owned by Pierce’s mother was also in the pickup at the time of the crash and was found in the area. Linn County Deputies arranged for the return of the dog to its owner. Pierce’s body was taken to Weddle Funeral Home in Stayton. 1