Statesman Journal from Salem, Oregon • Page 4

almanac 2 saBmnffhwsf nnrirnltiirA a a Statesman-Journal, AAonday, March 7, 1983 Scarce clues Baffling deaths, disappearances kept detectives busy in 1982 Teen-ager Sherry Eyerly, who disappeared July 4 delivering a pizza to what turned out to be a fictional address. Her car was found with the motor running and door open. Not a trace has turned up since. fpr- 1 i i i 1 1 1 "We still have two major unsolved homicides for this year. We're not in a position to say we've done a good By PHIL MANZANO Of the Statesman-Journal Larry Stephens' year as a cop began with investiva-tion of the murder of a young, outgoing Meier Frank saleswoman.

It ended with probing the execution-style slaying of a woman at a veterinary clinic. In between, there were the disappearances of an 18-year-old woman and 9-year-old girl, a double-slaying by a former Salem cop who then committed suicide, and a deadly quarrel between two brothers. Stephens is head of the Salem Police Department's Crimes Against Persons unit. Unfortunately, he and his unit were busy in 1982. "I think Salem is unusual in the number and types of homicides," Stephens said.

"It's very different than larger cities." Salem has had its share of the bizarre, including the Jerome Henry Brudos mutilation slayings in, 1969 and mass Oregon Museum tavern shooting and murderous 1-5 Bandit spree in 1981. In 1982, there were nine homicides in Marion County, seven of them occurring in Salem. A 10th case is being investigated by county detectives as a homicide. TWO OF THE city 'cases remain unsolved the shooting of Patti Loganbill at the veterinary clinic where she worked and the nighttime abduction and subsequent slaying of 9-year-old Danielle Good. Until they are cleared, Stephens is slow to brag.

"We still have two major unsolved homicides for this year," he said. "We're not in a position to say we've done a good job." Marion County sheriff's detectives also have two major unsolved cases from 1982 the disappearance of 18-year-old Sherry Eyerly south of Salem and the murder near Aurora of Anthony Silveria. Another unsolved Marion County homicide, that of a Salem woman babysitting at a Mehama residence, is being investigated by state police. The year's major cases unfolded this way: Store clerk Shelly Miller, found shot to death in her car on Feb. 23 her 23rd birthday.

Salem police accused her husband, Douglas Ray Miller, with contracting for her slaying with Jeffrey Ray Allen to collect on a life insurance policy. Both were convicted of murder. Police employees John Peterson and Dallas Aasen, slain May 16 by former Salem policeman Steven Witkowski, who then turned the gun on himself. Peterson, an off-duty officer, and Aasen, a dispatcher, were gunned down by Witkowski at Lancaster Mall. He then ran out to his car and took his own life.

Officials said Witkowski, who had dated Aasen, apparently became enraged when she went to the mall with Peterson. A suspect, family acquaintance Darrell J. Wilson, committed suicide Aug. 22 after being questioned by detectives. School girl Danielle Good, who disappeared from the bedroom of her unlocked home the night of July 30.

Her remains were found Feb. 15 in rugged terrain in northern Linn County. Wilson was also acquainted with her family, but detectives have no evidence to link him with the case. Nineteen-year-old Joseph A. Marietta, shot to death after a dispute with his brother, Timothy Ray Marietta, 21, on Aug.

26. Timothy pleaded self-defense, but a jury convicted him of manslaughter. Salem resident Ruth Marie Maury, 23, found dead outside a residence near Mehama on Nov. 14. She had been babysitting young children.

She was apparently strangled with "her own trousers. The case is being handled by state police. No arrest has been made. Veterinarian's assistant Patti Loganbill, shot execution style on Nov. 22 while working alone in a South Salem clinic.

The 27-year-old woman was shot in the head while laying on the floor, her hands bound. Police said robbery was the apparent motive. Hitchiker Anthony J. Silveria, 29, found dead Dec. 18 along an Aurora area roadside.

He apparently had been strangled and dumped from a moving vehicle. The circumstances of his death bore striking resemblance to two others occurring in the area late last year. i 0 i him 'i hi 1 1 1 fi i 'i'i. "nw il.i Asj' ijijfcM Statesman-Journal photo by Dean Koepfler skills. Although his coach is sure to appreciate such dedication, he may not agree with this particular over-the-head shot.

H-0-0-0-0PS As a member of his grade school's basketball team, Alex Farnstrom, 7, of Independence, realizes the need to sharpen his Lawmakers back placing Queen to visit Segttle todgr sales tax before voters RoyCf monoraf jaunt OD lYadc Elaborate preparations have been made for the queen's visit, including protocol coaching for people expected to come in direct contact with the royal party. The 412-foot royal yacht, Britannia, will be berthed at Pier 48 until the royal party's departure just after 7 p.m. today. When the Britannia is in Washington waters, no other vessel may approach it within 500 yards, a Coast Guard spokesman said. While the boat is moored at Pier 48, no vessel can come closer than 250 yards.

Violators can be fined up to $25,000. From Seattle, the royal couple travels to Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, before returning to England. On Sunday, Queen Elizabeth II, winding up a 10-day visit to California amid the natural splendor of Yosemite National Park, attended services in a tiny chapel where the pastor prayed for three men who died while driving ahead of the queen's motorcade. Pine cone wreaths were hung above the altar of the 18-pew chapel, which has a capacity of about 90 people. The spired little church is within earshot of the valley's falls, the world's greatest concentration of free leaping waterfalls.

After the 45-minute service, the queen was presented with a hand-woven willow and redbud basket and a framed Yosemite Valley photograph by renowned photographer Ansel Adams, who has a studio nearby. The picture was handed the queen by Adams' son, Michael. The royal party relaxed at the baronial 212-room Ahwahnee Hotel, where Elizabeth's sixth-floor suites have 360-degree views of the booming waterfalls, graceful arches and lofty domes that guard the valley of the famed Sierra Nevada wilderness. Few specific details of the royal couple's activities in the mountain valley were made available. A park spokesman said the ranger staff received only "35 to 40 minutes warning" of what the queen and the prince wanted to do.

Much of the acreage around the hotel is cordoned off with orange plastic ribbon, and dozens of rangers patrolled on horseback. The valley, always teeming in summer with thousands of tourisjs, was relatively uncrowded Sunday. Hikers were marching up the trails leading from the valley, and a few skiers were heading for the Badger Pass ski area above and south of the valley. SEATTLE (AP) One if by land, two if by sea, but how many by monorail? Paul Revere might have a hard time deciding how to announce the arrival of the British in Seattle today, as the royal party will travel by air, land, sea and monorail. Thousands of Western Washington residents are expected to crowd the streets of Seattle hoping to get a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip as they follow their hectic schedule.

The queen is to arrive at Boeing field at 1:55 p.m. aboard a Boeing C-137. The aircraft is from the 89th Military Airlift Wing and is a backup to Air Force One, the plane assigned to U.S. presidents. Gov.

John Spellman and Seattle Mayor Charles Royer will greet the queen at the airport before she is whisked off to Children's Orthopedic Hospital for a tour and reception. Also on tap will be a convocation and reception at the University of Washington, ceremonies in the Flag Pavillion at the Seattle Center, and a monorail ride downtown to a reception at the Westin Hotel. The Associated Press The Oregon Legislature leans by a slim majority toward referring the sales tax issue to voters, according to a survey by a Eugene newspaper. However, the newspaper's survey also showed that none of the three major sales tax proposals before the Legislature has the support of a majority of lawmakers. And there was hedging on the issue among even those who say they expect ultimately to support a sales tax.

Many of the 90 legislators surveyed said they wanted to wait to see what provisions a sales tax measure would contain. In the House, 32 of the 60 lawmakers said they either already support referral of a sales tax measure or "probably" would vote for referral, depending on what is in the measure. TWENTY-THREE House members said they are leaning toward opposing referral of a sales tax, and four said they would never vote to refer such a measure. House Minority Leader Larry Campbell, R-Eugene, was the only legislator who refused to indicate a position. He said it was too early to do so.

itely against sending a sales tax proposal to the people. Republicans appeared more inclined to favor sending a sales tax plan to the voters, while Democrats were far more reluctant to commit themselves. A common theme among most Democrats was expressed by Sen. E.D. "Debbs" Potts, D-Grants Pass, who said, "I'm personally against the sales tax, but I'm not against the people voting on it." THE HOUSE Revenue Committee has three major sales tax proposals before it.

All mandate putting the rate into the state constitution so that only the voters could change it: Each proposal would exempt food, drugs, mortgages and utility bills from the tax and each calls for some form of tax credit or rebate to reduce the impact on low-income taxpayers. One plan proposes a 4-percent sales tax with the estimated $800-million-a-year proceeds earmarked for state support for public elementary and secondary schools. The second proposes a tax of up to 4 percent with the money going to homeowner and renter property tax relief. The third recommends a 5-percent sales tax with 80 percent of the proceeds dedicated to property tax relief and 20 percent to reducing the state income tax. Meeting special needs St.

Helens1 quakes pick up let's hear, it! In the Senate, the survey showed 15 of the 30 senators leaning toward referral of a sales tax, and two others in the "probable" category. Five senators leaned toward opposing referral, and eight seemed defin EDITOR'S NOTE: Each week, the Statesman-Journal honors an "unsung" volunteer nominated by Its readers and selected by a Volunteer Services panel of Judges. By KAY APLEY Of the Statesman-Journal Ruth Hewett's volunteering requires know-how, caring and attending a lot of meetings. "Her commitment to active involvement in improving conditions in her community is something to behold," said one nominating letter. "She brings a warm 2 charged with gambling in Portland church games sense of humor which dispels tension in a meeting." Another letter credited her with "that special gift of being able to accomplish a great deal in a short amount of time and to involve everyone In the decision making.

She truly cares about the quality of life in Salem in a very unselfish manner." Hewett has been a member of VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) -Seismic activity at Mount St. Helens increased Sunday to a rate similar to that observed in the early stages of buildup toward previous eruptions, scientists said. "Ground deformation may also be increasing but poor weather has prevented a clear determination of the rate," said Steve Brantley, a spokesman for the U.S. Geological Survey in Vancouver.

Scientists need to measure changes in the crater and the 700-foot lava dome to know if the increased seismic activity is temporary or a buildup to another possible eruption. But it was snowing on the mountain Sunday. The weather was so bad that field crews didn't even bother to come in for stand-by status, he said. Scientists are watching for any sign that could lead up to an eruption like the March 1982 explosion that caused mudslides into the North Toutle River. Hewett reviews bills, attends legislative hearings and testifies on behalf of bills AAUW supports, such as the current effort to establish a permanent Governor's Commission for Women.

She and her husband, Robert, met while attending the University of Oregon. She's a West Virginia native, he's from Coos Bay. They moved to Salem six years ago, "and we'll never leave Oregon now," she said. Their children are John and Jennifer, both in college, and James, an 8th-grader at Judson Middle School. Previously, she volunteered one day a week at the shelter for battered women or led Brownie troops or, she said, smiling, "was a home-room mother for 16 years." Seeing immediate results of her efforts or describing what she did was relatively easier then.

"Committee and board volunteering tends to look at long-range plans, ideas or solutions, and thoughts for the future," she said, "so you don't see instant results." "I CAN GO give testimony today and maybe two years from now, the commission will be established," she said. "Or we may meet In a committee and come up with an idea that maybe years later becomes a reality and I will know I had something to do with it." "I like what I do and I like the people I'm with. Peo-, pic come together because they have shared concerns, common Interests. I meet a great variety of hardworking and very caring people." Nominations, by letter or lorm available at the newspaper olflce, may be mailed to Volunteer, P.O. Box I MM, Salem I73N.

Nominator! will not br Identified. General's office, the Multnomah County District Attorney's office and Portland police had been investigating the church bingo parlor for several months. An affidavit filed in support of the search warrant questions the legitimacy of the church and calls for the seizure of electronic equipment, gaming equipment, cash registers, documents and records connected with the bingo opreratlon, he said in a prepared statement. Search warrants were also executed at the residences of the three "main of the bingo game; Mehner, Ateljevlch and Martin Gertler of Gladstone, Simpson said. PORTLAND (AP) A Portland police spokesman says two men were arrested late Saturday for first-degree gambling promotion in connection with a bingo game operated in southeast Portland by the Church of Conceptual Truth.

The two men arrested Saturday were identified by police spokesman Dave Simpson as Alexander Mehner, 54, of Gresham, and George Atelje-vich, 52, of Portland. Officers also searched the church's "community service center" at about midnight Saturday, Simpson said. The church's nightly bingo games were held at the center. Simpson said the state Attorney Salem School District budget ruth hewett commjttee, is chairman of the Judson Local School Advisory Committee, is on the school district's graduation requirement and orientation citizen advisory committees and is chairwoman of the "Yes for Schools" committee. She has served on boards of the League of Women Voters, Liberty-Boone Neighborhood Association and American Association of University Women and is on AAUW's state board as legislative committee co-chairman.

"THIS POSITION Involves establishing legislative policy, organizing legislative workshops and lobbying for over 3,600 AAUW members throughout the state," said the letter. i.