Albany Democrat-Herald from Albany, Oregon • 3

Albany Ocmocrat-ficralD Friday Dec. 29, 1978, Page I Sweet Home groups decry closing of Justice Court i. i I I Is i 7 DAN JONES Omocnit-Hrald Writer SWEET HOME Two service clubs In a Joint aeaslon Thursday criticized the Linn County Commissioners for closing the Sweet Home Justice of the peace court. Dave Cooper, president of the Rotary Club; and Arlie Elliott, president of the Klwanls Club, said a voice vote by members of the two clubs was unanimous In support of a resolution directed to the county commissioners. The resolution condemns the commissioners "for unwarranted action" and urges them to reinstate the Sweet Home Justice Court immediately.

Cooper said the resolution said that Sweet Home has been served well by the Justice court. It will be an economic hardship to Sweet Home area residents to have to drive to Lebanon or Albany to appear In court. The Sweet Home area Is growing and needs more access to the Judicial system, not less. Centralization of the Justice system at the courthouse in Albany is not In the best Interests of all citizens. The resolution concludes that the county commissioners "acted unwisely and in poor taste by voting to eliminate the Justice court without any advance notice to either the man elected to take the of flee or to the populace." Cooper said a similar resolution will be offered for action at Wednesday's meeting of the Sweet Home-East Linn Chamber of Commerce.

He expects that organization also will pass the resolution. Vernon Schrock, chairman of the Linn County Board of Commissioners and who made the mo- Hon to eliminate the Justice court effective Sunday night, bad no comment this morning on the Sweet Home Rotary and Klwanls action. Commissioner Mary Keenan, who Joined Schrock In voting to close the court, said she thinks "the whole Justice of the peace system Is outdated and archaic. It doesn't serve Justice today." Cooper said without the local Justice court, "a person ends up forfeiting ball and that Is not Justice, in my definition." He said ball forefeitures result because many Sweet Home residents, such as truckers and mill workers, can't take June off during the day to drive 15 or 30 miles to appear in court. Miss Keenan said the issue of Justice courts was discussed fully early this year and If citizens in Sweet Home were concerned, they should have made their views known then.

UflpMMkyLyMOM Three sworn in for new Linn terms the three county commissioners on Tuesday. Triska begins a six-year term after having been appointed to the Lebanon Justice post in the spring. Riley was reelected to another four-year term. Three Linn County officials elected In November for terms beginning with the new year were sworn In this morning. From the left are Commissioner-elect Joel Fosdlck, Lebanon Justice of the Peace Richard Triska and Clerk Del Riley.

This is the first time Fosdlck has held public office. He begins his four-year term as one of Officials face 'hassle' of shifting justice court cases i i Da- V' -K discussed the matter with the other county commissioners prior to his Tuesday decision to see if the Sweet Home court could legally be closed on such short notice. Justice courts can handle most of the types of cases handled by a district court, including small claims cases. However, Justice courts are not a court of record, and they do not handle felony cases. Linn County District Court now handles about 12,000 cases a year and each of the county's three Justice courts bandies about 3,000 cases a year.

In 1977 the Sweet Home court handled 2,621 cases, Lebanon 3,168 and Harrisburg 2,943. For the first six months of this year, with the Lebanon position vacant for the first two months of the year, the totals were 1,662 cases in Sweet Home, 1,036 in Lebanon and 2,158 in Harrisburg. All three of the present Justices as well Wlllln. Mill arrest log shows two traffic offenders cited to appear In the Sweet Home court in January and another five cases cited to that court in December, cases on which court action may not be complete. Most of the incompleted cases will be transferred to Linn County District Court, according to the district attorney's office.

However, District Attorney Jackson Frost was not in his office this morning and District Court Judge William Lewis said he still had no word on when or how many cases will be transferred. Commissioner Vernon Schrock said there will have to be a closing audit of the Sweet Home court. He discussed this with the county's auditing firm earlier and expects the audit to be done next week. Asked about arranging transfer of pending cases, Schrock said he expected "the Judges can work that out." Schrock said be didn't think the county would have any financial liability for some remodeling work Sweet Home Justice-elect Robert Daniel son bad begun on his office to accommodate the court, but that hadn't been considered when he made the motion to eliminate the court. Danielson canceled the construction after the carpenter had been on the Job only a few hours Wednesday.

Schrock confirmed that he had not even By DAN JONES Dmocrat-Hrald Writer Police agencies and the Linn County district attorney's office are working on a procedure for reassigning Sweet Home Justice Court cases to other Jurisdictions. In a surprise move Wednesday, the county commissioners voted the Sweet Home Justice Court out of existence effective Sunday night. The board also voted to close the Harrisburg court In 1983. Police, particularly the Oregon State Police, already have cited people to appear in the Sweet Home court on various dates during the first three weeks of January. In addition, other cases have been set for hearings there during the new year.

"It Is going to be a hassle," said IX. Richard Williams, commander: of the Oregon State Police office In Albany, That office Is responsible for the four state police officers based In Sweet Home. "We cite the person to the closest court to their residence," Williams said. He didn't know how many state police cases still are pending in the Sweet Home court. Lt.

Clyde McClain of the Linn County sheriffs office said it was 4 p.m. Wednesday before he was notified of the county's noon decision. The sheriff's department 4 who is from Sweet Home, said closing the Justice courts will mean some inconvenience to citizens. U. Williams said in his 23 years with the state police he has come to realize how important it is for people to have a court near them.

There used to be hundreds of justice courts in Oregon. That number has dwindled to 44 this year. LfcVrtliiiif lisrti'ifc mini r-nnuii i-T3-1 nnmn i i in i i f-'" Plan-change may have saved couple SlaltfMPbrSUBtarSnUfe Sally Cuyer, left, and Elizabeth Foster listen to Pam Foster read from the Bible Marathon Bible-readers aim for place in book of world records They would have returned Thursday night, changing planes at Denver for Portland. "About two weeks ago we decided we couldn't be In Michigan for New Year's Day observe a family tradition started many years ago bo we sent the tickets back," Mrs. Walter said.

Walter, who works for Golden West Homes, had even "When we heard on television last night that Flight 173 had crashed the number seemed familiar," Mrs. Walter said. She found a pamphlet on which she had written her ticket information and confirmed that it was the flight they would have been on "if Someone up there hadn't been looking after us." arranged for a week off. "We recently purchased a new home and are in the process of adopting a child. Those things figured in our decision because money was a little tight," Mrs.

Walter said. Instead of going to Michigan, they sent the money to Walter's mother In Ohio so she could come for a Thanksgiving visit. Two Albany people believe they would have been on Ill-fated United Airlines Flight 173 If they hadn't' been in the Lord's hands. "I think He was watching over us," said Mrs. Robert Walter, 32, 3089 S.E.

Marion St. She and her husband, 36, had purchased tickets more than a month ago for a trip to Lansing, Mich. Most businesses to be closed on New Year's Day Mid-valley banks and government offices will be closed for the New Year's Holiday Monday. Some grocery and variety stores will remain open. There will be no mail delivery Monday.

The Albany Democrat-Herald will publish an afternoon paper on New Year's Day. As a reminder to weekend drivers, the Albany Police Association will place a wrecked automobile at the intersection of Santiara Boulevard and Geary Street this afternoon. It will carry a sign saying: "Hope this doesn't happen to you this holiday season. If you drink don't drive; If you drive, don't drink." le times when things were going pretty slow," the youth pastor said. This morning they were goingast enough that you had to listen hard to get the Old Testament message.

Participants are reading a Today's English version a large-print one bought especially for the occasion because It uses simple language. Morris had anticipated trouble with Biblical names. "I told the kids not to worry about pronouncing them right. I don't expect them to," he said. Morris and some of the other participants have been dying," he said, chuckling at the church since the reading began.

Church women have brought them food and diversions have included television and ping pong. "I'm sure they'll make it now," Morris said this morning. "Last night I wondered. We weren't quite half-way through and everybody "was on everybody else's nerves. we're gonna make it now." Ezekiel's exhortations to turn from Idolatry while her sister, Elizabeth, waited her turn.

"We're well ahead of schedule," said Morris, who masterminded the project. "I estimated the time it would take to read each book, and except for Genesis and Job we've done every one In less time than I estimated. We could finish it in 58 and a half hours." The original goal was to do it in less than 63 hours and 43 minutes the time recently set by the Newberg Free Methodists. Their try was not recognized by the Guinness Book because of inadequate documentation. Morris said he doesn't know if Guinness will recognize the Albany attempt, but If they don't It won't be because it wasn't documented.

In addition to recording visitors, the logbook shows who read when and on what verse they ended. Morris's name appears several times. "I wasn't going to read but I have a cou- By JOAN KROPF Dmecrat-Hrald Writer. Thursday night, they needed the patience of Job to get through that bookand the lengthy Psalms and Proverbs. They weren't sure they'd make it.

But by sun-up tly morning, the 20 people from the Free Methodist Church who are reading the entire Bible aloud In an attempt to establish a Gulnness-Book-of-World-Records record were whizzing through Ezekiel ahead of schedule. They had hoped to finish by Saturday noon, but at the current rate they'll be done by 4 or a.m. Saturday. The reading began at 7 p.m. Wednesday In the fellowship room of the church, 2815 S.

Pine St. Youth pastor Chuck Morris and his wife and 18 high school and college students have shared the reading chores in 15-mlnute turns. Morris talked softly this morning while the night watch Richard Edwards and Ben Jory slumbered on the fellowship room floor. Up front, Pam Foster read It 4 1 A. "Sparkling photography Friends of Lebanon woman celebrate her Wist year We will be closed Sun.

Dec. 31st Mon. Jan. 1st flilkiniiEimocrat-fe) Sears fromclllhoCirdrr.cn 928-0455 Albany Jack Bird Bill Goff Lebanon and Ray Garrett, of Woodbine, Kan. She has 10 grandchildren.

Her husband and one son died several years ago. After her 100th birthday In 1978, which also marked the city of Lebanon's centennial year, Mrs. Garrett was mar-, sha for the 1978 Lebanon Strawberry Festival's grand parade June 3. LE BAN ON-Friends of Mae Garrett, who will be 101 years old on New Year's Day, are Invited to greet her between the hours of 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday In the social rooms of the Villa Cascade Nursing Home, 350 S.

Eighth where Mrs. Garrett Is a resident. Mrs. Garrett was born on Jan. 1, 1678, In Central Point, W.Va.

She Is the mother of two sons, Meryle Garrett of Mark Jackson Dave Price uave rnce i Craig Price Jim Daniels GeneLayton Jerrv Severns 'i Rod Geil Tom Smith 2S3-311E jTo7-3a85 swesiHome Duane Keenan Charlie Kipper Larry Moore 753-6G01 5470 N.E. U.S. Mwy 20, Corvallis, Oregon 97730 Half way between Albany Corvallis on Hwy 20 1711 Sontljm Hwy, Ubnoit.