Posted: Sunday, November 16, 2008 12:00 am
S.H. man sues neighbors
The story: A 41-year-old Sweet Home man sued his neighbors, accusing them of spreading false information that he is a convicted sex offender. Richard Bryan Smith of Sweet Home shares the name and birthdate of a man living in Nevada who has been convicted of sex offenses against a child. The Sweet Home man filed suit June 4 against neighbors Ray and Tracy Kelly, alleging defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress and seeking $150,000. The Kellys' lawyer, Timothy Felling, filed an answer July 8, saying his clients did believe Smith was a sex offender but that they have not harassed or defamed him in the way he claims.
The latest: Felling filed paperwork Sept. 22 asking to withdraw from the case, saying the Kellys have decided not to retain his firm any longer. The case is on hold while they line up new representation.
Jennifer Moody
Mennonite Village expansion
The story: The Mennonite Village in Albany announced it was adding 47 residences to its 168-acre campus and broke ground for construction Sept. 8. The new residences, mostly duplexes, also include three stand-alone homes. Urlich Brothers Construction of Albany was contractor for the project, which will build homes through 2011. The project will bring the number of homes at the Mennonite Village to 305.
The latest: Everything is on schedule, according to Whitney Olsen of the Mennonite Village. Contractors have begun pouring foundations for duplexes and are hoping to complete as many as possible this month. Olsen said three homes have been sold and tours have been held almost non-stop since the announcement of the expansion.
Steve Lathrop
Murder case
The story: Christopher Gerald Weston, 28, was charged with murder after allegedly shooting a pregnant woman at his home in Lyons in November 2007. Investigators said Weston and the victim, Tanicia Kay Velasco, 23, of Salem, had been arguing about their relationship and Velasco's pregnancy when the shooting occurred.
The latest: Weston pleaded guilty in October in Linn County Circuit Court to second-degree manslaughter, a Measure 11
offense that carries a mandatory minimum term. He was sentenced to six years, three months in prison, and to three years of post-prison supervision. He is remains lodged at Wilsonville's Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, part of which serves as an intake center for the Oregon Department of Corrections.
Carrie Petersen
'Bunny Suicides'
The story: The mother of a 13-year-old Central Linn student confiscated a library book of macabre cartoon drawings, "The Book of Bunny Suicides," last month and filed a protest with the school district about its availability in the school library.
The latest: The district has appointed a review committee, which was scheduled to meet this week but had to reschedule. No date has yet been set. Superintendent Ed Curtis said the mother returned the book for review, and that the district also received 24 other copies of the book, along with $40, from people who had heard the story and wanted to donate. The money will go into the district's library fund, but no decision has been made about what to do with the extra copies, particularly if the committee decides the book should be removed.
Jennifer Moody