Milwaukie’s Public Works crews undertook a rescue of a unique sort last month when they teamed up with a resident to pull a handful of metal newspaper vending boxes from the Willamette River.
On his afternoon walk Mark Gamba, a resident of the City of Milwaukie and now newly-elected City Councilor, noticed a jumble of yellow Oregonian newspaper boxes that had been dumped into the Willamette River at the log dump turn-around near the Jefferson Street boat ramp.
He called the Milwaukie public works department and after city staff learned the Oregonian wanted them back but wouldn’t be able to get them out, the City decided to initiate the rescue operation.
“We’re putting a lot of energy into our riverfront,” Community Development Director Kenny Asher said. “We thought we should get the boxes out of there, and Mark was willing to help us.”
The Public Works crews met Mark on site, and Mark was able to assist the crews by diving into the water while in diving gear, and attaching a chain to the boxes. One by one the City’s crews were able to pull the 15 boxes up the face of the log dump wall.
The boxes are now safely at home with the Oregonian.
