Explosive charges demolish defunct Newberg paper mill
Thunderous explosion marks continued work to demolish and scrap the former newsprint fabrication plant.
On May 5, near noon, Newberg was rocked by a booming sound emanating from south of the city. Dogs barked, car alarms blared and social media sites were sent into a frenzy, but in the end it was just another indicator that a historic local landmark s days are numbered.
The manmade thunder, it was later revealed, came about when a contractor set off explosive charges in one of the buildings that made up the former WestRock paper mill sandwiched between Wynooski, 11th and River streets and the Willamette River. Community Development Director Doug Rux said the explosives were placed on the legs of one of the mill s tall tower buildings; when detonated, the building was destabilized and came crashing to the ground.
Yamhill County jail reports
March 28
Allan David Forster Rice, 37, of Dundee, was arrested for strangulation and fourth-degree assault. Bail was set at $15,000 and the case remains open.
March 30
Shane William Cooper, 31, of Newberg, was arrested on a parole sanction. No bail was set and the case is pending.
April 1
Dustin Jay Knutson, 41, of Newberg, was arrested for fourth-degree assault and harassment. Bail was set at $25,000 and the case remains open.
April 4
Ky Ramsey Schaad, 21, of Newberg, was arrested for reckless driving. He was booked and released; the case is pending.
April 6
Adrian Pereda Perez, 50, of Newberg, was arrested for fourth-degree assault and probation violation. No bail was set and he received an undisclosed sentence on the charge.
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Mill demolition underway
Demolition of Newberg s historic paper mill has begun.
Millions of pounds of steel, aluminum and other metals will be harvested from the site and sold as scrap as the company that purchased the facility begins the monumental task of disassembling the mill and freeing up the land for development.
Commercial Development Co. Inc., the St. Louis, Missouri-based company that purchased the mill from WestRock, began auctioning off heavy equipment, steam-generating machinery and other items last fall.
Demolition of the mill will continue until the site is cleared, then a subsidiary of the company will begin what is expected to be a heavy environmental cleanup before the land can be developed for alternative uses.