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Willamina Mud Drags Results See B1

Wednesday July 2, 2025 | Volume 150, Issue 27

Salem man sentenced for ambush, attempted murder

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Fun in the Mud

By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

A Salem man was sentenced June 26 stemming from a 2023 incident that began with a traffic stop and ended in a shootout with law enforcement in Polk County. Jose Manuel Corral-Zavala, 22, was sentenced by Judge Monte S. Campbell to 63 ¾ years in prison for attempting to murder a Polk County deputy sheriff, firing upon multiple other law enforcement officers, causing the death of a criminal accomplice, and causing more than $190,000 of damage to a West Salem residence. After a three-day trial held last week in Polk County Circuit Court, Campbell found Corral-Zavala, of Salem, guilty of attempted aggravated murder, manslaughter in the second degree, assault in the first degree, nine counts of unlawful use of a weapon, assault on a public safety officer, criminal mischief in the second degree, attempting to elude a police officer, and 10 counts of reckless endangering. The incident began on Sept. 30, 2023, at approximately 1:30 a.m., when Corral-Zavala failed to obey a stop sign and led police on a highspeed chase down Highways 51 and 22. According to court documents, Corral-Zavala dumped his vehicle on the shoulder of Highway 22 and fled with a loaded Glock pistol into the dense brush on the hillside overlooking the roadway. As he observed law enforcement gathered to investigate his abandoned vehicle and begin their search for him, Corral-Zavala called to an associate who was in Independence to come to the location to pick him up so he could escape capture. Once he saw his ride arrive, CorralZavala began making his way down to the road, determined to get to the waiting get-away vehicle and avoid being taken into custody by any means necessary. In this case, it meant firing at the group of Salem police officers and Polk County Sheriff’s Deputies standing just a few hundred feet away. Closest to Corral-Zavala was Deputy Michael Smith who stood approximately 20 feet from him. Smith, completely exposed, was wounded and had no choice but to engage and return fire in self-defense. Corral Zavala continued to shoot at Smith and the other officers as he ran across all lanes of the highway to the waiting vehicle. However, the driver, who CorralZavala had called to the scene of his ambush had been struck by a bullet in the cross-fire and later died. Corral-Zavala then manipulated the still running vehicle from the passenger side a short distance before crashing it directly into the front of a private residence in which the homeowners had been sleeping. They were, fortunately, unhurt. See SALEM PAGE A2

Dallas Police Chief retires

Tom Simpson

PHOTO BY SMY PHOTOGRAPHY

Jeff Lockwood kicks up the dirt as he races down the track to a first place finish at the Willamina Mud Drags Saturday. For more results and photos, see page B1.

Californian discovers family link in Polk County By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

Many have tried to discover who they are today by searching for a link to the past of who their family was. For Carrie Zeidman, a 10th generation Californian, the search uncovered a link to some pioneer families in the Pacific Northwest and Polk County. Zeidman’s great grandmother was adopted and her mother always wanted to know who her grandmother’s biological family was. “We researched for years and couldn’t find any information on where she came from. When DNA became an option, I used it to discover who her biological parents were. From there I was able to build out a family tree,” Zeidman said. With a background in genealogy and historical research, it actually was not too difficult to find details and stories about the family. That is how she discovered the Dickson and Cooper lines from Oregon. “Once I found out all I could online, I decided to travel to Oregon and see where they lived, visit their graves, and see if I could find any information on why they kept 10 children but gave Naomia (child No. 7) to Michael and Laura Barne,” Zeidman said. As the trail grew hotter, her excitement grew more palpable. “What was exciting was meeting Cecelia Baker, a cousin in the Dickson/Cooper line. She showed up on Ancestry as a cousin and that connection was helpful in discovering Naomia’s birth family,” Zeidman said. “We had talked on the phone and by email but had not met in person until the day we met in Independence.”

IN THIS ISSUE Voices Corrections Obituaries Puzzle Solutions Social Public Records Classifieds Puzzles

A4 A4 A4 B2 B2 B6 B4 A6

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Carrie Zeidman’s search of her family’s history led to a grave of Leonard Lemuel Williams and Martha Emily Burbank Williams in a farmer’s field outside Salem. Her journey to the Pacific Northwest in April took her from Independence to The Dalles to Portland. They met with Amy Christianson and Delaina Soboloki at the

Independence Heritage Museum and they were able to give them quite a bit of information about the See FAMILY, page A4

By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

For the first time in 38 years, the city of Dallas will have a new police chief. After Tom Simpson says his farewells this week, after Deputy Chief Jerry Mott is sworn in as the new chief, Simpson hits the road for his new life in Georgia with wife Betty as a civilian, leaving his 40-year career in law enforcement in the rearview mirror. Before he hit the road, Simpson reflected on his career and years he called Dallas his home. He’d seen a small town grow from a population of 9,600 in 1987 to more than 17,500 today. He’d seen such highs as the Dallas Police Department earn its state accreditation. He’s seen the lows of being unable to get the voters to approve a new building for his growing force. After a legacy he feels is in good hands with current leadership, both within the department and within the city and community, Simpson said he felt now was the right time to explore life in retirement. “It was a joint decision. Betty retired a couple months ago from the library. So, it was the right time in life to move to the next stage,” Simpson said. He shared how the journey actually began, with a very different vision for his career in law enforcement. Growing up, he always wanted to be a state trooper. But a funny thing happened during his four decades in law enforcement – he never made it. “I remember growing up, that’s what I wanted to do. I don’t know where it came from,” Simpson said of his fascination with law enforcement. “I was an Army brat, raised in an environment where structure was important and good, and was used to it. I looked at law enforcement as something that intrigued me.” So, he and a high school buddy in Kentucky decided to be state troopers. But the state had an age restriction. Not yet 21, Simpson learned recruits could join early if they were veterans. So, he signed up first for the Air Force, and after serving out (most) of his 4-year hitch, he See CHIEF PAGE A2

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