Bennett remembered for puppets and humor
About 20 people turned out for the Saturday afternoon memorial service honoring Bennett Tanner, whom they believe was the man found burned above Lithia Park two weeks ago.
Ashland Police Department has ruled out all but one possible identity, but a positive identification still has not been made, said Deputy Chief Rich Walsh. The site where the body had been found also contained sock-puppets. Tanner was known throughout the Ashland community for his sock-puppet shows.
"Whether it was Bennett or not, Bennett just got a memorial service," said Daniel Rueff, a local homeless advocate who painted a cross white, gathered madrone berries and placed yellow roses at the memorial site, which is just above the area where the body was discovered.
Former Ashland Police Chief Mike Bianca attended the memorial and played a Native American flute during the service. Komac, also a local homeless advocate, wrote a song and played it on his guitar. City councilors Cate Hartzell and Eric Navickas attended the service, as did several of Bennett's friends.
Someone brought radio recordings of Tanner's comedy routines.
"I had no idea he was so funny," said Rueff. "There was a lot of laughter mixed in with tears Saturday."
Navickas said he attended Tanners's memorial service to show his support for the homeless community.
"I always appreciated his comedy routines downtown," he said, adding that Tanner was incredibly witty. "I am really saddened by the tragic way he died and that he'll no longer be a part of our community."
Navickas said Ashland has been negligent in not addressing the serious problem of the homeless not having safe places to sleep.
Although police said it is unrelated to the recovered body, they have also cited several people for prohibited camping in the city limits in the last few weeks.
"I'm starting to see a trend where people are noticing and reporting it more," Walsh said. "We've been getting a lot of complaints about transients sleeping in various places."
It is illegal to sleep on public land anywhere in the city, as well as camping in the watershed, Walsh said.
Medical examiners with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office are still working on toxicology reports to determine the cause and time of death. The death appeared to be caused by a fire that got out of control, according to autopsy results. Authorities say the report revealed no signs of foul play.
Reach reporter Michele Mihalovich at 482-3456 x226 or mmihalovich@dailytidings.com.
