Salem Reporter’s Sunday newsletter
Good morning!
The evening was a moment for Salem to celebrate good people and good work.
The annual Crystal Apple Awards honor local school employees for exceptional work.
Dressing up is one part of the night. So is having a cheering section, with fans of school employees carrying signs, giving out hugs and celebrating each nominee.
At a time when so much news seems serious (and with good reason), it’s a delight to pause for good news.
Photographer Laura Tesler was there from start to finish.
We introduce you to the winners, from teachers to instructional assistants to counselors. You get on the red carpet and then inside the ceremony, where the sheer joy was evident.
This annual production is the work of folks at the Salem-Keizer School District, the McLaran Leadership Foundation and the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce.
And there will be celebrations of another kind in a couple of days – Election Day parties as candidates find out who goes into the winner’s circle. The team at Salem Reporter is preparing coverage once results start flowing from county clerks on Tuesday, May 19.
At this point, those who want to vote still should drop off ballots at designated drop sites or at the county clerk’s offices for Marion and Polk counties.
This has been an expensive campaign season, and reporter Joe Siess took a close look at the flow of money behind candidates for Salem mayor and city council.
A minor snafu has resulted in one tiny part of Salem needing to get an extra ballot.
And if you still want to vote – thousands of ballots remain outstanding. – you can turn to our election page to get briefed on the candidates. In what could be close races, your vote really does matter.
In local government reporting…
*Local fire agencies are giving out useful advice on Monday, May 18, to help us all be ready for wildfires. Remember, Salem has seen some major brush fires in residential areas in recent years, so this isn’t just for those who live in the woods.
*Marion County is setting up a new way to face a judge to plead your case if you get a ticket or face other citations. Night court sessions will begin in June.
*City officials need another $1.5 million for that retrofitting work of City Hall. Electrical wiring turns out not to be so good.
*One neighborhood association turned to poetry to report its activities. Catch up with this month’s round-up of Salem neighborhood reports.
In community news…
*The state is putting the brakes on the merger of Salem Health with the Stayton-based hospital and clinics. Reporter Hailey Cook continues her exclusive reporting on this vital community matter.
*Hailey also continues to track developments on plans for a new federal cemetery in the Salem area. She reports a community meet held by federal officials had its rough spots. At one point, a federal official warned the audience, “If we’re going to have a disruptive situation, we’ll end the meeting.” She followed up with a report of mounting official opposition locally to the cemetery plan.
*A big crowd turned out for the public memorial service for Roger Tofte, the creator of the beloved Enchanted Forest.
Finally….
Another big spring event in Salem is the annual Awesome 3000. We got curious what it takes to stage an event involving thousands of kids on the run. Senior reporter Abbey McDonald caught up with one organizer. As she reports: “Jodi Blackman, Awesome 3000’s lead organizer for United Way, spends months each year preparing for the youth fun run which raises thousands to support students, staff and teachers in the Salem-Keizer School District.”
We’re publishign an entertaining photo gallery of Saturday’s event.
Have thoughts about our reporting? A story we should do? A person we should profile? Or do you have questions about how we do our work? You’re welcome to send me an email – I read every one of them.
Email: [email protected]
–Les Zaitz, editor and owner
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Salem Reporter is preparing to ask tough questions about the education of 38,000 children in our local school system.
The $1 billion a year spent on Salem-Keizer schools each year is a mystery to many people. Where does that money go? What does it buy? What results is the community seeing?
That’s why we’re bringing on two nationally-recruited reporters in July. This week, we’ll announce who will form our new education reporting team.
This is a big deal for the community.
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