Abbey McDonald
Senior Reporter Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022, where she covers homelessness and housing. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
Local filmmaker to screen documentary examining Holocaust remembrance
In his film “Monument,” Scotts Mills filmmaker Michael Turner visits the Hungarian town where his grandmother grew up before her family’s forced removal to Auschwitz. She later returned to build a memorial there. Salem Cinema will screen the film and host a Q&A with Turner and Willamette University Professor Ellen Eisenberg on Sunday, March 24.
To the constant sound of bombardment, Salem nurse helps hundreds in Gaza
Yvonne Groenhout, a volunteer emergency response nurse from Salem, has helped people in Chicago, Haiti and Ukraine. This winter in Gaza, she learned to tune out the sound of bombs to help patients.
EVENTS: Celebrate Cherry Blossom Day at the Capitol
This weekend in Salem, events include a concert under the cherry blossoms at the Oregon Capitol Mall, an outdoor wildlife class at the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge and “She’s Speaking LIVE.”
In tense meeting, South Central neighbors press school district to restrict open campus
After a shooting involving teens and an unrelated raid on a neighborhood home, Wednesday’s meeting of the South Central Association of Neighbors saw over 100 in attendance. Those gathered sought changes to South Salem High School policies.
Slow ambulance responses trigger possible city takeover
Fire Chief Mike Niblock said that the private ambulance service Falck has repeatedly failed to meet contract requirements. Falck asked councilors to dig deeper into the data before making a decision.
Stapleton to withdraw from council race to seek state House seat
Salem City Council President Virginia Stapleton plans to run for House District 21. If she wins the Democratic nomination, she’ll challenge Rep. Kevin Mannix for the seat representing north Salem.
Community prays, calls for action after Bush’s Pasture Park shooting
Pastors leading a vigil following the shooting of three teen boys in Bush's Pasture Park said they want to be part of the solution to gun violence and show Salem's young people they're not alone.
UPDATE: Salem City Council to seek grant for playground upgrades at Riverfront Park
During their meeting on Monday, March 11, the Salem City Council approved an application for a grant that would add features to the planned replacement playground at Riverfront Park, and moved a payment plan for repairs to the Sleepy Hollow water supply to a final vote.
“The kid died in my lap”: witnesses describe tragedy, mayhem as 3 shot in Bush’s Pasture Park
Neighbors were walking their dogs at Bush’s Pasture Park Thursday afternoon when they heard gunfire and screams. Witnesses who rushed to help said a young man died as they were checking his pulse.
EVENTS: Pickleball tournament, plays and poetry in Salem this weekend
Events this weekend in Salem include a dog show, several concerts to choose from and a community dance. Here's your guide to what's happening from March 7-10.