Joe Siess
Joe Siess is a reporter for Salem Reporter. Joe joined Salem Reporter in 2024 and primarily covers city and county government but loves surprises. Joe previously reported for the Redmond Spokesman, the Bulletin in Bend, Klamath Falls Herald and News and the Malheur Enterprise. He was born in Independence, MO, where the Oregon Trail officially starts, and grew up in the Kansas City area.
2024 TOP STORIES: Ghosts at the Grand, student occupation, RAM closure
Reporter Joe Siess shares his favorite Salem stories from 2024.
Radness Ensues provides a welcoming space to be on Christmas, and any other day
Radness Ensues, a new all-ages community center in Keizer, provides a warm, welcoming and unabashedly dinosaur themed space where anybody can come and feel safe and appreciated.
Salem’s “bagel lady” receives grant to grow home baking operation
Best Coast Bagels has grown from a pandemic hobby to a home business out of founder Lauren Fuhrman-Burch's home near Hopewell.
Marion County Commissioners extend contract for Brooks incinerator through June, increase garbage rates
Reworld Marion, the waste management company formerly known as Covanta will have until June 30, 2025, to dispose of leftover waste on site at its Brooks garbage incinerator as it continues the process of shuttering or selling the facility.
Avelo extends flight schedules out of Salem airport through Labor Day
Flights from Salem to Las Vegas will resume May 1, and flights to Burbank, California will continue through at least Labor Day, Avelo Airlines announced Tuesday.
Marion County gives nearly $750,000 for Hope Pregnancy Clinic to expand
A Salem clinic that helps pregnant women will expand to serve more clients with money from Marion County. The Hope Pregnancy Clinic says it helps women navigate pregnancy while sharing the “transformative message of Jesus.”
Avelo cancels Salem-Las Vegas flights, shifting to seasonal route
The company’s Thursday announcement comes weeks after a report to the city council on Nov. 25 showed the city’s first year of air service brought nearly $19 million into the regional economy through spending at restaurants, hotels and other venues.
Fire department on track for full staffing to take over ambulance service
Fire department officials have signed a contract with a private company to handle ambulance billing for the city. Salem will take over ambulance operations from private provider Falck next July.
Chamber, home builders association call for new committee to focus on city budget
A group of local business leaders are calling for the formation of a new committee to take a closer look at the city’s budget in an effort to identify waste and efficiencies. The desired effect of the committee is to verify the city’s current budget projections, creating transparency and increasing community trust.
Salem City Council extends hotel tax to fund tourism promotion
Monday’s council meeting was the final one for Mayor Chris Hoy and Councilors Virginia Stapleton, Trevor Phillips and Jose Gonzalez.