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.
Crowded, aging Riverfront Park playground will be upgraded in 2026
The city of Salem was just awarded a $770,000 grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to help make much needed upgrades to the 26-year-old playground at Riverfront Park. The new playground concept which evokes local Salem and Oregon wildlife, includes new special equipment, and a realignment of the park pathway that currently cuts through the playground area.
Marion County Sustainable Business Network to put on second sustainability summit
Marion County’s sustainability program, , formerly EARTHWise, is hosting a free gathering to help businesses become more environmentally friendly and cut costs at the Keizer Civic Center at 930 Chemawa Road from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27.
Salem’s new summer baseball team will be called the Marion Berries
Next summer, Salem is getting a collegiate baseball team which will play at a renovated Willamette University ballpark bordering Bush’s Pasture Park.
Punx in the Park brought thousands to Marion Square Park for punk rock and good times
Many of the adults supporting Punx in the Park are former street kids who said they want to provide the community with the resources they needed as teenagers taking care of themselves.
BUILDING SALEM: Grocery Outlet to breathe new life into vacant building in south Salem shopping center
Grocery Outlet will move into a freshly renovated storefront in the Southgate Shopping Center by spring of 2025, breathing new life into the area.
ODOT closes I-5 Commercial Street exit through Sept. 23 as freeway expansion gets underway
Traffic along a portion of I-5 in south Salem between Kuebler Boulevard and Southeast Delaney Road will shift for about two years as ODOT crews work on widening the road to three lanes. The change will make it so that traffic coming from Delaney Road merging onto I-5 will not be able to access Southeast Commercial Street.
UPDATED: Council approves plan on spending $10,000 for outreach on possible tax increase Monday
On Sept. 9, Salem city councilors voted in favor to allocate $10,000 from the general fund to pay for community outreach and education leading up to a possible tax increase on the May 2025 ballot.
At Xicha Fest, lowrider culture takes the spotlight
For the second year in a row, Xicha Brewing held a lowrider car show as part of its annual celebration of beer and culture.
REPORT: Salem police chased fleeing drivers far less in 2023
Police vehicular pursuit data for 2023 showed the vast majority of people leading police on car chases in Salem were men between the ages of 22 and 40. Police chases were typically initiated as a result of felony crimes, the report showed.
Speed limit on stretch of SE Commercial reduced to 35 mph
The speed limit on Southeast Commercial Street between Southeast Browning Avenue and Southeast Barnes Avenue will be reduced from 40 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour starting Sept. 9. The city of Salem said the reduction comes after community feedback and data showed that stretch of road is dangerous.