A Capitol Auto Group manager kisses a piglet as part of the dealership’s annual fundraising drive for United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley (Courtesy of Capitol Auto Group) Salem’s Capitol Auto Group has figured out one secret to raising money for charity: make your managers kiss a pig. The auto[Read More…]
Rachel Alexander
Center for Hope and Safety begins project to turn vacant Greyhound station into affordable apartments
Sen. Peter Courtney topples a wall at the former Greyhound station on Church Street in downtown Salem on April 1, 2019 (Courtesy/Center for Hope and Safety) With affordable housing scarce in Salem, the Center for Hope and Safety is looking to become a landlord. The center, a 46-year-old nonprofit serving[Read More…]
Two South Salem teams finalists in state workplace safety video competition
Bonn Wright heads outside to work in a South Salem High School video “70 and Counting” Donning safety glasses and lab coats, two South Salem video production teams earned finalist spots in a state workplace safety competition. Their videos are among five finalists in a video contest by the Oregon[Read More…]
Jessica Howard is “all in” as Chemeketa’s next president
Jessica Howard in her office at Portland Community College (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Most college students start their academic careers with an associate’s degree before moving on to more advanced education. But Jessica Howard isn’t most college students. The college administrator, who will become Chemeketa Community College’s 11th president on July[Read More…]
Marty Heyen seeks re-election to school board to represent parents in northeast Salem
Marty Heyen (Courtesy photo) Marty Heyen wants a second term advocating for parents on the Salem-Keizer School Board. First elected in 2015, the retired state IT worker represents zone two, the portion of northeast Salem including McKay High School. She’s seeking a second term to continue focusing on building the[Read More…]
Fresh out of high school, Raul Marquez wants to be a Latino voice on Salem-Keizer school board
Raul Marquez (Courtesy photo) As a senior at McKay High School, Raul Marquez was deeply involved in Salem, serving on the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley board and as student body president while interning at the state legislature. Now a freshman at Willamette University, Marquez seeks a seat on[Read More…]
Lee Elementary principal Don Hakala resigns
The principal of Lee Elementary School has resigned, shifting to a new school post to work one day a week until the end of the school year, according to Salem-Keizer School District officials. Principal Don Hakala’s last day at the school, located in southeast Salem, was Wednesday, March 20. He[Read More…]
Six candidates in the race for three Salem-Keizer School Board spots
A psychiatrist, electrician, university student and the business group executive are among the citizens seeking seats on the Salem-Keizer School Board. Filing for the May 21 election closed Thursday, and six candidates have put forward their names for three seats representing northeast and south Salem, and Keizer. School board positions[Read More…]
Sprague parent and electrician David Salinas seeks school board seat to focus on career education, mentorship
David Salinas (Courtesy photo) David Salinas grew up in a farm-working family in Jefferson and dropped out of high school before getting his GED and becoming an electrician. Now a parent of four Salem-Keizer students, Salinas is running for the school district’s board with a focus on supporting career and[Read More…]
Groundbreaking at North kicks off $70 million campus renovation to add new classrooms
North High School senior and student body president Kiara Ballard speaks at the school’s groundbreaking ceremony with vice president Ben Garcia, right. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Senior Kiara Ballard won’t be around to see North Salem High School’s renovations over the next 18 months. But the student body president said she’s[Read More…]