Outgoing county commissioner Janet Carlson has spent 16 years in office focused on helping people get a second change after coming out of jail. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Janet Carlson’s office is lined with a stack of plastic tubs, carefully labeled by topic. The outgoing Marion County commissioner describes it as[Read More…]
Rachel Alexander
Federal climate change report says more wildfires, droughts and extreme weather in store for Oregon
Outdoor recreation and Oregon’s natural beauty are already seeing effects from climate change, according to a new federal report. (Salem Reporter/File) Extreme weather, severe wildfires, winter storms and droughts will all become more common as the effects of climate change in Oregon accelerate, according to a federal climate science report[Read More…]
Salem-Keizer school officials want citizen opinion about boundary changes affecting thousands
Proposed changes to Salem-Keizer high school boundaries are being reviewed. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) A group of community volunteers and Salem-Keizer School District staff wants to hear from the community before finishing a proposal that would shift thousands of local students to new schools. Four community forums have been scheduled across[Read More…]
A day in the life of a Salem-Keizer school bus driver
Alan Booth checks his bus’ emergency exits before setting off to pick up his first student. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Just before 6 a.m., the Salem-Keizer School District’s south bus lot starts to wake up. Bus drivers trickled in, checking tire pressure and outside lights before heading off to pick up[Read More…]
Salem-Keizer board approves eminent domain to take St. Edward church land
St. Edward parish member Karen Scharosch urges the Salem-Keizer School Board not to pass a resolution authorizing the district to take church land. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) With the sole school board member representing Keizer abstaining, the Salem-Keizer School Board voted Tuesday to move ahead with forcing a growing Catholic parish[Read More…]
Marine-owned Vagabond Brewing gears up for weekend celebrating veterans
James Owens, a Marine Corps veteran and one of Vagabond Brewing’s first employees, drinks a can of Haze Yourself, the brewery’s Veterans Day release. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) At Vagabond Brewing, Nov. 10 is the most important day of the year. That is the day before Veterans Day, but for Salem[Read More…]
Woman lying on Highway 22 killed by multiple cars
Salem Police believe a woman hit and killed by two cars Saturday night was lying on Highway 22. The woman, who police identified Monday as Dallas resident Alexandria Tereshka, 27, died following the collision at 9:15 p.m. She was hit near the Wallace Road Northwest exit. Salem Police spokesman Lt.[Read More…]
2018 Crystal Apple awards recognize outstanding Salem-Keizer educators
2018 Crystal Apple Award winners pose following the awards ceremony on Nov. 1, 2018 (Courtesy/Salem-Keizer Education Foundation) The Salem-Keizer Education Foundation recognized twelve teachers, administrators and support staff with Crystal Apple awards Thursday evening. The foundation selected those staff from 61 nominations submitted by parents, students and fellow educators. The[Read More…]
At Battle Creek, Karin Moneke connects with students through reading
Karin Moneke, who teaches fourth and fifth grade at Battle Creek Elementary School, discusses children’s novel “On My Honor” with a group of students on Oct. 25, 2018 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Parents, students and colleagues nominated sixty-one Salem-Keizer educators for Crystal Apple Awards this year. The award, given annually by[Read More…]
Students keep busy during CTEC salon opening day
Cosmetology student Maria Gomez folds towels at the Career and Technical Education Center’s student-run salon. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) In their second year of cosmetology training, high school seniors at Salem-Keizer’s Career Technical Education Center get a chance to practice on real customers. The students spend one year learning the basics[Read More…]