Rachel Alexander

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South Salem teen leads mobile shower project to serve homeless

Claire Adams, a senior at South Salem High School, is leading a United Way project to create a mobile shower trailer. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) When Ron Hays became CEO of Salem’s United Way, he wanted to do things differently.  In many communities, United Way chiefly grants funds to other non-profit organizations.[Read More…]

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Salem symphony association joins forces with Oregon Symphony

The Oregon Symphony, with conductor Carlos Kalmar, center, stands following a performance in Salem at Willamette University’s Smith Auditorium on March 18, 2016. (Courtesy/Oregon Symphony) A Salem organization formed 63 years ago to bring classical music concerts to Salem is joining forces with a much larger group: the Oregon Symphony.[Read More…]

Thousands of Salem-Keizer students would attend different schools under boundary change proposal

New high school boundaries proposed under a draft boundary adjustment plan. (Courtesy/Salem-Keizer School District) Thousands of local students could be affected by attendance boundary changes proposed for more than half of Salem-Keizer schools. The plan, which will take effect next year, would also shift the district’s “feeder system,” which determines[Read More…]

Gun sat unreported at Salem elementary school for hours

Chalk words of encouragement greeted students at Four Corners elementary the morning of Oct. 4, the day after a 10-year-old student brought a gun to school. (Courtesy/Salem-Keizer Public Schools) An unloaded handgun sat undetected Wednesday by school officials in a student backpack for hours at Four Corners Elementary School. A[Read More…]

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A dog, a volunteer and help for an ailing owner

Veternarian Nicole Hatch examines Wilson’s ears at a Sept. 25 appointment at VCA Keizer Veterinary Hospital. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) For patients in hospice care, pets can be a source of comfort and love during the final months of life. But taking care of them is often difficult, and many patients[Read More…]

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Willamette hospice program cares for four-legged family members

Wilson greets Willamette Valley Hospice volunteer Sharon Miller as vet assistant Rebecca Armstrong goes over the dog’s medication at an appointment Sept. 25 at VCA Keizer Veterinary Hospital. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) As Sharon Miller escorted Wilson to his medical appointment, it was hard to tell the pair had just met.[Read More…]

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Gilbert House Museum unveils new video production exhibit with help from Salem students

Sierra Langford, exhibit and facilities coordinator at the Gilbert House Children’s Museum, steps onto the stage in the new “Lights! Camera! Action!” exhibit, which opened this week. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Kids at the Gilbert House Children’s Museum can now step into a castle’s throne room or take a ride into[Read More…]