Carolyn Hanosek readies her bow for a shot during an archery demonstration at Chapman Hill Elementary School on Feb. 26, 2020 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Five students stood on a taped line in the Chapman Hill Elementary School gym, waiting for a whistle. Then, each student raised a bow, drew an[Read More…]
Rachel Alexander
West Salem stages post-apocalyptic interpretation of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
Mady Breitling as Lady Macbeth and Isaiah Lane as Macbeth in dress rehearsal for the West Salem High School theater production (Courtesy/Joe Gottsch) The witches’ cauldron is a five-gallon plastic bucket. Shields and axes are made in part with discarded license plates, and pieces of refuse litter the stage. Audience[Read More…]
Over objections from teachers, Salem-Keizer board approves $35 million spending plan
Heather Rutkowski, a 7th grade language arts teacher at Crossler Middle School, advocates for hiring more school counselors at a Feb. 25, 2020 school board meeting (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Local school board members decided Tuesday what they would do with a $35 million check from the state but teachers aren’t[Read More…]
Chemeketa board considers $11 per credit tuition increase to balance budget next year
Chemeketa Community College (File/Salem Reporter) The Chemeketa Community College Board of Education is considering a tuition increase that would raise the cost of a year of school for a full-time student by about $500. Board members will vote Wednesday evening on an increase of $11 per credit – a $4[Read More…]
Liberty, Division streets close March 2 for Salem Police Station construction
Downtown streets will be closed starting March 2, 2020 for street and traffic changes around the new Salem Police headquarters (Courtesy/City of Salem) Expect more traffic in downtown Salem starting Monday as the City of Salem finishes construction on the new downtown police station. Liberty Street Northeast will be closed[Read More…]
School board to vote on final $35 million spending plan for Salem-Keizer
Educators and parents packed a school board meeting Feb. 18, 2020 to speak about a $35 million Salem-Keizer schools spending plan. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) The Salem-Keizer School Board is expected to vote Tuesday night on a sweeping $35 million plan to hire 240 more employees, create new after school programs,[Read More…]
South Salem students can now earn college business credits through Oregon Tech partnership
South Salem High School sophomores Arnav Mohindra, left, Ali Kirk and Holly Kansky practice a DECA presentation in the school library on Feb. 20, 2020 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) South Salem High School students taking business and marketing classes can now earn college credit, potentially saving thousands of dollars. The school[Read More…]
As U.S. celebrates 100 years of women voting, Willamette professor chronicles how Oregon suffragists won the ballot
Cindy Richards, professor of civic communication and media at Willamette University, holds a copy of the 1909 Washington Women’s Cook Book, a publication from the state’s suffrage association (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) In 1872, at least four Oregon women attempted to vote in the U.S. presidential election as part of a[Read More…]
Salem-Keizer spending plan draws pushback from teachers, support from Latino parents
Educators and parents packed a school board meeting Feb. 18, 2020 to speak about a $35 million Salem-Keizer schools spending plan. Parent Angelica Lagos, right, approaches the podium. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Dozens of educators and parents waited for more than two hours Tuesday night to have their say on a[Read More…]
Meet the man behind the bubbles going in at the Gilbert House museum
Bill Charnholm talks about bubbles outside Gilbert House Children’s Museum on Feb. 17, 2020 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Bill Charnholm grew up building small towns with his Erector Set, then flying toy fighter jets over them. The 75-year-old giggles while recounting playing in his bedroom in Corvallis with one of the[Read More…]