Sheriff’s office investigating crash that left one dead, another hospitalized

(Courtesy/Marion County Sheriff’s Office) The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal Monday night crash east of Salem. Shortly before 8 p.m. Monday, a 911 caller reported a vehicle had crashed into a pond near the intersection of Southeast…
Showers drag sewage into Willamette, Little Pudding rivers

A truck sends water flying while driving through water overflowing the road’s surface by Mill Creek. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) Heavy rain that started in the Salem area this weekend brought raw sewage into the Willamette and Little Pudding rivers. In…
Sprague students spread holiday cheer at Hoover Elementary

Hoover Elementary first grade students open gifts from Sprague High School students on Dec. 17, 2021 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) First graders at Hoover Elementary School vibrated with excitement as Gwen Duncan and Juliana Fuentes stepped into their classroom. “What. The.…
Salem saw most rain in almost a year Sunday

Playground equipment is engulfed in flowing water from Mill Creek near Turner Monday. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) Salem on Sunday saw the most rainfall it’s had since January as several Marion County roads are closed due to high water. The city…
COLUMN: Feathery togetherness helps birds survive winter

A brown pelican feeding frenzy (Courtesy/Albert Ryckman) Many birds flock. There are loners, but when you see wild birds, it is often the numbers, the group, the crowd, that impress you. Now, some parts of the Willamette Valley are a…
Find elves hidden in Riverfront Park

Elves are hidden around Riverfront Park for a scavenger hunt. A Christmas-themed scavenger hunt invites people to fund elves hidden in Riverfront Park. There are “Twelve Elves of Christmas” hidden around the park in an event organized by volunteers. People…
Free lunch available at 11 Salem-Keizer schools during winter break

Shelli Dehut passes out free lunches to students at Hoover Elementary School in March 2020 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Eleven local schools will offer free lunch and activity packets for students enrolled in the Salem-Keizer School District during winter break, which…
In response to Omicron, Willamette University moves large classes online for start of spring semester

Willamette University’s Salem campus (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Willamette University will move many of its classes online for the first two weeks of spring semester in hopes of limiting the spread of the Omicron variant once students return from winter break.…
PHOTOS: Children gather to meet Santa, make cookies

Hazel Judd, 3, of Salem, colors a plate to use for cookies for Santa at Salem’s Riverfront Carousel on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Jasper Roberts, 3, of Salem, picks out marshmallows for a hot cocoa mix during…
Governor, health experts brace Oregonians for a serious impact from Omicron by February

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown told Oregonians on Friday, Dec. 17, to expect a troubling surge with the Omicron variant of Covid. (Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle) In the past week, the Covid-19 outlook for Oregon shifted dramatically, with the state now…
