By Salem Reporter
COLUMN: Wild turkeys, introduced as prey, settled in Oregon towns and thrived
Wild turkeys in the Salem area (Courtesy/Harry Fuller) Got wild turkeys? If so, they are the largest birds walking around your farm, garden or yard. They don’t fly unless forced. When chicks are born each spring, mother turkey stays down until all…
Farmers, business leaders celebrate Oregon agriculture
Oregon National FFA Officer candidate Josiah Cruikshank speaks at SAIF’s Harvest Celebration (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter) The Oregon Farm Bureau reports that 12% of all jobs in Oregon are connected to farming and ranching, and about 97% of…
Data digest: Covid by the numbers for Oct. 20, 2021
A screengrab of a chart showing the number of Covid-positive patients hospitalized in the region which includes Benton, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties. As Covid hospitalizations continue to decline, Salem Reporter will stop reporting case and hospitalization information…
Covid vaccines, boosters available starting Thursday at Salem Center
Starting Thursday, anyone can get a Covid vaccine for free at Salem Center. Salem Health is setting up a vaccine clinic which will be open Tuesdays through Fridays from 1-7 p.m. at the mall, 401 Center St. N.E., in downtown…
Oregon State Police retains most employees after vaccine mandate deadline
An Oregon State Police car (Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons). Most Oregon State Police employees covered under Gov. Kate Brown’s vaccine mandate were vaccinated or granted exceptions as of the Monday deadline. Of OSP’s 1,267 employees covered under the mandate, 78% were fully…
National parks nominee from Oregon pledges to ramp up workforce, improve staff morale
Charles Sams III of Oregon is slated to lead the National Park Service, including Crater Lake National Park. (National Park Service) President Joe Biden’s choice to lead the National Park Service told a U.S. Senate panel Tuesday he would work…
SALEM HISTORY: Readers quickly identify Salemites in “mystery” Elsinore photo
A no-longer- mystery photo from Willamette Heritage Center’s collections. (WHC X2021.006.0001) On Friday, Salem Reporter ran a column asking for reader help identifying the people in the above photo from Willamette Heritage Center’s collections. Readers were quick to respond, and…
Data digest: Covid by the numbers for Oct. 19, 2021
A screengrab of a chart showing the number of Covid-positive patients hospitalized in the region which includes Benton, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties. Salem Reporter is keeping you informed of the latest Covid numbers. Here’s our report for…
Salem’s biggest employers retained most staff after statewide Covid vaccine mandate took effect
Nurses Judy Webb, front, and Judy Barela work at a mobile vaccine clinic run by Salem Health at Chemeketa Community College on Sept. 27, 2021 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem employers reported no school bus routes went undriven and no medical…
State hospital superintendent defends pandemic record in response to outside complaints
Oregon State Hospital on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Oregon State Hospital’s superintendent acknowledged administrators’ handling of the Covid pandemic put more stress on staff and meant fewer treatment options for patients. In a letter sent Monday to…