Saphara Harrell - Salem Reporter
Hospice volunteer sees the positive in the face of Covid precautions
Holly Colliers, a hospice volunteer, stands on the porch of her Salem home on Thursday, Dec. 10. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) With the pandemic taking hold in Oregon, Holly Collier began donning bulky personal protective gear before caring for patients through…
As Salem looks to address vulnerabilities brought on by climate change, state releases grim report
Situated on an island in the middle of the North Santiam River near Stayton, the Geren Island Water Treatment Facility faces unprecedented challenges in providing clean water to Salem users. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) As Salem enters the preliminary stages of…
Hoping athletes will have a chance to compete, Oregon shifts school sports schedule later in the year
Gibson Hanowell, left, and Leo Elkington, right, warm up during a cross country practice in Bush’s Pasture Park in early August. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) Salem’s young runners, football, volleyball and soccer players can begin practicing in February, but school athletes…
After two levy failures, Marion County Fire District 1 will lay off a dozen staff, close stations
Marion County Fire District 1. (Courtesy/Marion County Fire District 1) Residents served by Marion County Fire District No. 1 will have to wait longer for fire and emergency response and will see less firefighters show up to calls after two…
Housing Authority’s navigator acts as a bridge, connecting people on the street to help
Betty Jordan is the Salem Housing Authority’s new navigator, helping bridge a needed service gap. (Courtesy/ Betty Jordan) Betty Jordan spends her days driving around Salem looking for people living in camps. She recently came across a woman living in…
Community shocked and saddened by sudden death of Selma Pierce
Selma Pierce died after she was struck by a car Tuesday evening. (Courtesy of Selma Pierce) The Salem community was stunned Tuesday evening upon learning of the death of Selma Pierce, a retired dentist and politician known for her community…
Where do you see Salem in 30 years? Salem’s climate task force wants to know
A tree in Minto-Brown Island Park on a foggy morning. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) Salem wants to know how you think the city should adapt for climate change in the next 30 years as it embarks on a yearlong process to…
Salem folk band singer finishes strong in national songwriting competition
Kristen Grainger and Dan Wetzel, the core members of folk and bluegrass quartet Kristen Grainger & True North, have had plenty of time to rehearse at home since the Covid-19 outbreak. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) Kristen Grainger likens songwriting to making…
To alleviate loneliness, Salem’s senior center offers monthly activity boxes with a little whimsy
Center 50+, a city-run senior center, closed on Monday, March 16 and starting offering drive-up meals for seniors. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) In the spring, Heidi Miller had an idea percolating in her mind as seniors living in care facilities were…
More affordable housing is on the way after Salem City Council approves church property conversion
DevNW is hoping to turn Evergreen Church into 19 units of affordable housing. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) A former church in a downtown Salem neighborhood will be remodeled into apartments after action by the Salem City Council Monday that won’t please…