Saphara Harrell - Salem Reporter
New downtown gallery offers art — and a mental escape
Melanie Weston at Salem on the Edge gallery on Thursday, August 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Melanie Weston believes art can transport your brain to another place, especially during a time when grief weighs heavy on many people’s minds. “Every once…
A wrongful arrest, flirty texts to a victim triggers state probe of Marion County sheriff’s deputy
Marion County Sheriff’s Office. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Matthew Higgins, a one-time Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy, arrested the wrong person, sent “unprofessional and flirtatious” texts to a crime victim and had a relationship with a recruit deputy before he resigned…
A closer look at numbers springs Marion County from state watch list
Katrina Rothenberger, incident commander, sits for an interview in the COVID-19 incident command at the Marion County Health and Human Services office on Monday, July 13. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) [ NOTE: Salem Reporter is providing this information free as a…
Person shot after fight at northeast Salem park, police say
Flowers on display at Englewood Park following a shooting on Aug. 20 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) A person was shot in Englewood Park Thursday evening following a fight between two groups of young people, the Salem Police Department said Friday. Police…
Salem firefighters get 20,000 masks donated from South Korea
Salem’s sister city, Gimhae, South Korea, sent 20,000 masks to Salem. (Courtesy/ Gabe Benmoussa) [ NOTE: Salem Reporter is providing this information free as a community service. You can support dissemination by subscribing. ] The Salem Fire Department got a special…
Vice chair of West Salem Neighborhood Association resigns after derogatory Facebook comment investigated
Salem City Council Chambers. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) The vice chair of the West Salem Neighborhood Association resigned Monday after an ethics investigation said remarks he made about people protesting police brutality warranted a public apology. Mark Coutis, president of construction…
Salem artist explores childhood memories in new exhibit at Hallie Ford
“Meadow” by Bonnie Hull. (Courtesy/Hallie Ford Museum) Bonnie Hull is constantly drawing. The Salem artist prefers focusing her attention on a sketchbook or two she keeps in her purse rather than watching TV or sitting idly with friends. Hull will…
Marion County commissioners reject funding request for more election drop boxes
A stack of counted and signed ballot envelopes at the Marion County Elections Office on Tuesday, May 19. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Lately, Marion County Clerk Bill Burgess gets heartburn thinking about voters who wait until the week before Election Day…
Bulk of CARES money has gone to payroll reimbursement locally
Katrina Rothenberger, incident commander, holds up an activity log at the Marion County Health and Human Services COVID-19 incident command on Monday, July 13. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Before the pandemic, Susan McLauchlin supervised Marion County’s health promotion and prevention team. The team…
Goodwill loss prevention officer stabbed by alleged shoplifter
A Salem man is being charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a loss prevention officer at the west Salem Goodwill while trying to shoplift Friday morning. Sean Graham, 49, was stealing items from Goodwill and stabbed the store’s loss…