Category Community

Marion County declares state of emergency due to spreading wildfires
Smoke on Commercial Street Monday evening as wildfires burned in east Salem. (Ron Cooper/Special to Salem Reporter) The Marion County Board of Commissioners declared a state of emergency Tuesday as wildfires ripped through the eastern part of the county. “The fire tore down the Santiam…

Salem extends helping hand to an overlooked community disproportionately affected by the pandemic
Jerron Love helps load a produce box into a car on Friday, Sept. 4. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) Jackie Leung and Sandra Wells stood outside Peoples Church in northeast Salem Friday morning, helping distribute food to community members in need, specifically those from Salem’s Pacific Islander…

Just in the time for the election, Salem City Club to hold “Informed Voter Series”
The Salem City Club holding one of its programs meant to educate the public. The civic-engagement nonprofit has moved online for its fall programming. (Courtesy/Salem City Club) With the 2020 election entering its final stretch, the Salem City Club has announced the launch of its…

Share your opinion about what kids are getting from Salem schools
As the new school year approaches, Salem Reporter wants to know what parents are thinking about their children’s education. The pandemic has upended education since March, when Oregon schools were shut down. The Salem-Keizer School District switched to distance learning, an effort to keep schooling…

Salem postal workers rally against funding cuts, service delays
Letter carrier Valerie Castillo, right, joins a small group holds up signs during a Save the Post Office rally outside of Pringle Park on Tuesday, August 25.(Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Longtime letter carriers, union workers and concerned citizens gathered outside Salem’s Pringle Park Plaza Post Office…

Injured vet gets keys to new Salem home, designed to make his life easier
Frank Wasson III, his wife Brooke, daughter Brielle and sons Jackson and Drayson listen to presentations during the ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 22, turning over to them keys to a new home in West Salem. Homes For Our Troops raised the money and organized construction.…

Hospice plans luminaria tribute to Oregonians who have died from Covid
The Willamette Queen Sternwheeler lit up with luminaria on Aug. 17. Willamette Valley Hospice is filming the boat for a September event commemorating Oregonians who have died of Covid (Courtesy/Willamette Valley Hospice) [ NOTE: Salem Reporter is providing this information free as a community service.…

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 peruse her drawing books and…

Video submissions will replace live performances at yearly cultural celebration
Staff from the Coquille tribe interacts with a Capitol visitor at their booth. Four tribes have chosen to participate in Multicultural Day Reimagined by providing videos to share at this year’s event. (Courtesy/Capitol History Gateway) In a different time, the Capitol would be bustling this…

