Tom Vanderhoof puts away the uniforms of a Civilian Conservation Corps member. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) Hundreds of uniforms hang neatly in clear plastic in the attic of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Marion Post 661. On an overcast day in early November, Tom Vanderhoof walks up the small staircase into[Read More…]
COMMUNITY
Thanks to a grant, local houses of worship will turn to the sun for electricity
Some Salem area worship centers will get solar panels thanks to a grant. (Courtesy/Portland General Electric) A group of Salem worship centers are about to become a lot greener. Temple Beth Sholom and Open Door Churches, a group of Methodist churches in the Salem area, are getting solar panels, thanks[Read More…]
Salem firefighter honored for going above and beyond in community service
Captain Willy Giddings was awarded the Gerry Frank Meritorious Achievement Award for his work teaching CPR to the community. (Courtesy/Salem Fire Department) At first, Willy Giddings thought he just wanted to be a firefighter. He saw his dad and two uncles respond to calls as volunteer firefighters, sometimes in his[Read More…]
Salem teens will talk mental health, suicide prevention at free daylong summit
Jewels VanVolkingburg of Central High School is blindfolded for a communication exercise during a small group session at ILEAD 2018. (Courtesy/City of Salem) Salem-area teens can spend a day learning about mental health and coping strategies as part of a city-county partnership to help young leaders better address community challenges.[Read More…]
Salem man injured in Interstate 5 semi truck crash could take months to recover
Two semi truck caught fire on Interstate 5 Tuesday, one driver faces months of recovery from burns he sustained in the crash. (Courtesy/Oregon State Police) While the fiery crash Tuesday between two semi trucks near Woodburn is expected to keep a lane of Interstate 5 closed through Wednesday night, a[Read More…]
Inmate awarded writing fellowship plans to create dramatic dialogue about prison dynamics
Sterling Cunio. (courtesy/PEN America) An Oregon State Penitentiary inmate is one of eight people recently awarded a PEN America Writing for Justice Fellowship, which commissions writers to create “written works of lasting merit that illuminate critical issues related to mass incarceration and catalyze public debate.” Sterling Cunio will write and[Read More…]
Senior residents’ pups to get fenced area thanks to nonprofit
Harold Batcheller and his dog Buddy. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) In a small corner behind a senior community in Northeast Salem, residents are preparing for a new addition – a fenced dog area. On Saturday, Fences for Fido, a Portland nonprofit organization that builds fences for free, is putting up a[Read More…]
Hops Alley among winners in downtown Salem alleyway naming
Names for Salem’s downtown alleyways were announced this week. (Anna CK Smith/ Salem Reporter) The results have been tallied. The new names of Salem’s downtown alleys are as follows: Electric Alley: Named after the Electric Building erected in 1917. Wexford Alley: Named after Wexford Theater which opened in 1910 and[Read More…]
Capital Park church steps up to shelter Salem homeless in winter
Capital Park Wesleyan Church will house about 50 homeless people on below freezing winter nights, becoming the fourth Salem church to join the warming center network. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) A fourth Salem church will shelter homeless people overnight during the winter months, adding space for about 50 more people to[Read More…]
Employee surprised with car at Salem KFC
Crystal Lachance won a new car on Tuesday thanks to a wish-granting initiative at KFC. (Courtesy/KFC) When Crystal Lachance showed her 9-year-old son her brand-new car on Tuesday, he told her: “My dreams are coming true and yours are too now.” For more than a year, La Chance walked an[Read More…]
