Category Marion & Polk County
Access to some county parks, roads in Santiam Canyon remains limited
Some county parks and roads in the Santiam Canyon damaged by wildfire will remain closed for repairs and hazard removal as the U.S. Forest Service recently reopened other spots in the area to the public. The areas of Salmon Falls, Bear Creek, North Fork, Niagra…
Marion County residents to vote on banning psilocybin facilities in November
Marion County residents will vote in November on whether to ban psilocybin manufacturing and service centers in unincorporated areas of the county. The Marion County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to adopt an ordinance that would refer to voters a measure banning the facilities.…
Union representing Marion County workers prevails in labor complaint against county
Marion County Courthouse. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) The union representing Marion County employees has prevailed in its unfair labor practice complaint against the county for refusing to allow employees to telecommute since July. On Friday, Oct. 29 the Employment Relations Board sided with the…
Marion County officials say they’re focused on vaccine outreach, not restrictions, as Covid cases surge
NOTE: Salem Reporter is providing this free to the community as a public service to keep residents informed. Please share and please subscribe to support this reporting. The Marion County Board of Commissioners doesn’t plan to consider additional measures to curb the spread of Covid in the community…
With school moving online, Polk County expands faster internet access to rural areas
Polk County Courthouse (Courtesy of Jolene Guzman/Polk Itemizer-Observer) Remote corners of Polk County will get improved internet access under a $1 million project that will allow more rural children to better connect to schools. The county is using a share of its federal pandemic funding…
AGENDA: Solid Waste Management Advisory Council to discuss upcoming legislative session
A Covanta Marion worker operates the claw that hoists trash into the incinerator.(Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) The Marion County Solid Waste Management Advisory Council will meet Tuesday, Jan. 28 to go over any legislation in the upcoming short session that might impact the county’s solid waste…
Marion County prepares a Plan B for handling local garbage
A Covanta Marion worker operates the claw that hoists trash into the incinerator. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Garbage truck after garbage truck wheels into a nondescript industrial area in Brooks every day, bringing heaps of trash to the Covanta Marion waste incinerator. Last year, trucks hauled…
AGENDA: Marion County to discuss church’s plan to turn land into housing
The Marion County’s Courthouse Square Building in downtown Salem. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) Whether a piece of church-owned property in the Four Corners neighborhood can become housing will be the subject of a public hearing Wednesday. Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church wants to…
Marion County to go to court over inmate’s lost eye
Marion County Courthouse (File/Salem Reporter) After inmate Billy Gostevskyh asked for days for help for pain in his already-damaged right eye, the Marion County Jail’s doctor advised him to see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. The next day, jail employees sent him to a…