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What’s making news in Salem you might have missed

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Good morning…

Just days after layoffs at schools were announced, the community gathered at the Salem Convention Center to honor school employees.

Western University of Health Sciences Lebanon Oregon

The annual Crystal Apple Awards ceremony has become a hot ticket in town. One reason is the red carpet treatment the nominees get, complete with cheering sections, signs and photography.

Photographer Laura Tesler produced a wonderful photo series from the event and Managing Editor Rachel Alexander pulled together the background on the winners.

A few readers questioned the cost. Given deep school budget cuts, they wondered how the Salem-Keizer School District could find money for a gala.

It didn’t. The event is hosted by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the McLaran Leadership Foundation. Tom Hoffert, the chamber’s chief executive officer, explains.

“It is managed like each of our events in partnership with our generous sponsors,” he wrote to us in an email Friday. “The district does not pay a ‘sponsorship fee’ or any monetary amount to either the Salem Chamber or the McLaran Foundation.  The event is 100% funded by the generosity of our sponsors and ticket sales.”

Meantime, officials have plans in place for a special ceremony in Salem on Memorial Day.

A public celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to noon on Monday at the Oregon World War II Memorial on the Capitol grounds. The memorial is near the intersection of Northeast Court and Cottage streets. The celebration is put on by the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and will be livestreamed on Facebook for those unable to attend.

Votes are still being counted to settle a couple of races for Salem City Council, but the mayor’s race is settled with Julie Hoy taking office in January.

Reporter Abbey McDonald caught up with the mayor-elect about her plans in office. Hoy explained how she’s getting prepped.

International politics will take the stage at Tuesday’s meeting of the Salem City Council. Reporter Joe Siess explains how Gaza got on the agenda.

Back to the school system for a moment, Rachel Alexander provides an early look at the impact of layoffs and job shuffles in local schools. Students and parents will see a lot of change in the fall.

Those living in rural east Salem will be paying more for police services. Reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian explains what the Marion County Board of Commissioners decided for funding patrols by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

He also explains a federal court ruling that is crucial in the prosecution of the DEA agent charged with criminally negligent homicide. Appellate judges said Sam Landis’s case belongs in federal court. The decision doesn’t give him immunity – it just allows him to pursue that.

And a couple of our columnists reported in last week. Jim Sellers has a caution related to Medicare calls and Hank Fuller calls out questionable bird guidebooks.

The Salem Soap Box Derby has returned to Salem, an event at Bush’s Pasture Park that draws inventive builders. Watch for our photo coverage on Monday.

Finally, we shared details on the Fourth of July fireworks at the state fairgrounds – one of our most-read pieces of the week. The item sparked lively discussion on our Facebook page.

As always, thank you for reading and feel free to reach out to me anytime at [email protected] with ideas, questions or concerns.

–Les Zaitz, CEO and editor, Salem Reporter

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Salem Reporter’s new team includes, from left, Les Zaitz, Rachel Alexander, Abbey McDonald, Ardeshir Tabrizian and Joe Siess. (LAURA TESLER/Special to Salem Reporter)


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