Our roundup of Salem news you might have missed
Good morning….
The train broke.
A coupler that links rail cars dropped off as a train moved through Salem on Saturday afternoon. That left a few blocks of 12th Street downtown blocked about 1 p.m.
We’re not sure what the equivalent of AAA is for trains, but crews had repairs done and the train got moving just before 6 p.m.
And the reports of owls swooping over people in the area of Bush’s Pasture Park has triggered a lot of chatter.
Our bird authority, Harry Fuller, explained the difference between barred and great horned owls.
Authorities revealed information in recent days about two major police actions.
In one, police arrested a Salem man for murder. He was accused of killing a 15-year-old boy whose body was found in a parked vehicle in Salem last November.
In another, a grand jury cleared three police officers in the fatal shooting of a south Salem man who sought to have police shoot him. As reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian said in his story, records and photographs recount a chaotic scene with the man carrying two guns on a city street. He was shot after he pointed one at police, authorities said.
Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson publicly released videos of the scene. Salem Reporter elected not to share those for their graphic content.
In related news, Managing Editor Rachel Alexander continues our deep reporting on gun violence in Salem. She explored how some Salem leaders are reacting to the latest city report on the topic. They have concerns.
Reporter Abbey McDonald previews Monday’s meeting of the Salem City Council. Key on the agenda: Setting the city’s goals for the year ahead.
And the year ahead is also going to bring Salem residents and businesses higher costs for electricity and other utilities.
On the state level, auditors had harsh criticism for how state government handled emergency housing help during the pandemic.
And the state Republican apparatus is gearing up for the 2024 election. Party leaders explained how delegates will be awarded to those running for president.
ABOUT OUR TOWN HALL
Our team is continuing to prepare for the Town Hall on Gun Violence, and we hope you attend.
The event is at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, at the Elsinore Theatre. You can get free tickets online. Tickets are necessary so theater managers know how many people to expect.
We have two key goals.
One is to give the community solid information about gun violence in the community – what the trends are, where it’s happening, who’s responsible.
A second goal is to zero in on actions and solutions. Our expert panelists are being asked to each present just one step that any citizen can take to help.
We’re working to get out the word, and we’d like to find a local nonprofit group that could help distribute fliers, particularly in northeast Salem. Salem Reporter will provide a stipend. Interested? Email me: [email protected].
This event is just really the start of the community conversation. Learn more about the Town Hall in my Editor’s Note from a few days ago.
ABOUT OUR WORK….
At Salem Reporter, we work continually to refine our reporting to deliver news and information that truly matters to the community.
Not everything is a big story or big headline. But we’re delivering the sort of information that helps you know your town better, to be aware of where you can plug in.
Each week, for instance, we give you highlights about local entertainment. We share details on music concerts, community festivals, local plays and more – times, places, cost.
Every month, we put out a guide to local art galleries, a universe well worth exploring. We tell you what’s being exhibited and where. In most instances, these are family-friendly shows that open a new world for children.
And then we share what’s happening in neighborhood associations. This is truly grassroots government, where neighbors sit together to chew over local issues. Every association in Salem is invited to submit a report for this special production. Associations that want to get in can reach out to Rachel Alexander ([email protected])
None of this is going to win us a Pulitzer Prize, but this is the type of day-to-day information so hard to come by anymore. We feel a deep obligation to you to round it up and deliver.
YOU CAN HELP.
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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