Good morning………
A federal judge is siding with a DEA agent, ending any criminal proceedings in the death of a Salem cyclist.
At Salem Reporter, we performed our watchdog function for you over the past 18 months as authorities investigated the death of Marganne Allen. On behalf of readers like you, we held authorities accountable for how they did their work and then tracked court proceedings for months.
That effort took reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian to the federal courtroom in Eugene. As he reported recently, Sam Landis, the DEA agent whose driving caused Allen’s death, will get immunity from prosecution.
Now Allen’s husband is speaking out publicly for the first time since the collision on Southeast High Street in March 2023. Tabrizian reports on Mark Meleason’s thoughts.
Ardeshir also sat through the recent trial of a former Salem police officer accused of drunk driving. He reports on what evidence was presented and how the judge ruled.
In other court-related action, Managing Editor Rachel Alexander reports on what the Salem-Keizer School District is paying to settle a lawsuit. Two former students sought damages for what they said was misconduct by a teacher, which the district “expressly denied.”
While that legal fire was extinguished, firefighters faced real fires related to schools – a fire on a school bus carrying middle school students (nobody was hurt) and one at a baseball dugout at McKay High School.
Rachel Alexander also doubled back to check on a school superintendent who promised to give away part of her salary. She did, helping school groups and other nonprofits.
One of our most popular stories in recent days involved senior citizens and kids. Reporter Joe Siess watched as children in Head Start learned they were getting toy wooden trucks. Hundreds of trucks were crafted by residents at Salem’s Capital Manor.
In another act of charity, the local Salvation Army recently discovered a rare – and valuable – coin tossed into one of its kettles.
Another story that caused quite a stir was the account of a cougar spotted in Minto-Brown Island Park. City workers say they caught the cougar – on camera, anyway.
Reporter Madeleine Moore is planning regular reporting as state and county officials expand addiction care. She profiled a local couple who went through recovery and now help others.
“We don’t want them to fall. We want them to succeed. We’re here to lift them up and walk them forward,” one partner said.
Speaking of helping others, Salem’s warming shelters are geared up for another season. They provide refuge for those escaping freezing temperatures and reporter Abbey McDonald details when they are open and what they provide.
At the edge of town, crews got rid of the welcome sign at Broadway and River Road that kept getting clobbered. Ardeshir Tabrizian explains what’s ahead for the spot passed daily by thousands of motorists.
Several buildings in Salem now feature a special type of wood product made nearby in Lyons. As Tabrizian reports, “Executives of CD Redding, a Salem construction company, said Freres’ mass ply has provided them a more efficient alternative to concrete, steel and other wood products.”
In a blow to Salem’s economy, Wells Fargo announced the shutdown next year of one of its Salem operations. That takes more than 200 jobs. Our team went beyond reporting just numbers to dig into the impacts for the community.
You have a chance to help Salem by getting trained to help in disasters. Columnist Mark Wardell explains why you’re needed – and what the training involves.
Finally, we published our monthly guide to what’s on display in local galleries and museums. Why not visit just one this month that you haven’t been to before?
PHOTO OF THE WEEK:
A group of local preschoolers got to select a wooden truck on Thursday at the East Salem Community Center. (Joe Siess/Salem Reporter)
I’m always delighted to hear from readers. Send me your ideas, your questions, even your concerns or complaints. My direct email: [email protected].
Let’s go have a great week and do something helpful for the community.
– Les Zaitz, co-founder and editor, Salem Reporter
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