A melted sign on Jennie Road in Mehama on Wednesday, September 9. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Two additional victims of the Beachie Creek Fire were identified Tuesday, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday. Justin Cook, 41, and Cathy Cook, 71, both of Lyons, were found dead in the 32000 block[Read More…]
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SPECIAL REPORT: A night in hell – Santiam Canyon’s ordeal
Firefighters and citizens, trapped in Detroit by the fast-spreading wildfire in the early morning hours Tuesday, Sept. 8, gather at the Mongold state park. National Guard helicopters couldn’t get to them but they later escaped to the north. (Photo courtesy of Laura Harris) After a day kayaking, retired teacher Scott[Read More…]
After students wait outside in smoky air, South Salem making changes to back-to-school event
The South Salem High School office in Sept. 1, 2020 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) When Alex Goldberg showed up at South Salem High School Monday to get a new Chromebook for her daughter, she found a line of students waiting outside in smoky air. It was around 3 p.m., and Goldberg[Read More…]
AROUND OREGON: Inequities in remote learning for marginalized students worry Bend-La Pine educators as school resumes
LA PINE — Only a half-hour’s drive from million-dollar mansions in west Bend, the Smith family lives in two RVs on a dry forested patch of land off of U.S. Highway 97 outside the rural town of La Pine. Children who live in both places deserve an equal shot at[Read More…]
Crews make progress on fire, but Salem expected to see smoke until at least later this week
Teams from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon National Guard staff a roadblock on Friday, Sept.11, to prevent unauthorized access to closed fire areas. (Marion County Sheriff’s Office photo) Smoke is expected to stay around the Salem area until later this week as a result of historic wildfires.[Read More…]
Keizer church steps up to provide aid, counseling to wildfire evacuees
Wheelbarrows were one of the unexpected items to arrive at the Keizer Church of Christ in a delivery from Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Efforts. (Keizertimes photo) In less than 48 hours, congregants of the Keizer Church of Christ turned their sanctuary into an arm of support for evacuees of[Read More…]
Thousands of Oregon families choose new online programs for school
Taryn Anderson’s oldest child, Jordyn, 13, doing distance learning in the spring. Distance learning at Taryn Anderson’s house last spring included her three kids, plus a niece and nephew. This fall, Anderson’s two youngest kids will attend EDGE, a new online program from the Salem-Keizer School District. (Courtesy/Taryn Anderson) As[Read More…]
FIRE UPDATE: Fire largely checked on west side, property owners can have police check canyon homes
Oregon Highway 22 will be closed until authorities can deal with burned trees along the Santiam Canyon as well as damaged guardrails and pavement. (Oregon Department of Transportation photo) Here is the latest information regarding the Beachie Creek Fire: FIRE CONDITIONS The fire grew little in the past 24 hours,[Read More…]
State fire marshal resigns hours after being put on leave, but officials are mum on why
A tree burns alongside Jennie Road in Mehama on Wednesday, September 9. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Jim Walker, the Oregon state fire marshal since 2014, resigned on Saturday, just hours after his bosses at the Oregon State Police put him on paid administrative leave. Superintendent Travis Hampton put Walker on leave[Read More…]
FIRE UPDATE: More victims found in Santiam Canyon; evacuation level reduced for some communities Saturday
Teams from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon National Guard staff a roadblock on Friday, Sept.11, to prevent unauthorized access to closed fire areas. (Marion County Sheriff’s Office photo) UPDATE 1 p.m. SATURDAY: Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast said the evacuation level was being reduced for several Marion[Read More…]