Sarah Chilcote organizes books in her Little Free Library on D Street in Northeast Salem (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Some want to help local kids get books. Others are in it to meet neighbors. Dozens of Salem homeowners have erected miniature libraries in their yards and parking strips, becoming part of[Read More…]
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Competing loyalties unite in support of Salem’s Boys and Girls Club
Kids and Benny the Beaver at the Boys & Girls Club of Salem-Marion and Polk Counties’ Civil War Dinner and Auction at the Salem Convention Center recently. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter) The Salem social scene has been hopping over the last three months and there are dozens of[Read More…]
Salem economy strong heading into the holidays, despite recent shakeup
People shop in downtown Salem. (File/Caleb Wolfe/Special to Salem Reporter) Oregon’s economy is strong heading into the holiday season, and Salem is no exception. Unemployment is at historic lows, wages are growing, and people have money to spend, a reversal from the recession a decade ago. These trends are carrying[Read More…]
A holiday tradition of trains at Capitol makes its final call
A model train display at the Oregon State Capitol is making its last appearance this holiday season. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) Sitting at the base of the 30-foot tall Noble fir in the Capitol is a remnant of Americana. An antique black American Flyer locomotive pulling several freight cars runs alongside[Read More…]
Uncategorized Police: Heart condition contributed to man’s death after struggle at Salem steakhouse
The deployment of a Taser and a fight with police led to the death of a man at a restaurant in Salem in late September, an autopsy revealed Allen James Pitts, 49, died after a struggle with Salem Police officers at the Best Little Roadhouse on 1145 Commercial St. S.E.[Read More…]
Uncategorized Salem homelessness costs city more than $5 million a year, report says
A homeless woman walks in front of a city of Salem public works vehicle during an eviction of a camp under the Marion Street Bridge in January. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) The city of Salem calculates that it spends about $5 million a year responding to homeless issues, according to a[Read More…]
Oregon’s economy remains strong heading into the holiday season
Jim Whitbeck, right, discusses a display Friday with Carolyn Brandt and Eric Lincolnat his business Blue Mountain Outfitters in La Grande. The business is going on 5 1/2 years of growth. (Ronald Bond/La Grande Observer) It’s a good time to be a holiday shopper in Oregon. Despite fears of a[Read More…]
Uncategorized Salem events: Thanksgiving 2019 edition
Thanksgiving has arrived. (Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons) Wednesday Capitol City Theater is hosting a free comedy show on Thanksgiving eve. The stand-up show will feature Portland comedians The Real Hyjinx, Adam Pasi and Wendy Weiss as well as Los Angeles comedian Joe Sinclitico. Email [email protected] to be put on the guest list.[Read More…]
Uncategorized Merkley talks to Salem teens about what adults can do better to prevent suicide
Students with Live to Tell, a student-led suicide prevention organization, meet with Senator Jeff Merkley at his Salem office on Nov. 25, 2019 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Eight Salem teenagers in suits and dress shirts sat around a table in a third-floor office in downtown Salem, tense as they discussed college[Read More…]
Oregon court rule draws the attention of the Trump administration
U.S. Attorney General William Barr (Wikimedia Commons photo) Oregon’s new court rule intended to curb immigration arrests in state courthouses has drawn the attention of two of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet officials and set up a potential legal conflict. As part of the Trump administration’s hardline immigration approach, U.S. Immigration[Read More…]
