A roadside memorial for Alexandria Tereshka is along Oregon Highway 22, where she died in 2018. (Kate McMahon/Independent Lens (PBS) Alexandria Tereshka needed help. The 27-year-old from Dallas fought drug addictions that disrupted her life and earned her stays in jail. The criminal justice system in Oregon struggles with people like[Read More…]
Tag: SPECIAL REPORT
State to pour millions more into addiction treatment despite little proof it works
Oregon is poised to dramatically expand an addiction treatment system that already consumes millions of dollars each year with no clear results. Oregonians passed Measure 110 last fall to take drug users out of jails and put them into clinics. That could move thousands of people into a system already[Read More…]
SPECIAL REPORT: Haunted by fire, a Washington community heals together
A Methow Valley home in Washigton state is silhouetted against an eerie red sky as the Carlton Complex Fire burns in 2014. (Jack Kienast for the Methow Valley News) Susan Speir thought they’d have more time. When wildfires started spreading near Speir’s home in Washington’s Methow Valley on July 17,[Read More…]
Uncategorized ROAD TO RECOVERY: A ‘can do’ spirit emerges as Santiam Canyon residents face rebuilding
A view from a drone on Tuesday, Sept. 22, shows the damage in downtown Detroit. (Oregon Department of Transportation photo) [NOTE: This report is being provided free as a community service of Salem Reporter. Support such work with your subscription.] Jeff Chipman saw the U.S. flag through the smoke blanketing[Read More…]
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…]
Uncategorized SPECIAL REPORT: The region’s busiest ER is in Salem, facing more critical cases and climbing patient counts
Nancy Bee, nurse manager for the Salem Health emergency department, shows a treatment room for a less seriously ill patient. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) The sound system crackled to life in the busiest emergency room in the Northwest. “Code blue, three minutes, room seven,” came the announcement. An ambulance was about[Read More…]
Uncategorized 21 SECONDS: An arrest gone awry leads to mortal fight in a Salem thrift store
A handgun police said was used by Scott Spangler sits on the floor of the Goodwill store in west Salem on Wednesday, Sept. 18. A detective shot and killed Spangler as they fought and the detective saw the gun coming up at him. (Salem Police Department) NOTE: This story contains[Read More…]
Uncategorized Rebellious and tormented, she was a ‘heartbreaking’ challenge for Oregon’s strained system
Alexandria Tereshka in an undated photo provided by her family. Massah Morris leaned into the turn coming off the Marion Street Bridge and onto Highway 22 when something dark in the road loomed ahead. With no time to react, he ran over the object with his SUV at about 55[Read More…]
BREAKING THE SILENCE: Suicide prevention efforts in Oregon showing promise
Oregon’s suicide rate has been higher than the national average for the past three decades. More than 800 people killed themselves last year in Oregon. The problem affects everyone. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people, but 90 percent of Oregon’s suicides are by people older[Read More…]
Uncategorized For Salem police officer, stress proved too much and a career ends in handcuffs
Thayres, in red, volunteered as a cadet adviser while in Gulfport, Fla. Thayres was hired by Salem Police Department in 2014. (Courtesy of Seth Thayres) Once Salem police officer Seth Thayres handcuffed Daniel Jimenez Jr., he sat in the driver’s seat of his police cruiser and cranked the air conditioning.[Read More…]
