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Preliminary Post-Christmas Holiday Statistics Show Fewer Fatalities Than Last Year

State Police and other agencies are Preparing for New Year's Holiday Period

(SALEM, Ore.) - Traffic fatalities were down during this year's Christmas holiday period on Oregon highways. Oregon State Police, county sheriff departments, city police agencies and ODOT are preparing for the upcoming extended New Year's holiday weekend.

Preliminary information indicates between 6:00 PM, Friday, December 21st, and 11:59 PM, Tuesday, December 25th, two people were killed in two separate fatal traffic crashes over the 102-hour holiday period.

DHS Student Poster Calendar Illustrates Problem Gambling

Approximately 75,000 Oregonians have gambling related problems. It impacts children and families

(SALEM, Ore.) - Thousands of Oregonians will be admiring the artistic endeavors of a dozen middle school students during 2008 on an Oregon Department of Human Services color calendar designed to increase awareness of problem gambling.

Earlier this year the DHS Addictions and Mental Health Division sponsored its fifth annual middle school poster contest to help students learn more about the risks of gambling and to alert parents and educators that problem gambling can be a serious health issue.

Omnibus Spending Bill Includes More Than $360 Million Dollars for Oregon Projects

The spending measure will fund numerous Oregon projects ranging from agriculture, energy and water, to education and job training projects.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) have announced that more than $360 million was included for Oregon projects in the recently passed 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Bill (HR 2764).

Commonly referred to as the omnibus spending bill, HR.2764 - which passed both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives - includes 11 of the 12 regular appropriations measures that assign discretionary funding for each of the federal government’s agencies.

Deputies Hope Drivers Play it Safe Through New Year`s Eve

As we proceed towards New Year's Eve, Oregon Sheriffs ask that everyone act carefully and responsibly. Don't drink or drive at all.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Christmas is a time to share and celebrate with family and friends. But it is also a time for people to drink and drive which could result in unintended tragedies, according to Raul Ramirez with the Oregon State Sheriffs' Association.

Sheriff's offices across the state reported that between December 21st and December 25th, deputies arrested 76 motorists and charged them with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. There were 317 total arrests made during the Christmas Holiday which included 58 various felony charges.

Kansas Woman Critically Injured in Christmas Eve Crash Near Elsie, Oregon

Two people injured in crash on Highway 26 east of Elsie.

(ELSIE, Ore.) - Police say a Kansas woman was critically injured Christmas eve night when the car she was riding in lost control on black ice on Highway 26 about eleven miles east of Elsie and struck a tree.

Sergeant Andrew Merila with Oregon State Police says that just after 7:00 PM on Christmas eve, a 2000 BMW two-door convertible driven by 22-year old Lance Wong of Hillsboro, was westbound on Highway 26 near milepost 32 when it lost control on black ice, left the highway and struck a tree on the passenger side.

Is there Magic in Oregon`s Christmas Snow?

Christmas snow fell across much of Western Oregon and for some, it is a sign of better things to come.

(SALEM, Ore.) - What were the odds that the ground would be blanketed with snowflakes on Christmas day? Many Willamette Valley children awoke to see it floating down from the winter sky just in time to open their presents yesterday, what a special treat! Of all things that underscore the holiday tradition, snow certainly makes a winter holiday brighter.

You see, many people believe that a snowy Christmas morning is a good sign for the future, an indicator of better things to come. Some say it is "magic snow" and if there is magic, then it surely would be good for this troubled world we live in.

Winter Whale Watching Week Begins Today

Whales off the Oregon Coast sometimes come very close to the shoreline.

(DEPOE BAY, Ore.) - Whale Watching volunteers will be present at 28 sites in Oregon between Wednesday, December 26th and Tuesday, January 1st, from 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM, to show visitors the migrating gray whale population.

Experts say this is not the only time you can see the whales, but winter whale watching can be spectacular. About 18,000 gray whales will pass by in about 4 weeks, from mid-December to mid-January. The same locations are still great viewing spots.

Two Arrested in Salem After Car Chase

One of the suspects was bitten by a responding police dog.

(SALEM, Ore.) - A car chase led to the arrests of two men in the Salem area early Christmas day morning. It began at approximately 3:26 AM, when a patrol deputy named Jerry Wollenschlaeger attempted to stop a stolen vehicle at Glendale Ave/Lancaster Drive Ne in Salem.

Sgt. Jeff Wheeler with the Marion County Sheriff's Office, says the two occupants in the vehicle refused to stop. "An elude ensued and eventually the driver of the stolen vehicle lost control of the stolen vehicle and crashed into a US Postal Mailbox in the 4900 block of Buffalo Dr Se, Salem."

Cartoon Strip: Nota Bene by Leonardo No. 74 - The Red Nose Speaks

This is the seventy-fourth installment of the Salem-News.com original series "Nota Bene by Leonardo" by Salem cartoonist Glen Bledsoe.

(Earth 2-D) - So you were maybe expecting the next installment about the visitors from Zeta Reticuli? That story's not finished. They'll be back next week.

But it's Christmas and we'll want to do something a little seasonal if maybe a little tart. So I rummaged around the mulitverse browser until I found this little gem. You're going to either love or hate it or love it and hate it. You have to give it to the guy with the red nose. He calls 'em like he sees 'em.

Fire Displaces Six People in Keizer

In all, six people have been displaced from the fire.

(KEIZER, Ore.) - Firefighters in Keizer arriving at the scene of a structure fire at 12:54 AM say they saw heavy black smoke coming from the roof, and fire shooting out the front window at 4582 Verda Court NE. The fire was quickly spreading to the adjoining unit.

Fire Department Spokesman Joel Stein says an aggressive attack quickly knocked down the flames and firefighters entered both units to confirm all people were out. Firefighters then initiated search for numerous pets and were able to account for all but one cat that was later found deceased at 4582 Verda Court NE.