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New Oregon State Police Recruits Begin Training Monday in Salem

The eleven recruits were hired to fill vacant trooper positions.

(SALEM) - The Oregon State Police will welcome 11 new recruit troopers hired to begin training on Monday.

This recruit training class will be the first OSP Recruit School to train at the new Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training facility in Salem.

Following the 16-week DPSST training, OSP recruits will receive four more weeks of OSP-provided training at the DPSST facility for a total of 24 weeks of training.

Looking to the future, Superintendent McLain emphasized that the Oregon State Police are stepping up recruitment and testing opportunities for applicants interested in a career with the department.

Kuebler Blvd On-Ramp Now Open After Accident Involving Big Rig

The on-ramp is now open.

(SALEM) - Salem Fire Department responded to motor vehicle accident at 8:48 AM on Friday.

The tractor-trailer vs. vehicle accident sent 3 Engines, a ladder truck and a Battalion Chief to the southbound ramp onto I-5 from Kuebler Blvd.

Salem firefighters used extrication tools to remove the doors to a Chevrolet Avalanche in order to get the driver out of the vehicle.

Man Arrested in Salem Church Theft

Several people, who were attending funeral services at the time, chased and caught the suspect outside and detained him until Sheriff's Deputies arrived.

(SALEM) - On Thursday at 7:40 PM, Marion County Sheriff's Office Deputies responded to a reported theft at the Salem First Methodist Church located at 4455 Silverton Road NE.

When Deputies arrived several adults were detaining Jason C. Retherford outside of the church.

Rutherford allegedly went into the church and took a purse and other items from a secure office area.

Legislative Leaders Announce Debut of The Oregon Channel Project

The project will cost approximately $150,000, and will be funded by savings in the legislative budget.

(SALEM) - Senate President Peter Courtney, House Speaker Karen Minnis and House Speaker‐elect Jeff Merkley have announced that a new pilot project called “The Oregon Channel” will hit the airwaves on Opening Day of the 2007 Session, Jan. 8th.

Programming will include unedited, gavel‐to‐gavel coverage of Senate and House floor sessions, committee hearings, Capitol news conferences, and other state government and public affairs events of statewide interest.

The Oregon Legislature joined forces with Oregon Public Broadcasting, Southern Oregon Public Television, the Oregon University System and the Oregon Public Affairs Network to create the pilot television channel.

West Coast Lawmakers Urge House And Senate to Fund Disaster Aid For Salmon Fishers

Early salmon run data indicate that the fishing season will likely remain closed for the 2007 season, reinforcing the need to pass disaster aid legislation.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - U.S. Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and several other representatives and Senators today introduced legislation in the House and Senate that would provide $60.4 million in disaster aid for the commercial salmon fishers and communities hard hit by the virtual closure of the coastal salmon fishing season.

They also sent a letter to House and Senate leadership requesting their assistance in getting the disaster aid via any legislative vehicle possible.

"There is no question that salmon fishers have suffered immensely from the widespread shutdown of this year's fishing season," DeFazio said.

Oregon Lawmaker Urges Swift Passage of Stem Cell Research Legislation

Under the current federal policy on human embryonic stem cell research, only stem cell lines derived before August 9th, 2001, are eligible for federally funded research.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - As a leader in the fight to expand stem cell research, Senator Gordon H. Smith (R-OR) called on the 110th Congress to swiftly pass legislation to expand the number of stem cell lines eligible for federally funded research.

Senator Smith is an original co-sponsor of the measure, which was introduced Thursday in the United States Senate.

“The start of another Congress affords us the opportunity to re-evaluate stem cell legislation outside of the political cloud of an election year,” said Senator Smith.

The legislation lifts the current restriction, allowing stem cell lines derived from excess embryos donated by in vitro fertilization facilities to be eligible for federally funded research.

Search Warrant Yields Drugs, Cash, False Social Security And Immigration Documents

The search warrant was the result of a three week drug investigation.

(SALEM) - The Polk County Inter-Agency Narcotics Team and the Salem Police Department Street Crimes Unit served a search warrant in the 3200 block of Edward Drive S.E. in Salem on Thursday.

At the residence, officers found two small children who were being babysat by 19-year-old Maria Michelena Delgado --one of which belonged to her and the other child belonging to her husband 34-year-old Miguel Santiago Hernandez.

Both children were taken into custody by DHS.

The following items were seized during the search warrant:

$14,000 in Cash

58.6 grams of Cocaine

9.1 grams of Methamphetamine

Drug Paraphernalia

Numerous false documents including Social Security Cards and Immigration documents.

Two vehicles were also seized during the warrant.

Polk County Sheriff Bob Wolfe said this is a excellent example of the collaborative effort from the different agencies that form the POINT Team as well as working with Salem police.

City of Newport Fined $61,533 For Repeated Illegal Discharges

In assessing the penalty amount, DEQ officials were particularly concerned by the city’s failure to take action to either prevent the discharges or promptly work to reduce or eliminate them once they began.

(SALEM) - The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has fined the city of Newport $61,533 for repeated illegal discharges of wastewater containing excessive amounts of the toxic chemical chlorine into Anderson Creek, which is a tributary of Big Creek and the Pacific Ocean.

The discharges, which occurred on 108 separate days between Dec. 22nd, 2005 and Sept. 12th, 2006, were of wastewater generated by washing out filters from the city’s drinking water treatment plant.

Discharges continued long after DEQ warned the city about the illegal discharges in a Feb. 27th, 2006 Pre-Enforcement Notice.

Woman Found Beaten in Salem Park

Police say a 32-year-old woman was severely beaten in a south Salem park Wednesday night.

(SALEM) - A 32-year-old Salem woman was found stumbling and without pants Wednesday evening in a south Salem park.

A couple walking about 7:00 PM in Woodmansee Park, located at 4600 Sunnyside Rd. SE, spotted the bleeding victim near the play ground equipment and called for help.

The woman had blood on her face and scratches on her legs.

Marion County Officials to be Sworn In Monday

The elections are a thing of the past and now it's time to get to work. Join the swearing-in ceremony Monday.

(SALEM) - The public is invited to attend a swearing-in ceremony for newly elected and re-elected Marion County public officials on Monday, January 8th, in the Senator Hearing Room of Courthouse Square located at 555 Court Street NE, Salem. The ceremony will begin at 9:00 AM.

Presiding Judge Paul Lipscomb will oversee the ceremony with the following officials taking the oath of office:
Janet Carlson, Commissioner;

Patti Milne, Commissioner;

Raul Ramirez, Sheriff;

Laurie Steele, Treasurer;

Richard Kreitzer, Assessor;

Janice Zyryanoff, Justice of the Peace.