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Oregon Restaurant Owners Reminded Refrigeration Change Takes Effect January 1st

Oregon has more than 10,000 restaurants and 19,000 total food service establishments.

(SALEM) - Public health officials in the Oregon Department of Human Services are reminding restaurant owners of a new refrigeration requirement that reduces the risk of foodborne illness.

Starting Jan. 1st, restaurants must hold cold foods at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, said Eric Pippert, manager of the foodborne illness prevention program in the DHS Public Health Division.

Oregon adopted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration food safety standards in 2002 that reduced the holding temperature for cold foods from 45 F to 41 F.

Changes Coming to Oregon`s Child Support Program

Enrollment and participation information will be mailed to program customers beginning in January 2007.

(SALEM) - Attorney General Hardy Myers has announced that the state’s Child Support Program will require customers to receive payments through electronic means, eliminating the necessity of mailing paper checks.

By using the state’s Direct Deposit program or the U.S. Bank ReliaCard, the state is able to save significant printing and mailing costs while providing families safe, convenient access to their money.

Currently, participation in the Direct Deposit and ReliaCard programs is optional for child support customers.

Oregon State Hospital Seeks to Fix Nursing Shortage

Gov. Kulongoski and legislators are considering a 620-bed state hospital in the Portland-Salem area, a 360-bed hospital south of Linn County, and at least two 16-bed facilities east of the Cascades.

(SALEM) - A group of nursing professionals is advising the Oregon Department of Human Services on how to encourage more nursing students to prepare for psychiatric-nursing jobs at Oregon State Hospital, which is chronically short of nurses.

The workgroup is one of four that Bob Nikkel, DHS assistant director for addictions and mental health services, has named to help the state plan for a new state hospital and a strengthened community mental health system.

The Governor, meanwhile, is recommending increasing capacity in Oregon nursing education in his 2007-09 Hope and Opportunity Budget.

Salem Police Taking Extra Steps to Ensure Safe, Trouble Free New Year`s Eve

A number of area towing companies and taxis will be offering cheap alternatives to being a drunk driver. Get a ride.

(SALEM) - The Salem Police Department has taken a number of steps to ensure New Year's eve is safe and trouble free.

"We want to make sure that excessive revelry by a few will not ruin the celebration for other people," said Salem police spokesman Lt. Bill Kohlmeyer.

The department will have extra staffing on duty, focusing not only on calls for service but on visiting drinking establishments and large parties.

Police Still Seeking Metal Theft Victim

The Salem Police Department is asking local businesses to check their inventories to see if the stainless steel tubing and hinged lids came from their facilities

(SALEM) - Salem Police Detectives are asking for help in locating what they believe to be the victim of an extensive metal theft.

On 12-18-06 Salem Police Officers responded to a report of a suspicious activity at Cherry City Metals after an employee called about a suspicious attempted metal sale.

Officers ended up arresting 28-year-old Arturo Acosta-Velazquez of Salem and 26-year-old Ruben Reyes-Celaya, a transient, for the misdemeanor of Fail to Maintain Metal Purchase Records pursuant to ORS 165. 107.

At $2.69/Gallon, Oregon Gas Prices Continue to Rise

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in the Salem-area now stands at $2.69.

(SALEM) - As 2006 draws to a close, Oregon's statewide average gasoline price continues to rise --almost two cents in the past week -- and currently stands at $2.69.

That compares to the national average $2.34 per gallon, which is slightly more than three cents per gallon higher than one week ago.

According to a petroleum industry spokesman, Oregon's high pump prices can be attributed to problems at a major refinery in Washington's Puget Sound area.

Police Investigating Christmas Day Crash

Alcohol does not appear to be a factor at this time investigators said.

(SALEM) - On Monday, December 25th, shortly after midnight, Marion County Sheriff's Office Deputies responded to a reported single motor vehicle crash.

A Cold Journey Through the Afghanistan High Country to a Castle for Christmas

Nobody asked Santa for a castle for Christmas, but the tire tracks in the snow on the road leading there were a gift in themselves.

(KHYAR KHOT, Afghanistan) - I thought I knew what cold weather was, but Afghanistan has been teaching me a few lessons about what a white winter really is, and for the past three days my boots have been soaked completely through. That's what happens when you have to put tire chains on a military vehicle in fourteen inches of fresh powder.

Good Tidings From Salem-News.com

Editors note: The sharing of this poem is a gift, which we accept with much thanks to Hank. Happy holidays!

(SALEM) - Friends, Readers and All Others:

This year’s Christmas season is so fraught with dire possibility and definite debacles, on nearly every side, that reminiscence from the ‘70s brought out again a moving moment-then, from BCR, prior to her six-year illness with Alzheimer’s.

SO --with some small misgivings, but encouraged by the kind comments over some past months from so many of you, here’s Bea’s “70s Moment” to add its solid strength to your Holiday Season, whatever it may be --with Best Christmas Wishes from Op Eds/Salem-News:

A Christmas Lesson (VIDEO)

Artist Glen Bledsoe shares a memorable story of he and his brother, one Christmas back in time.

(SALEM) - This is the story of one of my first lessons as a teacher, thought I was too young to know it at the time.

When I was just a boy, I taught my youngest brother to write... with a little incentive using a letter to Santa.

It's one that has been told to my students for years, and now it's your turn.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.