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Marion Courthouse Plunger Gets 16 Years for Courthouse Rampage

The man who drove his pickup through the courthouse and started fires inside pled guilty to 13 counts.

(SALEM) - A man who went on a full rampage through the Marion County Courthouse last year lighting fires and threatening police will spend the next several years in Oregon's penal system.

38-year old Christopher Lee Millis of Keizer crashed his pickup into the Marion County Courthouse last year and set fires inside that would lead to the eventual total restoration of the county building built originally in the 1950's.

Salem Police Identify Woman Who Was Burned Under Salem Bridge Tuesday

20-year-old June “Candy” Kell died by homicidal violence.

(SALEM) - The State Medical Examiner and Salem police have identified the woman who was burned to death early Tuesday morning as 20-year-old June “Candy” Kell.

At approximately 1:00 AM, Tuesday, a Salem Police Patrol Officer saw smoke coming from underneath the bridge near the 500 block of 13th St. SE.

The officer investigated and discovered a body burning.

Be Aware! Highway 99 West Closed at Marys River Bridge Near Corvallis

Depending on the scope of the damage, and the availability of specialty bridge repair contractors, the bridge could remain closed to traffic for several weeks.

(CORVALLIS) - A truck hauling a forklift on a trailer struck the overhead cross members of the Marys River Bridge on Highway 99W Wednesday morning, forcing the Oregon Department of Transportation to close the bridge until further notice.

The damage to the bridge, at mile point 84.5, occurred just before 10:30 AM when the northbound truck and trailer hit the first three cross beams, , denting the first two and tearing completely through the third beam.

The resulting damage may have made the bridge structure unstable. ODOT bridge engineers are enroute to the bridge to inspect and assess the damage. It is likely the bridge will remain closed for the remainder of the day.

Salem Hospital Foundation Awards 89 Scholarships

Awardees are from the following locations: Aumsville, Dallas, Detroit, Hillsboro, Independence, Keizer, McMinnville, Monmouth, Newberg, Salem, Silverton, Stayton, Sublimity, Woodburn, and Yamhill.

(SALEM) - The Salem Hospital Foundation announced that 89 students in medical or medically related fields will be receiving scholarships for the 2006-2007 school year.

A total of $111,000 in scholarships was awarded to students pursuing degrees in nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, and a variety of other medically related programs.

The Foundation's scholarship program began in 1968.

Salmon License Plate Sales Register Slight Gain in Past Year

Funds used for stream and state park projects.

(SALEM) - Sales of salmon license plates increased slightly during the past fiscal year providing $648,000 for water quality and stream improvements along roadsides and in state parks to support healthy salmon populations.

During the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2006, plate sales increased nearly three percent from the prior year to 20,900, reflecting slight increases in both new plate sales of 4,084 and renewals of 16,816.

"We are particularly pleased that during the past six years, plate renewals have been consistently strong," said Tom Byler, executive director of the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.

Medicaid Applicants to be Asked For Citizenship Documents Beginning Friday

Approximately 500,000 people receive Medicaid health care, long-term care and family-planning benefits in Oregon. Federal estimates put the number of ineligible non-citizens illegally receiving Medicaid benefits in Oregon at up to 350.

(SALEM) - Beginning Friday, state workers will ask people applying or re-applying for most Medicaid benefits to provide evidence of citizenship or legal immigration status in compliance with a new federal law aimed at keeping ineligible non-citizens off Medicaid rolls.

Individuals not currently enrolled in Medicaid programs will be expected to provide required documents before they may begin receiving benefits, and those re-enrolling will be given a reasonable period of time to produce documents before losing benefits.

Peaceful Defenders Louder Than Unwelcome Hate Group (VIDEO)

Hood River came out to support the family of a war hero and to make sure the hate group stayed in line.

(HOOD RIVER) - Hood River may not always be the quietest place in Oregon. It is a popular recreational area with plenty of boats on the water, and it is the place where Navy SEAL Marc Lee grew up. It’s also the place where Marc's Memorial was held Saturday, following his recent death in Iraq.

But a different kind of noise was in the air, it’s the last noise these people who came to say goodbye to a hero, wanted to hear.

A hate group from Kansas that disrupts military funerals drug American flags on the ground, carried anti-American and anti-gay signs, and did their best to harass people. None of the veteran’s whose funerals they picket were selected because they were gay.

This story was originally published on Salem-news.com August 27th 2006 at 10:49 AM.

Smoke From Fires in Cascades May Cause Potential Health Impacts in Northeastern Oregon

“When wildfire smoke gets to unhealthy for sensitive group levels, children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions should take measures to limit their outdoor activities,” - DEQ Air Quality Manager, Linda Hayes-Gorman.

(PENDLETON) - Wildfire smoke concentrations in Enterprise, La Grande, Baker City, Pendleton and adjacent areas of Northeastern Oregon from fires in the Cascades eastward reached the moderate level today, just outside the “good” category, on the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Wildfire Air Quality Rating Scale (WAQR).

DEQ reminds area residents – especially those individuals who may be sensitive to smoke – that there are precautions they can take to mitigate breathing problems or other symptoms from smoke.

Additionally, there are helpful Web-related tools available that may help individuals determine when to take protective measures.

Governor Urges Emergency Preparedness With Katrina Anniversary

Planning ahead can save lives and prevent tragedy the Governor said.

(SALEM) - With the one-year anniversary of the Hurricane Katrina Disaster Tuesday, Governor Ted Kulongoski urged families to develop basic disaster preparedness plans to minimize danger and injury.

"Hurricane Katrina brought devastation to the Gulf Coast, and the breaching of the levees brought unimaginable hardship and disaster to the proud people of New Orleans," said the Governor.

Look, Listen And Live! SP&S 700 Rail Safety Faire in Salem on Saturday

In May 2005, a similar event drew more than 4,000 rail fans to the siding area adjacent to the park to experience one of America's biggest pieces of rail history up close.

(SALEM) - The 2nd Annual SP&S 700 Rail Safety Faire takes place at Salem's Riverfront Park Saturday, September 2nd.

Several thousand train buffs are expected to line the tracks to watch the big steam engine's trip south.

In January, the engine was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The SP&S 700 received this honor because it is a working example of the peak of proven steam and rail technology as it was at the end of the Age of Steam.