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Man Pleads Guilty in Courthouse Rampage

The man who was nicknamed the Courthouse Plunger after a daylong siege of the Marion County courthouse has pled guilty to a long list of charges that include attempted murder and several counts of arson.

(SALEM) - The man who took over the Marion County courthouse on November 12th, 2005 pled guilty to the series of crimes today in court. The rampage of Christpher Millis amounts to one of the costliest crimes in Marion County's history.

Law enforcement officers from all over western Oregon joined Marion County deputies and Salem police officers as they eventually brought an end to the ordeal with no loss of life.

Puzzle Fire Continues to Grow

The cause of the fire is still unknown. Highway 242 has been opened to all traffic.

(MARION FORKS) - The Puzzle Fire on the Willamette National Forest, two miles north of Marion Lake, grew to 5,213 acres Wednesday.

Police Agencies to Increases Patrols During End of Summer And Fall Events in Marion County

(SALEM) - The Marion County Multi-Agency Traffic Team will provide additional patrols during several end of summer and fall events in Marion County including the Oregon State Fair, August 25th-27th and September 1st–3rd, Labor Day weekend, September 1st–3rd, the Sublimity Harvest Fest, September 8th – 10th, and Mt. Angel’s Oktoberfest, September 14th – 17th.

Marion County Sheriff’s spokesman Kevin Rau says the extra patrols will range in number from as few as three to as many as seven additional patrols on duty at various times throughout these events.

While all traffic laws will be enforced, the goal of this effort will be to reduce speed related crashes, increase the use of seatbelts and DUII enforcement Rau said.

Sheriff’s Detectives Seek Public’s Help in Solving a 2001 Homicide

Unsolved Murder: Can you help solve this 5-year old crime?

(SALEM) - The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance with the unsolved homicide of Bricio Munoz-Aguirre that occurred five years ago on August 24th, 2001.

On the evening of August 24th, 2001, 22-year-old Bricio Munoz-Aguirre was found inside his vehicle with a single stab wound to his chest.

His vehicle had crashed over the curb in the area of Winema Place and Lancaster Dr NE. He was driving a black 4-door 1988 Chevrolet Corsica.

Munoz-Aguirre later died at the Salem Hospital as a result of his injuries.

Investigators believe...

Marion County Has First Animal Case of West Nile Virus

There have been no human cases of West Nile Virus identified in Marion County, but avoiding mosquitos is a good idea

(SALEM) - The first animal case of West Nile virus in Marion County has been identified in a Blue Jay. This is the first case of West Nile virus to come from Marion County since the virus was first introduced into the United States in 1999.

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito. The best defense against West Nile virus is to prevent mosquito bites.

People can take the following steps to reduce their chance of being bitten by following some of these steps:

-Eliminate all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding such as leaf-clogged gutters, birdbaths, and old tires...

Group Will Form a Human Wall Around Westboro Baptist Protestors

Oregonians are being called out to Hood River this weekend to shield the family of a Navy SEAL killed in Iraq from Kansas hate groups during funeral.

(HOOD RIVER) - A counter-protest group says Oregon residents are being called out en masse to drown out hate groups that plan to disrupt the funeral of Oregon Navy SEAL Marc Lee who was killed recently in Iraq during combat operations.

Lee was the first of the Navy’s elite commando force to die in Iraq.

But this is not the first time Oregon has been threatened by the Westboro Baptist Church out of Topeka, Kansas, in fact they’re...

Kansas Windbags Just Won’t Leave Oregon Alone

Right-Wing political frenzy in Kansas amounts to an orgy of discontent.

(SALEM) - There are plenty of places in the world where psuedo religious zealots like Sam Brownback and Fred Phelps could live. Even if we are forced to share a continental U.S. with them, the least they could do is stay home.

Kansas... where the need for separation of church and state is best described as a need for separation of church and hate.

Berger Wants to Revive Oregon Meth Registry Bill

The bill would require the state to alert residents -- whether through an internet registry or other means -- when a convicted meth maker is released from prison into their neighborhood.

(SALEM) - If you are convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine in Oregon, you may be required to register in Oregon with state, or local police if a bill passes the state legislature next session.

The bill, which drew some support last session, will be re-submitted by Republican Rep. Vicki Berger of Salem, and would require people who are convicted for meth manufacturing to register with state police or a local police agency like convicted sex offenders.

Chemeketa’s Accreditation Reaffirmed

The commission reaffirms accreditation of colleges and universities at least once every ten years, following a self-study by the institution and a visit by a full evaluation committee from the commission.

(SALEM) - Following a recent evaluation, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities has reaffirmed its accreditation of Chemeketa Community College.

In its report, the commission commended the college for its work in the following areas:

1. Serving the needs of the surrounding communities by delivering programs in both traditional and non-traditional formats.

2. Chemeketa’s stewardship of the college’s buildings and grounds and long-term facilities planning was commended.

Fraud Suspects Sought by Police

Police in Albany say two of the three credit cards used by the suspects were stolen in car prowls at local golf courses, they are hoping the release of the security camera photos lead investigators to their location and arrest.

(ALBANY) - The Albany Police Department is seeking the public's help in identifying two suspects in a recent string of credit card fraud and identity thefts.

They say that on July 28th, a male and female team used stolen credit cards at five Albany area stores and amassed over $4,000 in fraudulent charges.

On August 12th, the same team attempted to use a stolen credit card at one of the Albany area stores that they victimized on July 28th; however, they fled the store when recognized.