Browse All News Articles on Salem-News Page 3029

Gervais Summer Food Program Announced

(GERVAIS) - The Gervais School District is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are
the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal
service.

The program will run from July 10th, 2006 to August 3rd, 2006. Meals will be provided at the following addresses and times:

-Gervais Middle School Cafeteria, 150 Douglas Avenue in Gervais, Oregon -Breakfast “ 7:30 AM to 8:00 AM Monday through Friday - Lunch “ 11:00 PM to 12:30 PM Monday through Friday

Neighbors Alert Family of Their House on Fire

Unidentified neighbors alerted the occupants that their house was on fire.

(SALEM) - John DeLeon Jr. and his two sons were asleep when neighbors pounded on their front door alerting them that their house was on fire. The resident of at 2020 Park Avenue NE exited his house to discover that the fire was on his rear deck of his partially attached garage.

Salem Fire received the call for a structure fire at 8:36 AM. The first alarm sent Firefighters arriving on the scene reported a fully involved patio area. By this point, fire had entered the garage. Firefighters, on scene within minutes of the dispatch, were able to fight the fire and keep it from spreading into the home.

Surgeon General: No-Risk Free Level of Secondhand Smoke

The report says the only way to protect nonsmokers from the dangerous chemicals in secondhand smoke is to eliminate smoking indoors.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona has issued a comprehensive scientific report which concludes that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent. The finding is of major public health concern due to the fact that nearly half of all nonsmoking Americans are still regularly exposed to secondhand smoke.

The report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, finds that even brief secondhand smoke exposure can cause immediate harm.

Missing World War II Airmen Are Identified

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The Defense Department POW/Missing Personnel Office has announced that nine airmen missing in action from World War II have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

The nine are 2nd Lt. Hugh L. Johnson Jr., Montgomery, Ala.; 2nd Lt. Byron L. Stenen, Northridge, Calif.; 2nd Lt. John F. Green, Watertown, N.Y.; 2nd Lt. John M. Meisner, Pembroke, Mass.; Staff Sgt. Walter Knudsen, Sioux City, Iowa; Cpl. John A. DeCarlo, Newark, N.J.; Cpl. Robert E. Raney, Monon, Ind.; Cpl. William G. Mohr, Mt. Wolf, Pa.; and Cpl. Michael J. Pushkar, Mahanoy City, Pa. All were assigned to the U.S. Army Air Forces.

The individually identified remains of Stenen, Green, Meisner, Mohr and Pushkar, as well as the group remains representing all nine crewmen, were buried this week at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. Johnson, Knudsen and Raney will be buried elsewhere.

Anti-Gay Demonstrators Told to Stay Away From Oregon Soldier`s Funeral Service

(BEND) - The anti-gay hate group from Topeka, Kansas that operates the Website godhatesfags.com, announced plans to demonstrate at the memorial service for Private First Class Thomas Tucker on Saturday, but they will have to do so in the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center parking lot.

The Deschutes County commissioners took the action amid reports that members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas might picket the service at the fairgrounds in Redmond on Saturday.

The group is headed by the notorious Pastor Fred Phelps.

He claims that American soldiers are dying in Iraq because homosexuality is condoned in American homes.

Walker Commends SAIF For a Job Well Done

Senator Addresses Board Of Directors, Praises New Leadership

(SALEM) - Senator Vicki Walker (D-Eugene) addressed SAIF Corporation`s board of directors at the State Accident Insurance Fund office in Salem on Tuesday and praised SAIF`s new leadership team for squarely confronting the many problems that have beset the organization in the past.

Walker, formerly one of SAIF`s sharpest critics, sent a letter to SAIF`s CEO Brenda Rocklin in May lauding the corporation`s April 25 Final Report and requesting the opportunity to attend the June board meeting.

Op-Ed: `Umbrella` for Sale

(SILVERTON) - Proponents of a ballot initiative that imposes an overly harsh and arbitrary spending limit in Oregon`s constitution are calling their measure the `rainy day amendment.` This is like trying to sell a lightning rod by calling it an `umbrella.`

Oregon does need a rainy day fund that can be used to maintain schools, public safety and other state services when the economic weather turns foul. Such a fund should be established by Oregon`s Legislature. Despite its name, the `rainy day amendment` does not create a rainy day fund, and the amendment`s sponsor has said as much.

Even worse, if the Legislature ever finally creates a rainy day fund, the misnamed `rainy day amendment` will render the fund impotent to help protect services during a downturn.

Center Street Bridge Replacement Project Going Smoothly (AUDIO)

Crews just recently uncovered and removed old trolley tracks. They hope to have the new bridge completed by early October. Hit the play button below the story for audio.

(SALEM) - Center Street NE is currently closed to all through traffic between 17th Street NE and 14th Street NE so crews can replace the bridge that crosses Mill Creek.

Oregon State Police Put Sexual Predator Information Online

There are approximately 700 registered sex offenders in Oregon who are classified as predatory or sexually violent dangerous offenders.

(SALEM) - Governor Kulongoski and the Oregon State Police announced Thursday a new website which publishes information regarding dangerous sex offenders residing in Oregon.

The site was established in accordance with HR 3486 in order to provide information such as name, address, physical descriptions, pictures and conditions of release regarding high risk offenders.

Many counties already provide web-based information about sexual predators, but the OSP website will allow citizens to view the list of offenders in its entirety.

Study Finds Drivers on Cell Phones Are as Bad as Drunk Drivers

University of Utah psychologists warn against cell phone use while driving.

(SALT LAKE CITY) - Three years after the preliminary results first were presented at a scientific meeting drawing wide attention, University of Utah psychologists have published a study showing that motorists who talk on handheld or hands-free cellular phones are as impaired as drunken drivers.

"We found that people are as impaired when they drive and talk on a cell phone as they are when they drive intoxicated at the legal blood-alcohol limit of 0.08 percent, which is the minimum level that defines illegal drunken driving in most U.S. states," says study co-author Frank Drews, an assistant professor of psychology. `If legislators really want to address driver distraction, then they should consider outlawing cell phone use while driving.`

Psychology Professor David Strayer, the study's lead author, adds: `Just like you put yourself and other people at risk when you drive drunk, you put yourself and others at risk when you use a cell phone and drive. The level of impairment is very similar.`