Browse All News Articles on Salem-News Page 3072

Fire in Former Industrial Building in Downtown Albany Sends 6 Firefighters to the Hospital

(ALBANY) - Albany street lights went dark for three hours Saturday night as fire crews from six area fire agencies fought a structure fire in an industrial building at the former Inland Quick Freeze plant on Water Avenue near Madison Street in downtown Albany.

Six Albany firefighters were transported to Samaritan Albany General Hospital to be checked as a result of firefighting efforts, according to Marilyn Smith with Albany Fire.

Crews from Lebanon, Tangent, Corvallis, Scio, and Jefferson assisted Albany firefighters. High rise ladder trucks and other specialized equipment was employed to bring the blaze under control.

Dozens of people gathered to watch the fire, which reflected against the sky and sent a huge tower of smoke into an otherwise clear night. Oregon State Police troopers assisted Albany officers in keeping people and traffic clear from the area of the fire, described by some as an abandoned warehouse.

Be Aware! Turner Rd SE Between Kuebler Blvd And Deer Park Drive CLOSED Beginning Monday

(SALEM) - The City of Salem Public Works Department wants you to Be Aware! of a major road closure and construction projects occurring in the Salem-area.

Please make a note of these projects, and if your commute takes you through one of these work-zones allow extra commute time, and please slow down.

Turner Rd SE Between Kuebler Blvd and Deer Park Dr SE - 5/22 - 9/20 - 7:00 AM till 7:00 AM. Turner Road SE between Kuebler Blvd SE and Deer Park Dr SE will be closed to all through traffic for the widening of the Mill Creek Bridge. Traffic will be detoured via Deer Park Dr SE to Aumsville Highway SE and Kuebler Blvd SE. The detour will be 24-7 until the project is complete.

Liberty Rd S Between Holder Ln SE and Davis Rd S - 5/22 - 5/23 - 9:00 AM till 3:00 PM. Lane closure with flaggers for core sampling of pavement.

Alley - 1415 4th St NE Between Hood St NE and Shipping St NE - 5/22 -5/29 - 8:30 AM till 4:30 PM. Alley closure for sewer service replacement.

Historic Elsinore Theatre Announces 2006-2007 Season

(SALEM) - The 2006-2007 Historic Elsinore Theatre season is packed with performances for all interests. The main season will consist of 6 performances which includes the personas of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin as The Rat Pack on September 16th.

Gaelic Storm plays October 6th, and their Rockin' Celtic rhythms, remembered for their role in the party scene in the movie Titanic, will light up the stage.

Romantic piano sensation Jim Brickman plays Nov 15th, Get In The Mood takes the stage January 14th, with the Big Band Sound sensation in this 1940's revue.

Kulongoski Wins Teachers Union Endorsement

(SALEM) - After being snubbed by public employee unions in the Democratic primary, Gov. Ted Kulongoski received a major boost Friday night when the influential Oregon Education Association endorsed his re-election bid.

The 45,000-member teachers union declined to endorse Kulongoski over his two Democratic rivals in Tuesday's primary election, in part because of its unhappiness over Kulongoski's moves to change the state retirement system that reduced benefits.

Woman`s Body Found in Willamette River

(KEIZER) - The lifeless body of a woman was discovered in the Willamette River early Saturday morning.

Both the Keizer Police Department and Keizer Fire District were dispatched to the report, after her body was observed floating in the Willamette River near the 1000 block of Rafael Avenue North inn Keizer.

Officers and medical personnel arrived within minutes and recovered the woman's body.

The Keizer Police Department is continuing the death investigation at this time.

Keizer Iris Festival (VIDEO)

The 2006 Keizer Iris Festival runs throughout the weekend of May 19th. Watch the streaming video below.

(KEIZER) - Keizer's grand event, The Iris Festival, is underway with new activities, displays and vendors. The Iris Festival is held across from Keizer's Wittenburg Inn on River Road North. The 2006 Iris Festival is a huge annual gathering that draws people from throughout the Northwest.

Salem-News.com caught up with Robin Barney from the Keizer Chamber of Commerce, and she shared with us the myriad things to do and see at the festival that is built around a strong local product, the iris.


One of the event's biggest draws this year is a scuba tank that is on site. For people who have always been curious about what it would be like to try diving, it is a perfect opportunity.

SALEM-NEWS.COM FUEL WATCH REPORT

Gas prices throughout the mid-valley continue to rise, while nationwide prices are leveling off.

(SALEM) - The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded continues to climb in the Salem-Keizer area.

On Friday the average price was at $3.06.

In Eugene-Springfield the average price is $3.16, in Portland-Vancouver $3.05, and in Medford-Ashland $3.13.

Here are the average prices throughout the mid-Willamette Valley:

Salem-Keizer - $3.06

Dallas - $3.08

Monmouth-Independence - $3.08

Stayton-Sublimity - $3.06

Long-Time Keizer Mechanic Dies in Tragic Accident

(KEIZER) - Keizer police and Oregon OSHA are investigating a death that occurred on Friday at the Broadway Garage.

Keizer police spokesman Capt. Jeff Kuhns says at about 1:00 PM, Keizer police and the Keizer fire district were notified of an emergency medical aid call at the garage, which is located at 3608 Cherry Ave. NE.

Dispatchers reported they received a 9-1-1 call for assistance stating a mechanic at the business was pinned after the vehicle he was working on apparently rolled forward against him.

Upon the arrival of the police officers and medical personnel, the victim of this tragic incident was pronounced deceased.

Bush Wants Newcomers to Learn English

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - The White House took both sides in a dispute over English being the national language Friday as a broad immigration bill moved toward a final Senate vote next week with one conservative predicting it will never become law.

Bush's support for the dueling sides doesn't stray from his long-held view on learning English, said White House press secretary Tony Snow.

"What the president has said all along is that he wants to make sure that people who become American citizens have a command of the English language," Snow said. "It's as simple as that."

Wilberger Family Sues Building Company Over Disappearance

(PORTLAND) - The family of Brooke Wilberger has filed a lawsuit against a company that employed the man now charged with aggravated murder in her disappearance.

Wilberger's parents, Cammie and Greg, filed the complaint against Creative Building Maintenance. They claim the company did not complete a background check on Joel Courtney when it hired him, and failed to supervise his activities.

Courtney, 39, is awaiting trial in New Mexico on unrelated kidnapping and rape charges involving a college student.

Courtney was indicted last year in Oregon after a long investigation into the May 2004 disappearance of Wilberger, a Brigham Young University student who was last seen working at an apartment building in Corvallis near Oregon State University.