Browse All News Articles on Salem-News Page 3074

Leadership Youth Dedicates a Day of Volunteer Service at Family Building Blocks

(SALEM) - The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce`s Leadership Youth group is working to build bridges between youth and community. On Wednesday, May 24th, the Leadership Youth group will dedicate a day of volunteer service to Family Building Blocks.

Family Building Blocks is a child abuse prevention program serving young children and their families in Marion and Polk counties. Their mission is to keep children safe and families together. A group of up to 25 youths will spend the day volunteering at both Family Building Blocks and their consignment store, Reruns for Kids.

These volunteer efforts will be spent on cleaning, organizing and landscaping at both facilities.

Salem Hospital Taking Steps to Alleviate Traffic Congestion

(SALEM) - Due to both the success of Salem Hospital's valet parking service and the needs of construction, the traffic pattern on Oak Street SE has been changed.

Drivers wishing to enter the turnaround in front of the Center for Outpatient Medicine, at 875 Oak Street SE, now need to enter from the east. left turns are no longer permitted at that location.

The easiest route to all parking on the Salem Hospital campus is by turning north on Capitol Street SE, from Mission Street SE.

You are on the Bridge to Nowhere

(SILVERTON) - Last fall, Congress funded the infamous Bridge to Nowhere, connecting an Alaska town of 8,000 with an island of fewer than 50 people with a bridge that was higher than the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge rightly symbolized the worst of federal pork barrel spending.

Unfortunately, the Bush administration and some in Congress are now trying to capitalize on the public`s outrage over both the Bridge to Nowhere and the country`s skyrocketing deficit by proposing a new presidential power – line item veto authority.

While it may sound innocuous, this proposal would give the president unprecedented control over the budget and would threaten programs that are critical to all Oregonians.

The proposed Line Item Veto Act of 2006 would empower the president to veto funding for almost any program or project.

DEQ Proposes Approval of Cleanup at Sublimity Site

The property was used historically to dispense gasoline and has more recently been used as commercial office space.

(SALEM) -

AG, DHS Calling For Changes in How Communities Deal With Violence Against Women

A 2004 DHS study that found 31 percent of Oregon women surveyed had experienced one or more types of violence--threats, stalking, physical or sexual assault--within the prior five years.

(SALEM) - Oregon Department of Human Services officials joined Attorney General Hardy Myers Thursday in calling for changes in how communities deal with violence against women as two new prevention plans that recommend how to do so were released.

"Violence against women is pervasive throughout Oregon," said Myers.

Salem Fire Chief Mike Knode Announces Retirement

(SALEM) - Salem Fire Chief Mike Knode has announced his retirement after more than 31 years of service in the Salem Fire Department. Knode will retire on June 30th, 2006, after spending the last five and one-half years as Salem's Fire Chief.

Knode originally started working for the City as a Fire Fighter on January 27th, 1975. He was promoted up through the ranks, becoming a Fire Equipment Operator in 1980 and a Fire Captain in 1982. Knode then advanced to the rank of Fire Battalion Chief, and after nine years in that position, he replaced Casey Jones as the Fire Chief in December of 2001.

Chief Knode is one of the most respected Fire Chiefs in the State of Oregon. Under his management the Salem Fire Department has become one of the few Oregon fire departments to receive national accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditations International.

Salem Police Investigating Kidnap/Sexual Assault

(SALEM) - Salem Police Detectives are investigating a Kidnap/Sexual Assault that occurred on May 12th.

Detective Mark Williamson says at approximately 11:45 PM, a lone female was approached in the 2500 block of Liberty St NE by a lone suspect who was armed with a knife.

Plane Runs Out of Fuel Short of Klamath Falls Runway

(KLAMATH FALLS) - A small civilian plane apparently ran out of fuel just short of the Klamath Falls/Kingsley Field Airport about 2:15 PM Wednesday, narrowly missing a radio station tower, several businesses in a busy business section, and catapulting to rest in an opwn field behind the Klamath Falls Super Wal-Mart.

Details of the crash are sketchy at this time, though the pilot was apparently not seriously injured. It is not known if the pilot was the only occupant of the aircraft.

Law enforcement and fire and medical personnel have secured the area around the crash.

Kulongoski, Saxton Sound First Post-Primary Blasts

(PORTLAND) - Wasting no time after comfortable wins in their respective primaries, Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Republican challenger Ron Saxton lobbed some zingers at each other Wednesday, offering voters a sneak peek at how the campaigns will unfold over the next six months.

Kulongoski, who is also trying to shore up union support and fend off an independent campaign by state Sen. Ben Westlund, allowed that Saxton was "a good person" before suggesting that the Portland attorney and former school board chair was cut from the conservative fringe.

"We just disagree on how we see things," Kulongoski said. "He is a very conservative person, and I don't think he represents the majority of people in this state."

Parents of Sprague High Students Being Warned of Threat Made Against The School on 6-6-06

Anyone with information as to who wrote, or left the note, is urged to contact Salem Police.

(SALEM) - The Salem-Keizer School District, along with Sprague High School Principal Cheryl Bower are advising parents of Sprague High School students of a threat made against the school.

District spokesman Jay Remy says late Friday, school staff found a disturbing note in a classroom that made a threat against the school on 6-6-06.

As to any more information the note contained, Remy said as per district policy they will not disclose that information as this is a criminal investigation.