OOPS! Towing Operator on the Run After Failing to Show Up for Court

Anyone with information on the location of Michael Alan Selmer, should contact their local law enforcement agencies non-emergency number, or the Oregon State Police. Failing to Show Up for Court

(SALEM, Ore. ) - A 35-year-old Polk County man under investigation for running an illegal towing operation and failing to register as a sex offender in Oregon, failed to show up for his first court appearance Wednesday morning at the Marion County Court Annex in Salem.

The Judge issued an immediate no bail arrest warrant for Michael Alan Selmer after he failed to appear.

Selmer, from Falls City, is the subject of an ongoing investigation after Oregon State Police received information he acquired two tow trucks and began advertising towing services in Salem and Independence areas with the name "Whoops! Towing".

Former North Salem Cheerleader, Now Paralyzed, Says New Treatment Program Could Change His Life

A lifetime on a breathing machine and a feeding tube was not an option for Kenneth Connin.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - A former cheerleader from North Salem High School who was paralyzed in a freak accident shortly after graduation, is hoping to make it big the highly competitive fashion industry in New York City with the help of a new rehabilitation program in California.

And now he's hoping for a cheering section of his own.

Fans can expect to get the original Bob's Hamburgers with his famous secret sauce that made Bob Corey a Salem restaurant legend. Win gift certificates ONLY on Salem-News.com!

Portland Police Issue Warning of Scam Involving Grandparents

The typical scam involves a frantic call from a "grandchild" in trouble, or someone saying the grandchild is in trouble with the law.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - The Portland Police Bureau would like to remind Portland area residents, especially seniors, that a common scam known as the "Grandparent Scam" remains active in the community.

The "Grandparent Scam" has been around for many years and is just one variation of the impostor scams that dupe people into losing thousands of dollars.

SPECIAL SECTION Cannabis De-Classified

PTSD - Medical Marijuana Toxicology - Pharmacology

Calling All Oregon DIY Beverage Makers

Excepting the soft drink category, all participants must be age 21 and over to enter.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - The 149th Oregon State Fair is officially accepting entries for its Homebrew Beer and Amateur Wine competitions, raising a pint and a wine glass in honor of Oregon's best DIY beverage makers.

The Oregon State Fair runs August 22 through September 1 in Salem. Discounted admission tickets are on sale now.

Aviation Official: Air Algerie Flight has Crashed; Changed Flight Pattern Due to Storm

Almost half of the passengers were French citizens, an airline official said.

(ALGIERS) - An Air Algerie flight crashed on Thursday en route from Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso to Algiers with 110 passengers on board, an Algerian aviation official said.

There were few clear indications of what might of happened to the aircraft, or whether there were casualties, but Burkino Faso Transport Minister Jean Bertin Ouedrago said it asked to change route at 9.38 p.m. because of a storm in the area.

Marine Board Warns of Hazards on Oregon Waterways

Trees, root wads and other natural debris are a common part of Oregon's rivers and streams.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - As a result of less snow pack and lower rainfall amounts this winter, many Oregon lakes and rivers will be reaching historically low levels which will expose previously unseen hazards to boaters this summer.

Stumps, rocks, logs and other obstructions could be just below the surface, resulting in hull or prop damage in areas that are normally navigable. These obstructions also impact the water dynamics and the currents in rivers, which can increase the difficulty to navigate safely, especially for paddlecraft.

Prince of Pot Freed from US Clutches

The cannabis warrior should be home in Canada by mid-August.

(COTTAGE GROVE, Ore.) - In 2009, a dear friend to this reporter personally, Mr. Marc Emery, aka The Canadian "Prince of Pot" was extradited to the U.S. from his homeland Canada, where he pleaded guilty to one count of "Conspiracy to manufacture marihuana".

The then 56-year old martyr publicly acknowledged that he had sold cannabis seeds to American customers via mail order since 1994, and quite frankly, gaining immense popularity as well as making a financial Killing as he did it. For that dung-smearing in ole Uncle Sam's face, he was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment in US federal corrections, which he's about finished having served in multiple facilities across the nation.

Salem, Willamette Valley Gas Prices Continue to Fall

The top five most expensive states are Hawaii, Alaska, California, Washington and Oregon.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - Oregon is one of 42 states and Washington D.C. where gas prices have fallen in the last month.

In Salem over the past week, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline fell 3 cents to $3.91.

Salem Dairy Queen's Gain National Spotlight over Baylor QB

Well one of the seven Salem, Ore. Dairy Queen locations has heard of Bryce Perry, the one located on corner of 25th Street and Mission Street. The billboard out front reads "We are Bryce Perry Fans!"

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Phones at Salem area Dairy Queen's have been ringing off the hook from media, trying to get quotes over a tweet sent out by Baylor coach Art Briles, who on Monday took issue with the fact that his quarterback, Bryce Perry, was not among those invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York City.

Briles, took to Twitter on why Petty has a better chance to win the Heisman this year: “Go to a Dairy Queen in Salem, Ore…” and they’ve heard of Petty.

Hamas Pricks Israel's Soft Under-Belly, Ben Gurion Airport

The British gave up Lydda airport in April 1948 and IDF soldiers captured the airport on 10 July 1948, in Operation Danny, when the population was driven out as part of Israel's ethnic cleansing programme.

(LONDON) - Hamas has hit Palestine's bloodthirsty occupier where it could hurt real bad -- in the soft under-belly that is Ben Gurion airport. The Resistance has achieved this by lobbing a rocket too close for comfort and causing air carriers in the United States and Europe to halt flights to Tel Aviv after warnings from governmental agencies concerned about passenger safety.

"The carriers are making the right call," said Robert Mann, an airline consultant in Port Washington, New York.

Western Oregon Autism Study Enrollment Open for Kids Ages 6-11

Families enrolled in the study receive all services for free, including training, treatment and assessments.

(MONMOUTH, Ore. ) - The Teaching Research Institute at Western Oregon University and Louisa Silva, M.D., M.P.H. are announcing a first time opportunity for parents with children between the ages of 6 and 11 with autism to enroll in a research study to receive free training and treatment.

Enrollment is open now through Sept. 5 for residents of Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Yamhill, Polk, Marion, Linn, Benton, Lincoln and Lane counties.

WOU’s early research with 46 children evaluating a five-month period of massage showed promising improvements in the severity of autism.

Portland Teen Dead After Shooting in SE Portland

No motive has been determined in the shooting.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - Homicide detectives are continuing their investigation into Tuesday night's shooting that left one man dead in Southeast Portland.

The victim has been preliminarily identified as a 19-year-old male. Detectives have learned that several neighborhood residents heard several gunshots prior to the discovery of the victim.

Funeral for Polk County Deputy Killed in West Salem Crash Set

Sgt. Whittaker was a huge fan of NASCAR, the Oregon Ducks, and the NFL's Tennessee Titans.

(DALLAS, Ore. ) - Funeral services have been set for a 15 year veteran of the Polk County Sheriff's Office who died following a car crash in West Salem on July 19.

48-year-old Randy W. Whittaker of Dallas, was a Sergeant with the sheriff's office, and will be laid to rest on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 320 SE Fir Villa, in Dallas, Ore.

Arizona Death Row Inmate Takes Two Hours to Die after Lethal Injection

Wood had been one of six death row prisoners who sued Arizona last month arguing that secrecy surrounding the drugs used in other botched executions in Ohio and Oklahoma violated their rights.

(PHOENIX, Ariz.) - An Arizona inmate took almost two hours to die by lethal injection on Wednesday and his lawyers said he "gasped and snorted" before succumbing in the latest botched execution to raise questions about the death penalty in the United States.

The execution of convicted double murderer Joseph Wood began at 1:52 p.m. local time at a state prison complex, and the 55-year-old was pronounced dead just shy of two hours later at 3:49 p.m.

Department of Transportation to Establish New Rules to Ensure Safety of Oil Rail Tankers

The proposed new regulations would extend those precautions to all trains carrying 20 or more tank carloads of either crude or ethanol.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - After months of pressure by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, other legislators, and advocates around the country, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx announced Wednesday that the Department of Transportation will take steps to establish new regulations to improve the safe transportation of crude oil by rail.

Since the release of an emergency order by DOT in May setting transportation safety standards of Bakken crude by rail, Senator Merkley has called for better notification to state and local first responders of not only Bakken crude, but all flammable substances being transported by rail.

Albany Apartment Fire Leaves One Person Dead

Albany Fire Department and Albany Police Department are working together investigating the cause of the fire.

(ALBANY, Ore. ) - Wednesday at 6:41 a.m. a fire was reported from the Pacific Ave. overpass where someone saw smoke coming from an apartment complex located at 417 SE 6th Ave.

Arriving fire department personnel saw flames and smoke coming from the top story of the apartment building. There were 10 apartments, two were vacant.

Oregon Voters to Get Say on Recreational Marijuana

Oregon's proposal will come before voters just two years after they rejected a similar measure.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - An initiative seeking to legalize, tax and regulate recreational marijuana in Oregon has qualified for the November ballot, the state said on its website on Tuesday.

Only two U.S. states, Washington and Colorado, currently allow recreational marijuana, which remains illegal under federal law.

Red Cross Facing Blood Shortage in Oregon

Eligible donors with types O negative, B negative and A negative blood are especially needed at this time.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - The American Red Cross is facing a looming blood shortage in Oregon, and nationwide leading to an urgent need for donors of all blood types to roll up a sleeve and give.

Driver Who Hit Two People on Bicycles Saturday Night Arrested

Neither victim sustained life threatening injuries.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - On Saturday, at 10:51 p.m., 32-year-old Lisa Lynn Vesely was arrested by Portland Police after fleeing the scene of a crash into two people riding bicycles on Southwest Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway.

Officers learned that 30-year-old Jasmine Zamora was riding behind 25-year-old Cameron Duff, when they were struck from behind by a dark-colored car that fled the scene.

Woodburn Men Arrested for Stabbing Another Man

Both suspects had blood on their hands and clothes and appeared to be intoxicated police said.

(WOODBURN, Ore. ) - Woodburn police arrested two men stemming from a fight that occurred the evening of July 20, which left one man hospitalized with stab wounds and cuts on his face.

Woodburn police responded to a report of a fight in the 400 block of N. Pacific Highway in Woodburn and upon arrival police found the suspects, 20-year-old Arturo Dominguez-Ojeda, and 25-year-old Alonso Dominguez-Ojeda on the scene.

Suspects Sought After Police Chase in Rural Marion County

The last public information about the two suspects came when they were seen near the 17000 Block of Abiqua Road NE at around 10:00 p.m.

(SILVERTON, Ore. ) - A search is underway in rural Marion County Monday, after a man and woman fled following a pursuit outside of Silverton.

Marion County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sergeant Jeff Stutrud says deputies attempted to stop a vehicle on Evans Valley Road just after 5:00 p.m. Sunday.

Oregon High School Track Coach Arrested on Sex Abuse Charges

Investigators are concerned there may possibly have been other victims.

(MADRAS, Ore. ) - The head track and field coach at Madras High School was arrested Monday by Oregon State Police related to an investigation into an alleged unlawful relationship with a 17-year-old male member of the high school track team.

Subsequent investigation, in cooperation with the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office, identified the juvenile male and developed evidence that led to her arrest related to alleged unlawful conduct since May 2014.

UPDATE #2: Human Remains Found in NE Salem

Video by Salem-News.com's Jerry Freeman.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - As Salem-News.com was first to report, Salem police are investigating human remains found Sunday evening in the 200 block of Hawthorne Ave NE near Pipebend Place NE.

Police on scene told Salem-News.com that it appears the body had been there for sometime. It was found in heavy brush. Police would not say who found the body.