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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 2021)
VOLUME 42, NO. 12 JANUARY 8, 2021 SECTION A $1.00 New councilors sworn in By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes Tearful goodbyes and hearty welcomes were the or- der of the night at the Keizer City Council meeting Mon- day, Jan. 4. “ I appreciate the The council pride, spirit and said goodbye to Kim Freeman volunteerism of and Marlene Parsons while all the residents. Kyle Juran and The residents Ross Day were sworn into their step up in droves.” fi rst terms on — Kim Freeman, the council. exiting Keizer City Councilor Freeman and Parsons deliv- ered prepared speeches before exiting the dais to standing ovations. “Thanks for electing me to two terms on the council,” said Parsons. “It's not easy, but it can be rewarding. We’ve been told we’re not doing enough, but it’s been a rough year [referring to 2020]. I think we’ve come out of it Keizer strong because that’s what we do,” Parsons said. KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald Freeman thanked the Kyle Juran (above) and Ross Day (right) take their oath of people who gathered around offi ce as they begin their terms as new city councilors on her as a city councilor in Monday, Jan. 4. private and public ways. “I appreciate the pride, was so patient and they and Councilor Laura Reid spirit and volunteerism of all gave me the tools and the was sworn into a second the residents. The residents resources to make my own term on the council. step up in droves,” Freeman decisions.” The council sidestepped said. “When you fi rst start and adopted Mayor Cathy Clark was tradition, out on the council, you have sworn into a fourth term as Please see SWORN, Page A7 so many questions. Everyone mayor during the meeting Packed agendas are likely for school board this month BY MATT RAWLINGS Of the Keizertimes The process of attempting to reopen schools is expected to be a hot topic of discussion during Salem-Keizer School Board meetings this month. The board is scheduled to meet three times in January, with the next discussion taking place on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at 6 p.m. On Dec. 23, Gov. Kate Brown announced that she was directing the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to implement new policy initiatives, with the goal of putting more school districts on track to return students to in- person instruction, especially elementary students, by February 15. As of Friday, Jan. 1, “ This does not mean schools can resume in- person instruction without regard for COVID-19 spread…” — Gov. Kate Brown decisions on if and when schools can reopen fell to the discretion of local school districts as state metrics made the shift from mandatory to advisory. “This does not mean schools can resume in-person Please see AGENDAS, Page A7 20 No. 5 in the Volcanoes countdown PAGE A10 Higher numbers, shifting mission, better funding A mystery solved in Bair Park STILL A HOMELESSNESS CRISIS By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes Among all the praise for heroism of fi rst responders during the COVID-19, it can be easy to lose sight of all who are worthy of such honors. Ashley Hamilton, program director of the ARCHES, knows that the organization’s veteran and new employees deserve a share of that acclaim. “We’ve had to do a fair share of modifying programs to make sure employees and clients are safe, but we’ve been very lucky. Everyone kept showing up for work and then we were able to add more people in most of our pro- grams,” Hamilton said. While ARCHES is tasked primarily with supporting homeless residents by its par- ent organization, the Com- munity Action Agency, its mission shifted to homeless- ness prevention in the past year when it was tapped to distribute money for state and federal programs. Hamilton has to establish and staff an entire call center for the effort. “I’m proud to say that we’ve been able to distribute more that $5.6 million to peo- ple struggling to make their rents and mortgages, and now we’re expecting a third infl ux of funding,” Hamilton said. PAGE A2 A new setting for police interviews PAGE A3 Please see CRISIS Page A6 Avamere vaccinates 85% of residents in single day Submitted A staff member at Avamere Court at Keizer receives a COVID-19 vaccination. More than 200 residents and staff members at Avamere Court at Keizer’s assisted living, independent living and rehabilitation residents began their vaccinations for COVID-19 Monday, Jan. 4. Clinics were set up in each of the buildings on the campus to keep residents and staff safe, said Sue Horn, director of sales and outreach at the River Road Facility. “The vaccination clinic provided 218 doses yesterday to campus residents, staff, and care partners, and at this time 85% or our residents have had their fi rst vaccine [dose],” said Blake Epp, the executive director of the campus. COVID-19 vaccinations are most effective after two doses are administered. Avamere Court at Keizer has additional clinics scheduled later this month and in mid- February. By that time, nearly all residents are expected to have received the full course of vaccination. Avamere at Keizer partnered with Walgreens in administering the Pfi zer- B i o N Te c h - d e v e l o p e d COVID-19 vaccine. Horn said the only thing stopping a few of the residents from taking part in the fi rst round was recent fl u vaccinations. “We at Avamere continue to be on the forefront of fi ghting COVID 19 and keeping residents, staff and loved ones safe. Everyday our frontline staff roll up their sleeves and do whatever it takes. You have to have a passion for what you do to do this every day,” Horn said. Hearing set on compost site PAGE A7 RESEVE YOURS NOW AT FORD.COM/BRONCO WHICH IS ON YOUR HORIZON?