WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 ܂ SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM
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Oregon raft, kayak fees could increase to $17
Boaters 14 years and under won't need the permit
and  it  could  be  transferred  between  boats.  A  $5  per
week opinion will also be available. The permit would
required  on  all  rivers,  lakes  and  reservoirs  —  any
"boatable waterway." 
The legislation is the latest attempt by the Marine
Board to find a way to both serve and bring in money
from the state’s increasing population of rafters, kay­
akers, drift boaters and stand­up paddlerboarders.
Fees on motorboats have long paid for boat ramps
and  waterway  facilities  in  Oregon.  But  beginning
around 2011, the number of non­motorized boats be­
gan to rise, crowding access points and leading to frus­
tration between the two groups, officials said. 
Zach Urness
Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
The Oregon Marine Board has proposed increasing
fees on rafts, kayaks and other non­motorized boats in
an  effort  to  improve  boat  ramp  facilities  and  access
statewide.
Currently, non­motorized boaters must purchase a
$5 invasive species permit for crafts 10 feet and longer,
often  with  a  $2  processing  fee.  The  price  would  in­
crease to $17 per year under Senate Bill 47, which will
be considered this session in the state legislature.
The new revenue would go into an account that dis­
tributes  money  to  local  governments  for  waterway
projects the state says are badly needed. 
See BOAT FEES, Page 2A
Kayaks and rafts over 10 feet long would need a $17
permit under a plan being considered by the state
legislature. ZACH URNESS / STATESMAN JOURNAL
Silverton
honors top
volunteers of
the year
Christena Brooks
Special to Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
An aerial view of a solar farm owned by Volcano Solar, LLC on 35th Avenue NE in Keizer Tuesday January 15,
2019. DAVID DAVIS AND KELLY JORDAN / STATESMAN JOURNAL
Oregon adopts strict
rules for solar farms
Companies can build dual-use farms on high-value soil
Bill Poehler
Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
The  Oregon  Land  Conservation  and  Development
Commission didn’t shut the door on new solar farms
being built on high­value farmland Friday, but it did al­
low counties to choose if they could be built under sig­
nificant restrictions.
The commission voted to adopt temporary rules that
apply statewide to no longer allow construction of pho­
tovoltaic solar power generation facilities — commonly
referred to as solar farms — on soils that are determined
Class 1, Class 2, prime or unique soils.
But  if  a  solar  developer  can  determine  a  dual  use,
such as beekeeping, of a solar farm on high­value farm­
land, they can choose to build on 20 acres if a county
allows it.
Marion County in March 2018 changed its codes to
prohibit building solar farms on high­value farmland.
There  are  289,383 acres  of  farmland  deemed  high
value in Marion County that will be off limits to new
development  unless  the  commissioners  change  the
rules to allow dual­use solar farms.
Winter is awards season, from the Grammys to the
Oscars, and the atmosphere of appreciation is reach­
ing  Silverton  too,  at  the  48th  Annual  First  Citizen
Banquet.
It’s ironic, but hardly unusual, that this year’s First
Citizens, recognized for their volunteerism, are more
accustomed to giving awards than getting them.
“I always try my best to stay out of the spotlight,”
said Kevin Palmer. “We typically do stuff behind the
scenes.”
“I’m an award giver­outer,” added his wife, Stacy
Palmer. “Being in this position is funny.”
For years, this married couple has helped host the
annual banquet, respectively organizing and emcee­
ing  so  Silverton’s  most  active  volunteers  could  be
recognized. Now they are the guests of honor them­
selves.
Kevin, 56, was born in Silverton, while Stacy, 51,
moved here from California when she was in the sixth
grade. As youngsters, they both watched their moth­
ers volunteer in local clubs and statewide organiza­
tions.  In  fact,  Kevin’s  mom  was  Silverton’s  initial
First Citizen, while Stacy’s still works with her today.
Stacy’s  grandfather  operated  the  Leprechaun
Room, a downtown bar she said had a “rowdy” rep­
utation  that  operated  in  the  basement  below  now­
shuttered O’Brien’s Café.
See BANQUET, Page 2A
See SOLAR, Page 2A
Who's performing at the 5th
annual Salem Winter Brewfest?
a big event after the holidays "when there isn't a ton to
do."
It's intended to be one big party with an array of
beverages, where live entertainment is just as impor­
tant as the beers.
The lineup for this years Brewfest features five acts
who all performed at the event in 2018. Bringing back
the  same  acts  was  intentional,  Unruh  said,  because
each one fits the event's atmosphere.
The talent hits all the benchmarks for the organiz­
ers: good musicians who are entertaining and take the
job seriously.
"For  any  good  party,  you  just  need  good  music,
good drinks, good company, and a good atmosphere,"
Unruh  said.  "We  strive  to  be  strong  in  all  of  those 
Abby Luschei
Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
It's a special year for Salem Winter Brewfest, be­
cause the four­day festival turns 5 years old this year. 
Taking  place  under  heated  tents  on  the  Capitol
Mall, the event will feature local brews, ciders, food
and musical talent from the Northwest, Wednesday,
Jan. 30 to Saturday, Feb. 2.
Organizer  Jason  Unruh,  said  it's  hard  to  believe
Winter Brewfest is hitting the 5­year milestone. 
"It feels like yesterday that we started," said Unruh,
the executive director of the Hoopla Association. "We
just want to grow."
The  Hoopla  Association  created  Salem  Winter
Brewfest in 2015 to provide Mid­Valley residents with See BREWFEST, Page 3A
Kevin and Stacy Palmer. STATESMAN JOURNA
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