Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 14, 2015)
AUGUST 14, 2015, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5 KeizerCommunity KEIZERTIMES.COM Two veterans leaving Full stomachs, warm hearts Keizer Police posts By CRAIG MURPHY doing it a year ago, then de- Of the Keizertimes cided to hang on a little lon- Just like that, the Keizer ger. I’ve been contemplating Police Department has lost it since about February. I just two employees with a com- wanted to take a break. Being bined 52 years of experience. at a job for 26 years is a long Rita Powers, the Police time. People don’t usually Support supervisor, retired hang on to a job that long from the KPD Aug. 7 after anymore. I enjoyed it. It was exactly 26 years something different with the depart- every day.” ment. John Tron- Powers, who has coso, a longtime four granddaugh- detective and head ters, has a big up- of the Criminal coming event to Investigations Divi- keep her busy. sion, is leaving the “I have a grand- department today, son on the way, due Aug. 14. His of- at Christmas,” she fi cial retirement said. “I’ll help my date is Sept. 1, but daughter with him J. Troncoso he already had and maybe do some scheduled vacation local traveling.” for the rest of this Powers enjoyed month. her time at the Troncoso was KPD. among nine em- “I had a really ployees joining the good career,” she KPD on Oct. 1, said. “I started just 1989, meaning he before John and joined shortly after Jeff started. It’s been Powers. fun watching some Police chief John of these guys grow Teague, who joined older, to watch R. Powers the KPD the same how their lives have day as Troncoso and deputy evolved, to see their kids be chief Jeff Kuhns, noted the born and grow. That’s the impact will be felt now and part I’ll miss the most. It’s re- especially down the road. ally been a family. Some of “Anytime you lose a good these guys have started very employee with 25 years of green. A lot of our offi cers institutional knowledge, started as reserves, so I’ve that’s a hard thing to fi ll,” seen them grow to become Teague said. “Once they are excellent offi cers.” gone, then you realize how Teague had high praise for many gaps they fi lled in.” Powers. Powers fi gured her anni- “Rita is solid as a rock,” versary date would be a good he said. “She’s one of those time to step aside. invaluable employees. I call “I just decided it was them basement people. They time,” she said on Tuesday. are the people that are foun- “I’m enjoying being home dational to the agency. They for a while and having my don’t gain a lot of headlines own schedule. It was 26 years in part because their work to the day. I thought about doesn’t gather headlines. Their personality is they show up, they do great work, they don’t cause problems. That’s the type of people or- ganizations love to have.” For Troncoso, retirement has been a long time in com- ing. “I’ve been thinking about it for four years,” he said. “As the time came, it was a little diffi cult to do. I wasn’t set on it. I want to make some life- style changes.” One of Troncoso’s main assets over the years was his ability to speak fl uent Span- ish, which surprised people who judged him by his looks. “It was defi nitely a valu- able skill to have,” Troncoso said. “There weren’t many detectives in the area fl uent in Spanish. People would volunteer things (in Spanish) in front of me, not knowing I understood. But I really used it more to help Hispanics. I worked a lot with the His- panic community. It’s been benefi cial for me and it’s been benefi cial for the de- partment since I can function in that world.” Because of his bilingual ability, Troncoso has been helping other law enforce- ment agencies and the Dis- trict Attorney’s offi ce for much of his career. One of the few times he couldn’t do much came with the Harkey murder in 2004. “I fi nally got a taste of what it’s like to not be bi- lingual with that case,” Tron- coso said. “I tried to talk to people but they spoke Rus- sian, not a word of English. I just came up empty. I real- ized what most of my non- Spanish speaking peers had experienced over the years. I was at a dead end.” Troncoso enjoyed his time at the KPD. “It has been fulfi lling,” he said. “Everyone who gets into this profession knows it’s public service. Most people do want to make a difference and to help. It has been nice to be able to do that.” Teague noted Troncoso’s retirement will be felt far outside the KPD. “Losing John is a regional loss,” Teague said. “That guy’s value extends from this de- partment to the profession locally. Compounded with being an exceptionally mo- tivated investigator, he’s also a Spanish speaker. His value to other agencies and the DA’s offi ce, they will sing his praises. There are not many police offi cers as widely re- spected as he is.” KEIZERTIMES/Lyndon A. Zaitz Delaney Madison Grill and owner Jim Marshall marked its one-year anniversary earlier this week by offering complimentary dinners to clients and residents of Simonka Place (pic- tured), Hope Station and the Union Gospel Mission. A total of 78 diners chose from a select menu in the dining room overlooking Staats Lake. For some it was the fi rst nice meal at a sit-down restaurant in years. KCFB seeking school supplies The Keizer Community Food Bank will once again be giving away school supply packets this year. Donations can be brought to the food barrel cart in the Fellowship Hall at Fort Knox Presbyterian Church or to Faith Lutheran Church be- fore 11 a.m. on Thursdays. Items needed: backpacks, 16- and 24-count Cray- ola crayons, glue sticks and white glue, Fiskars scissors, No. 2 pencils, pens, pink pearl erasers, pencil cases, three-ring notebooks, wide lined notebook paper, tissues, Museum spotlights agriculture memories Eating disorder awareness event scheduled Aug. 22 The Keizer Heritage Muse- um is celebrating farming and agriculture in the region with a new display of farming im- plements and some history of agriculture in the Keizer area. The exhibit will run to the end of September. The exhibit includes infor- mation and many photographs. The museum is still seeking items for the display includ- ing dried hops and green hop vines. The Keizer Heritage Mu- seum is open 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. The mu- seum is located on the bottom fl oor of the Keizer Heritage Center at 980 Chemawa Rd. N.E. Ask Mr. Trash Q. Can I put plastic bags into the big blue recycle cart? By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes The mid-Willamette Val- ley’s fi rst counseling center dedicated to assisting those battling eating disorders is now open in Keizer. The Oasis Center for Counseling and Wellness opened its doors this week at 4575 River Road N., but is planning an awareness event Saturday, Aug. 22, in conjunc- tion with Project Heal. Proj- ect Heal provides scholarships and fi nancial support pro- grams for people with eating disorders who are unable to afford treatment. “Project Heal will be doing a raffl e, offering educational materials and talking with visitors. About seven members of McNary (High School’s) string orchestra will be there to play music and several other community partners are plan- ning to attend,” said Robin ©1986 A. Sorry, plastic bags cannot go into the blue cart because they get tangled in the sorting equipment and cause major delays. TRY THESE HELPFUL IDEAS INSTEAD: • Use them to tie-off odorous garbage before tossing into garbage cart • Re-use them or, if possible, recycle them at the store that you got them from. • Call the RECYCLE HOTLINE (503) 390-4000 for other possible recycling locations. • Ask your store to bag your purchases in paper instead. Oregon law gives you the choice! eight-count broad tip mark- ers, 12-count colored pencils and rulers with both standard and metric measurements. About 100 packets are given away each year. Any leftover items will be giv- en to a Keizer elementary school. Travis, owner and clinical di- rector of The Oasis Center. Food, merchandise, inter- active booths, educational materials and a tour of the counseling are planned dur- ing the open house which runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Keizer Florist is providing fl owers for attendees. Travis has been treating eating disorders since 2001 and recently branched off from her position as a coun- selor with New Horizons to start Oasis. “Oasis was created because the Willamette Valley does not have any specialists that treat eating disorders,” Travis said. Travis offers one-on-one and group therapy sessions and currently has openings for new clients. Oasis does ac- cept Oregon Health Plan us- ers. Travis can provide refer- rals to other area practitioners when her client list is full. We’ll transform your kitchen or bath into what you’ve always dreamed of Serving Keizer for Nearly 50 years! LOREN'S SANITATION & RECYCLING SERVICE, INC. 503.393.2262 503.393.2875 VA L L E Y remodelkeizer.com RECYCLING & DISPOSAL, INC. 503.585.4300 CCB#155626 WorshipDirectory These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit. Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: (503) 390-1051 John Knox Presbyterian Church JOIN US FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP 8:30 am • 10 am • 11:30 am • 6 pm PEOPLESCHURCH 4500 LANCASTER DR NE | SALEM 503.304.4000 • www.peopleschurch.com Celebration Services Saturday Evening 6:00 pm Children’s Programs, Student and Adult Ministries 1755 Lockhaven Dr. NE Keizer 503-390-3900 www.dayspringfellowship.com Sunday Morning 9:00 am and 10:45 am 452 Cummings Lane North • 393-0404 Father Gary L. Zerr, Pastor Saturday Vigil Liturgy: 5:30 p.m. Sundays: 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. La Misa en Español: 12:30 p.m. Rev. Dr. John Neal, Pastor Worship - 10:30 a.m. Education Hour - 10:00 a.m. Nursery Care Available www.keizerjkpres.org Jason Lee UMC 820 Jeff erson St. NE Salem OR 97301 Dr. Jon F. Langenwalter, Pastor The church with the purple doors 503-364-2844 Worship at 9:30 am • Child Care Available Faith Lutheran Church 4505 River Rd N • 393-4507 Sunday Schedule: 9:00 a.m. Children’s Church 9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Children’s Activities Pastor Virginia Eggert 10:30 a.m. Worship with Communion