SINCE 1979 • VOLUME 37, NO. 48 SECTION A OCTOBER 30, 2015 $1.00 Cop: addicts aren’t bad people By CRAIG MURPHY Of the Keizertimes Over the course of nine years, Chris Nelson learned a lot about drugs in the area. Nelson was a member of the Keizer Police Depart- ment’s Community Response Unit for two years, mainly fo- cused on drugs, before joining a Drug Enforcement Agency task force for seven years. Two years ago, police chief John Teague brought Nelson back from the DEA. Nelson is now a detective working regular cases with the KPD. Many of those cases, however, are directly linked to substance abuse. Even with his current du- ties, Nelson keeps close tabs on the local drug scene and has seen the impact of drugs like heroin. One of the main things Nelson learned is the stereo- type of drug users being ter- rible people simply isn’t true. “Many individuals who are addicted aren’t bad peo- ple, they just have an addic- tion to an illicit drug,” Nel- son said. “The young addicts were once thriving in school and the older ones were once contributing to society – the addiction has temporarily poi- soned their ability to thrive.” As mentioned last week in the Keizertimes, drug addicts see others die of the habit but don’t feel it will happen to them – even after it does happen to people like former Keizer resident Brandon Crist, who was found dead of a her- oin overdose in late Septem- ber at the age of 22. “Heroin is a very addic- tive and highly-potent opiate,” Nelson said. “Unfortunately, we’ve seen an uptick in heroin use, which is directly corre- lated to the rise in overdose deaths. It’s extremely disturb- ing when we see – all too of- ten – the appetite our younger generation has for this poison.” During his time on the DEA task force, Nelson changed his view somewhat in terms of what a solution could be. “When I was fi rst in law enforcement, I thought the solution was enforcement,” Nelson said. “Over the years on the task force, I quickly realized we’re taking out one (drug) traffi cking organization and another new one takes its place. I learned quickly that if you have the demand for drugs, it will fi nd its way into our community. Please see DRUGS, Page A7 c hasing Dark Remember to set your clocks back Saturday night PAGE A2 Chasing Dark is an ongoing series looking at heroin and other types of drug abuse in Keizer. Be sure to pick up next week’s paper for the next installment. Ring site not rock solid Transit, KFD vote By CRAIG MURPHY Of the Keizertimes Are there different ways to interpret the word no? Apparently so. That was on display Tues- day night at the Keizer Pub- lic Arts Commission meeting when the topic of art sculp- tures along River Road was brought up. Earlier this year, Keizer Public Works employees in- stalled several sculptures along the busy thoroughfare. The one receiving the most atten- tion was the large Boucher Jewelers ring, Creative Mem- ories. Former Mayor Lore Chris- topher, chair of KPAC, had championed the idea of hav- ing the ring in front of the jewelry store at 4965 River Road North. Ultimately, however, city attorney Shannon Johnson decreed the ring could be in- terpreted as advertising for the business and thus in violation of city sign code ordinances. Thus, the ring sculpture built for this year’s Iris Festival Pa- rade was placed in front of Sonic Drive-In at 3775 River Road N. Christopher still didn’t agree with Johnson’s point of view and made it known on Tuesday. She brought it up as Nate Brown, director for Community Development, mentioned a location need- ing to be approved for the new Ric Smith American fl ag sculpture. “I would like permission from KPAC to talk to the Bouchers about moving the ends on Tuesday KEIZERTIMES fi le/Craig Murphy Ballot Measure 24-388 would add more service times to Salem- Keizer Transit. KEIZERTIMES fi le/Craig Murphy The Boucher Jewelers ring, Creative Memories, was placed in front of Sonic Drive-In in September, a move that didn't please everyone including former mayor Lore Christopher. ring,” Christopher said. “You had talked about taking down the sign; in its place would be the ring.” Brown said that had been proposed at one point. “But we never entertained or accepted that,” he said. Christopher referenced a recent Keizertimes editorial on the subject. “I want to talk to the Bouchers,” she reiterated. “I’ve had six people ask me why not move it. They argue how is it different than the bowling ball planters and sidewalk in front of the bowling alley, paid by the city?” Please see RING, Page A6 By CRAIG MURPHY Of the Keizertimes On the national picture, the big election takes place a year from Tuesday. But locally, two big issues will be decided this coming Tuesday. The one that’s been most talked about is Ballot Mea- sure 24-388, the proposed 0.21 percent business payroll tax to pay for increased local transit service. Offi cials with the Salem-Keizer Transit Dis- trict have estimated the new tax, which will be collected starting in 2017, will bring in about $5 million in new rev- enue a year. Anyone reading the Keiz- ertimes lately – or driving by busy intersections on certain days – knows opposition has been strong. Both the Keizer and Salem Area Chambers of Commerce have led organized efforts to protest the payroll tax as being unfair. In addition to the sign wav- ing, the chambers have also produced ads against the pay- roll tax and spoken out in oth- er forums such as luncheons. While the opposition has been vocal, proponents of the tax have been far quieter. Transit board members have spoken at several Keizer meet- ings this month, but the small crowds at each means a total of about 25 people heard the message. Discussion of the funding during the Oct. 12 Keizer City Council work session drew a strong rebuke from councilor Amy Ryan, who asserted it wasn’t fair for transit offi cials to campaign for the tax since opponents hadn’t been invited to speak. Few, not even the op- ponents, have been arguing against the need for more rev- enue since transit offi cials will be using the money to fund the restoration of weekend service, extended weeknight service and bus passes for middle school and high school students. Shopping cart rules PAGE A2 Beauty and the Beast PAGE A5 Please see VOTE, Page A7 Time to walk with a Keizer fi refi ghter That's a giant pumpkin... KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald Weddle Elementary School students Kaydence Lawrence and Liliana Vera try to move a giant pumpkin brought to the school by Sandy and Gary Wheeler Friday, Oct. 23. In addi- tion to trying to move the 1,000-pound-plus pumpkins, students at the school got to ask questions about the life cycles of the huge gourds. By CRAIG MURPHY Of the Keizertimes First there was Shop with a Cop. Now there’s Walk with a Firefi ghter. Walk with a Firefi ghter starts Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. at Panera Bread, located at 6110 Keizer Station Boule- vard in Keizer Station. The walk is a partnership between the Keizer Fire Dis- trict and Just Walk Salem. Skye Hibbard-Swanson, Just Walk Salem coordinator, brought up the idea recently at a Greater Gubser Neighborhood As- sociation meeting. Lindsey Walker with Salem Leader- ship Foundation connected her with Keizer fi re chief Jeff Cowan, who in turn connect- ed Hibbard-Swanson with Anne-Marie Storms, Public Education specialist for KFD. “The goal is to make it a weekly thing, rain or shine,” Storms said. “We’ll be at Pane- ra each Tuesday at 10 a.m. The whole goal is to allow anyone to come. It’s fl at and paved. The walk is about two miles total. Wanted to fi nd some- where safe.” The walk will go to Kai- ser Permanente, follow the pathway down to Starbucks, go to Sleep Country, then go to Lowe’s and behind Staples and Petco before crossing to go behind Target, then con- cluding back at Panera Bread. Please see WALK, Page A6 MHS boys soccer done PAGE A8