Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 2015)
SINCE 1979 • VOLUME 37, NO. 50 SECTION A NOVEMBER 13, 2015 $1.00 Mysterious fl ag returned to MHS By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes The package arrived at the McNary High School Mon- day, Nov. 2, with a typed letter and an American fl ag, folded military-style, beginning to show it’s age. “A long time ago I was a silly young and immature kid attending McNary,” the let- ter states. “Contain(ed) within this package is a fl ag I took from McNary on my last day of school. I have had it for many years now and every time I move or encounter it within my (possession) I re- gret my actions. “It was wrong of me to take this fl ag and I am sorry for taking it. I am returning to its rightful place. Please ac- cept the returning of this fl ag as my acknowledgment of my wrongdoing and forgive my youthful actions that were wrong and stupid.” The letter was signed anonymously: “Ex-McNary Graduate.” Since its arrival, Erik Jes- persen, McNary principal, has been pondering the fl ag’s ori- gin. “No one that I’ve talked to remembers a missing fl ag,” said Jespersen. “We really have no idea. We wish we did. I’d like to shake the hand of the person who sent it back.” One thing is certain, the fl ag has been around for a while. The white spaces are now weathered and off-white, a not inconsiderable amount of dust and grime clings to the whole thing. While returning the fl ag may have closed a chapter in the life of one mischievious former student, its only gener- ated a litany of questions for Jespersen. Please see FLAG, Page A12 Stories We Like Beauty and the Beast Saluting the people that make us proud of our community PAGE A5 capitolauto.com 'She did not want to die' KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald Veteran Jesus Montes is escorted by a Claggett Creek Middle School student into the gym for a Veteran's Day assembly Tuesday, Nov. 10, Parks district in Keizer’s future? EVERY F-150 ON SALE Parsons said the Bend Parks and Recreation District and the Willamalane Parks and Recreation District in Spring- fi eld work for those cities. “They have beautiful parks,” Parsons said. “They know they’re getting that money every year, instead of bond or levy money that can run out. They are very excit- ed about it and have enough money to keep the parks up. It’s something you can ponder as a group. It’s not a lot of tax money, but it is another tax.” Parsons noted she has some friends in Bend. “The people I know in the Bend area rave about their parks,” she said. Staffi ng and equipment questions would have to be worked out, with Parsons sug- gesting the Parks Board hold a couple of work sessions to tackle those details. “They all have very nice parks,” Parsons said of the oth- er areas. “I haven’t found any negatives. I talked to Bend and Willamalane both and found nothing negative.” Parks Board member J.T. Hager noted the details would be the key thing. “I’m an advocate,” Hager said. “My only question is the process. Most of the staff and Please see PARKS, Page A6 By CRAIG MURPHY Of the Keizertimes If need be, Sue doesn’t mind being blunt when it comes to drugs. “If you gave people a loaded gun and told them to put it to their head, they wouldn’t do it,” Sue said. “But that’s what they do with heroin. It’s the same thing.” Unfortunately, Sue has some experience with the topic. Her daughter, Peggy (both names have been changed for this Chasing Dark story), died this summer after an infection from needles. Peggy had heart issues and used drugs for years, in par- ticular heroin. In last week’s Chasing Dark story with members of the Keizer Police Department’s Community Response Unit (CRU), there was an emphasis on how addicts have to be will- ing to make the choice to get clean before any change can be seen. “If you’re an adult, are you ready to stop? You can tell me ‘I’m a drug user,’ but if you don’t say ‘I’m done with this,’ you are not ready for treat- ment,” CRU member James Young said. “Until they’re ready, 10,000 OFF MSRP MSRP $47,875, Skyline Discount $5,250, Factory Rebate $4,000, Sale Price $38,625. Ford Credit $750. Total price after credits & rebates $37,875. On Approved Credit through Ford Credit, plus license, title & tax $348. 1 to Choose From - Vin#D09413. See page A2 for another story in the series. they’re not going to go.” Rehabilitation is also seen as a key way to help addicts, espe- cially once they express a desire to get better. Sue questions the part about waiting for addicts like Peggy to indicate a desire for change. “Rehab is a complete joke with heroin addicts,” Sue said. Whiteaker unbeaten PAGE A10 Please see HEROIN, Page A12 Faith Zamora, Zena Greenawald, Juan Fonzeca, Jessica Moore and Jonathon Wheeler at work in McNary's Studio M. KEIZERTIMES/ Eric A. Howald By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes McNary High School se- nior Jonathon Wheeler got his fi rst wireless microphone when he was in fourth grade. He connected it with his keyboard and it worked beau- tifully. Eventually though, it gave out. When he returned to the store for a replacement they only had wired mics. He brought one home and plugged it in only to discover that one wouldn’t work. “My mom took me to Uptown Music and Shane Hall showed me the equip- ment that I needed. So I got a small mixer and it had all these knobs and I just got into it by experimenting with it,” said Wheeler. Wheeler is now one of three students – seniors Juan Fonzeca and Jessica Moore are the other two – at the school whose contributions to the fi ne arts go largely unseen but effect the overall quality of ev- NEW 2015 FORD FOCUS SUPERCREW UP TO $ c hasing Dark “I know for a fact she scammed her way through rehab with her meth addiction. She would have her kids pee in a cup to pass the UA (urine analysis). She was good at that. “In rehab, they say you have to hit your bottom,” she added. “Peggy didn’t have a bottom. We were sure she would reach the point where she would do the work (to get better). Los- ing her children wasn’t her bot- tom. Having open heart surgery wasn’t her bottom. Knowing she would die from this addic- tion was not her bottom. Wait- ing for them to ask for help isn’t the answer. Being she was dying in the hospital, we said goodbye to her three times. That wasn’t enough to keep her clean. That wasn’t enough.” Peggy’s addiction got so bad, the state stepped in and removed her children from her home. “When her kids were taken away because of the heroin, Peggy had a year to get clean,” Sue said. “It took her months to even get in the game to sched- ule the fi rst visitation, because she wasn’t ready. That was the heroin talking. She was the most devoted mother when Laying down Celtic tracks NEW 2015 FORD F-150 4 x4 XLT, MAX TOW, ECOBOOST PAGE A3 KEIZERTIMES/ Eric A. Howald Saluting veterans By CRAIG MURPHY Of the Keizertimes An old topic was brought up again Tuesday. Through much of 2013, members of the Keizer Parks and Recreation Advisory Board discussed various ways of securing more funding for Keizer parks. At the end of the year, then-mayor Lore Christopher splashed cold water on the idea and implored Parks Board members to focus on the Big Toy play structure project and updates to the Keizer Rapids Park master plan. Now, talk of more funding for parks has come up again. The idea was brought up during the Parks Board’s an- nual Parks Tour with Keizer City Councilors in early Sep- tember. Councilor Marlene Parsons talked about the idea at Tuesday’s Parks Board meet- ing, sharing information she learned at a recent conference. “Springfi eld and Bend have special parks districts, like we do here with the Keizer Fire District,” Parsons said. “It would be a special district, with its own board of direc- tors and staff to take care of the parks. It would be a sepa- rate entity from the city, like how the fi re district is sepa- rate.” Last week, an American fl ag that no one knew had gone missing was returned to the McNary High School main offi ce via the U.S. Postal Service. The package included a typed letter of apology from the Celtic grad whose guilt fi nally overwhelmed him or her. School offi cials are hoping the sender comes forward to identify themselves. KPIC's fl ood of history Keizer www.skylineforddirect.com 199 $ $ 4 DR SE AUTO, SYNC PER MO 36 MO LEASE 1000 DUE AT INCEPTION Lease payment based on 36 payments, Cap Cost $16,850.33 after $2,500 Factory Rebate and $1,221.67 Skyline Discount plus $645 acquisition fee. $453 cash down or trade plus Factory Rebate. Security Deposit $0. Total due at inception $1,000 plus Factory Rebate. Total lease charge $8,313 plus Factory Rebate. Residual value $9,986.20. 10,500 miles per year. MSRP $20,380. Purchase Option fee $500. 1 at this price. Vin# 306919 Stk# 158384. On approved credit. Plus license, title and tax $348. All offers expire 11/31/2015. erything from theatre produc- tions to concert performances and podcasts to music albums. “I’ve always loved music, but I’ve never considered my- self a star. With this, I’m still enjoying doing what I love and I just work behind the scenes,” said Fonzeca. “The concert wouldn’t be the con- cert and the musical wouldn’t be the musical if it weren’t for us.” Looking back at MHS football PAGE A11 Please see MUSIC, Page A6 LOWEST PRICE CLEARLY POSTED! NO NEGOTIATIONS ARE NEEDED! PICK YOUR NEW FORD ONLINE OR AT THE DEALERSHIP! OFFERS EXPIRE 11/31/15 INSIDER DEALS NOW FOR EVERYONE!