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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2016)
PAGE A2, KEIZERTIMES, JANUARY 1, 2016 Christopher is no lon- ger mayor, but is chairing the Keizer Public Arts Commission, which is working on a pub- lic mural to be done at Town & Country Lanes this year. Joe Egli and Jim Taylor left elected offi ce, though Taylor was re- cently appointed to the Keizer Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Egli served as chair of the Keizer Iris Festival for two years, a position he has handed over to Dave Walery. 2015, continued from Page A1 presented by DRIVE A LITTLE – SAVE A BUNCH! 3893 COMMERCIAL ST SE • SALEM MORE INFO AT NORTHERNLIGHTSTHEATREPUB.COM UFC 195 Lawler vs. Condit Saturday, January 9th, at 11:00 am MOVIE: T HE P EANUTS M OVIE [ PG ] Sensory Sensitive Show ONLY $3 Special showing for kids and adults with Autism or other sensory sensitivities. Lights, Comedy, Laughs! Saturday, Jan 16th SATURDAY, JAN 2ND CHRIS SIMPSON & TRAVIS NELSON —–———— 21 & OVER —————— Live Fights at 5 pm – Tickets $12 9 fi ghts in all on the HUGE screen! Reserved Seats Available Now Online will perform at 7pm and 9pm. Admission is only $10. Ages 21 & over only. Reserved seating for this show. Purchase tickets at box offi ce or on our website. Today in History Facing a popular revolution spearheaded by Fidel Castro’s 26th of July Movement, Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista fl ees the island nation. Amid celebration and chaos in the Cuban capitol of Havana, the U.S. debated how best to deal with the radical Castro and the ominous rumblings of anti- Americanism in Cuba. — January 1, 1959 Food 4 Thought “Never despair, but if you do, work on in despair.” — Edmund Burke, philosopher, born January 1, 1729 The Month Ahead Friday, January 1 – New Year’s Day Happy New Year! Saturday, January 2 Keizer-Salem Area Seniors Pancake Breakfast, 8 to 10 a.m. All you can eat pancake breakfast. $4 per person. Children under 5 eat for free. C4: The Capitol City Comedy Challenge. Six stand-up comedians. Three challenges. One stage. Who’s the winner? Audience decides. 9:30 p.m. $10, 18+ only. 210 Liberty St. SE, Suite 150, Salem, OR 97301. Artists’ reception at the Keizer Art Association’s Enid Joy Mount Gallery at the Keizer Heritage Center, 2-4 p.m. This month’s show: Pacifi c Northwest. Show runs through the end of January. Gallery hours are 1-4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. keizerarts.com. Monday, January 4 Keizer City Council meeting, 7 p.m. in council chambers at Keizer Civic Center, 930 Chemawa Road NE. Tuesday, January 5 Community Build Task Force meeting, 6 p.m. in council chambers at Keizer Civic Center, 930 Chemawa Road NE. Wednesday, January 6 Claggett Creek Watershed Council meeting, 5:30 p.m. at Keizer Civic Center. One problem: the funding was being sought through a business payroll tax. The Salem and Keizer Chambers of Com- merce joined forces in actively fi ghting against the tax, with businesspeople holding signs during busy traffi c times and TV commercials being pro- duced. Freshman Keizer City Councilor Amy Ryan was one of the most vocal opponents and made a big scene at a work session when transit offi cials tried to explain the fi nancial as- pects of future plans. In the end, the transit mea- sure failed. District offi cials have indicated it could be several years before another ballot mea- sure is brought forward. A Keizer Fire District pro- posal for a new equipment bond, on the other hand, cre- ated far less controversy and was approved. Equipment will be purchased over the next 20 years, starting with an ambu- lance to replace one purchased in 2008 that fi re chief Jeff Cow- an has referred to as a lemon. Chamber director stepping down Christine Dieker, the long- time executive director of the Keizer Chamber of Commerce, submitted her resignation in early December. Dieker has been in charge of the chamber since March 1998, aside from a few turbulent months when she was removed in 2003. Dieker did not say she’s re- tiring, instead calling it “semi- retiring” and looking forward to spending more time with family, in particular her grand- children. Dieker said she’ll stay on board until a new director is named, with the hope being such a person could be named on Feb. 3. “Right now my family comes fi rst,” she told the Keiz- ertimes in December. “I want to be a grandma and volunteer at the fi rst grade class my grand- child will be in. (Resigning) was about a desire to be more fo- cused, to give attention to my- self to be a better person health wise, and I’ll be better for my family too.” Big Toy built, highlights changes at KRP There were plenty of obsta- cles to overcome, not the least of which were the nine month delay, a location change and a lack of volunteers. Even the build itself took a week longer looking back in the KT Friday, January 8 – Sunday, January 10 Mary Poppins, the musical stage version of the movie will have four shows as a benefi t for Pentacle Theatre. Performances at 7:30 on January 8 and January 9 with 2 p.m. matinees on January 9 and 10 at Central High School in Independence. Tickets are $20, $15 for those under 18. pentacletheatre.org. Monday, January 11 Keizer City Council work session, 5:45 p.m. in council chambers at Keizer Civic Center, 930 Chemawa Road NE. Tuesday, January 12 Keizer Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting, 6 p.m. in council chambers at Keizer Civic Center, 930 Chemawa Road NE. Wednesday, January 13 Keizer Planning Commission meeting, 6 p.m. in council chambers at Keizer Civic Center, 930 Chemawa Road NE. Thursday, January 14 Keizer Homegrown Theatre presents encore presentations of its 2015 hit, Always, Patsy Cline, at the Kroc Center. 7 p.m., tickets are $18. Performances also on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 15 and 16 and again Jan. 21 through 23. Traffi c Safety/Bikeways/Pedestrian Committee meeting, 6 p.m. in council chambers at Keizer Civic Center, 930 Chemawa Road NE. West Keizer Neighborhood Association meeting, 7 p.m. at Keizer Civic Center, 930 Chemawa Road NE. Monday, January 18 Keizer City Council meeting, 7 p.m. in council chambers at Keizer Civic Center, 930 Chemawa Road NE. Tuesday, January 19 Keizer Points of Interest Committee meeting, 5:30 p.m. in council chambers at Keizer Civic Center, 930 Chemawa Road NE. Thursday, January 21 Volunteer Coordinating Committee meeting, 6 p.m. in council chambers at Keizer Civic Center, 930 Chemawa Road NE. Greater Gubser Neighborhood Association meeting, 7 p.m. at Gubser Elementary School. Tuesday, January 26 Keizer Public Arts Commission meeting, 6 p.m. in council chambers at Keizer Civic Center, 930 Chemawa Road NE. 5 YEARS AGO Pressed to change votes, McKane resigns Councilor David McKane resigned Monday night, citing pressure to change votes on key issues, including a telecom fee, and “recognition that I have little infl uence regarding council decisions” according to the Keizertimes. McKane provided an e-mail between himself and Mayor Lore Christopher. 10 YEARS AGO Family escapes uninjured after early morning fi re A family is safe but staying with relatives after an early morning blaze destroyed the attic and parts of the living room in their Keizer home. Keizer Fire District said it appeared that a wood fi re in the home’s fi replace caused rafters in the attic - which were built too close to the chimney - to overheat and ignite. The family was forced to seek shelter during the holidays in their parents’ home across the street. 15 YEARS AGO Keizer District charts course Keizer Little League could be asked to move from its Ridge Drive complex under the terms of a new management agree- ment, if approved by the Keizer City Council. KEIZERTIMES fi le photos Clockwise from top left: Christine Dieker, Brett Pearson, new mayor Cathy Clark and the Big Toy were top stories in 2015. than expected. But in the end the key thing was the Big Toy play structure was built in June at Keizer Rap- ids Park, with community vol- unteers coming out each day to get the job done. The large play structure was originally going to be built in September 2014, but former mayor Lore Christopher insist- ed a new location was needed. Her wish was granted, but the move required an update to the park’s master plan and borders, a process that took many months and cooperation from sur- rounding governmental entities. While that work resulted in the play structure, it also laid out more specifi c future plans for the park, to include playing fi elds and an indoor sports facil- ity down the road. The Big Toy wasn’t the only visible change at KRP in 2015. Hans Schneider oversaw the installation of three new sand volleyball courts, while Jerry Nuttbrock was in charge of a new patio project at the am- phitheatre. That project has sev- eral more phases to go, while a group is meeting to discuss what should be done with the adjacent Charge house. MHS gets turf fi eld While work was going on at KRP, plenty of work was also being done at McNary High School as a new turf fi eld proj- ect was installed over the sum- mer. The new fi eld was offi cially dedicated during the annual Blue Day celebration in August and marked the next-to-last high school in the Salem-Keiz- er School District to get a turf fi eld. The project cost about $1 million. A key selling point of the turf was increased usage of Flesher Field. It was estimated turf would mean the fi eld could be used 10 times as much com- pared to the old grass surface. Much of the project work involved raising funds. The ac- tual physical work began with taking off the grass surface in June, followed by installation of the turf. Brett Pearson, friend plead guilty Brett Pearson pleaded guilty in March to the murder of his mother Michelle and attempt- ed murder of his father Bill at the family home. In September, Brett and accomplice Robert Miller III were each sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for their actions. The charges mean the two teenagers won’t be eli- gible for parole until after 40 years behind bars. Brett Pearson and Miller both acknowledged being high on drugs when they entered the Pearson family home on March 5, 2014. During Brett’s sentenc- ing, family members expressed anger about the impact of the events, while also expressing compassion and forgiveness. For his part, Brett Pearson accepted responsibility. “I am sorry for everything that happened, the pain I caused, what I put people through,” he said. “My family has to live with something they shouldn’t have to. I was intoxicated, yes, but that’s no excuse at all. I take re- sponsibility for what I’ve done. I’m not the person this crime makes me seem to be. I love my mom and miss her very much.” New mayor; new councilors as well It was a case of mostly old faces in new places in January as the Keizer City Council got a new look. Cathy Clark moved from being a councilor to tak- ing over as mayor from Chris- topher, who had served in that role for 14 years. Former councilor Brandon Smith returned to the dais, while former longtime city em- ployee Roland Herrera joined the council for the fi rst time. Ryan joined the council as well, after years of volunteering in various capacities. Keizer teen recovers from coma MHS junior Austin Verboort, 16, was critically injured when he was in an accident just after leaving the school for the Me- morial Day weekend. He lay in a coma for several weeks but was home by the end of sum- mer. While Verboort was in the hospital, the community rallied around the family. For example, on June 3 the Keizer Dutch Bros. Coffee had a one-day fun- draiser and brought in $20,900. A gofundme.com account raised nearly $25,000. Though slowed by injuries, Verboort returned to school in the fall and was even elected to the MHS Homecoming court. local weather public hearings The Keizer City Coun- cil will hold a public hearing on Monday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. to consider amendment to the master plans for Keizer Rapids Park and Chalmers Jones Park. The hearing will take place in council chambers at Keizer Civic Center, 930 Chemawa Road NE. The Keizer Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. to consider proposed revisions to day care standards in various sections of city code. The hearing will take place in council chambers. sudoku Enter digits from 1-9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square. We are Everything Except Overpriced KEIZERTIMES.COM Web Poll Results Have you ever permanently kept a New Year’s resolution? 20 YEARS AGO 61% – No 39% – Yes According to crime statistics provided by the Oregon State Police’s Law Enforcement Data System, 1995 was a record year for crime in Keizer. Vote in a new poll every Thursday! GO TO KEIZERTIMES.COM Criminals busy in Keizer in ‘95 Heated races for fi re board, more There was plenty of interest in the spring as several seats for the Keizer Fire District, Salem- Keizer School Board and Sa- lem-Keizer Transit District were contested. Chet Patterson defeated Marion County Fire District No. 1 employee James Mulhern for a spot on the KFD board of directors. In the other KFD race, Betty Hart beat Taylor for the position. In the school board race, Chuck Lee won his third term by easily beating challenger Tim Moles, who had earlier come clean after previous legal issues. Meanwhile, Colleen Busch defeated Richard Stevenson in the battle to replace Brad Coy on the transit board. Coy has since moved back to Alaska. Simple Cremation $695 Inexpensive Burial and Funeral Options Pre-Planning Available On-Site Crematory 4365 RIVER RD N, KEIZER 503.393.7037