SINCE 1979 • VOLUME 38, NO. 18
SECTION A
APRIL 15, 2016
$1.00
More
changes
at Schoolhouse Square
new state regulations regard-
By CRAIG MURPHY
ing raised minimum wage as
Of the Keizertimes
It has already been quite a key reason for the decision.
Starbucks is moving slight-
the busy year at Schoolhouse
ly south along River Road to
Square.
Since Darren Bloch and the small strip mall recently
his Bloch Properties com- vacated by fi ve businesses next
to
Nancy's
pany closed
Burgers and
on a deal
Fries. That
to purchase “ We’re making
move has left
the
shop-
good progress.
the future of
ping center
We would love
Mr. Video/
in December,
LimeBerry in
change has
to have
limbo.
been happen-
everything fi lled.”
GISI Mar-
ing at a rapid
keting Group
pace.
The
— Darren Bloch, closed
its
new B Fit
Principal,
Bloch Properties
location
in
gym opened
Schoolhouse
in the former
Offi ce Depot space in late Square at the end of March,
March, but that move meant with signs in the offi ce win-
the Anytime Fitness next door dow confi rming the news.
A new tenant for that space
closed at the end of January.
As B Fit was opening, Big is expected to be announced
Town Hero Keizer closed, soon, perhaps within the next
with owner Scott White citing week.
Wall pads
at Wall Field
KEIZERTIMES/Craig Murphy
PAGE A2
ABOVE: Work is being done on the roof at the former
Roth's. LEFT: The sign on display in the window of the
former GISI Marketing Group offi ce in Schoolhouse
Square.
For the last couple of weeks,
a crew from Pfeifer Roofi ng
has been on the roof of the
former Roth's Fresh Market
building. That has prompted
more wondering if a
new tenant is coming
to the space, which
has been vacant for
nearly four years.
“There's nothing
to announce,” Bloch
told the Keizertimes
on Tuesday. “When
we
bought
the
property in December, the
roof was in dire need of
replacement. That has been on
my calendar, just waiting for
the right weather to do the
work. It's not being done for
a specifi c client.”
Bloch said a new tenant is
expected to soon move into
the space vacated by GISI, plus
two adjoining vacant spaces.
As he has mentioned
previously, Bloch is moving
forward with plans to have
a new pad building at the
corner of River and Chemawa
Roads, which would mean
the demolition of the current
building housing Starbucks
Please see CHANGES, Page A9
Gate not being closed at MHS Holdover
budget
year
predicted
By CRAIG MURPHY
Of the Keizertimes
For Charles Anderson, the
solution is simple: close the gate
between McNary High School and
the adjoining neighborhood to the
west.
MHS principal Erik Jespersen
isn't closing the gate students can
walk through, either after walking
to school from home or after
parking in the neighborhood.
The two men – along with Sgt.
Trevor Wenning from the Keizer
Police Department – met for more
than an hour April 6. After the
meeting, Anderson announced he
plans to fi le a formal complaint.
For Anderson, his concerns are
the increased number of students
parking along MacArthur Street,
Newberg Drive and Max Court,
sometimes doing illegal acts such as
blocking driveways or fi re hydrants.
He brought up his concerns at the
KEIZERTIMES/Andrew Jackson
Please see GATE, Page A11
A number of McNary High School students park their vehicles all along MacArthur
Street, which has drawn the ire of some neighbors.
Cab
insurance
issue
dropped
PAGE A8
By CRAIG MURPHY
Of the Keizertimes
John Teague wouldn't mind
having another police offi cer
on board.
But Keiz-
er's
police
chief told the
Keizer Long
Range Plan-
ning
Task
Force
on
J. Teague
Monday he'll
take what he is given.
Adding
back
offi cer
positions to the Keizer
Police Department has been
discussed the last several
Please see BUDGET, Page A9
Housing ‘dark days’ are over, realtor says
By CRAIG MURPHY
Of the Keizertimes
Have you been looking
to sell your home but been
waiting for the perfect time?
Local realtor Amy McLeod
with Keller Williams Capital
City Realty has some advice
for you, which she shared
with members of the Rotary
Amy McLeod gave an
update on the housing
market on April 7.
KEIZERTIMES/Craig Murphy
Club of Keizer April 7.
“What the heck are you
people waiting for?” McLeod
asked audience members.
Translation: this is the
prime time to sell your
current home.
McLeod said there is a
shortage of homes to sell,
which is good news for
someone looking to either
downsize or move into a new
home.
“The next 24 months look
doggone good for the market,”
Bethell
named
Chamber
director
By CRAIG MURPHY
Of the Keizertimes
The way Danielle Bethell
sees it, her new job isn't new.
Bethell
was named
executive
director
of
the
Keizer
Chamber of
Commerce
on Tuesday.
She starts her
D. Bethell
new position
on April 18, taking the place
of Christine Dieker, who an-
nounced her retirement back
in December. Dieker will help
her replacement through the
end of April.
Please see CHAMBER, Page A7
she said. “It appears there is a
sustained upward trajectory.
The millennials are buying
their fi rst homes and the baby
boomers are downsizing or
retiring to a new home, or
maybe purchasing a second
home.”
McLeod, who noted she
was “so glad the dark days”
of the recent housing bust are
over, said the 25- to 34-year-
old millennials are dominating
the home purchases currently.
Please see McLEOD, Page A7
Feast or
famine at
the plate
PAGE A10
golden
night
KEIZERTIMES/Lyndon Zaitz
Adam Krein and Angela Schaffers joined several hundred others at the annual Rotary Club of Keizer Go for the Gold dinner.
The Rotary Club of Keizer
celebnrated its 50th annivesary in style
with its annual Go for the Gold Raffl e
Party on Saturday, April 9.
More than 250 attendees enjoyed
a buffet dinner, a silent auction and a
video presentation of the club's past 50
years of service in Keizer.
The grand prize of $10,000 in gold
and silver was won by Cindy Cowley
of Salem. She plans to hold onto her
prize.
"I've never had gold," said Cowley.
The second prize, a $1,200 travel
voucher, was won by Nanette Forster.
The evening's 50/50 raffl e netted
Nathan McEachern more than $1,150
in cash.
The event raised more than $66,000
for the club's community projects.
For more photos see Page A5
MHS Baseball
starts 1-2
PAGE A10