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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 2016)
SINCE 1979 • VOLUME 38, NO. 36 SECTION A AUGUST 19, 2016 By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes The last time a total solar eclipse passed over the entirety of the contiguous United States Woodrow Wilson was president, stamps were 2 cents, World War I was ending and the fi rst grocery bag with handles debuted in St. Paul, Minn. All of that is to say, when the total solar eclipse arrives Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, it’s going to be a big deal. “It’s something of a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity – unless you are able to travel anywhere to go see one, and there are people who chase eclipses,” said Chris Claysmith, an astronomy instuctor at Chemeketa Community College. Total solar eclipses aren’t exactly rarities – the last one visible in a small portion of the U.S. occurred 38 years ago – but they happen over open ocean more often than not, which means laying eyes on them comes with a hefty price tag. This time around Oregon is one of only 12 states that will experience totality, meaning the moon will pass directly between the earth and sun. It will create a near-complete darkening of the sky and the possibility of seeing stars. “It’s something of a cosmic coincidence,” said Tom McDonough, a semi-retired Chemeketa instructor who remains $1.00 involved with the Chemeketa Planetarium. “The sun is 400 times larger than the moon, but the moon is 400 times closer to earth. If aliens were to visit our solar system, they would come to earth to see the eclipses because of the show it puts on.” The partial eclipse will begin in Keizer about 9:05 a.m. and reach totality at 10:18 a.m. The totality will last 1 minute and 47 seconds in city limits. The eclipse is also occurring at a prime time for viewing, said local astronomy enthusiast Norman Friedman, “In August, the earth is still pretty far away from the sun, which means that it will get even darker than it would at another time of year.” The constellation of factors making the Salem-Keizer area a prime spot for viewing has some locals expecting an infl ux of 30,000 to 40,000 visitors in the days leading up to the celestial event. Many hotels are reporting they’re already booked solid. In Keizer, the Keizer Parks Foundation is planning to turn Keizer Rapids Park into a hotbed of activity for visitors. Foundation members Donna Bradley and Rich Ford presented their proposal to the Keizer City Council at its meeting Monday, Aug. 15. Options for MHS parking impact PAGE A2 New principal at Cummings PAGE A5 Please see ECLIPSE, Page 9 Small gains, big sacrifices Repeal of marijuana distancing denied PAGE A5 PRUNING OF BRANCHES R EM O VA L Please see PARKS, Page A8 AL OS ST G O W IN R SPRINKLER MAINTENANCE A SS M AF LE P DIS G By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes As Keizer’s parks and facilities supervisor, one of Robert Johnson’s most rewarding jobs is planting a tree. “I can plant one and, in seven or eight years, drive by and there is a family having a picnic in its shade,” Johnson said. However, that one tree can command a lot of at- tention over the course of its life. Priority No. 1 is water. Many of Keizer’s parks have built-in irrigation systems, but the head that delivers water to the tree might be 15 years old, and it had an expected life of 10 years. If the head is in a high-traffi c area, it may be stepped on repeatedly during the course of a day and need regular adjusting to ensure proper fl ow. Trees also get sick or infested with any number of critters, and Johnson may need to enlist a tree specialist to diagnose a problem and then add the needed treatment plan into an already busy schedule. If the tree was planted near the park’s edge and it grows into a neighboring yard, it’s going to need to be limbed, and it may even need to be limbed regu- larly to ensure healthy growth. The grass around the tree also needs to be cut regularly to maintain usability. Weeds and invasive species in the area need to be removed. And let’s not forget the leaves. Come fall, the tree is going to drop its haul on the grass below and, the longer they sit, the more damage they are going to do to the grass. Blowing leaves and hauling them out is going to require more time and money, instead Johnson and Don Shelton, Keizer’s other full-time parks employee, keep mowers running well into November for leaf control if the weather permits. All that is for one tree. Keizer has 240 acres of park space. “I’m always looking for a better way to do something and tweaking things a little bit at a time, but I feel like we’re running out of tweaks,” Johnson said. City offi cials are trying to Shelton goes to the dog park at Keizer Rapids Park fi gure out a way to increase funds available for parks maintenance and improvements, likely through a fee to fi x a leaky dog fountain. Johnson heads to Claggett added to utility bills. To understand how the fee would Creek Park to check on irrigation. After 7:30 a.m., support parks employees’ efforts, I accompanied John- residents start showing up with their pets for morn- son as he made his rounds Thursday morning, Aug. 11. ing exercise and fi ring off the irrigation system can drench an unsus- The magic pecting visitor. hour is 6:30 to Johnson 7:30 a.m. “ I’m always looking for a better drives up to the Johnson, Shelton and one way to do something and tweaking control box and points out some of the city’s two seasonal workers things a little bit at a time, but I feel of the larger dry spots in the turf start early to get like we’re running out of tweaks.” as he does. a jump on some “I noticed maintenance is- — Robert Johnson, these a couple sues. Parks Supervisor of days ago, and usually it is a sign of the heads not working prop- erly,” he said. “Because of limited funding, we can only change them when they break. That’s an issue because you’re not being proac- tive, you’re chasing prob- lems.” PE Parks make do with meager funding KEIZERTIMES/Andrew Jackson Tommy John surgery yields positive results for pitcher PAGE A10