SINCE 1979 • VOLUME 38, NO. 11
SECTION A
DECEMBER 16, 2016
$1.00
A
B
It’s beginning to look a lot like
C
Christmas
D
7-Eleven
franchisees
retire
PAGE A2
E
KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald and Parker Kehret
Christmas cheer was everywhere you looked in Keizer
last week. A: A Keizer Holiday Lights parade entrant
waves from the Willamette Valley Bank fl oat on Satur-
day, Dec. 10. B: Kate Martorano checks in at the Keizer
Fire District Santa Breakfast Sunday, Dec. 11. C: Car-
los Miriam and Damian Pineda wrap presents for the
KNOW Giving Basket project Thursday, Dec. 8. D: Myah
Husted bundled up to watch the parade. E: Santa waves
to the crowd during the parade.
Santa
Breakfast
PAGE A5
Forest sale vote brings protest to Keizer Parks survey
may arrive
this month
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
A hearing by the Oregon
State Land Board regarding
the potential sale of a state for-
est in southwest Oregon drew
protests outside Keizer Civic
Center Tuesday, Dec. 13.
The board, consisting of
Gov. Kate Brown, Secretary of
State Jeanne Atkins and State
Treasurer Ted Wheeler were
expected to make a decision
whether to proceed with the
sale of Elliott State Forest to a
private company, but delayed a
vote after hearing from more
than 80 people during public
testimony.
Prior to the 10 a.m. meet-
ing, Oregon residents rep-
resenting cities and regions
up and down the Interstate
5 corridor gathered outside
Keizer Civic Center to sing,
chant and voice opposition to
the sale.
The land board is consider-
ing the sale of the forest be-
cause it has become a drag on
Oregon’s Common School
KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald
Aiyana and Oliver Gonzales, of Walton, Ore., deliver speeches to protesters before a meeting to
discuss selling the Elliott State Forest Tuesday, Dec. 13. The pair also testifi ed against the sale
during a public hearing on the matter.
Fund. Elliott State Forest
was consolidated in the early
1900s to generate long-term
funding through managed
timber harvests. However, in
recent years, due to renewed
focus on endangered species
that call the forest home – in-
cluding the northern spotted
owl, marbled murrelet and
Coho salmon – maintenance
Please see FOREST, Page A11
Chimney smolders at funeral home
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
A chimney fi re in the cre-
matorium at Keizer Funeral
Chapel on River Road North,
kept crews from throughout
the region busy Monday, Dec.
12.
The Keizer Fire District,
Marion County Fire District
No. 1 and Salem Fire Depart-
ment all responded to the call
that came in shortly after 5:30
p.m. and remained on the
scene for several hours mak-
ing sure it was doused.
Firefi ghters arrived on the
scene to smoke coming out
from eaves all around the
building, but no visible fl ames.
The source of the smoke was
determined to be the chimney
of the business’ crematorium.
“It was glowing red hot and
there was wood frame around
it and that was beginning to
smolder. The ceiling is 10 foot
high, but there is an attic space
Please see CHIMNEY, Page A11
Firefi ghters cut into an exteri-
or wall to reach the crematori-
um chimney at Keizer Funeral
Chapel Monday, Dec. 12.
KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
The Keizer Parks and Rec-
reation Advisory Board kicked
plans to survey Keizer residents
on support for parks into high
gear at its meeting Tuesday,
December 13.
Half of the city can expect
to see the surveys show up
with their December utility
bill. The other half will receive
them with their January bill.
The survey will also be posted
online in the coming weeks.
Respondents will have until
March 6 to return the survey
or fi ll it out online.
The survey, which has been
a topic of discussion at the
parks board and city council
level for more than six months,
questions residents about their
priorities for maintaining and
improving Keizer parks and
what level of fee they would
be willing to support, options
range from no fee to $8 per
month.
Each fee comes with its
own consequences or benefi ts.
No fee could result in the clos-
ing and/or removal of some
parks amenities. The $2 and $4
options would allow for bet-
ter, but not necessarily ideal
maintenance. The $6 or $8
fees would generate a health-
ier dedicated parks fund that
would allow for full mainte-
nance and additional amenities.
If the results come back
in support of the fee, the city
council could enact it without
a ballot measure.
Please see PARKS, Page A11
Girls lose at
W. Albany
PAGE A12
Jingle Dash
results
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