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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 2019)
FEBRUARY 8, 2019, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A7 Opinion Is Northam a racist? After a search, it was diffi cult to fi nd anything that Virginia Gover- nor Ralph Northam has done that would arouse so much animosity towards him. So much so that his detractors called upon him to resign, literally within hours of a photo rev- elation allegedly to be Northam in either black face or in a Ku Klux Klan costume. However, when one re- members that we have a seriously divided and partisan electorate look- ing to fi nd any way to miniaturize the compe- tition, and with so many also eager to use the ra- cial card to gain advantage, all begins to come into focus. A current matter has demonstrat- ed how ignitable the racial thing is. It came in a press conference with Gov. Ralph Northam, he providing his explanation for a photo determined to display racial overtones. He said in a prepared speech, followed by a Q and A session, that he does not believe the photograph in his 1984 medical school yearbook, depicting a person in black face alongside one in a KKK outfi t, was him. “I am not either of those people in that photo” he told media at the executive man- sion in Richmond last week. He views the photo as “shocking and horrifi c.” He did confess to having won a dance contest in San Antonio in 1984, where he was stationed in the U.S. military after completing his medical school training. On that occasion, he won a competition by dressing up to imitate Michael Jack- son, using a costume and shoe pol- ish. He said he’d made mistakes and lives up to them, having grown with age and maturity. He repeated mul- tiple times how sorry he was to cause people upset but he won’t resign. During the last week, Northam has been repeatedly encouraged to leave his gubernatorial position, these demands coming at him from left and right, although his Lt. Gov- ernor Justin Fairfax, while admit- ting he was shaken by the photo, has not abandoned Northam as also old friends and acquaintances have stood by him. Other Democrats have used proverbial jackboots to trounce him: They are suspected in part at least to be motivated by the Oval Offi ce prize. Those Democrats run- ning for president were joined by a crowd of Afri- can-Americans, including the Reverend Al Sharpton. Sharpton, a man whose own critics say of him that he’s to blame for the deterioration of U.S. race relations. He and oth- ers who’ve risen through the ranks to “stardom” have declared outrage over Northam while their statements are not always free of hypocrisy. What bothers me about Northam is that he has been clean throughout his 59 years. I wonder how many of those “throwing stones” could make that statement and stand the test of scrutiny. Further, Northam is a fam- ily guy with a wife of 32 years and a son and daughter. He has no re- cord of any call girl coming forward to report a payoff to keep quiet, an Access Hollywood tape, or committed a crime of any kind. His apologies come across as honest and sincere. He’s pained at knowing he may inadvertently have hurt people. Many people jumping all over Northam claim virtue by their Christian faith and the teach- ings of Jesus Christ. Yet, all that ho- lier-than-thou stuff is tossed over- board when they cannot accept a man professing his innocence and kindly asking for it to be recognized. Apparently, their ambition for power, fame and riches has blinded them. Schrader and Alzheimer’s fi ght heimer’s public health interventions to be implemented across the country. Thanks to Rep. Schrader’s support for the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act, we will now be better able to fi ght this devastating disease as we continue to work to- wards our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s—and we look forward to seeing him continue to pri- oritize this disease as a public health crisis that must be addressed. Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth lead- ing cause of death in the United States —which is why Congress must remain committed to action on this devas- tating disease. By applying a public health approach to reduce risk, detect early symptoms, and advance care, Rep. Schrader is helping to change the tra- jectory of this devastating disease. Alise Liepnieks Alzheimer’s Association Salem gono h. mcintyro Web Poll Results Who do you think will win Super Bowl 53? LA Rams: 32% Now England Patriots: 68% Vote in a new poll every Thursday! GO TO KEIZERTIMES.COM Keizertimes Whoatland Publishing Corp. 142 Chomawa Road N. • Koizor, Orogon 97303 Phono: 503.390.1051 • www.koizortimos.com MANAGING EDITOR Eric A. Howald oditor@koizortimos.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Ono yoar: $35 in Marion County, $43 outsido Marion County, $55 outsido Orogon ASSOCIATE EDITOR Matt Rawlings nows@koizortimos.com ADVERTISING Paula Mosoloy advortising@koizortimos.com PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PRODUCTION MANAGER & GRAPHIC DESIGNER POSTMASTER Publication No: USPS 679-430 Sond addross changos to: Androw Jackson graphics@koizortimos.com BUSINESS MANAGER Loah Stovons billing@koizortimos.com EDITOR & PUBLISHER Lyndon Zaitz publisher@keizertimes.com Koizortimos Circulation 142 Chomawa Road N. Koizor, OR 97303 Poriodical postago paid at Salom, Orogon RECEPTION Lori Boyolor INTERN Lauron Murphy Keizer’s fi rst police chief passes Robert J. Thomas July 4, 1932 – Jan. 28, 2019 Keizer’s fi rst chief of police, Rob- was stationed at Ent AFB in Colo- ert J. Thomas, age 86, passed away rado Springs, Colo., working as an peacefully at his home with his fam- A.P.E. (Air Police). That is where he met his future wife, Betty Lou Lang. ily at his side on Jan. 28, 2019. Robert (Bob) was born in Mt. They wed on Feb. 13, 1954, and were married for 65 years. Angel, on July 4, 1932 Bob will always be re- to Lawrence and Clara membered as a bright, (Schmitz). Thomas and had shining light in the various four sisters and one brother. communities and church- Bob and his family moved to es he served. He was most a farm in Silverton and had proud of being the fi rst po- several jobs while growing lice chief of the newly or- up. He learned to plow be- ganized city of Keizer. Prior hind a horse, bale hay, pick R. Thomas to that he was captain at the hops, raise pigs, cows and Marion County Sheriff ’s chickens, and had a newspa- per route all before graduating high Offi ce. He was a 4th degree mem- school in 1950. Bob joined the U.S. ber of the Knights of Columbus, Air Force at the beginning of the Grand Knight at both the Salem Korean War. He left home for Lack- 5060 Council and Keizer 10594 and land Air Force Base (AFB) on his 4th degree Assembly 900. Bob was mother’s birthday, Aug. 8, 1950. He a founding member of St. Edward Catholic Church in Keizer, where he met Rev. Charles Taaffe and to- gether they started the Father Ta- affe Foundation to support unwed mothers. He became a long term member of the board while Cath- olic Community Services took over the program. Bob enjoyed camping, hunting, fi shing and woodworking. He was very proud of his chil- dren, Susan (Bill) Ridgway, Ron (Kim) Thomas, and Robert Jr. II (Gina) Thomas, plus seven grand- children and one great grandchild. Bob was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Melvin, and by two of his own children, Robert Jr. and Brenda Lee. Funeral services were held Thurs- day, Feb. 7, 2019, 10:30 a.m. at St. Edward Catholic Church in Keizer with Rev. Gary Zezr offi ciating. Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service assisted the family. Shoe drive rubber hits the road (Gono H. McIntyro sharos his opin- ion froquontly in tho Koizortimos.) KEIZERTIMES.COM logals@koizortimos.com Submit an obituary through our wobsito at koizortimos.com or sond an omail to: oditor@koizortimos.com lottors To the Editor: The Alzheimer’s Asso- ciation estimates that there are more than 65,000 Ore- gonians living with Alzhei- mer’s disease and more than 184,000 Alzheimer’s caregivers in our state. As an Alzheimer’s advocate and Alzhei- mer’s Association staff member who interacts with these individuals on a daily basis, it is my honor to represent them. Congress recently passed the Build- ing Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act with a strong bipartisan vote and I want to thank Representative Schrader for championing this meaningful legisla- tion. The BOLD Infrastructure for Alz- heimer’s Act will allow effective Alz- LEGAL NOTICES obituarios facobook.com/koizortimos twittor.com/koizortimos KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald McNary High School studonts Zahvia Stokos and Joo Alvarado spoko with mombors of tho Koizor Council Monday, Fob. 4, to romind thom and tho community that AVID’s annual shoo drivo is in full offoct. AVID studonts aro collocting athlotic shoos and boots to provido for studonts in nood. Tho Coltics aro also battling othor Salom-Koizor schools in a raco to colloct tho most shoos, socks and shoolacos. Itoms can bo droppod off at McNary High School in tho commons botwoon now and Fob. 26.