SEPTEMBER 13, 2019, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5
Opinion
Bball hoops need more discussion
By JONATHAN THOMPSON
On a sunny summer afternoon
streets all over Keizer are alive with
kids on their bikes and playing
basketball. Those basketball hoops
are now, for the most part, banned
in our neighborhoods. I challenge
us as a community to do better for
our kids.
The
Keizertimes
deserves a big “thank
you” for covering
this issue. They have
shown us why local,
community focused
journalism
is
so
important. I do want
to take issue with
one part of a recent
editorial entitled Sidewalks are for all
where the author describes this issue
as an example of how democracy
should work. He says a complaint
is made and legislation is enacted
to fi x it. The problem with the
basketball hoop issue is that those
making the complaint did not
show up at the Keizer City Council
meeting to make their case. As the
paper notes, only one person spoke
at the meeting and he was against
the ordinance. How important
could the complaint have been?
This issue requires a much larger
community discussion than we have
had. We want kids to turn off the TV
and get some exercise but we are
making it harder and harder to do so.
In our case, the closest park to our
home is on the other side of a busy
street and does not have a basketball
hoop. The closest school is across
two busy streets and the hoops are
tucked back behind where we won’t
let our daughter go without close
supervision.
We
have
roads
that allow cars, bikes,
pedestrians and mass
transit. On some roads
in Keizer we have a
major bikeway which
attracts riders from all
over the world. Cars
and bikes coexist there.
Surely we can all come together and
fi nd a way to accommodate both
pedestrians and basketball hoops on
the sidewalk.
I challenge us as a community
to do better. Let’s show other cities
the “Keizer Way.” As the editorial’s
headline states “sidewalks are for
all.” Let’s make that headline true
by fi nding a way for our kids to
have hoops while leaving space for
people to walk.
guest
opinion
(Jonathan Thompson lives in
Keizer with his wife and 10 year
old daughter who likes to play
basketball.)
Downward spirals of
depression can be deadly
By MICHAEL GERSON
There are alarming consequenc-
es for the survival of human beings
and the success of the society they
inhabit when the brain suffers with-
out treatment. And it has
become
frighteningly
common for Americans
to fi nd their way into de-
spair and self-murder.
More than 7% of
American adults had at
least one major depres-
sive episode in 2017.
Nearly 13% of the U.S. population
likely took antidepressant medi-
cation during the past month, yet
suicide rates have risen to the high-
est since World War II. The odds
of dying from suicide or an opioid
overdose -- the “diseases of despair”
-- are now higher than that of dying
from a motor vehicle accident.
These problems are tragical-
ly concentrated among the young.
More than three million people aged
12-17 had at least one major depres-
sive episode in 2017 -- most accom-
panied by some form of severe im-
pairment. The highest prevalence of
major depressive disorder is among
people aged 18-25. Some claim
these numbers have risen mainly
due to increased reporting. But that
can’t be true of suicides. The suicide
rate for people aged 18-19 increased
56% between 2008 and 2017. The
rate of suicide attempts among peo-
ple aged 22-23 doubled in the same
period. The number of emergency
room treatments for self-harm has
increased, as well as hospital admis-
sions for suicidal thoughts.
America’s mental health crisis is
very real. Yet explanations for this
rising tide of despair feel insuffi cient.
The trend doesn’t seem tied to broad
economic indicators -- though the
death of the blue-collar economy in
some places may play a role. Some
have tried to blame the anxieties
produced by a “gig economy” -- but
indicting Uber for human hopeless-
ness seems a stretch.
Ready access to highly addic-
tive opioids certainly is a source of
numbed despair in many communi-
ties. Ready access to fi rearms plays
a role in many suicides. Digital ad-
diction and social media have trans-
formed -- and distorted -- the social
lives of most young people. Digital
connection can deliver the poison
of cyberbullying intravenously, in a
steady drip. The withdrawal from di-
rect, human contact with friends is
associated with a variety of mental
health issues.
A few things we know. Many
Americans have tragically limited ac-
cess to mental health services. Some
health insurance plans don’t provide
adequate coverage. Some people are
forced to drive long distances or wait
on long lists. Some are discouraged
from seeking help by continuing
stigma. (About 20% of Americans
have lied to cover up
their use of mental health
services.) As a result of all
these factors, more than
one-third of adults with
major depressive disorder
don’t get treated. About
60% of adolescents who
have major depressive
episodes don’t receive care.
We know that jails and prisons are
not the best places to provide men-
tal health care -- though likely more
than 350,000 people with mental
illness are currently behind bars. We
should not trust many of these cases
to the tender mercies of the penal
system.
And we know that the deepest
human needs can’t be described in
purely material or political terms.
Though friendship, belonging and
shared purpose are intangible, they
are as essential to humans as air and
bread. Yet nearly half of Americans
say they are often lonely. About 20%
of millennials report that they have
no friends at all. Many of us have
lost faith in the institutions that once
gathered individuals into common
effort and identity. Many of us have
grown rusty in the task of social con-
nection.
Mental health is different from
many other policy issues. It involves
both a public debate and personal
responsibility to friends and acquain-
tances -- a duty of active, empathic,
invasive concern.
Isolation is the growth medium
for severe depression and suicid-
al thoughts. Without hearing some
other, kinder voice, the echoes of
self-condemnation can grow loud-
er and louder. Without outside in-
tervention, a downward spiral can
be rapid, uninterrupted and deadly.
People who struggle with depres-
sion need others in their lives who
are alert to the signs of suffering and
violate polite boundaries. They need
someone who is willing to say: “You
may not want to hear this, but I care
about you and I’m worried about
you. Please tell me how you are
hurting and allow me to help.”
This voice can come from a health
care professional. It can come from
family members, or from friends and
colleagues, or from a support group
in which the confession of need is
expected and welcomed. On men-
tal health issues, progress will be
measured by increased focus and
resources -- but also by the loving
welcome of our deepest selves.
other
voices
(Washington Post Writers Group)
Keizertimes
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2019-2020 President
Oregon Newspaper Publishers
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PRISON: ‘He shot her because
she was a possession’
(Continued from Page A1)
testimony of their experts, psychologist Robert Stanulis
and sociologist William Brown. They had done so by
presenting information that both men had previously
testifi ed as expert witnesses in other cases against defendants
who were veterans and who had been diagnosed with
PTSD by Stanulis.
Tripp overruled the objection.
The prosecution, led by Katie Suver, asked the court to
impose a sentence of 25 years to life. They further asked
that Zielinski serve 25 years before he would be eligible
for parole with no early release for good behavior and that
he not be allowed to participate in alternative incarceration
programs.
The defense, led by Matthew Tracey, asked that the
judge consider their client’s circumstances. He argued
that while Measure 11 is a baseline, or guide, it is not the
defi nitive basis for which sentencing must occur.
The attorney appealed to Tripp to take into
consideration Zielinski’s exemplary military service and
that he had served with distinction, that he had no prior
criminal history and that he had been diagnosed with
PTSD by Stanulis.
Describing the proposed sentence of 25 years to life as
“cruel and unusual punishment,” Tracey asked the judge
to “go over and above” what the law suggested and set
a precedent by imposing only 10 years of jail time. He
continued by stating that this was an opportunity for the
judge to set a precedent showing that the court does not
have to be tied to the Measure 11 law.
Suver argued that this was the standard sentence for
murder cases similar to Zielinski’s. She cited several cases
as precedent to demonstrate her point that the Measure
11 standard is not unconstitutional and is not cruel and
unusual punishment when applied to Zielinski.
“The defense’s counsel wants to rely on the extreme
emotional distress testimony which was discounted by the
jury,” Suver said.
Tripp said that the jury had ruled that the defendant
was not under extreme emotional distress, that he had
intentionally and with malice shot his wife in the head.
“He killed an innocent person. He took the mother
of his children,” Tripp said denying the defense’s motion.
She added that there are people who would think that a
sentence of 25 years to life was not enough of a punishment
for his crimes.
Suver also asked the judge to impose restitution of
$9,495.74 for medical bills, site cleanup, adoption fees and
insurance fees. The judge granted this motion.
Tracey then requested that the judge consider the eight
years that Zielinski had previously been incarcerated as
time served and she agreed.
Zielinski’s defense attorneys asked the court to waive
their legal fees. Tripp asked the defendant if he had worked
while previously incarcerated. He replied he had. She then
asked him how much he earned. He responded that he
had worked two different jobs while incarcerated with the
most recent one paying him $140 a month. She then asked
LEAGUE,
continued from Page A1
McNary Youth Baseball uses the
KLL Park when possible, but the cost
of slot fees, or fi eld rental fees, often
pushes them into other parks where
the fees are lower or non-existent.
Keizer Little League currently holds
the contract for park operations and
will continue to do so through at
least fall 2020.
Without question, the parties in-
volved are wrestling with big ques-
tions and the fate of the park hangs
in the balance, but much of the
task force meetings are consumed
in avoidance of the elephant in the
room: does the community – as a
whole – value the park and, if so,
what should be done to maintain
it and provide for any future invest-
ments?
For the members of the task force,
it results in a lot of chicken-or-egg
discussion about what is needed to
chart a course forward.
The current plans, for a new
board of directors to oversee the
operations and improvement of the
park, are dependent on generating
enough revenue through the con-
cession stand to pay for upkeep.
The expectation is that parents and
supporters of MYB and Keizer Lit-
tle League will ramp up volunteer
involvement to staff the concession
stand.
After a rejuvenation of conces-
sion revenues in 2018, the cash fl ow
dipped this year, said Brad Arnsmei-
er, president of Keizer Little League.
A slippage in league participation
overall in 2019 left its mark on the
revenue generated.
“The problem is there were not
enough games at the park, and even
the events that we thought would
pull us through didn't yield enough,”
Arnsmeier said. “One tournament
that could have had 30 to 40 games
was down to fi ve because the num-
ber of teams eligible to participate
dropped.”
An estimate of expected conces-
how much the defendant owed his attorneys. Zielinski’s
attorneys responded that the defendant would owe $9,757.
The judge denied the defense attorney’s request to
waive the fees stating that the defendant should be able to
pay them over the next 17 years.
Family members stepped forward to address the court
and the defendant once both the state and defense had
made their arguments for sentencing. Debra Geddes, the
victim’s sister, spoke fi rst.
“Our relationship changed to accommodate you,”
Geddes said describing how the defendant had managed
and monitored his wife’s communication and visits
with her family. “Even after she has died we have had to
accommodate you. We’ve had to watch our lives unfold in
the media.”
“Your family can still hug you and share their lives with
you, instead our family marks anniversaries, days we will
not share with her,” she said.
“Take responsibility for your actions and let this family
heal,” Geddes concluded.
Geddes was followed by Zielinski’s oldest daughter,
Hunter Montague and Hunter’s mother Tami Montague.
“This was the most traumatic event that I’ve ever
experienced. I am devastated. I will never forgive him for
this,” Hunter said.
“It has been eight years, seven months and 24 days since
you turned Hunter’s would upside down and now you’ve
continued to turn her world upside down. She’s never
gotten over that. You took away someone who was there
for her,” Tami Montague said.
Rhonda Tupper, Lisa Zielinski’s mother, spoke next.
“I am Lisa’s grieving mother and you are an unspeakable
monster. You took away Payton’s mother and Hunter’s
stepmother and you took my only biological child. I will
always despise you,” Tupper told the defendant.
Once the family had fi nished with their statements
Zielinski asked if he could make a statement. The judge
granted his request. He addressed his words to various
members of Lisa Zielinski’s family.
“To Mrs. Tupper, no words can undo what I did. I know
what she was to you and what you were to her,” Zielinski
said. He went on to tell the victim’s sister, Debra Geddes,
that he was sorry for taking Lisa from her. He told his
children that he had failed them
“I am sorry to you all but sorry won’t change what I’ve
done,” he fi nished.
The judge then addressed the family who were sitting
in the gallery.
“I am so sorry. No one should have to endure what
you have endured. I am aware of the devastation this man
has brought to your family. He shot her because she was
a possession and the possession no longer wanted to be
possessed,” Tripp said.
At that point, Tripp formally announced that Zielinski
was sentenced to 25 years to life for the murder of Lisa
Zielinski with no early release or alternative incarceration
programs and no option for parole until he has served the
fi rst 25 years.
sion revenue this year is not yet avail-
able, he added.
The task force would like to see
annual concession revenues of at
least $35,000, but achieving that
would require more volunteers
during times when outside tourna-
ments are in session.
June and July tend to be the slow-
est months for the park and prime
time for adult and travel leagues.
Matt Lawyer, the Keizer Parks Ad-
visory Board member on the task
force, suggested scheduling more
tournaments during that time.
“To place additional burden on
the youth leagues at a time when it is
supposed to be a down time … that's
a big ask,” Arnsmeier said. Arnsmeier
said the current demands of the Lit-
tle League presidency are the reason
he is choosing to step aside later this
year.
Additionally, scheduling outside
tournaments, which would have to
happen before youth leagues get
a chance to schedule their games,
might also infringe on the availabili-
ty of the park for Keizer youth.
If the park can’t generate enough
concession revenue – using an
all-volunteer workforce – there
will be no future improvements and
maintaining the current facilities will
become diffi cult.
Clint Holland, who ran the con-
cession stand for long stretches
throughout the history of the park
but is not a member of the task force,
said the leagues also need to generate
more excitement about their teams
to draw in the crowds that will pur-
chase hotdogs, popcorn, candy and
other treats from the concession
stand. He mentioned Sprague Little
League’s recent appearance at the
Little League World Series as one re-
cent example.
“We are trying to make that
change at the grassroots level and
make [Keizer Little League] more
attractive to competitive players,”
Arnsmeier said.
Arnsmeier asked that the Keizer
Little League and MYB be given the
chance to meet in a less formal set-
ting to hash out what a true collab-
oration might look like and develop
plans for scheduling that would gen-
erate concession revenues, eliminate
slot fees altogether for both Keizer
youth leagues, and develop a list of
maintenance projects and desired
improvements.
Perhaps the most telling moment
of the meeting came after a question
by City Councilor Dan Kohler: “Is
this something that you want or is
this just a pipe dream from the city?”
Kohler did not specify whether he
meant the current plans or the park
as a facility.
After a protracted silence, Arns-
meier replied, “Yeah, there are good
people in MYB, but they don't have
the incentive [to get involved in op-
erations] and we don't ask as much
as we should. I feel like Little League
does the lion's share of all the work,
but it's still a community park. If we
can fi nd an agreement that gets both
sides out there doing the work, the
complex will be better for it.”
Train for active
shooter in Salem
Restlawn Funeral Home is host-
ing an active-shooter survival train-
ing program open to anyone in the
community.
In order to promote local aware-
ness, safety and preparedness, the
training program will be presented
by Lt. Tony Kollias of the Clackamas
County Sheriff ’s Offi ce.
It is a free 90-minute course de-
signed to familiarize participants on
crisis dynamics in different environ-
ments and police response tactics
during an active shooter incident.
The course takes place on Thurs-
day, September 19 at 6 p.m. and is
completely free. For more informa-
tion, visit www.restlawnfh.com.
Artists: Submit for
city’s card contest
The Keizer Public Arts Commis-
sion invites artists of all ages to submit
artwork which expresses the holiday
season in Keizer for the 2019 Holi-
day Card Competition.
One piece of artwork will be
selected by the Keizer Public Arts
Commission to be reproduced as the
City of Keizer’s 2019 Holiday Greet-
ing Card. The artist who submits the
winning selection will receive a $100
gift card to Michaels Arts & Crafts.
For more information, visit www.
keizer.org.