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PAGE A10, KEIZERTIMES, MAY 1, 2020 KEIZERTIMES.COM Volcanoes face uncertain future File Volcanoes outfi elder Franklin Labour helped Salem-Keizer reach the Northwest League Playoffs last season. But it is unknown if the team will be able to take the fi eld this year. By MATT RAWLINGS Of the Keizertimes The future of the Sa- lem-Keizer Volcanoes may still be hanging in the bal- ance, but fans will have to wait a little bit longer before a fi nal decision is made. Last week, a report from J.J. Cooper from Baseball America claimed that Minor League Baseball (MiLB) was prepared to accept a proposal from Major League Baseball (MLB) for a new Profes- sional Baseball Agreement (PBA), which included cut- ting the affi liation of 42 Mi- nor League teams — likely including the Volcanoes. The report made head- ways in mainstream media and forced MiLB to put out a statement addressing the matter. “Recent articles on the negotiations between MiLB and Major League Baseball are largely inaccurate. There have been no agreements on contraction or any other is- sues. MiLB looks forward to continuing the good faith negotiations with MLB on Wednesday as we work to- ward an agreement that best ensures the future of profes- sional baseball throughout the United States and Can- ada.” Sure enough, even though no substantive details were made public, the two sides met on Wednesday, April 22 and did not come out of the meeting with an agreement. According to Volcanoes CEO Mickey Walker, MLB and MiLB are getting clos- er to an agreement and he believes that the deal will be fi nalized no later than Sep- tember. However, if the spread of COVID-19 continues to delay pro baseball into the summer, MiLB might not have much of a leg to stand on. “The coronavirus drasti- cally changed Minor League Baseball’s leverage on the situation and the MLB is taking advantage,” Walker said. “(MLB) has no interest in delaying the agreement. They are pushing pretty hard to make it happen, and shamelessly doing it in my opinion.” MLB has considered numerous options in returning to the fi eld once the coronavirus pandemic dies down. Earlier this week, the league acknowledged Please see SKV, Page A9 Salem-Keizer joins “Be the Light” movement school students. BY MATT RAWLINGS To honor the class of Of the Keizertimes The “Be the Light” cam- 2020, the lights at South Sa- paign has gained signifi cant lem High School’s football traction across the state, and stadium will be turning on the Salem-Keizer School every Friday night at 8:20 (20:20 mili- District elect- tary time) for ed to get in approximately on the action “ It’s a neat way 20 minutes. starting on The district Friday, April to recognize is also en- 24. every senior in couraging the Due to community the spread of the community to turn their C OV I D - 1 9 , and it’s been porch lights all district on in show of buildings will gaining a lot of solidarity with be closed for this year’s se- the remainder momentum.” niors. of the school — Scott Gragg, “We heard year, meaning McNary athletic director from our stu- that the 2,666 dents, coaches seniors in the district won’t have a chance and athletic directors that to have a fi nal sendoff as they they really wanted to be part wrap up their lives as high of the movement. It’s im- portant to us to participate, but we want to make sure we do it in a safe way,” said Lillian Govus, the director of communications and public relations with Salem-Keizer Public Schools. As the “Be the Light” movement made headway across the country, McNary athletic director Scott Gragg said he was receiving three to fi ve emails per day about the matter. “This isn’t only an Ore- gon movement, it’s a nation- al movement. It’s a neat way to recognize every senior in the community, and it’s been gaining a lot of momentum,” Gragg said. However, the district made it clear that safety is the top priority, which is why instead of turning on all the lights at each high school football stadium, SKPS de- cided that it would best to only turn on the lights at South Salem High to repre- sent each senior. Gragg cited that the rea- son that this decision was made was to discourage peo- ple from congregating at the schools and to keep in line with Gov. Kate Brown’s ex- ecutive order to “stay home, save lives.” South Salem was desig- nated as the school to rep- resent every senior in the district because they are the only high school with auto- matic lights — which can be turned on through an app on South Salem athletic director Brian Armstrong’s phone. “This makes it so no one has to go and physically turn on the lights and it becomes a lot easier to manage social distancing guidelines. We want people to stay at home and stay safe,” Gragg said. The district is asking students and families to stay home and not go and see the lights at the stadium. SKPS will be streaming the lights on their Facebook page. The district also encourages community members to take a photo in front of their lit-up porch and post it to social media using the hashtags #SKPSFamily and #BetheLightOR. Keizertimes Wheatland Publishing Corp. 142 Chemawa Road N. • Keizer, Oregon 97303 Phone: 503.390.1051 • www.keizertimes.com MANAGING EDITOR Eric A. Howald editor@keizertimes.com One year: $35 in Marion County, $43 outside Marion County, $55 outside Oregon ASSOCIATE EDITOR Matt Rawlings news@keizertimes.com COMMUNITY REPORTER PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY Lauren Murphy reporter@keizertimes.com Publication No: USPS 679-430 ADVERTISING POSTMASTER Stephanie Wittman advertising@keizertimes.com Send address changes to: PRODUCTION MANAGER & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Andrew Jackson graphics@keizertimes.com LEGAL NOTICES legals@keizertimes.com BUSINESS MANAGER Submitted SUBSCRIPTIONS EDITOR & PUBLISHER Lyndon Zaitz publisher@keizertimes.com 2019-2020 President Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Keizertimes Circulation 142 Chemawa Road N. Keizer, OR 97303 Periodical postage paid at Salem, Oregon Leah Stevens billing@keizertimes.com RECEPTION Lori Beyeler facebook.com/keizertimes twitter.com/keizertimes The lights at South Salem’s football fi eld were turned on for 20 minutes on Friday, April 24 to honor the senior class of 2020 throughout the Salem-Keizer School District. puzzle answers
