Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (June 5, 2020)
PAGE A4, KEIZERTIMES, JUNE 5, 2020 Residents call for gun In the streets violence proclamation By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes A group of Keizer residents turned out at the Keizer City Council meeting Monday, June 1, to implore city leaders to adopt a proclamation rec- ognizing June 5 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day. They didn’t get what they hoped for, but they did shine light on the issue of gun vio- lence in heartfelt ways as they talked. Councilor Kim Free- man, who acted as mayor pro temp in the absence of Mayor Cathy Clark, said the request to approve the proclamation arrived too late in the hour to reach the city’s agenda. “We did receive the in- formation a little later than normal and the mayor is out of town. She likes to read through the proclamations and work to get them worded appropriately,” Freeman said. Despite the disappoint- ment, proponents of the ac- tion remained vocal in their support. They also encouraged others of a similar mind to wear orange on June 5. “I remember growing up and being told not to go down Plymouth or Clear- view at night. We didn’t heed those warnings and one of my friends was shot,” said Ramiro “RJ” Navarro. “She was hit in the back twice. We need to come together as a communi- ty and say this needs to stop.” Resident Cyndi Swee- ney was brought to tears re- counting the fi nal minutes of a cousin, Heather Alvarado, who lost her life in the mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert in 2017. “She was there with her 14-year-old daughter and threw herself over to take those bullets and she left be- hind two other children and a husband,” Sweeney said. “In- stead of putting all these band aids on, can’t we just face it?” Michele Roland-Schwartz, executive director of the Keiz- er-based Sexual Assault Task Force, connected the dots be- tween gun violence and do- mestic violence. “Many of you know that when COVID hit our com- munity, were those in violent relationships suddenly forced into close proximity to their abusers. Requests for shel- ter from abusive relationships doubled in the weeks after the pandemic hit compared to last year,” Roland-Schwartz said. “We look at guns as a public health issue. One of the ways that we address it is bringing awareness and working toward prevention.” Keizer resident Carol Do- erfl er read the names of all the child and adult victims of the mass shooting in Newtown, Conn., in 2012 as she made her statement. “As of 2018, there were 7,000 more children who were killed by gunfi re. This can never, ever happen again. Please wear orange on Friday, June 5.” The testimony brought some members of the city council to tears prompting Freeman to request a moment of silence for all at the meet- ing to compose themselves. KEIZERTIMES/Lauren Murphy Demonstrators took to the streets of Keizer Tuesday, June 2, in support of worldwide protests happening in the wake of the murder George Floyd in Minneapolis , Minn. Oregon Garden hosting cruise-in movies The Oregon Garden pres- ents the Cruise-In Cinema: The Rise of Skywalker, Frisday, June 5 through Saturday, June 6. The gates open at 7 p.m. and the movie will begin at dusk. Sound is delivered by FM ra- dio. County Health offi cials have given the Oregon Gar- den health guidelines that they must adhere to: There will be a 100-vehicle capacity. Six foot distance must be maintained by all people. There is no alcohol or smoking allowed at this event. Concessions must be or- dered online and will be deliv- ered to your vehicle. Unless taking a necessary bathroom visit, attendees are asked to stay in their vehicles at all times. If choosing to sit in the back of a pickup attendees must be wearing a mask. All lights should be off during the screening of the movie. In addition to purchasing a ticket, attendees can purchase concessions to support the Oregon Garden. Tickets must be pre-pur- chased online, adults are $6, children and garden members are $4, children 4 and under get in for free. Tickets can be found online at www.oregongarden.org/ cruise-in-cinema/. puzzle answers DON’T BE STUCK AT HOME With NO RELIEF from summer heat NOW SCHEDULING • Seasonal Air Conditioner Maintenance • Indoor Air Quality Evaluations YOUR HEALTH IS OUR PRIORITY Learn about the precautions we’re taking at CleanEnergyComfort.com Sam Goesch Ins Agcy Inc Sam Goesch CLU, Agent 3975 River Road North Keizer, OR 97303 Bus: 503-393-6252 State Farm , Bloomington, IL 1211999 Call Us Today 503-304 -1320 CCB#193064 3816 River Rd N, Keizer
