PAGE A4, KEIZERTIMES, JUNE 19, 2020
Opinion
The coronavirus is not gone
The coronavirus is not gone. The distancing and the wearing of face
virus that causes COVID-19 has not masks are key to stopping the spread
been eradicated, it is still very much of coronavirus. Some may think that
virulent in this country and around the pandemic is over because society
is slowly re-opening,
the world. New cases are be-
but the protocols are
ing reporrted every day, even
still in place and they
here in Oregon.
to be followed.
It is vital to re-open and
editorial need
Experts who warn
salvage our economy. States
of a second wave
across the nation have re-
of COVID-19 cas-
opened, many, like Oregon,
es should be heeded.
are opening in phases. Some
counties in our state are ready to en- Where we are seeing a spike in cases
ter Phase Two of Gov. Kate Brown’s is where we see large gatherings of
people not social distancing and few-
re-opening strategy.
While it is paramount to get the er people wearing masks.
Some retailers require custom-
economy rolling again, it is more im-
portant to safeguard the public. Social ers to wear masks before they enter
their stores; many businesses have
fl oor markings to assure distancing
and have erected barriers between
customers and employees to protect
both. We should expect these safe-
ty protocols to be in place for quite
some time. We should follow them,
if for no other reason than it protects
the health of ourselves and others.
Scientists around the world are
working furiously to develop a vac-
cine and to fi nd a path to eradication.
Until those things happen it is our
responibility as citizens of the world
to do our part to assure we’re not
helping it spread.
—LAZ
Opening night!
Memories of 1989 were easily sur-
By JERRY WALKER
Well, Wednesday, June 17, should passed by those of 1997, a year that
have been Opening Night for the Sa- celebrated an almost unbelievable
accomplishment of build-
lem-Keizer Volcanoes. Re-
ing Volcanoes Stadium in
fl ecting for a moment on
just under fi ve months and
what would have been my
professional base-
32nd Opening Night in
guest bringing
ball back to the mid-Willa-
professional baseball span-
ning fi ve decades, the 1980s column mette Valley. Fans number-
ing 4,906 came, in a steady
through the 2020s.
light rain, to help dedicate
The two most memora-
the stadium. The glamour of
ble nights came in 1989 and
1997. It was total euphoria in 1989, tuxedos in 1989 was replaced with a
the fi rst Opening Night. Everything sensational stadium dedication speech
was new, excitement was in the air, by City Councilor Al Miller, conclud-
Jeff Smulyan, owner of the Seattle ing with, “It is with great pride that I
Mariners, delivered a special Mariners’ hereby dedicate this stadium. May it
bouquet of fl owers that were situat- long serve as an inspiration to others
ed on home plate adding to a festive and as a symbol of who we are and
pre-game ceremony. Tuxedos were what we are.”
The fi rst pitch was brought in via
donned by my partner and I for the
special occasion and many fi rst-time helicopter by Mayor Dennis Koho.
Due to wet grounds, the game was
experiences were about to unfold.
The Bellingham Mariners trailed never played. This fact seemed lost on
4-2 in the bottom of the ninth with all those who attended, who left in
two outs. While winning the game delight, as the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
appeared hopeless, it also seemed sec- had been born and the community
ondary in importance to the overall had a terrifi c new stadium.
It is hard not to wonder what the
experience—that was until Corey Paul
stepped to the plate. With runners on future holds. The coronavirus has tak-
fi rst and second, Paul launched a long en its toll and the damage is far from
home run over the right fi eld wall and over. As some businesses are fi nally
it was game over—Bellingham Mari- reopening, others are closing forever.
Civil unrest has unfolded and America
ners win on a walk-off home run.
is fi ghting for its survival as we once
all knew it. Our liberty in in ques-
tion. The virus has shutdown all pro-
fessional sports and has impacted soci-
ety in a manner greater than words can
express. What will be next? At times
like these, we need to remember ev-
erything we have to be thankful for —
sometimes we forget and sometimes it
is just hard to do because the impact
of what is happening is so great.
We will miss the smiles of all the
fans that will not be attending Open-
ing Night ceremonies. Opening
Night is so special as it is a new begin-
ning while at the same time it creates
memories. As James Earl Jones’ char-
acter in Field of Dreams so eloquent-
ly spoke, “And they’ll walk off to the
bleachers and sit in their short sleeves
on a perfect afternoon. And fi nd they
have reserved seats somewhere along
the baselines where they sat when
they were children. And cheer their
heroes. And they’ll watch the game,
and it’ll be as they’d dipped themselves
in magic waters. The memories will
be so thick, they’ll have to brush them
away from their faces.”
(Jerry Walker is owner, president
and general manager of the Sa-
lem-Keizer Volcanoes.)
Special session unwise during pandemic
It will all be electronic. “But Bill, it’s all
By BILL POST
Governor Kate Brown and the ma- online now!” Really? And every Or-
egonian has access to a com-
jority in the Oregon Leg-
puter and the internet? I was
islature are anxious to hold
not aware that that was true. If
a “special session” on June
then why are we hav-
24. I want to know how
guest it ing were,
problems with “distance
this is good for Oregon
in our schools?
in the current pandem-
opinion learning”
There will only be written
ic? How exactly does the
testimony allowed to be sub-
Legislature hold a special
mitted. That means no public
session without imple-
menting Phase 3 of the Governor’s testimony or questions. Regardless of
the Constitutional issues, how is this
reopening guidelines?
Consider that the Oregon State fair and equitable to all Oregonians?
Let’s look at “fair” in regard to the
Capitol is an 80-year-old “incuba-
tor” for viruses now, which is one very guidelines that all of Oregon
of the reasons the Legislature invest- must live with right now. The state
ed in massive building upgrades that Capitol is in Marion County. Mari-
are still underway. Anyone who’s ever on County is not even in Phase Two
worked there is very familiar with the of the reopening. Even if it were, the
infamous “Capitol Crud” that fl ies limit on “large gathering” is 250 peo-
through the building every session. ple. There is no way not to have over
How could anyone even consider 250 people in the Capitol. Just 90 leg-
meeting there now? Even if only the islators and one staffer each is 180….
90 legislators met, what if they took that’s even disregarding the lobbyists,
COVID-19 back to their districts? and most importantly, the public We
Some counties have no cases and es- must consider the health and welfare
of all Oregonians, which is impossible
pecially no deaths.
Let’s talk about transparency and with a session at this time.
While Oregonians must abide by
equity. There will be no public input.
the guidelines, the Legislature is ex-
empt? Although there is important
work to be done, let us not jeopardize
the health and safety of all of Oregon
while conducting that work. Being a
member of the Legislature, I believe
in equity for all Oregonians. Which is
why having a special session is unfair
to other Oregonians. For example:
student-athletes who can’t play sports.
Businesses that can’t operate. Employ-
ees who are still unemployed and can’t
go to work. Seniors who can’t get out
nor have visitors.
Governor Brown has to decide. Ei-
ther we are out of this pandemic now
and can meet in large groups, opening
Oregon completely or the outbreak is
still too high and we must maintain
the current status. Oregon’s health and
safety is of the utmost importance.
The science is clear, Oregon is still in
a vulnerable place. We must not ex-
acerbate that by having hundreds of
people in a close fi tting, older build-
ing. This can wait until October. We
cannot have both.
(Bill Post represents House District
25. He can be reached via email at
rep.billpost@oregonlegislature.gov.)
Current events call for look at policing
By GENE H. McINTYRE
As a 21-year resident of Keizer, I
must have come of age.
Seriously, I’m an adult citizen who
cares about what happens
here with interests that in-
clude local policing. A
timely event was the Keizer-
times interview with Keizer
Police Chief John Teague.
(Policing with minority perspec-
tives in mind, June 12). The
chief said that he possesses
empathy for persons of col-
or with whom he is acquainted, while
details on what “procedural justice”
and “agency fairness” mean came up
short in terms of specifi cs.
Study of policing in America have
revealed some grim fi ndings. Re-
search fi nds that U.S. police offi cer
killings during a typical year add up
to 31 for every 10 million. Our pop-
ulation is close to 330 million while
simple arithmetic reveals the astonish-
ing total annual number. Meanwhile,
in two western Europe-
an nations, Germany and
the United Kingdom,
Deutschland fi nds one
killed by police for ev-
ery 10 million; the U.K.
comes in at .05 per 10
million.
Our police are more
likely to encounter other
Americans in possession of fi rearms
and are trained to respond pre-emp-
tively. In the U.S., the threshold for use
of fi rearms is much lower than those
in virtually all of Europe. Here, a po-
lice offi cer can use his weapon when
he believes there’s a good reason to
do so or thinks his life is in danger.
one
man’s
opinion
Keizertimes
Wheatland Publishing Corp. • 142 Chemawa Road N. • Keizer, Oregon 97303
phone: 503.390.1051 • web: www.keizertimes.com • email: kt@keizertimes.com
EDITOR & PUBLISHER
Lyndon Zaitz
publisher@keizertimes.com
2019-2020 President
Oregon Newspaper Publishers
Association
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In Europe, police offi cers infrequent-
ly carry a fi rearm weapon and use it
only as a fi nal resort.
American police training requires
about 20 weeks while classroom ed-
ucation and fi eld training in Europe
averages two years. Those who ar-
gue for a longer training program
see a need for more education in the
classroom and in the fi eld here in the
United States. Another difference
here is the availability of surplus U.S.
military equipment.
Of course, used desks and chairs,
fi le cabinets and the like help save
city budgets. However, armored ve-
hicles, battle helmets and body armor
convert a local police force to com-
bat military, resembling those serving
overseas against enemy forces. Ameri-
can citizens are Constitutionally giv-
en freedoms of assembly, speech and
peaceful protest.
It appears timely and appropri-
ate to hear from Chief Teague as to
what the people can count on from
him and our taxpayer-funded police
offi cers in the administration of their
sworn duties to protect and defend.
Has the time come—as with some
U.S. communities elsewhere in tri-
al mode—to “defund” (defi ned here
as a highly diversifi ed public safety
workforce, emphasizing community
policing) some public safety funding
dollars so the future better serves all
of us?
(Gene H. McIntyre lives in Keizer.
He shares his opinion regularly in the
Keizertimes.)
District forges ahead
with improvements
at Claggett Creek MS
BY MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
Dozens of construction proj-
ects will be taking place across Sa-
lem-Keizer this summer, including
a $3.7 million project at Claggett
Creek Middle School.
Thanks to the $677 million Sa-
lem-Keizer bond project, which
was passed by voters just over two
years ago, Claggett Creek will un-
dergo upgrades that include repur-
posing two general classrooms into
a science lab, cafeteria expansion,
roofi ng replacement, plus library
and media improvements.
Construction was supposed to
get started in mid-June, but with
the COVID-19 pandemic keeping
kids out of in-person classes, the
project began in late-May.
“The most exciting part is the
state-of-the-art science teaching
center going in. There has been a
lot of work that has gone into that
aspect of the project with our sci-
ence teachers and bond planning
team,” said Claggett Creek Princi-
pal Aaron Persons.
Persons says that the district has
been pushing for more access to
science education across all grade
levels and that his students are ex-
cited for the school makeover.
“It sparks interest in kids. These
kids will be going to McNary and
McNary has programs that will
meet any of the science needs that
are kids have, so we try to light the
fi re in them,” Persons said.
The science center will give
Claggett Creek the opportunity
to expand their career exploration
lab — which just concluded its
fi rst year and offered instruction
on electrical wiring, small engine
maintenance, plumbing, 3-D print-
ing, app creation and laser technol-
ogy.
Blood draw simulations, stress
testing and manufacturing, forensic
science will be added to the unit
for the 2020-21 school year.
“There is just a very wide vari-
ety of options,” Persons said.
The cafeteria expansion, which
will increase lunch seating by more
than 30 percent, is a much-needed
upgrade according to Persons.
“Our cafeteria wasn’t keeping
up with our growing enrollment.
We had over 1,000 kids last year,”
Persons said. “Our cafeteria has
been very crowded. During lunch-
time, every seat was full, so kids
would kind of have to scope out
their seat when they would walk in.
It will now be more opened up and
it will be a more appropriate and
comfortable environment.”
Although the project is ahead
of its timetable, the bond team
does not plan on advancing con-
struction, which is scheduled to be
completed at the start of September
before kids begin the school year.
“That allows us some fl exibil-
ity in the schedule. If unforeseen
things come up, we will be able
to adjust,” said Karma Krause, the
Capital Projects Public Engage-
ment Specialist for the district.
Pandemic assistance
items can be dropped
off at St. Ed’s
There are now expanded hours
for the public donation site at St.
Edward Catholic Church.
In April, Marion County Public
Health stood up a donation site at
the church two days a week. Dona-
tions are now being accepted fi ve
days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The site gathering food and
household necessities for commu-
nity members, as well as items for
community partners that provide
assistance to individuals who are
experiencing homelessness.
Volunteers working the center
Monday, May 19, said baby items
(food, diapers, pull-ups and wipes)
and travel-sized personal care items
(including feminine hygiene prod-
ucts) are among the most desper-
ately-needed in the area. Home-
made, cloth face masks can also be
donated.
Items are distributed directly to
service providers or community
members from Marion Polk Food
Share and its network of local food
banks.
The church is located at 5303
River Road N, in Keizer.
The donation site is accepting
the following new, unopened and
unexpired items:
• Food (peanut butter, tuna,
canned fruit and veggies, oatmeal,
pasta, spaghetti sauce, soups, rice,
and beans)
• Toilet paper
• Cleaning supplies (hand soap,
dish soap, disinfectant spray, paper
towels, garbage bags, and laundry
detergent)
• Pet food (dog and/or cat)
• Packaged digital thermometers
• Cloth masks (clean homemade
cloth masks are acceptable)
The drive-thru process has
been designed with social distanc-
ing measures for the safety of vol-
unteers and the donating public.
Please load items for donation in
the back seat or trunk of your ve-
hicle. Volunteers can then unload
the items without making physical
contact with drivers.
Employees of Marion County
Health Department, the Nation-
al Guard and members of local
CERT teams are providing staffi ng
to cover donation intake.
For more information, contact
Marion County at: Health_Dona-
tions@co.marion.or.us.