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PAGE A10, KEIZERTIMES, JUNE 26, 2020 KEIZERTIMES.COM “Let Them Play” group fi ghts for youth sports is when local facilities will BY MATT RAWLINGS open back up. Of the Keizertimes Youth sports, where phys- Over the last three-and- a-half months, virtually all ical contact is limited, have sports have been put on been able to start competi- hold due to the spread of tion back up under the state’s phase two guidelines — there COVID-19. While professional and were a small number of youth college sports have a strategy baseball and softball games on a return to action, parents taking place in Oregon over all over the state have been Father’s Day weekend. How- pleading with government ever, sports that involve par- offi cials to let all youth ath- ticipants coming into bodily letes return to playing their contact are prohibited under phase two re- favorite sports. strictions. A peti- Brown has tion, intend- “ It’s a good way also stated that ed to catch phase two will the attention to get different of Gov. Kate voices out there be in effect until a reli- Brown, called able treatment “Let Them on behalf of or vaccine Play! Ore- kids. Kids need is available, gonians for which means Athletes” has that sports out- that sports, received more such as foot- than 18,000 let to get them ball, wouldn’t s i g n a t u r e s back to normal be able to and has more take place this than 25,000 life.” fall — basket- Facebook — Kyle Hughes, ball, wrestling, members. The MYF President lacrosse and purpose of cheerleading the petition is also fall into to urge Gov. Brown to prioritize youth this category, according to and high school sports across the Oregon Health Author- ity. the state. This did not sit well with The “Let Them Play” group also organized a rally Jackson County Commis- outside of the state capitol on sioner Rick Dyer and several parents in Southern Oregon Sunday, June 14. McNary Youth Foot- — who are responsible for ball (MYF) President Kyle getting the petition started. “There is no question that Hughes has been a big advo- cate for the “Let Them Play” this situation will lead to nu- movement, and even orga- merous adverse effects to our nized a two-day phone call children’s physical and men- campaign to Gov. Brown’s tal health, attendance and performance in school, per- offi ce. “It’s a good way to get sonal and professional growth different voices out there on and too many more negative behalf of kids. Kids need that consequences to mention. It sports outlet to get them back will also create far-reaching ripple effects that will be felt to normal life,” Hughes said. The vast majority of the in Oregon for many years. state is in the phase two re- With the world in the state opening process, which it is in currently, it is more means that many kids have imperative than ever to en- been allowed to participate in sure our kids are able to be involved in these positive and athletic-related activities. Earlier in June, the OSAA constructive activities,” the released their second phase petition says on their website, of guidance for high school letthemplayoregon.com Members of the “Let athletics, which allows stu- dent-athletes to come back Them Play” group also be- to their school facilities and lieve that college and profes- participate in modifi ed work- sional athletes in the state are outs, conditioning and indi- getting preferential treatment vidual drills — Salem-Keizer — Brown has allowed Ore- prep athletes aren’t allowed to gon college athletes to return participate until July 1, which to their facilities to begin File Pierce Walker runs to daylight in a McNary Youth Football eighth grade game from last season. McNary Youth Football has been involved with the “Let Them Play” campaign for the last few weeks. voluntary workouts. Since June 1, when the NCAA began permitting voluntary workouts on college cam- puses, more more than 100 positive COVID-19 cases have affected collegiate ath- letes throughout the country. However, the NCAA is still preparing to play games this fall, even if a vaccine or cure isn’t found. “It was also reported that there will be exceptions made for college and pro sports teams to play. This not only acknowledges the fact that these activities can be engaged in safely, it creates an unacceptable disparity that needs to be rectifi ed. Our kids need to be represented fairly in this decision and a plan to allow them to engage in their activities needs to be developed and adopted,” the petition says. “There are thousands of concerned parents, teachers, coaches, athletes and other citizens ready to be a part of that solution. We need swift and decisive action on this immediately so our kids can begin to engage in their fall sports programs without un- necessary delays.” As of Tuesday, June 22, there have been 703 cases of COVID-19 among residents ages 0-19 — a group that represents 23 percent of Or- egon’s population. However, there have been no deaths and only 11 hospitalizations. Hughes knows that having football, and other sports, re- turn to normalcy right now isn’t realistic. He just wants more transparency from the Governor. “I feel like the line just keeps adjusting. It would be nice to know what the thought process is behind making these restrictions,” Hughes said. Earlier this month, MYF started holding voluntary workouts at the grass fi elds at Keizer Little League. The workouts mostly con- sist of speed and agility drills, but Hughes did mention that he’s is able to split kids in multiple groups to work on quarterback and receiver drills. There is one football in each group, which is cleaned and sanitized after every rep- etition. “We’re just trying to get kids out of the house and give them the ability to see their friends and stay in shape,” Hughes said. “But we are also doing what we need to do to stay safe.” Hughes admitted that he isn’t concerned about the outbreaks at different col- leges. But while he and the “Let Them Play” group fi ght for making fall sports hap- pen, Hughes wants to make sure his players are being in- credibly cautious during their workouts. “It doesn’t worry me be- ing out there. We take every precaution we can. Because (COVID-19) may not effect one of our kids, but it could effect someone’s parents or grandparents. If any of our kids are feeling any symp- toms whatsoever, they need to stay home,” Hughes said. Volcanoes hosting 13th annual patriotic tribute Keizertimes Wheatland Publishing Corp. 142 Chemawa Road N. • Keizer, Oregon 97303 Phone: 503.390.1051 • www.keizertimes.com MANAGING EDITOR SUBSCRIPTIONS 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 PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY COMMUNITY REPORTER Publication No: USPS 679-430 Lauren Murphy reporter@keizertimes.com POSTMASTER Send address changes to: ADVERTISING Stephanie Wittman advertising@keizertimes.com PRODUCTION MANAGER & GRAPHIC DESIGNER EDITOR & PUBLISHER Andrew Jackson graphics@keizertimes.com LEGAL NOTICES legals@keizertimes.com 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 BUSINESS MANAGER Leah Stevens billing@keizertimes.com RECEPTION Lori Beyeler facebook.com/keizertimes twitter.com/keizertimes Although there won't be baseball at Volcanoes Stadium this Independence Day due to COVID-19, the Volcanoes are still planning their annual patriotic tribute with a drive- in celebration that will feature recognition of military heroes, swearing-in of members to the armed services, a fallen warrior memorial and many tributes to those who have defended our country with multiple deploy- ments. A concert by JT & The Tourists will precede the patri- otic ceremony. The night will conclude with a fi reworks show, pre- sented by McDonalds and sup- ported by the Volcanoes’ new beverage partner Coca-Cola. “In light of all that is going on, we feel it is vital to con- tinue this great tradition and are adding a concert to help lift the spirits of all who will attend,” said Volcanoes CEO Mickey Walker. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. The concert is scheduled to take place from 6-8 p.m. fol- lowed by the patriotic trib- ute from 8 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. The fi reworks show will begin around 10 p.m. There will be a limited number of tickets available — must be purchased in advance of the event online at www. volcanoesbaseball.com. The admission is $20 per carload. Social distancing pro- tocols are expected to be fol- lowed.
