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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (May 21, 2021)
MAY 21, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A9 $2 million in projects FROM THE Capitol By BILL POST As part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Oregon stands to receive more than $4 billion in aid for state and local governments courtesy of the stim- ulus bill signed in March. The funding is split between the state, counties and cities, with the state receiving about $240 million which is separate from the revenue being used to balance Oregon’s budget of about $25.6 billion. The Oregon House and Senate Leadership, (Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek) have allotted each Senate and House dis- trict the authority to spend the money throughout the district via the State Senator and two House Representatives. Senate Districts each received $4 million and House Districts received $2 million to disperse, which means I have been given the opportunity to find projects throughout House District 25 that desperately need additional funding. Two million dollars might sound like a lot, but when it comes to infrastructure, restoration, and invest- ments—$2 million can only go so far. For example, the Newberg-Dundee Bypass we’ve been working so hard to complete... just Phase 2 is $160 million. Finding a way back To the Editor: Americans widely recognized for their knowledge, understanding and insight recently commented that, had voters retained the former chief executive, we would likely, ultimately, have lost the U.S. Constitution, rule of law, system of justice, and American freedoms. They concluded this development based on the former president’s daily practice in use of mislead- ing, false, misrepresentational, and untrue statements accompanied by his penchant for the immoral and unethical while break- ing laws and norms, evermore often mov- ing from his sworn duty as a four-year, public-elected office holder into behaviors and actions of an autocratic head of state. However, by what’s transpired since the United States inaugurated a new president, it appears that what was feared, if the out- going administration had won re-election has, in fact, in places throughout the coun- try and, specifically, in Keizer, come to pass. Here, several of our local public officials have, apparently, borrowed some behaviors from the former president a great many of us hoped would disappear from use with the presence of a new administration. Finding our way back to a firm embrace—on what has been valued and appreciated for years and years—has not yet established a firm grip in this mid-Willamette community. Gene H. McIntyre Keizer Political signs To the Editor: In the seemingly endless run-up to last November’s election, my neighborhood was cluttered with yard signs supporting the former president and members of his Additionally, there are some rules regarding the use of funds. Only four projects may be proposed by each legisla- tor, which means the $2 million must fall within four projects. At one point, there was about 10 different projects I would have liked to see the money be dispersed to in HD 25, but that is not within the rules. Lastly, under ARPA guidance, the projects must fall within certain criteria of either a Capital Project, Grant Program, Support Services, or Technical Assistance. All funding requests were to be sub- mitted by May 10 and now go to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means to approve. They and the Legislative Fiscal Office will then craft a budget bill with all of the items from the legislators in it, that we will vote on in both chambers and hopefully pass and thegovernor will sign, then the funds will be dispersed later this year. After meet- ing with constituents and community part- ners, I have asked funding for HD 25 to be dispersed accordingly: 1. St. Paul Water System (connecting the Rodeo well to the city water system and more; 2. Butteville Landing Restoration Project; 3. City of Newberg (ADA ramps along with sidewalk and bike lane improvements); 4. City of Keizer (Marion County CASA which is located in Keizer, ADA ramps and police vehicle storage building). (Bill Post represents House District 25. He can be reached at 503-986-1425 or via email at rep.billpost@oregonlegislature.gov.). Letters cult running for local offices. While I may have saluted those signs with an occa- sional rude gesture, I would never have considered stealing them. That’s just not done. But, it was done by some who seem to have lived in fear of school board candi- dates who favored reality-based sex educa- tion and safe return to the classroom. Ashley Carson Cottingham signs, in particular, were targeted by thieves. Apparently, she was considered a major threat to the tightly wound opposition. Pretty small, sign thieves, pretty small. Martin Doerfler Keizer PUBLIC SQUARE welcomes all points of view. Published submissions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Keizertimes The magic of Paul Morgan By ERIC A. HOWALD Paul Morgan was a magician. Paul, who passed away May 13 at the age of 95, was one of the early leaders of the John Knox Presbyterian Church’s community food bank, which is now known as the Keizer Community Food Bank housed at Faith Lutheran Church. I met Paul on a Thursday morning, about 15 years ago, before the food bank opened for the day. Paul talked at length about the work being done, what was needed in terms of community support and his plans to expand capacity to meet growing hunger. His enthusiasm was boundless and infectious. He introduced me to volunteers from the John Knox congregation, others who had walked in off the street with a yen to help and still more who were former clients of the food bank. As I departed, Paul was overly appreciative for an article I hadn’t even started writing much less published. The sum of the experience that day instilled in me a mission to write the best story of my career to honor the work that was being done. I still remember the burning tears in my eyes trying to digest what I had seen: magic, in the real world, as tangible as anything the five senses can detect. Paul and I remained in relatively close contact. We attended meetings together to talk about the future of the food bank, expanding partnerships with Marion Polk Food Share and strategizing how the paper could help in all of it. We con- spired together to help people in need. Precious little in my life before or since felt so pure. Even when health concerns kept him from taking part in the daily affairs of the food bank, Paul was stalwart. He and his wife Nancy were present during the service hours as often as they could. Together they were an even greater force to be reckoned with. I’ve returned to the food bank too many times to count since that first story. moments of LUCIDIT Y Usually to write about it, but sometimes just to volunteer, to help clients shop and load their cars the way Paul taught me. Paul is the reason I started taking my kid to the Marion Polk Food Share to sort food when she was in kindergarten. He is the reason they still ask to help out at food banks when the time is available and the mood strikes. Frequently, I think back to that first day in Paul’s orbit and try to dissect its resonance. Paul taught me to believe in magic. Or reminded me how to see it. Or simply revealed its true form. Magic isn’t the sleight-of-hand of Houdini and David Copperfield. Magic requires at least two people, always. Magic is bringing people together despite every reason to remain apart for the common purpose of helping strang- ers. We summon magic together and it lives on long after the curtains close. Paul Morgan was a magician. (Eric A. Howald is the managing editor of the Keizertimes. His family is donating $100 to the food bank this week in honor of Paul Morgan. We encour- age everyone in the Keizer community to join us in whatever capacity you can. Donations can be made online at tinyurl. com/kcfb-morgan or in person at Faith Lutheran Church.) SUBSCRIBE Keizer news in your mailbox only $35 a year* Call 503 . 390.1051 keizertimes.com/store *Rate for inside Marion County WHEATLAND PUBLISHING CORP. 142 Chemawa Road N, Keizer, Oregon 97303 Phone: 503.390.1051 • www.keizertimes.com PUBLISHER & EDITOR Lyndon Zaitz publisher@keizertimes.com MANAGING EDITOR Eric A. 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