Latest news with #statesmanjournal.com
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
Explore Oregon Podcast: Last call at Crater Lake, record visits to parks, Detroit drawdown
In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness covers a range of outdoors news, including why this is the last summer to swim, fish or take a boat tour at Crater Lake National Park until 2029. Urness also talks about: Why this was a very good but also tragic ski season in Oregon. Oregon set a record for visits to its state parks system. The state is completely drought-free for the first time since 2019. The Central Cascades Wilderness permit system is returning this year, despite major cuts to the rangers and recreation departments that enforce it. The number of wolves and western snowy plovers — both protected under the federal Endangered Species Act — saw growth in their numbers last year. The Trump administration declared a forest health emergency to ramp up logging in Oregon and the West. The deep drawdown of Detroit Lake has been delayed until 2026, easing the water supply scare for Salem and Stayton. A long-awaited report from the Oregon Department of Forestry says Pacific Power was not at fault for the 2020 wildfires in the Santiam Canyon. Listen to each episode at Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud or Amazon Music and subscribe on your platform of choice to get future episodes. Find every episode: Find all episodes of the Explore Oregon Podcast online Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@ or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Podcast: Last summer to swim at Crater Lake National Park until 2029
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
Explore Oregon Podcast: Salem ice climber ascends frozen waterfalls, glaciers
In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness interviews Salem ice climber Forrest "Frosty" Gill about the fun and challenge of ascending frozen waterfalls and ice flows across Oregon and the West. Gill talks about the equipment and technique used for ice climbing, the beautiful places it can take you and his journey in learning the sport through the Salem-based Chemeketans outdoors club and climb school. In February, Gill climbed frozen Paulina Creek Falls in Central Oregon but has also climbed in Alaska, Montana and Colorado. Listen to each episode at Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud or Amazon Music and subscribe on your platform of choice to get future episodes. Find every episode: Find all 168 episodes of the Explore Oregon Podcast online Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@ or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem ice climber ascends Oregon frozen waterfalls, glaciers
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vote: Who should be the Statesman Journal's girls swimmer of the year?
Vote: Who should be the Statesman Journal's girls swimmer of the year? Silverton's Breeza Rodriguez competes in the 100-yard freestyle at the state meet. Rodriguez is a nominee for Statesman Journal girls swimmer of the year. There were plenty of strong performances from Salem-Keizer swimmers through the 2024-25 season, with a handful of local athletes nabbing podium spots at last month's state championships. Now we want you to vote for the girls swimmer of the year. Vote at The poll will be open until 11 a.m. Sunday, March 30. Here are the nominees for the top Salem-area girls swimmer for the 2024-25 season. Sophia Buswell, South Salem Buswell took sixth place in the 100-yard butterfly (59.52 seconds) at the Class 6A state championships. Leah Ellerbee, Stayton Ellerbee took third place in the 500 freestyle (5:33.47) at the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A state championships. Abby Evans, West Salem Evans took ninth place in the 100 freestyle (54.82) and 200 freestyle (2:01.53) at the Class 6A state championships. Ellie Gladow, Salem Academy Gladow took sixth place (58.29) in the 100 freestyle at the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A state championships. Gentry Hagedorn, Central Hagedorn took fifth place in the 50 freestyle (25.56) at the Class 5A state championships. Odelya Laroya, West Salem Laroya took third place in the 50 freestyle (24.32) at the Class 6A state championships. Breeza Rodriguez, Silverton Rodriguez took fifth place in the 100 freestyle (57.43) and sixth place in the 100 backstroke (1:05.54) at the Class 5A state championships. Advertisement Jarrid Denney covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at JDenney@ or on X @jarrid_denney This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Vote: Who should be the Statesman Journal's girls swimmer of the year?
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
Salem Police cancels Community Police Academy amid budget concerns
Salem Police will not hold its annual Community Police Academy in April after canceling the program due to budget constraints. The program, which aims to teach community members about police services, procedures and policies, was launched in the mid-1990s, spokesperson Angela Hedrick said. The 14-week course, which was originally held twice a year, was reduced in October to a once-a-year eight week program as part of "ongoing efficiency measures," Hedrick said. The next course was scheduled to begin in April and included weekly three-hour classes every Wednesday evening in addition to two Saturday classes. Crime scene investigation, emergency vehicle operations, scenario-based training and the traffic control unit were among topics that would be covered. Hedrick said the Community Police Academy is one of the department's longest-running community engagement programs and is popular with the community. She said the department hopes to bring back the program in the new fiscal year but is unsure if that will be possible. "(C)easing the program is a direct result of required cost reductions by the City of Salem due to the growing budget concerns," Hedrick said in an email. Salem is currently facing a $13.8 million budget shortfall. Salem Police disbanded its behavioral health unit and its community action unit at the start of this year, citing the need to maintain critical patrol staffing levels. No other resources are available for people to learn the lessons taught at the academy, Hedrick said. "That was what was special about the program—it offered the opportunity for residents to learn directly from staff," she said. "We have no other program like it." Isabel Funk covers breaking news and public safety for the Statesman Journal. Funk can be reached at ifunk@ or on X at @isabeldfunk This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem Police cancels Community Police Academy amid budget concerns
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Yahoo
Salem man arrested for alleged bias crime against Hispanic family
A 27-year-old Salem man was arrested Sunday after allegedly menacing a Hispanic family and shouting "racially-charged remarks," Salem Police said. Officers responded to a call shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday in the 2100 block of Coral Ave. NE of a man who police said "brandished a shotgun" at two adults and a young girl who were waiting for a tow truck. The man approached the family with the gun and shouted racial remarks, the release said. He was taken to Marion County Jail and was scheduled to be arraigned Monday on three charges of unlawful use of a weapon and three charges of bias crimes. Isabel Funk covers breaking news and public safety for the Statesman Journal. Funk can be reached at ifunk@ or on X at @isabeldfunk This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem man arrested for alleged bias crime against Hispanic family
