Day: August 20, 2012

The following are highlights from an interview with Rep. Kurt Schrader, Oregon’s congressman from the Fifth District: Q: With a couple of recent, terrible tragedies (the Colorado movie theater shooting and another at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin), do you feel Congress should take up anything like the assault weapons ban? A: “No, I don’t. We have a lot of people that have a lot of serious problems here. It’s an individual issue. Unless you lock up every firearm in the country you couldn’t prevent, and you still wouldn’t do it because crazy people would find a way to get weapons. That’s just the real world, legally or illegally. We have a right to bear arms, I support that 100 percent. … Hopefully there will be a lot less mental health and other issues that push people to do these horrible things.” Q: What specifically can Congress do to build or improve a system to catch people before they get into a crisis mode? A: “We can be doing what Oregon’s already doing which is building these coordinated care organizations. They’re not just about physical health. They’re about mental health. It’s been proven, and even in my little world as a veterinarian, the mental health of the patient is critical to the physical recovery and it brings on a lot of physical ailments if they’re not mentally healthy. I...

By JASON COX Of the Keizertimes Two Marion County fire board seats are vacant after the resignations of Wayne Miller and Ken Morin last month, with one saying he felt he could no longer be effective in his position. But Miller, whose July 18 resignation letter hinted at conflict within volunteer ranks, said he wasn’t leaving due to issues between he and fellow board members or MCFD Fire Chief Kevin Henson. Miller, a 40-year volunteer for MCFD, said he felt members of support services weren’t being heard in the mix with other volunteer firefighters. Support services generally consists of retired or semi-retired firefighters with the district for at least 10 years. They restore fire engines, ride in parades and assist the agency in various ways, but they do not fight fires, Miller said. “This was just something I felt I needed to do for my fellow retired, or semi-retired, firefighters,” he said. “I felt like I had a good relationship with the rest of the board, and the Marion County administration, and I fully support those people.” Morin didn’t return a call seeking comment from the Keizertimes. In response to a records request seeking both members’ resignation letters, Board President Randy Franke said Morin didn’t submit a letter. Miller’s was provided to the Keizertimes as requested. Miller said he felt he was able to assist in the agency’s election...