Until last week, things were looking up for the City of Keizer’s budget. There was a large conversation looming regarding the police services fee, but the message from city officials was generally a positive one. Because of the COVID-19, the same city officials are re-examining most of their assumptions. The[Read More…]
NEWS
Hospital brace for crisis, but modeling shows we can nip need
Oregon is at a critical moment in the COVID-19 pandemic, and state authorities are preparing the next phase of intervention. A joint statewide plan released today details how the state plans to ramp up services in preparation for a crisis like the one being seen in other states, and how[Read More…]
Underlying conditions that exacerbate COVID infection
The COVID-19 virus is nondiscriminating in its spread, but there are certain conditions that make individuals more likely to suffer severe symptoms and outcomes. This is the list of underlying conditions known to exacerbate the virus impacts, according to the Oregon Health Authority: • Lung disease, including asthma or chronic[Read More…]
What’s open in Keizer
Lana and Terry Ricker show off the face shields now available in Mr. Video at 3836 River Road N. The Keizertimes is striving to be the best possible resource for the city during troubling times. While some businesses, such as gyms, and other organizations will close temporarily as a result[Read More…]
Running low on supplies, Salem Health stops coronavirus testing at clinics, emergency room
A check in station outside the back entrance to the Salem Health clinic on South River Road, where patients were being tested for COVID-19 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Citing a need to conserve test kits and supplies for hospitalized patients, Salem Health said Wednesday it would stop testing people with respiratory[Read More…]
Two Cherriots drivers test positive for COVID-19
People get on a Cherriots bus downtown. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) A second driver at Cherriots, Salem’s local transit service, has tested positive for COVID-19, the agency confirmed Wednesday. In a memo to employees Wednesday, March 25, Cherriots General Manager Allan Pollock said the second driver last worked on[Read More…]
SKPS school board meets to address statewide closures
The Salem-Keizer School District’s Board of Directors held an emergency meeting on Wednesday, March 18, after Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced a day prior that all schools will be closed until April 28 due to the outbreak of COVID-19, extending the original two-week closure to six weeks. The closure means[Read More…]
2020 Census roll out begins
Taking part in the United States Census has an impact on almost every aspect of daily life from city to federal levels and, for the first time, completing it can be done online in about 10 minutes. The 2020 Census officially kicked off this month and residents can either wait[Read More…]
Keizer declares state of emergency
On Friday, March 20, the City of Keizer declared a state of emergency in relation to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The action was taken not because of a Keizer-borne outbreak, but to position the city to take advantage of resources should one take place, said City Manager Chris[Read More…]
Parks board finalizes memorial recommendations
The Keizer Parks Advisory Board held its most recent meeting Tuesday, March 10. Here is what was discussed: The types of memorial donations accepted in Keizer’s parks will be changing. Members of the committee have spent several months debating whether and how to change the memorial policy, sparked by a[Read More…]