Wednesday Morning News Report With Kevin Hays (AUDIO)

Here are today`s top stories from Salem-News.com I`m Kevin Hays reporting...

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - (Audio transcript)

The family of an Oregon soldier missing in Baghdad says it has heard no word from the military but a family spokesman says they are prepared for the worst.

On Friday 23-year-old Private First Class Thomas Tucker of Madras was one of two soldiers reported missing.

On Tuesday, the military says the bodies of two soldiers were found but NO identifications have been made.

An insurgent umbrella group of Al-Qaida posted an Internet message Tuesday claiming responsibility for the kidnappings.

An intense weekend search turned up nothing.

The family spokesman, Randy Everett, says the family has asked that its privacy be respected.

Iraqi officials have said the two found Tuesday appear to be the missing soldiers.

Here is a message left by Tucker to his family on their answering machine back in February.

Two 15-year-old Sprague High School students were arrested Tuesday for starting the fire in the girl's bathroom on Wednesday, the first of two suspicious fires in one week at the school.

The two freshman girls, whose names have not been released, were charged with First Degree Arson.

The second fire, near an outside concession stand by the stadium, burned itself out.

Investigators believe an accelerant was used to start the fire.

Investigators are unsure whether the two fires are connected.

Anyone with information on the fires are urged to call the Salem Fire Department or Salem police.

State troopers say three recent graduates of South Medford High School died early Tuesday morning in a car crash near Ruch (Roosh) in Southern Oregon.

OSP says the three were in a car that went around a curve on Oregon 238 at a high rate of speed shortly after midnight. Troopers said the car went down an embankment, hit a tree and landed upside down in Applegate River.

OSP identified the three as Kyle Ross, the driver, David Bergin and Jonathan Thibeault. All were 18.

OSP says it doesn`t yet know whether the three were wearing restraints.

Friday`s community enforcement and crime prevention event in east Salem, and Keizer led to 44 arrests.

In addition, nearly 4 oz of cocaine were seized along with small amounts of other drugs.

The arrests were due to parole/probation violations as well as new criminal charges.

Four children were taken into protective custody, 14 drug activity complaints were cleared, and 97 traffic citations were issued by Salem police.

Salem-area weather forecast from Salem-News.com:

Wednesday � sunny � High 75

Thursday � sunny and warmer � High 78

On Friday � sunny � High 81

For a complete 7-day Salem-area forecast visit our website Salem-News.com

Salem-News.com Salem-area road construction report….

Brush College Rd NW at the intersection with and west of Doaks Ferry Rd will have lane closures with flaggers for sewer line installation and street improvement project.

Turner Road SE between Kuebler Blvd SE and Deer Park Dr SE is closed to all through traffic for the widening of the Mill Creek Bridge. Traffic is being detoured via Deer Park Dr SE to Aumsville Highway SE and Kuebler Blvd SE

Center Street NE is closed to all thru traffic between 17th Street NE and 12th Street NE for the demolition and rebuilding of the bridge over Mill Creek. A detour route using 17th Street NE, State Street and 12th Street NE is in place.

Fisher Road NE North of Silverton Road… Lane closures for water service repairs.

Fairview Industrial Dr SE at the Interstate 5 underpass street closed for the replacement of the bridges for the ODOT I-5 widening project.

I`m Kevin Hays reporting for Salem-News.com Have A Safe And Wonderful Day! If the audio does not play automatically, press the play button on the silver bar below. The best quality is attained by waiting for the small gray bar to travel all the way to the right, which allows the audio report to buffer, or prepare to play.