Salem-News.com Holiday articles Page 16

Kids Will `Shop With a Cop` in Mid-Valley Cities

The "Shop with a Cop" events are a great opportunity for police officers to interact with children that may only have had a negative experience with law enforcement.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The need is greater this year as state troopers, county deputies, and city police officers reach out to help over 600 kids shop for special gifts this holiday season at three locations in Linn, Benton and Marion counties. It is part of their area annual "Shop with a Cop" event.

For the 14th year, Corvallis and Albany-area police officers will help local disadvantaged and foster children shop for Christmas gifts as part of the local "Shop with a Cop" program. Last year, 181 children left with smiles on their faces after purchasing videos, clothing, toys, and other special gifts while shopping with state, county, and city police officers.

"We all are experiencing in some way the impact of the economy and most of these children would receive very little even in the best of times," said long-time "Shop with a Cop" organizer, Ms. Reita Wyatt.

Oregonians No Longer Gobble Up Locally-Grown Turkeys

Once thriving Oregon turkey industry long gone despite a few niche market birds.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The distinct sound of gobbling turkeys in Oregon has generally grown silent the past 15 years. What was once a thriving agricultural industry left the state– a rarity among Oregon's diverse list of commodities.

A Furry Friendly Holiday

Travel writer CeliaSue Hecht highlights for our readers, one of the best vacation spots on the west coast for people who like to travel with man's best friend.

(CARMEL, Calif.) - The holidays are approaching. You may not be wishing for a white or cold holiday but you'd like to have fun with the family. Problem is, what to do with your furry family members, Fido and Fluffy? This year, rather than leaving your pooches in a kennel, why not have a doggone good time in Carmel by the Sea, California, acclaimed as the most dog-friendly town in America.

Located a few hours south of San Francisco, the town of Carmel offers visitors many fun pet activities and accommodations for four-legged friends and their owners.

There are many businesses in this quaint California coastal town that cater to dog owners. Learn eight good reasons to mark Carmel down and your next getaway.

Albany Veterans Day Parade Mixes Patriotic Displays With Reality (VIDEO)

See the sites and sounds of the Albany Veterans Day Parade through the lens of Tim King's television camera. Also catch our slide show presentation of photos by Bonnie King.

(ALBANY, Ore.) - The Albany, Oregon Veterans Day Parade drew more than 40,000 spectators and participants to this Willamette Valley city. The November 11th event marks the day World War One ended in 1918. Salem-News.com caught up with the last part of the parade and the video is published below.

In this record of the parade you will see everything from a float decked out with bamboo to signify Vietnam, to old cars, a Miatta club, marching bands and anti-war groups like Vietnam Veterans For Peace.

The event brought together all of these groups that represent and serve veterans, without political interference. The organizers allowed all to pay homage in their own way to the men and women who serve this nation in uniform.

Albany Prepares for Massive Veterans Day Parade

The largest Veterans Day event in the western U.S. takes place in historic Albany, Oregon.

(ALBANY, Ore.) - Ninety years ago tomorrow, the war to end all wars ceased and the world was granted peace. November 11th 1918 marked the cessation of hostilities that claimed millions upon millions of French, British, German and Belgian soldiers.

Over 50,000 Americans also died in World War One as well as soldiers from many other nations. November 11th is celebrated all around the world as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day.

The largest Veterans Day observance west of the Mississippi River, is the Albany Veteran's Day Parade in Oregon. Upwards of 40,000 people will attend the event featuring approximately 200 entries.

One Death Reported on an Oregon Halloween

Preliminary OSP DUII arrest statistics for Halloween night‏.

(SALEM, Ore.) - As Halloween fell on a Friday this year, Oregon State Police, ODOT and county and city police agencies urged parents, children and motorists to take special care, to be alert, and drive sober because Oregon statistics showed during the last ten years all eight traffic fatalities on Halloween night was associated with an impaired driver. The increased DUII enforcement was part of the national "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest." campaign.

Preliminary OSP DUII arrest information indicates between 6:00 PM, October 31st, and 5:59 AM. November 1st, troopers reported 15 DUII arrests. The OSP Springfield office reported 4 DUII arrests during the time period; Salem and McMinnville offices each reported 2 DUII arrests, and all other offices reporting a DUII arrest had one each.

Celebrating the Independence Holiday as National Prisoners

Americans are good people but we have been led astray. The answers are not found in the ideologies of the far right or the far left for that matter, they are found in the center.

(SALEM, Ore.) - In the land of the free, it is curious that we are now locked into our own country for the first time in history. Immigration paranoia has led the Bush administration to placing passport requirements on the entry of Canada and Mexico. How free do you feel?

Grannies on Trial for Protesting WWII Tank in Rose Festival

"A parade is a form of entertainment and it is wrong to include a tank in the streets of Portland, especially while our country is engaged in a war in which thousands of soldiers and civilians have died."- Bonnie Tinker

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - One year after protesting the presence of a WWII tank in the 2007 Rose Festival Parade, two members of "The Seriously Pissed Off Grannies" will be tried on June 9th on charges of "disorderly conduct" and "interfering with a peace officer." The trial will be before Judge Fuchs in room 528 of the County Courthouse and will start at 9:30 AM on June 9th.

Sara Graham and Bonnie Tinker will both testify that their actions were directly tied to freedom of speech. Graham said that after unsuccessfully trying to persuade the Rose Festival not to include a tank, she felt she had no alternative but to protest.

Words From a Memorial Day Ceremony in Fallujah, Iraq

Major General John F. Kelly offers words about veterans past and present.

(FALLUJAH, Iraq) - Major General John F. Kelly dispatched a letter from Iraq stating that they held their Memorial Day ceremony in Fallujah today and it was described by those in attendance as inspiring.

Special Memorial Day Poems Are a Tribute to Veterans

In truth, most veterans are not respected by our mainstream society. These poems are an honest look at the plight of the those who serve their country.

(CANTON, N.C.) - This collection of poems was submitted to Salem-News.com through a contact in our work on the TCE (Trichloroethylene) related cancer cases and other illnesses stemmimg from water contact at the Marine Corps Base in North Carolina, Camp Lejeune.