Smoking ban
“From a nonsmoker, I think you should do what you want. It’s about a little word, ‘freedom.'”
Skyline owner Mike Owen
“The reason why I’m glad is because I don’t like to have cigarette smoke around me while I’m eating or my kids.”
Theresa Brown
Terrorism
“This is not a religious war. It’s a struggle of good versus evil…. But make no mistake about it. Good will prevail.”
President Bush
Law enforcement
“You never have the same thing happen every day. It’s not like working in a factory or mill. Everything’s unexpected.”
SHPD Sgt. Jason Van Eck
Mary Betts
“AOL (Associated Oregon Loggers) should be proud to have a member with a track record of community activism like this.”
Mark Crawford, AOL president, on Woman of the Year Award to Mary Betts
Athletic director
“Larry’s done such a great job for so many years, I think, initially, nobody going into that job will look good.”
New SHHS Athletic Director Steve Emmert on retiring Athletic Director Larry Johnson
Sen. Mae Yih
“Without her, I couldn’t have done it. It took awhile for them to decide, but eventually, they came up with plans to make it work. Without Sen. Yih’s influence I couldn’t get this done.”
Speedee Mart owner Christian Kim on regaining on-street parking
Term limits
“Without term limits, I can serve indefinitely. I don’t think that’s good. At some point, we need new blood, a new perspective … in the process, and that’s what term limits will bring us.”
Dist. 17 Rep. Jeff Kropf
Education
“We’re committed to making a difference for kids and having them be successful.”
Foster Principal Vic Zgorzelski after national recognition of school
“Once again, it isn’t about that report card. It’s about doing what’s best for kids.”
SHJH Principal Hal Huschka after school receives excellent mark on report card
African Children’s Choir
“I saw the children sing three years ago in a church in Baltimore. I was convicted by their unconditional joy.”
Choir volunteer Christine Diorio
Retiring superintendent
“I can’t even think of an adjective to say how he’s done. It’s not going to be an easy shoe to fill because Bill’s done so much.”
School Board Chairman Milt Moran on Supt. Bill Hampton
Windstorm and power outage
“I don’t really have words to describe what it was like. It’s been one of the most interesting things we’ve ever had to face.”
Mark McDonald
“I was starting to leave when the tree came down. We’ve never had a tree fall on the house before. It shifted the whole house. I’ve never been so scared in all my life.”
Shirley Jewell
“I figured the truck was a goner anyway…. I’m just glad to be alive.”
Jack Bell
DPSST
“Most folks feel we have enough prisons and corrections activity here in Salem already.”
Mark Krautmann on DPSST decision to site in his neighborhood in Salem
Bowling 300
“A lot of luck is involved, at least for me it is. Some people can do it naturally.”
Tobey McGarry
Wrestling
“It feels great. It’s my fourth time here. It felt awesome. I don’t know what else to say.”
David Helfrich after championship bout
Mud Festival
“I gave him a hard time about breaking the jeep every time he drove it. I get in. I catch air, and I really break it.
Loren Kuipers after driving obstacle course
Olympic skiing
“Actually, it’s a sheet of ice. They drill holes into the mountain and inject water into them. Our job was to keep the snow off the course because that slows them down.”
John Tyler, a volunteer for the winter Olympic ski events
POW book
“Having grown up in the age of Lindbergh and barnstormers, I had been intrigued, as were most boys my age, but the idea of flying. But after that ride, flying became my fantasy. From then on, the sound of a plane was like an irresistible summons. I would drop whatever I was doing and hungrily watch any plane that flew over until it was out of sight and gone. I dreamed of being a pilot.”
Ernest Pickett, Japanese POW, describing his feelings after first airplane ride in 1936
New superintendent
“The coffee pot will always be on. I really do encourage people to stop in and say hello.”
District 55 Supt. Larry Horton after being hired
Pancakes
“When my kids were young, I’d make them pancakes in the shape of animals. Now, Saturday or Sunday morning of fair week, I make them for the 4H kids. They have a lot of fun guessing what the animal is supposed to be.”
Sudy Lamb, Linn County 4H leader of the year
Santa Claus
“We like to have fun. Our goal is to make people laugh and smile as much as we can.”
Rob Poirier, Santa Claus
Closing PV
“There is no debate about the quality of education that kindergartners are presently receiving at Pleasant Valley. The district will maintain the same high level of education and support for kindergartners at neighborhood schools.”
Retired District 55 Supt. Bill Hampton
Weyerhaeuser takes over Willamette Industries
“Of course there are going to be some changes. The nice thing is, we believe the plant will continue to operate, but we’re changing product emphasis.”
Foster Plywood Manager Jerry Underwood
Smart decisions
“We don’t want to see you where I work.”
Don Geric, trauma nurse coordinator at Lebanon Community Hospital, to high school students
Economy
“We now have the worst economy in the nation and the worst unemployment in the nation.”
District 17 Rep. Jeff Kropf
Lawsuit
“I’m very satisfied with the result. What I wanted was my reputation back in the town where I live.”
Judy Maniates after winning $62,500 award in lawsuit against School District 55
“When you consider Mrs. Maniates and her attorney were suing for a total of $3.6 million plus interest and attorney’s fees, I guess when you look at the big picture, $62,500 isn’t much.”
District 55 Director Don Hopkins
Achievement
“Without wrestling, I don’t think I would have had the dedication to be a valedictorian.”
2002 Valedictorian K.C. Stokes
Insurance benefits
“This committee (city budget committee) can send a very clear message that a set amount is what we’ll pay. We cannot continue to say, ‘What is the cost? Okay that’s what we will pay.”
Dave Holley
Mountain House
“We used to sit here eating pie when it was Bill and Char’s (Lafollette) and talk about how fun it would be to have a place like this.”
Kim Powers, Mountain House owner
Sasquatch
“I’ve never seen one, but there was a time I heard something I’d never heard before.”
Mert Menge as he carved a sasquatch on Clark Mill Road