It’s been a rough week for economic news, from the discouraging Oregon economic and revenue forecasts issued Thursday to the dispiriting national news about home sales, foreclosures and unemployment claims. But there also is much to celebrate this week.
To get the weekend off to a positive start, we’re celebrating winners in the recent news.
WINNER: Salem-Keizer school renovations. Of the 17 schools closed for renovation this summer, work on 10 has finished ahead of schedule.
Those 10 schools — Brush College, Englewood, Hoover, Liberty, Myers, Pringle, Scott, Wright, Houck and Whiteaker — will reopen today for use by school staffers. Four Corners, Hazel Green, Washington, Waldo, North Salem, South Salem and Howard Street schools are scheduled to re-open Monday.
WINNER: Salem Foundation. During the past year, it has given more than $1.75 million to nonprofits in Salem and the Mid-Valley. Those grants are especially needed during the difficult economy.
The 80-year-old foundation goes about its work quietly and humbly, but it deserves the community’s appreciation for its wise stewardship.
WINNER: Oregon State Fair. This year, the fair will live up to its slogan, “Too big to miss.” The fair opens today with timber competitions, an interactive dinosaur exhibit and other new activities to complement the beloved traditional homecraft, farm animal and chocolate-cake contests.
WINNER: Garmin AT. It plans to add a call center in Salem, hiring as many as 200 more employees. The company will hold an informational career forum for job applicants from 1 to 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at 2345 Turner Road SE.
WINNER: Marion County commissioners and Salem Area Mass Transit Board. They will hire a forensic investigation company to determine what went wrong in the planning, design and construction of Courthouse Square.
WINNER: Willamette University. U.S. News and World Report ranks it 59th among national liberal arts colleges and counts it among the top up-and-coming colleges. The Princeton Review has listed Willamette in “The Best 373 Colleges.”
Read more on The Statesman Journal here
