Melanie in the Morning – Mid Valley News Magazine

Melanie interviews Scott Hossner, born and raised in Salem and now co-owner and CEO of Allied Video Production Services. Scott Hossner is a well known successful business man in Salem and a friend to nonprofits, but what most people don’t know is that he’s been a victim of two assaults, appeared on stage in an Off Broadway production and financed his college education delivering pizzas. I’ll be talking with Scott about AVP, but will also be talking about the person behind this CEO.

Melanie’s guest is Truman Price, resident of Monmouth OR, is a story teller, historian and musician of frontier fiddle techniques. Price has made hundreds of public presentations that feature history of the frontier and music from the Oregon Trail. We’ll be talking Tuesday about his life and times, and hopefully, hear a fiddle tune or two. To bone up, see: www.trumanprice.com

Melanie Belle will talk to Virginia Green in the second to the last of the History of Women in Salem series. We will discuss two ladies who made it on their own – Isabella Ott and Maud Zachery. See Virginia’s Salem Life Lines blog spot for a preview. Ross Sutherland, executive director of Bush House Museum will fill out the program by telling us what’s happening there this spring.

Melanie interviews Naseem Rakha, acclaimed author of The Crying Tree, a story about forgiveness (and capital punishment), who has just returned from a writers’ retreat at the Grand Canyon. Find out what she was doing and what she learned. You can read about her adventures and sample her writing at www.grandcanyonwriter.com.

Melanie interviews Marion County’s Sheriff Jason Myers and District Attorney Walt Beglau will discuss legislation aimed at reducing prison costs and how Marion County handles offenders with a mental illness.

Do you know anyone with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS)? Michael Eichman will talk with Melanie about his experience and how he manages each day.

Melanie and Virginia Green have a conversation about two historical women: Kathryn Gunnell and Myra Albert Wiggins, both photographers in Salem in the early 1900s.

Melanie interviews Nate Rafn about the challenge agriculture operations face with direct-to-consumers meat sales. Learn how the lack of USDA-approved slaughter houses inhibit Oregon meat producers.

Dave Jenkins is a screenplay writer who, among other projects, has written 19 feature length scripts. He lives in Salem and co-created the locally acclaimed short film called Salemia. An important part of Dave Jenkin’s life had been his faith. But recently, Dave and his wife left the Mormon Church. So a large part of our conversation Tuesday will be about his process of leaving the church and the consequences of doing so.

Melanie interviews Sarah Evans, former Statesman Journal reporter, who has co-created a new blog called Salem Is. Learn about the reason for the blog, who’s behind it and what inspired it. Check it out at www.salemis.org