Willamette Wake-up

The state fairgrounds in Salem host not only the state fair of Oregon, but ongoing programs including the Willamette Art Center year-round, and a whole calendar of onetime and annual events. But right now it’s ready to become once again the home of the Marion County Fair…and the Fair’s Event Coordinator Jill Ingalls is ready. Willamette Wake Up host Stella Shaffer talked with her in a mostly vacant building just inside the Green Gate on the fairgrounds, and you can hear the place was bustling outside.

Artist and teacher Hollie Newton chairs the Oregon State Fair’s Fine Art Department and Willamette Wakeup host Stella Shaffer talked with her about a new award and a new push to get artists from around the state to enter their works early, in time for the end-of-August State Fair.The Oregon State Fair runs from August 23rd through September 2nd , at the fairgrounds in Salem.For more information, see www.oregonstatefair.org .

Bob Rossi interviews retired Labor activist and Singer/Songwriter Paul McKenna. Paul and Bob discuss what makes a Workers or Labor song and we sample some of his music, and modern updates to old time favorites.

Vidal Pena, the newest member of the Central School District Board. Vidal lives in Independence and was a write-in candidate. Vidal is active in the community and is the only Latino on the school board in a district where 43 percent of the students are Latinx.

Alaide Vilches-Ibarra, Executive Director of Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIRJ), talks about alternatives to detention centers being advocated for by IMIRJ and recent activities by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Oregon.

Some long-awaited capital development plans will have to wait another 4 years; protecting mobile home parks from re-development; “heroes” and “villains” in Salem Heights, and more.

The iconic St Paul rodeo is underway, putting the “western” in the Pacific Northwest for the 84th year. The Wild West Art Show, carnival and vendors are open all day, every day through Saturday, with evening rodeo performances the next five nights in a row. The town of 421 people in northern Marion County is host to the 20th largest rodeo event in the nation. On Monday I talked with Ruth Nicolaus who was on her way to St Paul as part of her publicity consulting work for rodeos nationwide.

Food booths and the carnival, Western Art Show, Tack Room Saloon and the strawberry shortcake fundraiser are open all day with evening rodeo performances at 7:30 and fireworks at ten PM. That website for any other questions again is stpaulrodeo.com

Governor Kate Brown appeared at her statehouse podium Monday, the day after Oregon’s long legislative session came to its mandated end despite a dustup that delayed and quashed some bills. She didn’t tackle the GOP exodus from the capitol chambers at the start, however – instead of opening with a rundown of some big legislation that did make it through the session.

Bob Rossi and Matt Hilton of AFSCME Local 238 discuss the issues and negotiations with Oregon Health & Sciences University.

Bob Rossi interviews Rajeev Ravisankar of the Graduate Teacher Fellows Foundation GFTT) about issues of Graduate Teachers and negotiations with the University of Oregon.