Keep Salem Moving!

In November 2008, Salem voters approved a “Keep Salem Moving” $100 million project bond to pay for street and bridge projects that relieve congestion, improve safety, and rebuild or maintain pavement and bridges in Salem.

With that investment the City completed more than 40 projects included in the original Keep Salem Moving! bond measure and received additional funding from the State of Oregon and Federal government totaling over $21 million.

Thanks to sound financial and project management, the City was able to use savings and leverage other funds to address additional transportation needs, including neighborhood sidewalk reconstruction.  These state and federal funds, along with project savings, allowed the City to fund an additional 31 projects.

About 90 percent of the total project value was awarded to local contractors during the economic recovery, following the 2008 recession.

In total, 71 projects have been funded as part of the 2008 Keep Salem Moving! bond package. By January 2022, 66 projects were completed and five projects remain in progress. Upon completion, of all projects funded through this bond measure a total of 45,189 feet of streets will be widened and 63,245 feet of new sidewalk will be stretched throughout the City.

Projects paid for by Keep Salem Moving!

News

Salem man arrested in child sex abuse case

Post Date:04/26/2024 2:58 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 

DATE: April 26, 2024

CONTACT: Salem Police Communications Office | spdmedia@cityofsalem.net

 

Salem, Ore. — A Salem man is in custody in Illinois on child sex abuse charges stemming from an incident earlier this month at a northeast Salem business.

Jason Patrick Mikel, age 28, was arrested Thursday, April 25, as part of an investigation into the sexual abuse of a small child at a variety store in the 2700 block of Lancaster DR NE on the evening of April 1, 2024.

The child’s mother reported that while shopping, she lost sight of her daughter and found the three-year-old in Mikel’s arms. The mother confronted the unknown suspect, who put the child down and fled the store. Through a forensic interview conducted by Liberty House, a child abuse assessment center, Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit detectives learned the child had been harmed in the encounter.

Investigators identified Mikel as the suspect and presented their findings to a Marion County Grand Jury on April 19. Mikel was indicted on the following charges:

  • Attempted unlawful sexual penetration, first-degree
  • Sex abuse, first-degree
  • Attempted kidnapping, first-degree

Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined Mikel fled Oregon to the village of Minooka, a small suburb of Chicago, Illinois. With assistance from the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office Proactive Unit, and the Minooka Police and Channahon Police Departments, Mikel was arrested without incident. He is currently lodged at the Grundy County Jail and awaits extradition to Oregon.

Salem Police thanks the FBI, the deputies of the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office, and the police officers from the communities of Minooka and Channahon for their assistance in apprehending Mikel.

Gratitude is also extended to the staff of Liberty House. The organization is an essential partner in law enforcement’s work to investigate and bring justice to the most vulnerable of our community. We invite residents to learn more about the organization’s work and resources.

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