On this day, May 22, 1843, The 1st wagon train with over 1000 people departed Independence, Missouri for Oregon. Known as the "Great Emigration," the expedition came two years after the first modest party of settlers made the long, overland journey to Oregon.
Also on this day, May 22, 1902, Crater Lake National Park was established. Featuring the deepest lake in America at 1,943 feet, the lake was formed when Mt. Mazama, a volcano taller than today's Mt. Hood, erupted and collapsed over 7,000 years ago.
Taking over for Jim Lewis, who recently resigned
Salem City Council voted to appoint Micki Varney to the vacant Ward 8 Council seat during a special meeting on March 21st.
Varney's career experience includes early work as a high school teacher and 30 years as a salmon biologist.
"I believe a city councilor has a responsibility to be a community educator," she wrote in her application. "Councilors keep current on most everything related to city affairs. They must process and understand the information and have the ability and commitment to explain policy decisions and city actions, and be a liaison to the citizens they represent."
Varney served as a city councilor in Dayton, Wash., for two years before moving to Oregon.
She has served on the Salem Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for 3.5 years and volunteered for the West Salem Neighborhood Association for eight years.
She is filling the Ward 8 seat vacated earlier this year by the resignation of Jim Lewis.
Varney will serve the remainder of the term, which expires at the end of 2022.
She will be sworn in at the Monday, March 28 City Council meeting. She and Chris Cummings also qualified as candidates for the seat in the May 17 primary election.
--Bruce Armstrong| Post Date: 2022-03-24 17:29:36 | Last Update: 2022-03-24 17:37:26 |
