SALEM  — Facing a $22 million budget gap, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department asks park visitors to adhere by health and safety measures and be patient with reduced services and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Itemizer-Observer

Itemizer-Observer

January

As the major league baseball season races towards its October crescendo and the Central High School fight song only now begins to fade in the ears of Panther faithful following the high school baseball state championship earlier this spring, another tune of bat and ball and glove drifted int…

INDEPENDENCE — Ramon Martinez, Independence community engagement manager, packed a lot into his first trip to Europe.

Jacob Hoda, a member of the Salem Sprague Little League baseball team, is playing with his team in the little league world series in Williamsfort, Pennsylvania. Games begin on Aug. 16 and will run through Aug. 25. Both sets of his grandparents live in Dallas, and his parents, Kate and Joe Ho…

DALLAS — Christopher Brees, one of the coaches of the Dallas Prune Pickers, a 10U all-star baseball team, wants to make sure the community knows how thankful he is for their contribution to the team this season.

DALLAS — The Lady Dragons Fastpitch team is currently looking to fill 10U, 12U, 14U and 16U rosters for the 2019 fall softball season. Head coaches are looking for players with great attitudes, strong work ethic, exemplary sportsmanship and the desire to improve and grow in the sport.

MONMOUTH/INDEPENDENCE – Whether you’re an avid runner or haven’t laced up the shoes in some time, it’s OK: the Fourth of July mini-marathon doesn’t discriminate.

INDEPENDENCE – The annual Fourth of July tennis tournament will kick off June 29-30 to begin this year’s holiday festivities.

I love to hike. Well, I really love doing anything that involves getting outside.

All I could hear was the blood pounding in my ears, and the sound of my ragged breath as I crunched through the snow and ice that covered the trail, trudging slowly up the unforgiving terrain.

The Draggin’ Disc fundraiser disc golf tournament is back for its second year of friendly competition on Sept. 15 at Dallas City Park.

Over the weekend, I took advantage of the smoke-free air and went on a hike with my friends Sam and Claudia, and Sam’s 8-month-old twins, Oliver and Avery.

If you’re a parent looking for activities to sign your kid up to this fall, Western Oregon University offers community youth swim lessons each term for kids ages 6 months to early teens.

Last month I hurt my shoulder and had to take a month off of climbing while I (impatiently) waited for it to heal.

Parkside Self Defense, a Taekwondo and mixed martial arts school, offers more than just martial arts: it offers students a way of life, on and off the dojang.

It only took one run from the Mountain View Toros before the Dirtbags cinched up their defense and brought another triumph to their scoreboard, winning the game 4-1 in Monmouth on Wednesday evening.

Summer is in full-swing now, which means longer days, good weather and ample time for trying out new things.

Being sidelined from a sport you love due to injury sucks.

INDEPENDENCE — Waves collided against the shore. Sailors held on for dear life.

POLK COUNTY — Ride ’em cowboy. The Hell on Hooves Rough Stock Rodeo returns Thursday at 7 p.m. As cowboys and cowgirls compete, expect to see fans flock to the rodeo arena for some high-speed excitement.