Please go online today and vote for two of our small rural communities. According to a Pacific Northwest fire truck dealer all we have to do is go online and vote and the winner will get a $150,000 fire truck. Two fire fighters from the towns of Hines and Butte Falls wrote essays on why their fire departments needed and deserved a new pumper unit. There were 650 entrants and now are down to 7 finalists. This will cost the tax payers nothing! The fire trucks that these towns are now using are at least 30 to 35 years old. This is sponsered by E-ONE, one of the nations largest manufacturers of emergency response vehicles.

To vote go to www.e-one.com and click on the large box that says "VOTE NOW".  The vote will count only if a verification is sent.

Because the contest was originally only for fire fighters you must give your email address, name the fire dept. and answer any marketing questions.

Please help these small communities.

The market in the Salem area is not as bad as reported. If you listen to the newspapers and TV reports you would think that the whole real estate industry is in chaos but here in th Salem area things are not as bad as reported. According to the Willamette Valley Multiple listing statistics it shows that in 2004 that 270 Bank owned properties were sold average price $132,327 and in 2008 there were 236 that sold, average price $161,540. Now in 2009 we have 130 that are currently on the market with an average sale price of $242,114.

Now is the best time ever to purchase a home with reasonable pricing, low interest rates, and incentives that we have never had before. Don't let the national statistics fool you!

Salem is the capital city of Oregon and the second largest city in the State. It is a beautiful place to live and to visit. Salem is in the center of the Willamette River Valley and is so centrally located that it is only an hour from Portland ( the largest city), an hour from ocean beaches, an hour from the Cascade mountains. Population is approx. 150,000.

Salem has an absolutely wonderful K-12 school district and five higher educational institutions. Over 13 public or private colleges or universities are wthin a 70 mile radius.

We have a wide variety of things to do and see. Museums, historic sites, wineries (including wine tours), Art fairs, music and cultural events.

Salem is surrounded by farmland, fields of Iris, orchards (including fruit & filberts) and vineyards.Farmers markets offer a large amount of produce and handmade craft items. We are a short way from Silverton, home of the Oregon Gardens.

Everyone should have the opportunity to visit this community, we are a wonderful place to live, work and visit!