🌱 Man Sentenced To Life In Prison For Salem Hotel Shooting + Blossoms

Morning, neighbors. I'm here right on time with your Monday edition of the Salem Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out everything that's fit to print about what's happening in town these days.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: Cloudy with showers around. High: 50 Low: 33.
• Tuesday: Mainly cloudy and milder. High: 58 Low: 34.

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Here are the top three stories today in Salem:

1. Antonio Soto, 34, was recently sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 21-year-old Davontae Smith and attempted murder of 22-year-old Adrian Gonzales. On Jun. 8, 2021, Soto fatally shot Smith and tried to shoot Gonzales when they tried to help a woman that Soto was assaulting at the Capital Inn and Suites in Salem. (Subscription: Oregon Live)
2. Even though the blossoms were not there, the annual Cherry Blossom Day celebration in Salem was a success, with hundreds gathering on Saturday, Mar. 18. The event featured a performance from the Monmouth Taiko, a kimono dance and fashion show, a martial arts demonstration, and more. For the second year in a row, Oregon Parks and Recreation will host a “Yozakura” when the cherry blossoms make their delayed arrival. Beginning Mar. 25, the cherry blossoms will be illuminated with Japanese lanterns and lights from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The community is invited to bring camping chairs or blankets to enjoy a nighttime picnic under the lights. (Subscription: Oregon Live)
3. On Mar. 17, Salem firefighters extinguished a two-alarm fire on the third floor of the Metropolitan Building on Northeast Liberty Street in downtown Salem. No injuries were reported, and fire officials are investigating the fire's cause. (Subscription: Salem Reporter)

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Today and tomorrow in Salem:

Monday, March 20

• Yard, Garden and Home Show At Oregon State Fair And Exposition Center (10:00 AM)
• Forum Speaker Series 2023.03 At Salem Convention Center (11:45 AM)

Tuesday, March 21

• Intro to Zen Meditation: Free At 5090 Center Street NE (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Don't miss Kathryn Cellerini Moore’s newest exhibition, Stellular, at the Bush Barn Art Center! Click here to learn more about the exhibit and when to see it. (Salem Art Association via Facebook)
• On Saturday, Mar. 18, North Salem graduate Eimy Martinez won the 3,000-meter event at the Oregon Preview track and field meet! The Oregon State runner won with time of 9:48.65, the sixth-best time in school history. (Statesman Journal)
• Whether you’re actively looking for a new home or just curious about other properties nearby, view the link to see what's for sale in the Salem area. Including a four-bedroom on Merced Court for $539,900! (Salem Patch)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll see you around!

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!