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Hello, my name is William. I am a senior studying media at Oregon State University. This is my blog, where I post my photos, facts, and opinions. Feel free to check me out on my various social media accounts by clicking on the logos above, or visit my website at iWilliam.me.

One thing to note: What's posted on this blog are thoughts of mine, and do not reflect that of my employers.

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Photos by William Allison

It’s two o’clock in the morning and you’re on your way home from a finals study session at a friend’s house. As soon as you turn onto your dimly-lit street, your mirrors are flooded with strobing red and blue lights. You have a headlight out that you’ve been meaning to fix. When the officer approaches your car, he greets you by saying, “Hi there, just to let you know, I’m audio and video recording.” He then motions toward a box the size of a deck of cards on his chest – a body camera.

Photos by William Allison

It was a another rainy day in Oregon when I approached the Corvallis Police Department on NW 5th Street. Because of this not-so-unusual weather, foot traffic was sparse around the law enforcement center, despite being in the middle of the afternoon. Inside the building, I found it was just as quiet, only hearing occasional ringing of a phone, traffic passing outside, and the distant sound of a train horn.

“I see you were able to get in touch with Lieutenant Wood,” the dispatcher said with a welcoming smile. I nodded in agreement. “One moment, I’ll call him.”

A few moments later, Lieutenant Cord Wood, Public Information Officer for the Corvallis Police Department, exited from a side door. He guided me back toward an interview room, a room that seemed to frequently be used for drilling the truth out of suspected criminals. With a gun locker outside the door, a two-way glass window on one wall, and a very stale odor, it’s apparent that this room was no lounge, nor did it look like they do in the movies. He motioned for me to have a seat in one of several hard metal chairs. I complied.

As our interview started, I learned that Wood, a nearly 18 year veteran of CPD, has been a law enforcement officer in three different communities. As the Public Information Officer, his role is dealing with the press, answering public inquiries, compiling data, and more. However, PIO isn’t the only hat he wears at CPD. Although he didn’t elaborate too much, it’s very apparent that he’s a busy man. Despite being busy, he took time out of his day to sit down and talk with me about police body cameras, something he’s so familiar with, he had a presentation all ready to go.

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Alex Weron. Photos by William Allison

Alex Weron has a pretty uplifting outlook on life. “You should do what makes you happy,” he says. “All we have are moments in life.”

And he lives true to those words. Weron is a senior at Oregon State University studying Digital Communication Arts, but just because he’s a Beaver now doesn’t mean he started in the Beaver State. Weron’s roots don’t spread too far, though; they are deep in the Pacific Northwest. He was born in Richland, Wash. and spent most of his childhood in Sandport, Idaho.

Not a day goes by without a headline popping up somewhere in the United States (or the rest of the world) about another case of police brutality. Whether it’s an officer Tasing someone, shooting an unarmed person, or using their baton a little too roughly, the daily news wouldn’t be complete without an accusation against the police. In many situations, that’s exactly what they are: accusations. However, without any solid evidence and only the statements of the parties involved, things get complicated – very complicated.

Bruce Thompson of LBCC Loss Prevention shows off the surveillance system in the Public Safety office. Photo by William Allison

“Prevent theft – Secure locker before leaving locker room”

This is what students are faced with upon entering and exiting the locker rooms in the Activity Center. However, locks didn’t stop a determined thief from cutting the metal lockers open in the women’s locker room on Friday, Jan. 10.

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Albany Police Chief Mario Lattanzio. Photo by William Allison

ALBANY, ORE. – As of July 1, 2013, the Albany Police Department (APD) has a new lead officer. Mario Lattanzio left his role as assistant police chief of the Mesa (Arizona) Police Department when he was chosen as the most qualified of the three candidates that were interviewed for APD’s top position, replacing Ed Boyd.

Lattanzio, 47, who is originally from Las Vegas, lived in several places while he was growing up, including Oregon. After living in Phoenix, Ariz. and completing his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, he realized that the number of jobs in his career of choice was decreasing.

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(Now Former) Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller with his Letter to Vice President Biden. Photo by William Allison

Note: This story is from 2013. The Linn County Sheriff is now Bruce Riley.

LINN COUNTY, ORE. – “We didn’t think it’d get this kind of reaction…” But it did.

“Is it too late to stop it?” Linn County Sheriff Mueller asked detective and computer forensics investigator Mike Smith, shortly after uploading his now nationally shared letter.

“Yeah, it’s way too late. It’s out,” said Smith.

On Jan. 14, 2013, Mueller wrote a letter to Vice President Joe Biden telling him that he was not going to enforce President Barack Obama’s executive order “offending” the American people’s constitutional rights.

A Momiji Sushi dish. Photo by Nicole Crawford.
A Momiji Sushi dish. Photo by Nicole Crawford.

Momiji Sushi, a sushi bar originally located in Salem, opened a second location in North Albany about three years ago.  Owners Jay Tan and Wayne Chen opened the Albany location, which is just over the bridge on Highway 20, due to the great success of the Salem location, and this one seems to be doing just as well.  The Albany Momiji is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.


I’m going to start this review out by saying that I am by no means a food critic, nor am I an expert on sushi.  I have, however, worked in several restaurants and know what it takes to make things run smoothly and keep the customers happy and satisfied.  That being said, here is my personal opinion on my favorite restaurant, Momiji.

This review has been updated since the original publication date.

Classic Rock band Styx plays at the 2012 NW Art and Air Festival. Photo by William Allison
Classic Rock band Styx plays at the 2012 NW Art and Air Festival. Photo by William Allison

ALBANY, ORE. – The Northwest Art and Air Festival — it’s an event known throughout the Northwest, and this year is noexception. Over 50,000 people were expected to attend the 13th annual three-day event, according to Lynne Jamison of Albany Parks and Recreation. Throughout the three days, there were vendor booths with many different forms of arts comprising of jewelry, license plate birdhouses, stained glass, photographs, paintings, and much more. Additionally, there were vendors from many local businesses and restaurants showing off and selling their products. While these booths were in the center of all of the excitement, this wasn’t what most people came for; they came for the entertainment.