Tempting traditions: Mount Angel Oktoberfest offers many forms of fun

September 2016 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off on Tempting traditions: Mount Angel Oktoberfest offers many forms of fun

From the Harvest Monument gracing the center square to the Bavarian-themed food booths to the music and dancing, German traditions can be found throughout Mount Angel’s Oktoberfest. Celebrating its 51st anniversary, the festival runs Sept. 15-19. Whether you like to dance, eat or explore, there’s something for everyone at this festival. Here are a few […]

Dust settled: Investigation recommended, commission votes ‘no’

September 2016 Posted in News | Comments Off on Dust settled: Investigation recommended, commission votes ‘no’

By Kristine Thomas Silver Falls School Board members Todd White and Tim Roth are both satisfied with the outcome of the Oregon Ethics Commission investigation. Although, they each have a different reason. Roth is glad the complaint was dismissed.  White is satisfied because the investigator felt a full investigation was warranted. In the end, the […]

Garbage rates increase: New food waste recycling program launched

September 2016 Posted in News | Comments Off on Garbage rates increase: New food waste recycling program launched

By Kristine Thomas Greasy pizza boxes, pineapple bark, coffee grounds and filters, apple cores, egg shells, watermelon rinds and other food waste will no longer be relegated to your gray garbage cart, beginning Oct. 1. Instead, food waste will be allowed to co-mingle with brown leaves, grass clippings and other yard debris in the green […]

Falcon-ready: Welcome game plan set for new middle school

September 2016 Posted in School | Comments Off on Falcon-ready: Welcome game plan set for new middle school

By Kristine Thomas Silverton Middle School Dean of Students April Murphy understands and acknowledges there is some apprehension from students, staff and parents about the new Silverton Middle School. From navigating unfamiliar hallways to having sixth graders with eighth graders to worrying about safety, Murphy has heard many concerns. Calmly and confidently, she replies, everything […]

Sports: Football preview

September 2016 Posted in School, Sports | Comments Off on Sports: Football preview

By James Day It’s a new season for the Silverton High School football team. New turf has been installed at McGinnis Field and the squad is trying to put last year’s 5-5 season in the rearview mirror. “Last year had a lot of twists and turns for us,” seventh-year Coach John Mannion said. “And it […]

Welcome home: St. Edward’s ready to take next step

September 2016 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Community | Comments Off on Welcome home: St. Edward’s ready to take next step

By Kristine Thomas The members of St. Edward’s Episcopal Church in Silverton took the journey to learn about other churches and faiths. Now, they are encouraging others to give it a try. Especially people who have quit attending church services for one reason or another. Or those who are curious and want to see how […]

Sr. Antoinette Traeger, OSB: July 24, 1924 – Aug. 20, 2016

September 2016 Posted in People | Comments Off on Sr. Antoinette Traeger, OSB: July 24, 1924 – Aug. 20, 2016

Sister Antoinette Traeger, OSB, entered into eternal life at the Providence Benedictine Nursing Center on Aug. 20 at the age of 92. Sister Antoinette was a member of Queen of Angels Monastery in Mount Angel for almost 75 years, rejoicing in monastic life and sharing her prayer and wise perceptions of God’s activity in life […]

Air shows: Action and awe are the real deal

September 2016 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Air shows: Action and awe are the real deal

By Carl Sampson I am standing on a patch of grass watching a man named Brad Wursten defy gravity. He is in a tiny airplane called an MXS-R, which is hanging by its propellor a couple thousand feet in the air. What is keeping him from plummeting to his death in a fireball, I’m not […]

Silverton Road: 10 crashes for month of July; 10 for the entire year of 2013

August 2016 Posted in News | Comments Off on Silverton Road: 10 crashes for month of July; 10 for the entire year of 2013

By Kristine Thomas When Silverton Fire District Public Information Officer and Capt. Ed Grambusch learns there is another crash on Silverton Road, his first thought is an unpleasant one. He ponders “How many patients are we going to have? Are we going to have to extricate these patients from the vehicles?” While Silverton Road is […]

Changes afoot: Silver Falls has new locations, principals, names, mascots

August 2016 Posted in Other, School | Comments Off on Changes afoot: Silver Falls has new locations, principals, names, mascots

By Kristine Thomas Silver Falls Superintendent Andy Bellando is confident the dust will have settled by the time school begins on Sept. 6. From the construction projects at Scotts Mills, Pratum and Silverton Middle School to the hiring of new staff, it’s been a busy summer. Here are a few updates: Building projects Bellando knows […]

Man About Town: Thank you!… I think…

August 2016 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Man About Town: Thank you!… I think…

By Jim Kinghorn Isn’t it great how the state highway department recently decided to honor our local history and heritage by making many of the main routes to Mount Angel back into gravel roads… Speaking of getting around here, didja notice that at long last the left turn arrow at Water and C streets has […]

Hemp: Old crop for a new age

August 2016 Posted in People | Comments Off on Hemp: Old crop for a new age

By Melissa Wagoner From the road, it looks like just another crop. Take a step into the field and you know what it is, or rather, what it’s a close kin to. It smells like marijuana but it’s not. It’s hemp. Peter and Rochelle Koch, both 55, recently planted 21 acres of hemp on their […]

Sports: New year, new turf

August 2016 Posted in School, Sports | Comments Off on Sports: New year, new turf

By James Day A new era unfolded Aug. 9 at McGinnis Field on the old Silverton High School campus on Schlador Street. The Foxes football team practiced for the first time on its new artificial turf. The squad was scheduled to open its conditioning work on the new surface Aug. 8, but last-minute tweaks kept […]

People Out Loud: Baseball ‘n’ Homer – It’s the little things that add up to ‘hometown’

August 2016 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on People Out Loud: Baseball ‘n’ Homer – It’s the little things that add up to ‘hometown’

By Dixon Bledsoe The Rio Olympics are finally here. It was exciting to see Katie Ledecky beat her own world record in the 400 meter free-style for the gold by nearly two seconds, Michael Phelps win his incredible 19th gold medal, and the U.S. women’s gymnastics team leaving every country in the world behind in […]

Centennial celebration: Residents reminisce, look forward

August 2016 Posted in Community | Comments Off on Centennial celebration: Residents reminisce, look forward

By Hannah Kloft Margaret Gersch, 91, is nine years younger than the city of Scotts Mills. She recalls moving to Scotts Mills in 1931 when there were no paved roads. It was only gravel roads once travelers passed the bridge. She grew up four miles up Crooked Finger Road, and then moved into the town […]

Decision time: Mount Angel considers three city manager candidates

August 2016 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Decision time: Mount Angel considers three city manager candidates

By Kristine Thomas The three candidates vying to be the next city manager of Mount Angel all agree on the two major issues facing the city: finances and growth. And the two go hand-in-hand, they all said in separate interviews at an open house on July 15. Growth would allow the city to increase its […]

Safety Compass: New nonprofit helps sex trafficking survivors

August 2016 Posted in Community | Comments Off on Safety Compass: New nonprofit helps sex trafficking survivors

Safety Compass Mission: To offer support for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking, navigating the criminal and social justice systems in Marion County. Funding: Safety Compass is supported by donations. Contributions can be mailed to PO Box 551, Silverton, OR 97381 To volunteer: safetycompass.org or call 971-235-0021. By Kristine Thomas On a daily […]

Homer’s roots: Historic farm’s family woven into political history

August 2016 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off on Homer’s roots: Historic farm’s family woven into political history

By Jim Toler, president and board chair of the GeerCrest Farm & Historical Society, Inc. In 1898, Oregon voters were frustrated by what they saw as corruption in their state government. Votes were openly bought and sold in the legislature and the influence of the railroad and logging industry were generally put ahead of the […]

Whimsical perfectionist: Exhibit honors the late Larry Kassell

August 2016 Posted in Other | Comments Off on Whimsical perfectionist: Exhibit honors the late Larry Kassell

By Kristine Thomas Julia Kassell has the almost impossible task of trying to summarize her late husband’s work for an art show in August. The challenge before her is what work does she select that would give community members a glimpse of who the late Larry Kassell was as an artist, a man and a […]

Home away from home: Airbnbs are popping up locally

August 2016 Posted in Business | Comments Off on Home away from home: Airbnbs are popping up locally

By Melissa Wagoner Silverton resident Ken Mulder was facing a long summer in a big empty house when he decided to check into the online vacation rental service Airbnb. “It was very simple to sign up and list the house,” he said. “Once it was listed, I can do almost everything from my phone.” Airbnb, […]

Yoga 101: It’s for EVERY body

August 2016 Posted in Your Health | Comments Off on Yoga 101: It’s for EVERY body

By Kristine Thomas Yoga instructors Samantha Wiesner, Sarah Newman, Chantal Barton and Bridget Schuch have heard plenty of misconceptions about yoga. Everything from yoga is only for people who can put their foot behind their head to it is only for calm people. In other words, it’s not for people who are inflexible or tend […]

Wanna be my friend?: An honest look at being a harvest widow

August 2016 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Wanna be my friend?: An honest look at being a harvest widow

By Kali Ramey Martin Harvest widow. It sounds like a dramatic term but I’m guessing it feels pretty darn accurate for a lot of us around here these days. My first season as a harvest widow was hard, sure. I marathon-watched old episodes of Pioneer Woman before going to bed by myself, took dinner out […]

Letter to the Editor: Dog dilemma – Woman uneasy with how police handled traffic stop

August 2016 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off on Letter to the Editor: Dog dilemma – Woman uneasy with how police handled traffic stop

To the Editor: Approximately 10 months ago I moved to Silverton from Portland. I run a dog rescue and sanctuary, as well as am an avid animal activist. Law enforcement and animal control frequently work with me regarding animal abuse, domestic violence involving a dog protecting its owner and puppy mills etc. We always follow the […]

Heating up: Lady Foxes soccer squads sizzle in summer league

August 2016 Posted in School, Sports | Comments Off on Heating up: Lady Foxes soccer squads sizzle in summer league

By James Day The Silverton High girls soccer team continues to demonstrate that it is a force to be reckoned with in Class 5A. The Foxes, who came within one goal of a Mid-Willamette Conference title the past two seasons, outscored opponents by a 46-14 count in summer league and captured the championship. Silverton, which […]

A Grin at the End: Home improvement pointers

August 2016 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on A Grin at the End: Home improvement pointers

By Carl Sampson It’s been my long-held opinion that there is no need for capital punishment as long as there are home improvement projects to be done. Instead of spending eternity on death row, the worst offenders should be sentenced to fixing things around the house or building a fence or painting a bedroom. Nothing […]