Our Town – Silverton, Mt. Angel & Scotts Mills Our Town – Silverton, Mt. Angel & Scotts Mills - News and features for those who live, work, and play in rural Marion and Linn counties.

Silverton man indicted for manslaughter after fatal hit-and-run

June 2023 Posted in News | Comments Off

A Silverton man has been indicted for manslaughter after an alleged hit-and-run collision in Salem May 21 that killed a Keizer teenager. Gustavo Sosa, 27, was indicted May 26 in Marion County Circuit Court on multiple charges including first-degree manslaughter, fourth-degree assault, reckless driving, failure to perform duties of a driver to seriously injured persons […]

Agriculture investment bill forum scheduled for Friday

June 2023 Posted in News | Comments Off

Federal legislators are hosting a listening session on efforts to reauthorize the Farm Bill this Friday, June 2, at Linn-Benton Community College. The bill, otherwise known as the Agriculture Improvement Act, was passed in 2018 and must be reauthorized after five years. The bill created programs that invest in rural counties, focusing on infrastructure, economic […]

SFSD election results – Three new faces, one incumbent, win seats

May 2023 Posted in News, School | Comments Off

By Stephen Floyd Four winners have emerged in the May 16 election for the Silver Falls School District Board, though one contest was still close as of the most recent election results. Eight contenders ran for four open seats.The uncertified May 24 results are from the Oregon Secretary of State Office. The count could change […]

It’s a winner – Mt. Angel school bond passes

May 2023 Posted in News, School | Comments Off

A $7 million facilities bond for the Mt. Angel School District passed with overwhelming support during the May 16 election, which also secured an attached $4 million state grant. Measure 24-482 passed with 64% voter support out of 869 total votes, according to results published May 24 by the Marion County Clerk’s Office. Superintendent Rachel […]

Classical resonance – Abbey hosts ‘guitar immersion’ event

May 2023 Posted in Arts & Music, Events & Holidays | Comments Off

By James Day The Classical Guitar Immersion (CGI) workshop is coming back to the Mount Angel Abbey for a second season. The program, now in its 18th year, matches up classical guitar teachers, led by Scott Kritzer and Mario Diaz, with students in a nearly year-long process that culminates with the “immersion” at the Abbey, […]

Bocce ball teams sought for fundraiser

May 2023 Posted in Briefs, Events & Holidays | Comments Off

AmeriTitle is offering residents in the Silverton and Mount Angel areas a unique opportunity to support local nonprofits through a winner-takes-all bocce ball tournament. The Big Le Bocce is scheduled for June 21 and will allow teams of four to compete for a cash prize to be donated to the local nonprofit of their choice. […]

New film festival seeks submissions

May 2023 Posted in Arts, Briefs | Comments Off

The first Silver Falls Film Festival is set for Friday, Aug. 18 during the Silverton Arts Festival. A series of short movies will be shown outdoors at Coolidge McClaine Park as the kickoff for the festival, which continues Aug. 19-20. More than 600 entries from around the world have been submitted, said Mike Turner, Silverton […]

Marion County to name successor to Sheriff Kast

May 2023 Posted in Briefs | Comments Off

Marion County Commissioners expect to appoint a new county sheriff in the coming days ahead of Sheriff Joe Kast’s retirement June 30. Kast announced his retirement May 4 and commissioners expect to make an appointment during their June 7 regular meeting. Applications from potential appointees were accepted through May 26, as well as public input […]

Datebook: June 2023

May 2023 Posted in Community, Events & Holidays | Comments Off

Frequent Addresses Mt. Angel Public Library, 290 E Charles St. Silver Creek Fellowship, 822 NE Industrial Way, Silverton. Silver Falls Library, 410 S Water St. Silverton Arts Association, 303 Coolidge St. Silverton Community Center/Council Chambers, 421 S Water St. Weekly Events Monday Silverton Senior Center, 115 Westfield St. Seniors 50 and older. Daily, weekly, monthly events. […]

Your Garden: Taking care of pollinators

May 2023 Posted in Gardening | Comments Off

We’re in for sunny weather and people are planting. Some are putting in vegetable gardens, others are hitting the nurseries and plant sales for flowers and anything you can plant that kills the winter doldrums. If the forecast calls for cooler nights, tender plants should be kept moist during the dry days and have a […]

Your Garden: 100 years of community gardening

May 2023 Posted in Community, Events & Holidays, Gardening | Comments Off

By Mary Owen The Turner Community Garden and Flower Club will celebrate 100 years of gardening by hosting a flower show at the upcoming Marion County Lamb and Wool Show. The annual show will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on June 3 in the Turner Elementary School gymnasium. “At 11 a.m., we […]

Your Garden: OSU Gardener’s June Chores

May 2023 Posted in Gardening | Comments Off

Fruit Crops First week: Spray cherry trees for cherry fruit fly, as necessary, if fruit is ripening. Spray for codling moth in apple and pear trees as necessary. Continue use of pheromone traps for insect pest detection. After normal fruit drop in June, consider thinning the remainder to produce a larger crop of fruit. Pick […]

Your Garden: Slugging it out in the garden

May 2023 Posted in Gardening | Comments Off

By Diane Hyde, OSU Linn County Master Gardener Temperatures are warming and there are sunny days to do some yard and garden cleanup. As we pick up wind-blown debris and pull up weeds clusters of slug eggs are found. Some species of slugs bury the eggs underground so they are not found until the little […]

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Birthday Event at the Gordon House

May 2023 Posted in News | Comments Off

On Saturday, June 10, the Gordon House is celebrating Frank Lloyd Wright’s birthday with an open house from 11am to 3pm. Visitors can take self-guided tours of the Usonian home for the special price of $5 per adult. Entry for visitors under the age of 18 years is free. The house is located at 869 […]

Silverton Free Fish Day this Saturday

May 2023 Posted in Events & Holidays, For Kids | Comments Off

Silverton Free Fish Day will be held this Saturday, June 3, at Silverton Reservoir and local kids and families are invited to attend. Organized by local nonprofit groups, the event is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will take advantage of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s annual license-free fishing the first weekend […]

Salmon science – Learning about fish taken to a deeper level

May 2023 Posted in School | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner When Alyssa Burge discovered an empty aquarium labeled “ODFW Salmon Release,” at the Community Roots School in Silverton, where she had just taken on the role of Garden Specialist in 2019, she knew she had to learn more. “So, I tracked it down on the internet,” she said, recalling her first introduction […]

Community Roots cuts middle school program

May 2023 Posted in School | Comments Off

By Stephen Floyd Community Roots School is discontinuing its middle school program due to low enrollment and will change to a K-6 format beginning this fall. During an April meeting of the Silver Falls School District Board, School Administrator Christen Kelly said enrollment in 7th and 8th grades had experienced “considerable decline.” The district’s class […]

SACA check-in – Connected past, demanding present, optimistic future

May 2023 Posted in Community | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner Silverton Area Community Aid – or SACA, as it’s affectionately known – has always operated with the same goal, to provide food for those in the Silverton area who need it. But that doesn’t mean it’s always looked the way it does today. “It started as a much smaller organization,” Executive Assistant […]