A Grin at the End: Perspective – Beating the cynicism disease

June 2021 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community, People | Comments Off on A Grin at the End: Perspective – Beating the cynicism disease

We’re all going to be OK. That is the inescapable conclusion I have reached. I was at a minor league baseball game a few weeks ago, scanning the crowd between pitches. There were families enjoying the evening as the boys of ...

People Out Loud: Life lessons – Class of 2021 got more than their share of them

June 2021 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, People | Comments Off on People Out Loud: Life lessons – Class of 2021 got more than their share of them

To the graduates of 2021, my sincere congratulations for your wonderful accomplishments. It could not have been harder, right? You weathered COVID-19, quarantines, wildfires, ice storms, and an entirely new but hopefully temporary “normal.” You learned online in your pajamas, caught ...

A Grin at the End: 50 years later – High school when you look back at it

June 2021 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, People | Comments Off on A Grin at the End: 50 years later – High school when you look back at it

One of the few fringe benefits of this pandemic is the fact that my 50th high school reunion was canceled. That’s right, the Conestoga High School Class of 1971 has let the coronavirus get the best of it. I suppose ...

In Memoriam: Denise Marie Totland (Sept. 7, 1962 – April 27, 2021)

May 2021 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Obituary | Comments Off on In Memoriam: Denise Marie Totland (Sept. 7, 1962 – April 27, 2021)

[caption id="attachment_9933" align="alignright" width="214"] Denise Totland[/caption] Denise Marie (Howes) Totland, 58, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2021. A graveside memorial service will be held in Silverton on Saturday, May 22, 2021, under the direction of Unger Funeral Home. Visit ungerfuneralchapel.com for ...

People Out Loud: A salute to ‘Captain A’ – Plus the hum of a rebounding community

May 2021 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community, People | Comments Off on People Out Loud: A salute to ‘Captain A’ – Plus the hum of a rebounding community

I remember meeting Arland Anderson as a lowly freshman in high school in 1966. He was a junior and one imposing figure – larger than life. Standing about 6'4" and not “diminutive”, he had a booming voice, and huge and ...

The time is now: Planning for future wildfires shouldn’t be delayed

May 2021 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community, Outdoor Life | Comments Off on The time is now: Planning for future wildfires shouldn’t be delayed

By Melissa Wagoner Weeks out from the official start of summer and fire experts are already warning Oregonians of another potentially difficult fire season. Which is why Carrie Berger, a fire program manager with the OSU Extension service, has recently partnered ...

Letters to the Editor: Support for ‘supermom’ in school board election

May 2021 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community, People, School | Comments Off on Letters to the Editor: Support for ‘supermom’ in school board election

We wholeheartedly endorse Melissa Seifer Briggs for Silver Falls School Board. Melissa is an experienced attorney, most recently with the Oregon Judicial Department, and a Silverton native. She and her husband, David Briggs, have five young children, ages 12 to ...

Letters to the Editor: A ‘fresh voice’ for school board

May 2021 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community, People, School | Comments Off on Letters to the Editor: A ‘fresh voice’ for school board

I want to express my support for Stephanie Mantie for a position on the Silver Falls School Board. She has the intellect and background that would greatly benefit our school district at this time.    Stephanie has been actively involved in our local ...

Letters to the Editor: ‘Thrilled’ advocates for Mantie

May 2021 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community, People | Comments Off on Letters to the Editor: ‘Thrilled’ advocates for Mantie

We have had the privilege of knowing Stephanie Mantie for 20 years. We served together in our church youth group for many years. We have witnessed her raise her kids, serve others, and interact in the community. We cannot recommend ...

A Grin at the End: Duck-duck-boom – Ideas to solve the world’s problems

May 2021 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on A Grin at the End: Duck-duck-boom – Ideas to solve the world’s problems

It’s been a busy year for the researchers here at Sampson Laboratories (motto: You can never do too much useless stuff). One of our intrepid scientists is coming up with an easier way to make carbon fiber parts for airplanes. I’m ...

Our most admired: Social media stirs the good in us too

November 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Our most admired: Social media stirs the good in us too

One of the fun parts of social media is people posing good questions to their sphere regarding favorite things, heroes, who they would like to meet, and who they most admire. As for the latter, names like Martin Luther King, ...

State champs: Kennedy volleyball ends dream season

November 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on State champs: Kennedy volleyball ends dream season

Kennedy High’s volleyball team completed a near-perfect season Nov. 9 with a 3-0 victory against Central Linn in the Class 2A state championship match at Ridgeview High in Redmond. The Trojans, who won with match scores of 25-14, 25-21 and 25-18, ...

Checking in…From our European bureau

November 2019 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Checking in…From our European bureau

As time goes on, The Man is constantly reminded that “none of us are getting any younger” and hence, the “Bucket List” comes into play. Ever since high school the Man-ette has whimsically talked of going to France so I ...

Fix high school sound system

November 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community | Comments Off on Fix high school sound system

Fix high school sound system A year ago we attended our grandson’s graduation from Silverton High School. He was one of the valedictorian speakers, and of course, we were looking forward to hearing his speech. We knew we’d be seated in ...

Groundhog Day … All over again, and again, and again

November 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Groundhog Day … All over again, and again, and again

“I feel like I’m living in the movie Groundhog Day,” I recently told my husband in exasperation. “Load the dishwasher. Empty the dishwasher. Wipe the counters. Fold the laundry. Repeat.” I wasn’t joking. Some days – OK, quite a few days – ...

Being the best…That your genes will allow

November 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Being the best…That your genes will allow

When he wasn’t chopping down cherry trees, George Washington used to keep a list of things he could do to improve himself. He did it in the form of a self-help booklet, and while some of the tips involved things ...

Champion, advocate, mentor: Remembering Jason Franz

October 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Champion, advocate, mentor: Remembering Jason Franz

A few years ago, a man named Larry Platt auditioned for American Idol with an original hit (that later sold millions), “Pants on the Ground”, which made fun of young men and boys who wore their pants halfway down their ...

New playmaker: McCarty starring for Foxes at QB

October 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, School, Sports | Comments Off on New playmaker: McCarty starring for Foxes at QB

Silverton had a huge hole to fill at quarterback this season. Levi Nielsen had started four years in the position, leading the squad to the playoffs all four seasons. But as the Foxes, 5-0, headed into a critical Special District 3 ...

Jar of Awesome: An easy way to capture your family’s best memories

October 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Other, People | Comments Off on Jar of Awesome: An easy way to capture your family’s best memories

“Enjoy this time because it’ll be over before you know it,” is possibly the single most cruel sentence one can utter to a new parent, yet the compulsion to say it is hard to resist. I’ve said it – many times ...

Small towns… Big hearts

October 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community, People | Comments Off on Small towns… Big hearts

I love small towns. I’ve lived in several – in Oregon, Minnesota and Alaska. Unless I was forced to, I’d never live in a big city. But I’ve been at a loss to explain to other people just why I like ...

A little help…The fine art of the delegation

October 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on A little help…The fine art of the delegation

Delegation. Not my strong suit. Many years ago when I worked as assistant manager for a retail clothing store it was the number one critique on my yearly review time and again. I just felt I could get things done ...

The village gives back: Considering the quiet hands behind O’fest

September 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on The village gives back: Considering the quiet hands behind O’fest

By the time this column is published, the Oktoberfest will be winding down on Sunday. So many memories, such good times, and the intake of about 4.2 billion calories. But fall is upon us, and soon the holidays, with events every ...

Almost Canada: A prize before the journey even starts

September 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Almost Canada: A prize before the journey even starts

I am standing on a spit of land that curls into the Pacific Ocean. As the sun drifts lower in the evening sky, the far-away islands take on a golden hue, basking in the summer twilight. I’m thankful that I’m ...

Listen and inquire: Opinions are great, but not the same as facts

August 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Listen and inquire: Opinions are great, but not the same as facts

Writing a column can be difficult at best, especially when one’s mind is following a single track and seldom strays from that. It would be easy to talk about politics every month since there is so much material to work ...

My secret addiction: A fun, easy way to learn new things on the go

August 2019 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on My secret addiction: A fun, easy way to learn new things on the go

I have a secret addiction. Well, maybe it’s not so secret because anyone who spends more than five minutes talking to me knows what it is. I love podcasts. I listen to them all day – or at least I would ...
« Previous Entries