Smith has history of community service

October 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community | Comments Off on Smith has history of community service

To the Editor: With elections for the City of Silverton fast approaching, I write in support of  the re-election of Dana Smith. During her past years in office, Dana has served the city of Silverton and its citizens admirably, effectively handling ...

Secret praise: A shout-out to Silverton Sheltering Services duo

October 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Secret praise: A shout-out to Silverton Sheltering Services duo

It’s time to focus on the positive things going on in the area, after the ugliness of last week’s uber partisan politics at the national level and the plethora of attack ads here in Oregon. Brent Jacobsen and Sarah White are ...

Our heroes: Thank you, firefighters

September 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Our heroes: Thank you, firefighters

Editor: Some brief background: My wife Virginia and I (Tom) lived for 35 years on our family farm close to Mount Angel, where we raised our three boys. Brother Zan and I were born there. Perhaps three years ago for ...

Knowing it’s time: A property’s future and a hero’s new career

September 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Knowing it’s time: A property’s future and a hero’s new career

There is an element wanting to raise Eugene Field School from its soon to be rubble, since the building is scheduled to be demolished soon. Waxing nostalgic is not going to remove the asbestos. Saying “We haven’t had any input” ...

Update Eugene Field process review: Guest Opinion Kyle Palmer, Silverton Mayor

September 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Update Eugene Field process review: Guest Opinion Kyle Palmer, Silverton Mayor

A few citizens have recently brought back up our plans for the Eugene Field School site, so it’s time for another update. The City purchased the entire EF property in late 2017 after negotiations with the Silver Falls School District, who’d ...

A joyful noise: Listening for the sounds of life

September 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on A joyful noise: Listening for the sounds of life

I like noise. I should clarify that statement. I like most noise. As a guy who has lived and worked in big and small cities – and places where there are no cities at all – the sounds of people are, ...

Rethink Eugene Field: Guest Opinion

August 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Rethink Eugene Field: Guest Opinion

Stu Rasmussen On Aug. 6 the Silverton City Council voted to spend over $700,000 of our taxpayer dollars to demolish the historic Eugene Field School to make way for a new City Hall with no plan how to pay for a ...

Football preview: Foxes, Trojans dive into fall camps

August 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, School, Sports | Comments Off on Football preview: Foxes, Trojans dive into fall camps

Silverton football was 7-4 last season in its first year under coach Josh Craig, advancing to the state quarterfinals before falling to No. 1 Mountain View in a 46-42 shootout in Bend. This year the Foxes are in a reconfigured league, ...

Two originals: One fateful day took Jean Hadley, Sam Linn

August 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Two originals: One fateful day took Jean Hadley, Sam Linn

It is more enjoyable to write about people in a positive way, laughing with them at the funny things they do, touching family events, and the moments in their lives that pull at the heartstrings of others. But when we lose ...

‘Another perfect day…’ Thoughts on the City of Angels, or Dreams

August 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on ‘Another perfect day…’ Thoughts on the City of Angels, or Dreams

Randy Newman had it right: “I Love L.A.” – with an exclamation mark! I and a couple of my kids recently spent a long weekend in Los Angeles and, while I’m certainly no expert on that city, there’s way more ...

Music and Zen: Fischer’s Mill Music Festival joined by Zen Garden market event

July 2018 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Columnists & Opinion, Community, Food & Drink | Comments Off on Music and Zen: Fischer’s Mill Music Festival joined by Zen Garden market event

By Nancy Jennings The second annual Fischer’s Mill Music Festival kicks off on Saturday, July 21, 1 to 9 p.m. Seven bands will take the stage in Silverton’s Old Mill Park, located behind Silver Falls Library. Co-organizers Victor Madge and Corey Christensen ...

Feel good moments: We need more of them . . .

July 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community | Comments Off on Feel good moments: We need more of them . . .

A few years ago, the Bothum boys were in elk camp, and Rex brought this gorgeous red sorrel mare. Everyone in camp wanted that horse. It was a big horse, probably nearly 17 hands, and it was one of the ...

Don’t panic . . . You will have plenty of time…

June 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Don’t panic . . . You will have plenty of time…

If you can honestly say that no one you know has ever been affected by cancer then consider yourself very, very lucky and skip over this part..... The rest of us can help fight this awful disease by walking a ...

Voice of an angel: Remembering my friend Beth Davisson

June 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community | Comments Off on Voice of an angel: Remembering my friend Beth Davisson

By Dixon Bledsoe This one hurts. Losing someone you adore is just plain painful. Beth Davisson had that affect on people. I liked her the first time we met in 1964 when she joined our 7th grade class at Mark Twain. She ...

Thanks, I guess? Happy birthday wishes, snail mail and data collection

May 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Thanks, I guess? Happy birthday wishes, snail mail and data collection

Every now and then, politicians pipe up about the U.S. Postal Service and how it doesn’t meet their standards. They are partially right. With all due respect to our anointed ones in Washington, D.C., there’s more to it than a member of ...

More smiles per gallon: Than your average hot rod

May 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community | Comments Off on More smiles per gallon: Than your average hot rod

The Silverton Garden Club and Silverton Together invite you to the 4th annual Silverton Garden Tour. The June 9 tour will feature some of the area’s most inspired private gardens and afford you the opportunity to visit other people’s back ...

Off to med school: Former Foxes wrestler Izaak Tobin paces OSU squad in GPA

May 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, School, Sports | Comments Off on Off to med school: Former Foxes wrestler Izaak Tobin paces OSU squad in GPA

Sometimes the statistics don’t really matter. Sometimes it’s what you do off the playing field that ultimately counts. And what you make of your opportunities. [caption id="attachment_8337" align="alignleft" width="150"] Izaak Tobin Karl Maasdam[/caption] The record shows that Izaak Tobin, a two-time runner-up ...

A scammer’s paradise: If it’s too good to be true… resist

May 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on A scammer’s paradise: If it’s too good to be true… resist

My wife has been redecorating our living room. We figured we would sell the old furniture on Craigslist. I took some photos and posted them on the website. Within a day, someone contacted my wife and said he would buy all ...

Think local, act global: Mayors, Myanmar… and macchiatos?

April 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Think local, act global: Mayors, Myanmar… and macchiatos?

I must hand it to Kyle Palmer, Silverton’s venerable mayor. He has the patience of Job and can hold his tongue with the best of them, even in the face of naiveté, ignorance, vitriol, and, on occasion, just plain stupidity. ...

Badlands: Manipulation abounds on the Internet

April 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community | Comments Off on Badlands: Manipulation abounds on the Internet

I’m not ready for a tinfoil hat just yet, but I’m getting there. According to special prosecutor Robert Mueller, the Russians have invaded U.S. social media and bought online ads that are messing with Americans’ minds. According to a federal indictment, Russians ...

Two out of three: Kennedy girls win another state 2A title, boys take 4th

March 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, School, Sports | Comments Off on Two out of three: Kennedy girls win another state 2A title, boys take 4th

By Steve Ritchie and James Day Senior leadership. Veteran coaches. Rising stars. The Kennedy High girls basketball team had it all this season. The Trojans finished a storybook 29-1 season on March 3 with a 53-40 win against defending champion Monroe in ...

Just instinct: Biology student dives into heroism

March 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community | Comments Off on Just instinct: Biology student dives into heroism

Perhaps things just come naturally and easily for Krysta Catto. Graduating from Dallas High School in three years. Majoring in biology, studying to be a marine biologist. Saving the lives of little boys overtaken by giant waves in Kona. Huh? Or ...

Special hoops season: State next for Trojans, Foxes hope to follow

February 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, Community, Sports | Comments Off on Special hoops season: State next for Trojans, Foxes hope to follow

The next two weeks could be pretty special for area high school basketball fans. All four teams at Silverton and Kennedy are ranked in the top 10 in their class. Both Kennedy teams already have qualified for the Class 2A ...

Trivial pursuits: Useless knowledge comes in handy sometimes

February 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on Trivial pursuits: Useless knowledge comes in handy sometimes

“I know that!” “Oh, wait. I thought I knew that.” “Come to think of it, maybe I didn’t know that at all.” “I must’ve been mistaken.” That cycle of thought goes through my head often these days, but never more than when I’m engaged ...

A click-bait world: You won’t believe what happens next

February 2018 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off on A click-bait world: You won’t believe what happens next

These are different times. Depending upon whom we ask, social media is a God-send or the root of all evil. Good news and bad news, and even “fake news” can spread like wild-fire. My preference is “good news.”  I can ...
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