Final three: Mount Angel Council narrows field in search for city administrator

May 2013 Posted in News | No Comments »

By Don Murtha The Mount Angel City Council expects to offer one of three candidates the job as its next city administrator. The candidates vying for the title are Eileen Stein, most recently city manager of Sisters, Ore.; Aaron Palmquist, operations manager ...

No walk in the park: Silverton faces difficult funding decisions

May 2013 Posted in News | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_3427" align="alignright" width="180"] Silverton Public Works Director Gerald Fisher reveals some of the corroded pipes from Silverton waterlines. Photo by Brenna Wiegand[/caption] By Brenna Wiegand Unfinished parks, antiquated waterlines and financial prudence were popular topics at the April 22 town hall ...

The future of Schlador Street campus: Replacing and remodeling parts of former high school included in bond proposal

May 2013 Posted in News, School | Comments Off

Schlador Street campus and Eugene Field tours Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m. to noon The Silver Falls School District invites the public to open houses and tours of the Eugene Field and Schlador Street facilities. To arrange a weekday school ...

Vulnerability: Security assessed in schools

May 2013 Posted in News, School | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas At its board work session on April 22, the Silver Falls School District Board received a by-school vulnerability assessment by Zach Elliott of Holvi LCC in Newberg. Elliott said the goal of the report was to show the school ...

Replace or repair? – Impact of each option part of school bond debate

April 2013 Posted in News, School | Comments Off

Editor’s note: This is the second in a three-part series on the proposed $36.9 million bond measure for construction and maintenance projects for the Silver Falls School District on the May 21 ballot. The April 1 story focused on the ...

At Mount Angel’s helm: Jennie Messmer, Susan Muir trade roles

April 2013 Posted in News | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_3310" align="alignright" width="300"] Jennie Messmer, interim city administrator.[/caption] By Don Murtha For Jennie Messmer, city government is nothing new. She has been involved in government one way or another since she was 21 years old. Messmer recently retired from the League of ...

Gilliam lauded for role in concussion law

April 2013 Posted in News | Comments Off

State Rep. Vic Gilliam (R-Silverton) was recently received Advocacy Award from the board of directors of the Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon. The award is “in recognition of a team uniting to pass Max’s Law: the first Concussion Legislation passed in ...

The Eugene Field blues: For 45 years the school has had safety issues, and the repair price – and problems – are growing

April 2013 Posted in News, School | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_3311" align="alignright" width="300"] Major systems in Eugene Field, such as electrical, are out of compliance.[/caption] By Kristine Thomas The frustration is evident in her voice. Eugene Field Principal Jennifer Hannan estimates she spends 40 percent of her time as the principal of ...

Budget bind: Schools grapple with maintenance issues

April 2013 Posted in News, School | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_3305" align="alignright" width="300"] Cars, buses, and kids on foot make for congestion at St. Mary School when classes get out. Photo by Steve Ritchie[/caption] By Steve Ritchie The effects of school budget cuts are painfully obvious throughout the state: larger classes, ...

It’s not all roses: New bar’s name creates quite a stir in Mount Angel

March 2013 Posted in News | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_3237" align="alignright" width="227"] David Borchers, owner of The Drunken German in Mt. Angel. Photo by Don Murtha.[/caption] By Don Murtha So what’s in a name? Potentially, an uproar. Ask David Borchers, owner of  The Drunken German, a soon-to-open bar and restaurant on ...

‘This may hurt’: Billing, payment changes lead to cuts at Silverton Health

March 2013 Posted in Business, News | Comments Off

By the numbers From October 2011 to September 2012, the average number of ER visits per month was 1,903. From October 2012 to January 2013, the average number of ER visits per month was 1,935.In fiscal 2011-12, 53 percent of emergency room charges went unpaid due ...

A good fit: Universal Forest Products proposal to relocate to Silverton OK’d

March 2013 Posted in Business, News | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_3161" align="alignright" width="300"] After being vacant for five years, the former site for Redmon and Champion Homes is slated for a new occupant this fall – Universal Forest Products.[/caption] By Brenna Wiegand The city of Silverton, the Silver Falls School District, ...

Hot spot: Survey reveals high levels of cancer-linked gas in Silverton

March 2013 Posted in News | Comments Off

Radon Facts What is it: Radon is a radioactive, colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, occurring naturally as an indirect decay product of uranium or thorium. Some radon gas from natural sources can accumulate to higher-than-normal concentrations in buildings, especially in confined areas ...

Silver Falls School District bond measure on May 21 ballot

February 2013 Posted in News | Comments Off

On Feb. 11, the Silver Falls School District board voted 5-1 to place a capital construction and maintenance bond measure on the May 21 ballot. Board members Wally Lierman, Tim Roth, Owen Von Flue, Julie Norris and Erv Stadeli voted in ...

Muir moves on from Mount Angel City Administrator

February 2013 Posted in News, People | Comments Off

By Don Murtha Mount Angel City Administrator Susan Muir has accepted a position with the League of Oregon Cities. She said her start date is yet to be “determined so that we can ensure a smooth transition for the city of Mount ...

New school? Public input sought

December 2012 Posted in News, School | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas Before the Silver Falls School District’s board members make a decision on whether or not to place a bond measure on the May 2013 ballot that would fund reconstruction and maintenance projects of district buildings, they want to ...

Issues and answers: Silverton’s mayoral candidates share their views

October 2012 Posted in News | Comments Off

Editor's note: Our Town presented the four candidates running for Silverton mayor on the Nov. 6 ballot a series of questions and asked for written responses. These are the unabridged responses. What does urban renewal mean to Silverton and is it ...

Reasons to run: Silverton candidates put demeanor, fiscal issues at top of list

October 2012 Posted in News | Comments Off

Editor’s note: Our Town reporter Don Murtha interviewed the seven candidates competing on the Nov. 6 ballot for three seats on the Silverton City Council. This contains more information than the Oct. 15 print edition. By Don Murtha Ron Butcher  If elected, Ron ...

SACA on hunger: Food drive proceeds through October

October 2012 Posted in Community, News | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand October food drives Volunteers will deliver empty sacks to Silverton homes Oct. 15-18 and return to collect donations Saturday, Oct. 20.Please bags on your porch by 10 a.m. Items needed included soup, peanut butter, dinner mixes, pasta, canned fruits and vegetables, personal care items, canned tuna, cereal, ...

The vision test: Four mayoral candidates vie to lead Silverton

October 2012 Posted in News | Comments Off

By Don Murtha Silverton Candidate Forum Oct. 9, 7 - 9:30 p.m. Silverton High School Theater, 1456 Pine St. Moderator: Carl Sampson Our Town columnist, editor for Capital Press Questions on any subject related to the city will be taken from the audience by the moderator. The challenges facing Silverton are ...

The replacements: Mount Angel Fire District asks voters to approve levy

October 2012 Posted in News | Comments Off

By Don Murtha When the family auto starts needing too many repairs and those repairs eat into the household budget, it’s time to replace the “old clunker.” The same, firefighters say, is true for old fire engines. The Mount Angel Fire District is ...

Veteran Mount Angel officer earns rank of sergeant

October 2012 Posted in News, People | Comments Off

By Don Murtha[singlepic=323,320,240,,right] Jeff Charilloz, a veteran of 17 years with the Mount Angel Police Department, has been appointed by the City Council as the city’s first police officer to have the rank of sergeant. Charpilloz graduated from Silverton High School in ...

Race time: Candidates compete for Mount Angel council

September 2012 Posted in News | Comments Off

By Don Murtha Both familiar and new faces are vying for election to the Mount Angel City Council. The ballot for the Nov. 6 election will have five candidates. City councilor Andrew Otte is running unopposed for mayor. Current Mayor Rick Schiedler has ...

A gift: Saalfeld Park completed in time for O’Fest

September 2012 Posted in Community, News | Comments Off

By Don Murtha[singlepic=314,320,240,,right] Visitors to Mount Angel’s Oktoberfest this year will notice a familiar gathering spot has received a makeover. On Aug. 31, city officials, volunteers and contributors attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at Mount Angel’s new Saalfeld Park. The site was ...

Hopes for spring: City approves garden site, volunteers, funds needed

September 2012 Posted in Community, News | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand[singlepic=312,320,240,,right] The Silverton City Council dedicated land for a community garden by unanimous vote on Sept. 10. The lease agreement allows organizers of the Westfield Park Community Garden to begin developing the spot on land adjoining Silverton Senior Center. A skate ...
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