Our Town – Silverton, Mt. Angel & Scotts Mills

How much, too much?: SFSD investigation into board communications enters second phase

January 2020 Posted in News, School | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand Silver Falls School District is conducting further investigation into allegations brought against school board member in a Nov. 25 complaint from 112 petitioners. The complaint asserts that board members Shelly Nealon, Jennifer Traeger, Jonathan Edmonds, Janet Allanach and Lori ...

Counties win one: State loses billion-dollar timber lawsuit, plans appeal

December 2019 Posted in News | Comments Off

By Mary Owen After week-long deliberations, a jury sided with 14 counties – including Marion – in a $1.06 billion class action lawsuit against the state of Oregon. With financial backing from the timber industry, Linn County led the case against the ...

Resignation requested: Board authorizes investigation into complaint

December 2019 Posted in News, School | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand Silver Falls School District has hired a third-party investigator to review a formal complaint brought against five Silver Falls School Board members at the board’s Nov. 25 work session. Directors Shelly Nealon, Lori McLaughlin, Janet Allanach, Jennifer Traeger and ...

Avery takes helm at Legacy Silverton

November 2019 Posted in News, People, Your Health | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_9507" align="alignright" width="225"] Jonathan Avery, MHSA Submitted Photo[/caption] Jonathan Avery, MHSA, is now Legacy Health’s president for the Willamette Valley Region. His responsibilities include leadership of medical centers at Legacy Silverton and Legacy Meridian Park in Tualatin. Legacy’s announcement said the ...

November Briefs

November 2019 Posted in Community, News, Other, People | Comments Off

Jazzercise Thanksgiving benefit celebrates 30th year Silverton Jazzercise will hold its 30th Thanksgiving morning benefit class for Silverton Area Community Aid on Thursday, Nov. 28, at 9 a.m. at the Silverton Community Center, 421 S. Water St., Silverton. Admission is $5 ...

Horses as healers: Day of the Wise Woman – Wisdom of the Horse

September 2018 Posted in Community, News, Other, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_8641" align="alignleft" width="212"] Equus coach Chris Burnett with “Blue.” Val Lemings[/caption] By Nancy Jennings Chris Burnett wants you to find yourself in the heart of a horse. Her one-day event – “Day of the Wise Woman/Wisdom of the Horse” takes place ...

Citizen action: How-to class presented at library

March 2018 Posted in Community, News, Other | Comments Off

By Melissa Wagoner “The beginning of all knowledge is the ability to think critically,” Donna Cohen, creator and facilitator of adult civics workshops said. “Evaluating whether information is accurate and complete enough to make a decision is the basis for all ...

Lewis files for second term

October 2017 Posted in Community, News | Comments Off

Representative Rick Lewis (R-Silverton) has filed paperwork with the Oregon Secretary of State seeking a second term representing House District 18. “Serving the people of House District 18 this year has been an honor,” Lewis said. “Being appointed during the 2017 ...

Rates go up: July 1 increase approved for street fees, water bills

February 2017 Posted in Community, News | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas Silverton Public Works Director Christian Saxe had concerns about asking the council to raise utility rates. “As a public servant, you want to avoid raising rates whenever possible,” he said. However, he faced a choice – raise street, ...

Water is life: Witnessing history

December 2016 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Community, News | Comments Off

By Benjamin Cedartree This November, I took an opportunity to stand with Standing Rock, joining the CascadiaNow! and Backbone Campaign to deliver stoves and assist in the winterization process for the water protector camps (in North Dakota). Most of the ...

Garbage rates increase: New food waste recycling program launched

September 2016 Posted in News | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_7273" align="alignright" width="242"] Matt Cofer, the operations manager for Republic Services, said kitchen pails will be delivered to Republic Services customers in September. New garbage rates and recycling start in October.[/caption] By Kristine Thomas Greasy pizza boxes, pineapple bark, coffee ...

Dust settled: Investigation recommended, commission votes ‘no’

September 2016 Posted in News | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_7275" align="alignright" width="300"] The new turf field at the center of the complaint was a project spearheaded by the Silver Fox Foundation and done without district funds.[/caption] By Kristine Thomas Silver Falls School Board members Todd White and Tim Roth are ...

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

August 2016 Posted in News | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_7242" align="alignright" width="300"] Fire crews work to extricate victims of the July 19, 6:30 a.m. crash on Silverton Road. Photo by Ed Grambusch[/caption] By Kristine Thomas When Silverton Fire District Public Information Officer and Capt. Ed Grambusch learns there is another ...

Abuse arrest: Youth leader charged with sexual encounters with underage girl

July 2016 Posted in News | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas Silverton resident Andrew Thomas Stutzman was arrested July 1 and charged with 10 counts of second degree sex abuse. Silverton Police Detective Josh Boatner said the case stems from allegations Stutzman had “close to a three-year long sexual relationship ...

Communication: Board grapples with ‘transparent’ way to handle issues

July 2016 Posted in News, School | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas and Hannah Kloft Silver Falls School Board Member Aaron Koch is disappointed in how fellow board member Todd White has conducted himself and is concerned his actions may be a liability to the board and district. At the ...

Dirt dust up: Ethics complaint filed against board member over dumped dirt

July 2016 Posted in News, School | Comments Off

Public Gifts to the Schools All gifts to the schools will become the property of the district. The superintendent is authorized to accept gifts to the district, and others whom he/she may designate will be authorized to accept gifts for particular schools on behalf of the Board. The ...

Homeless: Camps pop up in parks, fields, under bridges

July 2016 Posted in Community, News | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas On a Sunday evening at Coolidge-McClaine Park, a man sits quietly by the bridge with his two dogs. A crumpled McDonald’s bag is on the grass along with his backpack. Monday morning around 7:15 a.m. another man is ...

Water quality: So far, so good

July 2016 Posted in News | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_7113" align="alignright" width="300"] Steve Starner has been in charge of Silverton’s Water Quality Division for the past 16 years[/caption] By Steve Ritchie Concern about lead in drinking water has spread from Flint, Mich. across the country over the past few months, ...

Safety check: Administrators work to keep drugs out of schools

June 2016 Posted in News, School | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas Silverton High School Assistant Principal Jodi Drescher and Kennedy High School Principal Sean Aker are keenly aware of the problem. On both high school campuses, there have been indications some students are attending school under the influence of an ...

Offer made on Eugene Field site

June 2016 Posted in News, School | Comments Off

Less than a week on the real estate market and a buyer has made an offer on Eugene Field Elementary School, 410 N. Water St. On June 1, the Silver Falls School Board of Directors met in executive session for about ...

Celt to Fox: Justin Lieuallen new Silverton High principal

June 2016 Posted in News, People, School | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_7072" align="alignright" width="240"] Justin Lieuallen takes over as Silverton High principal July 1.[/caption] By Kristine Thomas Justin Lieuallen will be trading in his blue and white spirit wear for orange and black as he prepares to cheer for the Foxes, rather ...

Moving on: Mount Angel City Manager Eileen Stein hired by city of West Linn

May 2016 Posted in News, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_6921" align="alignright" width="244"] Mount Angel City Manager Eileen Stein[/caption] By Kristine Thomas Mount Angel Chamber of Commerce member Maureen Ernst wants to know if it is possible to “clone” Mount Angel City Manager Eileen Stein. She’s not the only one who is ...

Contract approved: Board approves three-year food service agreement

April 2016 Posted in News, School | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas In a 4-3 vote on April 11, the Silver Falls School board approved renewing Sodexo America LLC’s contract to manage the district food service program, The agreement will run through June 30, 2019. Board members Tim Roth, Wally Lierman, ...

Food fight: It’s contract time and Silver Falls food services has supporters, detractors (Updated)

April 2016 Posted in News, School | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_6827" align="alignright" width="300"] Elementary students waiting in a school lunch line. 2015 File photo[/caption] By Kristine Thomas When it comes to food, everyone has an opinion on what they like and dislike. The same can be said for the Silver Falls School ...

A community grieves: Teacher and student die in car crash

March 2016 Posted in Community, News, People | Comments Off

[caption id="attachment_6798" align="alignright" width="172"] Douglas Bonham[/caption] By Kristine Thomas The more than 300 flickering candles held by mourners on a windy and rainy evening were one indication of the influence Silverton High School junior Matthew Albrecht and Bethany Charter School teacher Douglas ...

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