Behind the scenes: Don Kelley produces, directs community efforts

February 2009 Posted in Other | Comments Off

By Linda Whitmore When Chamber of Commerce ambassadors suddenly entered his law office to announce he’d been selected Silverton’s First Citizen, Don Kelley was flabbergasted. “I was caught flatfooted,” he said. “It was overwhelming.” Reluctant to take the tribute onto himself, he credits ...

Accepting the unexpected: Briana Bledsoe learns to adapt to changing circumstances

February 2009 Posted in Other | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas Silverton High School senior Briana Bledsoe is a list maker. When she was an eighth-grader, she made a list of what she wanted to accomplish before graduating from high school. Her list included studying to become a doctor, becoming ...

Teaching success: Two SHS staffers honored for their work

February 2009 Posted in Other | Comments Off

By Dixon Bledsoe Laura Wanker and Helen Thomas understand kids. It might take them only a few hours, a couple of weeks or many months, but they invest the time to learn about their students because of their genuine love, understanding, ...

Dora Palmquist: When something needs to be done, she’s there doing it

February 2009 Posted in Other | Comments Off

By Kathy Cook Hunter Get Dora Palmquist in the Silverton Senior Center’s kitchen and she tolerates no distractions from the task at hand as she fills bags for Meals-On-Wheels. She orders everyone out of her way so she can be sure ...

Fall Line: Jason Franz’ shop has ‘rider owned, rider friendly’ attitude

February 2009 Posted in Other | Comments Off

By Dixon Bledsoe Jason Franz was the boy who went into bike shops with $100 in his pocket and no one would help because he was a kid and didn’t look like a customer. “I’d leave and go to a business that ...

Best of the wurst: Mt. Angel plans a party to salute sausage

February 2009 Posted in Community | Comments Off

By Jan Jackson Mt. Angel is throwing another party and this time it is to celebrate the end of winter, the beginning of Lent and the gastronomic wonders of German sausage (wurst). The event, cosponsored by Oktoberfest and Mt. Angel Chamber ...

Chamber’s challenge: Helping existing business, recruiting new jobs continues in tough times

February 2009 Posted in Other | Comments Off

By Linda Whitmore Acknowledging that “we have quite a few businesses that are struggling right now,” Stacy Palmer, Silverton Chamber of Commerce executive director, says the organization of merchants and other businesses aims to continue to serve and strengthen the local ...

Pine Street progress: Visitors tour high school construction site

February 2009 Posted in Other | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas  While touring Silverton High School’s Pine Street campus construction site Principal Jodi Drescher was amazed at what she saw. The work on 600-seat theater, the expanded media center and the classrooms all delighted her. But what excited her most ...

Council reviews charter, rules

February 2009 Posted in Other | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas The Mt. Angel City Council had a work session Feb. 9 called “Governing Basics for City Councilors” presented by Jennie Messmer of the League of Oregon Cities and Valerie Saiki of City Council Insurance Services. Messmer reviewed with the ...

Stephanie Jones: ‘Nothing is more rewarding than making someone’s day’

February 2009 Posted in Other | Comments Off

  By Cambria Roth Last year, John F. Kennedy High School senior Stephanie Jones, received a heart-wrenching phone call, that her close family friend, Jordan Dark, was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma. For her senior project, Jones decided to put together a barbecue benefit ...

Council fires, hires: Pete Wall appointed interim administrator

February 2009 Posted in Other | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas Pete Wall will officially begin work as Mt. Angel’s interim city administrator Feb. 17. Wall replaces Jim Hunt who the city council placed on paid administrative leave Feb. 2. Meanwhile, the city attorney Chris Crean and Hunt’s attorney ...

Brent Earhart: Mt. Angel community salutes chief of police

February 2009 Posted in Other | Comments Off

  By Dixon Bledsoe Brent Earhart has many fans. So many, in fact, 12 signed his nomination to be Mt. Angel’s First Citizen. And that was just one nomination.  To Earhart, being nominated is very special. “It feels great and I am truly ...

Shortfalls: School districts gear up to face budget cuts

February 2009 Posted in Other | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas Both Mt. Angel School District Superintendent Bob Young and Silver Falls School District Superintendent Craig Roessler are nervously anticipating the March state revenue forecast, which is to be released Feb. 20. What that forecast says will determine the funding ...

Bavarian Haus: Making changes while keeping the best of the past

February 2009 Posted in Other | Comments Off

  By Jan Jackson When Shaun Rottner talks about how the Bavarian Haus Restaurant and Lounge won the 2008 Mt. Angel Business of the Year award, he quickly credits his brother and chef Eric Rottner for the food, long-time hostess and former ...

Author inspires: Reading and writing take practice, even for a pro

February 2009 Posted in Other | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas Children's author Roland Smith has a magical way of dispelling students’ fear of writing. With wit and honesty, Smith shared his secrets to writing books with more than 200 children and adults attending his presentation Jan. 29 at ...

The Geer family: A heritage of Oregon history

February 2009 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Other | 1 Comment »

By Linda Whitmore The threads of one Silverton family’s story run through the quilt of Oregon history. The Geer family – in addition to being among the few today who can trace their genealogy to the earliest settlers – has the ...

The Pup: New top dog provides The Man an extra nose for news

February 2009 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

By Jim Kinghorn The Man would like to introduce you to the newest member of the Our Town family – The Pup. Early indications are that she will be quite a newshound… Unfortunately, The Oregon Garden and The Wooden Nickel have been ...

Arritola, Schmidt, Seiler, Traeger: A team helping kids’ teams

February 2009 Posted in Other | Comments Off

  By Kathy Cook Hunter Mt. Angel’s  Service to Youth award goes to a group – four coaches who are said to follow their own lead by working as a team. Lance Arritola, Ron Schmidt, Jeff Seiler and Greg Traeger were selected ...

Forum: The power of good process

February 2009 Posted in Other | Comments Off

By Paula Mabry We try to make the time you spend with Our Town like a visit with a good friend or welcome neighbor; on the whole newsy, day brightening. Most of the time we feel comfortable and happy in our ...