Photo Gallery: Our towns – These are a few of our favorite things

July 2009 Posted in Photo Gallery | Comments Off

As Our Town celebrates its fifth anniversary, the staff looked into our photo archives at some of the people, places and events that make our communities special. [gallery=3]

Tank top turmoil: Silverton mayor’s attire instigates debate over propriety

July 2009 Posted in News | Comments Off

By Linda Whitmore CNN, Fox News and media outlets across the nation have been talking about Silverton in the past two weeks, and it all started with an appearance by Mayor Stu Rassmussen before students in Silverton Together’s Apple Tree ...

Settlement negotiated: Mt. Angel mayor agrees to pay fine

July 2009 Posted in News | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas Mt. Angel Mayor Rick Schiedler paid a civil penalty of $200 to settle and conclude an ethics complaint filed against him with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. Schiedler said he paid the fine because “it was the cost effective ...

One cool guy: Festival celebrates community and a man with a vision

July 2009 Posted in Community | Comments Off

Whether you attend the parade, davenport races, chicken barbecue or GeerCrest Farm during the 29th annual Homer Davenport Days Festival, take a moment to reflect how cool it is to live in or visit Silverton. Almost everywhere you look, you’ll see ...

One cool scene: Festival puts art in the park

July 2009 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, Community | Comments Off

Patti Battin was working on the design for the 2009 Silverton Fine Arts Festival poster last fall when she learned longtime Silverton woodcrafter Tom Allen had been diagnosed with advanced cancer. “It was an easy decision to honor Tom by remembering ...

Pursuing a dream: Megan Deede finds the confidence to embrace art

July 2009 Posted in People | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas When Megan Deede quit fighting the inevitable, her dreams and goals began to fall into place. “I always knew what I wanted to do, but at the beginning I didn’t think it was actually going to happen,” she said. ...

Going the distance: Female runners hit the road

July 2009 Posted in Sports | Comments Off

By Steve Ritchie No one participating in or cheering on the runners at the Homer’s Classic 8K on Aug. 8 will be surprised that there are women running in the 27th annual edition of this Silverton road race. In recent years, ...

Volkswalk: Exploring Silverton and Silver Falls State Park on foot

July 2009 Posted in Community, Sports | Comments Off

By Kathy Cook Hunter Haven’t you always planned to get out and really explore Silverton? But, like many plans, never did? Well, here’s your chance to cross that one off your bucket list of things you’d like to do before – ...

Wetlands wonders: Water treatment system creates setting for flora, fauna and new view of garden potential

July 2009 Posted in Community | Comments Off

By Jan Jackson The Oregon Garden is not just another pretty place. Home to more than 100 bird species, a variety of wild animals, a small but highly skilled team of horticultural professionals and a dedicated group of educational partners; the ...

Our Town Profiles: Why this is home . . .

July 2009 Posted in Columnists & Opinion, People | Comments Off

By Cambria Roth VALERIE MARTINSON, Silverton Profession: Human Resource Manager Volunteer: YMCA, Historic Landmarks Commission, St. Paul’s Catholic Church and her children’s schools. Family: Husband, Jamie; children, Grant, 15; Kirk, 11; Clay, 10 Hobbies: Cooking, gardening Last Book Read: Five Quarters of the Orange by JoAnn ...

Caring and sharing

July 2009 Posted in Community | Comments Off

By Linda Whitmore A core trait in our towns is that neighbors care and share. With the economy down and the jobless rate up, residents are jumping into action to assist others. To help out with the increased need for food assistance, ...

Adapting to the times: Experience, service help in tough times

July 2009 Posted in Community | Comments Off

By Dixon Bledsoe Long-time local businesses have seen economic dips before. Their owners and managers are using past experience to deal with this recession. For some, tried and true business methods and a sturdy reputation keep them going. Others have taken ...

Bed ‘n’ breakfast basics: Innkeepers connect visitors, community

July 2009 Posted in Community | Comments Off

By Kathy Cook Hunter Silverton – home to The Oregon Garden, gateway to Silver Falls, and a recent Budget Travel magazine Top 10 Pick for “Coolest Small Town” – has plenty of bed-and-breakfast innkeepers awaiting visitors. The 2009 economy, however, has changed ...

Water Mountains aims to please

July 2009 Posted in Food & Drink | Comments Off

Driving out toward Silver Falls from Silverton, one can’t miss the marquee on the left announcing, “$4.50 cheeseburger with fries.” A super bargain these days, and that offer is always there. Water Mountains restaurant owner Obed Lopez says you can have ...

A Grin at the End: Off the chart special events

July 2009 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

By Carl Sampson I recently received a brand new road atlas. I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite things is to sit down with maps and plot future expeditions. Oh, I don’t mean hiking through the Khyber Pass or ...

Center for seniors: New grant received; project begins in August

July 2009 Posted in News | Comments Off

By Dixon Bledsoe After years of discussion, planning and hoping, ground will soon be broken  on a new Senior Center at the corner of Westfield and West Main, property purchased by the City of Silverton from the Silver Falls School District.  The ...

Community building: O’fest board seeks Mt. Angel council support

July 2009 Posted in News | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas Mt. Angel Oktoberfest President John Gooley has received letters in support of constructing a new Oktoberfest Community Building from the Mt. Angel Fire District, St. Mary Catholic Church, Mt. Angel School District, Wilco, Mt. Angel Development Programs and ...

Mallorie’s Dairy: Changing regulations challenge producer-handler

July 2009 Posted in Community | Comments Off

By Dixon Bledsoe Teri Mallorie Kilgus, herd health manager and co-owner of Mallorie’s Dairy of Silverton, is proud of how her father started the dairy and is determined to keep it going. Recent challenges to the business have been met, but ...

Two sides: State considers bill to end field burning; farmers look to production needs

July 2009 Posted in Community | Comments Off

By Jan Jackson Field burn information Oregon Seed Council, 503-585-1157, oregonseedcouncil.org Rep. Vic Gilliam’s office, 503-986-1418, rep.vicgilliam@state.or.us Oregon Department of Agriculture Smoke Management Program, 503-986-4550 There are a couple of seasons upon us – the time of year seed farmers start the soil-cleansing process that paves the way for optimum grass ...

New SACA director: Dixon Bledsoe leads community aid agency

July 2009 Posted in News, People | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas Dixon Bledsoe needs to get juice, size 3-5 diapers, baby food in jars and sealable sandwich and quart-size bags. No, he’s not a new father with worries about meeting the needs of an infant. Instead, he is seeking those items ...

Domaine Margelle: Couple realizes their dream of a hilltop vineyard

July 2009 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas Domaine Margelle 20159 Hazelnut Ridge Road Scotts Mills 503-873-0692 or visit www.DomaineMargelle.com Open by appointment only. Wine Tasting at The Chocolate Box and Mayberry’s in downtown Silverton, 6 to 10 p.m. July 3 Labor Day Release Event, 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5. $10 cover Domaine Margelle ...

Travel days: Silverton High athletes head ‘Down Under’ to play sports

July 2009 Posted in School, Sports | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand A love of the game will play out in an athletic romp to “The Land Down Under” for two Silverton High School students this month. On July 7, Luke Ferguson will travel to Australia to become part of a ...

Just like old times: Mt. Angel Academy’s Class of 1949 gathers for 60-year reunion

July 2009 Posted in Community | 2 Comments »

By Jan Jackson The volleyball nets were gone and there was no music to dance to, but when the Class of ’49 reunion committee members dropped by the old Mt. Angel Academy gym to give Sr. Joeine Darrington her invitation to ...

Teacher charged: Salem police file sex abuse counts; district conducts investigation

July 2009 Posted in News | Comments Off

Craig Roessler, superintendent of Silver Falls School District, issued a statement following the June 23 arrest of Sue Alderson, a teacher at Robert Frost School. She is charged with one count each of Rape I and II, Sodomy I and ...

Doing what needs to be done: Pile family copes with separation

July 2009 Posted in People | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas Wendy Pile didn’t recognize the man who looked like a “disheveled professor with long hair” who was hugging her children, Alyssa, 10; Chase, 8; and Amara, 3, at the Portland Airport. “When they knocked him down, I realized it ...
« Previous Entries