A town in turmoil: Silverton sizzles in wave of political unrest

August 2011 Posted in News | 2 Comments »

By Brenna Wiegand At least the Homer Davenport Community Festival came off without a hitch after months of discord and confusion. At the Aug. 8 Silverton City Council meeting, many community members were publicly praised and thanked for pulling together a fine ...

Good-bye dust, potholes: Agreement reached for Cleveland Street

August 2011 Posted in News | Comments Off

By Don Murtha Cleveland Street in Mount Angel will be paved in time for Oktoberfest. The Mount Angel City Council voted Aug. 1 to contribute $6,000 to the project with property owners on the street and Oktoberfest contributing the remainder of the ...

Providing children hope: Holly Mulford feels called to care for others

August 2011 Posted in People | Comments Off

By Jay Shenai For Silverton resident Holly Mulford, helping the orphans of the Democratic Republic of Congo was never much of a choice. “When you hold them in your hands, they’re not just pictures on TV anymore,” she said. “I know their ...

The gift of art: Silverton Fine Arts Festival gives back

August 2011 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

By Jo Garcia-Cobb It’s a little known fact the 11th annual Silverton Fine Arts Festival actually began 39 years ago, when a small band of artists held the first arts festival in a small area of the Coolidge-McLaine Park on July ...

An inspired life: Artist Kathryn Cramer honored

August 2011 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, People | Comments Off

By Brenna WiegandKathryn Cramer’s art was a picture of her life. Inspired, she thoughtfully carved out its design, adjusting or defining as her soul directed. She intentionally chiseled away those things opposed to love, peace and community.She made her imprint ...

Man About Town: The one weird trick… To writing this column

August 2011 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

By Jim Kinghorn By the time you read this Silverton City Planner Steve Kay will have put a fresh new coat of paint on his house. The Man guesses it must have been nice to make the improvements without having to ...

Call 211: The number to call for social services

August 2011 Posted in Other | Comments Off

By Dixon BledsoeWhen there is an emergency, we know the number to call is “911.”When we are looking for a business or a long lost friend’s phone number, we call 411.What number do you call when you are looking for ...

People Out Loud: Deserving thank yous

August 2011 Posted in Other | Comments Off

By Dixon Bledsoe Too many people to thank, so little time. My column is about people who do good things in the community and deserve a thank you. The Homer Davenport Community Festival is over and there are a lot of people ...

The Old Curmudgeon: Moving on at 90

August 2011 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

By Vern Holmquist It’s moving day for the Old Curmudgeon and I am wondering how a single, old man like myself can have so much stuff to move. It makes me wonder if moving is even worth it. As for the reasons ...

Concept 2: Wider sidewalks, new trees part of winning downtown plan

August 2011 Posted in News | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand New trees, wider sidewalks and pedestrian curb extensions: Silverton Urban Renewal Agency has chosen to proceed with Concept 2 for the city’s Phase 1 of the Downtown Street Enhancement Project. Before its passage, however, the agency members, who are ...

Shooting rocks Mount Angel

August 2011 Posted in News | Comments Off

By Don Murtha A scenario of violence was played out for the second time in a little over a month in Mount Angel with a deadly shooting July 22. Authorities said Albert G. Hopkins, 54, was fatally shot shortly after noon when ...

Reconnecting: The digital age is changing high school class reunions

August 2011 Posted in School | Comments Off

By Omie Drawhorn 1991, 2001 SHS reunion information 2001: Friday, Aug. 5, 7-11 p.m. at the Seven Brides Tap Room, Silverton. Cost is $20/person in advance, $25 at the door. There will be food, a DJ, a photo booth and no-host bar. 1991: Aug. 5-6. ...

Angel in the Garden: Grieving parents work to help console others

August 2011 Posted in People | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas Silverton residents Genie Stoll, Judy Schmidt and Shannon Gossack didn’t ask to be invited to the “club” that has no official name. They don’t wear why they belong to the club on their sleeves, but it is deeply engraved ...

Ready for business: Family reopens store at Silver Crest

August 2011 Posted in Business | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand It’s the last chance for groceries before you hit Silver Falls and can save campers or locals an hour-long round trip to town for a gallon of milk. About two years ago, Marty and Mar’cia Schrock and their four ...

Spontaneous generosity: Community rallies around fire victims

August 2011 Posted in Community | Comments Off

by Aurora Ellison When Sheldon Traver saw flames fanning up from Lori and Tim Woods’ home in the 100 block of Wesley Street on July 11, the Silverton resident said he felt strongly that he “needed to do something.” The next morning ...

Slow summer: Warm weather crops lag two weeks to a full month behind

August 2011 Posted in Business, News | Comments Off

By P. Milliren While a heat wave is striking most of the southern and eastern United States and burning up crops, Oregon has now had it’s second consecutive cold wet spring and summer, much to the dismay of many home gardeners ...

Summer star gazing: Club sets up telescopes to share the view

August 2011 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

By Mary Owen Dean Kelly’s star gazing interests grew out of looking at the night skies as a child. “I grew up on a farm out between Jefferson and Scio,” Kelly said. “We had dark skies but weren’t really aware of how ...

Building on history: Seventh-day Adventists celebrate 100 years in Silverton

August 2011 Posted in Community | Comments Off

The Silverton Community Seventh-day Adventist Church is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Back in 1911, when the population of Silverton was a mere 3,000, two osteopathic physicians, Drs. Oliver and Etta Heisley came to the area to set up practice. At that ...

What makes a house a home: Current and former residents share memories of 100-year-old house

August 2011 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, People | 1 Comment »

Editor’s note: Silverton South Third Street neighbors recently held a barbeque to celebrate the five homes built in 1910 and the couple that are even older. They made their celebration a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity as a way of ...

Cheese, please: Special herd basis of new Portland Creamery

August 2011 Posted in Other | 2 Comments »

By Lindsey Evenson Driving along Wildcat Road, there is no hint that an internationally acclaimed goat breeder with more than 100 goats and a Grade A dairy lives just down the road. However, past the grove of tree, down a gravel driveway ...

Garden foibles: Paying attention to roots before planting makes a difference

August 2011 Posted in Other | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand They’re at our mercy. Plants, that is. After being nurtured from infancy in the richest of media and optimum conditions, the youthful plants land on a local garden center shelf, hopeful for a family of their own. Ideally, a ...

Something for the Soul: A gift of compassion

August 2011 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

By Winnie Bolton I have this habit of saving letters and the other day I came across a precious one touching my heart resulting in tears. I would like to share it with you because I hope all loving families can ...

At odds over police chief: Taking the curmudgeon to task

August 2011 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | 3 Comments »

I refer to Vern Holmquist’s column in July’s edition of Our Town Life. Once again Mr. Holmquist bases his opinions on senior center gossip and not facts. Our ex-Police Chief Brent Earhart has been recommended for de-certification by the state’s Police Policy ...

A Grin at the End: It’s a dog’s life, chapter 2

August 2011 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

By Carl Sampson That darn dog. It is exchange day, the time when Ike will go to another family for six months. Ike, who we have raised from a puppy, is, at eight months old, taking the next step toward becoming a ...