Ready to serve: Dodie Brockamp’s career has prepared her for senior center

January 2012 Posted in News, People | Comments Off

By Don Murtha Dodie Brockamp is ready to “jump right in” to her new job as director of the Silverton Senior Center after long and varied career working with people. From attending Silverton schools to teaching in them, each step of Brockamp’s ...

New chapter: Jerry Lauzon leaves O’fest board, takes state festivals helm

January 2012 Posted in News, People | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand Jerry Lauzon, known far and wide as “Mr. Oktoberfest,” is retiring from the Mount Angel Oktoberfest Board of Directors effective Jan. 26. Of Lauzon’s 20 years on the Oktoberfest board, he spent eight as president. As admirable as that ...

Moving in: Habitat finishes homes, families given opportunity for better life

January 2012 Posted in Community | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas Daniel Diaz Valdez and Ana Chacón’s five children are often sleep deprived when they attend school. Living in a small, three-bedroom apartment in Canby, Chacón said her neighbors stay up late using their washer and dryer or playing musical ...

Play time: Indoor adventures

January 2012 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

By Aurora Ellison When the sun does not shine or it’s too cold to play outdoors, Silverton has a warm, dry place for cooped up little ones to run and interact with other children. Indoor Park is held in a large multi-purpose ...

Calling all quilters: Wednesday group welcomes new recruits

January 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas If you are a quilter, a piecer or sewer, don’t mention it around Adelene Hammelman or Margaret Gersch. If they get even an inkling you are good with a needle and thread, they’ll likely convince you to do a ...

Feast of Holy Nativity: Russian Orthodox and Old Believer communities celebrate

January 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History | Comments Off

By Jo Garcia-Cobb As Christmas lights began to dim in most homes, the Russian Orthodox and Old Believer communities in the area began their celebration of the Feast of the Nativity on its eve - Jan. 6. “It’s Holy Nativity, not Christmas. ...

Man About Town: Sring training? – Sign me up . . .

January 2012 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

By Jim Kinghorn Rumor has it that part-time state rep, part-time president of the Gus Frederick(son) fan club and part time actor, Vic Gilliam has an audition for the new NBC series called Grimm. The Portland based show has a character ...

The Old Curmudgeon: Farewell to a friend

January 2012 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

By Vern Holmquist In December, I learned a World War II buddy died quietly in his sleep without any fanfare as I know he would have wanted it to happen. Eldon Bevens joined my Bomb group as a belly gunner, that maneuverable ...

People Out Loud: Reasonable resolutions

January 2012 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

By Dixon Bledsoe It is customary to make resolutions each New Year’s, and even more common the resolutions evolve around food and exercise. In my thirst to be unique, unpredictable, yet clever and witty, here is what 2012 holds for me. I am ...

Welcome home: Community lines the streets for PFC Matt Stubblefield

January 2012 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off

By Dixon Bledsoe U.S. Army PFC Matt Stubblefield’s received an amazing and remarkable Christmas gift on Dec. 22. It wasn’t wrapped with ribbons or bows. Instead, it arrived on a wave of applause and cheers along with American flags and “Welcome home” ...

Relief and readjustment: Dad back from Iraq, Appleton family refocuses

January 2012 Posted in People | Comments Off

By Kristine Thomas There was a battle for the television remote control at the Appleton household in Silverton. On one side, Kat, 18, Bitsie, 16, and Anne Appleton, 14, who for the past year were accustomed to watching their programs when they ...

Making a name: Tiffany Kuenzi’s ‘Tonight’ to be released on iTunes

January 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, People | 2 Comments »

By Dixon Bledsoe Tiffany Kuenzi has not slowed down since her whirlwind singing and songwriting career began in 2010. A Silverton resident, Kuenzi is heading into overdrive with an extended play record being released in the spring of 2012 that includes a ...

Pulling it together: Young Silverton dance team rebuilds

January 2012 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, School | Comments Off

By Omie Drawhorn Silverton High School junior Jordan Teeney says the best part of dancing is the first two minutes after she’s finished her routine. “Those two minutes coming off the dance floor, that’s what it’s all for,” she said. “It’s like ...

Big plans, small steps: Merrill moves Kennedy toward the goal

January 2012 Posted in School | Comments Off

By Don Murtha If John F. Kennedy High School students want a clue of their new principal’s goals for their school, all they need to do is look at his license plate. It reads “JFK ONE.” |Kennedy Principal Benjamin Merrill is a man ...

Formidable force: A good team can make work a joy

January 2012 Posted in People | Comments Off

By Brenna Wiegand A little miracle happens when you make a friend. For Dawn, Debbie, Darcie and Jennifer, who boast a collective 70 years as Silverton Rite Aid employees, it happened shift-by-shift. Everyone else is welcome. Dawn Hagedorn Arbuckle worked at Rite ...

German secrets: Leona’s Bakery opens

January 2012 Posted in Business | Comments Off

By Don Murtha To enjoy authentic German baked goods, you would think you would have to travel to Germany. Twyla Blatchford went to Germany to learn the secrets of German baking studying under master bakers in the Black Forest. Now Blatchford has brought ...

A place to hangout: New business mixes coffee, flowers, events

January 2012 Posted in Business | Comments Off

By Dixon Bledsoe When Joyce Church and her family decided to open up a business in charming, historic downtown Silverton, it wasn’t a tough decision, even in an unpredictable economy. “The building was perfect, it is on Main Street, the people ...

Something for the Soul: One silver, gold – Honor friends

January 2012 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

By Winnie Bolton Aristotle once said, “If one could have all the good things in life but be without friends, one would choose not to have the good things rather than be friendless.” Aristotle, a Greek philosopher and scientist who, more than ...

A Grin at the End: Dangerous plastic

January 2012 Posted in Columnists & Opinion | Comments Off

By Carl Sampson I’m not one of those “Occupy” guys. All I want to occupy is my La-Z-Boy at the end of a hard day of tapping on a computer keyboard. Better yet, I’d rather occupy the La-Z-Boy while I was tapping ...