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The cheerleading squad for Silverton High, which has returned to competitions for the first time in a decade. Submitted photo

Sports roundup – Silverton cheer returns to competitions

By James Day Silverton High has returned to competitive cheerleading. The Foxes took second at a meet at Lakeridge, the first such participation by the school in approximately a decade. Stacey Spears, who has more than a decade of experience with the Future Foxes, is coaching the squad, which continues to have a cheer presence on the sidelines at football […]

Resiliency – Sustainable Silverton hosts conversation

By James Day Sustainable Silverton is putting on an event on how communities such as Silverton can thrive in changing times. The free event runs 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb., 8 at the Silver Falls Library, 410 S. Water St. Presenters in the “community conversation” will look at the examples of the 2020 wildfires and the 2021 ice […]

Silverton Senior Center

Storm damage: Burst pipes wreak havoc on Senior Center

By James Day The Silverton Senior Center was heavily damaged during the recent ice storm and is currently closed until repairs can be made. Board President Jenny Ohren told Our Town that when officials returned to the Center on Jan. 18, after being closed during the ice event, “broken pipes in the attic” led to the collapse of a ceiling because […]

City of Silverton

Parks planning – Pickleball courts, lake trails to come before city soon

By James Day The City of Silverton’s work on a master plan for its parks is yielding immediate fruit. Two of its major pieces, a trail system at Pettit Lake and new pickleball courts near the skate park, could see design and construction contracts come before the city as early as next month. The funds for both facilities have been […]

James Day

Special squads – Foxes shining in boys, girls hoops

The craziest piece of Jamie McCarty’s five-year run as Silverton boys hoops coach from 2017 through 2022 was that he was 69-1 in Mid-Willamette Conference games, a record of consistency that is almost blinding in its brilliance. And that one 2018-19 loss in OT at Corvallis was a strange beast, perhaps a column for another day. McCarty stepped back from […]

Tina Kotek

A ‘to-do’ list – Governor discusses state challenges in Salem speech

By  James  Day SALEM – Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, who is starting her second year in office, was the featured speaker at a Salem Chamber of Commerce event Jan. 8 at the Salem Convention Center. The event, which attracted a capacity crowd of 300 people, was part of the Chamber speakers series and was not intended to be viewed as a […]

Dodie Brockamp. James Day.

Brockamp retires from directing Silverton Senior Center

Somehow it seems that Dodie Brockamp, outgoing executive director of the Silverton Senior Center, will be busier in her “retirement” than she was during her 12 years at the center. A celebration of the Senior Center career of Brockamp is set for noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27 at the Senior Center, 115 Westfield St. A light luncheon […]

James Day

January madness – Foxes in thick of league hoops battles

Yes, it’s only January, but the Mid-Willamette Conference hoops season already is churning out masterpieces. Silverton took down two unbeaten teams from South Albany in a doubleheader sweep on Jan. 8, and as of presstime the Foxes were in the thick of both battles for league bragging rights. The girls are 4-0 in league and ranked No. 5. They are […]

When the city’s lease on the Silverton Community Center expires at the end of March it is likely that the Silver Falls Family YMCA will take on the lease and manage the property. James Day

Building transition – YMCA likely to take over Community Center lease

By James Day The lease on the Silverton Community Center likely will transfer to the Silver Falls YMCA when the Silverton City Council moves its meetings to the new Civic Center building next spring. The Oregon Military Department owns the Community Center building on South Water Street, with the city’s lease set to expire March 31, 2024. The council discussed […]

Jeramie Mykisen outside the new The Noble Fox outlet that is being developed in downtown Ashland. Submitted Photo

Expansion project – Noble Fox adding an Ashland restaurant and brewery

By James Day Silverton’s popular restaurant The Noble Fox is expanding, with owners planning to open a second eatery in Ashland, Oregon by the spring of 2024. Jeramie Mykisen co-owns The Noble Fox on North Water Street with his stepfather, Jeffrey Tinkham. They opened the restaurant in October 2021. The Ashland Noble Fox will occupy the space which formerly housed […]

BBB Torch Awards

Better businesses – Hiddenbed, John’s Waterproofing receive ethics honors

By James Day Two area companies have been honored for their business principles and ethics by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB’s Great West/Pacific subgroup, which covers an eight-state area, bestowed Torch Awards on Mount Angel’s Hiddenbed of Oregon and John’s Waterproofing of Silverton. Hiddenbed won a small business award, while John’s was a large business winner. Also honored […]

James Day

No more 1-and-1: Oregon follows lead of national federation on foul shots

It’s a new dawn for the free throw in high school sports in Oregon. Following the lead of the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) the Oregon School Activities Association has instituted new rules on fouls shots for the 2023-24 season. Instead of teams moving to 1-and-1 free throws upon the seventh team foul of each half the system […]

The Eureka property. James Day

Silverton council backs Eureka zone change

The Silverton City Council is heading toward a decision that will mean more housing than previously planned for a property on Eureka Avenue just east of The Oregon Garden. Developers already had received approval to build up to 42 units on the 5.15-acre property, which was zoned R-1 or single-family residential. During a public hearing at the council’s Dec. 4 […]

Silverton High FFA adviser Scott Towery, left, and students Jenna Schurter, David Tribbett, Joanne Noordam and Rebecca Noordam are shown at a national competition in Indianapolis. The students took fourth in ag sales team and Rebecca Noordam placed 10th as an individual. Submitted Photo

Silverton FFA team takes 4th at nationals

By James Day Four Silverton High students teamed up to take fourth in ag sales team at the 96th National FFA Convention and Expo held in November in Indianapolis. Silverton’s David Tribbett, Jenna Schurter and sisters Rebecca and Joanne Noordam, who earlier captured the Oregon title, came away with fourth at nationals. Rebecca Noordam finished 10th as an individual.  The […]

Silver Falls State Park

Outdoor tradition – Free Silver Falls hikes set for New Year’s Day

By James Day A pair of free guided hikes in the recently upgraded North Canyon area of Silver Falls State Park are on tap for New Year’s Day. The hikes are part of Oregon State park’s annual tradition of waiving parking permit fees on the year’s first day at all state parks that require them.  A total of 31 Oregon […]

James Day

Consistent threats – Aqua Foxes will count on depth, relays

There are certain things in the sports calendar you can always count on. Silverton swimming is one of them. The Aqua Foxes, in their ninth year under coach Lucky Rogers, will fill the pool with swimmers, assemble crackerjack relay squads and try to wash away competitors with depth. This season Rogers has 62 swimmers in the Silverton Community Pool and told […]

Silverton city manager Cory Misley. James Day

On the job: New Silverton city manager listening, learning

By James Day Cory Misley is just starting his second month as Silverton’s city manager. His schedule sounds punishing. He has met with all the councilors and Mayor Jason Freilinger. Plus Chamber representatives, social-service and nonprofit directors, and with his next whirlwind tour government officials such as those of Marion County, Governor Tina Kotek’s office, and the state Legislature. “I’m […]

City of Silverton

Mural plan for Civic Center likely to go forward

By James Day A proposal by Silverton Mural Society to place a mural celebrating Silverton’s cultural roots on the new Civic Center is closer to fruition. The Silverton City Council reviewed the latest proposal at its Nov. 20 work session, and although a vote was not taken, there was a strong consensus to move forward with the plan. New City […]

Silverton hosts open house on park planning

Silverton residents will have an opportunity on Tuesday, Dec. 5, to chime in on a new parks and recreation master plan. The city is hosting an open house on the plan from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Silverton Senior Center, 115 Westfield St. A city advisory committee has been working on the new plan and will be taking feedback […]

Band funds – Silent auction raises money for trip

By James Day Main Street Bistro is spearheading a fundraising effort to assist the Silverton High band with its expenses for an upcoming tour in March in preparation for the League Band Festival. A silent auction begins on Friday, Dec. 1, in conjunction with festivities surrounding the tree lighting ceremony in Town Square Park. Auction sheets will be available for […]

A look inside the new Sheltering Silverton facility at the city shops on McClaine Street. A grand opening celebration was held Nov. 21 at the site. James Day

Compassionate space – Sheltering Silverton opens new facility

By James Day Sheltering Silverton has hit a milestone in its serving of the homeless in town with the opening of its new warming shelter and cabins outside the parking lot of the city shops complex on McClaine Street. “It’s not the end, but it’s a new chapter,” said board president Mary Jane Schaffer, one of the speakers at an […]

James Day

Foxes football: 11-1 year shows continuing strength of program

The Silverton High football program wound up another superlative season on Nov. 17 when the Foxes fell 43-19 to Mountain View of Bend in the Class 5A semifinals. Silverton finished 11-1 and downed long-time rival West Albany twice by a composite 90-42 score The Foxes, now in their second year under coach Dan Lever, have made the playoffs every season […]

The new Silverton Civic Center under construction. James Day

Civic center delays – Silverton project still under $19.5M budget

By James Day The new Silverton Civic Center will not be occupied until next spring.  The $19.5 million project, which originally was projected to open in July 2023, has experienced a steady stream of delays, including supply chain issues, work that had to be redone and even emails that went missing.  The project remains under that $19.5 million overall cost, […]

Emergency prep event set for Nov. 24 – 26

Sustainable Silverton is sponsoring an emergency preparedness pop-up “escape room” from Friday, Nov. 24 through Sunday, Nov. 26.  It’s an hour-long interactive learning experience, taking place from noon to 8 p.m. on all three days at High Water Grill, 215 N. Water St. Side Quest Escape Games will bring in its mobile escape room that teaches players about emergency preparedness. Those […]

James Day

Successful return – Barnes leads Foxes volleyball within one win of state

Kirsten Barnes’ return to the coaching reins of Silverton volleyball was a highly successful one. Barnes previously coached in the program from 1996 to 2010 and won eight league titles during an 11-year run as head coach. This year’s Foxes were 12-8 overall, hovered around the top 10 in Class 5A most of the year, finished fourth in the brutally […]