By Kristine Thomas Silverton resident Alisha Etzel hates running, describing it as boring. She has logged more miles on a stationary bike than a road bike. Fortunately, she said, she actually likes to swim. Take all that into consideration and she’s wondering how she’s managed to do so well competing in sprint and Olympic triathlons in the last two years. […]
By Kristine Thomas Throughout their 134 year history, the Benedictine Sisters of the Queen of Angels Monastery have provided leadership and service to Mt. Angel and neighboring communities. Since their founding on Oct. 30, 1882 in Mt. Angel, the Sisters have led many different ministries in healthcare, education, human services and spiritual growth. And as times have changed, the Sisters […]
By Kristine Thomas There is no question about the need for the services provided by St. Joseph Shelter, Mission Benedict and Casa Adele in Mount Angel. The question is, who is in the best position to lead, manage and support them? Founded by the Benedictine Sisters of the Queen of Angels Monastery to serve poor and vulnerable families, St. Joseph […]
By Kristine Thomas The Mount Angel City Council unanimously approved hiring Amber Mathiesen as city manager Oct. 3. Mathiesen, 39, is currently the city recorder for the city of Salem. With more than 15 years of experience in city government, Mathiesen was previously the city manager for Falls City, She has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University […]
By Kristine Thomas Growing up, some kids are fascinated by airplanes, sharks or sports. Others perhaps, books, dolls or bikes. Not Paul’la Allen. She was irresistibly drawn to chestnuts. Her childhood home was in the southwest hills of Portland, near a dairy. And in the field where the cows grazed were two large chestnut trees. Even as the cows nudged […]
By Kristine Thomas According to a highly reliable musical source, Sarah Kaser Weitzman was told the last time a tuba was purchased for the Silverton High School band was in 1953. “My mom remembers when the band got the tuba,” she said laughing. What is not a laughing matter for Weitzman or fellow members of Silverton Friends of Music is […]
By Kristine Thomas If Robert Frost Elementary School fourth-grade student Teagen Cain could make his severe nut allergy disappear, he would do it in a second. However, he knows there isn’t a medical cure and it’s not something he will outgrow. While he can’t make his allergy vanish, what he can do – with the help of his brothers and […]
By Kristine Thomas Silverton resident Christine Carlisle wanted to say “no.” She even hoped she wouldn’t have to say no because she wished she wouldn’t even be asked. Yet, she was asked to lead the project. “I think the universe tricked me into doing this,” she said, laughing. “Even my husband encouraged me to say no but I just couldn’t.” […]
By Kristine Thomas Silverton resident Dawn Tacker doesn’t want any parent to feel like she did when she received the news both of her sons were dyslexic this spring. “I was in tears,” she said. “It was a huge reality check. I felt terrible that we didn’t recognize Andrew was dyslexic and didn’t catch it until he was in the […]
By Kristine Thomas The members of St. Edward’s Episcopal Church in Silverton took the journey to learn about other churches and faiths. Now, they are encouraging others to give it a try. Especially people who have quit attending church services for one reason or another. Or those who are curious and want to see how another faith worships. St. Edward’s […]
By Kristine Thomas Silverton Middle School Dean of Students April Murphy understands and acknowledges there is some apprehension from students, staff and parents about the new Silverton Middle School. From navigating unfamiliar hallways to having sixth graders with eighth graders to worrying about safety, Murphy has heard many concerns. Calmly and confidently, she replies, everything will be OK and not […]
By Kristine Thomas Greasy pizza boxes, pineapple bark, coffee grounds and filters, apple cores, egg shells, watermelon rinds and other food waste will no longer be relegated to your gray garbage cart, beginning Oct. 1. Instead, food waste will be allowed to co-mingle with brown leaves, grass clippings and other yard debris in the green cart. As a way to […]
By Kristine Thomas Silver Falls School Board members Todd White and Tim Roth are both satisfied with the outcome of the Oregon Ethics Commission investigation. Although, they each have a different reason. Roth is glad the complaint was dismissed. White is satisfied because the investigator felt a full investigation was warranted. In the end, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission had […]
By Kristine Thomas Silver Falls Superintendent Andy Bellando is confident the dust will have settled by the time school begins on Sept. 6. From the construction projects at Scotts Mills, Pratum and Silverton Middle School to the hiring of new staff, it’s been a busy summer. Here are a few updates: Building projects Bellando knows some people may be skeptical […]
By Kristine Thomas When Silverton Fire District Public Information Officer and Capt. Ed Grambusch learns there is another crash on Silverton Road, his first thought is an unpleasant one. He ponders “How many patients are we going to have? Are we going to have to extricate these patients from the vehicles?” While Silverton Road is the quickest and most direct […]
By Kristine Thomas The three candidates vying to be the next city manager of Mount Angel all agree on the two major issues facing the city: finances and growth. And the two go hand-in-hand, they all said in separate interviews at an open house on July 15. Growth would allow the city to increase its financial base so it could […]
By Kristine Thomas Yoga instructors Samantha Wiesner, Sarah Newman, Chantal Barton and Bridget Schuch have heard plenty of misconceptions about yoga. Everything from yoga is only for people who can put their foot behind their head to it is only for calm people. In other words, it’s not for people who are inflexible or tend to giggle. “Saying you are […]
By Kristine Thomas Silverton resident Andrew Thomas Stutzman was arrested July 1 and charged with 10 counts of second degree sex abuse. Silverton Police Detective Josh Boatner said the case stems from allegations Stutzman had “close to a three-year long sexual relationship with a juvenile starting when the victim was 16 years old.” The relationship reportedly took place from 2012 […]
By Kristine Thomas There is an added sense of urgency to remove weeds, mow the grass, prune the flower beds and tidy up at Maple Hill Farm, west of Mount Angel. Zan Ewing, 69, of West Salem is responsible for mowing the grass while his nephews, Zan, 36, and Ross, 31, tackle yard tasks. Their youngest brother, Nathan, 26, was […]
By Kristine Thomas and Hannah Kloft Silver Falls School Board Member Aaron Koch is disappointed in how fellow board member Todd White has conducted himself and is concerned his actions may be a liability to the board and district. At the July 11 school board meeting, Koch asked there to be a discussion on board member roles and responsibilities. Koch […]
Public Gifts to the Schools All gifts to the schools will become the property of the district. The superintendent is authorized to accept gifts to the district, and others whom he/she may designate will be authorized to accept gifts for particular schools on behalf of the Board. The donor will be officially thanked in the Board’s name and all major […]
By Kristine Thomas Republican State Rep. Vic Gilliam of Silverton acknowledges his speech and gait are slower. But it’s evident from what he has to say about the changes in his life that his wit, faith and determination are as strong as ever. After having knee surgery in 2015, Gilliam began to suspect something wasn’t quite right with his health, […]
By Kristine Thomas Luis Morales, one of the valedictorians from the Silverton High School Class of 2016, has become the first Silverton graduate to be awarded a Gates Millennium Scholarship. More than 53,000 2016 high school seniors applied for the program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Only 1,000, or 2 percent, were chosen. Luis is one of […]
By Kristine Thomas On a Sunday evening at Coolidge-McClaine Park, a man sits quietly by the bridge with his two dogs. A crumpled McDonald’s bag is on the grass along with his backpack. Monday morning around 7:15 a.m. another man is asleep on a picnic table in the park pavilion. Different days, different times, but scenes indicative of a situation […]
By Kristine Thomas It’s one example of how the alignment between Silverton Health and Legacy Health will benefit its patients. Legacy Silverton Medical Center President Sarah Fronza shared how a baby was recently born prematurely in Silverton. Although it was a successful delivery, the baby needed extra care. A call was made to Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel, where […]
