Silverton High has filled in its final coaching and administrative gaps for the fall sports season. Andy Jones is the new athletic director/assistant vice principal, with Renee Cantrell taking over the girls soccer program and Reilly Rosecrans now running Foxes volleyball. Here is a look at the new staffers: Jones, who replaces James Rise, now at Cascade, has been in […]
By Melissa Wagoner Gus Frederick has always been interested in the art of cartooning. But in 1972, he’d never heard of the famous political cartoonist Homer Davenport, let alone seen any of his art. It wasn’t until a shift at the local cannery, where he met several other cartoon fanatics, that he learned a famous cartoonist once lived in the […]
By Stephen Floyd Mt. Angel Mayor Don Fleck is being remembered as an exemplary civil servant and a force within his community after his sudden passing June 26. Fleck, 68, died of natural causes at his home.He was laid to rest July 1 during a graveside service at Calvary Cemetery. At the memorial service held at the Mount Angel Festhalle, […]
By Melissa Wagoner When Garron and Rebekka Lamoreau moved to Panama in 2014 to teach at the country’s International School, they discovered something they never anticipated – plastic waste everywhere. “There’s plastic in every waterway and on every beach,” Garron recalled. “The canal is there and the ships just drop their garbage, these big freighters… drop garbage. And it becomes […]
By Melissa Wagoner When award-winning writer Jonathan Case was writing his latest graphic novel, Little Monarchs, he already knew its promotion would be different than just about any book he’d ever written. “It’s a road trip book,” Jonathan said. Referring to the premise of the novel, which follows ten-year-old protagonist, Elvie, and her biologist caregiver, Flora, on a post-apocalyptic adventure […]
By Stephen Floyd Longtime Mt. Angel Fire District volunteer Don Seiler has earned a chance to sit out this coming fire season. The 36-year veteran and former assistant fire chief still supports fellow firefighters as an honorary member, but has officially retired from the district as of Feb. 5. “I miss going to the calls and stuff, maybe not so […]
Silverton has selected replacements for its two open basketball positions, hiring Tyler Allen to coach the boys and Alyssa Ogle to lead the girls. Allen replaces Jamie McCarty, who led the Foxes to a runner-up finish in the Class 5A tournament in March. McCarty lost just one Mid-Willamette Conference game in his 5 years with the program, while taking 4th […]
By Melissa Wagoner As Mayor Kyle Palmer reads through each year’s submissions to the annual, “If I Were Mayor…” contest, he is always surprised by the altruistic sentiments expressed by the contestants, ranging from fourth through eighth grade students. “You might think that a young person, here and there may say they would use this job to benefit themselves personally […]
By Melissa Wagoner Hunter Noack is an award winning and incredibly accomplished classical pianist but he’s also an avid outdoorsman who spent his childhood in Sunriver hunting, fishing and kayaking with his family. The problem – the two don’t really mesh. If you play the guitar, you can take it outside, Noack’s mother, Lori, said. But a piano isn’t nearly […]
The Mt. Angel Chamber of Commerce has awarded its Junior First Citizen Award and the Maureen Ernst Memorial Scholarship to John F. Kennedy High School seniors Lydia Berning and Spencer Bizon, respectively. The students were surprised at the high school by their parents and chamber leaders. The awards included $2,000 toward each student’s education. Berning and Bizon said they hope […]
By James Day For Faith Rockenstein, it was love at first sight. The accomplished artist, arts educator and long-time museum manager, who has traveled widely in the U.S and abroad, was blown away a couple of years ago when she entered Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge. “I was just overwhelmed,” she said. Rockenstein decided to stay in Oregon and eventually found […]
California boy steals Ohio farm girl’s heart after some intense pursuing. 50-plus years later their friends and family are celebrating the marriage of Le and Ann (Gregg) Snelling at their home on May 21 with a drop-in reception from 1-4 p.m. They met at Cincinnati Bible College and wed in 1972 at Palmyra Church of Christ in Fredericktown, Ohio. Graduating […]
When I first conceived the idea for this column, many years ago, it was first and foremost centered on talking about people – living, dying, laughing, crying, and doing the things they do. Today, it is about people dying and the living they did. Doug “Chet” Bunting passed away this spring. This one hurt. He was a good man, smart […]
By Melissa Wagoner As a real estate developer, Ben Johnston’s goal isn’t just to build buildings, it’s to create spaces for the community to gather. Which is why, when he was given the opportunity to refurbish the building that once housed the Silverton Flower Shop in the heart of downtown, he knew just what he wanted to do. “I have […]
By James Day Scott Stokley, a 37-year resident of Mount Angel is a local Realtor who also owns Touch of Bavaria, Angel Mountain Christmas and is about to open a new eatery in town, Lou’s Kitchen. His dizzying schedule also includes tons of outreach for the Mt. Angel Chamber of Commerce, for whom he is a passionate supporter of local […]
By Stephen Floyd Police Chief Mark Daniel said he was shocked when the Mt. Angel Chamber of Commerce arrived at City Hall to tell him he was being presented with the Distinguished Service Award. Daniel, who also serves in a dual role as interim city manager, said he didn’t feel deserving, but the chamber insisted and he felt honored. “This […]
By Stephen Floyd The contributions of Joe Borschowa and his family have been both highly visible and subtle. The local veteran and business owner has been heavily involved with the Mt. Angel Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion and other groups, but hasn’t sought public recognition. Yet if you’ve ever admired the American flags on display throughout town during Memorial […]
By Melissa Wagoner When Michelle Isaksen was invited to a Paint Party five years ago she almost didn’t go. “I thought, ‘I don’t even draw,’” she recalled. “I’d never painted or even sketched.” Thankfully, her husband convinced her to attend. “He basically pushed me out the door,” Isaksen laughed. “But in the end, I had a piece of art that I didn’t […]
By Melissa Wagoner When Silvertonian Dorothy Brown-Kwaiser packed her bag for the 152-day hike from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Crest Trail in 2012, she weighed everything – her sleeping bag, her pots and pans, even her toothbrush – parting with anything she absolutely didn’t need. “You have to have what you have to have, but you also have to carry […]
By Brenna Wiegand Christopher Thoming, MD, MBA, has been selected to serve as the vice president and chief medical officer for Legacy Silverton Medical Center. Dr. Thoming will work closely with Legacy Silverton Medical Center President Jonathan Avery and Chief Nursing Officer Karen Brady to promote safe, high-quality care and clinical operations and contribute to the medical center and service […]
By James Day Silverton pastor Kurt Barnes is back from a week-long Ukrainian relief effort in Poland. He returned tired, inspired and eager to continue to help. Poland has become ground zero for refugees from the conflict in Ukraine, and Barnes, a 39-year-old Silverton native, spent March 14-21 in Poland working with churches and relief agencies to tackle what has […]
Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson is being challenged by a public defender for her role as top prosecutor. Spencer Todd, of Salem, filed for the May 17 primary to unseat Clarkson, also of Salem, who was first elected DA in 2018 while running unopposed. Because only two candidates filed for the non-partisan office, they will automatically move on to […]
By Stephen Floyd Two political newcomers are running for Marion County Commissioner as Democratic challengers to the Republican incumbents. Andrew Dennis (D-Salem) and Mark Wigg (D-Salem) will square off against incumbent commissioners Kevin Cameron (R-Detroit) and Colm Willis (R-Stayton). Each candidate was the sole individual to file for their party’s nomination for each position, so they will automatically proceed from […]
By James Day Four young robot creators from Silverton will be heading to Texas next month to participate in an international event. Derek Schaefer, 11, of Butte Creek Elementary School; Aiden Adams, 10, of Robert Frost Elementary School; John Lashley, 9, of the Silvies River Charter School; and Noah Stoneking of Sacred Heart School in Gervais, will be in Dallas, […]
By Melissa Wagoner It’s been 32 years since Pete and Donna Paradis planted their first block of Pinot gris vines in what would eventually become the Paradis Vineyards. It is only now – with the opening of a newly built tasting room – that they realize they are truly in the business of wine. “It’s a leap. It’s a big leap,” Tim Paradis said. He and […]
