By Kristine Thomas Silverton High School Assistant Principal Jodi Drescher and Kennedy High School Principal Sean Aker are keenly aware of the problem. On both high school campuses, there have been indications some students are attending school under the influence of an illegal drug or alcohol or selling/buying drugs on campus. “While it’s here, it’s not overtaking the school,” Drescher […]
By Kristine Thomas Justin Lieuallen will be trading in his blue and white spirit wear for orange and black as he prepares to cheer for the Foxes, rather than the Celts. The assistant principal at McNary High School in Keizer for 13 years, Lieuallen was named the new principal of Silverton High School, pending approval of the Silver Falls School […]
By Kristine Thomas When The Rev. Shana McCauley of St. Edward’s Episcopal Church in Silverton first had an inkling of what she wanted to do to keep the church open, she believed it was a truly crazy idea. As out-of-the-box her plan was, she knew she had to do something, because doing nothing wasn’t an option. Every five years, the […]
By Kristine Thomas They are athletes and top students. They volunteer in their community and are looked upon as leaders by their peers and their teachers. When looking at the valedictorians and salutatorians at Kennedy High School, Thomas Schmidt said they all have three common traits: leadership, a strong work ethic and an outgoing personality. “Whether it is academically or […]
By Kristine Thomas Mount Angel resident Cathy Cheney thought about it, even considered it, but in the end, she just couldn’t tell Gayle Goschie “no.” Cheney was at The Gallon House in Silverton last December watching the Portland Timbers play in the championship game on TV. When she turned around, she saw Goschie, who asked her out-of-the-blue if she wanted […]
By Kristine Thomas Take one lunch sack. Fill it with 20 questions. Ask 16 honor students to reach in and pull out a question to answer. “Can I draw another,” a few asked. There were some groans and sighs at another deadline, yet in the end, they responded with honesty and thoughtfulness. For 2016 Silverton High School has15 valedictorians and […]
By Kristine Thomas Over the years, 95-year-old Eugene Field Elementary School has gotten a bit of a reputation for frequently blowing a fuse, its unique odor, having hot flashes and then being freezing, the creaky floors and a host of other problems mostly attributed to age. But none of its physical conditions are what community members remember when they reminisce […]
By Kristine Thomas Seniors Curt Southern and Tessa Oster are in the same personal finance class at Silverton High School. What they also have in common is the experience of hearing a parent yell the “the house is on fire” and having to evacuate quickly. Curt’s family home on Mill Street was destroyed in a November fire. Tessa’s home on […]
By Kristine Thomas Mount Angel Chamber of Commerce member Maureen Ernst wants to know if it is possible to “clone” Mount Angel City Manager Eileen Stein. She’s not the only one who is wishing Stein could be in two places. Stein was recently chosen as the new city manager of West Linn. One of 32 applicants, her new job begins […]
By Kristine Thomas Francisco Frausto, 8, was hesitant to say what it’s like to share a bedroom with his 15-year-old brother, Jose, a freshman at Silverton High School and member of the soccer team. Glancing over at his older brother and then his parents, Francisco finally blurts it out. “Jose is messier than me,” Francisco said. “It was horrible sharing […]
By Kristine Thomas On a sunny Friday morning at Silverton’s Coolidge McClaine Park, Brent Satern and his daughter, Avery, picked daisies. Quietly, Brent shared with Avery that the daisies with touches of pink on their petals are the ones touched by fairies. Avery turns 3 in May. It’s simple, yet precious moments like this that Brent realizes are important to […]
Wine tasting and more Cascade Foothills Winegrowers’ Taste. Learn. Celebrate. Saturday, April 30, 1-5 p.m. Mount Angel Festhalle, 500 Wilco Hwy. Tickets: $10 per person at cascadefoothillswine.com. Includes 10 wine tastes and an afternoon of music and wine education. By Kristine Thomas Jan Wallinder can offer chardonnay, pinot noir, Leon Millot and dessert wines to visitors at Forest Edge Vineyard […]
By Kristine Thomas When Silverton High School teacher Kirsten Barnes signed up to volunteer for the American Red Cross in 2010, she thought she would be helping in Silverton if there was an emergency or disaster. A social studies teacher, Barnes said her church, Silver Creek Fellowship, is a Red Cross Shelter site. “I thought if something happened, I would […]
By Kristine Thomas The race is on, there are three finalists, and a local candidate seeks your vote. Described as historic, friendly, charming and photogenic, the candidate pursing the votes of Silverton, Mount Angel and Scotts Mills residents – plus all Oregonians and hopefully everyone west of the Mississippi River – is the city of Silverton. Voting takes place during […]
By Kristine Thomas In a 4-3 vote on April 11, the Silver Falls School board approved renewing Sodexo America LLC’s contract to manage the district food service program, The agreement will run through June 30, 2019. Board members Tim Roth, Wally Lierman, Aaron Koch and Ervin Stadeli voted tp approve the contract. Members Todd White, Ron Valoff and Tom Buchholz […]
By Kristine Thomas Silver Falls School District has begun the tasks to put Eugene Field Elementary School on the market. The school board voted 4-3 on Jan. 9, 2015 to close Eugene Field by Aug. 31, 2016. Next fall, kindergarten though second grade students will attend Mark Twain Elementary School. In December, the board agreed to sell the Eugene Field […]
By Kristine Thomas It’s with great joy and much prayer that Rev. Jeremy Driscoll, OSB, begins his journey as the new abbot of Mount Angel Abbey. “Right now, it’s overwhelming,” Driscoll said about a week after being elected. “It’s too new for me to know how to feel. There is a joy in people whoever the new abbot is, and […]
By Kristine Thomas Growing up, Kara Pilcher believed her older brother was the artist and she was the athlete. It wasn’t until she was looking for artwork to put on the “blank” walls of her home that she discovered her artistic talents. “I was newly married and I was at a furniture store looking for artwork and I kept thinking, […]
By Kristine Thomas When it comes to food, everyone has an opinion on what they like and dislike. The same can be said for the Silver Falls School District’s food service program. On Feb. 1, 2015, Sodexo began to manage the district’s food service. The feedback has been both positive and negative. It depends on who you ask. At the […]
By Kristine Thomas The more than 300 flickering candles held by mourners on a windy and rainy evening were one indication of the influence Silverton High School junior Matthew Albrecht and Bethany Charter School teacher Douglas Bonham had on their community. Albrecht, 16, and Bonham, 30, died in a single-vehicle crash around 7 p.m. March 4 near 32000 block of […]
By Kristine Thomas Between bursts of laughter, Mindy Duerst, Erica Rumpca and Hayley Miller readily admit they cannot accurately or fiercely throw a dodgeball. Yet that hasn’t prevented them from organzing the Silverton Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive and Donate Dodgeball Tournament. While their skills may be lacking on the court – again by their own admission –that certainly isn’t the case when […]
By James Day and Kristine Thomas It was a dream season for the Silverton High girls basketball team. The Foxes rallied from a big deficit for the second consecutive day and claimed an excruciatingly tense 39-38 victory Saturday against Springfield to win the OSAA Class 5A title at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis. Silverton finished with a perfect 28-0 record and […]
The Dougy Center The Dougy Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting grieving children and their families. It is free. There is information on its website: dougy.org, click on Grief Resources. The Dougy Center Canby office 252 NW 4th St. For information about peer support at The Dougy Center, call 503-775-5683; or email [email protected] By Kristine Thomas Too often, […]
Silvertongues Toastmasters Community Open House Friday, March 11, 7:30 a.m. Seventh Day Adventist Church Conference Room 1159 Oak St., Silverton All welcome. Theme: “The Solution to Lack of Experience” Community is also invited to regular meetings: Fridays, 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Same location. Information: www.silvertongues.toastmastersclubs.org Ann Snelling, 503-910-3668; Deborah Climer, 503-792-3195 or Barb Rivoli, 503-798-5266 By Kristine Thomas If you […]
By Kristine Thomas In the beginning, it was a challenging adjustment for everyone – teachers, parents and students. But as everyone settled into the routine and the expectations were made clear, there is an excitement about the growth and benefits for the students. Now kindergarten teachers throughout the Silver Falls School District can clearly see the benefits of making the […]
