Future First Citizen: Hannah Bashor honored by Silverton Chamber

March 2023 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off on Future First Citizen: Hannah Bashor honored by Silverton Chamber

By Melissa Wagoner When Silverton High School senior, Hannah Bashor, found out she was being named this year’s Future First Citizen for her demonstration of leadership as well as her contributions to her school, her community and her family by the Silverton ...

The Force goes north – Retired visual effects designer moves to Silverton

March 2023 Posted in Arts, Culture & History, People | Comments Off on The Force goes north – Retired visual effects designer moves to Silverton

[caption id="attachment_13141" align="alignright" width="376"] Charlie Bailey, former toy designer for Mattel and model maker, Creature Shop Manager and model project supervisor for LucasFilm. Melissa Wagoner[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner You may not know the name Charlie Bailey but chances are you’ve seen at ...

Lifetime Achievement – Arlene Harris honored for stepping up

March 2023 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off on Lifetime Achievement – Arlene Harris honored for stepping up

[caption id="attachment_12593" align="alignright" width="241"] Arlene Harris. Submitted Photo[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner Arlene Harris is a Silvertonian through and through. Born at Silverton Hospital, Harris spent the majority of her life in her hometown, only leaving when it came time to attend the University ...

Distinguished Service – Meg Feicht’s commitment recognized

March 2023 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off on Distinguished Service – Meg Feicht’s commitment recognized

[caption id="attachment_12590" align="alignright" width="232"] Meg Feicht (“Teacher Meg”).Haley Wiegand[/caption] By Brenna Wiegand Meg Feicht – better known as Teacher Meg to generations of kids and their families – was bestowed the Silverton Area Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Service Award for 2022 at ...

Holden retires from Oregon Garden Foundation Board

March 2023 Posted in People | Comments Off on Holden retires from Oregon Garden Foundation Board

[caption id="attachment_12584" align="alignright" width="225"] Verl Holden. Submitted Photo[/caption] Founding Member and long-time advocate of The Oregon Garden, Verl Holden, retired from his position as a member of the Oregon Garden Foundation Board on Feb. 14.  A well-respected nurseryman, horticultural innovator and owner ...

First Citizen – Dana Smith honored for broad community commitment

February 2023 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off on First Citizen – Dana Smith honored for broad community commitment

By James Day With someone like Dana Smith you have to look below the surface and keep in mind the layers of community commitment. Yes, Smith has served in elected positions such as the Silver Falls School district board and her recent ...

Cupcakes & bouquets – Local baker competes in international contest

February 2023 Posted in Food & Drink, People | Comments Off on Cupcakes & bouquets – Local baker competes in international contest

[caption id="attachment_12402" align="alignright" width="266"] Judy Moffitt Marston’s cupcake flowers. Submitted Photo[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner It all started with a bouquet of cupcake flowers. “My longtime friend sent me a picture from Pinterest… and said, ‘I want you to make these,’” Judy Moffitt Marston ...

Mrs. Douglas – Victor Point second grade teacher leaves behind 43-year legacy

February 2023 Posted in Obituary, People, School | Comments Off on Mrs. Douglas – Victor Point second grade teacher leaves behind 43-year legacy

[caption id="attachment_12395" align="alignright" width="225"] Kathi Douglas[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner “It’s hard to even somewhat capture my mom in words, let alone the impact she had…” Molly Bray-Yurovchak said of her mother, Kathi Douglas, who died from pancreatic cancer on Dec. 31, 2022. ...

20 years on: Silverton group holds vigils for peace, advocates for justice

January 2023 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off on 20 years on: Silverton group holds vigils for peace, advocates for justice

By James Day Silverton People for Peace, a group that formed amid the buildup to the 2003 start of the Iraq War, has turned 20. [caption id="attachment_12350" align="aligncenter" width="528"] Members of Silverton People for Peace gather last Januaryfor their annual MLK Day ...

Moving on – Benedictine Sisters to leave monastery site

January 2023 Posted in History & Culture, News, People | Comments Off on Moving on – Benedictine Sisters to leave monastery site

By Stephen Floyd After 134 years, the Benedictine Sisters of Mount Angel will be leaving the Queen of Angels Monastery, with plans to repurpose part of the facility as transitional housing for families in need. Membership within the monastic community has been ...

WiseMind – Educators team up to offer resilience education to kids, parents

December 2022 Posted in Business, Community, People | Comments Off on WiseMind – Educators team up to offer resilience education to kids, parents

By Melissa Wagoner Jenifer Trivelli has always been interested in what makes people tick, especially kids.  “That led me to neuroscience,” Trivelli said. “And then, pairing that together with childhood development led me to counseling.” Initially working as an elementary school counselor, Trivelli ...

20th MLK Observance – Joel Autry to give keynote

December 2022 Posted in Community, Food & Drink, People | Comments Off on 20th MLK Observance – Joel Autry to give keynote

[caption id="attachment_12256" align="alignright" width="171"] Joel Autry[/caption] When the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown his Silverton restaurant in 2020, rather than feel sorry for himself, Joel Autry saw the opportunity for community service, an ethic modeled by his parents. He opened his heart and pantry ...

Serious clowning – Rose City Clowns recognizes Giggle Britches’ hard work

December 2022 Posted in For Kids, People | Comments Off on Serious clowning – Rose City Clowns recognizes Giggle Britches’ hard work

By Melissa Wagoner Becoming a clown wasn’t actually Bonnie-Jean Brown’s idea. “My mommy made me do it,” she laughed, when asked how she – recognized by most as Giggle Britches the clown – got her start. She’s not exaggerating. From the very beginning ...

‘No victims here’ – A different kind of Christmas for Silverton family

December 2022 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off on ‘No victims here’ – A different kind of Christmas for Silverton family

By Dixon Bledsoe Imagine life is humming along like a finely tuned sports car. Wonderful spouse, four awesome sons, a huge extended family full of love, faith, support and laughter. A job you love, and you like to run. Running with ...

RIP Medical Debt – Duo sets out have over $1 million forgiven

December 2022 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off on RIP Medical Debt – Duo sets out have over $1 million forgiven

By Melissa Wagoner When John Dallum discovered there was a nonprofit whose sole purpose is to relieve the medical debt of millions of Americans, he knew he had to help. “One interesting thing about Oregon is, the program has never been started here,” Dallum ...

Election 2022: Kelly congratulates fellow Scotts Mills candidates

December 2022 Posted in Business, People | Comments Off on Election 2022: Kelly congratulates fellow Scotts Mills candidates

In the Oct. 15 issue of Our Town, the article entitled “Incumbents re-elected to Scotts Mills” should have included the following statement from candidate Shawna Kelly, which was received after the article was submitted for publication. “First, I would like to ...

Kidnapping plea deal includes treatment

December 2022 Posted in Briefs, People | Comments Off on Kidnapping plea deal includes treatment

By Stephen Floyd A Silverton man has been admitted to substance abuse treatment after pleading guilty to kidnapping and assault, with the potential for nearly six years in prison if the program is not completed. Zachary Todd Lander, 40, pleaded guilty Nov. ...

Silverton FFA adviser earns top honor

December 2022 Posted in People, School | Comments Off on Silverton FFA adviser earns top honor

By James Day Longtime Silverton High FFA adviser Scott Towery received the group’s highest honor at the 95th national convention in October. Towery, who has taught agricultural science at Silverton since 2006, was awarded the Honorary American FFA Degree at the Indianapolis ...

Skater takes third in international event

December 2022 Posted in People, sports | Comments Off on Skater takes third in international event

By James Day Silverton skateboarder Lari-Ann Rupp captured the bronze medal in the giant slalom at last month’s World Skate Games in Argentina. Rupp, an economic development specialist for Marion County, completed the course in 33.712 and helped propel the American team ...

Election 2022: Silverton candidates participate in two-hour forum

November 2022 Posted in Business, Community, People | Comments Off on Election 2022: Silverton candidates participate in two-hour forum

By James Day Silverton’s two mayoral candidates and six of the seven City Council hopefuls took part in a two-hour public forum on Oct. 18 at the Palace Theater. The event was hosted by the Silverton Discourse Project, with Our Town reporter ...

Bigger on the inside – Girl Scout posts Little Free Library in Scotts Mills

November 2022 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off on Bigger on the inside – Girl Scout posts Little Free Library in Scotts Mills

By Melissa Wagoner When 11-year-old Girl Scout Moira MacDonald learned that the Scotts Mills Grange was interested in the addition of a Little Free Library she felt called to action.  “We went on a website and looked at starter kits,” Moira said, recalling ...

Mayor’s race: Jones, Freilinger vie to replace Palmer in Silverton

October 2022 Posted in Briefs, Community, People | Comments Off on Mayor’s race: Jones, Freilinger vie to replace Palmer in Silverton

By James Day Silverton will have a new mayor come January, but the town still will be led by a Silverton native. Outgoing mayor Kyle Palmer, who has served in the position since 2017, is a lifelong resident, as are the ...

Slew of candidates – Seven contend for City Council seats in Silverton

October 2022 Posted in Business, Community, People | Comments Off on Slew of candidates – Seven contend for City Council seats in Silverton

By James Day There will be a distinct changing of the guard for the Silverton City Council come next term. That’s because there will be three and perhaps four new councilors when the session begins in January. Incumbent councilors Jim Sears, Dana ...

Firefighters climb for cystic fibrosis cure

October 2022 Posted in Community, People | Comments Off on Firefighters climb for cystic fibrosis cure

A group of nine Silverton firefighters participated in the annual Portland Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge on Sunday, Sept. 25, at the US Bancorp Tower. Silverton had the largest participation among all competing agencies, said Joe Boyd, executive director of the event. The climb ...

Silverton nurse gifts grant to Bridgeway

October 2022 Posted in Community, People, Your Health | Comments Off on Silverton nurse gifts grant to Bridgeway

[caption id="attachment_11954" align="alignright" width="283"] Holly Perez[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner When Silverton-based nurse Holly Perez received a call from the Maps Community Foundation informing her she had just been chosen a Community Award recipient for 2022, she was caught off guard. “My daughter Sofia nominated ...