By Stephen Floyd The Oregon Garden Foundation has been awarded a $150,000 grant from Marion County to help develop financial sustainability in its operations of The Oregon Garden. The Board of County Commissioners approved the grant during their March 6 regular meeting, with funds coming from the Oregon Lottery. Oregon Garden Director of Operations Delen Kitchen told Our Town the […]
By James Day The new Silverton Civic Center, a years-long $19.5 million project, likely will not open until late April, city officials said. Our Town participated in a tour of the building Feb. 15, along with project manager Jason Gottgetreu, the city’s community development director, new city manager Cory Misley and Luis Mendoza of Compass Project Solutions, which is providing consulting services […]
By Stephen Floyd The Silver Falls School District (SFSD) Board has approved a $73 million bond measure for the May 21 ballot with hopes of wooing voters who rejected a $138 million bond last November. In a 6-1 vote Feb. 12, the board agreed to ask voters to consider a bond that would replace Silverton Middle School and provide critical […]
By Stephen Floyd Iconic local business Silver Falls Country Store has burned down after suddenly catching fire during the early hours of Feb. 16. No one was injured, however, the building at 172 Silver Falls Drive was a total loss. Chief Brandon Hamilton with the Drakes Crossing Fire District said crews were called around 1:05 a.m. and when they arrived […]
By Stephen Floyd A recent housing analysis estimated the population of Mount Angel could grow 30% by 2040 compared to 2020 and said the city has enough buildable land to meet this need. The analysis was approved Jan. 18 by the city’s Planning Commission and is scheduled to go before the City Council for final approval Feb. 5. Mount Angel […]
By Stephen Floyd Mount Angel Mayor Pete Wall highlighted public infrastructure needs in his State of the City Address Jan. 2 before the Mount Angel City Council. Wall said the city must position itself to tackle multiple priorities, chief among them the wastewater, storm drainage, transportation and parks systems. As an initial step the council has scheduled a work session […]
By Stephen Floyd Mount Angel Mayor Pete Wall has announced he will not seek another term in office. He said instead he’s opening the opportunity for someone else to run for the position this fall. Wall made his announcement during his State of the City address before the Mount Angel City Council during its regular meeting Jan. 2. Wall said, […]
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 […]
By Stephen Floyd The Benedictine Sisters of Mount Angel have officially sold the Queen of Angels Monastery after relocating from the property last year. On Dec. 27, 2023, the Sisters closed the sale of the property to Salem-based Catholic Community Services (CCS), which has long been a ministry partner with the Sisters. Sister Jane Hibbard, pastoral administrator of the order, […]
Authorities have charged a Mount Angel man with murder after he allegedly killed another man on New Year’s Day in Mount Angel, and the suspect is presently at large. On the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 2, Marion County Circuit Court Judge Tracy Prall signed a warrant for the arrest of Agustin Barocio, 42, for the fatal shooting of Brandon Slack, […]
By Stephen Floyd The Mt. Angel Public Library is celebrating a year of landmark community engagement during 2023 and hopes to build on these successes in the coming year. Library Director Jackie Mills spoke with Our Town about how new employees and grant opportunities allowed the “small but mighty” library to create inroads into the community. “I think we made […]
A Bend woman has accepted a plea deal after her dogs fatally mauled a former Silverton man to death in July and she faces up to 20 years in prison during sentencing later this month. Jessica Rae McCleery, 38, pleaded guilty Thursday in Deschutes County Circuit Court to criminally negligent homicide and other charges for the July 19 death of […]
By Stephen Floyd Trails, gathering spaces and family amenities were among priorities chosen by residents during a recent open house on proposed updates to Silverton’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Held Dec. 5 at the Silverton Senior Center, the event allowed residents to express the priorities they believe should guide the planning and funding of city parks in the coming […]
A Bend woman accused of negligently causing the death of a former Silverton man during a dog attack in July may potentially reach a plea agreement ahead of a trial set for January. Jessica Rae McCleery, 38, is scheduled for a settlement conference Dec. 21 in Deschutes County Circuit Court related to the July 19 death of Joe Keeton, 56. […]
By Stephen Floyd More than 7,700 ballots were cast and $23,000 donated for Measure 24-486 on the ballot in the Nov. 7 election. Had it passed, the measure would have raised more than $138 million for facility improvements throughout the Silver Falls School District (SFSD). According to election results published Nov. 17, the measure was failing by 55.71% out of […]
By Stephen Floyd A $138 million bond measure for the Silver Falls School District failed by a wide margin in the Nov. 7 election. Results published Nov. 8 by the Oregon Secretary of State showed Measure 24-486 failing by 55.37% out of 6,782 ballots cast by voters in Marion and Clackamas counties. The SFSD bond would have funded improvements to […]
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, […]
By Stephen Floyd Marion County is nearing the construction phase of replacing the Pudding River Bridge on Hazelgreen Road NE and has begun discussing follow-up work to address road flooding. The project would replace the current wooden bridge, built in 1969, with a concrete structure above flood levels, as the Little Pudding River inundates the current bridge during heavy rain. […]
By Stephen Floyd The City of Mount Angel plans to chlorinate its water supply after being directed by the Oregon Health Authority to reduce the presence of potentially harmful microbes. On Oct. 17, OHA sent a letter to the city after tests revealed a high number of coliforms, which are bacteria commonly found in human and animal intestines. Because the […]
By Stephen Floyd A January trial has been set for a Bend woman accused of negligently causing the fatal dog mauling of a former Silverton man over the summer. Jessica Rae McCleery, 38, was given a trial date of Jan. 9, 2024, during an appearance Nov. 7 in Deschutes County Circuit Court, with the trial expected to last eight days. […]
An Aumsville man with a pending kidnapping charge was arrested in Silverton Oct. 25 after a high-speed chase that ended with the suspect hiding in a local resident’s basement. Steele James Davidson, 30, was pursued by police after allegedly contacting the victim of a domestic violence incident for which Davidson was arrested in March. He is charged with second-degree kidnapping […]
A Bend woman charged with manslaughter for the fatal dog mauling of a former Silverton man has asked to be released from jail to stay with a friend in Hawaii while she awaits trial. The attorney for Jessica Rae McCleery, 38, filed a motion in Deschutes County Circuit Court Wednesday claiming his client would benefit from a safe and sober […]
Former Silverton Mayor Kyle Palmer shares his perspectives on a $138 million facilities bond for the Silver Falls School District, to be decided during the Nov. 7 election. Palmer served on the advisory committee that helped formulate the current bond proposal and is also on the committee that would oversee the bond if it is approved by voters. Palmer also […]
By Stephen Floyd When Silverton High School (SHS) was completed in 2009, the campus benefited from modern design and tailor-made classrooms. Students could learn to cook in a commercial kitchen, learn the basics of firefighting in full gear, and learn car maintenance in a multi-bay auto shop. SHS teachers interviewed by Our Town said a custom learning space helps students […]
The Mt. Angel Oktoberfest can take another bow. Its 58th rendition from Sept. 14-17 not only was a clear success amid splendid weather and enthusiastic crowds, but the local celebration has sparked support in a national survey. USA Today polled U.S. residents as part of its readers’ choice ten best series and the numbers showed that the Mount Angel event, which honors […]
