By James Day Silverton-area residents are being wooed by companies promising to upgrade the power of their internet. Ziply Fiber took the plunge first, announcing in early March that its high-speed fiber optic network was ready for service for Silverton-area residences and businesses. New and existing Ziply customers who wish to check their address for fiber availability, or who would […]
By James Day Kyle Palmer, who has been a fixture in Silverton community affairs for most of this century, is retiring from the political arena. Palmer, who is midway through his second full term as mayor, announced Jan. 30 via social media that he is retiring from elected office at the end of this term. Palmer also answered questions from […]
By Melissa Wagoner On July 1, 2022 Silverton Together, a beloved community institution whose mission was to strengthen and support families, facilitate community cooperation and promote health and well-being since 1993, will cease to exist. “This decision to dissolve was made after considerable board discussions over the last couple years as we responded to the federal, state and county foundation […]
By Stephen Floyd Around two dozen students were asked to leave Silverton High School Feb. 4 during a maskless walk-in protesting state COVID-19 mandates. Demonstrators gathered outside the school entrance that morning, prepared to disregard mandates requiring masks in all school buildings to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They were met by administrators who explained, though the district supports students’ […]
By Melissa Wagoner Mayor Kyle Palmer is well aware that the future of Silverton lies not in his own hands, but in those of the city’s youth – a fact that he finds inspiring. “I’ve spent 23 years coaching youth sports and had spent 18 years operating the veterinary camp where I used to work. I recognize and appreciate the perspective that […]
By Kyle Palmer It’s hard to believe, but as I write this, our state and our community are, for the most part, exiting the COVID-19 restrictions that we’ve all been under since March of last year. It remains to be seen if this move is permanent.There are still many people hospitalized. We will undoubtedly still lose some people with the illness and many people will […]
Imagine this. 97 degrees in Silverton, scorching, more humidity than you are accustomed to. You are playing with your little guy, age 13 months. Cute as a bug. Suddenly, it dawns on you that there is a cool reservoir barely two miles out of town, just waiting for you. Excited. You get there, ready to hit the water and cool […]
By Kyle Palmer Mayor of Silverton Earlier this week, one of our citizens took her young child to the reservoir for a little bit of fun in the great weather. Not long after arriving, several teenagers taunted them using the N-word and only stopped when they finally realized they weren’t going to get a reaction. No one there was able […]
By Melissa Wagoner In February, Public Works Director Petra Schuetz, Community Development Director Jason Gottgetreu and Mayor Kyle Palmer were discussong the decade ahead for Silverton for an Our Town story. What none knew then, of course, was that in a matter of weeks the majority of Silverton’s small downtown businesses would be shuttered, its community members sheltering in place […]
By Melissa Wagoner There is a reason why setting New Year’s resolutions is a popular activity. As a new calendar year begins, it can feel essential to lay the groundwork for the days ahead, filling the squares with trips to the gym, the bookstore and maybe even a tropical beach. But with all that talk of the future, the past […]
A few citizens have recently brought back up our plans for the Eugene Field School site, so it’s time for another update. The City purchased the entire EF property in late 2017 after negotiations with the Silver Falls School District, who’d weathered having at least two previous offers on the property fall through. We are federally required to have a […]
Next month, Silverton residents will have the opportunity to consider two ballot measures that are very important to the community – on behalf of the City Council, I urge each of you to consider them carefully. A five-year Pool Levy (first passed in November of 2012) will provide another five years of operations and maintenance of this important community asset. […]
Our Town asked candidates five questions focused on the challenges the Silverton City Council will face over the next four years. The questions, below, are each identified by a key word. 1. FUNDING: How will we fund needed construction, reconstruction and major repairs to our infrastructure? Most of the city’s facilities are aging and in urgent need of replacement or […]
By Brenna Wiegand Silverton’s 2013 First Citizen Kyle Palmer wishes all kids could enjoy the type of upbringing he did. Palmer, 47, has been the practice manager at Silver Creek Animal Clinic since 1998 and is a certified vet tech specializing in animal dentistry. For 28 years, he has managed Evans Valley Stables and is director of Northwest Equine Practitioner’s […]
Editor’s note: Our Town presented the four candidates running for Silverton mayor on the Nov. 6 ballot a series of questions and asked for written responses. These are the unabridged responses. What does urban renewal mean to Silverton and is it effective? Rasmussen: Urban Renewal was supposed to allow funding of renovation of privately owned ‘blighted’ areas to improve property […]
The challenges facing Silverton are many: downtown development and urban renewal, business recruitment, park planning, sewer and water issues, and setting budget priorities in a fiscally challenging environment.
Recently, The Silverton Appeal published a news story about three petitions to amend the city of Silverton Charter started by Mayor Stu Rasmussen and Councilor Scott Walker.
Whether on the Web, on the streets or in the paper, true to form, Silverton does not lack for community involvement. The drawn-out process of determining – from an array of choices – how best to proceed with a downtown rejuvenation project – is a prime example of the type of citizenry that characterizes Silverton.
The three Silverton mayoral candidates actually have much in common. Kyle Palmer, Stu Rasmussen and Judy Schmidt all grew up in Silverton and graduated from Silverton High. Each possesses a long track record of community service; a term often taken for granted, but as a way of life, it is rare indeed.
In recent years, Kyle Palmer has set out in some new directions that have made his life richer and more satisfying. Longtime manager of Silver Creek Animal Clinic, last year he earned certification as a veterinary technician and now spends part of the day performing dental procedures on cats and dogs.0
By Linda Whitmore Six candidates are running in the Nov. 4 election to fill seats on the Silverton City Council. Filing for the three positions are Ronald J. Butcher, an insurance agent since 1981; Deborah “Deb” Harroun, who works in sales and membership at The Oregon Garden; Sherry Hoefel, director at Ingenix; Kyle Palmer, veterinary practice manager at Silver Creek […]
