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Kelly Farrah with his wife Judy. Courtesy Emily Neves

A creative life – Prop master Kelly Farrah leaves behind legacy of movies

By Melissa Wagoner “They called him the Legend of Props.” That’s what prop master, Kelly Farrah’s wife of 41 years, Judy, said of her husband’s illustrious career. It’s also what Kelly’s assistant and best friend for 35 years, Jack Steblinski said when he recalled the 50-plus movies and television series they worked on together. And it’s how Kelly humbly referred to […]

James Day

Continued success: Mount Angel keeps winning JBO titles

The Mount Angel JBO program has turned out another state champion. Mount Angel’s Senior National squad of seventh-and eighth-graders went undefeated through the July 19-21 tournament in Portland, downing Colton 11-9 in a hard-fought championship game at McDaniel (formerly Madison) High. The victory marked the third year in a row that a JBO state title has been won by a […]

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden speaks to Silverton residents during a town hall on Aug. 7 at the Silverton High School theater. James Day

Senator in town – Wyden makes a two-stop visit to Silverton

By James Day U.S. Senator Ron Wyden visited Silverton on Aug. 7, taking a tour of the Habitat for Humanity subdivision off of Pine Street and hosting his 1,095th Oregon town hall at Silverton High’s theater. About 60 or so residents were on hand for the town hall. The visit marked the 2024 Marion County stop on Wyden’s “perpetual tour.” […]

Library book sale set for Aug 16-17

The Silver Falls Library is hosting its annual book sale on Friday, Aug. 16 and Saturday, Aug. 17 at 410 S. Water St. in Silverton. The event benefits the Friends of Silver Falls Library and runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Items for sale are generally from 50 cents to […]

James Day

New year, new team – Former Silverton star Ratliff looking to make dent at OSU

Whoever said “change is good” should have taken into consideration the Oregon State University football program. The Beavers finished 8-5 a year ago after starting 8-2. In the offseason they lost coach Jonathan Smith, their top two quarterbacks, a slew of other players – and their conference.   “I think it made everyone closer among those who stayed,” said Beavers defensive […]

Piper Jones of Silverton works on her weight lifting technique at Silver Creek Crossfit. James Day

International meet: Silverton lifter Piper Jones heads to Ecuador

By James Day Piper Jones, a champion weight lifter from Silverton, will be competing for the USA in the Pan American Youth Championships from Aug. 26 through Sept. 1 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Jones qualified for the U-15 American squad by virtue of her performance and rankings in recent competitions. She will compete in both the snatch and the clean and […]

Melissa Wagoner

A Slice of the Pie: Food for Furlough update – Fill-in program served 1,400 meals

In June a group of nine women – Michele Finicle, Sarah Weitzman, Jaime Fuhrman, Joy Flowers, Ann Haviland, Karyssa Dow, Laura Beville, Bri Hupp and Vivienne Frankel – combined their talents in order to provide over 1,400 lunches to kids living in the Silver Falls School District during the two-week gap in the federally funded lunch program caused by the […]

Scales of Justice

Legal Matters

Arrest for alleged domestic assaults A Silverton man is facing numerous charges after an alleged series of domestic assaults against a Salem woman earlier this year. Jarvis Jordan Perez, 32, was indicted July 1 in Marion County Circuit Court on charges including fourth-degree assault (seven counts), unlawful use of a weapon (two counts), second-degree criminal mischief (two counts), strangulation, menacing, […]

Marion Soil & Water Conservation

Soil, water conservation board seeks candidates

The Marion Soil & Water Conservation District will have four open positions on the Nov. 5 ballot. County voters will be electing trustees in the No. 1 at-large position as well as zones 1, 2 and 4. The board has seven members, five of whom represent specific zones. Two board members are elected at-large by the entire county. Mount Angel is in […]

Sheltering Silverton

What works? Effectiveness a key measure in dealing with homelessness

Every community gets to decide how it confronts its most difficult challenges. Every community gets to decide if their response to challenges will be compassionate, punitive, exclusive, collaborative; but whatever they choose, it should be effective. Unsheltered homelessness is one of the most difficult challenges across America, and communities large and small have been left dealing with the fallout – […]

Acorn Dentistry fournder Dr. Tim Richardson is replacing his office on N. Water Street with a building that can serve the dental needs of more children of all income levels. Melissa Wagoner

Change ahead: Acorn Dentistry expanding

The demolition and reconstruction of the building housing Acorn Dentistry for Kids in Silverton has people asking questions, according to Acorn owner and founder, Tim Richardson, who said, “A lot of people think it’s a big corporation, but it’s anything but.” Rather, Acorn Dentistry – which Richardson opened as a “family business” in 2017 – will continue to operate as […]

Silverton Area Community Aid

Black Butte prize tops SACA July 27 gala

Silverton Area Community Aid is hosting its annual fundraising gala from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 27 at Vanderbeck Valley Farm, 37791 Highway 213. The farm is about six miles outside of Silverton, just before you get to Marquam. Tickets for the event cost $75 and include hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and dessert catered by Wooden Nickel. the evening […]

Scales of Justice

Legal Matters

Charges filed after transit mall disturbance A Silverton-area man is facing felony charges after an alleged armed disturbance at a transit mall in Salem. Enrique King Hatfield, 21, was arrested May 8 for an incident that day at the Downtown Salem Transit Mall on High Street. A news release from the Salem Police Department said Hatfield allegedly began shouting threats […]

Silver Falls School District

Moving forward – Silver Falls School District hires interim superintendent

By Stephen Floyd The Silver Falls School District (SFSD) has hired Kim Kellison, current superintendent of the Winston-Dillard School District, as interim superintendent effective July 1. The SFSD Board unanimously approved a two-year contract with Kellison during a special meeting June 4, with the contract running through June 30, 2026. Kellison told board members she believes SFSD can “move forward […]

Wurdinger Enterprises

Wurdinger honored with Small Business Award

By James Day A Silverton agricultural freight company has been honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA has named Wurdinger Enterprises the Portland District Family-Owned Small Business of the Year. Owned and founded by Anthony (Tony) and Karen Wurdinger, Wurdinger Enterprises is a multi-generational family business, growing from humble beginnings to being an important part of the […]

US Naval Academy grad Jon Rivoli Submitted

Moving on to Marines – SHS alum graduates from Naval Academy

By James Day Silverton High graduate Jon Rivoli has put in four years of excellent work at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Now even tougher work begins. Rivoli graduated from Silverton during the COVID-19 spring of 2020 and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the Marine Corps on May 24 after graduating 66th in the Academy graduating […]

PFLAG Silverton

Picnic helps launch new PFLAG chapter

By Stephen Floyd A local chapter of national LGBTQ+ advocacy group PFLAG has opened in Silverton, with a Pride Family Picnic scheduled for June 22 at Coolidge McClaine Park to help kick off the group. In a May 15 press release, local organizers said the goal was to promote PFLAG’s work of “creating a caring, just, and affirming world for […]

The Ifenuk family, owners of Island Fusion Barbecue in Mount Angel. Melissa Wagoner

Island Fusion – Sharing food, culture through barbecue

By Melissa Wagoner The food of the islands has made its way to Mount Angel in the form of the food cart, Island Fusion Barbecue, located at 235 North Main St. “When you say ‘island’ everyone thinks Hawaii,” Jayceleen Ifenuk – who runs the food truck with her family – said. “But there are way more islands.” Including the Micronesian […]

Crews work on one of the homes in the 18-unit Habitat for Humanity development on Pine Street in Silverton. Celebratory public events are scheduled for the site on June 22 and 23. James Day

Habitat for Humanity sets fundraiser, open house at Silverton project

By James Day Habitat for Humanity has scheduled a fundraiser and an open house at the site of its 18-home Peters Garden development on Pine Street in Silverton. On Saturday, June 22, the job site will host a $75 per person fundraiser from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at 1459 Pine St. The North Willamette Valley Habitat for Humanity board of […]

Spirit of Aloha – Community Luau

If a trip to the Hawaiian Islands aren’t in your summer plans, don’t despair. The Spirit of Aloha will take over Coolidge McClaine Park Saturday, June 21, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Park Pavilion, 300 Coolidge St., Silverton. It’s an event designed for the entire family with Paradise of Samoa dancers and fire dancers entertaining. The evening includes a Hawaiian dinner, […]

Children play on the climbing structure at the new all-abilities playground at Old Mill Park in Silverton. The soft-surfaced attraction experienced weather-related construction delays. James Day

Now open: Silverton’s all-abilities park finally ready to welcome kids

By James Day The all-abilities playground in Silverton’s Old Mill Park has opened. The playground features multiple wheelchair-accessible amenities, strength-building components and musical elements and aims to foster use by as broad a group of users as possible. It also includes a rubber-like surface that makes it safer for all users. Mayor Jason Freilinger noted at the June 3 City […]

The nearly completed Silverton City Hall. The city has scheduled an opening celebration for 6 p.m. on Friday, June 7. James Day

City Hall debut: Silverton civic building open for June 7 event

By James Day An opening celebration has been set for 6 p.m. Friday, June 7 for the new Silverton City Hall. The $19 million project is replacing the old City Hall about a half mile south on Water Street. The city has run out of room in the old building and it is seismically unsafe. The new structure will house […]

Silver Falls School District

Reduction in force – Silver Falls School District lays off 62 in first round

By Stephen Floyd The Silver Falls School District (SFSD) has laid off 62 employees including 20 teachers in the first round of staffing reductions amid efforts to cut $8.8 million from next year’s budget. Staff were notified May 22 and 23 after the SFSD Board voted unanimously May 20 to authorize Interim Superintendent Joe Morelock to begin reductions in force […]

Staff criticize SFSD Board for ‘bait and switch’

By Stephen Floyd Teachers and staff expressed anger, frustration and disappointment as the Silver Falls School District (SFSD) Board recently approved steep personnel cuts to balance next year’s budget. During a special meeting May 20, board members voted to authorize reductions in force (RIF) to help eliminate $8.8 million from the 2024-25 budget, with 91 positions eliminated as of May […]

Paul Scoville helping Kenneth Sanchagrin and Aurora Grant make their cooking contest submissions. Melissa Wagoner

Yes chef! Kids cooking contest aims to encourage more time in kitchen

By Melissa Wagoner On April 23 five fifth grade contestants entered the kitchen at Robert Frost Elementary School, donned aprons and toques and began baking a host of delicious desserts hoping to impress the panel of judges. “It’s all going to be fun,” Kenneth Sanchagrin said as he began mixing the ingredients for his grandmother’s devil’s food cake. “I’m going […]