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James Day

Return to glory – Silverton High revives its Hall of Fame

Silverton High will be holding its first athletics Hall of Fame class induction in more than a decade when this year’s gala takes place Saturday, Oct. 7, at The Oregon Garden. “It’s been on hiatus for way too long, since 2011,”said Silverton teacher and volleyball coach Kirsten Barnes. “We had a lot of changes about that time and things were lost […]

Blake MacQuarrie and Addison Barnes age 9 -- Courtesy of Krista Lee MacQuarrie

Have you seen him? Reports of ‘Sasquatch’ on the loose in Silverton

By Melissa Wagoner Beginning in late June the Silverton Police Department began receiving some very bizarre reports. Apparently a “hairy, man-like creature” has been spotted throughout the city, cavorting with locals, high-fiving teens and even testing his soccer skills on one of Silverton High School’s fields.  “Although residents are labeling the creature ‘Sasquatch,’ the Silverton Police are asking citizens not […]

James Day

Equestrian athletes – Silverton takes seventh in state championships

The Silverton High equestrian team finished seventh in the large division of the Oregon High School Equestrian Teams state championships May 11-14 at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond. Silverton scored 141 points. Oregon City (588) and Mountain View of Bend (411) dominated the team race. Silverton scored well in numerous events, with Adeline Kuenzi taking third in hunt seat […]

Opening night of the Silverton Arts Association's Teen Art Show. -- courtesy of Megan Smith

Teen Art Show – Silverton galleries team up to honor this year’s winners

By Melissa Wagoner This year the Silverton Arts Association’s annual “Teen Art Show” featured 105 pieces of art from students at Evergreen, Bethany, Community Roots, Silverton Middle School, Silverton High School and Sequoia Falls Academy. “It’s a long-standing tradition,” Silverton Arts Association Board (SAA) Member and gallery curator, Megan Smith, said of the show, which ran from May 5 to […]

The next step: How students navigate life after high school

By Brenna Wiegand When the seniors at Silverton High School in Silverton, presented their post-graduation plans to underclassmen, it was obvious that career paths are all over the map. Some students will go from high school to work while others pursue a trade. In many cases, students decide that their goals will require attending a two- or four-year college. “There […]

Silverton AD wins national award

By James Day Silverton High Athletic Director Andy Jones has received a national honor. Jones, who is finishing his first school year as AD of the Foxes, was given the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) state merit award at the Oregon Athletic Directors Association (OADA) conference on April 17 in Sunriver. The award also represents Jones’ achievements at previous […]

SFSD introduces class size dashboard

By Stephen Floyd The Silver Falls School District (SFSD) has published a new Class Size Dashboard to increase transparency regarding teacher workloads. The dashboard went live April 11 and the district expects to update classroom figures weekly. Assistant Superintendent Dan Busch told the SFSD Board April 10 the dashboard was in direct response to recent union negotiations where class size […]

Pratum memories – Artist captures iconic grain elevator in new mural

By Melissa Wagoner It was forbidden love – not farming – that was on Whitney Davis’s mind the first time she noticed the old wooden grain elevator outside Pratum. “I had met my high school sweetheart, Cody Glennie, my sophomore year,” Davis – who graduated from Silverton High School in 2010 – said. “He grew up in Pratum, just a stone’s throw […]

‘Best Fox Ever’ – Popular mock-pageant gets new name, keeps commitment

By Melissa Wagoner Many may remember Silverton High School’s annual spring mock-pageant and fundraiser, Mr. SHS. But what they might not know is that in 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools, the contest was renamed, The Best Fox Ever, so students of all genders could take part.  “It’s stayed the same other than slowly more girls have […]

Opportunities to lead – Future Foxes seeking volunteer help

By James Day The Future Foxes football and cheer program is heading into a new season with tons of momentum. The program, which serves boys and girls in third through eighth grades while also offering camp opportunities for younger athletes, included 203 football players and 102 cheerleaders last season. “As the program continues to grow,’ said board president Dan Mulick, […]

Donations needed for Project Graduation

By Melissa Wagoner When Erin Scott discovered Silverton High School’s senior class – of which her oldest son is a member – did not have enough money to hold the traditional Grad Night celebration she was alarmed. “I can still remember every detail of my Grad Night,” she said, noting that, although she graduated from a Portland area high school, […]

Lions Club – Community service via sweet treats, scholarships, vision screening

The Silverton Lions recxently completed two of its major endeavors for the year, one a fundraiser, the other a project is made possible by those funds and others raised throughout the year. See’s Candy Sale Boxes of chocolates, peanut brittle, lollipops and more, the See’s Candy sale is a holiday tradition that gives back to the community in many ways.  […]

Tree of Giving thanks community

Thank You, Silverton! The Silverton Zenith Woman’s Club thanks the community of Silverton for all the help they received for their 2022 Tree of Giving project. Together we were able to make Christmas a little brighter for 208 children in the Silver Falls School District. We wish to particularly thank: Hi-School Pharmacy, Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Silver […]

Science teacher offers eco-trip to Belize

By Melissa Wagoner “Opening the world through education,” is the mission of the educational travel company, EF Tours, but it’s also the mission of Stacie Harker – an avid traveler and science teacher at Butte Creek Elementary. “I think international travel is so important,” Harker said. “To get insight on American culture by seeing other cultures… to see culturally that […]

Two free holiday events set for community

By Melissa Wagoner  When the community-building nonprofit known as Silverton Together dissolved earlier this year, the Elizabeth Hoke Trust – a foundation honoring the legacy of SHS alumnus, Elizabeth Hoke – decided to take over many of its programs, including the annual Silverton Community Christmas Fest. “This is a celebration of the Silverton Community and the amazing people that make […]

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 event. The degree is awarded to individuals who have created high-quality agricultural education programs which inspire and motivate […]

This is only a drill: Silverton officers work on preventing tragedies

By James Day Silverton Police Chief Jim Angelmier, the reporter and City Manager Ron Chandler were lined up against the wall of a classroom wing at Silverton High School. In front of them a heavily armed active shooting suspect held a gun on a student hostage, played by a mannequin. A bell rang, eerily realistic screaming and shouting boomed through […]

More new faces: Foxes add new athletic director, two new coaches

Silverton High has filled in its final coaching and administrative gaps for the fall sports season. Andy Jones is the new athletic director/assistant vice principal, with Renee Cantrell taking over the girls soccer program and Reilly Rosecrans now running Foxes volleyball. Here is a look at the new staffers: Jones, who replaces James Rise, now at Cascade, has been in […]

Caring about kids – Silver Falls Young Life celebrates 25 years

By Brenna Wiegand Area Director Jenifer Ridgeway is happy to report that the Silver Falls Young Life program is still going strong after 25 years and has continued to grow despite the setbacks of COVID. Silver Falls Young Life is open to all middle school and high school students in Silverton and the surrounding area. Its overarching goal is to […]

Adults of summer – Silverton baseball just keeps on rolling

By James Day “What a great day to be out playing baseball,” said Lou Tiller as he surveyed a clover-infested infield at a junior varsity field at Silverton High on a 70-degree July evening. The air was still, with the only breeze manufactured by maintenance crews dragging the all-dirt infields on the adjacent softball fields. Tiller, 64, a retired math […]

Funding boost – CTE modernizes

By James Day The Silverton High School career and technical education program has received a $125,000 shot in the arm. The CTE grant, one of 54 from the state, was part of $7.3 million that will assist 148 middle schools and high schools in programs such as advanced manufacturing, engineering, agricultural science, app development, robotics, tourism, forestry, home renovation and […]

Moving on – Silverton AD leaves for Cascade High post

The Silverton High School athletic program, which has been searching to replace several departed coaches, now must also look to replace the head of the department. James Rise, who has served in the athletic director position for the past 4 years, has been announced as the new AD at Cascade High in Turner. He assumes the Cascade post Aug. 1, […]

Senior Follies – Multiple chances for a little shared laughter

By Melissa Wagoner Candace Pressnall has been involved with the theater for over 40 years.  “I even have a degree in it,” she said proudly. “I’ve enjoyed it a lot.” Which is why, when the Silverton Senior Center decided to pivot to a more member-led programming, she jumped at the chance to bring a little theater to the lives of […]

SHS grad night party in need of help

Each spring the Silver Fox Foundation hosts an all-night celebration for that year’s senior class.  “The party is always the night of graduation,” long-time organizer Erica Rumpca said. “Kids will load buses at 10 p.m. and we will transport them to the party returning the following morning at 6 a.m.” Originally created as a way to keep drugs and alcohol […]

Out of the oven – Bakery opens with cookies, scones, muffins and homey feel

By Melissa Wagoner Megan Ireland’s love of baking has its roots in the very heart of her childhood.  “My mom baked and I always liked licking the beater,” Ireland recalled. “And when she made pies, I used up the scraps.” Then, at Silverton High School, Ireland began taking Culinary Arts classes from Zelma Cannon and her love for making things […]