By Brenna Wiegand Michael Husser is approaching 60 years as a professional bass guitar player, but he’s been entertaining as long as he can remember. For his high school graduation in 1964, Husser asked for an electric guitar to accompany himself and better his odds with the opposite sex. Yet, upon starting guitar lessons, he discovered that, due to an […]
The annual Tree of Giving program sponsored by the Silverton Zenith Women’s Club starts Nov. 1. Community members can help families during the holiday season by purchasing new clothes for children. Families wishing to sign up for the gifts can do so at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 303 N. Church St. on Nov. 1, 4-6 p.m.; Nov. 2, 6-8 p.m.; Nov. […]
A fried chicken dinner is set for Saturday, Oct. 21 to benefit the Scotts Mills Firefighters Association. The dinner, the 45th such event, runs from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the main Scotts Mills station on Third Street. The dinner costs $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for those under 10. The event is being conducted as a […]
MAPD arrests man on out-of-state assault warrant A Missouri man wanted for felony assault in his home state has been arrested in Mount Angel and is awaiting potential extradition. Joseph Robert Wood, 44, of Springfrield, Missouri was arrested Aug. 9 by MAPD on a warrant for assault in the third degree of a special victim, allegedly committed in August 2022. […]
By Melissa Wagoner When Judy Gabriel first heard the term “catio” used to describe an outdoor, enclosed patio created just for cats she was not impressed. “I thought that was nuts,” she said. But then winter set in and she began to wonder if her own kittens – Bubba and Buddy, whom she had adopted the spring before – might […]
A team of Silverton middle-schoolers has come home with a state baseball title. Silverton’s JBO Senior Federal team outlasted Beaverton 11-9 in the July 23 title game at Central High in Independence. It was the third meeting of the tournament between Silverton and Beaverton. Silverton won the first contest 12-10 on Friday, July 21, before falling 7-6 to the Beaverton […]
Marion County has added six-plus acres of forested property to Scotts Mills County Park, an addition that will greatly expand the options for park users. The 6.03 acres of heavily timbered property cost the county $450,000, with $360,000 coming via the county’s sale of Auburn Park to the Salem-Keizer School District and $90,000 from Terry Caster, who died on April […]
By Melissa Wagoner A dedicated space to dance and create is something Brianna Taylor has wanted for a long time. But living the life of a professional dancer, first in San Francisco and then in New York, meant finding that space – much less paying for it – was just out of reach. “Dance takes space,” she pointed out. “So, […]
By James Day Silverton native Ed Grambusch grew up wanting to be an air traffic controller. He tried work of a similar vein as a 9-1-1 emergency dispatcher. But once he hooked on as a volunteer with the Silverton Fire District, the career search was over. Grambusch continued his 9-1-1 work as he worked his way into a career as […]
By Melissa Wagoner On the last Wednesday of January each year volunteers across the state come together to provide government officials with a snapshot of the current unhoused population. The purpose of which is, according to Sheltering Silverton Program Director Megan Smith, “that statewide every year we can have a better idea about what’s needed for allocation in shelters.” Shelters like the […]
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 thank everyone that voted,” said Kelly. “Regardless of if I was the recipient of their vote or not. To […]
By Stephen Floyd Voters in Scotts Mills have given Mayor Paul Brakeman a fourth term in office after he received an overwhelming majority of votes in the Nov. 8 election, according to initial results. As of 10 p.m. Nov. 8, Brakeman had received 89 votes, or 79.5 percent of those cast for mayor, compared to challenger Jason Axness, who received […]
By Stephen Floyd Incumbents had a clean sweep of open seats on the Scotts Mills City Council during the Nov. 8 general election, according to initial election results. As of 10 p.m. Nov. 8, city councilors Monika Martin, Casey Dean and Robin Fournier secured new terms with 91, 86 and 71 votes, respectively. Challenger Shawna Kelly rounded out the election […]
Mayor Paul Brakeman: 89 votes (79.46%)Jason Axness: 23 (20.54%) City Council (three seats open)Monika Martin: 91 votes (29.45%)Casey Dean: 86 votes (27.83%) Robin Fournier: 71 votes (22.98%) Shawna Kelly: 61 votes (19.74%) Vote to be certified Dec. 6, 2022
By Melissa Wagoner When Scotts Mills Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Community Club (PTCC) heard that the Mt. Angel Chamber of Commerce needed help staffing their annual Oktoberfest booth and that they were willing to share proceeds with any organization that volunteered, they jumped at the chance. “Katie Sommer, PTCC president, volunteered to head this up and find volunteers for two […]
By James Day Former Silverton Police Chief and Mayor Rick Lewis was re-elected in House District 18, according to early unofficial returns from the Secretary of State’s Office. Lewis was appointed to the position in 2017 when Rep. Vic Gilliam resigned because of ill health. He has previously been elected in 2018 and 2020 to full 2-year terms. Lewis, a […]
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 that, while she and her mother, Meredith, had initially looked into either building or repurposing a library […]
All current Scotts Mills City Council members are hoping to return for new terms next year, though Mayor Paul Brakeman has yet to publicly declare his candidacy. Councilors Robin Fournier, Casey Dean and Monika Martin confirmed to Our Town they plan to appear on the Nov. 8 ballot. Brakeman, who is about to conclude his third term in office, had […]
By Melissa Wagoner The Scotts Mills Area Historical Society and the Scotts Mills Grange are joining forces this summer in the creation of a new event celebrating the past, present and future of their organizations and of the Scotts Mills Community as a whole. “Scotts Mills Founders to Future Generations Weekend is about joining together as a community to celebrate […]
The Scotts Mills office of mayor and three city council seats are on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot. Mayor is currently Paul Brakeman, who has served three, two-year terms. The council seats are currently held by Monika Martin, Casey Dean and Robin Fournier. Councilor terms are four years. Candidates have until Aug. 12 to file. For information email [email protected] […]
Marion County has requested a court order imposing 11 months worth of daily fines against a Scotts Mills man accused of failing to remove multiple junk cars from his property. On June 15, the county requested an injunction authorizing fines of $1,000 per day against Adam Jones due to “multiple inoperable/dismantled vehicles” on Jones’ property on Abiqua Road NE. The […]
By Stephen Floyd A Marion County man is facing multiple charges after allegedly abandoning dozens of cans of paint thinner along the roadside at several locations near Scotts Mills. John Hyslop, 50, of Silverton, was arrested Dec. 20 after the Marion County Sheriff’s Office received reports Dec. 17 of numerous cans of paint thinner and similar liquids abandoned south of […]
Datebook Submission Information Get your events and fundraisers published in Our Town. If your ongoing event was cancelled because of COVID-19 and is starting up again, please send a new listing. If you are meeting by Zoom or virtually, send those, too! Send your releases to [email protected]. Or drop them off at 401 Oak St., Silverton. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Weekly Events Monday: […]
By Melissa Wagoner “Helping is easy. Being on the receiving end is difficult.” Sheila Zervas Nielsen, a teacher at Silverton High School and resident of Gates, knows what she is talking about. She, along with her husband Steve, also a Silver Falls School District employee, and their three sons, evacuated from their home on Sept. 7 escaping wildfires whipped up […]
By Melissa Wagoner In the midst of a global pandemic, with civil unrest in the streets, a new catastrophe has come knocking. On Sept. 7 unusually high summer winds joined forces with three decades of drought to ignite fires across Oregon. “We are currently facing a statewide fire emergency,” Gov. Kate Brown, said during a press conference on Sept. 9. […]
