By Melissa Wagoner In the spring of 2020 Patty and Mike Kloft learned their seven-year-old son, John, needed an emergency kidney transplant. “Stanford concluded his kidneys just never formed right,” Patty said, recalling the family’s trip from their home in Mount Angel to the teaching hospital where a team of specialists examined John. “Basically, they just said, we don’t know […]
By James Day The bridge over the Pudding River on Hazelgreen Road NE between Silverton and Salem is being replaced and roads in the area will be closed for an extended period of time. Marion County is replacing the 1969 timber bridge near the intersection of Hazelgreen Road NE and Torvend Road NE. The bridge, and the two roads, closed […]
By James Day When Todd Engstrom joined the Silverton Police Department in 2021 “I knew Chief Anglemier was getting ready to retire and I knew taking his place as chief would be a possibility,” he told Our Town. Jim Anglemier knew it, too. “Todd is ready and will be a good chief,” Anglemier said. “He is tied to the community […]
By James Day Memorial Day, which honors those Americans who died in the service of their country, will include observances in both Silverton and Mount Angel. The Silverton events, sponsored by Post 7 of the American Legion, begin Friday, May 24, with an 8 a.m. uncovering of the six service flags at Town Square Park. Included will be the Space […]
The streets of Silverton will be awash in pets on Saturday, May 18, as the Kiwanis Club puts on the annual Pet Parade. The event, which started in 1932, starts at 10 a.m. on Coolidge at Apple Street, turns right on Main Street, left on First Street and concludes at the new City Hall. The event is free and registration […]
By Melissa Wagoner The Silverton Country Historical Society boasts numerous authors whose published works tell the story of Silverton and its citizens from its inception in 1854 to now. “It’s history from under the rugs and between the tracks,” Historical Society president Gus Frederick said. Now the community will get a chance to take some of that history home when […]
By James Day Silverton-area composer Christopher Wicks has debuted a short opera at an arts festival in Australia. Wicks’ piece, The Curse on Dyved, was inspired by his interest in Welsh music and folklore. It debuted at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, which Wicks described as “literally hundreds of events in many fields of performing and visual arts between mid-February and mid-March […]
Alleged assault leads to high-speed chase An Aumsville man is facing multiple charges after an alleged domestic violence incident near Silverton resulted in a high-speed pursuit. Matthew James Rodgers, 33, was arrested May 6 for an incident the previous evening on Hwy. 214 near Silver Falls State Park. Rodgers allegedly strangled a woman, threatened her with a hatchet and damaged […]
By Melissa Wagoner Nabor Castro’s face was familiar to many Silvertonians, including Barbara Nusbaum Rivoli who, on Aug. 16, 2021, wrote in a Facebook post on Silverton Connections, “For many years I have been coming to the… YMCA building on Water Street in Silverton. There has been one consistently helpful, kind, friendly and hard-working city worker there tending to the maintenance […]
During the past six weeks I have been dismayed by the harsh – and even sometimes hate-filled – comments I’ve read on social media. Hauntingly similar to the public divide created by the COVID shutdown and the subsequent roll out of safety protocols, the Silver Falls School District’s budget shortfall has once again filled the community with mistrust. I admit, […]
By Melissa Wagoner If you live in Mount Angel, there is a good chance you are acquainted with Ross Ryan. Maybe you’ve seen him wearing his signature duster and fingerless gloves, riding his bicycle on the road to Silverton – where he grew up, and where many of his family members reside to this day. Or perhaps you’ve seen him […]
Silverton house forfeited in pot sting A Silverton-area house once used in by an interstate marijuana ring has been sold as part of federal forfeiture proceedings. The residence, at 17344 Powers Creek Loop NE, was among 14 property forfeitures announced April 1 in a press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Oregon. The other houses were […]
As a former board member who participated in hiring Scott Drue, I felt devasted listening to Jackie Olsen, OASBO executive director, explain to the current board about the overspending of this district, leading to a[n estimated] $9.9 million shortfall in the Silver Falls School District. After his second year in the school district, my concerns grew as I saw Scott […]
How can the Silver Falls School District reduce its 2024-25 budget by $8 million? All parties concerned (school board, district administration, staff and general public) may have to lower their expectations to some degree to make it happen. Bake sales and fundraisers certainly won’t. I am retired and have no connection with the district other than trying to be a […]
By Melissa Wagoner Fighting off invasive pests – those insects, weeds and animals that aren’t a part of a gardener’s original plan – can turn a beautiful garden into a war zone filled with toxic chemicals. But it doesn’t have to be that way. “As a head gardener it is my responsibility to focus on IPM, integrated pest management, which […]
By Melissa Wagoner Dylan Uselman was a self-described shy child, anxious about public speaking – then in high school he discovered theater, and everything changed. “[T]he fantastic teacher, [Doug] Ousterhout – who’s still teaching drama and putting on shows at the high school to this day – created such a welcoming and safe space for anyone that wanted to join,” […]
Andrew Dean Amaral died due to a drug overdose. Andrew attended high school in Woodburn. When he returned from out of the area, he stayed most of the time at his mother’s in Silverton. He was loved and will be missed by his friends and family. Andrew was survived by his mother, Roxanne Camacho-Madrigal of Silverton; his dad, Juan Diego Amaral […]
Robert ‘Bob’ Frances DeSantis, Jr., 72, of Silverton, Oregon, passed away on April 3, 2024. He was born on May 5, 1951 in Silverton. Bob, known to many as a loving son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, leaves behind a legacy of love and strength. He is survived by his mother, Anne DeSantis; sisters, Susan Dallas and Diane Hoge; […]
Jeffrey Todd Benson, 52, of Silverton, passed away on April 18, 2024. Jeff was born on April 27, 1971 to parents, Gary Benson and Jane Jones in Salem, Oregon. Jeff loved to walk, listen to live music, go to the beach, volunteer, and read. He was also really proud of his free little library that was in his front yard. […]
Delma Sprauer was born Delma Emily Hackett on May 19, 1939 to David and Armella Hackett in Silverton, Oregon. She passed peacefully in Woodburn on April 7, 2024. She is survived by six children and their spouses, Carmen, Therese (Abel), Annie (Hassan), Kate (Kory), Gary (Katia), and Karl (Bernadine), and many grand and great grandchildren, to whom she was affectionately […]
By Melissa Wagoner The Oregon Crafters Market in downtown Silverton will open for the summer season on May 3, 6 to 9 p.m. with food, drinks, live music and a host of craftspersons. “My goal is to get local artists involved more and to promote it outside Silverton as well,” Dodie Brockamp, the new head of marketing, said. “I want […]
By Sailor Hill The owners of the popular Silverton taphouse Silver Falls Brewery have opened a second location, the Barrel House in Eugene in the former Tap & Growler space. Eric Druliner co-owns Silver Falls Brewery with his business partner, Andrew Fox. The pair began brewing out of Druliner’s garage in 2015 and later expanded in 2019 to their current […]
By Melissa Wagoner At this point, most people have contracted COVID at least once during the past four years. For the majority, the experience was akin to getting the flu. They were sick for a few days, or even a week, but then the symptoms faded and they resumed their normal lives. That’s the story for most, but not all. […]
By James Day The Silver Falls Family YMCA has embarked upon a major fundraising campaign to pay for and construct a new building in which to operate its programs. Amid challenges to insuring an aging building, the YMCA left its long-time home in the Silverton Community Center in March. The building is currently being leased by the city from the […]
The Silverton Food Co-op is holding an Earth Day event at GeerCrest Farm, with family-friendly educational activities and live entertainment. Scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 20 at the farm, 12390 Sunnyview Road NE, Salem, this free event is offered in partnership with GeerCrest and Sustainable Silverton. A main focus will be the role of oak trees […]
