By James Day The new Silverton Civic Center, a years-long $19.5 million project, likely will not open until late April, city officials said. Our Town participated in a tour of the building Feb. 15, along with project manager Jason Gottgetreu, the city’s community development director, new city manager Cory Misley and Luis Mendoza of Compass Project Solutions, which is providing consulting services […]
By James Day The new Silverton Civic Center will not be occupied until next spring. The $19.5 million project, which originally was projected to open in July 2023, has experienced a steady stream of delays, including supply chain issues, work that had to be redone and even emails that went missing. The project remains under that $19.5 million overall cost, […]
By James Day For a police officer, getting an opportunity to train at the FBI Academy is the ultimate feather in your cap. The intense ten-week course, which is free to those whose applications are accepted, is the equivalent of graduate school-level instruction. And you learn from and with city, county, state, federal, NCIS and even NASA law enforcement personnel. Captain Todd Engstrom […]
By James Day A two-alarm grass fire on Aug. 1 severely damaged a Silverton firewood processing facility off of Pine Street. The blaze, which consumed approximately five acres, was caused by sparks from farm machinery, said Keith Veit, assistant chief of the Silverton Fire District. “A tractor was mowing wheat stubble in the field and it is believed that a […]
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 […]
By James Day Oregon Governor Tina Kotek visited Silverton on June 22, making two stops. One was to discuss homelessness and housing issues; the other to engage with agricultural and natural resource officials in a luncheon at The Oregon Garden. Our Town attended the homeless session. Media were not allowed at The Oregon Garden session. Kotek, 57, a first-term Democrat […]
By James Day Are Silverton Police Department officers being paid enough? Developer and long-time resident Rob Wood, who serves on the public policy committee at the Oregon Police Academy in Salem, doesn’t think so. Wood read off the names of ten Silverton officers who have left the force in the past five years to take positions with other agencies. He […]
A Silverton man died following a three-vehicle collision on Hwy. 214 between Silverton and Mount Angel on Jan. 11. According to Oregon State Police (OSP), Diceon Macias, 19, of Salem, was operating a Honda Civic on Downs Road NE around 9:40 a.m. when he entered Hwy. 214 in an attempt to cross the road. Mitchell Daniel Kuenzi, 23, of Silverton, […]
By Stephen Floyd The Silverton Police Department has arrested a Mount Angel man they claim was responsible for a vandalism spree that defaced multiple public facilities and local businesses. Roman L. Cunningham, 23, was arrested Dec. 20, 2022, on 24 felony counts of aggravated first-degree criminal mischief for incidents taking place within the prior month. Police said Cunningham repeatedly left […]
By James Day The Silverton Police Department is investigating vandalism that occurred to the Christmas tree that is lit every December in Town Square Park. Chief Jim Anglemier told Our Town “the police department is aware of it and actively conducting an investigation. At this point, no arrest has been made of those person(s) responsible.” The vandals painted graffiti on […]
A Silverton man is facing DUII and multiple other charges after a police chase caught on camera ended with the suspect allegedly crashing into a local resident’s front yard. Michael James Imel, 36, was arrested Wednesday, Dec. 7, after officers with the Silverton Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Imel allegedly fled in his vehicle and drove recklessly […]
By James Day Safety Compass, the Silverton-based nonprofit that works to support survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking, has received a $20,000 grant to help continue its work. The Oregon Community Foundation grant, announced Aug. 9, was part of a series of awards to 371 nonprofits totaling $8.7 million. The foundation gave top priority to groups who worked […]
Roger Greenfield, who grew up in Silverton, is a retired Salem Police Officer and grandson of Constable Hansford Greenfield. On Oct. 28, 2019, Roger contacted Silverton Police regarding his grandfather’s line of duty death he found while researching his family tree. A historical investigation ensued, working with Roger Greenfield’s family records, the City of Silverton records, the Silverton Historical Society […]
