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Silver Falls School District Interim Superintendent Joe Morelock Submitted Photo
News

Money woes mount – SFSD struggles to make sense of the dollars

By Stephen Floyd Former Newberg Superintendent Joe Morelock has been hired as interim superintendent for the Silver Falls School District (SFSD), with the goal of “stabilizing” its finances and administration. During a special meeting April 1, the SFSD Board approved an intergovernmental agreement with Willamette Education Service District (WESD), where Morelock currently serves as superintendent. The agreement, effective through June […]

News

SFSD told to cut $10 million over 2 years

By Stephen Floyd The Silver Falls School District (SFSD) has been advised to cut $1.2 million from its current budget by June and $8.8 million for the next school year to correct a looming deficit and patterns of overspending. During the April 8 meeting of the SFSD Board, officials received a financial presentation from Jackie Olsen, executive director of the […]

Former SHS Principal Sione Thompson Submitted Photo
News

More transition: Silverton High principal resigns to take Nevada position

By Stephen Floyd Former Silverton High School Principal Sione Thompson has resigned from his position as of April 2 to take the helm of a struggling charter school in Nevada. The Silver Falls School District confirmed Thompson’s departure in a media release that day and said Assistant Principal Patrick Mulligan has stepped in as interim principal. Mulligan is expected to […]

City of Mt. Angel
News

Precautionary measure – Mount Angel rolling out chlorination May 15

By Stephen Floyd The City of Mount Angel is finalizing plans to chlorinate its municipal water supply as a preventative against unhealthy microbes, with public meetings on the matter set for April. In a timeline published on the city’s website, officials said chlorination is scheduled to begin May 15 to comply with an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) mandate from 2023. […]

Pepper and Keith Teem in front of the Mt. Angel Public Library. Stephen Floyd
People

Teem power: Mount Angel couple lauded for 50-year service to library

By Stephen Floyd Keith and Pepper Teem started volunteering at the Mt. Angel Public Library in 1974 and since then have played central roles in both its day-to-day operations and major projects. Now the Mount Angel couple has retired after 50 years of service at the library and city leaders are marking this milestone with official proclamations and a celebration […]

Events & Holidays

GeerCrest hosts Food Co-op Earth Day event at farm

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 […]

News

Money woes – Revenue shortfalls, expense overages put SFSD in turmoil

By Stephen Floyd Officials with the Silver Falls School District (SFSD) believe workforce reductions are necessary as they learn a projected budget deficit may be greater than initially estimated. On March 21 during a special meeting of the board, Director of Finance Kim Doud said they were learning about revenue shortfalls that could deepen an original deficit projection of $825,000. […]

Briefs

Scott Drue resigns as superintendent

Scott Drue has resigned as superintendent of the Silver Falls School District (SFSD) amid a deficit projection of more than $825,000 and concerns from teachers of “toxic” leadership. Drue’s resignation was accepted by the SFSD Board during a special meeting March 13, effective immediately. The board then named Assistant Superintendent Dan Busch as acting superintendent. In a prepared statement, Drue […]

Silver Falls School District
School

Forging ahead – SFSD interim positions focus on trust

By Stephen Floyd The Silver Falls School District (SFSD) is preparing a two-pronged approach to temporarily fill the vacant superintendent’s position. The board plans to appoint both an interim superintendent and a goodwill ambassador. During a March 21 workshop, the SFSD board members said they face the distinct challenges of repairing a growing budget deficit and restoring trust in district […]

School

SFSD Board pulls $73M bond off May ballot

The Silver Fall School District Board has unanimously voted to remove a $73 million bond measure Silver Fall School District Boardfrom the May 21 ballot amid broader financial and administrative challenges. The decision was made during a special meeting held virtually the afternoon of March 21, as the district had a deadline of 5 p.m. that day to pull the […]

News

Legal Matters

Fraud charges filed for hardware store scheme A Silverton man has been implicated in an alleged large-scale and sophisticated fraud scheme targeting hardware stores throughout Oregon, including new local charges. Elton Bud Ralston, 40, has been charged in four separate cases in Marion, Linn, Yamhill and Washington counties for alleged thefts involving tens of thousands of dollars in merchandise. According […]

Residents and district employees pack the Silverton High School library for the March 11 meeting of the Silver Falls School District Board amid ongoing discussions of a projected $825,000 deficit. Stephen Floyd
News

$825K shortfall: Silver Falls School District details complex layers

By Stephen Floyd Community members walked away with more answers but no fewer questions about an $825,000 deficit after the Silver Falls School District Board meeting March 11. An estimated 120 people attended in person and more than 200 watched by Zoom. The large audience was prompted by the deficit projection announced to the board at its Feb. 26 meeting. […]

Members of the Executive Team of the Silver Falls Education Association share concerns aboutalleged financial mismanagement March 11 during the Silver Falls School District board meeting. Stephen Floyd
News

‘Financial negligence’ Education association files formal complaint

By Stephen Floyd The Silver Falls Education Association (SFEA) is filing a formal complaint against Silver Falls School District (SFSD) Superintendent Scott Drue amid a budget crisis that appears to threaten June paychecks. During the March 11 meeting of the SFSD Board, the SFEA Executive Team shared a statement alleging Drue committed acts of “financial negligence” that resulted in a […]

Briefs

Rural industry – Marion County revives tax incentives

By Stephen Floyd Marion County has extended a recently-expired tax incentive program that allows rural industrial businesses to delay paying property taxes on facility improvements that create jobs. During the March 6 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, the Rural Industrial Property Tax Exemption Program was extended to 2030 after it expired Jan. 2. The program was first established […]

The Axis Garden at The Oregon Garden in Silverton. Kristine Thomas
News

Sustainability boost – Garden Foundation awarded $150K county grant

By Stephen Floyd The Oregon Garden Foundation has been awarded a $150,000 grant from Marion County to help develop financial sustainability in its operations of The Oregon Garden. The Board of County Commissioners approved the grant during their March 6 regular meeting, with funds coming from the Oregon Lottery. Oregon Garden Director of Operations Delen Kitchen told Our Town the […]

News

Round two: Silver Falls School District proposes scaled-down $73M bond

By Stephen Floyd The Silver Falls School District (SFSD) Board has approved a $73 million bond measure for the May 21 ballot with hopes of wooing voters who rejected a $138 million bond last November. In a 6-1 vote Feb. 12, the board agreed to ask voters to consider a bond that would replace Silverton Middle School and provide critical […]

By the time firefighters arrived the store was fully engulfed in flames. SUBMITTED PHOTO
News

Devastating loss – Silver Falls store burns down, owners hope to rebuild

By Stephen Floyd Iconic local business Silver Falls Country Store has burned down after suddenly catching fire during the early hours of Feb. 16. No one was injured, however, the building at 172 Silver Falls Drive was a total loss. Chief Brandon Hamilton with the Drakes Crossing Fire District said crews were called around 1:05 a.m. and when they arrived […]

Don and Debbie Bennett, owners of The Home Place Restaurant Submitted photo
Community

Lifetime Achievement Award: The Home Place Restaurant – a true community hub

By Stephen Floyd For many Silvertonians, The Home Place Restaurant represents a rite of passage. It’s where they got to have their first big birthday party, where numerous teenagers got their first jobs, where generations of athletes gathered for pre- and post-game celebrations. Co-owner Debbie Bennett said the establishment is old enough now that customers bring their own families, talking […]

Silver Falls School District
School

Closure deadline: Middle school planning

By Stephen Floyd Officials in the Silver Falls School District (SFSD) had their first serious talk about the possibility of closing Silverton Middle School as they moved forward with a bond to replace the facility. During the Jan. 29 meeting of the SFSD Board, Superintendent Scott Drue proposed a deadline of June of 2027 to close the campus and sought […]

Briefs

Legal Matters: Sentencing – Courts hand out penalties for hit-and-run, domestic violence

100 months for DUII fatality A Silverton man has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison for a DUII collision last year that killed a Keizer teenager. Gustavo Sosa, 27, pleaded guilty Feb. 1 in Marion County Circuit Court to second-degree manslaughter and hit-and-run for the May 23, 2023, death of Victor Andre Cortez-Andrade, 16. He also pleaded […]

Briefs

Legal Matters: School district settles student injury suit

The Silver Falls School District (SFSD) has settled a personal injury lawsuit with a former Silverton Middle School student who slipped and broke a leg on a wet floor in 2017. On Dec. 21, 2023, Cramer vs. SFSD was dismissed in Marion County Circuit Court at the request of both parties after the district agreed to settle for $42,500. The […]

Briefs

Bond issues: MASD uses ‘progressive design build’

By Stephen Floyd The Mount Angel School District (MASD) is taking an exceptional approach to bond-funded facility improvements that prioritizes total costs over specific projects. In December, the MASD Board voted to use a “progressive design build” strategy for $8.2 million in bond projects, which involves a designer and contractor collaborating on project plans. This differs from the “hard bid” […]

Briefs

Bond issues: SFSD floats $73 million bond for May ballot

By Stephen Floyd The Silver Falls School District (SFSD) is discussing a possible $73 million facilities bond for the May 21 election to rebuild Silverton Middle School (SMS) and improve Silverton High School (SHS). During the district board’s Jan. 18 meeting, officials said this proposal would keep property tax rates on par with current rates for a construction bond for […]

School

Moving on – Nielsen departing SFSD for online academy

By Stephen Floyd The Silver Falls School District (SFSD) has announced the departure of Director of Finance & Operations Steve Nielsen after he accepted a position with Oregon Charter Academy. Nielsen is expected to remain with SFSD through mid-March and among other tasks will oversee finalization of a facilities bond proposal for the May 21 election, due to be submitted […]

City of Mt. Angel
News

30% growth – Study predicts Mount Angel will near 4,750 residents by 2040

By Stephen Floyd A recent housing analysis estimated the population of Mount Angel could grow 30% by 2040 compared to 2020 and said the city has enough buildable land to meet this need. The analysis was approved Jan. 18 by the city’s Planning Commission and is scheduled to go before the City Council for final approval Feb. 5. Mount Angel […]

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P.O. Box 927, Mt. Angel, OR 97362
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