By Stephen Floyd The Silver Falls School District (SFSD) is asking the public what they would like to see prioritized financially as significant cuts for next year threaten staff, programs and facilities. The district has been advised to reduce the 2024-2025 budget by roughly $8.8 million, or 12 percent of the current budget, to correct years of overspending and revenue […]
By Stephen Floyd Seven furlough days for the present school year have been approved by the Silver Falls School District (SFSD) Board as part of efforts to address significant budget shortfalls. During the board’s regular meeting April 22, members voted unanimously to designate May 3 and 24 and June 10-14 as furlough days on the school calendar. These will be […]
By Stephen Floyd The Silver Falls School District (SFSD) has partnered with the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA) to find an interim superintendent as the search for a permanent superintendent takes shape. During the SFSD Board’s regular meeting April 22, it approved a COSA-led search process that could result in hiring an interim superintendent by mid-May. This would leave […]
By Stephen Floyd The Silver Falls School District (SFSD) has applied for a $3.8 million loan to help address a $1.3 million cash shortfall, with most of the funds expected to be invested to offset financing costs. During a special meeting April 11 of the SFSD Board, officials voted unanimously to pursue a tax anticipation note (TAN), which borrows against […]
The Benedictine Sisters at Shalom at the Monastery invite the public to walk with them on their outdoor labyrinth at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Participants should gather at 1:45 p.m. at the Hospitality Center entrance for special walk to the labyrinth at the west end of the Shalom Building. There will be a brief explanation of the Peace Walk […]
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 […]
By Stephen Floyd Marion County voters are being asked to choose between candidates for County Clerk in the May 21 Primary Election to determine who progresses to the November ballot. Longtime Clerk Bill Burgess is being challenged by Deputy Clerk Jo Anne Lepley and retired election worker Anna Munson. The two with the most votes will appear on the Nov. […]
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 […]
By James Day The City of Silverton has completed work on a new water intake project that will dramatically increase its water producing capacity as well as extend the life of the system another 50-plus years or more. On April 5, city staff, a federal official and the project manager held a walk-through at the intake project site alongside Silver […]
By Stephen Floyd The Gervais School District (GSD) plans to continue operating for one more year if a $28 million facilities bond on the May 21 ballot fails. District officials said last summer, if a May bond were to fail, the district would be unable to afford critical repairs at its two remaining schools and may be forced to dissolve. […]
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 Brenna Wiegand Flowers signify love, well wishes, congratulations, holidays… Church flower committee members take turns lovingly creating Sunday’s arrangement. Many of these are gardeners who perish the thought of purchasing cut flowers. But it can be a stretch at times. Each flower bears its own message – the peony’s is ‘bashfulness’ while larkspur brings levity. Bringing bouquets is one […]
I can’t think of too many flowers best enjoyed outside, but surely the dragon lily is one. It is darkly exotic, unique, and called by several names not nearly so flattering. Mild interest only is roused when determined green-striped white shoots unfurl into antlers of foliage spiraling upward. But the unfurling of its striking deep purple-black spathe, which then sends […]
By Melissa Wagoner Choosing plants and seeds for a backyard garden can feel daunting, especially when faced with unfamiliar words like GMO, hybrid and heirloom. “These terms are important depending upon the gardener’s goals, offering different qualities especially for seed saving,” Michael Paruch – who has spent the past 34 years working and volunteering in various horticultural endeavors, including ag […]
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 […]
PLAN & PREPARE Prepare and prime irrigation system for summer. Place pheromone traps in apple trees to detect presence of codling moth. Plan a control program of sprays, baits, or predators if found. If needed, fertilize rhododendrons and azaleas with acid-type fertilizer. If established and healthy, their nutrient needs should be minimal. Remove spent blossoms. PLANT Plant dahlias, gladioli, and […]
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; […]
Annamae Layton was born on Aug. 5, 1933 to William and Ludwina Brinkman in Farming, Minnesota Township. She had three sisters, Loretta, Gloria, and Eileen, and three brothers, Eugene, Ronald, and Stanley. When she was 16, they moved to Mount Angel, Oregon to join family. At 19, she married Ronald Sprauer in May of 1953. They had five children: a […]
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 […]
David Hartley passed away at the age of 85 on March 27, 2024, at his home in Scotts Mills, Oregon. He was born on Aug. 23, 1938 in Silverton, Oregon to Alvin Ernest Hartley and Minnie Olive (Davis) Hartley. He was the fifth generation of his family to live in the Silverton area. Dave grew up on the family farm […]
By Melissa Wagoner Having dogs regularly groomed isn’t about looks – though that is a benefit. Rather, regular baths can contribute to skin health, keeping nails trimmed ensures a comfortable gait and consistent grooming reduces the likelihood that yeast infections, dander, ear infections and dental disease will become an issue. “Groomers often notice and identify things that the client has […]
