The Oregon Garden is a perennial favorite, drawing more than 100,000 visitors to Silverton each year. In fact, according to Tripadvisor and Travel Oregon, it’s the #1 attraction in Silverton!
The Andrew Ulven Trust is proud to support the “crown jewel” of Silverton and recognizes its signifigance to our community and surrounding towns. People come to see the beautiful gardens but they stay to patronize our local restaurants, shops and hotels.
By supporting the Garden, you’ll not only help grow your business, your membership offers plenty of perks for you and your employees. Go to oregongarden.org or scan the code.
Paid for by the Andrew Ulven Trust
Jim Kinghorn Advertising Director
Paula Mabry Editor & Publisher
DeeDe Williams Office Manager
Steve Beckner Custom Design
Bea Shapiro Copy Editing & Design
James Day Sports Editor & Reporter
Janet Patterson Distribution
Melissa Wagoner Reporter
Stephen Floyd Digital Editor & Reporter
Sara Morgan Datebook Editor
Silverton Bake Shop owner Megan Ireland. SIERRA LOWRY
MELISSA WAGONER
Something to Celebrate
Something to Do
Andy Ulven
By Melissa Wagoner
Silverton Chamber of Commerce First Citizen of 2025
Andy Ulven doesn’t like to use the term, “giving back.” Instead, when he talks about the charitable work that earned him the Silverton Chamber of Commerce’s First Citizen Award, he simply calls it giving.
“Silverton’s treated me very well…” Ulven, who moved to the area from Minnesota in the 1950s, said. “I seem to be very accepted here. They made me judge.”
In fact, accepting the role of municipal judge pro tem in Silverton when he was a newly minted lawyer in his late twenties was one of the first volunteer positions Ulven assumed.
“I wouldn’t accept any pay,” he said.
It was a principle reinforced by the Silverton Elks Club, which he joined at age 20, and one he has held on to since.
“They do a lot of community good,” Ulven said of his choice to spend 65 years with the Elks. “And back then, if you didn’t belong to the Elks, you really weren’t anything.”
Since then, Ulven has joined numerous boards including, most recently, the Oregon Garden Foundation and Legacy Health, but it is his charitable giving – thanks to a lifetime of entrepreneurship as the founder of Ulven Companies – that has received a lot of attention.
“Alongside his wife, Diane, Andy established the Andy and Diane Ulven Foundation [since renamed the Andrew Ulven Trust], which has become a meaningful source of support for community organizations, local nonprofits and events that strengthen the fabric of Silverton,” Silverton City Council member Marie Traeger wrote in
Silverton First Citizen Banquet & Awards Gala
Saturday, Feb. 7, 6 p.m.
Mount Angel Festhalle
500 Wilco Hwy NE, Mt. Angel
Tickets: $50 available at silvertonchamber.org or 503-873-5615
a letter nominating Ulven for the First Citizen Award. “The foundation’s contributions reflect a deep belief in giving back locally and ensuring that Silverton remains a vibrant, caring place for families and future generations.”
It’s a sentiment Ulven echoed when he said, “There are two ways I look at it – is this charitable organization bringing business to Silverton or is it giving food or entertainment? I like the broader brushstrokes.”
These guidelines have led Ulven to contribute to organizations including, the Mt. Angel Oktoberfest, the Silverton Mural Society, SACA, Sheltering Silverton, the Silver Falls YMCA, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Brush Creek Playhouse, Meals on Wheels, the Silverton 50+ Center and the Silverton Arts Association.
“And I just donated jerseys to the [Silverton High School] Unified Team…” Ulven said, recalling that it was at a ceremony for the team on Jan. 9, that he learned about the First Citizen award.
“Here they came… a whole crew of them. They said, ‘Congratulations, you’re First Citizen!’” he recalled. “It brought tears to my eyes because there are so many other people who do so much.”
It was, in part, that customary humble response that led Traeger to nominate Ulven.
“What makes Andy Ulven especially deserving of the Silverton First Citizen honor is the quiet, steady nature of his service,” she wrote. “His impact is felt across multiple areas of the community, often behind the scenes, and always with integrity and generosity. His leadership exemplifies the values this award represents: service, humility, commitment and a genuine love for Silverton.”
“I like to think I can help,” Ulven said.
2025 First Citizen Andy Ulven MELISSA WAGONER
Jonathan Case Recipient of the Silverton ‘Distinguished Service’ award
By James Day
Jonathan Case has acquired lots of friends and admirers in his work for the Silverton Arts Association and in the Silverton community at large.
How do we know this?
Because 21 pages of documentation were sent to the Silverton Chamber of Commerce in support of his nomination for an award at the Feb. 7 First Citizen Banquet & Awards. Case, who serves as president of the Silverton Arts Association, is receiving the Distinguished Service award.
One nominator quoted Thoreau: “To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of the arts.” Another compared Case to the virtuous loan officer George Bailey, the key figure in the movie It’s a Wonderful Life.
An Arts Association colleague, who obviously knows a bit about Case’s work in his five years with the association, noted that “Jonathan’s contribution to the Silverton Art Association is difficult to quantify.”
Dr. Daniel Côté, DC Dr. Jennifer Martin, DC
The list is lengthy, both from arts and community perspective. Case has revamped the arts education programming at the Arts Association, reopened the Park House education center and worked on fundraising that helped the group replace the building’s roof and HVAC system. Case has been a fixture at the Oak Street Church’s community meal and ratcheted up the relationship between the Arts Association and the Silver Falls School District. The collaboration, aided by Arts Center teachers Angela McGraw and Christine Dettwyler, services more than 1,000 K-8th students each year.
Case also played a key role in the difficult decision to shut down the Silverton Arts Festival while the association worked to expand its capacity. The effort succeeded, and the festival will return to Coolidge McClaine Park in 2026.
Case, meanwhile, made it clear that he is just a cog in a wheel that spins pretty well in town.
Career-wise, Case, 43, notes that “since starting out 20 years ago, I’ve created eight books and a bunch of comics, murals, paintings, and storyboards. I’ve worked with DC, Disney, Random House, Dark Horse, and many others in the media world. Personal highlights-wise, most of my books have been re-published in other countries, which is very meaningful.”
So how does he continue to do meaningful work as an artist while also helping manage the Arts Association and volunteer in the community?
“We have so many great teachers and artists making things happen at the Art Center,” he told Our Town in an interview.
“I’d rather just say thanks to places like Sheltering Silverton and Oak Street Church with their Monday meal,” he told Our Town. “They make sure people have their basic needs met, and only at that point can self-expression and joy enter the picture at a place like the Art Center. It’s all connected – we can’t do everything, but we can play well together.”
“It’s quite challenging,” he said. “Some power greater than me made it possible –and that power is named Sarah (my wife). Also, friends and colleagues – everyone who connected me with another gig when I needed it.”
When asked for final thoughts on the award, Case noted:
“Thanks for the opportunity to share, and thanks to all who help support the arts in our community. Your effort matters, and it makes a difference.”
Silverton Arts Association president Jonathan Case JAMES DAY
Something to Celebrate
Paula Mabry
By Melissa Wagoner
Paula Mabry, this year’s recipient of the Judy Schmidt Lifetime Achievement Award, hasn’t spent her entire life in Silverton but, after almost 30 years here, it feels like it.
“I’ve spent more of my life here than any place else,” Mabry said.
In fact, she was so sure Silverton would become home, she eliminated the pots of rose bushes she had been carting around.
“When we moved here, I planted the roses in the ground,” Mabry said.
And she got to work, first as publisher for the Statesman Journal-owned East Valley Newspapers (the Silverton Appeal Tribune and The Stayton Mail). Then in 2004 – when she began hearing the word “convergence” bandied about in corporate settings – leaving to create a new publication with a group of like-minded coworkers, a community newspaper they called Our Town.
Recipient
“Anyone familiar with Thornton Wilder and his play, Our Town, knows it is the Stage Manager telling a straightforward story… it’s simple things that are not simple things… they are everything,” Mabry said of the choice. “Wilder did an amazing job capturing a time and a people.”
That’s what Mabry hoped the newspaper would do for everyone, not just the subscribing few.
“The vision from the beginning was everyone has access to the information… From the outset this was not a subscription product,” Mabry said. Adding, “It doesn’t mean that everybody’s always happy – or even on the same page. But hopefully there is a page, a purpose, or a story that resonates with each of us reflected in the total that
makes Our Town whole. That’s the goal.”
The goal led to the creation of Mt. Angel Publishing, Inc. that offers advertising and also creates newsletters, magazines and event materials that keep the two iterations of Our Town (Silverton-Mount Angel and Stayton-Sublimity) solvent.
“It hasn’t all been smooth sailing,” Our Town staff writer Stephen Floyd wrote in his letter nominating Mabry for the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Mt. Angel Publishing has had to adapt its business model to changes in the journalism landscape and come up with creative solutions for revenue and sustainability…”
But, through it all Our Town and its
publisher have held true to course. “Since… [2004] Paula has rigorously protected this vision, holding to the belief that effective journalism should foster relationships and cohesion, and share the real stories of the real people in our community,” Floyd wrote.
“She seeks out the human element even when the cut-and-dry version of the news is compelling, and brings historical and social context through her encyclopedic knowledge of the area. She strives to hold the powerful accountable while also emphasizing the ‘How?’ and the ‘Why?’ so readers understand bad decisions don’t always come from bad people.”
Any achievements, Mabry is quick to point out, are not hers alone.
“It’s ours: Our Town, our town,” she said. “The willingness to imagine, believe, strive – and to persevere – yields shared achievements.” A lifetime of them.
Paula Mabry JAMES DAY
Silverton Bake Shop
By Stephen Floyd
For Megan Ireland, owner of Silverton Bake Shop, her love of cooking was only part of the reason for opening her store in February 2022.
She wanted to create “a hangout place” for residents to gather and feel a sense of community, especially for those who had not yet found such a space.
“I want people to want to come here and stay here and meet here,” she said.
Four years later, the bake shop has become a community hub where neighbors run into each other, colleagues meet over business and community groups host events.
Because of these efforts, the bake shop has been awarded Business of the Year by the Silverton Chamber of Commerce. Ireland was presented with the award Jan. 9 and will be recognized during the chamber’s annual First Citizen Banquet Feb. 7. Chamber Executive Director Stacy Palmer, who nominated the bake shop for
the award, said Ireland “exemplifies what it means to be a cornerstone of the Silverton community.”
“The Silverton Bake Shop has become more than a bakery – it’s a place of belonging,” said Palmer.
Ireland said the award was unexpected and that she can think of other business owners supporting the community whom she believes deserve the recognition.
“It’s an honor,” she said.
Silverton Chamber ‘Business of the Year’
“It’s wild. I never expected that.”
Her efforts to create a community space have included everyday steps like learning the names of regulars and providing a corner with books and games for young kids. She said a mother recently commented on how comforting it felt to be in a space that welcomed families with children.
The bake shop also hosts specific events such as Coffee with a Cop, which provides a social venue for residents to get to know local, county and city police. The most recent one on Dec. 22, 2025, called “Cookies with a Cop’, saw the highest turnout yet, said Ireland.
Coffee with a Cop was one of the events cited by Palmer when she nominated Ireland for the award. She said this has helped foster trust and open communication between residents and local officers.
The bake shop also recently hosted “The Bakers Collective” on Jan. 24, which gave local independent bakers a place to sell their goods and introduce themselves to customers.
In addition to supporting the community, Silverton Bake Shop has also given a hand to other local businesses and nonprofits.
If Ireland does not have a particular product, or if she just wants to promote a fellow business owner, she’ll gladly point out another local business who can help. The bake shop has also been quick to donate products or gift cards for local fundraisers and other activities that enrich the community.
“If anyone in Silverton succeeds, we all succeed,” said Ireland.
Ireland attributed her success to her customers, from parents ordering cakes for birthdays to regulars dropping in to see what’s new in the display case. She said, if customers walk away with quality confections and a sense of connection, she has done her job.
“I just want everyone to get along and eat cake,” said Ireland.
Megan Ireland, owner of Silverton Bake Shop. STEPHEN FLOYD
Something to Celebrate
Silverton Mainstay ’Outstanding Club or Service Group’ builds community
By Stephen Floyd
When Silverton Mainstay was founded in 2022, it quickly caught on as a way to provide social activities and fill service gaps for adults with intellectual/ developmental disabilities (I/DD).
What began as an informal meeting between local families that summer has flourished into a self-sustaining nonprofit that holds regular events and continues to attract new participants.
This robust impact was the reason Mainstay was chosen by the Silverton Chamber of Commerce as Outstanding Club or Service Group of 2025.
Mainstay will be formally recognized during the chamber’s annual First Citizen Banquet Feb. 7.
Chamber Executive Director Stacy Palmer said the group has become “an amazing resource” for residents who previously had no such access to services.
Mainstay Program Director Lisa Gerlits said they were honored to be recognized despite being relatively new.
“To know that more people in the community know about us, have heard about us, want to support us, is just a huge, huge thing for us,” said Gerlits.
Mainstay was founded by Kriston Norris and Rebecca Ortega, who both had sons with I/DD who were about to age out of the public school system. They organized with other families and started meeting in Coolidge McClaine Park before moving into Silverton United Methodist Church.
The group now meets twice a week for activities ranging from yoga and dance to Bingo and karaoke, and the first Wednesday of the month to go to the movies. Gerlits said the focus is not on life skills or job training like other programs, but on building “meaningful connections” that then translate into other skills.
Now Offering Same Day CROWNS
She said everyone is welcome to participate at their own pace, and it is not unusual for new members to take things slow.
Gerlits added that people often break out of their shells once they know Mainstay is “a space where they can be themselves and thrive.”
Program participant Jasmin White said meeting with other people who have I/DD allows everyone to feel like they are on the same level.
“We can have fun with each other without feeling like we’re going to be judged,” she said.
White said she enjoys being “with people that I can relate to, that can relate to me.”
New to the program was Matt Bond, who said the group has been “very welcoming.”
“For me, I always have problems socializing,” said Bond. “Having a place with other people who’ve been understanding, it’s done a lot of good for me.”
Gerlits said creating this kind of experience is the whole point, and the goal is to “build true community, true relationships.”
Gerlits said one accomplishment Mainstay is particularly proud of is the fact that their services are free through donations, fundraising, grants and volunteers.
Because their funding is not attached to government programs, there is no need for participants to fill out paperwork or receive a specific diagnosis to quality, further opening up the program.
And Mainstay has created connections between support workers as well, with roughly three quarters of participants bringing a support worker, often a family member, to assist with specific needs.
“It turns out to be not just a program for people with disabilities, but for everyone whose lives they touch,” said Gerlits.
For additional information including program applications and donation opportunities, visit silvertonmainstay. org.
Participants of Silverton Mainstay enjoy an impromptu dance party during their regular gathering Jan. 22 at Silverton United Methodist Church. STEPHEN FLOYD
Sayler Bizon
By James Day
Sayler Bizon is finishing up a high school career of stunning scope and accomplishment. High grades. Accelerated courses. Four years of theater performances. And a wide range of community service.
She wasn’t that sure such a resume could be compiled when she moved from the middle school in Mount Angel to Silverton High for her freshman year.
‘Future First Citizen’
“I was really introverted then,” Bizon told Our Town. “I thought it would be a big thing for me to make friends. But it happened quicker than I thought.”
She also knew that she “wanted to push myself,” she said. “I wanted to take a lot of accelerated classes (she wound up taking 10). I was trying to think ahead. And if I took all of these classes it would look good (on my record).”
Bizon’s ”record” has turned out just fine, thank you, and she has been named Silverton Future First Citizen. Bizon will be honored at the Feb. 7 banquet at the Festhalle in Mount Angel.
Bizon also learned how to handle personal adversity during her four years at Silverton. Her younger brother, Sawyer, developed osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer that often affects young people. Ultimately, he lost his right leg, but Sayler says he’s doing fine now with all of his scans running clean.
Bizon was a sophomore when the cancer hit and she said “It flipped my life and my family’s life upside down.”
The biggest challenge for Sayler was staying on top of her own mental health.
“Being able to go through something so hard really helped me,” she said. “I had to learn how to block it out.”
Sayler has three brothers, but Sawyer was closest to her in age. “He’s always been my little buddy. We’ve been attached at the hip since he was born.”
Sayler said her relationship with her school counselor, Stacey White, helped her work through her brother’s illness and other high school challenges.
“Mrs. White has been my biggest
supporter throughout high school,” she said. “She was so comforting to talk to and does such an amazing job of making you feel heard. She’s like my school mom.”
White told Our Town that “Sayler is someone who has quietly and consistently worked throughout high school to contribute meaningfully to our school and community. She is remarkably dynamic, having participated in many programs, after school activities, and clubs.”
White also noted the wide range of community activities that Bizon leaned into: SACA food drives, volunteering at the Daddy Daughter Dance, volunteering to be a leader at Camp Invention this summer at SHS, “which was a 40-hour commitment where she taught elementary age students science-themed lessons and activities.” Bizon also got involved in the high school’s health occupations program, where she has worked with the Lions Club on vision screenings as well as the school blood drive.
“Her presence is woven throughout our school,” summed up White.
Kirsten Jorgenson, the principal at the high school, praised Sayler for the way she quickly responded to a national issue having an impact locally.
“This fall she approached me about incorporating a food drive to support our community when there was a pause in SNAP benefits,” Jorgenson said. “She is just so thoughtful and kind. And she played a leading role in our fall play (Emily Webb in Our Town) and was fabulous.”
Sayler’s health occupations involvement has helped her narrow the field with regard to discussions of her future. She hopes to study nursing for two years at Chemeketa Community College, with the possibility of more schooling at either George Fox University in Newberg or Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.
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$255,000 Creek frontage on 3.99 acres. Bareland. Ideal for recreational use. Swimming hole. Seller will carry a contract. Off of Crooked Finger Rd., Scotts Mills. MLS#822303
10.41 acres in the Silverton Hills on Powers Creek. Custom home with 5 bd, 3 ba, 3218 sq. ft. High ceilings, large kitchen. 4 farm bldgs. Mature timber. 3999 Timber Trail Rd., Silverton. MLS#818488
Sayler Bizon JAMES DAY
Silverton $1,400,000
Experience the good life in this exquisite, elegant home on Abiqua Creek. A canvas for art and wine collections. Full apartment offers privacy from the main home. Donna Paradis 503-851-0998 MLS#831851
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Experience refined country living with this stunning 4,600 sqft estate on over 22 acres. Mountain views, separate sauna and turn-around drive. Scott Stokley 503-586-8126 MLS#832203
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Webb Lake Silverton! Fresh backyard landscaping, corner lot, loaded with amenities. Angela DeSantis 503- 851-9286 MLS#833135
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Beautifully renovated Victorian triplex near historic Silverton Park and Hospital, three blocks to downtown. 3,717 sqft. Contact Linda Webb 503-508-7387 MLS#835569
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Freshly remodeled, move-in ready manufactured home in Silverton Mobile Estates, Built in 2000, 3BR, 2BA Curtis Allen 971-701-3352 MLS#834885
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Elegant Victorian-style house sits on a huge .61 acre lot. Historic home is full of character from its 10-foot ceilings to its stained glass windows. Donna Paradis 503-851-0998 MLS#828366
The Least of These and the American Promise
A modern poetic essay
There’s a line attributed to Jesus that has echoed across centuries, long after the theology has faded for many: “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.” Strip away the church walls and the stained glass, and what remains is a fierce, human truth – the worth of a nation is revealed in how it treats the people with the least power.
America, at its best, has always claimed to understand this. The dream wasn’t built for the comfortable. It was built for the ones who arrived with nothing but a name, a story, and a hope that this soil might give them a chance. The dream was never meant to be inherited; it was meant to be offered.
And so the heart of Jesus’ message and the heart of America’s promise meet in the same place: the stranger at the door.
When a newcomer steps onto American ground – whether through Ellis Island a century ago or a desert crossing today –they are not a threat. They are the living reminder of who we said we were. They are the test of our integrity.
To welcome them is not charity. It is not softness. It is not naïveté. It is righteous.
It is the sacred work of keeping the American story honest.
Every time someone offers food, shelter, legal help, translation, protection, or simple human dignity to an immigrant, they are doing the work Jesus praised – not because of religion, but because compassion is the oldest law written into the human heart. These helpers are the quiet saints of the American experiment.
Guest Opinion
Jim Wilson, Silverton
They keep the dream breathing.
And those who choose the opposite – those who turn away, who harden themselves, who treat the vulnerable as disposable – they are not “damned” by divine decree. They are damned by their own choices. They diminish themselves. They shrink the nation. They betray the promise they claim to defend.
A country cannot call itself great while punishing the desperate. A nation cannot call itself free while denying freedom to those who seek it. A people cannot call themselves moral while inflicting suffering on the powerless.
The moral math is simple: To welcome is to rise. To reject is to fall. Jesus’ message was never about religion. It was about responsibility. America’s dream was never about borders. It was about belonging.
And when we stand with immigrants –the hungry, the frightened, the hopeful, the least protected – we are not just helping them. We are keeping faith with the best version of ourselves. We are choosing the path that blesses the helper and honors the dream.
Because in the end, the measure of this nation will not be its wealth, its armies, or its monuments. It will be the way it treated the stranger who came with nothing but hope.
Submissions Welcomed
Letters to the editor can be directed to ourtown.life@mtangelpub.com or mailed to Editor, Our Town, P.O. Box 927, Mount Angel, OR 97362. It is recommended submissions be limited to fewer than 500 words. Our Town reserves the right to edit for clarity and space. Anonymous letters will not be published, nor will letters that include personal attacks, use hate speech or advocate discrimination or violence.
Crime as comedy
My Three Angels at Brush Creek Playhouse
By Melissa Wagoner
Good and evil get turned on their heads in Brush Creek Playhouse’s upcoming rendition of My Three Angels, a comedy about three convicts in French Guiana who are using their criminal skills to help a family in need on a hot Christmas day.
“The play, which premiered on Broadway in 1953, follows the convicts as they outwit a villainous cousin and his nephew, solving the family’s problems with hilarious and unconventional methods,” Brush Creek’s advertising team wrote.
In 1955 it was made into a movie called We’re No Angels starring Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov and Aldo Ray.
Opening Friday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m., the play will run for three consecutive weekends. It is recommended for
My Three Angels
Brush Creek Playhouse
11535 Silverton Road NE
Directed by Norman Gouveia and Laura Meisner
Feb. 13 through March 1
Fridays and Saturdays 7 p.m.
Sundays 2 p.m.
Recommended for ages 13 and up.
Tickets at the door or at www.brushcreekplayhouse.org
Bring a non-perishable food item for SACA and get free popcorn.
those age 13 and older. Tickets can be purchased online at www. brushcreekplayhouse.org or at the door.
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Mt. Angel Public Library, 290 E Charles St. Silver Creek Fellowship, 822 NE Industrial Way, Silverton. Silver Falls Library, 410 S Water St. Silverton Arts Association, 303 Coolidge St. Silverton Council Chambers, 410 N Water St. Silverton 50+ Center, 115 Westfield St. Weekly Events
Monday
Silverton 50+ Center, 115 Westfield St. Seniors 50 and older. Daily, weekly, monthly events. 503-873-3093, silvertonseniors.org
Mt. Angel Community & Senior Center Store, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., 195 E Charles St. Repeats Tuesday - Saturday. Volunteers needed. 503-845-6998
Senior Meals, 11:30 a.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Congregate dining. Delivery available Mon-Fri. $3 suggested donation. Age 60 and older. Make reservations three days in advance. Congregate dining repeats Tuesday and Thursday. Connie, 503-873-6906
Silverton Recovery AA, noon - 1 p.m., SACA, 1030 N First St., Suite B, Silverton. Seven days a week.
Free Monday Dinner, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Oak Street Church, 502 Oak St., Silverton. Sit down or take to go. All welcome. Free. 503-873-5446, oakstchurch@gmail.com
Boy Scouts Troop 7485, 7 - 8:30 p.m., St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, 211 W Center St., Silverton. Scoutmaster Dave Tacker, 760-644-3147, dave.tacker@gmail.com
Tuesday
Qigong, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., Silverton 50+ Center. All welcome. Free for members. $5 non-members. 503-873-3093
Bible Study, 10 a.m. - noon, Silverton First Christian Church, 402 N First St. All welcome. 503-873-6620
Senior Meals, 11:30 a.m., Mt. Angel Community Center, 195 E Charles St. Congregate dining and delivery available Tuesdays and Thursdays. Age 60 and older. $3 suggested donation. Ginger, 503-845-9464
APPY Hour, noon - 1 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Drop in for technical assistance for electronic devices. All ages. Free. 971-370-5040
Silverton Mainstay, 1 - 4 p.m., Silverton United Methodist Church, 203 W Main St. Community space and activities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Repeats Thursday. silvertonmainstay.org
Kung Fu for Self Defense, 4 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. All welcome. Free for members. 503-873-3093
Mission Benedict Food Pantry, 1 - 4 p.m., 870 S Main St., Mt. Angel. Fresh produce, protein options, dry goods. Repeats
Explorer’s Lab, 4:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Learn about healthy teeth all month long with stories, games and science. Ages 5-12. Free. 971-370-5040. No class Feb. 17.
Yoga + Sip with Suzanne, 6 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. $10/members. $12/ non-members. Post-class optional wine social $5/glass. All welcome. 503-873-3093, silvertonseniors.org
Cub Scout Pack 485, 6:30 p.m., Silverton First Christian Church, 402 N First St. Boys and girls in grades K-5. Elisha Kirsch, 503-507-6087
Silverton Business Group, 8 a.m., Silver Falls Brewery, 207 Jersey St., Silverton. Networking meeting of Silverton business community hosted by Silverton Chamber of Commerce. Everyone welcome. silvertonchamber.org
Quilters Group, 9 a.m. - noon, Trinity Lutheran Church, 500 N Second Ave., Silverton. trinitysilverton@gmail.com
Yoga for All Levels, 8:30 a.m., Silverton 50+ Center. $10/member. $12/nonmember. All welcome. 503-873-3093, silvertonseniors.org
Yoga, 9 a.m., Silver Creek Fellowship. Open to all. Sheila, 503-409-4498 Thursday Painters, 10 a.m. - noon, Silverton Arts Association. Join other artists for open studio time. All kinds of art forms welcome. Free. 503-873-2480
Baby Birds Storytime, 11 a.m., Silver Falls Library. Stories, music, bubbles and more. Ages 0-4. Free. Repeats Friday. 503-873-8706
Mahjong, 1 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Play Mahjong. Free. All welcome. 503-873-3093
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), 6 p.m., United Methodist Church, 203 W Main St., Silverton. Weight loss with continued support. First meeting free. Monthly dues $4. All welcome. David, 503-501-9824
Friday
Sunday, Feb. 1
Mt. Angel Volksfest
11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Festhalle, 500 NE Wilco Hwy., Mt. Angel. Family-friendly event celebrating food, music and community. Admission is $15, good for all three days. Under 21 are free. mtangelvolksfest. com
Mt. Angel Model Railroad, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Depot, 90 W College St., Mt. Angel. Lionel (O-gauge), HO-gauge, N-gauge model layouts on display. All ages welcome. Free.
Silvertones Community Singers, 10:30 a.m., Silverton United Methodist Church, 203 Main St., Silverton. Anyone who loves to sing is welcome. Tomi, 503-873-2033
Silverton Ukulele Network, 1 - 2:30 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Song circle. Free. All welcome. 503-873-3093
Saturday
Silverton Winter Farmers Market, 10 a.m. - noon, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 303 N Church St., Silverton. Local produce, eggs, meats, artisan crafts. Free admission. silvertonfarmersmarket.com
Indoor Winter Market, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Wavra Farms, 7882 SE Jordan St., Salem. Baked goods, produce, beef, jams, jewelry, crafts, pottery, plants and more. Free admission. wavrafarms.com
Saturday Serenity Al-Anon Family Group, 10 a.m., Zoom. For families and friends of alcoholics. Zoom link: Janet.h.salem23@gmail.com
Sunshine Fitness, 10 a.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Light exercising with follow-along video. Signed waiver required. Teens & adults. 971-370-5040 Creciendo juntos / Growing Together Storytime (Families): Leamos libros sobre cómo mantener nuestros dientes saludables todo el mes. No se realizará el 14 y el 21 de febrero / Let’s read about keeping our teeth healthy all month long. No storytime Feb. 14 & 21.
Monday, Feb. 2
Mt. Angel City Council
7 p.m., Mount Angel Public Library. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-845-9291, ci.mt-angel.or.us
Tuesday, Feb. 3
Mt. Angel American Legion
6:30 p.m., Legion Hall, 740 E College St., Mt. Angel. All veterans are welcome. Masks optional. Jim, 503-845-6119
Wednesday, Feb. 4
Scotts Mills City Council
7 p.m., Scotts Mills City Hall, 265 Fourth St. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-873-5435, scottsmills.org
Silverton City Council
6:30 p.m., Council Chambers. Work session followed by regular meeting with the Planning Commission. Open to public. 503-873-5321, silverton.or.us
Thursday, Feb. 5
Silverton Kiwanis Club
Noon, Main St. Bistro, 201 E Main St., Silverton. New members welcome. Repeats Feb. 19. silvertonkiwanis.org Making Zines
1 & 6:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Fold and design your own tiny pamphlet about your favorite topics. Teens and adults. Free. 971-370-5040
Silverton Lions Club
7 p.m., Silverton Immanuel Lutheran Church, 303 N Church St. New members welcome. Repeats Feb. 19. Dagmar, 971-720-3811
Friday, Feb. 6
Family Movie Night
4:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Watch Soul (PG) on the big screen. All ages. Free admission and popcorn. 971-370-5040
Lunaria Opening Reception
6 - 8 p.m., Lunaria Gallery, 113 N Water St., Silverton. Meet the artists for February’s show. Main Floor Gallery is “Straight from the Heart,” mandalas by Bob Androvich and jewelry by Chelsea Goin. Loft Gallery is “Real… Surreal,” digital montages by Jim Schaff. Refreshments served. Free admission. 503-873-7734, lunariagallery.com
Saturday, Feb. 7
Toastmasters International 7 - 8 a.m. Toastmasters International Mid-Day Club meets virtually to deliver and evaluate prepared and impromptu speeches in an effort to improve as speakers and leaders. Meetings stream at https://tinyurl.com/zoomwithmidday and https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9239283290. Agenda for role signup is at https://4139. toastmastersclubs.org. Repeats 7 - 8 a.m. Feb. 21; 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Feb. 10 and Feb. 24. 855-402-8255, jsamuel12@comcast.net
Silverton First Citizen Banquet & Awards
6 - 9 p.m. Mount Angel Festhalle, 500 Wilco Hwy NE. Honoring the recepients of awards for 2025. Reception and dinner. All welcome. Tickets: $50. silvertonchamber. org or 503-873-5615.
Monday, Feb. 9
Mt. Angel School District
6:30 p.m., St. Mary’s Public School, 590 E College St., Mt. Angel. Agenda available. Open to public. 503-845-2345, masd91.org
Silver Falls School District
7 p.m., Silverton High, 1456 Pine St. Agenda available. Open to public. 503-873-5303, silverfallsschools.org
Tuesday, Feb. 10
Ancestry Detectives
10 a.m. - noon, Silver Falls Library. Presenter Rik Vigeland shows how to get started on your family history research. Open to public. Free. ancestrydetectives.org
Silverton Public Works Advisory
7 p.m., Council Chambers. Public Works Advisory Board meeting. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-873-5321, silverton.or.us
Ukulele Play and Sing-Alongs
6 - 7:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. First 30 minutes is beginner’s ukulele lesson followed by play and sing-along time for all skill levels. Music is provided but bring your ukulele. 503-873-8796
Free Movie Night
6:30 p.m., Palace Theater, 200 N Water St., Silverton. Watch Shrek. First come, first served. Door prizes. Sponsored by thenoblemenoforegon.org.
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Teen Cooking Lab
4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Make chocolate covered strawberries. Ages 12-18. Free. 971-370-5040
Teen Hangout
5 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Create your own watercolor Valentine’s card. Ages 12-18. Free. 971-370-5040
Virtual Film Discussion
7 p.m. Zoom. Watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail, available on Kanopy on your own and join moderated discussion. Zoom invite: Ron Drank, 503-873-8796.
Thursday, Feb. 12
Cancer Support Group
11 a.m. - noon, Silverton 50+ Center. For those affected by cancer or those who are adjacent to those affected by cancer. Open to all. Free. Repeats Feb. 26. 503-873-3093
Women’s Connection Luncheon
Noon, First Baptist Church, 229 Westfield St., Silverton. Lina Kim shares dental care information. Speaker Kaci Comstock enjoys fostering animals and finding their furever homes. Lunch $12. Reservations necessary by calling Stacey at 503-680-3796.
Mt. Angel Writing Group
6 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Stretch your writing wings in a supportive environment with time for exploration, illumination and idea exchange. Teens and adults. Free. 971-370-5040
Silverton Zenith Women’s Club
6:30 p.m., Silver Creek Fellowship. Refreshments and fellowship followed by a meeting at 7 p.m. Everyone welcome. Becky, 971-600-4713
Trivia Night
7 p.m., Pub 201 East, 210 E Charles St., Mt. Angel. Play solo or form a team of up to five adults. Prizes. Families welcome. 971-370-5040
Friday, Feb. 13
Brush Creek’s My Three Angels
7 p.m., Brush Creek Playhouse, 11535 NE Silverton Road, Silverton. Brush Creek Players present My Three Angels, a comedy based on La Cuisine des Agnes by Albert Husson. Reserved seating $15, general admission $14. Seniors, teens and children get $1 off regular admission. Repeats 7 p.m. Feb. 13, 20-21, 27-28; 2 p.m. Feb. 15, 22, March 1. During the Feb. 20 & 22 performances, bring a non-perishable food item for SACA and get a free popcorn. Tickets and information at brushcreekplayhouse.org.
Saturday, Feb. 14
Valentine’s Day
Monday, Feb. 16
President’s Day
Tuesday, Feb. 17
Lunar New Year
4:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Celebrate the start of the Year of the Horse. Snacks and crafts. All ages. Free. 971-370-5040
Silver Falls Book Club
6:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Discuss The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry. Discussion leader is Spring Quick. Everyone welcome. 503-873-8796
Wednesday, Feb. 18
Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Noon - 1:30 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Facilitator Drew Miles, trained by Parkinson’s Recovery of Oregon, leads. All welcome. All ages. Free. 503-873-3093
Silverton City Council
6:30 p.m., Council Chambers. Work session followed by regular meeting. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-873-5321, silverton.or.us
Thursday, Feb. 19
Mt. Angel Book Discussion
6 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Discuss Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick by Zora Neale Hurston (provided) and share your books of choice. Adults. Free. 971-370-5040
Silver Falls Writers Group
6:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Share what you’re working on and listen to what others are writing. Free. Ron Drake, 503-873-8796
Mt. Angel Planning Commission 7 p.m., Mount Angel Public Library. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-845-9291, ci.mt-angel.or.us
Friday, Feb. 20
LEGO Lab
3 - 4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Build a creation to display in the library. All ages. Free. Repeats Feb. 27. 971-370-5040
Saturday, Feb. 21
Mt. Angel Chili Cook-off
11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., St. Mary’s Public School, 590 College St., Mt. Angel. 20 teams compete to be named the best. Admission with chili tasting $5/person, $25/family. Additional non-chili vendors will be on-site. Hosted by Discover Mt. Angel (DMA). Benefits St. Mary’s Parent Club and DMA. Justin Roney, info@ discovermtangel.org Harp Workshop & Concert Noon, Silver Falls Library. Hands-on harp workshop for ages 12+. Reservations required by calling 503-873-8796. Celtic Harps, Rare Instruments & Wondrous Stories concert at 3 p.m. Reservations not required.
History Talks
3 - 4:30 p.m., Brown House Event Center, 425 N First Ave., Stayton. “The Building of Jefferson: The Consor Family,” presented by Jefferson Historical Society. Free. 503769-8860, brownhouse.org
Sunday, Feb. 22
Chesterton Academy Open House
2 - 4 p.m., Chesterton Academy of the Willamette Valley, 900 S Main St., Mt. Angel. Tour school, meet students and faculty, learn more about its classical, faith-filled education. Presentations begin promptly at 2:30 p.m. Registration appreciated at chestertonwv.com.
Monday, Feb. 23
Vigil for Peace
2:30 - 3:30 p.m., Towne Square Park, Silverton. Silverton People for Peace gather to advocate for peace, social justice issues on all levels of society including a focus on issues of current concern. Open to all. 503-873-5307
Park Tree Board
7 p.m., Mount Angel Public Library. Mt. Angel Park Tree Board meeting. Open to public. 503-845-9291, ci.mt-angel.or.us
Tuesday, Feb. 24
PFLAG Silverton
7 p.m., Oak Street Church, 502 Oak St., Silverton. Everyone welcome. Under 18 must have parent/guardian. Christy, 541-786-1613, silvertonpflag@gmail.com
Wednesday, Feb. 25
MA Friends of the Library
6 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Nonprofit supports Mt. Angel Public Library. All adults welcome. 971-370-5040
Thursday, Feb. 26
Japanese Stab Binding
1 & 6:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Create a journal from decorative paper and bound using a Japanese stitching technique. Teens and adults. Free. 971-3705040
Winter Bash
3 - 5 p.m., Mt. Angel Middle School, 460 E Marquam St. Join Mt. Angel Public Library for games, science activities, food and prizes. Grades 68. Free. 971-370-5040
Book Swap Social 4 - 5 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Meet other readers and bring 1-3 new or used books to exchange. Refreshments. Free. All welcome. Sponsored by Friends of Silver Falls Library. friends@ silverfallslibrary.org
TAB/Book Club
4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Discuss Click by Kayla Miller. Afterward, Teen Advisory Board (TAB) meeting. Snacks. Free. Ages 12-18. 971-370-5040
Are You “Lookin’ for Love?”
Valentine’s Day is Sunday, February 14th. So, once again “love will fill the air.” Bouquets of flowers, Valentine’s Day cards, and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will appear. Better set an alarm.
Saint Valentine's Day actually originated as a Christian feast day honoring a third-century martyr named Valentine. He helped young lovers get married during the persecutions. In 18th-century England, his day grew into a holiday for couples to express their love to one another. So, what better time to look at what God has to say about “romantic love?”
In the second chapter of Genesis, verses 18 through 25, we find God encouraging romantic love, and also establishing marriage as the only moral context in which to have sexual relations. In chapter 1, verse 28, God commanded the newly married couple to “be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth…” with children. This is God’s Creation Order for fulfilling all the wholesome romantic desires He Himself has placed in men and women. So, God is clearly not a prude.
But after the Fall of Man in Genesis, chapter 3, romantic love got distorted. Love turned to lust. Sex ran out of bounds. How is that?
Let’s begin with the country song “Lookin’ for Love” recorded by Johnny Lee in 1980. Its lyrics provide a window into what has gone wrong with the way most people understand romantic love today. It goes like this:
“Well, I spent a lifetime lookin' for you. Single bars and good time lovers were never true. Playing a fool’s game, hopin' to win, tellin' those sweet lies and losin' again.”
“I was lookin' for love in all the wrong places. Lookin’ for love in too many faces. Searchin’ their eyes, Lookin' for traces of what I'm dreaming of. Hoping to find a friend and a lover. I'll bless the day I discover another heart, Lookin’ for love.”
The saddest thing about Mr. Lee’s song was his assumption that sex outside of marriage could ever deliver the “love” that the author says he is “lookin’ for.” He knew it wasn’t working. But he kept “hopin’” anyway. Been There and Done That Now, before you think I’m being judgmental or self-righteous, believe me, I’m not. I was saved out of this stupidity. I was a hippie in the “Free Love Movement.” That was “sin.”
Which raises the question, “What makes a sin a sin?” Sin is sinful because it is evil. It defiles God’s Creation Order. It does harm to others, and to oneself. God is good, and so He hates sin because of the harm it does.
of shooting yourself in the foot. They are all harmful. As hard as it may be for us to admit it, the sexual morality taught in the Bible has had it right all along. When God says “No!” to any kind of sin, sexual or otherwise, it is because He loves us, and He wants us to enjoy the good life.
believing and obeying God. It requires us to do the kinds of things God wants them to do, going to the kinds of places He wants them to go. (This, by the way, is where (if we are single) we can expect to find them.) As we are building some medical clinic in the jungle, we might reach for the same brick, and, boom! the match is made. And, when we do find them, we will be ready to be the kind of person they have been hoping would one day find them. It’s all very beautiful!
So, if we want to be married (and remain married for life) to someone who is kind, trustworthy, and eager to love and serve us as a faithful spouse, we have to start being that kind of person for them right now.
What makes a really great lover is when both the guy and the gal love God more than they love one another. That’s right! It’s because when they both love God, they won’t want to offend God. They will love one another in a morally pure way before marriage, and after marriage they will keep their wedding vows.
We Have to Be Real
“What makes a great lover is when both the guy and the gal love God more than they love one another. That’s right! It’s because when they both love God, they won’t want offend God, and they will love one another purely before marriage, and after marriage they will keep their wedding vows for life.”
Mr. Lee’s sad song pretty much sums up the chaos surrounding romantic love that we see around us today. If we stay on that path long enough we can expect to not only have a broken heart, but also a few STDs, one or more abortions, several failed marriages (often due to cheating), several divorces, and perhaps a lot of broken and angry children. Then, we’ll probably come to the end of our life alone at the very time when we most need someone to be there for us. It’s sad, but we can turn away from all this foolishness.
Lookin’ in All the Right Places
God’s way of finding romantic love begins with the Golden Rule (see Matt. 7:12). Only in this case it’s a matter of being for that other person what you hope that other person will be for you. The strategy is to start being the kind of person we would hope to be married to. It starts with our own willingness to believe and obey God in the way we hope our future spouse (or our current spouse), is
This brings us to a very important issue. In order to really be the kind of person that we want to be married to, and by that I mean having the godly qualities of moral character that come by being a true believer and follower of Jesus Christ, we have to be a true believer and follower of Christ ourselves. It won’t do for us merely to act like we are a Christian in order to win the guy or girl. That would be hypocritical. So, no, we have to be a truly born-again believer ourselves.
Acting like a Christian won’t last for long. In order to be the kind of person we need to be over the course of a lifetime, we have to have God’s Holy Spirit living inside us, helping us to say “no” to pornography and adultery, and “yes” to keeping our wedding vows. Don’t misunderstand me. Even as Christians, we are tempted to give in to sexual temptations. We all need the Holy Spirit’s power.
But receiving the Holy Spirit can only happen when we are “born again.” Being born again can only happen when we believe in our heart that Jesus died in our place for our sins and then rose from the dead. It is believing that Jesus rose from the dead that actually changes everything. That is when our true conversion takes place. Being the kind of
By Gregg Harris
person that we would want to marry is only possible by believing in and following Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. That comes first. Romantic love is downstream from having a right relationship with God.
Be Sure to Put First Things First!
Our life of sin has come at a cost. Our debt to God has to be paid. Someone will have to die for our sins. It will either be us, dying for our own sins without the Savior and being cast into the punishment of hell we deserve. Or it will be Jesus who voluntarily agreed to die in our place on the cross. He paid for the sins of all those who trust in Him. Then, in order to prove it worked, Jesus rose from the dead. He is alive right now, and He calls everyone to repent, believe, and be saved.
If that describes you, welcome to the family of God. As a believer you can now be the kind of person you want to be married to. You can be a prize for that one who is “lookin’ for love” in all the right places. That is the best way to show true love to your “Valentine.”
To learn more, please call or text me at 971-370-0967, 24/7. I’d love to meet you.
Gregg Harris is a Teaching Pastor at GCRC in Salem, OR. Go to www.graciouscross.org
TICKET! Family-Friendly Movie The Palace Theater
Tues., Feb. 10th, 6:30 PM Shrek Rated PG
First Come, First Served. Door Prizes! Sponsored by NobleMenOfOregon.org
Attention Christian Men! Join us every Thursday for our Noble Men’s Breakfast at The Noble Inn 409 S. Water St., Silverton, OR 97381 Thurs. mornings from 7 to 8:30 AM For info go to NobleMenOfOregon.org Join us as we seek to have an impact on our community for Christ.
The views expressed by this advertiser do not necessarily represent the views of Our Town or its staff.
Gregg & Bonnie Harris — Mutual Valentines!
Legal Matters
COVID blamed
Arrest not possible due to ‘pandemic protocols’ House fire Incident displaces three in Mount Angel
By Stephen Floyd
Marion County claims it could not have kept a Salem man in custody due to COVID-19 protocols before he would go on to allegedly kill a Silverton-area man, according to court filings.
On Jan. 21, a motion for summary judgment was filed in Marion County Circuit Court in a lawsuit by the wife of Travis Juetten, 26, who was stabbed to death Aug. 13, 2021.
His wife, Jamilyn Juetten, suffered critical injuries in the attack in their home at the intersection of Howell Prairie Road NE and Hazelgreen Road NE.
She has sued the county for $8 million, claiming alleged attacker Cody Ray should have been in custody at the time for multiple violations of his zero-tolerance probation. Ray was placed on probation in June of 2021 after being convicted for threatening two people with a gun. Violations included persistent substance abuse and a new charge for suspended driving, according to the suit.
Among other arguments, the county said there was no room to lodge Ray in the Marion County Jail due to reduced capacity under state pandemic protocols. The county does not dispute Ray violated his zerotolerance probation, but the motion said his violations were not serious enough for the county to create space at the jail.
“Even if Cody Ray had been taken into custody at any point prior to Aug. 13, 2021, he’d have been quickly released back into the community,” said the motion.
The county also said there is no evidence linking the county’s actions and Ray’s actions, and the two acted independently of each other. It also argued there was no way the county could have reasonably foreseen Ray’s actions and therefore cannot be held liable.
The county said the facts of the case are plainly in its favor and there are no issues for a jury to decide. It asked the court for a ruling against all of Jamilyn Juetten’s claims. The matter is likely to be argued during a pre-trial hearing Feb. 11. The suit is set for trial May 4.
As of press time attorneys for Jamilyn Juetten had yet to file a response to the county’s motion. They previously argued the county could have foreseen the attack because Ray self-reported psychological
distress including possible psychosis made worse by ongoing substance abuse.
Legacy employee charged
An Oregon City woman and former patient administrator for Legacy Health Silverton is facing a felony theft charge after allegedly stealing more than $10,000 from her ex-employer
Brieanna Sue Stokes, 39, was charged Jan. 6 in Marion County Circuit Court with aggravated first-degree theft for offenses allegedly occurring between January 2023 and November 2024.
According to charging documents, Stokes allegedly stole more than $10,000 belonging to the hospital. During this time she worked as a registrar and handled funds intended for patients in need. She was arrested Dec. 10, 2025, and booked and released from the Marion County Jail. She is scheduled to return to court Feb. 11 for arraignment.
Prison for domestic assault
A Silverton man has been sentenced to almost three years in prison after accepting a plea deal for allegedly attempting to choke a woman to death.
Dustin-Trevor Thomas Ries, 36, pleaded no contest Jan. 6 in Linn County Circuit Court to felony strangulation and was sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison. As part of a plea agreement, the court dismissed charges of attempted second-degree murder, fourth-degree assault and menacing.
He was arrested May 31, 2025, for an incident that day in Albany when he allegedly injured a woman while choking her in an act of domestic violence.
Weapon case dismissed
Prosecutors have dropped charges against a Silverton-area woman accused of threatening a man with a knife after the alleged victim did not attend grand jury proceedings. On Jan. 16 in Marion County Circuit Court, charges of unlawful use of a weapon and contempt of court against Regan Lynn Schultz, 51, were dismissed. Prosecutors said the alleged victim did not respond to a subpoena to attend grand jury proceedings and was unlikely to attend a trial. The motion also said the case should be dismissed “in the best interest of justice.”
By Stephen Floyd
A local family is recovering after being displaced by a house fire in Mount Angel that saw significant damage to the residence.
According to the Mt. Angel Fire District (MAFD), crews were dispatched shortly before noon Jan. 23 to a structure fire on the corner of N. Main and E. Marquam streets.
The first engine on scene saw a fire in the attic that was spreading and called for additional support. Crews responded from the Silverton Fire District and Woodburn Fire District, including a ladder truck from Silverton.
Firefighters aggressively attacked the fire and had the blaze under control within two hours. The building sustained significant fire damage on the second story and water damage on the first story, as well as the loss of property within the house.
As of press time the cause of the fire was under investigation.
Three adults were displaced and no injuries were reported to occupants or firefighters. Two pet cats did not survive the fire.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up
to support the survivors of the fire and can be found at gofund me/16b24f7c9
As of press time more than $2,600 had been raised.
Firefighters were supported by the Monitor Fire District, ODOT, METCOM, Woodburn Ambulance, Mt. Angel Public Works and Mt. Angel Police Department.
MAFD said, during cold months, residents should ensure smoke detectors are working properly and chimneys are clean and well maintained to reduce the risk of fire.
Silverton woman among two dead in Turner collision
A Silverton woman was among two people who died in a single-vehicle collision in Turner Jan. 18, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
In a press release the sheriff’s office said Perla Nieto, 20, of Silverton, as well as an unidentified 16-yearold female died at the scene of a collision on Turner Road SE near the intersection with Crawford Street SE.
The teenager was later identified by family as Jennifer Ramirez Solis, of Independence.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene around 2:30 a.m. Jan.18 and found a Kia overturned in a ditch. As of press time the cause of the wreck remained
under investigation.
Two additional passengers were transported to Salem Hospital: a 24-year-old Salem man with serious injuries and an 8-year-old juvenile with minor injuries.
Deputies were assisted by the Turner Fire Department, the Marion County Crash Team, Marion County Public Works, and the Marion County Medical Examiner’s Office. The roadway was closed for approximately five hours as investigators processed the scene.
“We extend our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones affected by this tragic incident,” said the sheriff’s office.
– Stephen Floyd
Fire crews respond to a residential fire in Mount Angel. MT. ANGEL FIRE DISTRICT
Trish Jenkins (formerly Uselman) was born in New York City. She grew up in Brooklyn and earned her teaching degree there too. Young and looking for adventure, she moved to Oregon where she met and later married Dan Uselman. They raised four children together, Dylan, Julian, Seth and Kim, living near the river on North Abiqua Road.
Trish was a devoted mother and gifted teacher. She taught at Eugene Field for many years, teaching first grade, blended grades, music and TAG students. She was well regarded by students, parents and staff for her compassion and caring. She happily bucked tradition by simply going by Trish with the students, instead of Mrs. Uselman.
Trish was a motivational and creative force among students and fellow teachers alike. She convinced a group of coworkers to take tap dancing lessons with her and did the same with the ukulele. After
Trish and Dan divorced, they both found happiness with new partners. Trish married Paul Jenkins, a talented artist, years later. After her kids were older, she began to travel more. Her favorite destination was Hawaii, which she eventually moved to once retired, happy to live in the warmer-than-Oregon paradise.
She moved back to Oregon in 2024 to be nearer her family, living at the Mt. Angel Towers until she died peacefully on Dec. 26, 2025.
Trish had sparkle and touched/enriched the lives of many Silverton students, parents, friends and family. She was one of a kind, well loved, and will be deeply missed. A celebration of life memorial will be held at Butte Creek School Cafeteria on Feb. 7, 1:00 p.m. All are welcome.
In Memory Of
George Otto Mohring Feb. 22, 1934 - Jan. 6, 2026
James Joseph Derr June 4, 1936 –Dec.
James Joseph Derr was born in Pontiac, Michigan, to Joe and Anna (Vonburg) Derr. He passed away on Dec. 29, 2025, surrounded by his family in Silverton, Oregon at the age of 89. He was a fun and lighthearted man, endearing himself to many, especially his family.
In 1939, his family moved to Oregon. He began logging with his father at the age of 13. He joined the army in 1957 and spent time in Germany serving his country.
Jim eventually moved from logging to line work. He worked for Bonneville Power administration as a journeyman, a job he loved.
Jim married Penny Elliott in 1960 and they were together 53 years until her passing in 2013. They loved their farm which Jim had built himself, Penny always beside him helping. She loved to decorate and garden and they made a
Dorris Elizabeth Clute March 13, 1935 - Jan. 13, 2026 www.ungerfuneralchapel.com Always honoring your request for traditional, eco-friendly or aqua cremation, celebration of life, and services involving earth burial. We also offer pre-planning alternatives to control costs.
29, 2025
lovely home together. Both animal lovers, they had many farm animals and pets over the years.
At 79 Jim met Pat Smith at the Baptist Church in Silverton. They married in 2016. He was devoted to her and they had many good times together sharing their love of God, church, Bible study and traveling.
Jim is survived by his wife Pat, along with her children Diane (Steve) Lindstrom and Karen (David) Wong; his children Joseph (Kathy) Derr and Kristy (Jerry) Newman; sisters JoAnna Heide, Darlene Huddleston, and brother Jerry Derr; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his son Larry Derr; brother Billy Derr; sisters Marion Cozadd, Ruth Ann Ottenbacher, Donna Marie Philpot, and Dorthea Mollenkoph; grandchildren Jimmy Rock and Kelly Byrd; and great-grandson Aliyas Byrd. Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel.
“ I highly recommend Whitney & Mike Ulven!
They worked tirelessly with us for over a year and helped us find the perfect home. They are so knowledgeable, efficient and organized that we never had to worry about a thing. Whitney and Mike made the whole buying process seamless. We would certainly use them again and recommend them to all our friends.” Amy
Give us a call at 5 0 3-7 0 5-6118 whitney@silvertonrealty.com • mike@silvertonrealty.com
Gareth M. Pooleon
Gareth Michael Pooleon was born June 21, 1968 to Mike and Mary Pooleon in Bellingham, Washington.
He graduated from Bellingham High School in 1986. He was an exceptional athlete and held the high school long jump record in Washington for 19 years.
June 21, 1968 – Dec. 8, 2025
After graduation, Gareth moved to Salem, Oregon, where he attended Willamette University. He graduated with a degree in history in 1990. He was an NCAA All-American in track and field. He began teaching history and coaching in the Salem-Keizer school district while finishing his Master’s degree at Western Oregon University. He later earned his Administrator’s license through Portland State University.
Gareth taught Government, History and Economics and was involved coaching cross-country and track and field. His love of sports and passion for helping
students was a motivating factor in his successes. He moved to Silverton in 2007 where he began an online teaching career with Oregon Connections Academy. He eventually became the principal of high school programs. He resigned his coaching and athletic involvement to watch his children play sports. Hewas an avid Seattle Seahawks and Mariners fan.
Gareth is preceded in death by his mother, Mary Johnstone-Pooleon. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Pooleon; his two sons, Michael and Tyler Pooleon; his father, Mike Pooleon; and sister, Gwyn Fix, her husband and two sons.
The family thanks the community in Silverton for its warmth at a difficult time. A Celebration of Life will be held Feb. 28, 1 to 4 p.m. at The Farm on Golden Hill, 11506 Kaufmann Road., Silverton. The family asks that you bring favorite memories of Gareth.
Jeanette (Traeger) Gaug June 6, 1940 – Jan. 2, 2026
Jeanette Gaug, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully in Camas, Washington, at 85. After receiving a cancer diagnosis in 2025, Jeanette faced her illness with strength and grace.
Born June 6, 1940 in Mount Angel, Oregon, Jeanette lived a vibrant life filled with love, laughter, and generosity. She was the cherished daughter of Gladys (Gamble) Traeger and Joseph Traeger. Her life was distinguished by her deep dedication to family, her unwavering faith, and her artistic talents.
compassion and desire to help others.
Jeanette was known for her humor, joyfulness, and a heartfelt compassion that endeared her to those she met. She had an ability to make people feel special and loved, greeting all with a warm smile and cheer. Her kind nature and willingness to lend a helping hand made her a cherished friend and confidante.
Lawrence Fisher
Lawrence was born on Jan. 20, 1930, to Eric and Clarice (Downing) Fisher. He was born in the house of his grandparents, Everett and Nettie (Read) Downing in Stayton, Oregon. Shortly after his birth, he moved to the family farm on Waldo Hills Dr., where he lived for most of his life.
Jan. 20, 1930 – Dec. 11, 2025
Growing up, Lawrence worked alongside his father and grandfather on the family farm. They raised strawberries, hops, oats, and feed for the horses. They also raised milk cows, sheep, chickens and pigs. In the late 1940’s, grass seed was becoming an important crop. Most of this continues to be part of the family farm today.
In 1952, Lawrence married Mabel Zimmerman of Salem. He was drafted into the Army shortly after their wedding. After basic training, Lawrence was stationed in Hawaii for duty. When they returned, they built their home together and raised their four children, Beverly, Ralph, Donna and Christina. In 2005, Lawrence married Betty (Harris, Robbins) King of Silverton. Lawrence and Betty spent several years traveling together and eventually moved to Lincoln City. In 2016, Lawrence moved into Mt. Angel Towers, where he lived the remainder of his life.
He was dedicated to his community by being a long-time member of the Victor Point Elementary School Board, The Silverton Union High School Board, and the Santiam Hospital Board. In addition, he served on the Highland Bentgrass Commission and the Oregon Seed Council. He was also a part of starting the Silverton High School Alumni Association. Lawrence was a longtime member of Stayton Church of Christ, serving as an Elder, and on the Winema Christian Camp Board of Directors.
In 1964, Jeanette married Hal Gaug in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Their 61-year marriage was a testament of true commitment to one another. Together, they built a beautiful life, creating cherished memories with their family and friends.
Jeanette was an active member of the Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Camas, where she dedicated many years of service. She also volunteered at Birthright Women’s Crisis Services, reflecting her
She was preceded in death by her parents, beloved son, Zach (Tanya), and her brothers Vince, Jim, Ed, and Larry Traeger. Jeanette’s legacy continues through her husband, Harold “Hal” Gaug, brothers Joe (Kathy), Lou (Sue) Traeger, her daughter Sandi (Conrad) Wurzer, and son Jon (Tracy) Gaug, as well as her grandchildren Allie West, Derek (Haley) Wurzer, Diana Wurzer, Austin (Mackenzie) Wurzer, Nkem Day, Ava and Rex Gaug. She was also the proud grandmother of seven greatgrandchildren, who were a constant source of joy and laughter in her life.
Lawrence is survived by his children, Beverly Wold, Silverton; Ralph (Sue) Fisher, Sublimity; Donna (Jeff) Kestek, West Linn; Christina (Jerry) Blackwell, Angier, North Carolina; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Douglas, Betty Fisher and her extended family. He is proceeded in death by his wife, Mabel, sister and brother-in-law; Alice Jean and Richard Barnes; and son-in-law, Palmer Wold.
The family would like to thank all staff at Mt. Angel Towers for his excellent care. It is greatly appreciated. Celebration of life will be on Saturday, March 28, at 1 pm.., at Emmanuel Bible Church, 8512 Sunnyview Rd. NE, Salem. Remembrance in lieu of flowers can be made to Silverton High School Alumni Association and Santiam Memorial Hospital.
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The next chapter Mount Angel welcomes new library director
By Stephen Floyd
Mt. Angel Public Library’s new director already had a soft spot for the community even before the job opened up.
Director Dillon Peck started Dec. 1, 2025, after former Director Jackie Mills announced her retirement last September. Mills had been with the library since 2017 and helped bolster community-focused programs.
She stayed on through the beginning of January to help Peck transition into the job. It was not difficult. He already had a history with the library and Mills. Peck wrote his master’s thesis on the Mt. Angel library, and he and Mills served on the Circulation Committee for the Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library Service.
Peck said Mt. Angel is “exactly the kind of community I wanted to be a librarian for” and he is excited to jump right in.
“[Mount Angel] is a really special, beautiful place and an especially supportive community, and I’m here to take full advantage of it and pay back all the goodwill I’ve received,” he said.
Peck has been a library professional since 2014 including at the Mark O. Hatfield Library at Willamette University, Salem Public Library and Jefferson Public Library. Most recently he was circulation supervisor for the Newberg Public Library.
His background is varied, including programming, grant writing and circulation. Peck said he wanted to lead a
small library to maintain that variety, as large libraries tend to hire specialists who focus on specific duties.
Peck said he already has “a million ideas” for programs he would like to try, while also focusing on continuing current successful programs.
Peck said he wants to keep investing in Summer Reading and will work to bring new guests and richer materials for activities. He also hopes to preserve Saturday Sunshine Fitness, monthly arts and crafts, and the library’s participation in the Blue Bin program where libraries share program kits.
Peck is also interested in trying out a teen chess club similar to the program he ran in Newberg. He said he is not personally good at chess but enjoys playing and enjoys watching students learn.
He’s envisioning turning the planters outside the library into a “teaching garden.” This could include agricultural education such as adding edible plants and involving students in every step of the growing process.
Peck said his philosophy is that a library should be a welcoming and open space where everyone feels like they belong, and everyone finds something useful.
He said he will consider his tenure as director a success if people can tell the library is a community hub just by looking.
Mt. Angel Public Library Director Dillon Peck STEPHEN FLOYD
New leadership Silverton fills public works, human resources positions
By James Day
Two new leaders have been hired to fill vacant slots in Silverton’s top administrative ranks.
Jerry Nelzen was introduced as the new Public Works director and Sydney Ihnie as Human Resources manager at the Jan. 21 meeting of the City Council. Nelzen replaces Travis Sperle, while Ihnie replaces Tammy Shaver.
Nelzen worked in farming, logging and construction before joining the Oregon Department of Transportation. For the past 21 years he has worked for the Public Works Department in Canby.
Ihnie graduated from Western Oregon University with a double major in public policy and administration/ communications. For the past three years she has worked in human resources for NERUS Strategies, which coordinates the Best of the Willamette Valley program.
Coolidge McClaine Park: The park remains closed to the public while its urban forestry consultant reviews the situation. It has been closed since the Dec. 17 windstorm knocked down a large tree in the park.
“Our plan is to open the park only under safe conditions,” said Public Works operations manager
Mike Dahlberg.
Pettit Lake: The city is putting the construction work on the lakeside trail system out to bid in February. Dahlberg said the city hopes to award a contract in March, with construction beginning in May and completion set for October.
The one-mile trail will start at the Oregon Garden parking lot near the Cascade Highway and circle the reservoir. Other amenities such as a picnic area might be added later but no funding has been secured. The city also plans to study the forested “back 40” portion of the property.
Water master plan: The council unanimously passed a resolution updating its contract with Westech Engineering to include compiling a new water master plan. Such a plan will be necessary, city officials said, to
make Silverton eligible for state funds to replace its water treatment plant. The city will pitch legislative aid for the project during the 2026 short legislative session, but officials said success is more likely during the long 2027 session.
ICE: Discussion of current nationwide immigration enforcement challenges continue to be part of virtually every council meeting. One person, former teacher Terry McLaughlin, spoke during the public comment period. He encouraged the city to take a stand. “We’re fearful instead of protecting people,” he said. “We’re going along to get along.” McLaughlin called for the Silverton Police Department to prevent unlawful aggression and insist on seeing a warrant when observing any ICE activities.
Councilors agreed with McLaughlin, with Eric Hammond calling for a “stronger public stance.” Kyle Palmer said he was “flat disgusted with things that are going on.” April Newton said she supported putting the issue on an agenda and having it come back for future discussion. Matt Gatain noted this year’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and said “it would be a missed opportunity if we don’t do something.”
Silverton photographer Drake part of Portland show
By James Day
Pioneering Silverton area photographer June Drake is the subject of a current exhibition at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland.
Drake (1880-1969), according to the Oregon Historical Society materials that are part of the Portland show, “produced thousands of images in and around Silverton and collected objects that document the town’s evolving streetscapes, industries, and people. His work was pivotal in the creation of Silver Falls State Park and provides an invaluable physical record of a rural Willamette Valley community during the early 20th century.”
June Drake: Preserving the Past to Shape the Future
The show is in its final days and will close Feb. 8.
The Oregon Historical Society is located at 1200 SW Park Ave. in Portland.
For more than 60 years, Drake systematically documented life in the Silverton region.
The exhibition contains a wide array of the photographs and artifacts that Drake donated to the society. 1954
Jerry Nelzen, Silverton’s new Public Works director, and Sydney Ihnie, the new Human Resources manager. JAMES DAY
photo of June Drake with one of his first cameras. OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Home sweet home Habitat for Humanity
By James Day
The Habitat for Humanity community off of Pine Street in Silverton continues to grow. Two more homes in the Peters Garden development have been completed and turned over to their new owners.
Moving into the houses were Crystal Waters and her four sons and Ismael Cortes Garcia and his wife and two children.
“It is a special day when a community comes together to get two hardworking families into their homes in time for the holidays,” North Willamette chapter Dan Haun told Our Town. “These families will thrive in their new homes.”
The two homes are zero lot line duplexes, so each family owns one side of the lot. Both homes have three bedrooms and two bathrooms and are approximately 1,100 square feet.
Peters Garden will consist of 18 units at buildout. The Waters and Cortes Garcia homes are the fourth and fifth in the subdivision and the 52nd and 53rd for the North Willamette Valley chapter.
The North Willamette Valley chapter will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with a special gala on Oct. 10 at the
Festhalle in Mt. Angel. More details will be available in the coming months.
Crystal Waters receives the keys to her new home from Habitat for Humanity construction foreman Cleo Zars. Waters and her four sons moved into their new home last month. NORTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Boys volleyball Foxes will compete under OSAA umbrella for first time
It’s official: Boys volleyball is now an official Oregon Schools Athletic Association activity. Silverton has participated with outstanding results the past two years when the sport was an “emerging” activity.
“We are so excited that the overwhelming majority of OSAA’s General Assembly voted to sanction boys volleyball as an official high school sport in Oregon,” Foxes coach Benson Short told Our Town. Short led Silverton to a fifthplace finish in Class 5A a year ago and a second place in 5A-4A in 2024 when state tournaments were organized by the Oregon Boys Volleyball Association.
“I think the first thing is the feeling of legitimacy it gives to our players who have found a love for this sport,” Short said. “Many of our athletes have felt the support of the community through this process, but this vote solidifies a future. We feel seen, heard and valued. There have been challenges the last two years living in an in-between space; sometimes a sport, sometimes a club, and always a little uncertain of our future.”
Boys volleyball is a spring sport, with practice beginning March 2. The first contest date is March 19. The state playoffs will begin May 18 with the finals set for May 29-30. The Foxes will play in a 6A-5A hybrid league with Crescent Valley, McKay, McNary, North Salem, South Salem, Sprague, Thurston and West Salem.
A key challenge for Short and his program is that because the ultimate status of boys volleyball at the OSAA level was unresolved when the high school built its athletic budget, he is essentially starting from ground zero with the hope of raising $20,000. Contact the coach at bensonshort@gmail.com for more information or to assist.
All-state football: One of the first rules of sportswriting is to NEVER complain about all-league and all-state teams. They are a fine vehicle with which to recognize individual achievement, but – and it’s a big but – they are never perfect. This year the coaches voted on two Class 5A teams, one distributed by The Oregonian and one by the OSAA. They don’t match.
In the interest of fairness and clarity I am just going to list all of the Silverton players who were noted. It’s a great list, as it should be since the Foxes won the Class 5A title with a 24-14 win against Summit of Bend.
Coach: Dan Lever; QB: Chase
Dominguez, WR-TE, DB: Logan Uitto, OL, DL: Mark Bailey, RB: Nash Moser, C: Kane Mack. Defensive player of the year: Lincoln Teeney, DL: Ryan Kuenzi, DL: James Collier, DB/WR: Sutton Kuenzi, DB: Teeney, LB: Luke Horner and LB: Ryder VanDeweghe
Kennedy, meanwhile, earned five spots on the Class 3A all-state team (the OSAA one). Jaden Traeger was a second-teamer, Creo Walker made the third team as an offensive and defensive lineman and Colby Rich received honorable mention at wide receiver and defensive back.
Football banquet: The Foxes have scheduled their annual football dinner for Wednesday, March 18, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Festhalle in Mount Angel. Parents and the general public are invited. Tickets cost $20 for parents (with a special $85 family ticket available) and $25 for community members. Dinner is included. Go to https://shs-football. square.site to reserve your spot. The Foxes also are continuing to raise
money to pay for state championship rings for the players and coaches. Go to https://app.launchfundraising.com/ launchathonFundraiserHome/fundraiser/ FP6Z9V to participate.
Swimming: Lucky Rogers, now in his 11th year coaching the AquaFoxes at Silverton told Our Town “I think we are coming along nicely. We are not as deep as what we were last year. But we are pretty solid up top. Especially on the boys side. Now we need to lock down the next few weeks to get ready for district (Feb. 11-12 at South Albany). I think we will be where we normally are at the district meet, fighting with Crescent Valley and West Albany for top spots.”
Rogers has 17 boys and 32 girls on this year’s roster, with tons of talent returning with state meet experience.
Topping the girls squad are Breeza Rodriguez (100 free and 100 back), Alex Hergenreter (100 back) and Kylee Howell (50 free). Those three plus Madi Sword took fourth in the 200 medley relay at state and the 200 free and 400 free relay squads, always an emphasis in Rogers’ program, will be counted on to score big points as well.
Nolan Horner has placed in the 50 and 100 free in his first three years for the AquaFoxes, with Hunter Siewell (50 free and 100 free), Brody Hollis (100 fly and 500 free) and Colin Ross (100 breast) all back to compete both in individual races and the three relays.
Got a news tip? Email me at james.d@ mtangelpub.com. Follow me on X (Twitter) @jameshday and Our Town on Facebook.
Foxes boys volleyball coach Benson Short talks with his squad during a match at Cascade last spring. Boys volleyball is now a sanctioned OSAA sport in Oregon. JAMES DAY
Social insecurity
Congress likes drama. That’s why its members like to do crazy stuff like shutting down the federal government and playing chicken with the federal deficit, healthcare and Social Security.
And no one seems to want to do the hard work of fixing the problems. They just stand around pointing at each other, as though their mom caught them with their hands in the cookie jar. Mom, of course, can see straight through the lame excuses and who was really responsible – they all were.
Take Social Security, for example. According to the Social Security Administration, about 69 million Americans depend on their monthly check to make ends meet. The average Social Security payment is $1,975 a month. That totals about $1.6 trillion a year.
The problem – which Congress created – is the Social Security trust fund will run out of money in about nine years. The trust fund is added to the taxes that wage-earners pay to provide retirees with their monthly checks. After the trust fund is empty, the size of the checks will have to be reduced by an estimated 23%. Either that or Congress will have to do its job and fix the problem.
Reducing benefits wouldn’t be fair to the retirees who receive a check. Like me. I have paid into the Social Security system for 57 years. Every paycheck I received during that time had a percentage of my pay subtracted from it. Most
recently, that percentage has been 6.2%.
Fair enough. The federal government gets a cut of my paycheck for 57 years, and I get help with paying my bills in retirement.
Except the way the law was written really isn’t fair. Social Security taxes are capped according to how much money someone makes. Everyone pays the taxes on their wages up to $176,100, but they don’t have to pay Social Security taxes on any amount higher than that.
Since I never made more than $176,100 a year in my life, that means every penny I’ve ever earned has been taxed for Social Security.
However, a estimated 6% of working people have gotten
Quality Dental Care in a Friendly Environment
a nearly free ride, according to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, which has been crunching numbers on the Social Security crisis that Congress is creating.
To put this into perspective, billionaires like Elon Musk, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and millions of other people made way more than me last year. For example, Bill Gates made about $686 million last year, according to the Wage Indicator website. That means he paid no Social Security taxes at all on any of his earnings above $176,100.
No matter how you look at it, that’s not fair. You and I are taxed on every penny we earn, but rich folks get what amounts to a free ride.
It’s time to fix Social Security and make it sustainable. Doing it will require our hired hands in Congress to roll up their sleeves and get to work. As importantly, they will have to turn a deaf ear to the many rich people who will complain about being treated fairly.
In the meantime, stand by for even more drama, accompanied by lots of finger-pointing. It also might be worth sending a letter to members of your congressional delegation and urging them all to get their act together.
Carl Sampson is a freelance editor and writer. He lives in Stayton.
GENERAL
MT. ANGEL SENIOR CENTER
is a non-profit consignment store for artisans over 50, a community center, home to Meals on Wheels, and serves as a food bank. Volunteers welcome! 195
E Charles St. 503-845-6998 or mtangelcommunity@gmail.com
PASTOR CHUCK BALDWIN
Liberty Fellowship, Kalispell, Montana satellite group Sundays, 1:30 p.m. Kristen, 503-990-4584
RENTALS
RENT EVENT SPACE AT THE SILVERTON GRANGE HALL
291 Division St, Silverton.
Affordable hourly, half day, full day rates. Family gatherings, classes, yoga, dances, meetings, baptisms, weddings and more!
Fully equipped kitchen, plenty of parking. Hall seats up to 70. For rental information call Silverton Grange, at 503-516-5722
ROOM FOR RENT: $650 mo. In Lyons, please call 503-383-4398
SERVICES
GOT STUFF YOU WANT GONE?
From yard debris to scrap metal, garage sale leftovers to rental clear outs. We repurpose, recycle, reuse, or donate what we can. Call to find out what we can do for you. $20 min. Call Keith 503-502-3462
SOUNDS GOOD STUDIO BANDS, Sounds Good Studio Bands, Artists, Personal Karaoke CDs, Books, Restoring Picture Slides & VHS video to DVD. Old Cassettes, Records, Reel to Reel & 8 Track Cassettes restored to CD. Call Harold 503-391-7406 . A Magic Carpet Cleaning & More Service
YOUR RIGHT TO SELF DEFENSE
Saturdays Age 10-12 at 5:00, ages 13 and up. 6:15, Security and Correctional Officers. 7:30, private lessons available. International Certification Curriculum available upon request. Call Harold 503-391-7406
HANDYMAN & HOME REPAIR
SERVICE Installation and repair of fencing, decks,doors, gutter cleaning, moss removal, power washing, yard debris removal. CCB# 206637 Call Ryan 503-881-3802
MAGIC CARPET CLEANING
& MORE Since 1992. Carpet & upholstery cleaning at its best. Free estimates. Residential & commercial. Located in Silverton. Call Harold at 503-391-7406
LOST & FOUND
LOST WALKING CANE
Light wood, thick black shoelace on handle. Silv/MA area. Reward. 541-417-1289
2010 Linden St., Mt. Angel PAIR OF TRI FOCAL GLASSES
Lost at Visions Salon. Desperately needed. Please call 503-873-4589 or 503-873-6363
• Integrity • Respect
Marshall
873-3545 ext
#T2890 SHORT DISTANCE TO DOWNTOWN $555,000 NOT FOR SALE - “ON SALE!” New price. Seller would discuss concessions for closing cost, or a rate buy-down to lower your payments. The home has an open floor plan w/an upper deck w/recently replaced decking. Lower level has paver patio. Vaulted great room, large BR suite on main. Recent upgrades include: new carpet, LVP floor, granite & quartz counter tops, sprinkler system, hi-eff. HVAC, whole-home surge protection, solar panels. Located on low traffic street. Call Michael, ext. 314 (WVMLS# 830000)
#T2922 LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
$1,595,000 This property has it all! Close to town with amazing views of the top of Silverton and valley. Custom built 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home with all the amenities. Attention to detail on everything about this home and property. Dual-zone HVAC, 2 laundry facilities, shop with 3 bays, bathroom and additional office space, plus a woodshed and extra storage. Professionally landscaped with sprinkler systems and driveway designed to accommodate everyone. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 (WVMLS# 836460)
NEW — #T2924 SALEM LOVELY COUNTRY SETTING 3 BR, 2.5 BA 1874 sqft 1.07 acres. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $737,400 (WVMLS#836633)
NEW — #T2922 SILVERTON LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION 4 BR, 2.5 BA 3838 sqft 2.07 acres. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $1,595,000 (WVMLS#836460)
NEW — #T2921 SILVERTON OWN PRIVATE ESTATE 5 BR, 2.5 BA 3529 sqft 9.67 acres. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $1,050,000 (WVMLS#836457)
#T2917 SILVERTON ABOVE ABIQUA CREEK 2 BR, 2 BA 1275 sqft 3.05 acres. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $1,098,000 (WVMLS#835689)
#T2910 SCOTTS MILLS ONCE IN A LIFETIME 2 BR, 3.5 BA 4253 sqft
9.36 acres. Call Chuck at ext. 325 $1,825,000 (WVMLS#834432)
#T2911 MONMOUTH HORSE LOVERS DREAM 3 BR, 1.5 BA 1832 sqft 5 acres. Call Becky at ext. 313 $785,000 (WVMLS#834926)
#T2920 CLASSIC 1910 HOME
$675,000 Great location for this classic 1910 home that sits on one lot with an adjoining second lot. 5 bedroom, 2.5 bath home with views on a well manicured property. Deck overlooking the second lot that you can keep for future investments or add a shop/ADU. Wonderful views overlooking the Valley and views of the Abbey in Mt. Angel. Well on the property used for irrigation. This home has been well maintained over the years and is ready for the new owner. Call today! Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 (WVMLS# 836428)
SILVERTON
NEW — #T2920 CLASSIC 1910 HOME 5 BR, 2.5 BA 2232 sqft Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $675,000 (WVMLS#836429)
#T2919 WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY 4 BR, 3 BA 2277 sqft. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $595,000 (WVMLS#836273) #T2890 SHORT DISTANCE TO DOWNTOWN 3 BR, 2 BA 2264 sqft. Call Michael at ext. 314 $555,000 (WVMLS#830000)
#T2913 SILVERTON WONDERFUL DOUBLE WIDE 3 BR, 2 BA 1620 sqft. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan 322 $147,420 (WVMLS#835044) #T2914 SILVERTON NEW TO THE MARKET 3 BR, 2 BA 1841 sqft. Call Michael at ext. 314 $579,500 (WVMLS#835171)
SOLD — #T2915 SILVERTON CLASSIC 1917 HOME 2 BR, 2 BA 1116 sqft Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $437,300 (WVMLS#835174)
#T2924 LOVELY COUNTRY SETTING
$737,400 Lovely country setting, single level home on 1.07 acres. 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, with formal living and family room/dining area off the kitchen. So many nice updates to this home, bathrooms have been completely redone with modern amenities. Formal living looks out over large patio area that is meant for entertaining and beautifully maintained landscaping. Sits above the Fruitland Creek. Plus storage for your RV, boat or workshop space. Come view this home today! Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 (WVMLS# 836633)
NEW — #T2923 SALEM SINGLE LEVEL HOME 3
FOR RENTALS Call Micha or Sarah at 503-873-1425 or visit SilvertonRealty.com
