BEER TASTINGS, AND SILENT AUCTION
HICKORY SPOON, WINE AND BEER TASTINGS, AND SILENT AUCTION
Tickets
Tickets available online at https://stayton-area-rotary-foundation.square.site
Pride
Integrity
Respect
With coupon • expires 03/31/26 – not good with any other special.
N. 6th Ave, Stayton 503-769-2656
Daily Mass: Monday-Friday, 8:15 am, Saturday, 8:00 am.
Weekend Mass Schedule: Saturday Vigil, 5:00 pm, Sunday, 8:00 am, 10:00 am English, 12:00 pm Spanish.
Confession: Saturday, 11-11:30 am, 3:30-4:30 pm, Thursday, 7:00 pm - 7:45 pm, or by appointment.
No matter how long you have been away, we invite you to renew your relationship with Christ through the Church He founded. Our doors are open and Christ’s mercy is waiting for you in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is never too late to come home.
Martin Drive #104, Stayton 503-769-9525 ourtown@mtangelpub.com ourtownlive.com
The deadline for placing an ad in the April 1 issue is March 20.
Calendar listings are free for community events. Submissions must include date, time, location and cost. Submissions for the April 1 issue are due March 20. Email calendar items to: datebook@mtangelpub.com
Our Town is mailed free to residents and businesses in the 97383, 97385, 97358 and 97325 zip codes. Subscriptions outside the area are $48 annually.
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Concerns documented Officials hammer Corps on Detroit drawdown
By James Day
The proposed drawdown at Detroit Lake continues to draw comment and criticism.
Here are recent developments in the saga, which involves a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan to lower the level of the lake to help improve the survival rate of endangered fish stocks.
• The Detroit Lake Foundation has engaged in a fundraising campaign to help with legal efforts to fight the drawdown. Detroit and other Santiam Canyon officials are concerned about possible tourism and economic impacts of the drawdown. Go to detroitlakefoundation.org/save-our-lake for more information.
• Marion County has written two additional letters to the Corps, which is collecting feedback that will inform a court-ordered supplemental environmental impact study (SEIS) on the drawdown. The letters cited major deficiencies in the agency’s analysis of water quality, local infrastructure impacts, and fish mortality if Detroit Lake is drained below normal levels. This includes the risk of a kokanee salmon die-off similar to the mass mortality event that followed a drawdown at Green Peter Reservoir on the South Santiam River in 2023.
“Detroit Lake should not be the next site for a preventable kokanee massacre,” said
Detroit Lake in December, when it was running at about 1,450 feet. JAMES DAY
Marion County Commissioner Colm Willis.
An earlier Marion County letter, sent Jan. 6, accused the Corps of missing a federally mandated deadline of Jan. 4 to “report on instances of high turbidity in a reservoir in the Willamette Valley resulting from a drawdown in the reservoir.”
• The city of Salem, the most significant downstream customer that might be affected by the drawdown, also has gone public with concerns it raised with the Corps. City officials in a press release asked the Corps to include additional safeguards as it plans for the drawdowns. And while city officials noted that the Corps’ current plan addresses many of the concerns city staff have expressed, officials remain concerned about
the absence of turbidity triggers – ways to identify corrective actions depending on levels of murkiness in the water.
Turbidity (cloudiness of haziness in the water because of sediment) will make filtration difficult or impossible for the water that goes to Salem’s approximately 175,000 residents.
• The Corps, meanwhile, in an email response to questions from Our Town about the Marion County letters, said that the agency is authorized to produce the turbidity report but has not received the funding to produce it in full.
“This all goes back to how the Corps works,” Kerry Sloan, a public affairs specialist with the Corps, wrote to the newspaper. “We need both the authorization to do the work and appropriations (funds) from Congress to act.”
Sloan added that the questions and concerns raised by Marion County and Salem officials as well as those in Stayton and the Santiam Canyon are “exactly what the… process is designed to do: provide an opportunity for them to share information and concerns with us. We want to hear about anticipated impacts that are specific to their community – it’s data that will help us shape the final SEIS. The SEIS team will consider that input along with all the comments we have
received.”
The deadline for public comment has passed. The next step for the Corps will be the final drafting of the SEIS and a “record of notice” that will advise the public of its next steps.
The first drawdown is tentatively scheduled for late fall of 2026. The drop to 1,395 feet (full pool is 1,558) is scheduled to take place over three autumns, with the Corps reviewing progress along the way. The drawdown would be away from the boating season.
One of the reasons for community concern is that the drawdown at Green Peter led to massive kokanee dieoffs and water quality problems as far downstream as Albany and Millersburg. Several lawsuits have been filed over the matter.
The biggest downstream Santiam Canyon customer is Stayton, which has expressed grave concerns about keeping its slow sand filtration ponds operating amid high turbidity. When the sediment load in the water gets too high the filters either do not operate as efficiently; or will have to be shut down.
Stayton officials continue to actively participate in the discussion.
Santiam Hospital, Salem Health host March community meetings on planned merger
Santiam Hospital & Clinics presents two community town halls this month to discuss a proposed merger with Salem Health.
The two nonprofit hospital and medical systems announced plans to merge on Jan. 22. Santiam Hospital & Clinics CEO and
President Maggie Hudson will be on hand at both sessions, as will her Salem Health counterpart, Cheryl Nestor Wolfe. The merger requires approval by the Oregon Health Authority, with Hudson and Wolfe estimating that the new entity could come on line as early as September.
Both sessions will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m.:
Tuesday, March 17: Snow Peak Brewery, 280 E Water St., Stayton.
Wednesday, March 18: Giovanni’s Mountain Pizza, 146 NW Santiam Blvd., Mill City.
9285
Hudson and Wolfe will outline the planned merger and also take questions from the audience.
The presentation will be the same at both sessions so interested parties only need to attend one.
Stayton measures Council offers scaled down parks, pool levy option
By Stephen Floyd
The Stayton City Council has proposed a scaled-down version of a parks and pool levy for the May 19 ballot after a previous measure was rejected by voters in November.
During their regular meeting Feb. 17, the council unanimously approved a resolution proposing a property tax of $0.985 per $1,000 of assessed value.
This would increase property taxes is an estimated $7.50 per month for the average homeowner in Stayton, and would take effect July 1 for a period of five years.
The city has said the increase would help meet rising costs related to payroll and maintenance, which are currently being supplemented by the city’s general fund. If the levy fails the city has said parks services could be reduced to simple maintenance and the Stayton Family Memorial Pool could be forced to close.
Councilor Ken Carey said Feb. 17 losing parks and pool services for a small town like Stayton “would just be a huge detriment to this city.
“I would hate to live in a city where our parks are closed, our pool is closed,” said Carey.
A previous levy proposal of $1.10 per $1,000 was rejected by 57 percent of voters during the Nov. 4, 2025, election. An existing levy of $0.60 per $1,000 was passed by 70 percent of voters in 2021. It expires in July.
To gather voter feedback, the city held public workshops in December and January. Residents said they were concerned about higher taxes in general and whether or not the city had explored alternatives. Some residents also questioned the value of the pool, which is utilized by a smaller
population than those who use city parks.
City Manager Julia Hajduk said the city has looked into grant opportunities but such funding is typically for new projects and not existing services. She said, even if the city reduces spending to just maintain the status quo, there would still need to be an increase because “everything is going up in cost.”
Taking feedback from the workshops, the council examined possible reductions in parks and pool spending to bring the proposed levy rate to less than $1 per $1,000. During a work session Feb. 2, the council opted to reduce one parks position to part-time, call off efforts to re-open Wilderness Park, and increase usage fees for swim teams who use the pool.
These changes allowed the city to reduce the rate to the $0.985 per $1,000 proposed by the council. Mayor Brian Quigley said Feb. 17 this was “the bare-bones dollar amount” the city would need to sustain parks and pool services.
Councilor Jordan Ohrt said maintaining parks and the pool was about more than providing public services. She said Stayton is a “regional hub” with visitors from Salem, the Santiam Canyon and elsewhere, and facilities like the parks and pool help draw visitors in and keep them in town.
“We need to pass this levy so we can keep those resources open,” said Ohrt.
Jack Burnett, with Friends of the Stayton Pool, told the council his group is forming a committee to help promote the levy and show residents the value of the pool as a community resource. He said the pool is about more than recreation and can provide children with life-saving swimming lessons, help with injury recovery and support athletic scholarships for local students.
Charter revision would change mayor’s role
The Stayton City Council has proposed amending the City Charter to transfer certain mayoral duties to the council in a ballot measure for the May 19 election.
During the council’s Feb. 17 regular meeting, officials unanimously passed a resolution that asks voters to consider amendments to the charter, which was last updated in 2018.
The proposed amendments would remove the mayor’s unilateral authority in matters such as filling council vacancies, overseeing the city manager, and vetoing ordinances.
The amendments would also make clear the mayor is the political head of city government and has no administrative authority.
If passed the changes would take effect July 1.
The council previously discussed changes to the charter in a series of public meetings, including a work session Jan. 5 during which the council finalized potential changes with City Attorney Ross Williamson. The proposed amendments include:
• Making the mayor a voting member of the council, and clarifying they have no administrative duties.
• Removing the mayor’s authority to veto ordinances.
• Removing the mayor’s authority to fill a council vacancy. Instead empowering the council to fill council and mayoral vacancies through majority vote.
• Removing the mayor’s authority to hire and set the duties of the city manager and instead giving hiring authority to the council and defining specific duties in the charter.
• Adding a provision for the council to appoint a city manager pro tem as needed.
• Clarifying that the mayor and council may not coerce, harass or intimidate the city manager.
An original draft of the resolution included the creation of a sixth council position for seven voting members total to avoid potential tie votes. After discussions Feb. 17, officials concluded this may be impractical given the difficulties the council has had identifying and retaining qualified members and this provision was removed.
Mayor Brian Quigley said a tie vote does not present an unworkable problem. In the past the council has revisited a matter until they found a solution. Other amendments unrelated to the duties of elected officials include:
• A requirement that voters approve any annexation larger than three acres, unless mandated by state law.
• Empowering the municipal court judge to issue administrative warrants.
– Stephen Floyd
District 17 Two candidates running
By James Day
Two Republican candidates have come forward seeking to replace Ed Diehl in Oregon’s House District 17, which includes Stayton and the Santiam Canyon.
Diehl, who was elected in 2022, will not seek re-election because he is seeking the Republican nomination for governor.
Beth Jones, a Turner city councilor, and Dan Farrington have filed papers for the May 19 Republican primary. No Democrats have announced plans to run.
Beth Jones
Jones, 49, served on the Dallas City Council (201114) before making a strong run in House District 23 against incumbent Mike Nearman (she received more than 42 percent of the vote) and she has stayed active in local politics since moving to Marion County. She lost in the Republican primary for District 17 to Diehl in 2022 but rebounded to win a city council seat in Turner in 2025.
“I am a wife, mother, litigator, public servant, and community leader – and I’m running because I believe Oregon can and must be a place where families can thrive for generations to come,” Jones said in a statement. “My life’s work has been grounded in standing up for accountability, defending constitutional freedoms, and helping communities navigate complex challenges with clarity and integrity.”
Jones, who grew up in Keizer and Dallas, has a bachelor’s from Corban University in psychology and family studies and a law degree from Willamette University. During her Polk County days she founded a nonprofit social service agency called Bambinos, a ministry serving families in poverty with practical assistance and dignity.
“As an attorney,” Jones said, “I’ve taken on some of the toughest legal battles in our state – and won.
“My years in civil litigation have prepared me to meet the demands of legislative work with discipline, clarity, and resilience. The same skills that win cases are the skills that help craft effective laws and advocate for the people of this district.”
Jones told Our Town she is willing to visit any individual or group. She can be reached at 503-508-6043.
Dan Farrington
Farrington, 65, and a third-generation Oregonian, was raised in Newport. He ran previously for House seats in Districts 20 and 21 in Polk County, losing to Democrat Paul Evans in 2022 in the District 20 seat and falling in 2012 to Democrat Brian Clem in District 21.
“When elected, I’ll focus on lowering the cost of living by reintroducing free market principles, improving access to quality and affordable healthcare in rural communities, and ensuring our kids receive a real-world education without the political agendas and watering down of standards,” Farrington said in a statement. “I’m not interested in political games or playing around the edges. Republicans and all Oregonians need a serious leader who will fight for them.”
For events going forward people can sign up for alerts at farringtonfororegon. com and follow him on Facebook at Dan Farrington for Oregon. Farrington, who earned a bachelor’s in education from Oregon State University, founded Sunrise Medical Consultants in 2002. Under his leadership, the company was recognized as one of Oregon’s 18 Best Small Companies to Work For and created jobs for dozens of Oregonians, according to his release.
Dan and his wife Linda, have been married for 28. They live in Sublimity after raising their six children in South Salem.
“Too many hardworking Oregonians are still struggling to make ends meet,” Farrington said in his statement. “This is the result of decades of failed, far-left Democrat leadership that continues to spend more and more of our money and is achieving worse results every year. Instead of tightening their belts, the politicians continue to pursue new taxes like a sales tax and find more inventive ways to waste our money. That’s not how families in rural Oregon live, and it’s not how the government should operate.”
Beth Jones SUBMITTED
Dan Farrington SUBMITTED
Frequent Address
Santiam Senior Center 41818 Kingston-Jordan Road, Stayton Stayton Community Center, 400 W Virginia St.
Stayton Public Library, 515 N First Ave. Weekly Events
Monday
Stayton Community Food Bank, 9 a.m. - noon, 1210 Wilco Road. Repeats Monday - Friday. 503-769-4088
Santiam Senior Center, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Seniors 50 and older. Daily, weekly, monthly events. 503-767-2009, santiamseniorcenter.com Senior Meals, 11:30 a.m., Stayton Community Center. Congregate dining or delivery. Age 60 and older. Serves Stayton, Sublimity, Aumsville, Lyons, Marion, Mehama. Repeats Wednesday & Friday. $3 donation suggested. For delivery, call Ginger, 503-769-7995.
Bingo, 1 - 3:30 p.m., Santiam Senior Center. Cards $.05-.10 per game. Bring a can or box of non-perishable food for Stayton Food Bank, get a free card. Seniors 50+. Free. Repeats Thursday. 503-767-2009
Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., New Life Foursquare Church, 1090 N First Ave., Stayton. Also Thursday and Friday Santiam Canyon Community Chorus, 7 - 8:30 p.m., Stewart’s Hall, 158 SW Broadway St., Mill City. Anyone is welcome. JoAnn, 503-859-2502
Tuesday
Family Storytime, 10:30 a.m., Stayton Public Library. Explore early literacy through songs and rhythms, stories and rhyme. All ages welcome. Free. 503-769-3313
English, Citizenship, GED Classes, 6:30 - 8 p.m., United Methodist Church, 1450 Fern Ridge Road, Stayton. Classes free; $20 workbook. Repeats Thursday. Join class anytime. Mary, 503-779-7029
Wednesday
Stayton/Sublimity Chamber Business Network, 8:15 a.m. Network-building event for local businesses, non-profit professionals. Location varies each week. For location, call 503-769-3464. St. Boniface Archives and Museum, 9 a.m. - noon, 370 Main St., Sublimity. Learn about Sublimity; family history. Free. 503-508-0312
Intermediate Tai Chi, 10:15 - 11 a.m., Santiam Senior Center. Seniors 50+. Members free. Repeats Fri. 503-767-2009
Toddler Storytime: Stay & Play, 10:30 a.m., Stayton Public Library. Explore early learning and literacy together with your infant or toddler, then stay for different activities and stations for play. Older siblings welcome. Free. 503-769-3313
Lyons Storytime, 10:30 a.m., Lyons Public Library, 279 Eighth St. Read, play, sing, rhyme, make friends. Free. 503-859-2366
Beginner Tai Chi, 11:15 a.m. - noon, Santiam Senior Center. Seniors 50+. Free for members. Repeats Friday. 503-767-2009
Stayton Area Rotary, noon, Santiam Golf Club, 8724 Golf Club Road, Aumsville. Guests welcome. 503-508-9431, staytonarearotary.org
Cascade Country Quilters, 12:30 p.m., Santiam Senior Center. 50+. 503-767-2009
Pinochle, 1 p.m., Santiam Senior Center. Single deck. Seniors 50+. Free for members. 503-767-2009
Alcoholics Anonymous, 6 p.m., New Life Foursquare Church, 1090 N First Ave., Stayton.
Thursday
Sublimity Quilters, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., St. Boniface Catholic Church, 375 SE Church St., Sublimity. Make quilts for local community donations and charities. Everything provided. New members welcome.
Point Man Ministries, 6 p.m., Canyon Bible Fellowship, 446 Cedar St., Lyons. Veterans support organization. 503-859-2627.
Friday
Pinochle, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Santiam Senior Center. Double deck. Seniors 50+. Free for members. 503-767-2009
Saturday
Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 a.m., All Good Things Cafe, 190 Main St., Aumsville.
Alcoholics Anonymous, 10 a.m., New Life Foursquare Church, 1090 N First Ave., Stayton. 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
Aumsville Historical Society, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Aumsville Historical Museum, 599 Main St. Not open holiday weekends. Ted Shepard, 503-749-2744
Revival Youth Hangout, 5 - 6:30 p.m., New Hope Community Church, 657 N Second Ave., Stayton. Follow “Revival_Heartbeat” on Instagram and Tiktok. revivalheartbeat@gmail.com
Sunday
Community Lampstand, 5 -7 p.m., Brown House Event Center, 425 N First Ave., Stayton. Learn how the bible inspired the works of the Founding Fathers in the creation of the United States and its founding documents. Free. Diannah, 503-881-6147
Sunday, March 1
KofC Breakfast
7:30 - 10 a.m., St. Mary Catholic Church, 9168 SE Silver Falls Hwy., Aumsville. Knights of Columbus Council 8270 breakfast featuring homemade biscuits & gravy, scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, fruit cups, coffee & juice.. $10 for ages 13 and older. $2 children aged 12 and under. Benefits the Knights’ charitable giving causes. Joe, 503-871-4874
Family Movie Day
2 p.m., Stayton United Methodist Church, 1450 Fern Ridge Road. Join to watch a small, waste-collecting robot inadvertently embark on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind. Free, snacks included. All ages. 503-769-5700
Spotlight Community Theatre
2 p.m., Spotlight Community Theatre, 383 N Third Ave., Stayton. Take a trip to Agrabah with Aladdin Trouble, a pano-style musical. $15 general admission. $12 seniors 60+ and college students. $10 teens 14-17. $8 youth 4-13. Tickets at the door or at spotlightct.com.
Monday, March 2
DAR Chapter Meeting
10 a.m., Stayton United Methodist Church, 1450 SE Fern Ridge Road. Daughters of the American Revolution Abigail Scott Duniway Chapter meets. Refreshments. Open to all. Jan, 503-931-4112
Stayton City Council
6:30 p.m., Stayton Community Center. Open to public. Agenda available. 503769-3425, staytonoregon.gov
VFW Post 5638
7 - 8:30 p.m., Stayton Fire Department, 1988 W Ida St. Veterans of Foreign Wars monthly meeting. New members welcome. Jim Bennett, 503-983-9110
Tuesday, March 3
Stayton Lions Club
Noon, Covered Bridge Cafe, 510 N Third Ave., Stayton. Club and new members are welcome. Repeats March 17. staytonlionsclub.org
Stayton Parks and Rec Board
6 p.m., Stayton Planning Building, 311 N Third Ave. Agenda available. Open to public. 503-769-3425
Wednesday, March 4
Aumsville Senior Social Circle
10 a.m. - noon, Riverview Bank, 112 Main St., Aumsville. Join Aumsville’s senior community for a morning of cards, dice and conversation. Feel free to bring your own games. Free. Sponsored by Aumsville Exchange Club. Repeats March 18.
RDS Board Meeting
5 p.m., Beauchamp Building, 278 E High St., Stayton. Revitalize Downtown Stayton monthly meeting. Open to public. 503-767-2317, downtownstayton.org
Friday, March 6
Alice By Heart
7 p.m., Stayton High, 757 W Locust St. SHS drama production. General advisory for elements of grief, death and strobing lights. General admission $12. Students with ASB card or children 13 and under are $10. Repeats 7 p.m. March 7 and 4 p.m. March 8.
Saturday, March 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. March 21; 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. March 10 & March. 24. 855-402-8255, jsamuel12@ comcast.net
Scio Saturday Market
9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Lamb & Wool Fairgrounds, 38999 NE First St., Scio. Vendors, hot chocolate, coffee, snacks, free popcorn. Free admission. Vendor applications at sciosaturdaymarket.com.
Youth Leadership Summit
9 a.m. - 4:15 p.m., Boys & Girls Club, 1395 NE Summer St., Salem. ILead is a free, oneday high school leadership and wellness summit connecting Mid-Willamette Valley for teens. Leadership workshops, games, live DJ, lunch, games and more. Register at cityofsalem.net/ileadyouthsummit. Act on Radio Auditions
1 - 3 p.m., Spotlight Theatre, 383 N Third Ave., Stayton. Auditions for The Shadow: The Red Macaw (1937) and The Plot Murder (1938). No line memorization required, just the ability to read in character. Questions? Contact Director Colleen Rogers at srr.colleen@yahoo.com.
Sunday, March 8
Daylight Saving Time Starts
Remember to set your clocks 1 hour forward.
Brown House Tour
Noon - 2 p.m., Brown House Event Center, 425 N First Ave., Stayton. Tour the historic Charles and Martha Brown House. $5/person. Children under 18 are free. For a special reserved guided tour, call 503-769-8860.
Monday, March 9
Sublimity City Council
6 p.m., Sublimity City Hall, 245 NW Johnson. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-769-5475
Lyons Fire District Board
6 p.m., Lyons Fire Station, 1114 Main St. Agenda available. Open to public. 503-859-2410, lyonsrfd.org
Stayton Fire District Board
6 p.m., Stayton Fire Station, 1988 W Ida St. Agenda available. Open to public. 503-769-2601, staytonfire.org
Cascade School Board
7 p.m., Cascade District Office, 10226 SE Marion Road, Turner. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-749-8010
Aumsville City Council
7 p.m., Aumsville Community Center, 555 Main St. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-749-2030, aumsville.us
Tuesday, March 10
Ancestry Detectives
10 a.m. - noon, Silver Falls Library. Stuck on your family tree? Learn effective strategies to overcome genealogical obstacles. Beginner, intermediate and seasoned genealogists welcome. Free. ancestrydetectives.org
Thursday, March 12
Red Cross Blood Drive
9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Stayton High, 757 W Locust St. For appointments, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. 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 March 26. 503-873-3093
Aumsville Food Pantry
Noon - 4 p.m., Bethel Baptist Church, 645 Cleveland St., Aumsville. Open to people in need. Repeats Feb. 26. 503-749-2128
Santiam Heritage Foundation
6 p.m., Brown House Event Center, 425 N First Ave., Stayton. Board of trustees’ meeting. Open to public. 503-769-8860
Aumsville Fire District
6:30 p.m., Aumsville Fire Station, 490 Church St. Agenda available. Open to public. 503-749-2894, aumsvillefire.org
Lyons Library Board
7 p.m., Lyons Public Library, 279 Eighth St. 503-859-2366
Friday, March 13
Community Play Group
10 - 11:30 a.m., Doris’s Place, 955 E Santiam St., Stayton. Free opportunity to spend time with your children, socialize with other families and build support with the community. For families with children 0-5 years of age. 503-769-1120
Saturday, March 14
Flea Market
9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Santiam Valley Grange, 1140 Fifth St., Lyons. Free admission. Burger lunch with potato salad, deviled eggs, desserts, coffee, pop available for purchase. 503-859-2161
Doll Show & Sale
10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Linn County Fair & Expo, 3700 E Knox Butte Dr., Albany. Wagon Wheel Doller’s 43rd annual Spring Doll Show & Expo. Admission is $8. Children 10 and younger are free. Presale admission from 9 to 10 a.m. is $10. wagonwheeldollers@gmail.com
Monday, March 16
Stayton Friends of the Library
11 a.m., Stayton Public Library. New members welcome. 503-932-2733.
Red Cross Blood Drive
Noon - 5 p.m., Foothills Church, 975 Fern Ridge Road, Stayton. For appointments, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
Stayton City Council
6:30 p.m., Stayton Community Center. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-769-3425, staytonoregon.gov
Santiam Masonic Meeting
7 p.m., Santiam Lodge #25, 122 N Third Ave., Stayton. All Masons welcome. New members encouraged to drop by. “Santiam Lodge #25” on Facebook.
Tuesday, March 17
St. Patrick’s Day
North Santiam Watershed Council
6 p.m., Old Mehama School, 22057 SE Emma St., Lyons. Open to public. For Zoom link information, call 503-930-8202 or email council@northsantiam.org.
American Legion Post #58
6 - 7:30 p.m., Weddle Funeral Service, 1777 N Third Ave., Stayton. All veterans and all branches of service are welcome. Post #58 will pay first year’s dues for all who join. 503-508-2827
Community Town Hall
6 - 7:30 p.m., Snow Peak Brewing, 280 E Water St., Stayton. Cheryl Nester Wolfe RN, president and CEO of Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics, and Maggie Hudson MBA, president and CEO of Santiam Hospital & Clinics host a town hall on the partnering of the two hospitals. Open to public. santiamhospital.org
Stayton Library Board
6 p.m., Stayton Public Library. Open to public. 503-769-3313
Thursday, March 19
Stayton Public Arts Commission
6 p.m., Stayton Public Works Building, 311 N Third Ave. Help plan and organize local art events. Open to public. Jennifer Siciliano, 503-769-2998, JSiciliano@ staytonoregon.gov.
NSSD Board
6 p.m., Sublimity School, 431 E Main St. Board meeting for North Santiam School District. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-769-6924, nsantiam.k12. or.us
Friday, March 20
Community Play Group
10 - 11:30 a.m., Santiam Chapel Assembly of God, 440 Fifth St., Lyons. Free opportunity to spend time with your children, socialize with other families and build support with the community. For families with children 0-5 years of age. 503-769-1120
Expungement Clinic
2 - 6 p.m., Public Defender’s Office, 198 SE Commercial St. #100, Salem. Expungement allows people to clear up their past criminal record. $33 fee applies when eligible. Free parking at Liberty Square parking garage, levels 1-2. 971-332-5332
Saturday, March 21
Pancake Breakfast
8 - 10 a.m., Santiam Valley Grange, 1140 Fifth St., Lyons. Pancakes, eggs, ham, biscuits & gravy, juice, coffee. $7/person. 503859-2161
Bethel Clothing Closet
9 a.m. - noon, Bethel Baptist Church, 645 Cleveland St., Aumsville. Clothing from newborn to 2x. Free. 503-749-2128
Joseph´s Storehouse of Hope
11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Mari-Linn School, 641 Fifth St., Lyons. Food boxes. 503-881-9846
History Talks
Wednesday, March 18
Red Cross Blood Drive
Noon - 5 p.m., Cascade High, 10226 SE Marion Road, Turner. For appointments, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. 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
Monday, March 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
Stayton Planning Commission
7 p.m., Stayton Community Center. Open to the public. Agenda available. 503-769-3425, staytonoregon.gov
Aumsville City Council
7 p.m., Aumsville Community Center, 555 Main St. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-749-2030, aumsville.us
Tuesday, March 24
Lyons City Council
6:30 p.m., Lyons City Hall, 449 Fifth St. Open to public. Agenda available. 503859-2167, cityoflyons.org
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, March 25
Aumsville City Council Planning Retreat
6 p.m., Aumsville Community Center, 555 Main St. Planning retreat to discuss current and future council goals. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-749-2030, aumsville.us
Saturday, March 28
Concealed Carry Class
11 a.m., Stayton Moose Lodge #2639, 352 E Florence St. Oregon & Utah combined concealed carry class. Moose members $50. Non-members $60. Limited seating. Sign up by calling 503-877-2226.
Tuesday, March 31
State of the County
11:30 a.m., Salem Convention Center, 200 SE Commercial St. Join Marion County Commissioners for an update on the past year’s accomplishments and outlining plans for the future. Buffet lunch $20; reservations close at noon March 27. Those attending without attending the buffet are free. Both register at bit.ly/ MarionSOTC26.
Easter Events
3 - 4:30 p.m., Brown House Event Center, 425 N First Ave., Stayton. “Local Early Oregon Pioneers” presented by Aumsville Historical Society. Light refreshments. Free. 503-769-8860, brownhouse.org
Alcoholics Anonymous
6 - 8:30 p.m., Bethel Baptist Church, 645 Cleveland St., Aumsville. Open meeting.
To get your Easter events published in the April Our Town, send your releases – including date, time, location, activity, cost, contact information – to datebook@ mtangelpub.com. Or drop them off at 2340 Martin Dr., Stayton.
Who Else Is In The Epstein Files?
There is a lot of outrage out there today regarding Jeffrey Epstein and his circle of accomplices. We want justice against those who joined in with his evil exploitation of minors. As we watch one famous person after another get pushed out into the light, they first deny it, then resign and run to hide in shame. “They’re getting what they deserve,” we think to ourselves. But are they really so much worse than the rest of us? By God’s standards, the issue is not just a matter of someone being “underage.” It is a matter of just having sex before marriage and of breaking one’s vows by adultery after being married. Our culture has given itself a free pass called “consent” in order to indulge in the most outrageous sexual immorality. Then it gives awards to those musicians who sing the best songs to help them “glory in their shame” (Phil. 3:19).
What Does God Think of This?
There is a lot of misunderstanding about what God thinks about all this sin. Does God just watch and wait for Judgment Day, or does He judge sin in this life? The confusion is due to the fact that God’s judgment for sin comes in two phases, not just one. First, God judges our sins constantly during this life through the painful consequences of our sins. This is what the Bible calls “the wrath of God.” His wrath is not always lightning from heaven; often it is God giving us over to the consequences of what we insist on doing. If we break our marriage vows, we often pay in terms of a broken marriage, broken children, and a lonely life. We reap what we sow.
But then, later on, at the end of the age when Jesus returns, He will judge the earth in righteousness on Judgment Day. Every individual person who has ever lived will be judged for all the sins they have committed in this life. Every one of us will stand before God and give an account, and that will include Jeffrey Epstein and his buddies.
That Is When Being “Saved” Is Going to Be Very Important.
Being saved from God’s judgment also unfolds in two phases. If we have believed the good news concerning Jesus Christ by trusting in what He accomplished for us by dying in our place on the cross, we have no need to fear Judgement Day. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). True Christians will not be judged for the wrong we have done. That has already been paid for by Jesus Christ. His blood sacrifice covered all the sins of all those who love Him. That is the good news. Jesus has saved us from hell.
But as
Christians, we will still be judged, but only with regard to the good we have done. Whatever suffering we have endured in this life for doing what is right is going to be honored. It will all have been worth it.
But just as sin is constantly being punished in this life by “the wrath of God being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness” through the painful consequences of doing what is evil, foolish and wrong, so obedience to Jesus Christ as Lord is constantly being rewarded in this life as well, by the blessings of God being revealed from heaven through the pleasant consequences of doing what is good, wise, and right. For example, keeping ourselves from sexual immorality is its own reward as we get to enjoy a lasting marriage and a better family life. The goodness and wisdom of God leads to life just as the evil and foolishness of sin leads to death.
of town --- can become a failed state, a place where everyone is constantly at war with everyone else, scamming one another and being scammed, defrauding one another and being defrauded.
What’s more, Paul tells us that when we see people being turned over to sinful behaviors in this way it is not going to cause the wrath of God to fall on them but, rather, it is the wrath of God being revealed from heaven against their ungodliness. Their behavior itself is the wrath of God. People, like Jeffrey Epstein, and all of his friends, have been turned over to their sins by their foolishness.
You See What Paul Sees?
“There is a lot of misunderstanding about what God thinks about all this sin. Does God just watch and wait for Judgement Day, or does He judge sin in this life?”
Rom. 1:18-2:1 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”
By Gregg Harris
mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
The culture that results from the wrath of God being revealed from heaven is a culture of iniquity and corruption. It never ends well.
But Wait, There’s More!
In the second chapter of Paul’s same letter to the church in Rome he rebukes those who judge those he just described in the first chapter for practicing the same sins in secret. He writes, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things” (Rom. 2:1). It’s called hypocrisy. We all love to look down our noses at the Jeffrey Epsteins of this world and judge them harshly. But the problem is, we may be doing so while hiding our own sins from view. This is not a Democrat versus Republican kind of thing. It’s a sinful heart versus a holy God kind of thing. We might all find our names in some version of the Epstein Files if our own sins were made public. We are all guilty.
The only solution is for us to admit the truth about ourselves, to humbly acknowledge that we also are guilty before our Creator God, and that we need a Savior to pay our moral debt to God and save us from God’s wrath toward sin. Jesus Christ is that Savior. And He is the only one who can rescue us.
Paul Gets On A Roll.
This is what the Apostle Paul was writing about in his letter to the church in Rome. He teaches us about “the wrath of God,” telling us clearly that it is constantly “being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness.” The painful consequences of our sins pile up over time as God repeatedly “gives us over” to our foolishness and we go deeper and deeper into our rebellion against Him.
Paul even spells out plainly what this “wrath of God” looks like when it is happening in our culture. He describes how an entire society --- not just a bad neighborhood, or rough part
“Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-
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
Please Note: There will be no Family Friendly Movie Night at the Palace Theater until further notice due to scheduling conflicts. Stay tuned.
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 Harris — www.graciouscross.org
HP Civil Court dispute continues
By Stephen Floyd
An Aumsville construction company has appealed a $12.8 million judgment owed to its former CEO and has asked the court to delay enforcement of payments.
On Jan. 23, HP Civil Inc. filed with the Oregon Court of Appeals in a wrongful termination lawsuit by former CEO Roger Silbernagel. The matter has been assigned to the Settlement Conference Program to seek a resolution without further judicial intervention. Parties have until June 9 to reach a settlement or the case will proceed before the appeals court.
Defendants filed a related motion with the lower court Feb. 18 to stay enforcement of the judgment while the appeal is pending. As of press time no hearing on the motion was scheduled.
In April of 2025, a Marion County jury found company owners Larry Gesher and Josh Smith breached their fiduciary duty to fellow owner Silbernagel by forcing him out in 2022. Silbernagel also claimed Gesher and Smith fired him as retaliation for
investigating racial discrimination within the company.The jury did not find grounds for this claim.
Jurors awarded Silbernagel $200,000, while Judge Lindsay Partridge ordered defendants to pay $8.53 million for Silbernagel’s stake in the company, $678,730 in lost profit sharing and $3.4 million in interest. Silbernagel has also requested $707,968 in attorneys fees. Defendants were ordered to pay Silbernagel in five yearly installments but missed the first payment of $4.4 million on Dec. 5, 2025. They told the court they planned to appeal and, if the judgment is overturned, paying Silbernagel now could cause irreparable harm. That argument was rejected, and on Jan. 29 HP Civil was ordered to give Silbernagel shares in the company as collateral for missed payments.
A Feb. 3 motion asks to overturn the order on the grounds the judge failed to follow court procedure. A hearing is set for March 23 to consider this request, Silbernagel’s request for attorneys fees, and whether or not defendants should pay interest on the missed $4.4 million payment.
New trials, new legislation on 2020 wildfires
PacifiCorp’s legal troubles over the 2020 Labor Day fires have reached a fever pitch as damages trials and settlements ramp up, and lawmakers consider consumer protections for wildfire suits.
For continuing coverage of 2020 wildfire litigation including the latest jury awards, go to ourtownsantiam.com.
The Oregon Court of Appeals heard oral arguments Feb. 4 in PacifiCorp’s appeal of James et al vs. PacifiCorp, an ongoing class action lawsuit over the Santiam, Echo Mountain Complex, South Obenchain and 242 Fires. PacifiCorp argued there was insufficient evidence to certify the class much less bring the matter to trial and asked for a 2023 jury’s finding of negligence to be overturned. Plaintiff attorneys told justices there was not only ample evidence of negligence but the jury also found grounds for recklessness and willful disregard, and argued the verdict should stand.
$53.8 million has been awarded since the beginning of February to 10 plaintiffs as new damages trials begin every week. As of February damages trials are being held four times per month to
Courthouse roundup
Sex offender arrested for possession of child porn
A local sex offender with a history of grooming teenage boys has been arrested for allegedly possessing child pornography.
Robert Lee Allen Jr., 36, of Stayton, was arrested Feb. 19 by the Stayton Police for offenses allegedly occurring in July of 2025.
According to charges filed in Marion County Circuit Court, Allen allegedly contacted two minors online, despite being banned from contact with minors as a highlevel sex offender. He also allegedly coerced one victim into performing sexual acts on camera. Allen is charged with using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct and two counts of unlawful contact with a child. If convicted he faces up to 20 years in prison on the highest count. He was ordered held on $150,000 bail and as of press time remained lodged in the Marion County Jail.
stole cash in seven incidents from 2022 to 2025, with each totaling more than $1,000. He is charged with seven counts of firstdegree theft, each carrying up to five years in prison. He was released from the Linn County Jail Jan. 31 on $5,000 bail.
Prison possible for repeat drug offender
An Aumsville man with a history of drug offenses is facing possible prison time after a new arrest for alleged drug possession.
Randall Lee Lovellette, 63, was charged Feb. 20 in Marion County Circuit Court for allegedly possessing “substantial quantities” of methamphetamine on Jan. 29, according to court records. If convicted as charged he faces up to five years in prison.
more speedily resolve pending claims as parties have yet to reach a settlement. Plaintiffs at the most recent trials testified about harrowing evacuations and wrenching losses. More than 1,600 claims remain unresolved, representing possible awards of more than $8 billion.
A proposed ban on wildfire surcharges is working its way through the Oregon Senate. SB 1553 would ban power companies from charging ratepayers to recover court awards and civil fines for wildfires caused by negligence, and no more than half of settlements over such claims. The bill must pass both chambers by March 8 to become law.
The U.S. government settled for $575 million with PacifiCorp Feb. 20 for wildfire damage to federal land in Oregon and California. The lawsuit settles claims over the Echo Mountain Complex, South Obenchain, Archie Creek and 242 fires in Oregon, and the Slater and McKinney fires in California. PacifiCorp denies liability for the Santiam fire, blaming damage on the lightningcaused Beachie Creek Fire.
– Stephen Floyd
Allen has been a registered sex offender since 2010 when he was convicted of three counts of third-degree sexual abuse for groping multiple underaged victims. He was sentenced to five years of probation, which was extended another five years in 2015 after he failed to register as a sex offender. In 2016 he was investigated for grooming and stalking two male victims ages 16 and 17, including requests for sexually explicit photos and an offer to one boy of $1,000 to give Allen a massage. This constituted a probation violation and resulted in a 16-day jail sanction.
Charges for seven thefts
Travis Jason Grice, 46, of Aumsville, was charged Jan. 29 in Linn County Circuit Court for alleged thefts from Stayton-area contractor Legacy Contracting Inc.
According to court records, Grice allegedly
Prosecutors filed notice of intent to seek a stiff sentence against Lovellette due to a pattern of drug offenses. He pleaded guilty in 2021 to delivery of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school and was sentenced to five years of probation.
Probation for knife threat
A Stayton man has been sentenced to 18 months probation after accepting a plea deal for allegedly threatening a woman with a knife. Douglas Arthur Richardson, 56, pleaded no contest Feb. 5 in Marion County Circuit Court to menacing. While on probation he must complete 80 hours of community service, complete anger management, and may not have contact with the victim or possess any weapons. According to court records, Richardson placed the victim in fear for her personal safety during an incident Dec. 19, 2024, that involved a knife and threat of harm to an animal. The two were neighbors at the time.
– Stephen Floyd
Cascade cheer Cougars take third at state meet
The Cascade High cheer squad took third place in the Class 4A small traditional competition at the OSAA championships in Oregon City.
Cascade totaled 66.60 points, trailing only Sweet Home (89.80) and Newport (80.50). Stayton took fifth with 58.30, while Regis took sixth in the Class 3A/2A/1A event with 70.20 points.
Performing for Cascade were Allisson Arriaga Tellez, Bella Larsen, Carlee Landers, Makayla White, Mikayla Walker, Nevaeh Sutton, Tatiana Rodriguez Provost and Violet Remmer. The team is coached by Miranda Rodriguez and assistant Emily Holland.
“I am so proud of these young women for truly pushing themselves to be a part of their team and making the last few weeks about the whole and not the individual,” Rodriguez told Our Town. “Everyone stepped up and in together. They raised each other up and achieved their goal of enjoying their sport and being a kind competitor. They had fun handing out Valentines, good luck ducks and candies at state, making
Sports Datebook
All home games
Tuesday, Feb. 3 Swimming
4 p.m. Silverton vs South Albany
new friends through the long days over the season, and ultimately were able to bring state hardware home, which hasn’t happened in some time for Cascade cheer. I am forever grateful for these athletes.”
Wrestling: Cascade placed 14 athletes in the top four on their way to a second-place finish behind perennial power Sweet Home in the Class 4A Special District II meet at Newport. The Huskies scored 507 points, with the Cougars at 325.5. Hans Kamm (165) and Matthew Hinkle (215) both captured district championships for Cascade, which sent out wrestlers in waves to scoop up team points.
Elijah Sandoval (285), Griffin Copple (175), Jack Mulvahill (106) and Jonas Camillo (138) all stood second on the
Tuesday, March 17 Softball
3:30 p.m. Stayton vs Valley Catholic
4 p.m. Regis vs Clatskanie
4:30 p.m. Cascade vs The Dalles/Dufur Girls Tennis
4 p.m. Stayton vs Dallas Boys Tennis
4 p.m. Cascade vs Crescent Valley Baseball
4 p.m. Regis vs Clatskanie
4:30 p.m. Stayton vs Valley Catholic
Wednesday, March 18 Softball
3:30 p.m. Stayton vs Molalla Girls Tennis
4 p.m. Cascade vs Crescent Valley
/ 123RF.COM
For complete schedules, visit osaa.org.
Thursday, March 19 Boys Tennis
4 p.m. Stayton vs Lebanon Girls Tennis
4 p.m. Cascade vs Catlin Gabel Softball
5 p.m. Cascade vs Scappoose
Tuesday, March 31
Softball
3:30 p.m. Stayton vs Estacada Girls Tennis
4 p.m. Stayton vs South Albany
Thursday, March 19
Boys Tennis
4 p.m. Stayton vs Lebanon Girls Tennis
4 p.m. Cascade vs Catlin Gabel Softball
5 p.m. Cascade vs Scappoose
Tuesday, March 31 Softball
3:30 p.m. Stayton vs Estacada Girls Tennis
4 p.m. Stayton vs South Albany
winner’s platform. Landon Morris was third for the Cougars at 106, while Colton Riesterer (113), Cruz Ramirez (126), Gage Hampton (190), Parker Hammer (120), Riley Coleman (175) and Wyatt Bird (132) all finished fourth.
Stayton, led by district 144-pound champion Leonard Michel, was eighth with 78.5 points.
Regis scored 89.5 points and finished sixth at the Class 2A/1A Special District I meet at Colton. Lowell won the competition with 218. Four Rams finished in the top four, with Andrew Bischoff taking second at 113 pounds. Teammate Josh Crowell (126) took third, while Brody Koenig (106) and Eli Bischoff (165) both finished fourth.
In the girls Class 4A-3A-2A-1A district meet at Molalla, Cascade’s Nevaeh Hampton brought home a district title at 125 pounds. Peyton Welch (190) was fourth and Madelyn Hendricks (120) was fifth for Regis.
State championships for boys and girls in all classes were Feb. 26-28 in Portland. I will
report the results in my April 1 column.
Swimming: The Stayton boys squad scored 8 points and the girls 2 at the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A state championships in Beaverton. The boys 200 free relay squad of Titus Ford, Daniel Young, Wilson Hofman and Jesus Comstock took fourth in 1:37.87, while the same four swimmers finished fifth in the 400 free relay while clocking 3:37.68. Leah Ellerbe took fifth in the 500 free in 5:27.50 to pace the Stayton girls. Ellerbe also took eighth in the 200 free and swam a leg on the 400 free relay squad that finished 11th.
Basketball: Hoops season was steaming toward the playoffs as Our Town’s press time approached. The Regis girls in Class 2A and the Stayton girls in Class 4A both are ranked No. 1, while the Regis boys are third and the Cascade girls are seventh. I will report on the outcome of the state tournaments on our Facebook page and in my April 1 column.
Got a news tip? Email me at james.d@ mtangelpub.com. Follow me on X (Twitter) @jameshday and Our Town on Facebook.
Whitewater permit changes will have minimal impact on North Santiam River
By James Day
Oregon officials have been looking at changes in the permit system for whitewater rafters.
Currently, only craft of more than 10 feet must pay the permit fee, which is used to assist in statewide marine invasive species efforts. Marine Board officials, however, considered applying the permit, which will cost $8 in 2026, to craft shorter than 10 feet as well.
Alan Hanson, the policy and environmental program manager for the Oregon Marine Board, told Our Town that the rule change would have little or no impact on those putting in and putting out in the North Santiam River.
The North Santiam has some Class IV rapids and also has excellent permanent boating facilities, Hanson said, two key conditions that have to exist to waive the permit. Hanson said that the new rules will have more impact on more remote facilities without put-in and put-out facilities.
Typically, Hanson said, whitewater rafts and stand-up paddle boards are over 10 feet in
length, so they have been required to have a permit since 2019. Many recreational kayaks are in the 10-foot range so they may be now impacted depending on length. The biggest impact will be to the whitewater-specific kayaks which tend to be under 10 feet in length. Permits are only required for “boats” as defined by the U.S. Coast Guard, so pool floaties and inner tubes are not subject to the permit rules. The Marine Board held a hybrid-style public hearing on Dec. 4 at the agency’s office in Salem, but the public comment period closed Dec. 15. The board approved the new rules Jan. 29.
Paddlers on the North Santiam River. JAMES DAY
Something to Think About Oak Park Village MCHA apologizes for long delay in water repairs
By Stephen Floyd
The Marion County Housing Authority (MCHA) has apologized for the months it took to correct low water pressure at Oak Park Village in Stayton.
Tenants of the low-income senior apartments filed at least five complaints between September and December before the problem – a faulty valve – was repaired in January.
Jason Icenbice, executive director of MCHA, told Our Town his agency’s slow response was “unacceptable” and should not be the norm.
“Our property management team must do a better job of dispatching qualified vendor professionals (plumbers, electricians, etc.) to solve these types of issues when they occur in the future,” said Icenbice.
Oak Park Village resident Scott Wilson said he was grateful residents could now reliably take showers and wash dishes again.
What was reported?
According to MCHA, the agency first received a report of failing water pressure Sept. 15, 2025. MCHA maintenance staff responded Sept. 18 and found normal water pressure when testing the lines.
Icenbice said this response time was normal and his staff typically responds to maintenance requests within 48 to 72 hours. He said if it was an emergency such as no water pressure at all his staff would respond within 24 hours.
Because the problem appeared intermittent, Icenbice said this became a challenge for maintenance. He said there were no grounds to investigate further when only one resident had called and staff did not observe a problem.
A second complaint was received from another tenant Sept. 17, 2025, who said she experienced problems the same day as the first complaint, with pressure going up and down. There was no maintenance staff response.
MCHA received additional complaints Sept. 30 and Oct. 9 with no responses from maintenance staff. Icenbice said this is where MCHA could have acted swifter and called in a licensed vendor to investigate.
“That issue kind of laid in limbo for a little longer than we preferred,” he said.
Icenbice added that this was due in part to a maintenance technician being out on medical leave, which interrupted responses. He also said there was some confusion because similar reports had been filed with the City of Stayton, which is not responsible for maintaining the facility.
City of Stayton response
According to the City of Stayton, the public works department was first contacted about water pressure at Oak Park Village Oct. 1, 2025. Interim Public Works Director Barry Buchanan said the resident was advised the city has no oversight of the facility and advised they should contact a licensed plumber for repairs.
The city received additional complaints Oct. 9 and Nov. 12. After the third one, Buchanan and the city’s Operations Supervisor Kendall Smith visited the facility.
Water pressure on a fire hydrant outside Oak Park Village tested normal at 98 psi. Pressure on the customer side of was intermittent, from 71 psi while not in use to 27 psi with a faucet turned on.
The city concluded the problem was likely a faulty pressure reducing valve. The resident was advised to contact MCHA for repairs.
An overdue solution
MCHA received a fifth complaint Dec. 12 and reached out to Reliant K Plumbing of South Salem. The vendor arrived three days later, identified the failing valve and made arrangements to conduct repairs.
The failing valve was replaced Jan. 9 and Icenbice said there have been no further reports of problems at the site.
Wilson said some residents are concerned they were not taken seriously because they are senior citizens, or because they live in subsidized housing. He said he also wouldn’t be surprised if the agency wasn’t overwhelmed with work requests, or if budgets are tight, and these may have been an issue.
Icenbice said there is “no excuse” for the slow response and
Sept. 15:
he wants residents to know MCHA takes their concerns seriously. “I can’t tell our tenants enough they are welcome to reach out to me,” he said. “We do not want them to feel like their issues or concerns are going unheard or unaddressed. We get busy, we’re pulled in a lot of directions, but that’s really no excuse.”
Icenbice added he is available directly to hear resident concerns if they want to reach out. He can be contacted at 503-584-4775 or JIcenbice@mchaor.org.
Reality check
I went for a walk the other day. As I was waiting to cross the street, a car drove by. Perched on its roof was a coffee mug. I waved at the driver and pointed at the mug, which he had presumably left there as he got ready to go to work or run some errands. The driver waved back and kept going. I’m sure he was impressed by the friendly old guy pointing to his car.
It was a case of another coffee mug in peril. I’m sure many people have done the same thing. I know I have. There are a lot of things that we share beyond the loss of an occasional coffee mug.
Each day it becomes more apparent to me that there is an inherent good in people. Sure, there are a few clinkers out there. Some are dull, greedy, selfabsorbed and ornery loudmouths.
Finding delight and kindness in everyday encounters
But I promised not to write about politicians.
The 99% of the rest of the folks you will encounter on any given day are bright, curious, interesting, thoughtful and more than a little kind. Some are also, well, unique. It’s not that they are wrong; they just need to check a few facts – and throw their smart phone in the river.
I have written at length about how and why information found on the internet needs to be verified.
Just the other day I was informed that the federal government was controlling
the weather using satellites. It is a ploy formerly used by the Soviet Union, I was told. The idea was that cold weather would convince Congress to allow more oil drilling to keep people warm. Certainly a nefarious plot. I was also told that all of this information is readily available on the “dark web.”
As an old-school editor, I often use the “sniff test.” Does a statement make sense? Does it seem realistic? Is it attributable to a credible source? Has it been verified by scientific research?
Such a test helps me determine when conversations are for entertainment purposes only. That way, I didn’t have to worry about whether a James Bond villain is trying to take over the world.
Our encounters provide us with a shared experience. Most often, those encounters are also a shared delight. They are something to enjoy and more entertaining than a roomful of kittens.
These exchanges might not be the most profound, but they are a means of touching base with folks with whom we share a neighborhood or even a town. Such exchanges are not confined to small towns. Even in the largest cities, I have had extraordinary encounters.
Chance encounters can create magic. It’s our shared experiences that often begin with a nod and a wave that can bring us together for a few words and a few thoughts. No judgment. No debate.
Just people sharing the experience of life.
“How are you today, Mrs. Jones?” “Fine, and how are you?”
From there, one can never tell where a conversation will lead.
Carl Sampson is a freelance editor and writer. He lives in Stayton.
GENERAL
SILVERTON ELKS FLEA
MARKET March 14th, April 11th, and May 9th. 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. 300 High Street Silverton. Call: 503-931-4517 for more information.
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
SERVICES
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
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
Place your ad in Marketplace 503-769-9525
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
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. Call Silverton Grange, 503-516-5722
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Educator with the most submissions WINS!
Baby Me Community Connections Group
Friday, March 6th, 9:30am-11:30am
Doris’s Place • 955 East Santiam St. • Stayton, Oregon
March 18th Forum
The Power of Healthy Sleep: Why it Matters
6:00 pm
Freres Auditorium 1401 N 10th Ave., Stayton
Join us for our March Healthcare Forum. Mari Goldner, MD will provide an overview of common sleep disorders, how they are diagnosed, and ways our clinic helps patients improve sleep and overall wellness.
Mari Goldner, MD Santiam Sleep & Neurodiagnostics Center