“DiNae was amazing... Her professionalism... flexibility, communication, and ability to listen set us up for a very successful home sale and the purchase of our new home that we absolutely love!” – Travis and Janile Yost
Audrey is a valuable member of many activities and organizations within our school. From FFA, sports, and FBLA, she is an essential team player and an excellent
She is respectful, courteous, and organized, there for here peers when she is needed.
Something to Talk About Palace changes up concessions ............19
P.O. Box 927
Mount Angel, OR 97362 401 Oak St. Silverton, OR 97381 503-845-9499 ourtown.life@mtangelpub.com ourtownlive.com
Our Town mailed free to residents and businesses in the 97362, 97375, 97381 zip codes. Subscriptions for outside this area are $60 annually. Deadline for ads or submissions for the March 15 issue is March 5.
Paula Mabry Editor & Publisher
Jim Kinghorn Advertising Director
DeeDe Williams Office Manager
James Day Sports Editor & Reporter
Stephen Floyd Digital Editor & Reporter
Bea Shapiro Designer & Copy Editor
Melissa Wagoner Reporter
Sara Morgan Datebook
Janet Patterson Distribution
Steve Beckner Custom Design
Silverton High School sophmore Patrick Hart gave a speech at the Feb. 19 walkout.
MELISSA WAGONER
On the Cover
An estimated 240 students from Silverton High School and Silverton Middle School lined both sides of Water Street in front of the Silverton Civic Center to protest ICE activities.
MELISSA WAGONER
More pictures at ourtownlive.com
Correction Scotts Mills water reservoir
In the Feb. 15 issue of Our Town, an article titled “Water Works: Scotts Mills seeks $2.4 mil for water system upgrades” should have stated the city has been advised to decommission a 40,000-gallon secondary reservoir dating to the 1940s, which currently serves roughly half of the city’s residents. The story referred to the reservoir as already disconnected. Our Town regrets any confusion the error may have caused.
Thank you for spending time with Our Town. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Above
Walkout Silverton High students stage protest against ICE activities
By Melissa Wagoner
Several weeks ago, Silverton High School sophomore Hannah Warren experienced something she never thought she would experience, the loss of her friend, Jason Ruiz.
“Jason was an incredible student and a wonderful friend,” Warren said, “He and his family were here to seek refuge from the cartel violence in Mexico.”
Granted a visa that enabled them to temporarily reside in the U.S., Ruiz and his family spent three years seeking permanent citizenship before being deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“I wanted to do something to bring our community together, and at the same time to stand against injustice,” Warren said. And so, when she discovered students all over Oregon were holding organized walkouts to protest ICE deportations like that of the Ruiz family, she decided to follow suit.
“Ten days ago, I contacted everyone I knew with one simple question: ‘If students at our school organized a walkout to protest ICE, would you be interested?’” Warren recalled. “Students reached out almost immediately with questions and excitement, which assured me that there was enough interest for it to be feasible.”
Scheduled for Feb. 19 at 1:23 p.m., the walkout was viewed with concern by Silver Falls School District and Silverton
High School staff.
“We are resolved in creating safe spaces for our students to exercise their rights to participate or not participate,” Silver Falls Superintendent Kimberly Kellison wrote in a message to students and parents on Feb. 18.
“At this time, we want to clarify that the school and district are not organizing, sponsoring, or endorsing any student protest activity. We understand students sometimes wish to express their views on issues important to them. Students have the right to First Amendment expression, however, the primary responsibility of the school is to maintain a safe and orderly learning environment for all students.”
It was a point of view Warren understood.
“[I] would like to commend the SHS administration for their incredible leadership,” she said. “They remained unbiased and very respectful throughout the entire process, neither endorsing nor supporting the movement, but prioritizing student safety over all else. They consistently worked to compromise with us and find solutions that would benefit all students and our community.”
But school officials weren’t the only ones concerned.
“Right now we are in a time when emotions are running high, so as a parent I was nervous of how others may react and that the students [would face] violence or negative
reactions,” Lisa Gerlits said. Her daughter, sophomore Annabel Nankman, helped to organize the walkout alongside Warren.
Similarly, parent of two walkout participants, Stacey Posegate said, “Honestly, before either kid even decided to participate, I toyed with the idea of telling them no because I was worried about their safety. I ended up taking a step back to let them decide what they wanted to do and wasn’t surprised at all they decided to, very publicly, stand up for their friends and the type of world they want to live in…”
With so much shared anxiety prior to the event, it was unsurprising that, when an estimated 200 participants began pouring out the main doors of SHS precisely at 1:23 p.m., the on-site staff were visibly tense.
“I tried to have conversations with some of the students that don’t agree…” assistant principal Joshua Craig said, watching as many of those students climbed into vehicles already decorated with large “Trump” flags.
“I said, ‘You say you love America… this is part of that.’”
Immediately setting off for the Silverton Civic Center, three quarters of a mile away, the line of sign-toting SHS protesters was joined by 40 more as they passed Silverton Middle School.
“I truly believe that all immigrants belong here,” one SHS
Drop by for a cup of coffee or tea and an informal chat with Our Town Editor and Publisher Paula Mabry and some of the crew. Stay just long enough to say hello, or relax and talk for a while.
We’re looking for ideas on keeping independent, local journalism a sustainable part of our community. We welcome your thoughts. Or, if you have an idea for an article, we’re open to that, too.
student said as he walked. “I have family that are immigrants and friends that are immigrants – illegal and not. This is the kind of thing that turns into fascism and I don’t want to sit there and say nothing.”
“I think [the walkout] is important because of my family –they’re immigrants,” another student said. Adding, “This is my first protest.”
In fact, it was a first for many of the students, including Annabel Nankman, who said, “I’m really proud of everyone for showing up and missing school.”
The decision to participate was not simple.
“Many students are concerned with missing school because of either missed work or fear of detention from the unexcused absences,” fellow organizer Clifford Feller explained.
But for some, including Nankman, the fear of punishment was overridden by the conviction that participating in the walkout was a vital demonstration of leadership.
“If everyone thinks their voice won’t make a difference nothing will happen,” she said. “And no one will try.”
Warren had a similar list of goals in mind when she organized the protest, including: using the students’ political power as citizens “to protest and petition the government for change,” standing “in solidarity with the many families in our
community who are suffering under ICE” and urging the Silver Falls School Board to endorse House Bill 4079.
“This is proposed legislation that would require all K-12 public schools, universities, and community colleges to alert parents, students, and staff when ICE activity is noted in the surrounding area,” she said. “This… would protect our students, families and staff. Above all else, we want to say, ‘You belong here, and we will fight for you.’”
These objectives were apparent when, upon arriving at the Civic Center plaza, the students gathered around SHS sophomore Patrick Hart, who delivered a pre-written speech.
“I believe that we as a town must rally,” he said. “It is our politicians who have placed us in this predicament and our politicians that can take us out of it if they wanted to. We must show the people in power that our voices do matter, that their abuses will not be simply taken. Only then can we achieve reform.”
Not everyone agreed, as evidenced by a counter-protest of flag-decorated vehicles and a handful of students on foot that carried an American flag into the crowd.
“I think we’re doing a really good job of giving them space to do their own thing,” another walkout organizer, Everett Sheldon, said. “I think we handled it really well.”
Silverton Police Chief Todd Engstrom, who, along with
Tomis Press
your poetry, short stories, essays and art.
and
several other officers, was in attendance throughout the twohour demonstration, agreed.
“Overall, the event was very peaceful and well-organized,” he said. “The student leaders were communicative throughout and did a commendable job keeping the group focused and orderly. I made a couple of requests during the event. The organizers addressed those requests immediately and effectively.”
Holding handmade signs, students blasted music, chanted, and cheered when supportive vehicles drove by, lending their voices to a movement attendees like Feller view as critical.
“Some may say that a walkout against ICE is not important in Silverton,” he said. “This is not true. Even in places where ICE has not been directly, such as Silverton, ICE has had an impact. I have seen around me how ICE’s actions have normalized racism… and people have become emboldened to be openly discriminatory. This walkout is the way for us students to get our voices heard. Students are not willing to be passive observers anymore.”
Similarly, Hart also said, “There may be a right time to protest injustice and tyranny, but there is never a wrong time. We must fight at every opportunity, even if it seems it will only make inches of progress. Because every mile must first be made up of inches. Every major movement had to start as a group of 200 students shouting and holding signs.”
By Melissa Wagoner
In late January Nancy Lopez Flores – a homecare worker and Immigration Committee leader for the 503 branch of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) – was on her way to cash a check and pick up a cake when a black, unmarked SUV began flashing police lights.
“I was pulled over and then boxed in by this SUV and another vehicle, so I couldn’t go anywhere, like a criminal wanted for a violent crime,” Lopez Flores recalled. “I was frozen in fear and too frightened to respond, when these agents started banging on my window. ‘Papers! Papers!’ I’ve never been asked to show papers anywhere.”
Seconds later the officers, which Lopez Flores later discovered to be Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, shattered her window and aggressively pulled her from the car.
“They threw me on the ground so hard they injured my shoulder, my ribs and
caused a concussion,” she said. “They went through my car, then my purse, and it wasn’t until they pulled out my passport – I am an American citizen – that they left me alone… They didn’t even bother to call the paramedics to check on me. They just left me there.”
Lopez Flores shared her experience, and the pain and fear it caused on Feb. 13 at a Woodburn press conference attended by Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Andrea Salinas at the headquarters of Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN) – the largest farmworkers union in Oregon.
“The memories and the trauma I feel… will stay with me forever,” she said in her speech. “My family and I are afraid to go out. I have hospital bills. I have to get my car window fixed, and yet I still have to work. This is not OK. To this day I still do not know what I could have done differently than I did. I was silent, didn’t
resist and didn’t try to run when they got aggressive and attacked me.”
It’s a question other victims are also voicing as ICE incidents continue across the country and the state.
“We’re in an extraordinary time,” Senator Merkley said in his opening address. “We have secret police in America. We read about this all around the world, where authoritarian governments will have roving militias… operating out of vans or trucks that are unmarked, that will grab people off the street and detain them, often disappear them, and that’s happening right here in the United States of America.
“I never thought I would see this moment. These roving patrols, they’re breaking the laws and they’re breaking the Constitution. They’re breaking down doors, taking people out of their homes without a judicial warrant. They are detaining people without the ability to access their families or their attorneys. They’re often moving
them around the country and providing no information about where they are. And in the midst of all of this, there is zero accountability for violating the civil rights of Americans. That is extraordinary. We have [the] President of the United States saying, those agents, they have absolute immunity.”
That is, in part, because currently American citizens cannot sue federal agents for violations of their rights.
“You can sue for violation of civil rights by local police,” Senator Merkley said. “We can sue for violation of our rights by state police agents, but not the federal agents.”
It’s a situation he and Congresswoman Salinas, along with co-sponsor, Senator Ron Wyden, are hoping to rectify by passing the ICE and CBP (Customs and Border Protection) Constitutional Accountability Act.
“This bill is simple…” Congresswoman Salinas stated. “If ICE or CBP officers violate someone’s constitutional rights, the
victim can sue the federal government and hold them civilly liable.”
Furthermore, any damages awarded would be drawn from the $150 billion budget President Trump awarded ICE, CBP and DHS in the “Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
“Without accountability, there are no consequences,” Congresswoman Salinas said, “and without consequences they will keep violating our U.S. Constitution.”
It’s no longer a question of immigration policy, Ximena Van Dyke, the rapid response coordinator for Unidos Bridging Community, pointed out in her press conference speech.
“It’s about whether federal agents can operate in our communities without transparency, without clear identification, without adherence to state law, and without consequences when they violate civil rights,” she said.
“When we have high school students in fear of being pulled from their vehicles, citizens who fear speaking out, parents that fear retaliation for seeking accountability, that is a clear red flag warning that our constitutional rights are in danger. We cannot allow constitutional protections. to become optional. Accountability does not weaken law enforcement, it strengthens democracy.
“Today we stand not just for the individuals who experience these incidents, but for the principle that no agency is above the Constitution.”
Everyone’s constitutional rights should be protected, fellow presenter Isa Peña – the director of strategy at Innovation Law Lab, an organization that utilizes the law to protect the rights of immigrants and refugees – said.
“The rights outlined in the Constitution
apply to everyone in the United States, regardless of their immigration status,” she noted.
“They are the very foundation of what this country should be about. We cannot allow a federal agency to decide these rights are inconvenient and strip them away from any member of our communities. For the safety and wellbeing of all of us, we must hold these federal agencies accountable, defend due process, and remain united.”
Sen. Merkley and Rep. Salinas called the press conference to call attention to and rally in support for the ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act.
Sen. Merkley recently published, “Ring the Alarm Bells,” which lists 10 strategies authoritarian leaders use to gain control of a democratic government.
“[A]ll 10 of them are happening here in the United States of America right now,” Sen.Merkley said. “Under this Trump presidency, they’re seeking to create a super presidency and an authoritarian state. If we’re going to save our Republic – and I’m absolutely confident that we will save our Republic – it will only happen if we do everything we can to ring the alarm bells and everything we can to create accountability where there is none currently.”
That means, according to Rep. Salinas, taking a bottom-up approach; holding peaceful protests, writing letters to members of Congress asking them to stand up for the Constitution and due process and electing local and state officials who will speak up for their constituents.
“[W]e have to continue to speak out on all of these fronts,” she explained. “And I know it feels like a lot right now, but it is working.”
Submissions for The Forum are welcome
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 350 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.
$726,000 West Salem home with panoramic views! Private location. Built in 2002, 2024 sq. ft. 3bd, 2.5 ba on .88 lot. Open floor plan. 32x15’ bonus room. Fenced backyard w/deck. 3047 Wallace Rd. NW, Salem. MLS# 835201
$625,000
Upgraded 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 1552 sq. ft. home on large 0.830 level lot. Creek flowing through property. 20450 Abiqua Rd. NE, Scotts Mills. MLS# 836419.
$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
$929,000 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
$412,000 20446 Abiqua Rd. NE, Scotts Mills. Cottage home on Abiqua Creek, on 0.71 acre lot. 2 bd. 1 ba. 948 sq. ft. Newer cabinets, tile floor. Fishing hole nearby. Listen to the soothing sounds of the creek. MLS# 837412 Buy. Sell. Be Happy.
A new chapter
By James Day
There is some sprucing up afoot at the Silver Falls Public Library. Crews have finished work on a $52,450 paving project on the parking lot just north of the library and nearly $600,000 worth of solar panels are coming to town as well.
The library has been awarded a $589,147 grant from the Oregon Department of Energy that will pay for installation of rooftop solar and a battery storage system. The project will offset energy costs and allow the building to act as an emergency response and community support center during outages.
The grant pays 100% of the construction phase of the project, including equipment and labor and the project consultant-contractor’s time, library director Christy Davis told Our Town
“The only things that the library district has to pay from its operating budget are legal review of contracts, and, as required by the grantor, CPA certification of all of our receipts for labor and materials,” she said.
Davis said that the solar array will take care of 82 to 86 percent of the library’s energy needs.
“As we move forward, additional opportunities for energy efficiency - in terms of lighting and HVAC replacements or upgrades - could increase the percentage of energy efficiency,” she said.
“Generally speaking, the library will produce an excess of energy during about six months of the year and then use
Safety first
By James Day
New solar panels, parking for Silver Falls Library
those excess credits during the other half of the year.”
The library district’s current power bills are between $1,100 and $1,900 per month, Davis said.
The battery backup piece will give the library around 55 hours of power in an outage.
“During the planning phase of the project - which was also funded by ODOE - an essential loads grid was identified,” Davis said.
“Not every light and outlet will be on during a prolonged energy outage. Portions of the library will have electricity and the focus here will be on supporting emergency operations for the community, such as phone charging stations, medical equipment charging, refrigeration units for temperature sensitive medications or breast milk, and staffing areas for communications and logistics to aid the community during a prolonged power outage.”
Davis said the library hopes to begin construction during the summer and be wrapped up by fall.
Now, back to that parking lot. The library has been working with city officials in recent months on a land swap. The work was required because the original 18-acre parcel that included the old City Hall, the library, the swimming pool, Old Mill Park and Coolidge McClaine Park was unwieldy and needed to be partitioned.
Once all the title papers were signed and delivered the library district owned its building and the newly paved parking lot, with city funds paying for the paving. In addition, the city took ownership of the parking lot across
South Water Street adjacent to the Silverton Community Center. Previously, it was jointly owned by the city and the library district.
The paving work was performed by K&L Industries of Canby, with Davis noting that the work included “some grading, new asphalt, curbs, striping directional paint, and additionally, parking lot lighting and signage.”
The Silverton Community Center, meanwhile, sits vacant. All private, public and non-profit tenants have left. The city no longer is maintaining the building, which is owned by the Oregon Military Department.
Our Town reached out to Gary Williamson, real estate programs manager for the Oregon Military Department, who provided the following update:
“The Silverton Armory has been in a ‘surplus’ status for many years while the city and social service agencies were using it,” Williamson said. “The Oregon Military Dept. staff has winterized it and our plans are to market it for sale, hopefully to an entity that will refurbish the property so it can be usable to the city and surrounding area.”
Still to be resolved is the status of the parcel that includes the old City Hall, the Fischer Building and the parking lot adjacent to those structures. The library parking lot essentially extends from the library building to the northern edge of the Fischer Building.
City officials are hoping to draw interest from a boutique hotel operator for the City Hall/Fischer slot, but no deal has been announced.
33 trees to be removed from Coolidge McClaine Park
A total of 33 trees should be removed this spring at Coolidge McClaine Park in Silverton.
That was the conclusion in the report presented by Brandon Namm of Laurelin Consulting. He appeared via Zoom at the Feb. 18 Silverton City Council meeting. Laurelin has contracted with the city for urban forestry services.
Namm and his team inventoried all 340 trees in the park and determined that 73 of them needed pruning or removal. The removals include 29 Douglas fir and four Oregon White Oak. The park also features bigleaf maple, coast redwood and Oregon ash species.
Trees were damaged in the January 2024 icestorm as well as a December 2025 windstorm, although general wear and tear also has played a role in the damage total. Namm and his team said they hope to have the removal and pruning work done by May. That date is significant because the Paws in the Park event that runs in conjunction with the Silverton Pet Parade is set
for May 16. The park will remain closed until the tree work is completed.
Councilor Eric Hammond, who works as a horticulturist, praised the report and the plan. “Nobody wants to see fewer trees in Coolidge McClaine, but we have to make it safe,” he said.
In other highlights from the Feb. 18 meeting: Abandoned vehicles: The council discussed updating its code on abandoned vehicles. The goal, councilors said, was to go after situations in which vehicles were being stored on the streets but not to prevent residents from leaving a car on the street while on vacation. Community Development Director Jason Gottetreu will bring back potential code language at an upcoming meeting.
House checking: Speaking of being on vacation … it was noted at the meeting that the Silverton Police Department offers a house checking service for residents concerned about the safety of their property while on vacation. You can sign up at chrome-
City Hall property: The city began accepting proposals from possible purchasers of the old City Hall and Fischer Building property. The city’s hoped-for use is for someone to build a boutique-style hotel. Bids must be received by early April.
Economic Development: Councilors unanimously approved spending $30,000 on economic development services by entering into an agreement with the SEDCOR, which serves clients in Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties.
Water treatment plant: Mayor Jason Freilinger traveled to Salem to seek legislative assistance for Silverton’s proposed new water treatment plant, which might cost as much as $20 million. Freilinger told the council that there were more than $300 million in requests and just $70 million in available funds. “Most people are not going to get what they want,” Freilinger said.
By James Day
Silverton Repair Fair March 14
Sustainable Silverton is hosting a Repair Fair and Share from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, at the Silver Falls Library, 410 S. Water St.
Free services to be offered at the event include small appliance repair, simple jewelry repair, sewing machines (mechanical fixes only), clothing and textile repair, plants, simple bike repairs and tech assistance with computers/phones/tablets/ electronics and tool and knife sharpening.
Those intending to participate should go to https://tinyurl.com/4ybfzbyk and register.
Note that participants should identify what type of repairs they are seeking when they sign up to make it easier for the volunteers to have the right assistance available the day of the fair.
Here are some guidelines for the event:
1. Repair Fair events are free to attend.
2. A volunteer fixer will guide you through how to repair your item so you will learn how to troubleshoot and make repairs.
3. Guests are expected to stay with their item so they can learn the repair process.
4. Guests are expected to be active participants and help with the repair.
5. If you know what part is needed for the repair please bring it with you to the event.
6. Generally, repairs shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes so other guests can be helped. If you know the fix is very involved and will take a long period of time, you might consult with the fixpert on best options.
7. The fair cannot work on hazardous materials, vehicles or weapons.
Silverton $999,000
Beautifully renovated Victorian tri-plex near Hhistoric Silverton Park and Hospital, 3 blocks to downtown. 3717 sqft. Listed by Linda Webb 503-508-7387 MLS#835569
Silverton $149,000
Silverton Mobile Park. Super cute, clean and move in ready. 1248 sqft. For more information, contact Curtis Allen 971-701-3352
MLS#836894
Silverton $189,900
Freshly remodeled, move-in ready manufactured home in Silverton Mobile Estates, built in 2000, 3 bedroom, 2 bath. Curtis Allen 971-701-3352
MLS#834885
Silverton $1,650,000
New construction, Scandinavian Modern design on four-acre wooded setting. You’ll never want to leave home, enjoy the cozy wood fire and refined comfort. 42x42 shop, near Silver Falls.
Jackson Sherwood 971-343-2475
MLS#837815
Beautifully remodeled home with a view on 9 acres! Boasting a gourmet kitchen, with high-end amenities. 2920 sqft. Etta Hess 503-507-5786 and Donna Rash 503-871-0490
MLS#837156
Silverton $1,400,000
Experience the good life! Exquisite home on Abiqua Creek is a canvas for art and wine collections. Full apt. with privacy. Donna Paradis 503-851-0998
MLS#831851
Silverton $2,199,000
Refined country living with 4600 sqft estate on 22+ acres. Mountain views, sauna and turn-around drive. Scott Stokley 503-586-8126 MLS#832203
Silverton 655,000 Elegant Victorian-style house on huge .61 acre lot. Full of character from 10-foot ceilings to stained glass windows. Donna Paradis 503-851-0998
MLS#828366
A volunteer works on a bullhorn. SUBMITTED
Matters
Plea deal Gordon House intruder placed under supervision of psychiatric board
By Stephen Floyd
A Salem man who broke into the Gordon House, in Silverton, and threatened two people at gunpoint has been found criminally insane and was released following a plea agreement.
Joshua James Davis, 49, pleaded guilty Feb. 13 in Marion County Circuit Court to multiple charges including first-degree burglary, menacing and unlawful use of a weapon.
According to court records, Davis entered the building June 28, 2025, and threatened a man and woman inside. He also caused more than $1,000 in damage to a plate glass window, stole a radio and attempted to steal a car.
The Gordon House was designed in 1957 by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright and currently operates as a museum.
Judge Natasha Zimmerman ruled Davis was guilty except for reason of insanity based on a psychological report dated Nov. 13, 2025, which found he suffers from bipolar disorder caused by traumatic brain injury.
Zimmerman said, based on the report, Davis “does not present a substantial danger to others” and allowed him to be released under the supervision of the Psychiatric Security Review Board for up to 10 years. The board may discharge Davis early if it determines he no longer requires supervision to maintain his mental health.
While under supervision, Davis must participate in mental health treatment including psychiatric medication and therapy, and may not possess weapons, consume intoxicants or have contact with the victims.
Arrest for alleged weapon offenses
A Mount Angel man is facing possible prison time after being arrested for allegedly possessing two illegally altered firearms.
Demetre Jean Marseille, 23, was arrested Feb. 7 by the Salem Police Department after allegedly possessing two handguns with defaced serial numbers.
Marseille was not allowed to possess weapons following a 2025 felony conviction for attempt to elude. He was also convicted of misdemeanor counts of DUII, domestic assault and possession of a concealed firearm.
Marseille was indicted in the new case Feb. 12 on charges of unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, and two counts each of felon in possession of a firearm and obliterating a firearm ID number. Prosecutors filed notice of intent Feb. 11 to seek more prison time than normal due to threats of violence, use of a weapon and disregard for the laws, arguing Marseille’s incarceration is necessary for public safety.
Marseille was ordered held on $250,000 bail for the new case and without bail on his 2025 case due to a possible probation violation. As of press time he remained lodged in the Marion County Jail.
Arrest for alleged sex abuse
A Silverton man is facing several charges for allegedly forcing sexual contact on multiple victims over a span of multiple years.
Balentin Garcia-Perez, 53, was arrested Jan. 29 by the Salem Police Department for offenses allegedly involving three separate female victims.
According to an indictment filed in Marion County Circuit Court, Garcia-Perez allegedly touched the victims intimately on multiple occasions between 2019 and January 2026. Two of the victims were younger than 14 when the alleged abuse began.
Garcia-Perez is charged with six counts of first-degree sexual abuse and three counts of third-degree sexual abuse. If convicted as charged he faces a minimum of 75 months in prison.
Garcia-Perez was ordered held on $250,000 bail and as of press time he remained lodged in the Marion County Jail.
Probation for drug dealing
A Silverton man has been sentenced to probation following a plea agreement in a drug dealing case.
Kyle James Dolan, 32, pleaded guilty Jan. 9 to delivery of methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm. On Jan. 30 he was sentenced to three years of probation on the condition that he engage in substance abuse treatment and avoid consuming intoxicants, among other standard conditions.
Dolan was arrested April 13, 2025, in possession of more than 10 grams of methamphetamine, packaging materials for drug sales, more than $300 in cash and a firearm.
According to his plea agreement, prosecutors were seeking 34 months in prison. The defense argued Dolan was prepared to take drug rehab seriously and the court imposed a less-severe sentence in favor of recovery.
Monday Meals
Oak Street Church seeks part-time coordinator
By Melissa Wagoner
The Monday Meal at Oak Street Church isn’t just for people who are experiencing food insecurity.
“That may describe some people,” Sarah Case, a member of the congregation for the past six years, said. “But look around and you’ll see older, single adults who sit with the same people every week… and families who… maybe the parents are delighted to have a night of not cooking.”
In fact, according to Case, the Monday Meal is less about the food – though that is a key component – and more about the creation of a safe, welcoming space where people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy community.
“The way I think of it is first and foremost as a third space,” Case said. Often defined as a gathering area where people can connect informally without the pressure of making a purchase, Case sees the Monday Meal as one of the few third spaces in Silverton that is available year around.
“I can think of the library and the park…” Case listed. “But most places you have to buy stuff.”
Which is why the congregation of Oak Street has remained dedicated to the weekly meal, through the difficulties of COVID, through the closure of all other weekly meal services in Silverton and now through the departure of Pastor John Friedrick, who oversaw Monday Meals for the past seven years.
“The vast majority of the cooking and serving… that’s all volunteers, which is really cool…” Case said. “But [John] did play an important role and who knows if the next pastor is going to want to do that. It’s kind of a lot.”
Which is why members of the Oak Street Church board, including Case, decided the position of Monday Meal Coordinator – amounting to approximately 10 hours a week – should be a permanent and paid one.
“The Monday Meal Coordinator will be
responsible for volunteer coordination, kitchen management, guest hospitality, procurement of supplies, and records maintenance,” Case wrote in the job description. Applications are being accepted.
The desired attributes include warmth, approachability, a commitment to connecting and collaborating with a wide variety of personalities and work styles to create a hospitable space for people regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability status. Those things Case thinks are the most important when it comes to finding the right person.
“I see [hiring a meal coordinator] as an investment in our community,” Case explained. “We want [Monday Meals] to be run well and be hospitable… It’s what Oak Street does. We don’t have clubs… we do this.”
And as the congregation approaches an estimated 100,000 meals served, Case would like to think they do it well.
“At Oak Street… we have a deep value for hospitality and welcome…” Case said. “We try to approach it from the ethic of our shared humanity.”
Anyone interested in applying for the position of Monday Meals Coordinator at Oak Street Church, should send their resume to oakstchurch@gmail.com with the words “Monday Meal Coordinator” in the subject line.
Frequent Addresses
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.
Mt. Angel Community & Senior Center Store, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., 195 E Charles St. Repeats Tues. - Sat. 503-845-6998
Senior Meals, 11:30 a.m., Silverton 50+ Center. Congregate dining. Delivery available Monday-Friday. $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 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 & 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
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, 9:30 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 Pounds Off 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
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 videos. This month’s video is Jodi Stolove’s Chair Dancing Fitness: Simply Stretch. Signed waiver required. Teens & adults. Free. 971-370-5040
Creciendo juntos / Growing Together Storytime (Families): ¡Leamos libros sobre el Día de San Patricio, el dinero y la alimentación saludable! No se realizará el 7 de marzo / Let’s read books about St. Patrick’s Day, money, and healthy eating! Not occurring March 7th. 971-570-5040
Sunday, March 1
Brush Creek Production
2 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. Tickets and information at brushcreekplayhouse.org.
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
Mt. Angel City Council
7 p.m., Mount Angel Public Library. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-845-9291
Tuesday, March 3
Spring Nutrition Series
11 a.m. - noon, Silverton 50+ Center. Today: Nourishing the Gut Microbiome. 3/10: Hydration & Breathwork. 3/17: Fitness: Why & How to Program. 3/24: Primary Foods. $12/class. RSVP required by emailing NourishYouNW@gmail.com.
Mt. Angel American Legion
6:30 p.m., Legion Hall, 740 E College St., Mt. Angel. All veterans welcome. Masks optional. Jim, 503-845-6119
Wednesday, March 4
Silverton City Council
6:30 p.m., Council Chambers. Work session followed by regular meeting. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-873-5321
Scotts Mills City Council
7 p.m., Scotts Mills City Hall, 265 Fourth St. Open to public. 503-873-5435
Thursday, March 5
Nature Walks
9 a.m. Weekly 1-mile nature walks sponsored by Sustainable Silverton. No pets. May be cancelled due to extreme weather. Today: Meet at Silverton Arts Association at Coolidge McClaine Park. 3/12: Meet at Silverton Reservoir. Park fees. 3/19: Meet at Bush Barn Arts Center in Salem. 3/26: Pettit Reservoir in Silverton. sustainablesilverton@gmail.com
Silverton Kiwanis Club
Noon, Main St. Bistro, 201 E Main St., Silverton. New members welcome. Repeats March 19. silvertonkiwanis.org
Beading Bonanza
1 & 6:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Craft beaded creation using beads, thread, wire. Teens & adults. Free. 971-370-5040
Silverton Lions Club
7 p.m., Silverton Immanuel Lutheran Church, 303 N Church St. New members welcome. Repeats March 19. 971-720-3811
Friday, March 6
Our Town Coffee Chat
8 - 10 a.m., The Warren, 218 E Main St. Come for a chat or just a cup of coffee with Our Town Editor Paula Mabry. Share your ideas for the future of Our Town and what you’d like to see in the paper.
Family Movie Night
4:15 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Watch Dog Man (PG) on the big screen. All ages. Free admission. Popcorn. 971-370-5040
Lunaria Opening Reception
6 - 8 p.m., Lunaria Gallery, 113 N Water St., Silverton. Meet artists for March shows. Main Floor Gallery: “Timeout in Contrasts,” paintings and mixed media by Carolyn Johnson-Bell. Loft Gallery: “One of These is Not Like the Others,” photography by Ed Ruttledge. Refreshments. 503-873-7734
Saturday, March 7
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. Register at cityofsalem.net/ileadyouthsummit.
Sunday, March 8
Daylight Saving Time Starts
Remember to set clocks 1 hour forward. Scotts Mills Historical Museum
12 - 4 p.m., 210 Grandview Ave. Open for public browsing. Free. Open by appointment by contacting Joe Plas, 503-871-9803; ksplonski@aol.com
String Quartet Concert
3 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 500 N Second St., Silverton. Julie Rudquist, Cathy Heithaus, Obsidian Koy Field and Tommi Leinonen perform the debut of Christopher Wick’s Four New String Quartets. Donations appreciated.
Monday, March 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
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 provided but bring your ukulele. 503-873-8796
Silverton Planning Commission
6:30 p.m., Council Chambers. Work session followed by regular meeting. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-873-5321
Wednesday, March 11
Friends of the Library
6 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Friends of the Mt. Angel Library is a nonprofit group that supports library programs. New members welcome. 971-370-5040
Virtual Film Discussion
7 p.m. Zoom. Watch The Defiant Ones, available on Kanopy on your own and join moderated discussion. Zoom invite: Ron Drank, 503-873-8796.
Thursday, March 12
Cancer Support Group
11 a.m. - noon, Silverton 50+ Center. For those affected by cancer or who are close to those who are. Open to all. Free. Repeats March 26. 503-873-3093
Red Cross Blood Drive
Noon - 5 p.m., Kennedy High, 890 E Marquam St., Mt. Angel. Appointments: redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
Women’s Connection Luncheon
Noon, Marquam Methodist Church, 36971 S Hwy. 213, Mt. Angel. Carol Adelman of Adelman’s Peony Gardens will talk about the many varieties of peonies. Speaker Carla Dalke shares about her intervention and how it changed her life. Reservations necessary. Call Stacey: 503-680-3786.
Mt. Angel Writing Group
6 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Stretch your writing wings in a supportive environment with time for exploration and idea exchange. Teens & adults. Free. 971-370-5040
Art with Ann Altman
6:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Printing without a Press workshop with Ann Altman. Create line drawings which can then be embellished with color. Drawing experience helpful but not necessary. All material provided. Free. Sign up at the Reference Desk or by calling the library at 503-873-8796.
Silverton Zenith Women’s Club
6:30 p.m., Silver Creek Fellowship. Refreshments and fellowship followed by 7 p.m. meeting. All welcome. Becky, 971-600-4713
Friday, March 13
Red Cross Blood Drive
LEGO Lab
3 - 4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Build a creation to display in the library. All ages. Free. Repeats noon - 3 p.m. March 27. 971-370-5040
Saturday, March 14
Repair Fair
11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Connect with people who can repair stuff with people who need their stuff repaired for free. For a list of eligible items, visit sustainablesilverton.org.
Tuesday, March 17
St. Patrick’s Day
Silver Falls Book Club
6:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Discuss The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell. All welcome. 503-873-8796
Wednesday, March 18
Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Noon - 1:30 p.m., Silverton 50+ Center.
Facilitator Drew Miles, trained by Parkinson’s Recovery of Oregon. All welcome. Free. 503-873-3093
Noon - 5 p.m., Silverton First Baptist Church, 229 Westfield St. Appointments: redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
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. Dolls, bears, books, toys, miniatures. Admission is $8. Children 10 and younger are free. Presale admission from 9 to 10 a.m. is $10. wagonwheeldollers@gmail.com
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
Spring Break Crafts
Pick up your take-home craft kits at Mt. Angel Public Library during open hours during spring break. Free. 971-370-5040
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 including 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, March 24
PFLAG Silverton
Jigsaw Puzzle Competition
6:30 p.m., Silver Falls Library. Team, 1 to 4 people, that finishes first or uses the most pieces wins. Sign-ups required by calling 503-873-8796.
Silverton City Council
6:30 p.m., Council Chambers. Work session followed by regular meeting. Open to public. 503-873-5321
Thursday, March 19
Read’n’Chat
6 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Read and discuss provided poems about Spring and growth. Discuss what you are reading over snacks. 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. Ron Drake, 503-873-8796
Mt. Angel Planning Commission
7 p.m., Mount Angel Public Library. Open to public. Agenda available. 503845-9291
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, March 20
Red Cross Blood Drive
Noon - 5 p.m., Silverton Elks Lodge, 300 High St. For appt. visit redcrossblood. org or call 800-733-2767.
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
Teen Cooking Lab
4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Make pizza sandwiches. Ages 12-18. Free. 971-370-5040
Teen Hangout
5 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Learn to line dance, ages 12-18. Free. 971-370-5040
Thursday, March 26
TAB/Book Club
4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Discuss Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac. Afterward, meet for Teen Advisory Board (TAB) meeting. Pizza. Free. Ages 12-18. 971-370-5040
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.
Sunday, March 29
Patch Making
4:30 p.m., Mt. Angel Public Library. Embroider or cross-stitch a personalized patch to add to clothing, bags or just to have. Teens & adults. Free. 971-370-5040
Tuesday, March 31
State of the County
11:30 a.m., Salem Convention Center, 200 SE Commerciall St. Marion County Commissioners present accomplishments and outline plans for the future. Lunch $20; reservations close noon March 27. Register at bit.ly/MarionSOTC26.
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
Top 25 US News ranks Kennedy High 19th of Oregon’s 340 high schools
By Melissa Wagoner
This year when US News & World Report ranked John F. Kennedy High School in Mount Angel among the top 25 high schools in Oregon, principal Jessica Brenden and district superintendent Lisa Harlan were among the last to know.
“I actually found out from others,” Harlan recalled. “They said, did you see this article?”
Ranked 19th out of 340 Oregon high schools, JFK boasts a graduation rate of 82 percent and a college readiness score of 25.7 – well above what the ACT College Readiness Benchmark suggests a college-bound senior needs.
It’s exciting, both women admit. But what’s even more exciting is how the school achieved these accolades.
Students are known
“[T]he gift of being small is that most staff know most students by name and can quickly respond when difficulties arise,” Brenden said. “With this, kids know they can count on us to listen, care, and support.”
And help students achieve a high school experience tailored to their own individual needs and goals. “Students here understand they have power over their own education,” she said. “They can ask for what they want to do.”
Advanced classes, diverse options
Meeting the needs of students with big educational goals in a school with an enrollment of just 198 isn’t easy. It requires commitment from the teachers who teach advanced placement courses, offer dual enrollment program opportunities and provide the career and technical education (CTE) options the students are looking for.
“The best thing about those CTE Pathways is that it allows students that really enjoy and excel in those fields of study to continue taking courses all four years of high school…” business teacher Robby Morrissey said.
“I have had students… go on to college, major in business or accounting and become accountants. Without offering these types of [CTE] classes, who knows where those students may have ended up.”
Serafina Sorensen, who teaches a course in publishing, has
witnessed students transform, not only as individuals but as a part of the greater school community as well.
“Over the course of this semester, they have determined what they want their school to feel like and have taken action to curate that feeling,” Sorensen said. “Their goal is to increase the sense of community, belonging, and connection between both staff and students. They have hosted several events encouraging fellow students and staff to come together.”
Balancing academics with wellbeing
Balance is a goal the staff at JFK can get behind. They understand that a well-rounded education is more than learning the core subjects. It’s learning to live in community both inside the school and out.
They also know that home lives and social lives have an impact on everything from classroom behavior to grades.
When teachers notice a student struggling emotionally, they work together, sharing information and working with parents, coaches and other staff to offer support.
“We care about our students,” social sciences teacher Jessica Schmidtman said, “and I know I try to let them know that regularly; especially when they are struggling.”
Utilizing teamwork
The staff have also developed a robust support system for students and teachers that meets on a regular basis.
“There are layers of safety net,” Superintendent Harlan said. “I think that matters to be able to catch [issues]…to say, this is the need, and be able to jump.”
And those systems extend outside the school as well.
“The strength of our school community lies in its diversity and in the support people show for one another,” instructor Megan Clark said.
“When a student or community member experiences turmoil, it is not just the immediate family that shares in that struggle. We have strong advocates who fight for the rights and wellbeing of kids and families. I’m proud of the work that is done in building relationships between district, student, and community, working together to create a ... supportive space where students have the opportunity to learn and feel safe.”
Taking pride
That feeling of pride is one Brenden feels as well.
“Our students are champions,” she said, adding, “Being a teen today is hard work! Social pressures exist 24/7, and online life is constantly evolving, which can create... frustration, anxiety, depression, fear, and paranoia.
“Despite these challenges, students still show up. They go to class. They do the work. They add more responsibilities and experiences to their ‘plate,’ all while maintaining relationships with their friends and family... At our small school, students and staff alike take on many responsibilities and continually rise to the challenge. We work hard at JFK!”
District-wide success
That hard work extends across the district. “While JFK was named [19th in Oregon], none of this would be possible without a foundation,” Brenden said. “It is a district award.”
Mt. Angel School District superintendent Lisa Harlan and John F Kennedy High School principal Jessica Brenden meet to talk about the high school’s new standing as 19 in the state. MELISSA WAGONER
Heartwarming Davenport Place Valentine Day’s ‘Hearts Across America’
By Melissa Wagoner
Love was in the air at Davenport Place – an assisted living and respite care facility in Silverton – as Valentine cards poured in from all over the country and beyond. Coined “Hearts Across America” by the activity directors who thought of the idea, the project was essentially a chain letter, with the residents of 100 facilities both sending and receiving Valentines.
“Here at Davenport Place, my residents and staff made homemade Valentine cards and included a small blurb about Silverton…” activity director Angel-Julia Landers said. “In return, we’ve already received about [83] cards, and we’re getting closer every day to our goal of one from each state.”
Among the residents’ favorites are a card from Hawaii and one from Indiana that features a picture of a tree growing out of the top of a clock tower.
“We like the ones from facilities that put notes in,” receptionist Jessica Platt explained. “It’s really cool to see the towns and how proud they are to share with us.”
Displayed on a giant map of the U.S., the cards became a focal point for Davenport Place’s 28 residents during the month of February. And, because Landers also created a binder filled with a laminated copy of each card, the residents can enjoy them long after the holiday is over.
“I think it’s beautiful…” resident Helen Hunt said of the display. “They’re all my favorite.”
Encouraged by the project’s success, Landers plans to employ the “Hearts Across America” concept at Christmas as well.
“[Christmas] can be an emotional time,” Landers explained. “And a lot of these guys don’t get much mail.”
It’s just one of the many ways she hopes to connect the residents of Davenport Place to the outside world.
“We have fun events for the community and people are
Quality Dental Care in a Friendly Environment
welcome to come,” she pointed out. “Because the residents love to interact with people and see new faces.”
They also like to work on tasks that make them feel useful and part of a team.
“Some of the residents took [Hearts Across America] on like it was a part-time job,” Landers said, naming resident Diane Hill as one of the project’s most enthusiastic participants.
“My favorite part was working with Angel,” Hill said. “It was fun.”
CREEK COMPUTER SERVICE
Submissions welcomed
If there is a birth, engagement, wedding, anniversary, college graduation or obituary of a local resident you’d like to share, please send it to ourtown.life@ mtangelpub.com or mail it to Editor, Our Town, P.O. Box 927, Mount Angel, OR 97362, or drop it by our office at 401 Oak St., Silverton any weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Hearts Across America display at Davenport Place, above. Right, resident Diane Hill, activities director Angel-Julia Landers, resident Helen Hunt and receptionist Jessica Platt. ANGEL-JULIA LANDERS AND MELISSA WAGONER
Arts & Entertainment
A love of creating Silverton artist recounts his journey, explains plans
By Melissa Wagoner
Jesse Smith was 10 years old when he made his first movie. It was 1985 and the Transformers action figures were wildly popular.
“We filmed it at my birthday party,” Smith recalled. “I asked my friends to bring their toys, and my dad brought a video camera from work.”
It would be almost 40 years before Smith produced another film, but in that time, he busied himself with other creative endeavors, particularly music. Both a pianist and violinist, he has self-recorded hundreds of songs.
“I recorded one whole album at a cabin at Silver Falls,” Smith said. He lives in Silverton with his wife and children.
Smith has also written over a dozen self-published books, from science fiction to political philosophy.
“I’m always working on one and they’re all different,” he said, describing a foray into poetry that started as a fun, daily poetry challenge in January 2020.
“I had a goal of writing a poem a day for a year,” Smith said. “But it just happened to be a memorable and important year.”
So important that Smith compiled the nearly 700 poems he amassed into five separate collections.
“These are the challenges I give myself,” Smith said,
describing the next one he undertook, a 30-day “dreaming challenge,” as the one that inspired his most recent project – a short, low-budget film titled, Curb Thy Vanity
“As I was filling out the [daily] questions I thought, I’ve always had an interest in making movies,” Smith recalled.
He had also recently met a film producer, Philip Wade, at a meeting of the Salem Chamber of Commerce.
“I contacted Phillip and he said, actually we’re in production on a science fiction movie.”
The movie was the upcoming, Life Cycle 63 an Amazon Prime original and Wade allowed Smith to join the crew.
“It was amazing,” Smith said. “So, when I got done helping with his production I thought, I want to do more.”
Enlisting the help of Life Cycle 63 key production assistant Anna Gillock,” Smith began work, filming a screenplay of his own creation.
“The play is based on two Shakespeare plays, Henry IV, Part 1 and 2,” Smith described. “It’s 33 minutes and very silly.”
It’s also extremely low budget, filmed in Smith’s home and backyard, utilizing a video camera purchased at Target and edited using free software.
“But Anna and [Life Cycle 63 set dresser] Jack Shay brought their skill sets and made it a much better project,” Smith said. “It was really a lot of fun to make.”
While Smith does not expect the film to see the light of day in theaters or on streaming services any time soon, he is glad he undertook the project and recommends other aspiring filmmakers follow a similar path.
“Go for it,” he urged. “The most important thing is to take that inspiration and get started. I also think finding collaborators is huge, both in the motivation to keep working and the skills they bring to it.”
With that goal in mind, Smith is working on another cooperative project. He’s soliciting artists, illustrators, poets and writers to submit work based on the theme of love, “broadly defined to include friendship, family, gratitude, forgiveness, self-acceptance, healing, love of nature and more” for a literary journal he aims to publish on May 1.
“Entries can be illustrations, artwork, poetry, short stories, essays, or memoir…” he said. “I’m asking contributors to send their work by March 20.”
The Silverton High swimming program turned in its best team and individual performances in school history last weekend at the Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center in Beaverton.
The AquaFoxes boys squad took fourth as a team, the highest in school history, while Colin Ross became the first individual state champion in school history by touching the wall first in the 100 breaststroke.
“We just had an amazing weekend,” veteran Silverton coach Lucky Rogers told Our Town. “The ‘Country Kids’ showed up and made it happen. It is amazing what we accomplish. The swimmers cheer and support each other better than any other team. And the parent support is off the charts.”
state tournament. The Trojans produced two regional champions, Bohden Sowa at 150 pounds and Creo Walker at 215. In addition, Benjamin Brenden was second at 106 and Seelah Platkoff took third at 120.
Kennedy finished with 126.5 team points, trailing only champion Lowell (218) and Waldport (137).
Silverton, meanwhile, took third at the Class 5A MidWillamette Conference competition at Corvallis. The deep and talented Foxes produced one regional champion and saw 15 wrestlers finish in the top five.
Ryder Vandeweghe captured the 190-pound title for Silverton, while Donald Kreitzer (150) and Caleb Davis (126) finished second and Damian Rael (285), Jackson Rue (106), Logan Uitto (175) and Zachary Purdy (165) all advanced to state by finishing third. Also advancing was 4th-place finisher Gavin Koster (113).
Adding valuable team points for the Foxes were fifthplace finishers Brandon Tickner (144), Cole Ulven (120), Julian Cruz (106), Kole Christiansen (132), Nathaniel Langthton (126) and Talyn Dettwyler (157), with Joshua Bishop taking sixth at 120.
Timothy L Yount
Financial Advisor
313 N. Water St. Silverton, OR 97381 503-873-2454
Daniel Hailey
Financial Advisor
108 N. First St., Suite 101 Silverton, OR 97381 503-874-6162
Ross, a sophomore, was the lone Class 5A swimmer to break the minute mark in the 100 breast final. Ross swam 58.77 to best runner-up Marker Still of Bend (1:00.11). Ross was all over the result sheets, finishing sixth in the 100 butterfly, swimming a leg on the 200 free relay that took second and the 200 medley relay that finished third.
Joining Ross on the free relay were Nolan Horner, Hunter Siewell and Brody Hollis. The runner-up spot marked the highest relay finish for the AquaFoxes at state. On the medley relay it was Kanoa Buckley, Ross, Hollis and Horner taking third.
The veteran Horner had a monster meet. Along with the two relay performances the senior took second in both the 50 free and the 100 free. Buckley also took sixth in the 100 back as Silverton improved on last year’s fifthplace team finish.
Silverton’s girls finished ninth as a team, led by Breeza Rodriguez, who took third in the 100 free and fourth in the 100 back. Khylee Howell was fourth in the 50 free, while Silverton’s 400 free relay team was fifth and its 200 medley relay foursome finished sixth.
Earlier, at the Mid-Willamette district meet in Albany, the Silverton girls won the team title, while the boys took second. It was the best combined district finish in school history.
Winning district championships were Rodriguez (100 free), the girls 200 free relay, the boys 200 medley relay, Horner (50 free) and Ross (100 breast).
Wrestling: Kennedy finished third in the Class 2A/1A Special District 1 meet and sent four athletes to the
Silverton’s girls, meanwhile, scored 40 points and finished 11th in the 6A/5A regionals in Salem. Sofie Baldridge took third at 140 pounds and teammate Sayler Graham was fourth at 135.
The state championships for boys and girls in all classes were Feb. 26-28 in Portland. I will report the state results in my March 15 column.
Basketball: The surging Kennedy girls squad advanced to the Class 2A bracket by downing Santiam and Colton in the Tri-River Conference tournament. The Trojans, 13-13 overall under first-year coach Samantha Barth and ranked 18th by the OSAA, are the No. 15 seed in the playoffs and visited No. 2 Weston-McEwen on Saturday, Feb. 28 (after Our Town’s press time). JFK closed on an 8-3 run after opening 5-10. The Kennedy boys finished 6-18 overall and did not qualify for the playoffs.
Cheerleading: Silverton finished 14th in the Class 5A small traditional category at the OSAA championships in Oregon City. The Foxes, coached by Haley Grable, totaled 56 points. The meet was dominated by the MidWillamette Conference as Lebanon and Crescent Valley went one-two, South Albany was fourth and Corvallis was ninth.
Alumni watch, Ethan Kleinschmit: The former Kennedy High and Linn-Benton Community College standout, is the Saturday starter for Oregon State University in his junior season. Kleinschmit, a 6-3 lefthander, has started twice for the Beavers, who were 4-3 at presstime. Kleinschmit is 0-1 with 19 strikeouts in 10 ⅓ innings pitched.
Got a news tip? Email me at james.d@mtangelpub.com. Follow me on X (Twitter) @jameshday and Our Town on Facebook.
Something to Talk About
A tough biz
Palace Theater keeps trying new things
By James Day
Thomas Baham, owner of the Palace Theatre, has a bit of the mad scientist in him. Baham, who also owns a two-screen setup in Sweet Home, is in his third year of running the Palace, a revered Silverton institution.
Revered, yes, but Baham still has bills to pay. That’s why he’s in a continual mode of trying new things to get folks in the theater. And making sure the right movies are available for his audience.
more bust than boffo. The new Superman and Fantastic Four movies “did all right but not as good as I thought they would,” Baham said.
And even if the Palace has the best concessions and customer service and the comfiest reclining seats in the mid-valley you still have to put on the screen what moviegoers want to see.
“This is a fun job,” he told Our Town. “I love meeting new people.”
Our Town dropped by the theater on a recent morning to get an update on Baham’s first two years on the job. An hour later… or maybe more… the notebook was full of ideas and riffs and questions. Studios, streaming services (“they are bad for the movies”), concessions, parking (”we need a parking structure downtown”) and whether the movies he shows are any good. The story starts with the challenge of convincing people the theater still is open.
“People come in and are surprised we are open, but everyone who comes in loves the place,” Baham said. “They are very positive and appreciative.”
That said, Baham keeps working to convince customers to spend more money on concessions. The tie-in between tickets and concessions is not very well understood, Baham said. Basically, theaters break even on tickets and make their profits on concessions.
Baham has some year-three amenity upgrades on this front, offering hot foods such as nachos, hot dogs, french fries and pizza slices. He also is setting up a system where customers can order concessions in advance and pick up the food when they arrive at the theater.
Baham came into 2026 in the midst of a slump. Last summer’s blockbusters – again, something movie theaters count on – were
Baham says he often hears from Silverton residents who want more adult movies. And then no one shows up so he goes back to the old standbys of Disney, Marvel and Pixar, but he promised via a follow-up email that “there is room for adult-themed movies in the mix.”
Then there is the least attractive part of his job… dealing with the studios. If you want the Avatar sequel, you have to book it for four weeks. And the studio doesn’t care that you might stop making money after 2.5 weeks.
One challenge for Baham in Silverton is that he has just one screen. His Sweet Home operation has two, which allows him the flexibility to, say, put Avatar in the main house for two weeks and then switch it to the smaller screen.
Baham has dreams of adding another screen in Silverton, but it would be a complicated, time-consuming, expensive undertaking. In addition to the Palace, Baham owns the eight retail spaces that surround it.
“If I were 20 years old I would do it in a heartbeat,” Baham said. “I think this town would support it, but the mortgage would be a challenge.”
Despite last summer’s trough, Baham remains optimistic about 2026. Zootopia 2 “brought in a bunch of families” and as we walked out of the Palace Baham looked at all the posters of coming attractions. He had positive things to say about all of them. That’s a movie guy!
Thomas Baham, owner of the Palace Theatre, shown in the concessions area. JAMES DAY
Linda Kay Dennis
July 26, 1946 – Jan. 16, 2026
Linda Kay Dennis (née Spangler), 79, of Silverton, Oregon, passed away peacefully on Jan. 16, 2026.
Born on July 26, 1946, Linda was raised in Michigan as the oldest of five children, her siblings include Bill, Becky, Tim and Dan. Linda’s love for horses began in childhood. Her family fondly recalled her organizing elaborate adventures with stick ponies – early signs of a lifelong passion that would shape her world.
Linda married Bruce Dennis in 1965 and together they raised four children, moving from Michigan to Oregon in 1977. Later in life, she returned to Michigan briefly before settling back in Oregon and for the past 27 years, Linda shared her life with her husband, Jim Gregg. Together they created a home on their peaceful 25-acre farm in Silverton, where Linda devoted herself to raising miniature horses and Gypsy Vanner horses. The farm was her sanctuary and her pride. She poured her heart into caring for her animals, finding joy in the quiet rhythms of country life and in the special bond between horse and human. Linda loved baseball, and was a big fan of the Detroit Tigers. When time allowed, Linda and Jim enjoyed camping on the banks of Detroit Lake.
Linda was known for her independent nature, strong will, and unwavering dedication to what she loved and what she believed in. She worked hard, lived simply, and followed her passions with conviction.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, William and Shirley (nee Kramer) Spangler, and her brother Bill She is survived by her husband, Jim Gregg; her four children, Tad, Tammie, Amber, and James; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a beautiful blended family which brought many additional grandchildren into her life.
One of Linda’s favorite songs was Forever Young, a sentiment that feels especially fitting now. Though she left us far too soon, we take comfort in knowing she is held in God’s eternal care, her spirit at peace and forever young in His presence.
In Memory Of
Maryanne Catherine Crowe June 11, 1943 - Jan. 31, 2026
Elton Aldon Lay
Dec. 28, 1928 - Feb. 8, 2026
Melody Ann Jones July 15, 1949 - Feb. 10, 2026
Virginia Mae Stenslad May 4, 1943 - Feb. 10, 2026
Audrey Neva Travis Nov. 15, 1942 - Feb. 11, 2026
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.
www.ungerfuneralchapel.com
Passages
Carole Elaine Smith Aug. 3, 1939 – Jan. 18, 2026
Carole Elaine Smith, 86, of Olympia, Washington, passed away in January from medical complications. She was born Aug. 3, 1939, in Cathlamet, Washington, and grew up in the Silverton area.
She will be remembered for her strength, kindness, faith, sharp intellect, generous spirit, and great sense of humor.
Carole loved gardening, traveling, card games, fashion, shopping, antiquing, and was an avid reader. She took great pride in decorating the homes she lived in. She made holidays and birthdays for family and friends meaningful and magical.
Above all else, Carole’s heart belonged to her family. She is lovingly remembered by her son Lonnie Elling, daughter Lori McCracken (Dan), stepson Jack Smith (Tina), stepdaughter Bonnie
Maryanne Crowe
Barron, grandsons Matthew McCracken, Adam Tishmack, and David Tishmack. She also leaves behind great granddaughters Lexi Tishmack and Darrian Tishmack, two great-great-grandchildren, stepfather John Demezas, nieces Amy Edwards (Trent), Anna Howe (Shawn), and nephews Allan Fisk Jr., Andrew Fisk (Sara) and their families. Carole had many dear friends and extended family members who will miss her greatly.
Carole was preceded in death by her husband David Smith, her mother Sylivia Demezas, her brother Dennis Morford, and sister Susan Fisk.
Services will be held Saturday, March 7, at 11 a.m. at Silverton Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will follow at Silverton Elks Lodge from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
June 11, 1943 – Jan. 31, 2026
Maryanne Catherine Crowe, 82, a lifelong resident of Mount Angel, Oregon, passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 31, 2026 surrounded by the love of her family. A woman defined by her vivacity, fearless exuberance, and unwavering devotion to those she loved, Maryanne lived a life marked by resilience, curiosity, and joyful adventure.
Maryanne possessed a bright and inquisitive mind. She had a lifelong love of reading and writing, with a particular fondness for news articles and short stories. Words mattered to her – whether she was crafting a story of her own or sharing something meaningful she had read. She was especially passionate about exploring her ancestral roots, sharing her discoveries with her children and grandchildren. It was one of the many ways she expressed her deep love and commitment to future generations.
Maryanne loved to travel, especially cruising, where she delighted in new destinations, lively conversations, and the simple pleasure of watching the horizon stretch before her. She embraced good food, good wine, and good company, believing that the best memories were made gathered around a table with the people she loved most.
She renjoyed camping with her young children years ago to more recent journeys shared with her beloved partner, John Webster. Whether near or far, Maryanne approached each outing with enthusiasm and gratitude, always ready for the next adventure.
Above all, Maryanne was devoted to her family. She never missed an opportunity to celebrate a milestone, offer encouragement, or share in the accomplishments of her children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. Her strength, independence, and zest for life set an example for all who knew her. She leaves behind a legacy of determination, warmth, storytelling, and steadfast love.
Maryanne is survived by her partner, John Webster; her children, Todd Woodley, Anita Woodley, and Daniel Crowe; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Though she will be deeply missed, her spirit remains a guiding light in the lives of her family and friends.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church in Mount Angel, Oregon, on Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel.
Helen Dettwyler Feb. 11, 1927 – Jan. 30, 2026
Helen Loretta (Kuenzi) Dettwyler, born Feb.11, 1927, in Silverton, Oregon, passed away peacefully at Benedictine Nursing Center in Mount Angel on Jan. 30, 2026.
Helen was the daughter of Harvey and Emma (Kaser) Kuenzi and the third of 10 children. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Alfred; siblings Lewis Kuenzi, Lee Kuenzi, Marian Sinn, Glen Kuenzi, Bob Kuenzi and Lynn Kuenzi; her sons-in-law Charles (Karen) Walter and LeRoy (Kathryn) Menold; and her grandson Kevin (Jill) Dettwyler.
She is survived by her siblings Ralph Kuenzi, Jim Kuenzi, and Richard Kuenzi; children Karen Walter, Kathryn (Joe) Rokey, Barbara (Dale) Knapp, Wayne, Joan (Paul) Kaeb, Loren (Marlene), Donna (Earl) Edelman and Gary; 43 grandchildren, 138 great grandchildren and 22 great-great grandchildren.
Helen grew up on a family farm in Silverton,
Audrey Neva Travis Nov.
Audrey Neva (Turner) Travis, 83, of Silverton, Oregon, died Feb. 11 at home. She was diagnosed with Stage 4B Clear Cell Carcinoma and was given six to 12 months, but enjoyed an extra six months.
Audrey was born to Alden Charles and Neva Martha (Walker) Turner in Glendale, California on Nov. 15, 1942. She lived in her parents’ home until she married G. Richard Travis who was in the U.S. Navy and stationed in Long Beach, California. Audrey was a devoted military wife for her husband’s 16 years in the navy, and 14 years as a chaplain’s wife in the U.S. Army. In that time, she was able to live in or visit South Korea, Japan and the Philippines. After her husband’s retirement, they traveled to Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Luxemburg, Singapore and India doing mission work.
helping to raise her nine siblings. She learned the value of faith, hard work and caring for others – qualities she carried with her throughout her life.
Helen worked at the Oregon School for the Deaf in Salem prior to marrying Alfred Dettwyler in 1947. Together they raised eight children on their family farm in Silverton. Helen was a member of the Christian Apostolic Church for 70 years. She helped care for the children of many extended family members over the years. She enjoyed her grandchildren, sewing and crocheting many gifts for them. She will also be remembered for her love of flower gardening.
The family expressed a sincere thank you to Benedictine Nursing Center and Serenity Hospice for their care over the past years. Memorials may be made to Serenity Hospice in Salem, Oregon.
15, 1942 – Feb.
11, 2026
Above all else, Audrey was a servant to the needs of others. It was difficult for her to go to a potluck and not prepare, serve or cleanup afterward. She had a true servant’s heart.
Philip Clites
Philip Gordon Clites passed away in Silverton on Wednesday, Feb. 4, three months short of turning 100, after a three-year battle with melanoma. He was born April 20, 1926, in Red Oak, Iowa, second of four children of Austin and Ruby Clite He lived in the city of Red Oak, on his grandmother’s farm outside the city, and in Nebraska City, Nebraska, throughout his childhood. After graduating from Red Oak High School in the class of 1943 he joined the U.S. Navy, attended the University of Wisconsin (Madison) under the Navy’s “V12” program, and was commissioned as a Navy officer after graduating in 1946. He remained on active duty for a few months, and was released from active service later that year. He remained active in the Naval Reserve until 1986, retiring with the rank of Commander.
After leaving active military duty, Phil moved to Oregon and found a position as a high school teacher in Silverton, where he taught math and science from 1947-1957. He married Ragnhild Storruste, also from Silverton, in 1951. Phil and Raggie raised three children there, in their house on James Street, across from the high school. He was an avid and skilled woodworker, and over the course of 60 years remodeled the house, made much of its fixtures and furniture, tended the yard and orchard, and built by hand a classic Gothic arched-roof barn with laminated roof beams behind the house, which continues to get compliments from passersby. He was a beekeeper for many years, and a lifetime member of the Willamette Valley Beekeepers Association. He designed and built an observation hive used by the association at the Oregon State Fair for a number of years.
In 1957 Phil took a mechanical engineering position at the U.S. Bureau of Mines research center in Albany, Oregon. He continued living at the James Street house in Silverton, which required a longer, and sometimes memorable, commute. There he designed furnaces for specialty metals like titanium and zirconium, and was awarded three U.S. patents for his contributions to a method for melting metal with induced electrical current, called electroslag melting. He retired from the Bureau in 1984 and was a part time independent consultant for a few years following.
Audrey gave up her pursuit of a formal education and followed her husband’s educational pursuits. After he retired from Fort Drum, New York, they moved to Silverton. Audrey was a member of Silverton Assembly of God. She was a member of Women’s Aglow, and attended Bible Study with Mid-Willamette Valley Women of Christ.
Audrey is survived by her husband of 63 years G. Richard Travis; son Patrick Andrew Travis; daughter Melissa Ruth Buyserie (Jeff); grandchildren Michael Magee (Lindsay); Stephanie Kirch (Brandon); Ryan Buyserie (Chloe); Jordana Buyserie Sauer (James); Jonathan Travis (Miranda); Sierra Buyserie (Taylor Gragg); Andrea Travis Macciocchi (James); Jeremy Buyserie; great-grandchildren Haelyn, Sterling, McKenna Keian, and Eirelan Magee; Hailey, Hayden, Brianna, and Delaney Kirch; Milo and Calliope Buyserie; Lyra, Isla, and Alden Travis; Tobias Gragg; and brother Michael Alden Turner (Geri). Audrey had a plethora of cousins, nephews, nieces and friends whom she loved. She is preceded in death by parents Alden Charles Turner and Neva Martha Walker Turner.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to: worldoutreach.org and donated to Michelle Dixit #117. She lives in Calcutta, India, and watches over 27 orphan girls from traumatic backgrounds.
After retiring Phil also volunteered as a tutor for students who wanted some extra assistance with algebra and other mathematics. At first this was done individually, at the James Street house, incentivized by Raggie’s home-made cookies. After her passing in 2012 he remained at James Street, with its many flowers, rhododendrons and especially fruit trees. He continued his math tutoring at the school itself as a volunteer to the math department. He had a polite but dry sense of humor; as more and more tutoring students relied on their cell phone calculators he would joke that “it would help if they had learned their multiplication tables in elementary school.” Many of these students returned for his help on subsequent college math courses.
Phil moved to Mount Angel Towers in 2019, with frequent visits to the James Street home. The annual Clites family cider pressing party was a celebrated event.
Phil was known as Gordon or “Gordie” when younger, “Curley” at the Bureau, and “Granddad” by the extended family. He was active with the Silverton High School classes 1949-1956 reunions and periodic lunch gatherings until he gave up driving at age 98. Several of the classes he taught started a scholarship fund in his honor when they celebrated his 90th birthday with him. In lieu of sending flowers, contributions to the scholarship fund would be welcome. The address is: SHS Alumni Association, 303 Oak St., Silverton, OR 97381. Mark contributions for the Phil Clites Memorial Scholarship Fund. Better still, spend some time teaching a young person in your life how to do math with paper and pencil.
The Mount Angel Towers, at 1 Towers Lane in Mt Angel, will host a gathering for family and friends to remember him on Saturday, March 28, at 1:00 p.m. Phil is survived by his sister Sherry Penney in Oklahoma; three children in Oregon, David Clites, Julie Johnson and Jenny Morgan; six grandchildren and four great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was a remarkable man of quiet service to others and will be sorely missed.
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.
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 503391-7406
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 503502-3462
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
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
#T2927 CLASSIC
BUNGALOW
$424,700 Classic Silverton bungalow that has been meticulously taken care of and updated. 2 bedroom, 1 bath with so much original character. Newly remodeled bathroom with classic subway tile in the shower, pedestal sink and extra storage for your needs. Newer paint inside and out. This house is move-in ready! Short distance to downtown, nicely manicured yard, fenced yard, garden shed and room for gardening. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 (WVMLS#837393)
#T2914 GARDENER’S DREAM
$579,500 Great condition on this 3BR, 2BA, 1841sqft home built in 1999. Additional room could be 4th BR. The home has an open floor plan w/a new deck and is located on a quiet/low traffic street. Open and bright LV rm w/ gas FP. Oak hardwood flooring, double ovens, large bedroom suite, landscaped, and fully fenced. View NW towards Valley and Abbey Hill. Recent upgrades include; roof, HVAC, Govee exterior lighting system, and water heater. Located on the east side of Silverton. Call Michael at ext. 314 (WVMLS#835171)
COUNTRY/ACREAGE
#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)
#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)
#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 $1,093,000 (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 $765,000 (WVMLS#834926)
COMMERCIAL
#T2876 COMM-RETAIL-CONDOS 9,500 sqft. Mt. Angel. Call Michael at ext. 314 $830,000 (WVMLS#829897)
#T2905 BEAUTIFUL TWO ACRES
$249,900 Check out this beautiful two-acre site, only 15 minutes from Silverton, to enjoy a country lifestyle! Trees and varied topography offer several options for homesites with views. Property has gone through administrative review with Marion County Planning Department and received approval for a standard septic system. Buyer to perform their own due diligence with respect to allowable uses and any land use restrictions. Call Chuck at ext. 325 (WVMLS#832686)
SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
#T2926 –AMAZING DUPLEX Two units 4 BR, 4 BA 2175 sqft. Call Becky at ext. 313 $579,000 (WVMLS#837113)
#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)
#T2923 SALEM SINGLE LEVEL HOME 3 BR, 2 BA 2036 sqft. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $512,000 (WVMLS#836536)
#T2905 SCOTTS MILLS 2-ACRE SITE Call Chuck at ext. 325 $249,900 #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 $765,000 (WVMLS#834926)
#T2886 BLUEBERRY FARM 34.08 acres Salem. Call Whitney at ext. 320 or Mike at ext. 312 $1,200,000 (WVMLS#829133)
#T2905 SCOTTS MILLS TWO-ACRE SITE Call Chuck at ext. 325 $249,900 (WVMLS#832686)
#T2917 ABOVE ABIQUA CREEK
$1,093,000 Beautiful setting above Abiqua Creek, 2BR, 2BA, completely remodeled single-level home. Many nice features, wood trim throughout, open layout, granite countertops. Home has been meticulously maintained, professionally landscaped. New patio to enjoy the creek setting. Large shop with one large bay and workshop space for all your hobbies, plus a 1.5 acre buildable lot included! Rare opportunity to have additional buildable lot with your property. Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 (WVMLS#835689)
