Our Town South: September 1, 2026

Update

Something to Do

Santiam Hospital, Salem Health merger gets green light – Page 5

Tombstone Talks bring history to life Oct. 3 at St. Boniface – Page 4

COMMUNITY NEWS Vol. 23 No. 9

Serving Stayton, Sublimity, Aumsville, Lyons & Mehama

September 2026

Neurodiversity in schools Putting every child on the path to success – page 14

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Contents Something to Do Free behavioral health forum................ 4 Historic preservation presentation........ 4 Tombstone Talks at St. Boniface............ 4 Update Hospital merger approved..................... 5 Something to Celebrate Foothills Church turns 175......................6 Helping Hands $1M fund for fire preparedness..............7 Grants for Stayton historic buildings.......7 Legal Matters Seibert acquitted of sexual assault.........8 Witness tampering charges added..........8 Arrest for hit-and-run.............................8

Datebook................................. 10 Looking Back Reflecting on 100 years........................13

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September 2026 • 3

Something to Do

Tombstone Talks History comes to life Oct. 3 with at St. Boniface

By James Day

churches to fall into disrepair,” Lulay said.

Sublimity will be alive with the sounds of history on Saturday, Oct. 3, when St. Boniface Catholic Church hosts the fifth rendition of its Tombstone Talks.

Lulay also wrote the script for the Tombstone Talk that will be delivered about his grandparents, Bill and Marie Lulay, and shared it with Our Town. It’s an absorbing tale of a classic pioneering family that experienced challenges and setbacks and blossomed amid the big trees of the Cascade foothills. The Lulay family played a key role in area logging and milling operations and still operates a timber company on Lulay Road in Scio.

The goal of the program is to bring to life stories of prominent citizens from Sublimity’s past.

The event runs from noon to 5 p.m. inside the church sanctuary, with a dinner to follow until 7 p.m. The Tombstone Talks portion costs $10 per person, with dinner an additional $15. Proceeds from the event go to church repairs. Previous renditions have used the adjacent cemetery as a venue, but dicey weather experiences led organizers to move inside. Participants still are welcome to tour the cemetery.

Tom Lulay, 79, is the oldest of the 50 grandchildren of Bill and Marie.

“When we had a family reunion,” he said, “It was like a church social.”

Other families and groups whose histories will be part of the program include James Ripp, Dennis Russell and his family, and Sister Charlene Herinckx and the Sisters of St. Mary.

“It keeps the church and features like the bell tower running,” said organizer Michele Myers of the program. “Our church is the heart of the community.”

Tom Lulay, a retired Oregon Department of Transportation engineer whose family has been involved with St. Boniface for generations, agreed.

“We started it because we didn’t want older established

Brown House to host program on historic preservation The Brown House Event Center in Stayton will host a free talk on preserving historic houses from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at 425 N. First St. Yesterday in Turner will do the presentation.

The talk is part of an eight-session program that the Santiam Heritage Foundation has organized at the Brown House. The talk will include a brief history of the preservation movement in America, some examples of significant preservation efforts, and an overview of the different principles behind historic preservation methods. It will conclude with some basic tips for anyone interested in preserving their family history or historic home.

The series is free because of grant funding from Oregon Historical Society and the Marion Cultural Development Corporation. Docent guided tours of the Brown House also will be offered, with light refreshments available.

The eighth and final talk in the series is on Nov. 14. It will feature the St. Boniface Community Archives & Museum in Sublimity covering the beginnings of the Sisters of St. Mary in Oregon For more information or to ask questions go to brownhouse.org or email cmbrownhouse@gmail. com or call 503-769-8860.

4 • September 2026

St. Boniface Catholic Church in Sublimity. .

JAMES DAY

Tombstone Talks also will include a silent auction, visits to the church archives, buggy rides from Mill Creek Carriage, a fall harvest country store, and visits to the prayer garden.

Behavioral health Hospital hosts forum and substance use, how the two often overlap, and what treatment and recovery can look like,” Circle said.

By James Day

Santiam Hospital & Clinics is hosting a free talk on behavioral health at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at the Hospital’s Freres Auditorium.

Takahla Circle, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, will lead the discussion, which is expected to last an hour.

To register for the event go to https://wl.donorperfect. net/weblink/weblink. aspx?name=E359270&id=56.

Circle has entitled her talk “Behavioral Health: Breaking Stigma” and said she wants to “build understanding and bring care closer to home.”

Takahla Circle

SUBMITTED

In materials on the forum released by the Santiam Hospital Foundation, Circle added, “I’m hoping to provide a broad, approachable introduction to behavioral health, including mental health

“I’d also like to briefly explain the role of a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, when someone may benefit from behavioral health services, and how expanding access to these services locally can support individuals, families, and our community.

“I think it will be a good opportunity to provide practical education while also introducing the community to the behavioral health clinic and services we’re developing at Santiam.”

Planning for the holidays? Get your event listed in the Our Town Home for the Holidays guide publishing Nov. 1.

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Update

Merger OK’d Santiam Hospital, Salem Health clear all the hurdles

By James Day

the work of integrating systems.”

It took an emergency request to the Oregon Health Authority and a public hearing organized by the Oregon Department of Justice, but the proposed merger of Santiam Hospital & Clinics and Salem Health, has finally received approval.

During the Aug. 5 Zoom hearing those testifying noted the challenge of serving Santiam Canyon residents if Santiam Hospital were to close. Many residents, particularly those in the upper Canyon communities of Idanha and Detroit, would have had to drive an hour to get to Salem facilities.

The two nonprofit health care providers agreed Jan. 19 to merge, but the process ultimately required the OHA to respond to an emergency exemption request and for the DOJ to hold a public hearing. Santiam Hospital and Salem Health asked for the exemption because Santiam’s financial situation was deteriorating.

Wolfe, during her Zoom testimony, noted that had Santiam failed, the Salem would have had to add capacity to absorb the patient load “and it would take time.”

Santiam Hospital & Clinics. FILE PHOTO

The merger will add $61 million to Santiam Hospital, with $35 million coming via a cash infusion and $22 million in debt being absorbed by Salem Health. The merger will provide Santiam withl the $4 million it needs to replace its outdated Epic software system, hospital officials said.

serve,” said Maggie Hudson, president and CEO of Santiam Hospital & Clinics. “We are grateful to the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Justice for their thoughtful reviews and timely approvals of the application, recognizing the urgent need to preserve local healthcare access in the Santiam Canyon.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield approved the deal on Friday, Aug. 7, noting in a statement issued by the DOJ that “this approval came through a careful, independent legal review, as required by the Legislature.

Oregonians deserve to know that decisions like this are made on the merits, following the process laid out by Oregon law. It’s more than a legal formality, it’s how we protect access to care for families in the Santiam Canyon and make sure a hospital that has served this community for generations can keep doing that work.”

“This decision brings us one step closer to securing a strong and sustainable future for our patients, staff and communities. We are especially grateful to Salem Health for walking alongside Santiam and for their commitment to preserving and strengthening health care services in the Santiam Canyon. Today is a win for Santiam. A win for our patients. A win for our communities. And a win for local health care.”

Several local dignitaries, elected officials and health care experts testified at the Aug. 5 Zoom hearing, including state Rep. Ed Diehl, other members of the legislature, Canyon community activist Deana Freres, Linn County Commissioner Will Tucker, Stayton Mayor Brian Quigley and Santiam Canyon School District Superintendent Krista Nieraeth. All 23 individuals who testified spoke in favor of the merger. DOJ officials told Our Town that of the 195 individuals who submitted written comments, 185 favored the deal.

“Today marks an important milestone for the future of Santiam Hospital & Clinics and the communities we

Hudson will remain as CEO and president of Santiam Hospital and will report to Salem Health CEO and president Cheryl Nestor Wolfe. The two hospital foundations will merge, but Melissa Baurer, Santiam’s executive director of community development told Our Town that “the use of Santiam Hospital and Clinics Foundation funds will be restricted to benefiting Santiam Hospital and the communities it serves.”

At the time of the merger announcement Santiam and Salem officials said they hoped to complete the deal by Sept. 30. Bauer said that the expedited actions of the OHA and DOJ means “we will finalize the few remaining closing steps by Aug. 31. Once the closing is complete, our two organizations will start

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The closure of Santiam would have added an estimated 22,000 annual emergency room visits to Salem’s load.

Stayton Mayor Quigley had the most succinct comment.

“Santiam Hospital saved my life,” Quigley said, noting the care he received in a medical emergency in 2024.

Quigley had to step away from his mayoral duties while he recovered, but he has returned to his role and announced June 15 that plans to seek re-election in November.

Santiam Hospital & Clinics is the largest private employer in the Santiam Canyon, with more than 750 employees. It operates the only hospital as well as a network of clinics, including major facilities in Aumsville, Sublimity and Mill City. A new pharmacy is set to open in Mill City this year. The hospital also operates the primary rural ambulance service for the Canyon out of its Stayton campus, with plans in place for an expansion on its Sublimity property.

Santiam supports a community health infrastructure that directly addresses the needs of medically underserved people, including those struggling with access to transportation and housing. In addition, its service integration team played a considerable role in the Canyon’s recovery from the 2020 wildfires and works with Canyon-area school districts on community health initiatives.

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September 2026 • 5

Something to Celebrate

Pioneer church Celebrates 175 years

By Melissa Wagoner

State Legislature. “He also didn’t know how to read.”

On May 17, 1851, six pioneers gathered in a schoolhouse in an area north of Sublimity, formerly known as Lebanon, to create the Lebanon Baptist Church. But those parishioners – Reuben and Nancy Dickens and James, Fanny and John Hunt, along with leader Elder R. Chudle – could never have foreseen the legacy that would follow in the form of first the Sublimity Baptist Church, then the Regular Baptist Church of Stayton and eventually the nondenominational Foothills Church.

These facts and more have been gleaned by Butenschoen from the registers, journals, handwritten notes, newspaper clippings and meeting minutes that make up the church archives.

“If you want to see some history… there’s lots of fun artifacts…” Butenschoen said in his sermon. “Really fascinating stuff… In fact, in September 1905, the clerk of business meeting notes read, ‘We proceeded to do nothing…’The “May 17, 1851 – let’s just put Clerks Ledger, 1907 [said], ‘The ourselves in that time frame…” church gets electric lights.’ What current pastor Tyler Butenschoen a day that must have been. Fast said in a sermon commemorating forward many years. In 1939, ‘The the church’s 175th anniversary church sponsored the Vacation earlier this year.

Bible School in West State and “This is about 45 years after Lewis An old newspaper clipping of previous Foothills 180 girls and boys attend.’ 1947, and Clark came West… Oregon that original building [at Fifth Church leaders pouring over the church’s archive. wasn’t admitted into the union COURTESY OF FOOTHILLS CHURCH Street and Washington Street until 1859. This church began in Stayton] burns down. A year later… money pours in meeting before Oregon was in the union… this is pre– from all over the country, and they were able to rebuild Civil War. Within about 10 years, the nation was split in it…” half, and the union was maybe not going to be a union.

These relics and more will be available for public viewing That’s how old this church is.” during the Foothills Church’s upcoming anniversary In those days, the church was dependent on the celebration on Sept. 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. leadership of itinerant preachers who travelled by “We’re going to have food and lots of fun activities… as horseback, leading meetings whenever they could. Then we celebrate the 175th anniversary,” Butenschoen said. came a string of pastors – most notably a man called Joab “We’ll do that outside [the church].

Powell who travelled from Missouri on the Oregon Trail in 1850.

That celebration – which is open not just to parishioners, “There are a lot of legends about him,” Butenschoen said, listing among them his height and girth, his booming voice and that he was the first chaplain in the Oregon

but to the community as well – is in keeping with the principles that have kept the church going for so any years according to Butenschoen.

A 1908 newspaper photo of one of the buildings that housed what is now known as Foothills Church. COURTESY OF FOOTHILLS CHURCH

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“This church is a unique organization because [the members] are from all backgrounds. We have people who don’t come from the same means sitting right next to each other and people who don’t vote the same sitting next to each other and that doesn’t always happen elsewhere.”

It’s that openness that first drew Butenschoen, just out of seminary, to become a pastor at Foothills Church and it’s why he has stayed 19 years.

“There is a mindset old churches are stuffy and behind the times,” he admitted. “But it’s a warm, gracious, loving place at the heart of the church. And we’re just trying to continue that moving forward.” Hopefully for another 175 years.

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Helping Hands

Wildfire preparedness

Stayton historic buildings get grants

By James Day

Today, the building is home to Le Pooch Spa & Boutique, Canyon Coffee, and a second-floor residence.

The Roy Buildings, 351–375 N. Third Ave., received a $20,000 one-for-one matching Diamonds in the Rough grant, generating a restoration project expected to exceed $50,000 through matching private investment. The project will remove deteriorated non-historic cement boards that have concealed the two Roy buildings’ original storefronts for many years, exposing historic wood transom windows that will be repaired and restored.

grants are helping three historic Foundations, Les Schwab offer $1 million in aid State preservation projects continue to move

By James Day

long period of rebuilding.”

forward in Stayton.

Three foundations and Les Schwab Tire Centers have joined forces on a program that will pump $1 million into wildfire preparedness assistance for rural communities this fire season.

OCF’s Disaster Readiness and Response Fund brings donations starting at $25 from across the state into a single funding pool, enabling OCF to quickly deploy grants when disaster strikes, Koenig said. The fund supports emergency response and preparation – including fire mitigation, specialized equipment, training and supplies – and long-term recovery.

Oregon Heritage Commission $20,000 Diamond in the Rough grants will assist with facade restoration at both the Stayton Garrage and the Roy Buildings. Along with work at the Hobson-Gehlen Building, the Historic Downtown Stayton Association is spending $150,000 this summer to “preserve historic architecture, strengthen local businesses, and enhance the character of downtown Stayton,” according to association President Juli Bochsler.

The Oregon Community Foundation, The Ford Family Foundation and the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation joined in the program, with an initial commitment of at least $1 million from partner foundations.

Additional anonymous funders will provide quick-response grants to support the nonprofits working to prepare communities and to respond when needed.

Schwab will be spearheading a statewide tire donation program to strengthen rural fire agencies. The company will donate $100,000 worth of tires statewide, addressing a critical and often overlooked need. Fire truck tires are subject to extreme wear and heat stress during wildfire response, and replacing them is a significant operational expense.

“When a fire breaks out in a rural community, the volunteers who respond deserve equipment that works and a support system that can move quickly,” said Kim Koenig, OCF’s director of community programs and disaster response.

“We know from experience that the road to recovery after a disaster is longer than anyone wants – our Disaster Readiness and Response Fund is built to be there for the long haul, from preparation through the

The foundation partners are members of the Oregon Disaster Funders Network, a partnership of mission-driven organizations working to build a stronger and more resilient Oregon.

“Funding is open to any organization working on disaster-related needs before, during or after a disaster, including jurisdictions, tribes and municipalities,” said Colin Fogarty, director communications for the OCF in an email exchange with Our Town. “Funding decisions are made through a collaborative effort among network members.... These are rolling grant programs, which means they are open yearround as needs arise.”

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“When construction begins later this summer, residents will have the opportunity to watch three more pieces of Stayton’s history re-emerge,” Bochsler said. “Revealing architectural details that have been hidden for generations and ensuring these landmark buildings continue serving the community for decades to come.”

Here is a look at the three projects: Stayton Garrage, 429 N. Third Ave. Constructed in 1910, it’s one of downtown’s most recognizable historic buildings.

During planning for rehabilitation work paid for with a 2025 Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant, contractors discovered deteriorated asbestos cement siding covering much of the building’s original exterior.

The restoration project, with construction costs approaching $100,000, will repair, restore and replace the original metal siding, which was manufactured to resemble small brick masonry.

The building is home to Marketplace at the Grove, Mimi’s and Little Beans, and Toews Art Studio.

The Hobson-Gehlen Building , 189 N. Second Ave. received a 2023 Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant. The exterior restoration was completed in 2025, the rear apartment is now occupied, and the interior of the commercial space is nearing completion.

Bochsler noted that 2026 also marks Historic Downtown Stayton Association’s 10th anniversary.The group is planning a celebration for Sept. 23.

“Over the past decade,” Bochsler said, “our downtown association has helped secure well over $1 million in grant funding for downtown revitalization while leveraging several million dollars in private investment.

Those investments have helped restore historic buildings, support local businesses, improve public spaces, and strengthen downtown as Stayton’s gathering place.”

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September 2026 • 7

Legal Matters

New charges Witness tampering added to list

By Stephen Floyd

An Aumsville man charged in February with felony domestic assault is facing new charges after allegedly attempting to coerce the victim into lying to police.

Conner James Franklin, 21, was charged by secret indictment Feb. 12 in Marion County Circuit Court with multiple counts for alleged repeated assaults on a local woman since July of 2025.

According to the indictment, Franklin allegedly injured the woman multiple times including allegedly strangling her more than once and in one instance allegedly striking her with a car. He also allegedly threatened her with a firearm and interfered with an attempted call to police, according to the indictment.

Charges include second-degree assault, harassment, interference with making a report, unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts each of fourth-degree assault and strangulation.

A warrant was issued and he was arrested March 9 in Glenn County, California. He was extradited back to Oregon July 8. Since that time Franklin has been lodged in the Marion County Jail without bail.

While in jail he has allegedly contacted the woman in the assault case multiple times, and on two occasions

allegedly attempted to have her “offer false testimony or withhold testimony unlawfully,” according to charging documents. This led to new charges filed Aug. 7 including two counts of tampering with a witness and three counts of contempt of court for violating a no-contact order.

Prosecutors filed notice Aug. 14 of their intent to seek a stiff sentence based on multiple risk factors including persistent criminal activity, lack of remorse, disregard for laws and the ineffectiveness of prior sentences.

His assault case already carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 70 months under Measure 11, and prosecutors are likely to request additional time.

Franklin was most recently sentenced in 2024 to one month in prison and a year of probation after pleading guilty to fleeing from police during a DUII stop that September. He was ordered to undergo alcohol abuse treatment but failed to complete the program. In July of 2025 prosecutors filed a motion to revoke his probation.

As of press time the motion remained pending.

Franklin has waived his right to a speedy trial and is due back in court Sept. 30 for a status check hearing before Judge Manuel Perez.

Sublimity man arrested for hit-and-run assault A Sublimity man is facing serious charges after allegedly injuring a road worker while speeding through a construction zone in Salem.

and hit-and-run, while the other driver, who was not yet identified in court records, was arrested for DUII and reckless driving.

Adam Jonathan Price, 35, was arrested Aug. 21 by the Salem Police Department following an incident that day on State Street SE.

On Aug. 21, multiple charges were filed against Price in Marion County Circuit Court including second-degree assault, attempted second-degree assault, hit-and-run, reckless endangerment of highway workers and three counts of recklessly endangering another person. The assault charge carries a minimum penalty of 70 months in prison.

According to SPD, Price was allegedly one of two drivers “racing through a construction zone” while two road workers were present. One worker was allegedly struck by Price’s vehicle and suffered minor injuries.

The two vehicles allegedly fled the scene and were located shortly afterward. Price was arrested for felony assault

Price was ordered held on $250,000 bail and as of press time remained lodged in the Marion County Jail. He is due back in court Sept. 3 for arraignment on a possible indictment.

Judge rules not enough evidence in sexual abuse case; Seibert acquitted A former vice principal at Regis St. Mary’s School, in Stayton, has been acquitted of sexual abuse charges following a three-day trial in Marion County Circuit Court.

Christopher Wayne Seibert, 57, of Salem, was acquitted by Judge Thomas Hart on Aug. 5 after Hart determined there was not enough evidence to support a conviction.

The case has been closed and Seibert has no other pending criminal matters.

He was indicted July 11, 2025, on four counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of seconddegree unlawful sexual penetration after a former student claimed Seibert allegedly touched her inappropriately. Seibert denied wrongdoing and was released on $250,000 bail.

The trial began Monday and Seibert waived his right to a jury, allowing a judge to hear evidence and determine guilt. Both the prosecution and the defense presented numerous witnesses including law enforcement, school employees, social workers and those who personally knew Seibert and the alleged victim.

Prosecutors alleged the student was abused multiple times between 2021 and 2023, beginning when she was younger than 14. Hart determined the state was unable to prove these allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted as charged, Seibert faced at least 75 months in prison.

Seibert left Regis in 2023 to become principal at St. Joseph Catholic School in Salem. He was no longer employed at St. Joseph at the time of his indictment. His Oregon teaching license is not currently active.

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September 2026 • 9

datebook Frequent Address

Santiam Senior Center 41818 Kingston-Jordan Road, Stayton Stayton Community Center, 400 W Virginia St. Stayton Public Library, 515 N First Ave. The Box, 278 E High St., Stayton

Weekly Events Monday

Stayton Community Food Bank, 9 a.m. - noon, 1210 Wilco Road. Repeats Monday - Friday. 503-769-4088 Baby & Me, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Doris’s Place, 955 E Santiam St., Stayton.

Parents/caregivers and babies under 1 year old. Drop-in. 503-769-9200 Santiam Senior Center, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Seniors 50 and older. Daily, weekly, monthly events.

503-767-2009, santiamseniorcenter.com Senior Meals, 11:30 a.m., Stayton Community Center. Congregate dining or delivery. Age 60 and older. Serves Stayton, Sublimity, Aumsville, Lyons, Marion, Mehama. Repeats Wednesday, Friday. $3 donation suggested. For delivery, call Ginger, 503-769-7995.

Bingo, 1 - 3:30 p.m., Santiam Senior Center. Cards $.05-.10/game. Bring non-perishable food for Stayton Food Bank, get free card. Seniors 50+. Free.

Repeats Thursday. 503-767-2009 Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., New Life Foursquare Church, 1090 N First Ave., Stayton. Also Thursday, Friday.

Santiam Canyon Community Chorus, 7 - 8:30 p.m., Stewart’s Hall, 158 SW Broadway St., Mill City. Anyone is welcome. JoAnn, 503-859-2502

Tuesday

Family Storytime, 10:30 a.m., Stayton Public Library. Explore early literacy through songs, rhythms, stories, rhyme.

All ages welcome. Free. 503-769-3313 English, Citizenship, GED Classes, 6:30 - 8 p.m., United Methodist Church, 1450 Fern Ridge Road, Stayton. Classes free; $20 workbook. Repeats Thursday.

Join class anytime. Mary, 503-779-7029

Wednesday

Stayton/Sublimity Chamber Business Network, 8:15 a.m. Network-building event for local businesses, non-profit professionals. Location varies each week. 503-769-3464.

St. Boniface Archives and Museum, 9 a.m. - noon, 370 Main St., Sublimity.

Free. 503-508-0312 Intermediate Tai Chi, 10:15 - 11 a.m., Santiam Senior Center. Members free.

Repeats Friday. 503-767-2009 Toddler Stay & Play, 10:30 a.m., Stayton Public Library. Explore the world of early learning and literacy together with your infant/toddler.

Older siblings welcome. 503-769-3314

10 • September 2026

Storytime, 10:30 a.m., Lyons Public Library, 279 Eight St. Read, play, sing, rhyme. Free. 503-859-2366 Beginner Tai Chi, 11:15 a.m. - noon, Santiam Senior Center. Members free.

Repeats Fri. 503-767-2009 Stayton Area Rotary, noon, Santiam Golf Club, 8724 Golf Club Road. Guests welcome. 503-508-9431 Cascade Country Quilters, 12:30 p.m., Santiam Senior Center. 503-767-2009 Pinochle, 1 p.m., Santiam Senior Center. Single deck. Seniors 50+. Free for members. 503-767-2009 Alcoholics Anonymous, 6 p.m., New Life Foursquare Church, 1090 N First Ave., Stayton.

Thursday

Sublimity Quilters, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., St. Boniface Catholic Church, 375 SE Church St., Sublimity. New members welcome.

Point Man Ministries, 6 p.m., Canyon Bible Fellowship, 446 Cedar St., Lyons.

Veterans support organization.

503-859-2627.

Friday

Pinochle, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Santiam Senior Center. Double deck. Seniors 50+. Free for members. 503-767-2009

Saturday

Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 a.m., All Good Things Cafe, 190 Main St., Aumsville.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 10 a.m., New Life Foursquare Church, 1090 N First Ave., Stayton.

Aumsville Historical Society Museum, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., 599 Main St. April-October, except holiday weekends. Free. 503-749-2744

Sunday

Community Lampstand, 5 -7 p.m., Brown House Event Center, 425 N First Ave., Stayton. Learn how the Bible inspired the works of the Founding Fathers in the creation of the United States and its founding documents.

Free. Diannah, 503-881-6147 Alcoholics Anonymous, 6 - 7:15 p.m., Bethel Baptist Church, 645 Cleveland St., Aumsville.

Tuesday, Sept. 1 Art in Miniature

10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Stayton Public Library.

Create a work of art to display in the library’s Mini Art Walk. Pick up a mini canvas anytime Sept. 1-18 during open hours and return it by Sept. 23 to reserve your space. Free. All ages.

503-769-3313

Stayton Lions Club

Noon, Covered Bridge Cafe, 510 N Third Ave., Stayton. Club and new members are welcome. Repeats Sept.

15. staytonlionsclub.org

Stayton Parks and Rec Board

6 p.m., Stayton Planning Building, 311 N Third Ave. Agenda available. Open to public. 503-769-3425

Wednesday Sept. 2 Aumsville Senior Social Circle

10 a.m. - noon, Riverview Bank, 112 Main St., Aumsville. Join Aumsville’s senior community for a morning of cards, dice and conversation. Feel free to bring your own games. Free.

Repeats Sept. 16.

Stayton Design Committee

10:30 a.m., Canyon Coffee, 433 N Third Ave., Stayton. Historic Downtown Stayton Design Committee monthly meeting. Open to public. 503-767-2317

Saturday, Sept. 5 Act on Radio Auditions

10 a.m., Spotlight Theatre, 383 N Third Ave., Stayton. In-person auditions for October’s Act on Radio, Canterville Ghost. Video auditions accepted until 5 p.m. Sept. 4. Questions? crogers@ spotlightcommunitytheater.com.

Spotlight Auditions

1 - 3 p.m., Spotlight Theatre, 383 N Third Ave., Stayton. In-person auditions for the December performance of 10 Ways to Survive the Holidays. Video submissions must be received via email by 3 p.m. Sept. 5. Send submissions to audrey.williams85@gmail.com. Call or text Audrey Davis, 509-855-1716, for more information.

Monday, Sept. 7 Labor Day Tuesday, Sept. 8 Silverton Ancestry Detective 10 a.m., Silver Falls Library, 421 S Water St.. Learn how full-text search supports genealogy research. Bring laptop/tablet for handson experience. Open to all. 503-661-9028

Santiam Historical Society

6 p.m., Stayton United Methodist Church, 1450 SE Fern Ridge Road.

Presentation and discussion of Stayton’s history. Free. Open to public. santiamhistoricalsociety@gmail.com

Stayton Economic Vitality

5 p.m., The Box, 278 E High St., Stayton.

Historic Downtown Stayton Economic Vitality Committee monthly meeting.

Open to public. 503-767-2317

Downtown Stayton Board Meeting

6 p.m., The Box, 278 E High St., Stayton.

Historic Downtown Stayton Association monthly board meeting. Open to public.

503-767-2317, downtownstayton.org

Thursday, Sept. 10 Aumsville Food Pantry

Noon - 4 p.m., Bethel Baptist Church, 645 Cleveland St., Aumsville. Repeats Sept. 24.

503-749-2128

Santiam Heritage Foundation

6 p.m., Brown House Event Center, 425 N First Ave., Stayton. Board of trustees’ meeting. Open to public by appointmant.

503-769-8860

Aumsville Fire District

6:30 p.m., Aumsville Fire Station, 490 Church St. Agenda available. Open to public. 503-749-2894, aumsvillefire.org

Lyons Library Board

7 p.m., Lyons Public Library, 279 Eighth St. 503-859-2366

Friday, Sept. 11 Explorations in Embroidery

11 a.m., Stayton Public Library. Explore the possibilities of a fiber arts project using embroidery techniques or bring your own project. All ages. 503-769-3313

Sublimity Harvest Festival

5 p.m., Sublimity Harvest Festival Grounds, 11880 SE Sublimity Road. Truck, tractor, monster truck competition. Food booths, vendors, Kid-Zone, Entertainment Tent. Repeats Sept. 6-7. For list of events, daily admission, see sublimityharvestfestival.com.

Saturday, Sept. 12

Harvest Festival Fun Run

9 a.m., Church Park, 375 E Main St., Sublimity. 5K & 3K run/walk. $20/person.

Age 12 and under free.

Proceeds benefit Cascade View Christian School’s Outdoor School Program. Register: sublimityharvestfest.com.

Lyons Fire Chief Retirement

Wednesday, Sept. 9

10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Lyons Fire Department, 1114 Main St. Celebrate Fire Chief Bob Johnston as he retires after serving the city of Lyons as chief for 40 years. Open house. Light refreshments. 503-859-2410

10 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Oregon Garden, 879 W Main St., Silverton. For homeschool students ages 5-12.

Adults $14, $10 for students aged 12-17, $7 for children aged 5-11. Jenna Mendenhall, 503-880-5411

10 - 11:30 a.m., Doris’s Place, 955 E Santiam St., Stayton. Free opportunity to spend time with your children, socialize with other families and build support with the community. For families with children 0-5 years old. 503-769-1120

Stayton City Council

6:30 p.m., Stayton Community Center.

Open to public. 503-769-3425

Homeschool Day

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Community Play Group

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Aumsville Saturday Market

10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Porter Boone Park, 1105 Main St., Aumsville. Free entry. $20 per vendor space. To submit an application, email market@aumsville.us.

Harvest Festival Parade

11 a.m., Sublimity. Parade starts at Sublimity Elementary on NE Starr Street, travels west to N Center Street to SE Church Street. sublimityharvestfest.com

Turkey Dinner

5 - 7 p.m., Santiam Valley Grange, 1140 Fifth St., Lyons. Turkey dinner with all the trimmings. $10/plate. 503-859-2161

Sunday, Sept. 13 Harvest Breakfast

7 a.m. - noon, Sublimity Fire Station, 115 NW Parker St. All-you-can-eat eggs, pancakes, sausage, drinks. $10/adults. $8/ages 60+. $7/ages 5-10. Children 4 and under are free. Benefits Santiam Hospital & Clinics Auxiliary.

Brown House Tour

Noon - 2 p.m., Brown House Event Center, 425 N First Ave., Stayton. Tour the historic Charles and Martha Brown House. $5/person. Children under 18 are free. 503-769-8860.

Monday, Sept. 14 DAR Chapter Meeting

10 a.m., Stayton Fire District, 1988 W Ida. Meeting for Daughters of the American Revolution Abigail Scott Duniway Chapter. Open to all. 503-689-6991

Stayton Outreach Committee

4 p.m., The Box, 278 E High St., Stayton.

Historic Downtown Stayton Association monthly Downtown Stayton Outreach Committee meeting. Open to public.

503-767-2317, downtownstayton.org

6 - 7:30 p.m., Weddle Funeral Service, 1777 N Third Ave., Stayton. All veterans and all branches of service are welcome. Post #58 will pay first year’s dues for all who join.

503-508-2827

Wednesday, Sept. 16 Stayton Library Board

6 p.m., Stayton Public Library. Open to public. 503-769-3313

Thursday, Sept. 17 Mount Angel Oktoberfest

11 a.m., Mt. Angel food Chalets open. Food, crafts, music, dancing, free children’s area starts Friday, weekend military vehicle display, Saturday Weiner Dog Races, Volkswalk. Runs through Sept. 20. For a complete list of events, visit oktoberfest.org.

NSSD Board

6 p.m., District Office, 1155 N First Ave., Stayton. Board meeting for North Santiam School District. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-769-6924, nsantiam.k12.or.us

Stayton Public Arts Commission

6 p.m., Sublimity City Hall, 245 NW Johnson. Open to public.

Agenda available. 503-769-5475, cityofsublimity.org

10 - 11:30 a.m., Lyons Memorial Park, Fifth Street. Free opportunity to spend time with your children, socialize with other families and build support. For families with children 0-5 years old. 503-769-1120

7 p.m., Chester Bridges Memorial Community Center, 555 Main St., Aumsville. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-749-2030, aumsville.us

Cascade School Board

7 p.m., Cascade District Office, 10226 SE Marion Road, Turner. Open to public.

Agenda available. 503-749-8010, cascade.k12.or.us

VFW Post 5638

7 - 8:30 p.m., Stayton Fire Department, 1988 W Ida St. Veterans of Foreign Wars monthly meeting. New members welcome. Jim Bennett, 503-983-9110

Tuesday, Sept. 15 Build-It! LEGOS

3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Stayton Public Library.

Release your inner builder. All ages. Free.

503-769-3313

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Thursday, Sept. 24

History Talks

10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sublimity Fire Station, 115 NW Parker St. For appointments visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767

American Legion Post #58

Friday, Sept. 18

Aumsville City Council

Joseph´s Storehouse of Hope

11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Mari-Linn School, 641 Fifth St., Lyons. Food boxes.

503-881-9846

6 p.m., NSWC Office, 402 N Third Ave., Stayton. Open to public. northsantiam.org

6 p.m., Stayton Fire Station, 1988 W Ida St. Open to public. 503-769-2601

Sublimity City Council

Fundraiser Rummage Sale

11 a.m., The Box, 278 E High St., Stayton.

Historic Downtown Stayton Association monthly Downtown Stayton Promotion Committee meeting. Open to public.

503-767-2317, downtownstayton.org

10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Santiam Senior Center, 41818 Kingston-Jordan Road, Stayton.

6 p.m., Lyons Fire Station, 1114 Main St. Open to public. 503-859-2410

Stayton Fire District Board

Wednesday, Sept. 23

9 a.m. - noon, Bethel Baptist Church, 645 Cleveland St., Aumsville. Clothing from newborn to 2x. Free. 503-749-2128

North Santiam Watershed Council

6 p.m., Stayton Public Works Building, 311 N Third Ave. Help plan and organize local art events. Open to public. Jennifer Siciliano, 503-769-2998, JSiciliano@ staytonoregon.gov.

Lyons Fire District Board

Bethel Clothing Closet

Community Play Group

Art of Making Memories

11 a.m., Stayton Public Library. Capture and share memories that connect people and communities together. Share a story or souvenir, or listen and reminisce about what makes something “the times of our lives.” All ages. Free. 503-769-3313

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, Sept. 19 Flea Market

9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Santiam Valley Grange, 1140 Fifth St., Lyons. Free admission. Burger lunch with potato salad, deviled eggs, desserts, coffee, pop available for purchase.

503-859-2161

3 p.m., Brown House Event Center, 425 N First Ave., Stayton. A brief history of America’s preservation movement, examples of significant preservation efforts, and overview of historic preservation principles. Practical tips for preserving family history or historic homes. Free. All ages. brownhouse.org

Alcoholics Anonymous

6 - 8:30 p.m., Bethel Baptist Church, 645 Cleveland St., Aumsville. Open meeting.

Sunday, Sept. 20 Record Collectors Show

10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Ackerman School, 350 SE 13th, Canby. Records, CDs, tapes, sheet music, books, posters, photographs, memorabilia. Free parking. Admission $5.

Tables $70; contact Don Rogers, 503-651-2780.

Monday, Sept. 21 Stayton Friends of the Library

11 a.m., Stayton Public Library. New members welcome. 503-932-2733.

Red Cross Blood Drive

1 - 6 p.m., Foothills Church, 975 Fern Ridge Road, Stayton. For appointments, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.

Vigil for Peace

2:30 - 3:30 p.m., Towne Square Park, Silverton. Silverton People for Peace gather to advocate for peace, social justice issues on all levels of society including a focus on issues of current concern. Open to all. 503-873-5307

Stayton City Council

6:30 p.m., Stayton Community Center.

Open to public. Agenda available.

503-769-3425, staytonoregon.gov

Santiam Masonic Meeting

7 p.m., Santiam Lodge #25, 122 N Third Ave., Stayton. All Masons welcome.

New members encouraged to drop by.

“Santiam Lodge #25” on Facebook.

Tuesday, Sept. 22 Lyons City Council

6:30 p.m., Lyons City Hall, 449 Fifth St. Open to public. 503-859-2167

PFLAG Silverton

7 p.m., Oak Street Church, 502 Oak St., Silverton. Everyone welcome. Under 18 must have parent/guardian. Christy, 541-786-1613, silvertonpflag@gmail.com

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Stayton Promotion Committee

Red Cross Blood Drive

Friday, Sept. 25 Library After Hours

6 p.m., Stayton Public Library. Tour display of mini art that starts in the library and spreads to downtown. Vote for your favorites and craft a fun masterpiece of your own along the way. A selection of mini refreshments will be available to help fuel your journey. All ages. Free.

503-769-3313

Saturday, Sept. 26 Santiam Canyon River Run

9:30 a.m., Snow Peak Brewing, 280 E Water St., Stayton. 10K run, 5K & 3K run/ walk. $45/person. Finishers receive a commemorative pint glass with a coupon for soda or beer from Snow Peak. Checkin begins at 8 a.m. Benefits Santiam Hospital & Clinics Foundation. Register at shcfoundation/event/2026santiamcanyon-river-run.

Aumsville Saturday Market

10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Porter Boone Park, 1105 Main St., Aumsville. Free entry. $20 per vendor space. To submit an application, email market@aumsville.us.

Sunday, Sept. 27 Jordan Chicken Dinner

10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Our Lady of Lourdes, 39043 Jordan Road, Scio. 92nd annual Chicken Dinner & Cruise-In/Fly-In. Familystyle chicken dinner, local vendors, silent auction, drawings, country store. $20/ adults. $5/ages 6-10. Ages 5 and under free. Advance dinner tickets can be ordered by calling 503-394-2437.

Monday, Sept. 28 Aumsville City Council

7 p.m., Chester Bridges Memorial Community Center, 555 Main St., Aumsville. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-749-2030, aumsville.us

Stayton Planning Commission

7 p.m., Stayton Community Center. Open to the public. Agenda available.

503-769-3425, staytonoregon.gov

Wednesday, Sept. 30 Stayton Book Club

4 p.m., Stayton Public Library. Join for casual conversations and good company that all start in the pages of a book. Free.

503-769-3313

September 2026 • 11

Paid Advertisement

The Roman Road That Leads to Life by Gregg Harris

T

he Romans were extraordinary road builders. They constructed tens of thousands of miles of paved highways connecting cities, military outposts, ports, and provinces throughout their empire. Many still remain. These roads had been built primarily to move Roman soldiers and commerce efficiently from one place to another. But in the providence of God, the same roads that carried Caesar's armies also carried Christ's apostles and evangelists throughout the empire.

But there is another "Roman Road" that has carried the Gospel around the world. It is not made of stone. It is a series of verses found in Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome. There he explains the problem of man's sin, the righteous judgment of God, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the way by which we can be reconciled to God. So, let’s take a walk down the Roman Road together.

“The Gospel of Christ” Our journey begins at Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” “Gospel” means “good news.”

What we are about to discover is the good news concerning Jesus Christ. But to appreciate this good news, we must first hear and believe the bad news.

“All Have Sinned.”

Our first stop is Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Notice the word all. Paul does not say that some of us have sinned. He places all mankind into the same category. All have sinned.

Sin is more than committing murder, adultery, or theft. Sin is anything that is contrary to the will of God. Jesus taught us that hatred is murderous in its nature, and that lust is as adultery. Greed is sin. Selfishness is sin.

But there is a deeper problem. We were created by God for the purpose of knowing and loving Him. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:37).

Who has ever done this perfectly? We have not merely made mistakes. We have "fallen short of the glory of God" by failing to display what God is like. So, that is the bad news for which the Gospel provides the solution.

“The Wages of Sin” The Roman Road continues to Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Christianity is not the story of mankind searching for God. It is the story of God coming down to rescue sinful mankind. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became truly man while remaining truly God. He lived the perfect life that we have all failed to live. He never sinned. And yet He agreed to die. Why?

Gregg Harris, Tea

ching Pastor at

When Jesus died on the cross, He was not merely providing an inspiring example of sacrificial love, though it was that. He was actually bearing the judgment that is due to all sinners. Our sin creates a debt that we can only pay by dying. At the cross, God's justice and mercy met, and both were satisfied.

GraciousCross.o

rg

A wage is something we have earned. When an employer gives you your paycheck, he is not giving you a gift. You have earned it by what you have done. Paul says that sin also earns a wage for us. And that wage is death.

Physical death entered the world because of sin, but the Bible speaks of an even more terrible aspect of death: eternal separation from God under His righteous judgment.

God is loving, but He is also perfectly holy and just. A good judge cannot simply ignore evil. If a human judge knowingly allowed murderers, rapists, and thieves to go free without justice, we would not applaud him for being loving. We would condemn him for being corrupt. How much more must the Judge of all the earth do what is right? God has to punish every sin.

Christ took the sinner's judgment upon Himself, and the sinner who trusts in Christ has Christ’s righteousness applied to his account as a gift.

That is how forgiveness can be freely offered without God pretending that sin does not matter. The penalty has been paid in full. And notice when God loved us. Not after we cleaned ourselves up. Not after we became religious. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He loved us before we knew Him.

There is another "Roman Road" that has carried the Gospel around the world. It is not made of stone. It is a series of verses found in Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome that explains the problem of man's sin, the righteous judgment of God, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the way by which we can be reconciled to God.

The problem, therefore, is not merely that our lives are unhappy or unfulfilled. Our greatest problem is that our sin has separated us from our Creator. But Romans 6:23 does not end with death.

“The Gift of God” Our next stop on this road is the second part of Romans 6:23. “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Though death is the wage we have earned by our sin, eternal life is the gift of God that we do not deserve.

“Christ Died for Us.” How then can a righteous God forgive guilty sinners without compromising His justice? The answer is found at our next stop. Romans 5:8:

“Believe In Your Heart.”

So, what must we do to be saved? Paul gives the answer at our next stop, Romans 10:9: “… if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Christian faith is not merely agreeing that Jesus once existed. It is trusting in who He is and what He has done for us. Jesus died for sinners, but He did not remain in the grave.

The resurrection of Jesus is God’s declaration that Jesus truly is the Son of God, that His sacrifice was accepted, that death has been conquered, and that we can be reconciled.

To confess Jesus as Lord means more than just saying the words. It is to acknowledge Him

for who He truly is—Lord—and to place our confidence in Him rather than in ourselves.

Paul continues in Romans 10:13: “For 'whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’” There is that wonderful word: whoever. It does not say whoever has lived a respectable life. It says “whoever calls upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.” This good news is offered freely to all sinners.

“Justified By Faith Alone” And what happens to the person who believes? Our next stop is Romans 5:1. There Paul tells us: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The word justified is enormously important. To be justified means to be declared righteous in the court of God’s justice. The sinner who trusts in Christ is no longer under condemnation because Christ has taken his guilt upon Himself. God then credits Christ's righteousness to the believing sinner because his debt has been paid.

Therefore, Paul says, “we have peace with God.” This is far more than just experiencing a peaceful feeling. It means the hostility between us and God, caused by our rebellion against Him, has ended. We have been reconciled.

And this salvation is received entirely by faith, not by anything we do, but by what we believe.

“There Is No Condemnation.”

The Roman Road brings us finally to one of the most glorious statements in the entire Bible, Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” The condemnation that rightfully belongs to us has already fallen upon Christ at the cross. Jesus paid it all. The only question is whether or not we are “in Christ.”

Jesus Christ has done for us what we could never do for ourselves. He has lived the perfect life we should have lived. He has died the horrible death our sins deserve. And He has risen triumphantly from the grave to prove that God’s plan of salvation really works.

So, turn from your sin. Place your trust in Jesus. Call upon Him in prayer. The road to your salvation is now wide open. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Take Him at His word, and believe. This Roman Road leads to eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

Questions? Please call me at 971-370-0967 and I will be happy to speak with you.

The v iews ex pressed by th is adve r ti s e r do no t ne ce s s ar i ly re pre s e nt t h e vi ew s o f O u r Tow n o r i t s s t a f f.

12 • September 2026

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Looking Back

Turning 100 Jack Viney reflects on good times and bad as celebration nears “My grandpa wanted me to stay back,” Viney remembered. “But I’d say, ‘Grandpa, are they on our side?’”

By Melissa Wagoner

You may have seen Jack Viney driving his cherryred motorized scooter between his home in Stayton and the McDonald’s where he has coffee with friends most mornings.

By then Viney was in high school, wearing clothes his grandmother purchased using money he earned digging mayapples in the woods.

What you might not know is that Viney – who looks young for his age in a dapper newsboy cap and buttoned-down shirt – will turn 100 years old on Sept. 18.

“She took them to the medical people in Athens,” he said. “Then she got me a shirt and a pair of pants.”

“I’ve thought a lot about this time…” Viney said.

But when asked to describe how it feels on the eve of such a pivotal birthday, he simply says, “It’s relaxed from work, work, work.”

Viney liked high school, where he participated in both volleyball and track. But that all came to an end when, at age 14, his dad showed up offering a picnic and a bicycle if Viney went for a ride.

That’s because Viney – who was born in Zanesville, Ohio, to a Cherokee mother and an Italian father – has been working hard since elementary school days. He was both student and janitor, arriving each morning at 6:30 a.m. to sweep the floors and start the fire.

“So, I gave in…” Viney recalled. “He said it was a two-week vacation, but I’m still on it.”

Working for his dad hauling furniture for 50 cents a week, Viney learned two lessons quickly – not to trust his father and the value of saving what he earned.

“It paid $8 a month, but I never got a dime,” he recalled. “That was for my keep.”

He was raised largely by his mother, with support from her sisters and cousins – until she died when he was six. Viney didn’t see much of his father until he was 14.

“My mother sure didn’t like him…” Viney said, recalling hiding each time he came home to find a strange vehicle in front of the house, for fear it was his father. “My dad only understood me when I was able to work.”

It was a childhood that had its challenges, both because of the poverty Viney and his family endured – he recalls an uncle rescuing him from his mother’s home when it was discovered they had nothing to eat but jars of berry preserves – and the harsh climate of Ohio.

“The whole area got destroyed by a cyclone…”

Viney said recalling a fateful day in 1936.

“I was in the chicken house with my cousin… I said, ‘I see a cloud.’”

What came next was like a scene from The Wizard of Oz. “I got in the house…with my grandma and she said, ‘Jackie, come here and help me hold these windows.

So, I backed up and spread my hands out, but the glass went bang along against the wall.”

Scared, they made a run for it.

“But here came the house… I could see the chimney falling down and all the bricks scattered like hail, some landed on my head. They knocked

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“I’ve never been broke since,” Viney said.

Jack Viney, a longtime resident of Stayton, as his 100th birthday approaches. COURTESY OF PRISCILLA GLIDEWELL

me down…” Viney said. “And then a thorn tree fell over and landed on me and my grandma… She said, ‘Jackie, pick that tree off me.’” Viney was only 10 at the time, but adrenaline kicked in, enabling him to lift the tree and save his grandma’s life.

Memories like that one appear to play like a home movie for Viney, who can still recall moments from his childhood as though they happened yesterday, including attending the State Marbles Championship in Columbus, Ohio in 1936.

“I’d never seen high buildings,” Viney recalled. “So, I was looking up and I fell over a curb.”

He had also never used a fork – his family only used spoons – or played marbles on anything but dirt.

“We got to the 10-foot marble circle, and it was concrete…” Viney said. “It wasn’t too easy.”

But in the end his skills won out.

“I’m the champion of Ohio,” Viney said, with a pride that is still in evidence 90 years later. “I won a radio.”

Initially useless in a home without electricity, Viney’s grandfather found someone who knew how to attach the radio to both battery and antennae so the family could eventually get news of World War II.

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In fact, upon meeting his first wife, Greta, Viney began working harder than ever, first as a concrete truck driver in Ohio, then Texas, then California and finally in Oregon, where he’d dreamed of living since he was a little boy.

“When I was young in school I saw a picture of Oregon,” Viney remembered. “It was a log truck in a forest. I didn’t even know what a forest was.”

But he wanted to find out. So, he worked and saved, until, in 1969, he finally relocated with his wife and their five children to a farm on Silver Falls Highway in Stayton. From there he worked for the State of Oregon’s Bridge Department for 19 years, as a part-time gardener for those who needed one and as a volunteer for the Baptist Church (first in Stayton and then in Aumsville).

“He served on the board and as a deacon for years,” Viney’s friend, Priscilla Glidewell, said. “He also did all of the lawn and yard maintenance up until well into his 90s.”

Even now, on the eve of his 100th birthday, Viney is unwilling to slow down.

“He still cleans his own house,” Glidewell confirmed.

She’s hoping on Sept. 18, during an open-house birthday celebration from 2 to 7 p.m. at his home on Hummingbird Lane, he’ll take a moment to celebrate all he’s accomplished in 100 years.

September 2026 • 13

Something to Think About

Neurodiversity Helping every child find their path to success

By Melissa Wagoner School can be a challenge for neurodivergent kids – those whose brains process information, learn, communicate, or regulate emotions differently than their “neurotypical” counterparts.

They can face difficulties academically, emotionally and socially depending on the type and scope of their neurodivergence and also on the support they receive at school and at home.

It’s a topic Beven Byrnes – the founder and executive director of Bridges Middle School, a Portland school designed for students with learning differences – has thought a lot about.

“I am a neurodiverse adult raising four neurodiverse children,” Byrnes said. And she was lucky enough, during her elementary and high school years, to benefit from an education model that worked well for her neurodivergent brain. “[T]hat led to my passion for alternative education…” Byrnes said, “and giving a voice to those who aren’t necessarily given a voice.”

Byrnes knows not everyone has access to the kind of education Bridges – a small, tuition-based institution and the only one of its kind in the state – can provide. And there are a host of factors can influence the educational outcome for a neurodivergent child.

That has been the case for the four mothers of neurodivergent children whom Our Town recently spoke with. Each shared what elements of their child’s educational experience have worked, what hasn’t worked and how parents can advocate for their own neurodivergent children.

a plan for her future academic success. Initially that meant getting her access to both an Individualized Education Program (IEP) – a kind of roadmap – and a 504 Plan for accommodations like privacy screens, fidget objects, headphones, a quiet space for testing, a special seating chart and access to a sensory room for brain breaks. “[But] one of the greatest tools that we used for Elaina was (the school’s) ‘Check-in, Check-out’ system to help reinforce good behavior,” Anna said. “They get scored during different periods of their school day. If they meet their goal, there is usually a small reward… Elaina loved getting her prize and it kept her motivated even when school became difficult.”

Methods like these are what Byrnes uses at Bridges and what she would like to see used elsewhere as well.

“I think there are small changes we can make even in traditional settings,” she confirmed. “We can set up environments that have less distractions and stimuli, we can have wiggle benches, fidgets… calm zones… Because there’s no shame in taking a brain break.”

In fact, that’s a stigma she especially wants removed – for all students and faculty as well.

“We’re all such products of the human condition, particularly women who are neurodivergent,” Byrnes said. “The world has taught us our worth is in production. But what I have found is we reach much greater efficiency and effectiveness when we slow down and pause. A three-breath pause can emotionally shift [a situation].”

It’s a change Anna would also like to see.

To protect their privacy, their names and the names of their children have, in some cases, been altered or omitted.

“School is often fast paced, and children are expected to be quiet, calm and sitting still during instruction time,” she said. “Doodling, fidgeting or stimming is seen as a disruptive distraction, but for many neurodivergent children, this is how they regulate their bodies.”

Anna

Amy

When Anna is asked to describe her 11-year-old daughter, Elaina, she is effusive.

“Elaina is such a bubbly, fun, happy, kindhearted kid and definitely… a social butterfly,” Anna said. “She is extremely smart and a fast learner when she finds a subject she is interested in.”

But school can be a challenge. Sitting still in a seat, remaining quiet during instruction, staying on task are all difficult for Elaina who has been diagnosed with “a fairly severe combined type” of ADHD and is possibly on the autism spectrum as well.

“She gets distracted, is impulsive and tends to speak every thought that enters her mind,” Anna said. “She can get overwhelmed easily by things that others don’t even notice – sounds in the classroom, the view outside the window, feeling uncomfortable in her clothing, etc. Tests and assignments can be frustrating and cause anxiety, especially when they are timed.”

To support Elaina’s success, Anna has worked both with her doctor to find medications that help her stay calm, and with the elementary school, where Elaina attends, to create

14 • September 2026

Amy has spent her career working, first as an instructional mentor, then as an assistant principal and principal. So she knows the lack of time, funding and increased pressure to cover curriculum for “high-stakes testing” in schools is challenging. But she also thinks there are ways to make sure neurodiverse learners – like her two sons – receive the education they deserve.

“Curiosity is essential,” she said. “It takes work to look beyond a single test score or behavior, but without digging into multiple data points, it’s easy to misinterpret a student’s performance.”

It was a concern she had when her own sons began attending elementary school.

“Both of my boys are bright and excited to learn, but their neurodiversity presents differently,” she explained.

Because while J (now eight) has been diagnosed with a combined type of ADHD that makes movement essential to learning, I (now 11) has a form of ADHD that means he struggles with inattention, focus and multi-step instructions.

Both are routine-driven and need a warning before a schedule change.

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“As a parent and educator, my main concern was ensuring their neurodiversity wasn’t misinterpreted as ‘naughty’ or bad behavior, which made getting proper evaluations so essential,” Amy said. And securing a 504 Plan.

“The 504 plans serve as an essential roadmap,” she explained.

“They give me specific accommodations to monitor – like asking J if his wiggle seat is helping him complete tasks, or checking if I’s multi-step assignments are being broken down. It allows for precise, productive communication with their teachers.”

Which is key according to Byrnes who agreed that communication between children and parents – asking questions that go beyond, “how was your day?” – as well as communication with school counselors and teachers is essential.

“Help the staff by working them directly, identify early and develop strategies at home,” she said. She described the way a consistent home routine can not only help a child prepare for school, but also help a parent discover what works for their child – like having access to a quiet space when they begin feeling overwhelmed.

“Not all schools are set up for a break room,” Byrnes pointed out. “But another strategy is a bathroom break.”

This can be especially helpful for older students who don’t want to draw attention to themselves.

But consistent communication can be tough, according to Amy who admitted, “I often have to be direct and persistent, which can make you feel like ‘that parent’ staff dread seeing… but direct communication is crucial… Parents are the experts on their kids, [who] often present differently in a classroom setting. Clear, transparent communication about those differences helps align support strategies on both sides.

We have to make the time and space to collaborate.”

Melissa But collaboration can sometimes feel like an uphill battle, according to Melissa, whose concerns about her son’s difficulty learning to read fell on deaf ears for three years.

“I asked more than one teacher, ‘Is he dyslexic?’” Melissa recalled. “And they all said, ‘No, no.’… Because he’s smart enough to guess what the word is.”

It’s a situation Byrnes said is more common than people might think.

“Often... neurodivergent kiddos – particularly girls – tend to fall through the cracks because their symptoms can be more inward…” Byrnes said. Or, in the case of Melissa’s son, because they are disguised by extreme intelligence in other areas. “But while girls may spend lunches alone… boys cause more immediate problems for the teacher, so they get noticed.”

Which is exactly what happened in the case of Melissa’s son.

His behavior in the classroom became disruptive, he began getting into trouble and he complained about hating school.

Fortunately, she was paying attention. She had her son evaluated by someone outside the school district and discovered he is indeed dyslexic. That means he qualifies

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for an IEP, which Melissa hoped would get her son the individualized instruction he desperately needs.

school 20 years ago. But in M’s case that cooperation was already in place and streamlined because of his specific needs.

“But for two and a half months he didn’t get any services under his IEP…” she said, recalling her frustration when, at the fall school conference, her son’s fourth grade teacher didn’t appear to know – despite clarifying emails from Melissa and meetings with the district’s special education department – that he had been diagnosed with dyslexia or that he had an IEP.

“I can’t stress enough how much of a help (the) district was,” she said. “He had autism/socialization classes every week… He had a special period every day for helping him organize himself, turn things in, do homework he needed to do.”

“She was like, ‘He’s really smart in math, but his reading isn’t great,” Melissa recalled. “And I was like, ‘Yes!’” That experience led Melissa to not only worry about her son’s education in the coming year, but also to wonder how many other students aren’t getting the free appropriate public education (FAPE) guaranteed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. “It has to do with the district having limited resources that are directed to the fires they need to put out…” Melissa said.

“But I want them to take accountability and be transparent and then everybody could work together.”

K That necessity for cooperation is something K also learned when her son, M – diagnosed with ADHD and autism spectrum disorder – began attending high

But she also admits this may not be the case for every child with a 504 Plan or an IEP. “I think the biggest challenges today would be the size of the classroom, student/teacher ratio,” she said.

“I think that children that aren’t maybe as extreme as M was, would get forgotten in the shuffle. There is just too much expected of each teacher having so many kids with so many different issues.”

It’s a situation Byrnes thinks can be eased initially by changing the school environment.

“The shift I see that needs to happen is, instead of, ‘How can neurodivergent people be a part of my setting?’ – ‘How can I provide a setting where a neurodivergent person can find success?’ We don’t really allow for that. We sort of demand everyone, no matter what… fit into our space…

Ask questions – what worries your child?

Recognize loss – a change in school, teacher or friend group.

Rehearse – learn the schedule, visit campus, try on school clothes.

Develop strategies at home – then share what works with the teacher.

Communicate – especially the teacher and the counselor.

Cooperate – work collaboratively with all your resources, in and out of school.

Be curious – ask your child questions.

Homework – know what’s due when.

Conferences – take advantage of those opportunities to check in.

504 Plans and IEPs – stay on top of how these are being instituted.

Advocate – speak up.

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Key elements, according to Byrnes, include consistency and clear expectations in both physical spaces and in behavior.

“Having clear expectations creates a calming of anxiety,” she said. “Because without consistency kids don’t feel safe. When they don’t know what to expect that’s when [problems arise]. I don’t mean be rigid, I mean, ‘These are the guidelines within which we operate from a place of consistency.’ Same with kids in the home. The more consistency kids have the more they can relax. That part of their brain that is thinking, ‘What do we do next?’ is freed up.”

She also believes there is a need for a paradigm shift in how all of society – including educators – think about neurodivergence.

“The language matters,” Byrnes said. “It’s ever evolving… and the term neurodivergence is newer… I think at the core it needs to shift from deficit to asset.”

Jeannie Reiser

Tips for parents of neurodivergent students Stick to a consistent routine at home.

“But what we have found is kids will do well when they can. And the more we can create those conditions, the more they will thrive.”

September 1, 1936 – July 13, 2026

On July 13, 2026, Jeannie Reiser was reunited with her soulmate, Francis. Born to Lillian (Duffy) and John Peter Weisensee on September 1, 1936 in Sioux Falls, South, Dakota, Jeannie was always cheerful, kind, generous, and sweet, with a great sense of humor. After the tragic passing of her sister, Mary Rose, in an automobile accident, Jeannie left her chosen calling of becoming a nun and moved to Oregon to help her widowed brother-in-law raise his ten children. During this time, God had other plans for her, opening a new door when she met Francis. They were wed February 27, 1965. Faith was a cornerstone of Jeannie’s life, as it was for her husband. They instilled this deep faith in their four children and nine grandchildren and were models of faith for those they met. Jeannie was a fabulous, intuitive cook, mixing up whatever ingredients were available into culinary delights. Francis was a great baker. Together, they made magic in the kitchen.

Jeannie’s kindness, intellect, and patience made her a wonderful teacher, and later, as a librarian in Stayton, where she oversaw the Summer Reading Program and Story Time, introducing many kids to amazing stories and the wonders of reading.

Preceding Jeannie in death was her husband, Francis, parents, and eight brothers and sisters. She is survived by her adult children: Timothy Reiser, Julie Lucas, Bill (Kelly) Reiser, Katie Desikan; nine grandchildren: Dylan, Garrett, Blake, Lexi, Nick, Kyle, Kaden, Brandt, Scarlett; and sister, Teta Roland. Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 2 pm on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Sublimity, with the rosary preceding it at 1:30 pm. Interment will follow mass at the church cemetery. Reception afterwards in the parish hall. Serving the family is friend, Glenn Hilton, and North Santiam Funeral Service in Stayton.

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September 2026 • 15

Sports & Recreation

Access rewarded Oregon hunters honor Frank Timber for public access risk forced Frank to stay closed during bow hunting season.

By James Day

Frank Timber Resources has been given a statewide honor for managing its timber property in a way that encourages recreational uses.

“I felt bad about that,” Brown said.

“Sometimes the bow hunters get the short end of the stick.”

During an interview at Frank’s corporate offices in Mill City, Gilbert noted that a key piece of Frank’s access success was at Binegar Butte, a Linn County site popular with mountain bikers because of its double-track route that uses old forest roads.

Frank Timber, a division of Frank Lumber Co. in Mill City, was named Landowner of the Year by the Oregon Hunters Association. Steve Gilbert of the OHA presented the award to Frank officials on Friday, Aug. 21.

The company’s logging and milling history dates to 1936. It manages 17,000 acres of forest property, much of it in the Santiam Canyon. About 7,500 acres of that was damaged or impacted by the 2020 Labor Day wildfires and closed to public uses.

But with the region on the rebound, Frank properties are back in the recreation business, with the OHA award noting that Frank stood out among statewide lumber firms for forest access for mountain bikers and hikers as

Caleb Brown, left, land and timber manager at Frank Timber Resources, receives the Oregon Hunters Association award from Steve Gilbert outside Frank’s corporate offices in Mill City. The company was honored by the OHA for its public access policies for those wanting to hunt or engage in other recreational pursuits on forest property. JAMES DAY

well as hunters.

“We’re a working tree farm, but we try to keep it open as much as we can,” said Caleb Brown, land and timber manager at Frank.

“Frank Timber,” said a statement

The selection of Frank was made by an OHA committee at the association’s annual meeting at Diamond Lake.

from company officials, “recognizes the opportunity for hunting and other outdoor pursuits these lands can provide to the public.”

Jim Frank, president of Frank Lumber, said during the interview that “we’re in it for the long haul. It’s the third and fourth generations that run the bulk of it these days. We appreciate this award, but we’re kind of low key.”

Brown and his team also have to account for the vagaries of the weather as well.

High temperatures and the attendant fire

Frank Lumber, which employs 145 people, specializes in high-grade Douglas fir for lamination purposes.

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Football previews Cascade, Regis getting set for fall campaigns Cascade football coach Shane Hedrick is in his 41st year of high school coaching and coming off his first state title as a head coach. The Cougars were dominant in 2025, going 13-0, outscoring opponents 594-155 and flattening Henley 52-0 in the Class 4A championship.

Hedrick said the mood among his players is that “this season started in January. 2026 came around and it is time to move on (from thinking about the state title). These kids are hungry to play again and excited about the upcoming season.”

Cascade graduated 18 seniors off the title team, including standout two-way players Bryce Kuenzi, Matthew Hinkle and Bryce May, but the cupboard isn’t even close to bare. Hedrick, 30-6 in his three years in Turner, has 75 players out for drills and the only thing preventing Cascade from fielding three teams is that other schools in the district don’t have the numbers to do so.

Three quarterbacks are in the mix, Anderson Craig, Madden Hughes and Ryder Amaya. Weston Shewell, Wyatt Kerrigan and Travis Conklin are set to carry the mail. Hughes, Kerrigan and Conklin all transferred in from Stayton.

“They’re really well-coached and well behaved,” Hedrick said of the transfers. “All the credit goes to those kids.”

Outside Hedrick has Jay Erickson and Josiah Hawkins, a two-way standout (he picked off two passes as a freshman in the Stayton game) who Hedrick says “is one of

Sports Datebook Tuesday, Sept. 1 Volleyball

6 p.m. Kennedy vs North Clackamas Christian

Cross Country Darrel Deedon Invite 2026, Cascade High

Boys Soccer 6 p.m. Stayton vs Cottage Grove

Thursday, Sept. 3 Girls Soccer 6 p.m. Stayton vs Dallas

Friday, Sept. 4 Football

7 p.m. Stayton vs Marist Catholic 7 p.m. Regis vs Lowell

Tuesday, Sept. 8 Volleyball 6 p.m. Stayton vs The Dalles

Carson Bradley. Mannen will start four seniors on defense and said “we are on the way to being a solid defensive team. We go after it all the time. That’s the mentality that these kids need.”

the better kids in the Northwest.”

In the line the Cougars also are loaded, with Sabby Hlavinka, Jacob Roden, Max Park, Jackson Elvin, Austin Crosiar and Wyatt Bales. Jamison Walsh, Brody Anundi and Mason Coelho will man the tight end spot.

The schedule has some newness to it. Central, one of the earlier stops on Hedrick’s excellent career (seven semifinals in addition to the 2025 title), joins the district, with three Class 5A teams – Crescent Valley, Sandy and McKay – serving as non-league foes.

On a practice visit on Aug. 25 the Cougars looked big, fast, focused and motivated.

Look for Cascade to make another deep playoff run.

Quarterback Anderson Craig receives instruction from Cascade assistant coach and former Boise State QB Grant Hedrick during practice Aug. 25 in Turner. JAMES DAY

middle school math at Regis.

When Our Town visited practice on Aug. 17, Mannen was working the squad on special teams, including kickoffs and PATs. “I was a kicker and punter,” Mannen said of his playing days at Forest Grove High.

“Teams that excel on special teams often get an extra possession. We want to own that part of the game.”

Regis, meanwhile, is in its first year under coach Tanner Mannen, who is just 26 but already has spent four years coaching in the Class 2A nine-man game. Mannen has approximately 20 players out for this season’s squad, which will be looking to battle back after a 1-8 campaign a year ago.

Korben Schumacher is back to play quarterback, with older brother Kollin, a 2024 Regis graduate, on hand as an assistant coach. Kollin was a standout QB and centerfielder for the Rams. He is about to start his junior year at Oregon State where he is majoring in crop and soil science.

A Stayton resident, Mannen also serves as the middle school athletic director. He will teach elementary physical education and

Korben will be handing the ball off to James Hayes and throwing it to wide receiver Hudson Mumey and tight end

Stayton opened Aug. 28 against Astoria.

I published a preview on the Eagles on Facebook because of the Our Town Sept. 1 publishing date.

Fun runs: The Santiam Hospital & Clinics Foundation is hosting three events on Saturday, Sept. 26. A 10-kilometer run, a 5K run-walk and a 3K run-walk are on the Santiam Canyon River Run schedule. Check in begins at 8 a.m., with races starting at 9:30. The start/finish line is Snow Peak Brewing at 280 E. Water St., Stayton. The races feature segments on pavement, gravel, and trail, with some scenic sections along the North Santiam River. Registration costs $45 and runners and walkers can register at shc.foundation.

For more information call 503-769-2175 or email shcfoundationinfo@ santiamhospital.org.

Got a news tip? Email me at james.d@ mtangelpub.com. Follow me on X (Twitter) @jameshday and Our Town on Facebook.

All home games. Visit osaa.org for full schedules.

Wednesday, Sept. 9 Volleyball

Thursday, Sept. 17 Boys Soccer

6 p.m. Regis vs North Clackamas Christian

4:30 p.m. Cascade vs Estacada

Thursday, Sept. 10 Girls Soccer

Volleyball

4:30 p.m. Cascade vs Thurston 6 p.m. Stayton vs The Dalles/Dufur

Volleyball

6 p.m. Cascade vs Marist Catholic 6:30 p.m. Regis vs Country Christian

Saturday, Sept. 12 Cross Country Stayton Invitational, Stayton Middle School

Volleyball Cascade Volleyball Tournament, Cascade High

6 p.m. Stayton vs Banks

Friday, Sept. 18 Football 7 p.m. Stayton vs Gladstone

Tuesday, Sept. 22 Boys Soccer

Volleyball 6 p.m. Cascade vs Central 6 p.m. Regis vs Kennedy

Friday, Sept. 25 Football 7 p.m. Cascade vs Molalla 7 p.m. Regis vs Willamina

Tuesday, Sept. 29 Boys Soccer

4:30 p.m. Cascade vs North Marion

5 p.m. Cascade vs Newport

Thursday, Sept. 24 Girls Soccer

6 p.m. Stayton vs Central

Tuesday, Sept. 15 Girls Soccer

4:30 p.m. Cascade vs Central

6 p.m. Stayton vs South Albany

6 p.m. Stayton vs Taft

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He said one of his goals for the season is to make the playoffs. The nonleague schedule features Lowell and Clatskanie, and perennial power St. Paul and resurgent Santiam loom during district play.

Boys Soccer

VOLLEYBALL ©LIGHTWISE; SOCCER BALL ©SORAPONG CHAIPANYA / BOTH 123RF.COM

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Catch up with more local news and sports anytime Facebook.com/ OurTown.SMASM September 2026 • 17

A Grin at the End

A flight to remember Some years ago, my wife and I found ourselves in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, and needed to hitch a ride back to Juneau, Alaska, where we lived. We had run in the Klondike Trail of ’98 relay race, which covered 109 miles between Skagway, Alaska, and Whitehorse by way of the White Pass. It connects the Alaska coast with Canada by way of a route that only a mountain goat could love.

The annual race could best be compared to Oregon’s Hood to Coast relay, but steeper.

Transported back in time and it is populated with planes ranging from trainers to bombers.

What was most interesting was how we got back to Juneau. We rode on a DC-3.

An airline called Air North operated the World War II-era airplane.

What brings this to mind is a visit I made the other day to the Commemorative Air Force outpost in San Marcos, Texas.

These folks – many of them veterans – buy and restore World War II vintage aircraft. Because all of their 180 planes are airworthy, they call their collection a “flying museum.” Though they are based in Dallas, there are 80 affiliated outfits around the nation and in the United Kingdom, France and Switzerland.

For those who have been spared the “airplane nut” virus that has long infected me, it was just another old plane. For me, it was a chance to experience firsthand a plane that helped win World War II.

In San Marcos, a college town of 64,000 halfway between Austin and San Antonio, the CAF base was a wartime training center for navigators. Like the planes, the hangar has been revitalized,

But that’s a whole other story.

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But one stood out – a C-47, whose civilian designation was DC-3. Though it was like the plane my wife and I had flown in decades ago, this one was different.

On D-Day – June 6, 1944 – this plane had led the convoy of 800 planes that crossed the English Channel to deliver 13,000 paratroops behind the Nazi lines.

They were among the 160,000 U.S., British, Canadian and Allied troops who would join the high-stakes invasion and ultimately turn the tide of the war.

With nose art that said only “That’s All, Brother” – a note for Germany’s leader – and the special paint job that marked Allied planes that took part in the invasion, this C-47 looked the same as it did that day in June 82 years ago.

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aboard to follow in the footsteps of the brave men who would jump and fight.

Many did not return home.

Today we still enjoy the freedoms they purchased for us with their lives. In Europe and across the Pacific, millions of American, Soviet, Chinese, British and other Allied troops gave their lives to fend off the Nazis and Japanese.

It was a horrible war. Including civilians, upwards of 85 million people died.

But planes like “That’s All, Brother” and the many others restored and maintained by the Commemorative Air Force remain as a reminder of a time when millions of men and women stepped forward to protect our freedoms and independence.

Many arrived on eagle’s wings.

Carl Sampson is a freelance writer and editor. He lives in Stayton.

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Call Harold at 503-391-7406

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 GOT STUFF YOU WANT GONE? From yard debris to scrap metal, garage sale leftovers to rental clear outs. We repurpose, recycle, reuse, or donate what we can. Call to find out what we can do for you. $20 min. Call Keith 503-502-3462

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 ROOMMATE WANTED IN LYONS. 3br/2ba house. $600.

Call Rochelle 503-409-1810

EVENTS

TURNING 65? HAVE MEDICARE QUESTIONS? A LICENSED INSURANCE AGENT CAN HELP! 503.871.3607

CALL TODAY!

Christian Schnell

Licensed Insurance Agent

www.christianschnell.com

CALLING THE NUMBER ABOVE WILL DIRECT YOU TO A LICENSED INSURANCE AGENT. NOT AFFILIATED WITH OR ENDORSED BY THE GOVERNMENT OR FEDERAL MEDICARE PROGRAM.

SILVERTON ELKS FLEA MARKET Sept.12, Oct. 3, Nov. 14 and 28 Located: Silverton Elks Lodge 300 High Street Call: Lori 503-931-4517 for vendor details.

Just in time for hot summer days.

To advertise call 503-845-9499

0% APR

H ome G rown HG

FINANCING for 24 months

Recreational and Medical Dispensaries

*Limited time offer Restrictions Apply

+

Remedies

FREE AC* with purchase of a qualifying furnace!

Stayton and Turner’s LOCALLY OWNED and OPERATED Proudly Serving Our Community Since 2015

Call to schedule your FREE bid (971) 451-3550

Open 9-7, 7 Days a Week, In Historic Downtown Stayton

CCB #168985

277 N Third Avenue

Call 503 979-0298 for Curbside Service Open 10-8, 7 Days a Week, In Turner

Catch up with more local news and sports

7314 3rd Street SE

Call 503 743-1176 for Curbside Service Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug.

For use only by adults 21 years of age or older.

Keep out of reach of children.

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Facebook.com/OurTown.SMASM

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September 2026 • 19

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Presents

Beatles Tribute Band

Thursday, October 15th, 2026 BREAKFAST

Immaculate Conception Parish Center 1077 N 6th Ave., Stayton

Sunday, September 13th, 2026 7am—Noon

Doors open at 5:00pm Program begins at 5:45pm

Sublimity Fire Hall 115 N. Parker St.

0 3 n or r e r p so

$

Eggs made to order, Pancakes, Sausage, Milk, Juice, Coffee

pe

$

Must b Age 21 e to attend

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250 fo8 table o

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ADULTS .......... $10.00 CHILDREN 5-10............ $7.00 SENIORS 60+... $8.00 CHILDREN 4 & UNDER... FREE

YO U C A N E

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Tickets are available from Auxiliary Members, Santiam Hospital Front Desk, or contact Genny Baldwin 503-507-9450 for more information.

All proceeds and donations are used for the Auxiliary Scholarship Program for students interested in the medical field and to purchase supplies and equipment requested by the various hospital departments. For more information call 503-507-9450.

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September 2026 • 20