Our Town North: March 15, 2024

Cuando la vida te tumba, nosotros te levantaremos a la victoria, el mismo día.

En Salem Health sabemos que valora el tiempo con sus seres queridos. Por eso estamos abiertos por las noches, fines de semana y días festivos. Así, no importa cuándo ocurra un accidente, nuestro equipo estara ahí para usted, a su horario.

Eso es atención con respeto.

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$825K shortfall Silver Falls School District details complex layers

By Stephen Floyd

Community members walked away with more answers but no fewer questions about an $825,000 deficit after the Silver Falls School District Board meeting March 11.

An estimated 120 people attended in person and more than 200 watched by Zoom. The large audience was prompted by the deficit projection announced to the board at its Feb. 26 meeting.

Interim Director of Finance Kim Doud said the district will be an estimated $825,000 short of its financial obligations – including payroll – in June. An influx of state education funding is expected July 15. The board has been asked to authorize a way to bridge the gap.

On Feb. 26 the board began discussing a possible tax anticipation note (TAN), which would be a loan against property tax revenue expected in late 2024. While board consensus appears to lean toward a TAN, some members have expressed reservations. SFSD has never utilized

this program and interest rates would be unknown until the note is issued.

The board has until April 14 to vote on this option. The state’s application deadline for a TAN is April 15.

In the meantime, a hiring freeze has been in place since the end of 2023, with the goal of reducing current personnel costs to help avoid layoffs and furlough days.

While both potential solutions were discussed at length Feb. 26, March 11 was the first time the board and the public heard the finer details of what led to the shortfall.

In the presentation, Doud said SFSD started the school year with significant overruns. While a $1.5 million general fund carryover was anticipated, that cushion was reduced by $435,403 when the books for the 2022-2023 fiscal year were closed. That plus other budget adjustments led to an actual carryover of only $738,820.

Then, in the course of the year, teacher wages and benefits went beyond the $38.9

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million that had been budgeted, Doud said. The current projected overrun in this line item is $2.6 million. She explained this is due in part to the added expense of hiring more experienced teachers as positions came open, as well as other “valuable investments” in educators. Assistant Superintendent Dan Busch elaborated on the impact Paid Leave Oregon has had on salaries and benefits. He said 10 percent of teachers ended up taking advantage of the program. While the state pays their wages while on leave the district still had to pay benefits during their time off.

Busch said this leave required the increased use of substitute teachers, and when substitutes were not available the district had to hire temporary employees at an increased cost. He said there was also a change in state law defining half days and full days for substitutes, and SFSD unexpectedly had to issue more than $40,000 in substitute wages.

Doud estimated a $290,000 overage in substitute teaching costs for this school year.

Additionally, she said the district expects a more-than $200,000 overrun in utility costs. She said, even though the approved budget accounted for a significant increase in utility expenses, the estimates were still below actual costs.

Utility hikes included a 15.9 percent increase for commercial users by Portland General Electric starting in January.

Doud said the deficit was not just the result of overages, but also a lack of

revenue. She said the district has been awarded multiple grants by the state but that Oregon has fallen behind in paying out grant awards.

She added the budget office is continuing to unpack the reasons behind the deficit. Doud said she would “commit to being as transparent as we can” as they learned new information. Doud officially entered the interim position full-time the day of the meeting. She said she was still in the process of getting up to speed with the work of her predecessor, Steve Nielsen.

Nielsen departed SFSD earlier in March to accept a similar position with Oregon Charter Academy. In a statement to Our Town, district officials said Nielsen’s departure “was not, in any way, related to the projected shortfall.”

Following Doud’s presentation, the board thanked her for her thoroughness and dedication to transparency. They also requested additional details in future reports such as an accounting of the grants the state has not paid and a full list of expenses associated with Educational Excellence (EdEx).

EdEx is a continuing education program teachers have been enrolled in since 2020. It has come under fire by teachers who have said the funds could be betterspent on salaries. Deficit talks prompted further scrutiny of ancillary expenses such as substitute teachers while full-time teachers travel and attend, and hospitality for speakers.

Residents and district employees pack the Silverton High School library for the March 11 meeting of the Silver Falls School District Board amid ongoing discussions of a projected $825,000 deficit. STEPHEN FLOYD

‘Financial negligence’ Education association files formal complaint

By Stephen Floyd

The Silver Falls Education Association (SFEA) is filing a formal complaint against Silver Falls School District (SFSD) Superintendent Scott Drue amid a budget crisis that appears to threaten June paychecks.

During the March 11 meeting of the SFSD Board, the SFEA Executive Team shared a statement alleging Drue committed acts of “financial negligence” that resulted in a projected $825,000 deficit.

If the deficit is not resolved, officials have said the district will not be able to make payroll in June. Efforts to close the gap include a current hiring freeze and a potential Tax Anticipation Note, drawing from future funds from the state.

“We are facing the most significant financial crisis our district has ever seen,” SFEA President Lori Wyer told the board. “There has been severe mismanagement of public funds and no accountability is taken.”

Wyer said SFEA has taken exception to Drue’s explanation that the deficit resulted largely from increased teacher salaries following union negotiations that concluded in April 2023.

Wyer pointed out union negotiations concluded before the current budget was passed by the board in June 2023

and the increases would not have been a surprise.

“If our agreed-upon salaries significantly impacted the budget, then the budget should have been adjusted,” she said.

She went on to describe how the current hiring freeze has led to teachers being reassigned or given added

responsibilities as open positions are not filled. Wyer said, while they appreciate this as an alternative to layoffs and furloughs, educators are feeling stretched thin.

“Ultimately, it means [teachers] taking on more work and being able to do even less for our students,” she said. The cost to the union has been “our fractured trust toward the district’s financial responsibility.”

As a result, Wyer said SFEA was “filing a formal complaint against our superintendent for his financial negligence and other various concerns.”

The additional grievances were not shared publicly during the meeting. Wyer said the board received details from the union in the form of survey results and letters from teachers. She said the letters were “the tip of the iceberg” and union members “are very concerned” about Drue’s performance as superintendent.

Drue did not respond to the union or to other claims of mismanagement made during the public comment portion of the meeting.

When asked about the allegations the meeting, Drue told Our Town, “We’re continuing to listen to everyone’s concerns and we want to make sure we have a budget for next year that is the least impactful to our students and our staff.”

Members of the Executive Team of the Silver Falls Education Association share concerns aboutalleged financial mismanagement March 11 during the Silver Falls School District board meeting. STEPHEN FLOYD

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By James Day

The Silverton City Council has finalized its work on goal-setting for the new fiscal year beginning July 1.

The goals were discussed at length at a nearly four-hour special session at The Oregon Garden on Feb. 6, tweaked at the Feb. 26 work session and received unanimous support at the March 4 regular meeting.

The goals are broken down into seven categories, each of which has multiple bullet points. The categories are critical infrastructure, community livability, community resiliency and environmental sustainability, destination development and economic development, Silverton 2050, good governance and Urban Renewal Agency goals.

The goals list includes big ticket items such as the financing of a new water treatment plant, which is expected to cost more than $10 million, to smaller items such as an urban forest management plan and high-visibility park amenities such as the downtown plaza park, the Pettit Lake trail system and new pickleball courts.

The city also plans to initiate a comprehensive plan update, a lengthy process which helps establish city guidelines and protocols for growth, housing development and the infrastructure that new housing requires.

To view the full list of goals at the city website go to  https://silverton.or.us/ citycouncil/page/were-excited-share-citycouncil-has-officially-approved-fiscalyear-2024-25-goals-0/ and click on the link under supporting documents.

The council plans to check in quarterly to adjust and update the goals as needed.

In other City Council action from the Feb. 26 and March 4 meetings:

• Community Center: The city’s lease for the state-owned community center building expires March 31. The city plans to continue the lease for up to 90 days, although the only strictly city use of the building is for council meetings.

Silverton Area Community Aid (SACA) plans to move its basement operations to new quarters at the former Ratchet

Brewery building sometime this summer. The Silver Falls YMCA plans to no longer use the building for its programs by the end of the lease date.

• Urban Renewal: Meeting as the Urban Renewal Agency the councilors approved approximately $37,000 in funding for facade work at a 1925 building at 204 Oak St., a mixed-use structure that includes a barber shop, a real estate office, a hair salon and a rock shop plus apartments on the second floor. The money will help pay for a new exterior paint job, new exterior lighting in the awning, an all new gutter system and downspouts for the building, installation of two security gates at the stairs and a new exterior glass door, new siding under the awning and the addition of trim around the lower level windows.

• Main Street Improvement Project: Councilors discussed but did not act on a proposed downtown project that would revitalize the block of Main Street between Water and First. A total of $300,000 in urban renewal funds are available for the project, but Jason Gottgetreu, the community development director, told the council that the project likely will cost significantly more than that. The next step would be to request proposals from firms seeking to bid on the project. Gottgetreu also briefed the council on an online survey that received 587 responses.

• Speed Limit Change: Councilors also discussed the possibility of lowering the speed limit on local residential streets from 25 mph to 20 mph. No vote was taken, but councilors seemed inclined to move forward and continue to work on the concept.

• City Hall: Councilors unanimously approved $56,000 in additional spending on change orders for the new City Hall. The project is more than 4% over its projected construction budget of $14.75 million. The last official word from the city is that the building will be open in late April, but that date continues to be a moving target and may be pushed out.

Rural industry Marion County revives tax incentives

By Stephen Floyd

Marion County has extended a recentlyexpired tax incentive program that allows rural industrial businesses to delay paying property taxes on facility improvements that create jobs.

During the March 6 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, the Rural Industrial Property Tax Exemption Program was extended to 2030 after it expired Jan. 2.

The program was first established under a state law passed in 2016 that allowed counties to offer three-year property tax exemptions for improvements by qualified industrial businesses.

So far Marion County has approved $465,000 in exemptions for four businesses who invested a combined $14.3 million in improvements and created 64 news jobs.

The program is open to applicants in unincorporated areas, or within the city limits or Urban Growth Boundary of a city with fewer than 40,000 residents.

The exemption applies only to taxes on property improvements, which must cost between $1 million and $25 million. Applicants must also agree to increase their workforce by at least 10 percent within the first tax year the exemption is granted.

Because property taxes also fund local service districts like schools and emergency responders, they are asked to support applications as well. Taxing agencies representing at least 75 percent of a property’s total tax rate must consent to an exemption.

Erik Andersson, president of SEDCOR (Strategic Economic Development Corporation), told commissioners March 6 the exemptions have been vital for the county’s top industry: agriculture. He said many ag businesses don’t qualify for Oregon’s Enterprise Zones program and the county’s incentives help these businesses expand and invest locally.

“This exemption is one of the few economic development programs available to agricultural producers here to add value or to increase their productivity,” he said.

One pending request from Donald-based GK Machine would allow a $900,000 exemption for construction of a $25 million, 140,000-square-foot building that would create 25 to 30 jobs.

Andersson said the incentive program was one of the factors keeping GK Machine in Oregon, as the company is also being courted by economic development officials from Texas. When rural businesses qualify for few tax relief programs, an incentive like Marion County’s can make or break the “increasingly tough” decision to stay local, said Andersson.

Board Chair Commissioner Kevin Cameron said the renewed program was “a great tool,” particularly for agriculture, and he expected “more people [will] take advantage of it over the years.”

Commissioner Colm Willis said a delay in taxation allows businesses to establish revenue streams to support expansion, and ultimately adds a solid tax source when the three years is up.

“It’s kind of one of these win-wins that don’t happen very often,” said Willis.

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Fighting giants

Just this past summer, I lost a dear friend of mine. His name was Justin. He lived outside, had a very unique sense of style, and often made others uncomfortable by sifting through garbage cans for little treasures.

He was a complex figure, as we all are, but his personality was marked by a gleaming naivety, an earnest impulse to treat other people with kindness and to make others smile. No one seemed to understand that. Instead, he was viewed suspiciously and vilified for the often clumsy mistakes he’d make while trying to prove himself helpful and kind.

Justin died on the bike trail just a block away from the benches and patios where we used to sit together and talk. I remember receiving the news, the surprise of hot tears on my face for someone I hadn’t realized I had come to love. They say it was an overdose. But no one really knows, because no one really cared for him anyway.

They do drugs, they want to live outside, they don’t want to work, they’re lazy, they’re perverted, they’re scary, they’re just looking for a handout so they can further poison their bodies with vodka and meth in a slump of grimy dreadlocks and rancid overcoats.

Doesn’t matter why they use drugs, that they take meth to stay awake to protect themselves from theft and violence. That they sleep during the day on the park bench not because they’re lazy but because they’re exhausted from staring out into the darkness all night, praying no one comes to hurt them or take their sleeping bags.

Reflections on my visit to Sheltering Silverton

Enter Sarah White.

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Doesn’t matter why they don’t have any family around that’s willing to help them, that they’re on the streets because they’ve been disowned for their queerness, or discarded because their mental health proved too inconvenient for their parents or their siblings to manage, or because they’ve escaped physically or sexually abusive home environments and thought that anything would be better than continuing to subject themselves to that pain and torment.

No, those narratives are propaganda designed by apologists for idleness and advocates for freeloading, secretly nurturing their own personal contempt for those with money, nice cars, and decent 401k plans. They’re just looking for something to complain about, something to make them feel better about not having made it like we’ve made it.

And so I sit on the bench where I used to share cigarettes with Justin, where we used to talk about God, about a more inclusive world, a kinder and gentler way of building community, and I am cold. The chill of our indifference, even our contempt, for my brother Justin somewhere lifeless in the bushes, for my sisters shivering down on Holt and Gary Avenues. I am cold with the feeling of defeat, as people tell me I should really take it easy on making friends with the hobos.

I had heard a lot about her passion for the unhoused, her tireless efforts to include and to uplift those that have been discarded or branded as unclean. During my recent visit to Silverton, I knew I needed to meet her.

While the town is not exempt from the socioeconomic inequalities that feed housing instability, there is something different about Silverton, something inspiring and electric happening there that is absent in my hometown. That something is Sheltering Silverton.

Stepping inside their building, you’re hit with a warmth and the competing scents of different breakfast meals, the sounds of dishes being scrubbed, the overlay of laughter, bickering, conversation, people gathered together over different projects, feeding pets, celebrating an art craft someone just finished, someone shouting if anyone’s checked the mail today. It’s the sound of family, it’s the warmth of home, it’s the magic of compassion and connection.

I was led to Sarah’s office, just off the main room, and she was buried in her work, glued to her laptop, surrounded by paperwork. It was like opening the beautifully crafted clock face of the place and locating the heart of its gears quietly and meticulously clicking and turning to make it all possible.

She immediately turned her attention to us, paused the work she was doing, and offered me a chair, smiling warmly and accommodating my mid-morning interruption. As we spoke, she was

gracious with her time, thoughtful with her responses, excited and animated in her vision for Silverton.

It was immediately clear to me that this woman was the missing piece. This passion she exuded was present in my own life, but it was coupled with a tenacity for actualization. She was driven and practical and intent on realizing a more beautiful world, a sustainable approach to the local housing crisis, a compassionate and yet accountable approach to inclusivity. I saw the cards that people had written to her, thanking her for all she’s done for them, encouraging her to stay strong through the barrage of criticisms she’s received from some of the more insecure and distrusting members of the community. I saw the cork-board on the wall showing how many people they’ve helped with securing permanent housing so far this year (22, I believe it was).

Spending time with Sarah was like a shot in the arm, a reminder that we can do better. That it isn’t some quixotic pipe dream to form a holistic, compassionate approach to building community for the unseen and unwanted. Sarah doesn’t seem to view herself as anything special, she’s too busy to get caught up in all that self-congratulating nonsense. But she is special. She’s Silverton’s brightest jewel and a testament to the best instincts in our society.

There’s a lot to be done, and a lot to learn, but as I left Silverton I knew that Sarah was the most capable, the most inspiring leader to get the job done. She has shown me that we aren’t fighting windmills, we’re fighting giants.

Sustainability boost Garden Foundation awarded $150K county grant

By Stephen Floyd

The Oregon Garden Foundation has been awarded a $150,000 grant from Marion County to help develop financial sustainability in its operations of The Oregon Garden.

The Board of County Commissioners approved the grant during their March 6 regular meeting, with funds coming from the Oregon Lottery.

Oregon Garden Director of Operations Delen Kitchen told Our Town the award would help achieve “long-term sustainability” by improving their funding infrastructure.

This includes new investments in programs at the gardens, as well as strengthening outreach to donors and their membership base, and the pursuit of additional grants.

“The Garden and its Board of Directors owe a huge debt of gratitude to Marion County and the commissioners, past and

present, who have shared in and tirelessly supported our vision,” said Kitchen.

The foundation re-acquired management of The Oregon Garden in 2020 from prior manager Moonstone

Garden Management, Inc. At the time the facility was heavily indebted due to declines in participation and challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

To support the garden’s financial recovery, Marion County forgave roughly $6 million in debts to give the foundation a clean slate to pursue financial stability.

Kelli Weese, the county’s Economic Development Program Manager, said the grant will help the foundation “continue to build consistency in its fundraising efforts to support achieving long-term sustainability.”

“I believe that the foundation is well on its way to this goal,” Weese told Our Town.

Kitchen said, with the tens of thousands of people from across the world who visit the garden every year, they are grateful to play an important role in the economic development of the region.

“Our team is particularly excited for a successful 2024 and moving towards a bright future for our organization and our community,” said Kitchen.

The Axis Garden at The Oregon Garden in Silverton. KRISTINE THOMAS

Our Neighbor

Prop master

By Melissa Wagoner

Kelly Farrah is a self-taught historian who never does anything halfway.

As a child growing up in Southern California, he developed an interest in both the American Civil War and the Revolutionary War. But it was the materials used during those time periods – the flags, guns, clothing and everything that was a part of daily life for the soldiers and civilians – that really captivated him.

“[My parents] thought I was weird,” he laughed. “Because once I get into something, I don’t stop. I can’t get enough knowledge. It’s like I have a file cabinet in my brain.”

A natural artist, Farrah taught himself to paint, recreate maps and do leatherwork.

“I love these lost arts,” he explained. “When I was little, I used to practice writing like George Washington.”

Putting his passions to good use, Farrah worked for a time as a gunslinger at Knotts Berry Farm, where he became bodyguard for a day for John Wayne – his first brush with fame.

“He took me out to lunch,” Farrah recalled. “That was pretty cool.”

Eventually Farrah moved east, to Atlanta, Georgia, to help his brother – Pat Farrah, cofounder of The Home Depot – as he opened his first few stores.

“I did reenacting and then got into flintlock,” Farrah said, using the general

Local production specialist gets back to work

term for a firearm with a flint-striking mechanism.

He also learned to work with black powder, the earliest known chemical explosive, which was used in both the American Civil War and, predictably, on the set of Glory, a 1989 movie about the first all-Black volunteer company.

Filming in nearby Savannah, Georgia, the production company needed an expert in both Civil War weaponry and black

powder. As luck would have it, a friend of Farrah’s was working with the crew and knew just who to call.

“I got in and advised on Glory,” Farrah confirmed, “and by the end of it…” he was Assistant Prop Master.

He was also on his way to establishing a long career as Prop Master, overseeing all of the necessary props – from drinking glasses and chairs to one-of-a-kind weapons, flags and maps – on the sets of dozens of movies and televisions shows including, Gettysburg (1993), Buffalo Soldiers (1997), The Walking Dead series, and three of the four Pirates of the Caribbean movies – to name just a few.

“I got a reputation,” Farrah said. “They said, this guy knows stuff.”

And Hollywood taught Farrah a few things as well. In fact, working alongside stars like Tom Berenger, Ed Harris, Sam Elliott and Johnny Depp, has given Farrah countless stories that, to him, are simply all in a day’s work.

“People say, it must be glamorous,” he said. “But it’s not. It’s 16 hours a day and it’s hard work.”

It’s also countless hours of travel between his Oregon home and wherever the production he is currently working on is being shot. But for Farrah, it’s been worth it to live in a place he loves.

“We came to visit [Silverton] and it was like Mayberry,” Farrah said, recalling the impression the town first made on him and his wife, Judy, over 30 years ago. “We said, this would be a good place to raise kids.”

And so, they made the move, raising two sons. Over the years, Kelly painted several of Silverton’s murals, including one depicting the town’s historic baseball team, the Red Sox. After almost 30 years as Silverton residents, Kelly and Judy relocated to their current home in Salem from which 70-year-old Kelly continues to commute to production sets and locations.

“As long as there’s an airport, you can go anywhere,” he pointed out. Adding, “I work in Atlanta a lot.”

Or he did – until the recent Hollywood strikes put him largely out of work.

But he’s ready to get started on new projects, which will include Sacajawea: The Windcatcher – an independent feature in development.

“I want to go again…” Farrah said, describing the feeling the recent forced retirement has engendered in him. “I want to get in a couple of good things before my career is over.”

Above: Prop Master, Kelly Farrah (second from right), on the set of Gettysburg alongside actors including Sam Elliott. COURTESY OF KELLY FARRAH Far right: Kelly Farah, today. MELISSA WAGONER

Flyin High Hat New addition to Silverton’s ‘Maker’s Row’

By Sailor Hill

Silverton is now home to a creative and ambitious couple of hatmakers in the Historic Wellman Building downtown.  Sean and Jessica McClellan are born artists, passionate about fashion, craftsmanship, and above all: hat making. They recently opened their first storefront, Flyin High Hat Co., where they create and customize western-style hats.

“We’ve taken an idea of having a standard cowboy hat-esque shop and being able to fully customize it and make it to your liking with a Pacific Northwest touch,” said Sean.

The couple spent much of their childhood steeped in “cowboy culture,” with Jessica attending rodeos and Sean helping ranchers during summers in the Steens mountains.

“It was such a warm, inviting, and true mixing pot community and the hats were always part of it,” said Jessica.

The McClellans started customizing hats in 2021 as they traveled in their van, traversing the country’s highways and byways and infusing each creation with inspiration from their journeys.

When they stumbled upon the stunning corner property in the Historic Wellman Building, they knew where Flyin High Hat Company would finally take root. The allure of its downtown location, poised to attract not only locals from Silverton but also passersby, coupled with the expansive windows offering a captivating view, sealed the deal for the entrepreneurial couple.

Their storefront had a soft opening Feb. 8 and they will host an official opening First Friday, April 5, 5 - 7 p.m.

The couple primarily makes custom hats to order, but additionally offers replication, restoration, reshaping, and cleaning services.

When customers walk into the shop, they have the choice between a beaver, rabbit, beaver/rabbit hybrid, or nutria

felt base. Once they have chosen a felt, color, and style of their liking, the hat is fit to their exact head shape. It is then “fired”, where a torch is set to the felt to remove excess fuzz from the surface, stiffen the material, and achieve a smooth finish. Finally, customers can choose embellishments to add like feathers, Pendleton wool, beads, arrowheads, and more.

“The idea is to offer as much choice as we can within the customization,” Sean said. “We’re providing a really intimate experience. It’s going to last generations.”

The couple partners with suppliers in s Oregon, New Mexico, and North Dakota, and also works with western indigenous tribes.

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“Everything is as local as we can make it,” Jessica said. “They may be out of state… but we have met them and established a relationship… to let them know our story and what we’re doing with theirs,” Sean added.

The store has received a welcoming response from both customers and local business owners.

“It’s overwhelming, the positive reception from everybody,” Jessica said. “They understand our vision.”

“Maker’s Row” is what the young couple called the strip on First Street where they are located. Among other local craftsman businesses, like Silverton Art and Frame, Primo Barbershop, Julie’s Flower Boutique, and At Easel Art, they feel a strong sense of support.

Scott Bruno and Molly Moreland, owners of Silverton Art & Frame, told Our Town, “[The McClellans] are a great addition to the neighborhood as far as artisan craftsmen… they take their craft very seriously.”

“[They] are super friendly and we talk about maybe ‘collabing’ and doing some sort of art project with hats,” Michelle Isaksen, owner of At Easel Art said.

To ensure they will be in Silverton for the long run, the McClellans offer a “quality-based product, customer service, correct pricing, and make [customers] feel that they are getting value out of what we’re giving them,” Sean said. “We’re small, we’re here to grow.”

Sean and Jessica McClellan of Flyin High Hat Company. STEPHEN FLOYD

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Robotics club scores big in state tourney

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By James Day

The Marion County 4-H ThinkRobots Club, which includes students from the Silverton area, placed three teams in the top 5 at the Feb. 24 elementary and middle school state tournament at Cedar Ridge Middle School in Sandy. A total of 26 middle school teams and 19 elementary school teams competed in the all-day event. One ThinkRobots team finished second, while two others took third place. In addition, coach Gary Morris was given an Inspire award for his support of the program.

Participating for ThinkRobots were Noah Stoneking,

Jim Zitzelberger, Logan Sullivan, Ezra Vegh, Aiden Adams, Robbie Bruns and Gus Kowalczyk.

Bruns and Kowalczyk won a sportsmanship award, Stoneking, Zitzelberger and Sullivan captured a sportsmanship award and Aams and Vegh received a design award.

The club will be accepting new members for the program beginning this summer. Interested parties can contact Heidi Adams at Tiger6485@hotmail.com or check out the club’s Facebook: Marion County 4-H ThinkRobots Club Public Page.

Jackson Mandall. Back: Deklan Pozos, Grayson Huebsch, Jack Fenteman-Bladen, Amos Yarzak, Christopher McQueen and coach Michael McQueen. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Fridays Margarita Flights

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Breakfast 9am to 1pm

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Sunday only –

HAPPY HOUR All Day Tuesday! Wed-Sun 3 - 6pm

OPEN MIC Wednesdays 7 - 10pm

Sun 9am-11pm

Community Roots shines at regional chess event

The Community Roots School chess team of Silverton finished second at a regional chess tournament on Feb. 24 at Tallmadge Middle School in Independence.

The team, in its second year, was led by Grayson Huebsch and Deklan Pozos, who finished second and third, respectively, in the 4th grade and under division. The tournament brought together teams from Marion, Polk and Benton counties. The team performance earned Community Roots a trip to the state tournament, which

will be held April 12-13 at the Portland Expo Center.

The team, which also consists of Abraham Hughey, Gretl Yarzak, Ramona Bahrke, Jackson Mandall, Jack Fenteman-Bladen, Amos Yarzak and Christopher McQueen, competes on April 12. Huebsch will participate in the individual competition on April 13.

The team is coached by Michael McQueen and consists of students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Members of the Community Roots School chess club are shown after participating in a regional tournament on Feb. 24.  Front row, from left: Abraham Hughey, Gretl Yarzak, Ramona Bahrke and

Members

Robots  club show off their hardware after strong performances at the state tournament in Sandy. From left are  Noah Stoneking,  Jim Zitzelberger, Logan Sullivan, Ezra Vegh,  Aiden Adams, Robbie Bruns and Gus Kowalczyk. SUBMITTED PHOTO

By James Day

Two more meetings of a rulemaking advisory committee on updating the statewide wildfire hazard maps will be on Zoom in the coming weeks.

The committee’s focus for these sessions will be to provide input on whether irrigation for farmland and agricultural crops should be incorporated into the calculations for wildfire hazard assessments.

One meeting was held on March 7. Two additional meetings are scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, March 28 and Thursday, April 18. Both meetings are open to the public.

Access the Zoom meeting at the following link:  https://odf.zoom. us/j/8829567607?omn=94409353162/.

A post-meeting recording will be posted on the Oregon Department of Forestry YouTube channel. For special accommodations, contact ODF public affairs officials at least 72 hours before the meeting at 503-945-7200 or by email at  forestryinformation@oregon.gov

Public outreach meetings to discuss the mapping process and related wildfire programs will soon be scheduled and announced. Outreach will occur during April through June.

To subscribe to information related to updates on the statewide wildfire hazard map, visit the ODF website at oregon.gov/ odf/aboutodf/Pages/email-updates.aspx/.

This is the second major go-round on the map program. The wildfire risk project  was mandated by Senate Bill 762. The 2021 legislation that was designed to serve as a comprehensive wildfire preparedness and resiliency bill after the fires that have plagued the state, including the Labor Day 2020 blazes that affected huge swathes of the Santiam Canyon.

The Oregon Department of Forestry worked with Oregon State University’s College of Forestry on maps that included wildland-urban interface boundaries and five fire risk classes. The maps debuted in June 2022 but were recalled shortly thereafter amid withering criticism from  residents and legislators. Concerns were raised about the accuracy of the maps, whether the process that resulted in their production was fair, and possible insurance challenges for property owners.

ODF and OSU began gathering feedback on the resumption of the map-making effort in August 2022.

The 2023 Legislature passed Senate Bill 80 that made several changes to the map project, including changing the name from a “risk” map to a “hazard” map, reducing the number of hazard classes from five to three, and changing the appeal and notification requirements.

Comments or questions about the implementation of Senate Bills 762 and 80 may be submitted by email at any time to  odf.wildfirehazardmap@odf.oregon.

Marion County hosting environmental hazards survey

Marion County is encouraging residents to participate in a health and environmental hazards survey.

The county is teaming up with Polk County and Willamette University on the survey, which is intended to gather community concerns about how heat waves, severe storms, wildfires, poor air and water quality and drought affect residents.

You can participate by going to  co.marion.or.us/HLT/PH/PS  and clicking on the red bar that says “take the environmental health hazards survey.” Residents also can pick up a physical copy at the Marion County

Health and Human Services offices at 3160 Center St. N.E. in Salem or 976 N. Pacific Hwy. in  Woodburn. Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Surveys are open to anyone 18 years of age or older who lives or works in Marion or Polk counties. The survey takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete and is available in English, Spanish and Russian.

Those who participate will be automatically entered to win a $50 gift card.

– James Day

Joe & Dana Giegerich

$1,325,000 Single level home 3 bd. 3ba. + income producing daycare facility, $4K monthly lease income. 6868 Cascade Hwy NE, Silverton. MLS#813290

$940,000 40.83 acres, 3 bedrooms, 1 ba. lodge style home, 24x48 shop with water & power. 20 yr. plus timber, borders BLM. Seller contract. 20739 Hazelnut Ridge Rd. NE, Scotts Mills. MLS#802816

$598,000 Beautiful renovated historic home, 4bd 2 ba. 1,960 sq. ft. on 1.140 level acres. T n G wood floors, Shop + storage Bldg. Many upgrades! 36937 S. Hwy 213, Mt. Angel. MLS#809889

$1,350,000 Private Estate on 31.32 acres, 5 bd, 2ba. 2562 sq. ft. Timber framed home, Greenhouses, Timber. 5952 Peaks View Rd. NE Scotts Mills, 97375. MLS#808546

$645,000 Under Contract 3.85 acres. Prestige Estate property, path of progress potential. 835 Grouse St. NE, Silverton. Sellers will consider carrying a contract MLS#770597

$465,000 Dual living, log home, 3bd. 2 ba. & MFG home with 3bd. 1.5 ba., on 1.06 ac parcel, sm. wood shop/ garden shed. 215 Fourth St., Scotts Mills MLS#804645

NEW! $425,000 3.12 acres, buildable level ground for your dream home. Seasonal creek, desirable location. MLS#813274

$375,000 Rosemary Way lots: 601, 605 & 611 MLS#810425; 615, 619 & 623 MLS#810404. Builder, Developer! Located in Monitor Road Estates. Desirable location in Silverton. These lots will require wetland remediation. Buyer must have a development plan.

$299,000 2 acres buildable! Approved for standard septic. Water well. Seller will carry contract. 7685 Dovich Ln SE, Turner. MLS#778883

$127,500 Buildable residential lot, 7650 sq. ft. Property has iconic water tower on it. 617 Keene Ave. Silverton. MLS#802507

Henrietta ‘Henri’ Frances Ruef Dill Dec. 31, 1943 – Feb. 11, 2024

Henrietta Frances Ruef Dill passed away on Feb.11, 2024. She was born on Dec. 31, 1943 in Silverton, Oregon to Placidus and Anna Marie Ruef.

Henri, as she like to be called, was born with deformed legs. The doctors said that she would never walk or have children and should be institutionalized, but her mother decided what was best and took her home. It was the love and support of her family that gave her the “can-do” attitude to succeed in life.

they were married on Dec. 26, 1964 at St. Mary’s Church in Mount Angel.

In 1965, Herni left college and joined Ernie on their 20 year military career. During this time, they raised a family of five children and lived in three countries and many states. Henri also formed a company called “Angel Press” and published magazines at the various military bases where they were stationed. She was also published in a book titled The Synergists which catapulted her motivational speaking career.

true with the help of many community members. Henri had a vision to preserve Mount Angel’s heritage by including its now famous Glockenspiel tower. She absolutely loved the Mount Angel community and was deeply involved in many of the town’s organizations and had a significant impact.

Jean Marie Schaecher

July 23, 1952 – Feb. 11, 2024

Henri was raised on a farm in Mount Angel on “Ruef Lane” and spent a lot of time at Shriners Hospital for Children, receiving her first pair of artificial legs from them. This allowed her to walk and it opened up the many possibilities that she would realize in her future.

Henri was studying journalism at Seattle University in 1964 when she met Ernest Dill on a Greyhound bus. They exchanged phone numbers and about six months later

In 1984, Henri and Ernie moved back to Oregon and opened Engelberg Antiks in Mount Angel. The next year they opened Engelberg Antiks II in downtown Salem. Henri created and successfully operated Engelberg Antiks II for the next 35+ years.

In 2006, Henri and Ernie decided to replace the Engelberg Antiks building in Mount Angel with the “Edelweiss Village,” a mix of low-income housing and commercial properties. This dream came

In Memory Of

Susan McBride June 29, 1938 — Feb. 22, 2024

Francis Piatz June 7, 1934 — Feb. 27, 2024

James Rieder Dec. 11, 1945 — Feb. 28, 2024

Marlene Ruef Sep. 22, 1938 — Feb. 28, 2024

Ellen Knauer Oct. 13, 1933 — Feb. 29, 2024

Betty Lehrman June 2, 1947 — March 1, 2024

Roger Willey Jan. 1, 1952 — March 2, 2024

Tricia Mulder Oct. 25, 1961 — March 3, 2024

See full obituaries at www.ungerfuneralchapel.com

Henri will be missed by her children, Lori (Randy) of Mount Angel, Bryant (Pamela) Dill of DuPont Way, Washington, Lena Dill of Mount Angel and Traci (Tony) Buller of Silverton; grandsons, Jonathan, William and Alex Lathrop; granddaughter, Miki Dill; grandsons, Kyle Dill, and Brogan, Dalton, and Grayson Buller; and her brother, Max (Marlene), along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Clem (Maria) and Pete (Jean); sisters, Marie and Gloria; her son, Henry (Hank); grandsons, Thomas and Taylor Lathrop; and her husband, Ernie. Funeral services were held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Feb. 20. Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel.

On Sunday Feb. 11, 2024, Jean Marie Schaecher passed away at the age of 71. She was born July 23, 1952 in Silverton, Oregon to Joe and Jean Tomminger and was the third child of five. She had two sisters, Chris and Mary, and two brothers, Leslie and Steve.

She married Richard Schaecher on April 8, 1972. They lived in Salem, Oregon for their 52 years of marriage.

She leaves behind her husband and six kids: sons, Jayson and Jaymen; and daughters, Linette, Leanna, Chabonne, and Kaylene; as well as 13 grandchildren. Throughout her life she enjoyed crafting and selling items at craft shows. She was loved by many, especially her kids, and was even called “mom” by her kid’s friends.

Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel – Silverton.

Nancy Lee Bleakney

Nancy Lee (Benson)

Bleakney was born on June 21, 1936, to parents who adored their only child, Willard and Martha Benson. She left her three children and friends who adore her on Feb. 19, 2024.

Nancy grew up on the Benson family farm in the Silverton Hills, attending the tiny grade school there with classmates that included Lewis Earl Bleakney, whom she married on Dec. 6, 1958. They were together until Earl passed away in 2013.

June 21, 1936 – Feb. 19, 2024

Nancy and Earl took over the family farm in the late 1960s and she returned to her childhood home and lived there until her passing.

Nancy loved to work in the yard and relished growing vegetables in the garden. She poured through seed catalogs and started pea seeds in the late winter to plant early in the spring. She was a skilled food preservationist and could use a pressure cooker to can just about anything, including fresh tuna and home-smoked salmon. Sweet/sour pickles and tomato chili sauce were just two of her specialties.

Almina Jean Larson

Almina ‘Ginger” Jean Larson passed away on Feb. 4, 2024 in Salem, Oregon. Born in LaGrande, Oregon on Feb. 4, 1941. Ginger loved her childhood, moving to several small towns in eastern Oregon with her family, her dad being employed by the State Highway Department. Ginger always had fun being the “new girl” at school.

before moving to a retirement community in Keizer.

Ginger’s love was often expressed through serving homemade delicious meals and baked goods, and she was an accomplished knitter. She also enjoyed bowling, riding her bike, picnicking along the Santiam, roller skating and swimming with her grandkids.

After high school, Nancy attended the University of Oregon and then the nursing program at Oregon Health Sciences University. She maintained friendships with her UO and OHSU roommates and classmates, as well as close relationships with those who worked alongside her at Silverton Hospital, where she worked for many years as a labor and delivery nurse. She was proud of the babies she helped into the world.

Nancy is survived by her three children, Leann, Dean and Joann, and her faithful furry companions, Marvin and Cleo, as well as friends and neighbors.

A celebration of her amazing life will be planned for a later time. In the meantime, her family would suggest any remembrances be offered to the Silverton Historical Society. Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel – Silverton.

Her family eventually landed in Salem and she graduated from North Salem High School in 1959. She then left for Minnesota for the summer, where she met Wendell Larson. They returned to Salem and got married shortly thereafter. Their life together began in earnest raising kids and building houses. Wendell would build a house, Ginger would make it their home until it sold, and the process started again. Eventually Wendell built the family a home in the Silverton Hills as they wanted to raise their family in the country. After Wendell’s passing in 2000, Ginger lived on the property for a number of years

Ginger was preceded in death by her husband, Wendell; her parents, Louie Zahler and Eva Yates; her stepdad, Frankie Hildebrandt; and her brother, Bud Zahler. She is survived by her brothers, Fred Hildebrandt and Butch Hildebrandt; her sister, Rose Ann (Joe) Wittenborn; her children, Mitchell (Dawn) Larson, Wendi (Pete) Rawlins, Brian Larson, Eric (Cassy) Larson; 20 grandchildren and 35 greatgrandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Calvary Chapel of Salem, 1550 Hoffman Rd. N.E., Salem on Saturday, March 16 at 1 p.m. Lunch will be served and all are welcome to join the family.

Victorious Silverton girls make inspiring run to state hoops title

Every team is a novel, a story that evolves over time. Practices. Nonleague games. League contests. And then the playoffs, the ultimate climax. The Silverton girls basketball team wrote a masterpiece this season, with far too many elements to wrap into a 750-word column. But I will try.

First, was the historic comeback. The Foxes rallied from a 17-point thirdquarter deficit to beat Crater of Central Point 61-60 in overtime to win the Class 5A title on March 9 in McMinnville. No team, boys or girls, has won a 5A title after overcoming that large a deficit in at least 10 years. The closest was the 2016 Foxes, who trailed Springfield by 11 in the third quarter and closed on an 18-6 run to win the title game 39-38. No winning boys team has had to face a deficit of more than seven points during title games since.

“I just kept telling them to slowly chip away and that the most composed team will win this game,” second-year Foxes coach Alyssa Ogle told Our Town in a Monday email. “The girls really locked into that message, and it helped us. We kept saying, ‘just get one stop at a time on defense and then we go down and get a bucket.’ Our message this year on defense was Stops = Buckets. The keys to the comeback were the kids. They just wanted to compete and fight back, and I am so proud of them.”

The road back began after Crater’s Addison Dippel sank a layup with 5:07 left in the third period, giving the Comets a 43-26 lead. The rest of the way the Foxes were dominant, outscoring a team that had won 23 straight by a 35-17 count.

Grace Hayashida gave the comeback an early jolt of Stephen Curry-like electricity with back-to-back three-pointers. On the first she was fouled and sank the free throw for a four-point play. The 7-0 run in 38 seconds made it a 45-37 hill to climb with still 3:16 left in the third quarter. But the Foxes and their increasingly loud cadre of fans knew that the tide was turning.

Everyone pitched in. Junior Brooklyn Pfeifer didn’t score, but she had five rebounds, two assists and took two charges. Senior Justina Semerikov went on a heroic 6-0 run in the fourth quarter just when it looked like the rally was dying. Crater, which found its lead gone

at 48-48 after an Olivia Boyd layup, built the lead back to 54-48 with five minutes to go. Then, after an agonizing two-plus minutes in which neither team scored, Semerikov in 76 seconds went layup (feed from Pfeifer), two free throws and layup (feed from Hayashida) to make it 54-54 with 1:41 left. In the overtime sophomore Allie Mansur took a charge with 16 seconds left, fouling out Dippel in the process.

And, there was Boyd, who made the second of her two free throws with less than a second left in the extra period to seal the deal and send the pro-Foxes crowd onto the court in a frenzy. And, of course, there was senior Kyleigh Brown, who played all but 10 seconds of the final, handling the ball almost constantly and filling the scoresheet with 22 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. She came within one assist of leading the tournament in all three categories. But what impressed me the most was that she took only 10 shots in the final. She knew that the Crater defenders were going to be on her like crazed lemurs. So she picked her spots, found her teammates and kept everyone composed.

She told me afterward, “we knew we had to take care of the ball, slow things down and look for the openings.”

Sounds simple, but it worked. After 2.5 quarters the Foxes were in a 17-point crater and seemingly doomed. After that the Foxes, slowly, inspiringly, found the true grit to get it done.

“Grit was a key to the game for us, but in all honesty the second-half rally was heart and trust from these kids,” Ogle said. “We are an extremely close team, and the players trust each other and the coaching staff. We just locked in together and went to work against a great Crater team.”

Brown was a unanimous all-tournament pick, with Hayashida on the second team. Boyd earned player of the game honors for the Foxes in the final. Brown, Semerikov and Hayashida earlier were named to the all-Mid-Willamette Conference first team, with Brown

earning player of the year honors and Ogle named coach of the year.

Great team, memorable characters. Yes, I’d read that novel. No doubt.

Silverton standout Kyleigh Brown pulls up in the lane for a jumper during the Foxes’ win against Crater in the Class 5A championship game. Brown led the tournament in scoring and rebounds and was second in assists. PAMELA SHETLER

Unified teams shine Set alumni game for March 20

By James Day

The Silverton High unified basketball teams are back from strong success at a regional tournament and are ready to show off their skills before the home fans on March 20.

Silverton’s competitive orange team took gold in its division with a 3-0 record in the Special Olympics South Regional Unified Basketball Tournament on Feb. 24 at Oregon State University. Silverton defeated Philomath 40-34 and Sutherlin 48-40 to advance to the championship game against South Albany, with Silverton taking a 45-28 win. The team also won the sportsmanship trophy.

On the orange squad for Silverton were players Logan “Lo-Gainer” Simar, Bella “Rainbow Fire” Daffern, Dayton “The Flash” Hall, Dakota “The DAM” Miller and Cody “Spaz” Cervantes. Partners are Claire “Captain C” Kuenzi and Brylie “B Diggidy” Parks. The team is coached by Travis McMillion and Daniel Briseno.

The recreational black team for Silverton took third in its division with a 1-1 record. The squad opened with a 58-53 win against Sweet Home but fell 53-42 to Lebanon.

Players for the black team were Ashlynne “Prince Ash” Henrichs, Tyler “Green Lantern” Wright, Braedon

“Shadow Crusader” Reniere, Crystal “Baby Girl”

Stratton Brown, Noah “Ocean Spray Boy” Roeder, Desi “Cat Noir” Ives and Clayton “Clay Thor 08”

Carmichael. Partners were Aubrey “Drumstick” Leao, Addie “Baby Awesome” Krueger and Sophie “Supergirl”

Sadaka. Coaches are Katie Wilson and Katie Stanley

Coming up for the unified squads is a special Alumni Game performance on Wednesday, March 20 in the Silverton High gym. It also will be Senior Night for the unified squads. Senior Night festivities start at 6:15 p.m., with the game beginning at 7 p.m.

Left: Silverton’s unified orange team won three games to come away with first place at the OSU tournament. The orange squad also received the sportsmanship trophy. Right: Silverton’s unified black team took third at a regional tournament at Oregon State University on Feb. 24.

Perhaps I should have known, when the baby shower for my oldest daughter was derailed by a significant snowstorm, that having a child with a January birthday would be tricky.

I blame my initial confidence on her first birthday party, which came off without a hitch. Celebrated with friends and family in a house decorated with balloons, the birthday girl was decked out in a special dress, purchased just for the occasion, and presented with a homemade, three-tier cake. Sweet success.

Then birthday number two arrived and between icy roads, illnesses, and I honestly don’t remember what else, not a single guest could make it. Instead, several gallons of soda, a pile of paper plates and a host of snacks went unused and, if I remember correctly, her cake was of the coffee variety, served in lieu of breakfast with a candle in its center. Tada!

A year later we celebrated two birthdays because – you guessed it – my second daughter was also born in January. That year the basement flooded and I, recovering from an appendectomy, didn’t even entertain the possibility of… entertaining. Instead, we made do with a stale boxed cake and some creative photography that made the day look a lot more fun than it was. But the guilt still set in.

Now, I know that babies don’t care about parties or a lack thereof. But two years in a row of abject failure stung. And so, we created a new plan.

First, no more presents because, with Christmas barely over, the kids simply did not need any more stuff. Second, we were leaving the house, because January can be oppressive and by mid-month we needed

to get out. And that’s how the birthday trips began.

The first few years were spent exploring the Oregon Coast. The girls were young and the waves and sand were a novelty. We let them pick the restaurant – with help – and then we set up a base camp on the sand and they played until they were tired.

After that, we made trips to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, to a child-centered art studio. We tried out new restaurants and explored different cuisines. And no one seemed to miss the typical birthday celebration. Even when they began getting invites to typical parties the girls seemed content with our own brand of fun.

Then our third child was born – in October.

One of the wonderful things about midOctober in Oregon is that, nearly every year, the weather is beautiful. It also turns out that, after six years of not being invited to celebrate our children’s birthday on the actual day, our family members were eager to make up for lost time.

Suddenly birthday celebrations became a bit of a hybrid affair. Family came – when they could make it – on the actual day of birth. Then the weekend was filled with adventure. It was complicated, but it worked. Until COVID hit.

Now all the places we normally visited were either closed or restricted, so birthday adventures were out. We still invited family but could only see them outside and at a six foot distance – fine for an October birthday, but in January it was a chilly affair.

Unexpectedly, birthdays started to feel the way they had in the beginning, tentative and somewhat dread-filled. I found myself wondering, would plans fall through? Would anyone be able to come? Would the day be as special as we, the parents, wanted it to be?

But the answer to all these questions was the same as it had always been – yes. Yes, our plans will sometimes fail. But they will also morph into something

entirely new and equally special simply because we get to celebrate one more year with a beloved child.

And yes, guests will cancel. People get sick, snowed in, or just busy. But in this era of technology there are other ways to meet, and love can be sent through the mail, over phone lines or shouted over Zoom.

And yes, sometimes the day won’t seem as special as we, the parents hoped. It might be spent on the couch with a sick kid, running through the rain because of an unexpected cloudburst or six feet apart because of a pandemic, but it will still happen and parts of it – namely the parts we spend together – will still be pretty great.

Special isn’t defined so much by the cake as by the love. MELISSA WAGONER

GENERAL

MT. ANGEL MODEL RAILROAD Open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays at The Depot, 90 W. College St., Mt. Angel. Lionel (O-gauge), HO-gauge, N-gauge model layouts on display, for all ages. Free.

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PART-TIME ADVERTISING ACCOUNT

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Off and Sick Leave. The right candidate will possess good communication skills, be self-motivated and goal-oriented, and have reliable transportation. Sales experience and familiarity with – and a desire to provide – good customer service a strong plus. Resume to: paula.m@mtangelpub.com or Publisher, Mt. Angel Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 927, Mt. Angel, OR 97362.

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PERSONAL TOUCH, LLC Offering Personal Care, Lillian Ryan has been caring for seniors for over 14 years… and loves her work! Transportation to/from appointments, routine errands, grocery shopping, companionship, overnight care, shower assistance. $25 per hour. Please schedule 24 hours in advance. Serving Silverton-Mt. Angel-Scotts Mills area. 503-871-7154, lillian.ryan51@gmail.com

B&J JANITORIAL, INC. 20 years experience. References available. Licensed, bonded, insured. Competitive pricing. 503-313-5816

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

JESSE’S LAWN SERVICE & HANDYMAN Pruning, edging, trimming, blackberry cleaning, gutter cleaning, arborvitae, moss treatment, yard cleanup, stump grinding, powerwashing, haul-away. 503-871-7869

#T2811 OPEN CONCEPT

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#T2809 NEW CONSTRUCTION

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Large 10,000+sqft lot on the north edge of Silverton. The home was built with dual living / generational living in mind. Home has several upgraded features. Main level master suite w/ large walk-in closet & bath. Great room w/ gas insert fireplace, granite counter tops, solid surface flooring, & custom cabinets. 3BR 2.5BA w/ additional but separate 1BR 1BA dual living. Large 2 car garage & sunset views. 519sqft ADU can be rented for income. Call for list of amenities. Call Michael at ext. 314

(WVMLS#813139)

#T2807 BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM HOME $799,800

Beautiful Custom Home in Abiqua Heights, all the extras that you would want in your home, fir trim with custom fir built ins, open kitchen to living room with gas fireplace and eat in kitchen, Plus formal dining and living room with custom built ins. Single level 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath with office and upstairs bonus room. Plus, pottery studio that has power, heat and water. Private backyard with partially covered deck, plus patio area to enjoy your tranquil water feature. Commons with pond. Call Meredith at ext. 324 or Ryan at ext. 322 ((WVMLS#812246)

#T2789 SILVERTON MOBILE ESTATES $165,000

Wow!! So many amazing updates in this home from the floor up! Newer roof, paint, flooring, cabinets, counters, fixtures, kitchen, bathrooms, plumbing and

NEW! – # T2811 OPEN CONCEPT 3 BR, 3 BA 2242 sqft Call Whitney at ext. 320 or Mike at ext. 312 $688,000 (WVMLS#813781)

#T2809 – NEW CONSTRUCTION 4 BR, 3.5 BA 3275 sqft Call Michael at ext. 314 $699,000 (WVMLS#813139)

#T2789 SILVERTON MOBILE ESTATES

2 BR, 2 BA 1248 sqft Call Becky at ext. 313 $165,000 (WVMLS#807664)

#T2792 FAIRY TALE COTTAGE 3 BR, 2 BA 2997 sqft Call Michael at ext. 314 $770,000 (WVMLS#808110)

#T2807 BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM HOME 3 BR, 2.5 BA 3024 sqft Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $799,800 (WVMLS#812246)

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2 BR, 1 BA 852 sqft Call Meredith at ext. 324, Ryan at ext. 322 $398,700 (WVMLS#812286)

Chuck White Broker 873-3545 ext. 325

Mason Branstetter Principal Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 303

Kirsten Barnes Broker 873-3545 ext. 326

Whitney Ulven Broker, GRI 503-873-3545 ext. 320

Mike Ulven Broker 503-873-3545 ext. 312

Meredith Wertz Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 324

Ryan Wertz Principal Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 322

Sarah Sanders Property Manager 873-3545 ext. 311

Micha Christman Office Manager 873-1425

Becky Craig Principal Broker, GRI 873-3545 ext. 313

Michael Schmidt Principal Broker GRI 873-3545 ext. 314

Tayler Whitaker Secretary 873-3545 ext. 300

Jason Marshall Broker 873-3545 ext 302