Our Town mailed free to residents and businesses in the 97383, 97385, 97358 & 97325 zip codes.
Subscriptions for outside this area are $40 annually. The deadline for placing an ad in the Aug. 1 issue is July 19.
Paula Mabry, Editor & Publisher
George Jeffries, Advertising Executive
DeeDe Williams, Office Manager
Dan Thorp, Graphic Artist
Sara Morgan, Datebook Editor
Thank you for spending time with Our Town. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.
111 W. Locust St., Stayton (503) 769-6524
With coupon • expires 07/31/24 – not good with any other special.
Stayton High Boosters Club President Randy Forrette at the new Ty Hart Fitness Center, now under construction. JAMES DAY
On the Cover
Business owner Debbie Hagglund cuts the ribbon at her new location, Cottage Bakery & Cafe in Sublimity, accompanied by representatives of the Stayton Sublimity Chamber of Commerce. SUBMITTED PHOTO
We may owe you money. If you were a member of Stayton Cooperative Telephone Company receiving our services during the years 2002 and/or 2003, SCTC may owe you money. The Board of Directors of SCTC has authorized the forfeiture of all patronage distributions that have remained unclaimed for more than four years after approval of distribution. The date of forfeiture is May 14, 2025. Members must respond prior to that date to receive monies owed. Notices were mailed to the last known addresses on December 1, 2021, to all members entitled to a distribution. SCTC is making every possible effort to find those members that did not respond to previous notifications. SCTC has posted a complete list of members, as they appear on our records, on our website at https://www.sctcweb.com/unclaimed-checks/ . You can also visit our office at 502 N 2nd Ave in Stayton. Our business hours are M-F from 9:00 am until 5:00pm. If your name, or someone you know, appears on the list and payment has not been received, contact us immediately. You can email patronage@sctcweb.com, leave a message on our patronage hotline at 503 769-2724, or send a letter to SCTC, Attention: Patronage, PO Box 477, Stayton OR 97383.
Something to Think About Samaritan + Santiam Hospital merger motivated
By Stephen Floyd
A planned merger between Santiam Hospital & Clinics (SHC) and Samaritan Health Services came down to the need for sustainable growth, according to local hospital officials.
During a town hall meeting at Santiam Hospital, June 18, SHC President and CEO Maggie Hudson said the proposed transition would allow services to expand without becoming too large to manage.
She told a packed auditorium of local residents that rising costs for medical supplies and wages, and increased difficulties collecting from insurers, threaten Santiam’s business model and the broader healthcare system. She said hospitals already operate on thin margins, and they would need “more horsepower” financially to remain viable.
“The healthcare cost drivers are putting pressure on us as an organization… at a rate we cannot sustain, and really a rate the system cannot sustain,” said Hudson.
Similar town halls were held June 26 in Turner and June 27 in Mill City.
What will be gained?
The SHC Board of Directors has signed a non-binding letter-of-intent with Samaritan, and in July they plan to finalize a definitive agreement to submit to the Oregon Health Authority. If OHA signs off, SHC would become part of Samaritan April 1, 2025.
Hudson said June 18 the merger “will enhance our ability to provide healthcare, not take away” and Samaritan’s goal is “not to come and change and cut services.”
Under Samaritan, SHC would have greater access to capital, said Hudson, for pending projects such as a medical office building,
urgent care clinic and increased parking. She said recent capital projects have been funded largely by donations, such as the new emergency room, and this is not sustainable long-term. She also said the hospital cannot leverage additional debt at this time.
Hudson said the hospital has already grown significantly, from 50 employees when it opened in 1953 to almost 650 today. She said continued growth is expected as more people move away from the Portland area and into regions like the Santiam Canyon, and SHC facilities must be able to keep up.
SHC is also expected to pay less for medical supplies and equipment with the Samaritan merger, said Chief Operating Officer Dr. Tiffanie Pye. She said Samaritan deals in larger quantities than SHC and can negotiate better pricing.
These cost reductions would be coupled with “economies of scale” in departments such as IT, human resources, and finance, said Hudson.
There also would be a larger pool of specialists available from Samaritan’s other locations in Corvallis, Albany, Lebanon, Lincoln City and Newport. Hudson said Santiam has struggled to find specialty doctors. SHC patients could use Samaritan’s specialists either at existing clinics or with specialists keeping hours locally.
What will be cut?
One of the biggest changes would be that United Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente would no longer be accepted at SHC, as these insurers are not accepted by Samaritan. The change would not be immediate. SHC would continue to accept these insurers through the end of 2025, said Hudson.
She said it is not surprising Samaritan does
not take United Healthcare adding SHC struggles itself to receive payments from the insurer. Because most United Healthcare patients use it as part of Medicare Advantage, she said one solution will be for these patients to find an alternative during open enrollment.
Hudson said SHC is prepared to help community members find the right alternative, possibly bringing back open enrollment workshops for Medicare Advantage recipients.
In regard to Kaiser, Hudson said SHC’s contract with the insurer was hardfought and limited. She does not envision Samaritan reaching an agreement with Kaiser. She said they do not have “a definitive answer” for Kaiser patients. That solution will depend partly on the state of the local insurance market going forward.
SHC is also expected to lose some of its independence, as it would begin operating under the policy and fiscal decisions of Samaritan’s Board of Directors. Hudson said SHC would retain its own board and that a member would serve on the Samaritan board. Decisions such as hiring and the management of specific programs would remain local.
She also said the goals and culture of Samaritan align closely with SHC, such as engaging with communities and supporting the business models of small hospitals. She said they “feel very confident that we’ll be able to maintain the feel and the culture that we have developed over the years” after the merger.
What will remain?
SHC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Steve Vets said they don’t intend to lose any clinicians or medical staff in the merger.
“Our goal is to maintain 100 percent of the medical staff that we have,” he said.
Vets said each department has been approached for feedback about the proposed partnership and that most staff members are “enthusiastic and positive about the opportunity.” He said they look forward to having a larger group of colleagues and a deeper set of subspecialties to draw from.
The Service Integration Team, which became an indispensable resource for local residents amid recovery from the 2020 wildfires, is expected to continue operating.
Melissa Baurer, director of integrated health and outreach, said Samaritan is using SHC’s team as a model for its other hospitals such as in Lincoln City. She said this is an example of the two group’s goals aligning.
“I’m excited for the future of what our community engagement can look like,” she said.
Pye said SHC’s ambulance program is also being used as a model for Samaritan, which is interested in learning about ways to improve its ground transportation.
Pye also said patients could continue accessing their medical charts through Epic Systems, and said they will simply use Samaritan’s version of the program.
SHC Board Chairman Victor Kintz said, if the merger is successful, patients should largely notice no difference at all in services.
Hudson added that they understand hospitals in small communities are “anchor institutions” and that they plan to approach the merger with a sense of “great responsibility” and public accountability.
“This is a conversation,” she said of the proposal. “We will be transparent as the transaction continues.”
Have a bang up Fourth of July Parade, pancakes,
By Stephen Floyd
fun run, music, fireworks – lots to do!
The Fourth of July will be a full day of community events throughout the Stayton area.
For the first time, this year will feature the Willamette Valley Pipes & Drums at the head of the Grand Parade, livening up the pageant with traditional Scottish music. The grand marshal of this year’s parade is Randy Forrette, who has been an active member of the Stayton Booster Club since 2013. Organizers said Forrette has been “a driving force” in the club’s growth and success since he joined.
Forrette said he has been proud to see the club significantly expand its ability to offer scholarships and fund community projects, such as the Ty Hart Memorial Fitness Center being constructed at Stayton High School and scheduled to open in time for the fall sports season. The parade has a new starting time this year. It gets rolling at noon, starting on Cascade Highway at Shaff Road S.E. This year’s theme is “Freedom To Serve.” Entries will be accepted through July 4 ($20 per entry) until the 11 a.m. staging deadline.
But the parade isn’t the first event of the day. There’s a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Stayton Community Center which supports the Stayton High School Class of 2025 Senior All Night Graduation Party. The cost is $12 for adults, $8 for children and includes pancakes, eggs, sausage links, juice and coffee.
For those who want to get moving, or use up some of those pancake carbs, the annual Fun Run/Walk starts at 9 a.m. at the Stayton Community Center. Fees support the local Boy Scouts. There are options for a 3K, 5K trail run or 10K trail run. Advance registration is available at runsignup.com for $15 per person. Day-of registration is $20 with a deadline of 8:30 a.m.
Food service and live entertainment at the Stayton High School practice football field starts at 6 p.m. Bay Kittie Entertainment will provide a DJ and karaoke from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and musician Molly Martinka will perform at 7:30 p.m.
Bring your chairs and blankets because at 10 p.m. the fireworks display begins at the high school. Plan to relax, look up at the sky and enjoy the show.
More information at stayton4thofjuly.com.
SummerFest celebrates 29 years of family fun in Stayton July 27
The Stayton Sublimity Chamber of Commerce’s 29th annual Santiam SummerFest is Saturday, July 27 in historic downtown Stayton. Presenting sponsor is NW Preferred Federal Credit Union.
SummerFest began in 1996 as a street fair and continues to boast 100+ vendors annually, including artisans, crafters, farmers, local businesses, homebased retailers, food trucks, community organizations, and service providers.
“We will be bringing back all the favorite attractions,” said Carmélle Bielenberg, Chamber CEO, “including live music on the Comcast Main stage, Rotary Ducky Derby, the ‘Big Boys Toys’ showcase... and Vault Fitness will be hosting the second annual Santiam Hospital Fun Run again this year with the help of the Stayton Roadrunners.
New will be the Fireman’s Biscuit & Gravy Breakfast benefitting the Sublimity Comfort K-9 Program, a princess meet & greet and more. In addition, local churches will host a community-wide Church Service Sunday, July 28 at 10 a.m. in the Entertainment tent.
For event details, or vendor applications: 503-7693464, or info@staytonsublimitychamber.org.
NOTICES
SAVE THE DATE –ST. BONIFACE ALL SCHOOL REUNION Sunday, Aug. 11. Held this year at Sublimity Pioneer Park, across from Sublimity Fire Hall. Bring you brown chairs. See you then! 503-689-1478
MT. ANGEL SENIOR CENTER is a non-profit consignment store for artisans over 50, a community center, home to Meals on Wheels, and serves as a food bank. Volunteers welcome! 195 E Charles St. 503-845-6998 or mtangelcommunity@ gmail.com
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-From garage sale left overs to rental
clear outs. We repurpose, recycle, reuse, or donate what we can. Call and find out what we can do for you. $20 Minimum. Call Keith 503-502-3462
WANTED
LOOKING TO PURCHASE a Commercial Building in downtown Silverton or surrounding towns. Two-story or three. Serious buyer looks for a serious seller,only. Duke, 505-429-1523
To advertise call
CAFOs Linn revises setback rule for industrial farms
By Stephen Floyd
The Linn County Board of Commissioners has amended a setback rule for industrial farms to only apply to chicken ranches rather than other livestock operations, correcting what commissioners described as a misunderstanding.
During a public hearing June 20, commissioners voted 2-1 to amend the rule, which set limits on applications for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
Under the rule, originally passed Dec. 12, 2023, farms must have a one-mile setback between livestock buildings and nearby residences if applying for a new or renewed permit for a large CAFO.
While the policy did not specify a type of livestock, a press release from the county that day said the rule impacted “large-scale chicken farms that produce millions of birds per year.” The release also noted the activities of Scio-based residents who “adamantly opposed” such chicken CAFOs locally.
The setback limits were allowed under a slate of CAFO reforms passed last year in Salem empowering counties to set such restrictions. Linn County was the first in Oregon to do so.
During a meeting May 14, commissioners said they had been made aware the policy applied to more than chicken
farms and impacted all types of livestock. They voted that day to re-open the public comment period for the setback rule and consider possible revisions.
Among their concerns, commissioners said they don’t believe the same setbacks should apply to all livestock given the differences in how chickens, cattle, pigs and others are raised.
Written public comment was accepted June 11 - 17, and during the June 20 hearing no oral testimony was accepted.
Supporters of the setback, such as Scio-based Farmers Against Foster Farms – who pushed for the rule’s original passage, – called on activists to speak out in favor of preserving the setbacks as passed. Groups such as the Oregon Farm Bureau claimed the rule would effectively ban new dairies, auction yards, feedlots and similar facilities in Linn County and sought its repeal.
Cmmissioners Roger Nyquist and Will Tucker voted in favor of amending the rule, Commissioner Sherrie Sprenger was opposed. Sprenger said a one-mile setback would have negative financial impacts on farmers, and ultimately on food prices. She was in favor of reducing the setback to 0.75 miles.
Tucker said farmers have the option to apply for a land use variance if they struggle to comply with the one-mile setback, which would be considered based on the merits of a specific site.
Scott Daniel Bloomfield
Dec. 10, 1979 - May 17, 2024
Scott Daniel Bloomfield, “Bloomy” to his closest friends, passed away on May 17, 2024, at the Salem Hospital in Salem, Oregon. Born on Dec. 10, 1979 to Regina and Richard Bloomfield, he was a kind soul, who was known for his loyalty, generous spirit and his love for the outdoors.
Scott’s early years were spent with his twin sister Stephanie and his little sister Nicole. They built a bond of friendship, love and shenanigans. After graduating from Cascade High School in 1998, he attended Piney Point School of Seamanship in Maryland and became a Merchant Marine.
Scott loved being on the water, serving and his trade. After retiring his sea legs, Scott was an impeccable maintenance mechanic invested in serving and mentoring others.
In 2009, Scott married Tanya and together they nurtured a family that grew to include their children, Cierra and Gavin.
Scott was a helper, always willing to lend a hand or a smile, He loved being a father, son, brother, uncle and friend. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, and craftsman, where these pastimes brought him closer to his best friends and family.
Predeceased by his father Richard Bloomfield and survived by his mother Regina and stepfather Larry Etzel, sisters Stephanie (Cleve) Stanley and Nicole (Gabe) Nye. He was laid to rest at the Aumsville Community Cemetery. A Celebration of Life was held June 21 at the Sublimity Harvest Festival Grounds.
Legal Matters
Jail, probation for assault
A Stayton man arrested last year for assaulting a woman and her daughter has been sentenced to a year in jail and two years of probation in a plea deal that helped him avoid more prison time.
Jeremy Don Ellis, 43, pleaded guilty June 5 in Marion County Circuit Court to two counts of misdemeanor fourth-degree assault. He was sentenced June 6 to 364 days in jail with credit for time served and eligibility for early release, and 24 months of probation.
While on probation Ellis must complete a batterer intervention program and substance abuse treatment, and may not consume intoxicants or frequent places where they are consumed. Additionally Ellis may not possess any weapons and may not have contact with the two victims.
Ellis was arrested Aug. 27, 2023, for an incident the day before when he struck a woman on the back of the head and continued to punch and kick her after she fell to the floor, causing a shattered cheekbone. The victim’s daughter attempted to intervene and Ellis allegedly punched her in the face multiple times.
Ellis was originally arrested for seconddegree assault, punishable by at least 70 months in prison under Measure 11. Defense attorney Jacob Reynolds argued in pretrial filings that the victim’s injuries did not meet the legal definition of “serious,” and that related medical evidence had been withheld. Ellis was acquitted of this charge.
Drug treatment assault, chase
An Aumsville man accused of a domestic assault near Silverton that led to a police chase has been sentenced to three years of probation after entering a plea agreement.
Matthew James Rodgers, 33, pleaded guilty June 5 in Marion County Circuit Court to strangulation, unlawful use of a weapon and attempting to elude police. On June 18 he was sentenced to 36 months of probation and a 90-day driver’s license suspension.
While on probation Rodgers must complete inpatient substance abuse treatment, as well as complete 80 hours of community service. Rodgers was arrested May 6 for an incident the previous evening on Hwy. 214 near Silver Falls State Park. According to charging documents, he strangled a woman, threatened her with a hatchet and damaged her car windshield. Police located Rodgers in Salem and the defendant fled north on I-5
at speeds exceeding 115 mph, according to a media release from Oregon State Police. His vehicle left the road near Wilsonville and became stuck in a field. He was taken into custody after a brief standoff with police.
Man arrested in drug sting
An Aumsville man is facing multiple felonies after being arrested in a fentanyl sting by the Salem Police Department.
Joseph Wallace Blades, 42, was arrested May 21 by detectives serving a search warrant at his home on the 11000 block of Silver Falls Hwy. SE.
A news release from SPD said 250 pills of suspected fentanyl, 36 firearms including rifles, shotguns, and handguns, body armor, ammunition and a stolen vehicle were recovered. SPD was assisted by Marion County Sheriff’s Office SWAT.
Blades was charged in Marion County Circuit Court with possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of prohibited firearms, felon in possession of body armor and three counts of felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison on his highest count and up to 35 years in prison on all counts. Blades was released May 22 on $60,000 bail. He was due back in court July 24.
20 months for $13K theft
A Lyons man has been sentenced to prison after accepting a plea deal for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from an elderly victim. David Lee Ansted, 66, pleaded no contest May 28 in Linn County Circuit Court to aggravated first-degree theft and was sentenced to 20 months in prison and 24 months post-prison supervision.
Ansted was arrested June 29, 2023, for allegedly stealing more than $13,000 from the victim between 2019 and 2020 through credit card fraud, computer crimes and mishandling of entrusted property.
Three years for vehicle theft
A Eugene man arrested in Lyons in possession of a stolen car has been sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted by a jury of multiple felonies. Robert James Atkinson, 35, was convicted June 13 of first-degree burglary, possession of a burglary tool, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, attempt to elude a police officer and third-degree theft. On June 14 he was sentenced to 36 months in prison and 36 months of post-prison supervision. He was arrested April 15 by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office in Lyons after he was found in possession of a stolen Ford sedan.
Embrace Senior Advisors believe that finding senior care and housing should be a trustworthy and transparent process. Through our trusted partnerships with local professionals and long-term living communities in Oregon, we offer expertise and guidance to clients and their families at NO COST. Our Advisors work with you and your team to help find the best long-term living option for your future.
Call and text with a local advisor: 503-689-0053 • 541-570-8796 EmbraceSeniorAdvisors.com
1035 N. 6th Ave, Stayton 503-769-2656
Daily Mass: Monday-Friday, 8:15 am, Saturday, 8:00 am
All Night Adoration: First and Third Fridays, 9:00 pm to 7:00 am Saturdays Nocturnal Adoration: First Saturdays, 10:00 pm to Sundays at 6:00 am Confession: Saturday, 11-11:30 am, 3:30-4:30 pm, Thursday, 7:00 pm - 7:45 pm, or by appointment
Bridgette M Justis
Wildfire settlement
Families, PacifiCorp come to agreement
By Stephen Floyd
The families of four people killed in the Santiam Fire have settled wrongful death lawsuits with PacifiCorp for undisclosed sums over the 2020 Labor Day fires.
On June 26, attorney John Coletti confirmed the families of Peggy Mosso, 71, and grandson Wyatt Tofte, 13, and of Cathy Cook, 71, and son Justin Cook, 41, reached confidential settlements with the company.
Coletti said his clients did not have any further comment.
PacifiCorp was also approached for comment by email and did not respond by Our Town press deadline.
The cases had been scheduled for 10-day trials this summer, with the Mossos and Toftes in July and the Cooks in August. Both trials have since been canceled.
The families had filed separate lawsuits in Multnomah County Circuit Court Sept. 15, 2021, claiming PacifiCorp equipment caused the fire during high heat and wind on Sept. 7, 2020. The Mosso and Tofte families were seeking $540 million and the Cook family was seeking $240 million.
PacifiCorp denied wrongdoing, claiming the deaths were the results of the lightning-caused Beachie Creek Fire, and also claiming co-defendants bore responsibility.
Consumers Power, Inc., was also accused of causing the fire through damaged equipment. In April plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed these claims without settlement.
Plaintiffs also sued Marion County, Stayton Fire District and METCOM, claiming these parties failed to evacuate residents in a timely manner. Claims against METCOM and Stayton Fire District were dismissed by the court in 2023, while plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed claims against the county June 7 without settlement.
Both families lived along North Fork Road, outside Lyons, when fire swept through the region.
According to court records, Tofte
was seen fleeing their residence with the family dog by his mother, Angela Mosso, while she believed her mother Peggy Mosso did not flee in time. Angela Mosso was herself burned beyond recognition in the fire, said the suit.
On Sept. 9, 2020, the remains of Peggy Mosso, Tofte and their dog were found in what was left of their house, all three having burned to death. It is believed Wyatt Tofte had gone back to help his grandmother.
Cathy and Justin Cook allegedly did not receive a mandatory evacuation notice issued by Marion County shortly after midnight Sept. 8, 2020, according to the suit. They said they expected a knock at their door for a mandatory evacuation and instead the notice was posted on Facebook, which they could not access as the fire had cut power and cell service.
On Sept. 13, 2020, the remains of the Cooks were discovered, and the suit said they had burned to death.
A fifth resident of North Fork Road, George Atiyeh, 72, was also killed in the fire. His remains were found Sept. 17, 2020. His survivors did not pursue litigation against PacifiCorp.
Prior to the settlements, plaintiffs had filed motions for summary judgment Feb. 1 against PacifiCorp, arguing the company had already been found liable for the fires in a related lawsuit.
On June 12, 2023, in a trial for James et al vs. PacifiCorp, a jury found PacifiCorp had negligently and willfully caused the fires by refusing to de-energize its equipment during an historic windstorm. The jury’s decision found PacifiCorp liable for damages to an entire class of fire survivors, including survivors of the Santiam Fire.
Plaintiffs argued they belonged to the class and therefore PacifiCorp was liable to them for damages, and asked the court for judgment in their favor. A hearing on the motions was scheduled for June 24, which was canceled after the court was notified of the settlements.
Frequent Address
Stayton Community Center, 400 W Virginia St.
Stayton Public Library, 515 N First Ave.
Weekly Events
Monday
Stayton Community Food Bank, 9 a.m. - noon, 1210 Wilco Road. Repeats Monday - Friday. 503-769-4088
Stayton Free Summer Meals, 11 a.m.1 p.m., Stayton Middle School, 1021 SE Shaff Road. Free lunch for kids younger than 18. All meals must be eaten on site. Repeats Monday - Friday. Runs July 9 - Aug. 9. nssd29j.org
Lyons Free Summer Meals, 11:1512:15 p.m., Mari-Linn School, 641 Fifth St., Lyons. Free lunch for kids younger than 18. All meals must be eaten on site. Repeats Monday - Friday. Runs July 9 - Aug. 9. nssd29j.org
Storytime in the Park, 10:30 a.m., Stayton Public Library. Read, write, talk, sing, play. Free. 503-769-3313
Wednesday
Stayton/Sublimity Chamber Business Network, 8:15 a.m. Network building event for local business, non-profit professionals. Location varies each week. For location, call 503-769-3464. St. Boniface Archives and Museum, 9 a.m. - noon, 370 Main St., Sublimity. Learn about Sublimity and possibly your family history. Free. 503-508-0312 Stayton Area Rotary, noon, Santiam Golf Club, 8724 Golf Club Road, Aumsville. Guests welcome. 503-5089431, staytonarearotary.org
Cascade Country Quilters, 12:30 p.m., Santiam Senior Center, 41818 KingstonJordan Road, Stayton. 50 and older. 503-767-2009
Stayton Farmers Market, 3 - 7 p.m., 138 N Third Ave. Free admission. downtownstayton.org
$2 Swim Night, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m., Stayton Family Memorial Pool, 333 W Burnett St. Swim for $2 per person. Repeats Fridays. 503-767-7665
Thursday
Sublimity Quilters, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., St. Boniface Catholic Church, 375 SE Church St., Sublimity. Make quilts for local community donations and charities. Everything is provided. New members welcome.
Point Man Ministries, 6 p.m., Canyon Bible Fellowship, 446 Cedar St., Lyons. Veterans support organization. 503-859-2627
Friday
Cars & Coffee, 8 a.m., Covered Bridge Cafe, 510 N Third Ave., Stayton. Bring your classic vehicles for coffee, breakfast.
Toddler Time Stay & Play, 10:30 a.m., Stayton Public Library. Explore the world of early and literacy. Free. 503-769-3313
Saturday
Aumsville Historical Society, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., 599 Main St. Come in during open hours or make an appointment by calling Ted Shepard, president, 503-881-5087.
Revival Youth Hangout, 5 - 6:30 p.m., New Hope Community Church, 657 N Second Ave., Stayton. Youth of the area are welcome. Follow “Revival_ Heartbeat” on Instagram and Tiktok. revivalheartbeat@gmail.com
Monday, July 1
Military Sexual Trauma Support
6 - 7:30 p.m. Zoom. For those who have served in the military, Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve members who have experienced Military Sexual Trauma. Group is facilitated by veterans and former service members with shared experience, no clinicians. Participants are welcome regardless of gender, discharge status or veteran status. Info: info@namimultnomah.org, 503-228-5692. Repeats July 15.
Tuesday, July 2
Stayton Lions Club
Noon, Covered Bridge Cafe, 510 N Third Ave., Stayton. Club and new members are welcome. Repeats July 16. staytonlionsclub.org
Wednesday, July 3
Caregiver Connection
1 - 2:30 p.m., Zoom. Free educational support group for unpaid family caregivers caring for a loved one 60 years of age or older, or caring for a person living with dementia. For Zoom invite and register, contact Julie Mendez, family caregiver support specialist at 503-304-3432 or julie. mendez@nwsds.org
Thursday, July 4
Independence Day
Fourth of July Breakfast
8 - 11 a.m., Stayton Community Center. Pancakes, eggs, sausage, juice, coffee. $10 adults, $8 children 12 and under. Proceeds benefit Stayton High School Class of 2025 graduation party. stayton4thofjuly.com
Fun Run/Walk
9 - 11 a.m., Stayton Community Center. 3K walk/run, 5K & 10K trail runs. Most patriotically dressed runner will win a patriotic denali blanket. $15 advance registration online. $20 day of race registration. Sponsored by Boy Scouts. staytonfunrun.com
Freedom to Serve Parade
Foothills Vacation Bible School
6 - 8 p.m., Foothills Church, 975 Fern Ridge Road, Stayton. Start the Party: Celebrate the Good News open to ages 4 years old through incoming fifth graders. Repeats through July 11 with family fun night on July 12. $20 for first child; $15 for every child thereafter. No more than $50 per family. Scholarships available. Sign-ups at foothillsstayton.org
Sublimity City Council
6 p.m., Sublimity City Hall, 245 NW Johnson. Open to public. 503-769-5475
Aumsville City Council
7 p.m., Chester Bridges Memorial Community Center, 555 Main St., Aumsville. Open to public. 503-749-2030
Noon, Stayton. Grand marshal is Randy Forrette. Parade route: South from Regis Street down First Avenue, west down W Washington Street, north down N Gardener Avenue. Entry fee $15. stayton4thofjuly.com
Stayton Fourth of July
6 p.m., Stayton High, 757 W Locust St. Suzy’s Taqueria food truck. Concession stand by Youth to Tomorrow. DJ/Karaoke Music by Bay Kittie Entertainment (6 - 7:30 p.m.). Kids activities. Live music by Molly Martinka starting at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks begin at 10 p.m. No alcohol, smoking, vaping, weapons, personal fireworks or pets are allowed. stayton4thofjuly.com
Saturday, July 6
Aumsville Saturday Market
9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Porter-Boone Park, 1105 Main St., Aumsville. Fresh produce, specialty food, baked goods, flowers, gardening and more. Free admission. 503-749-2030
Aumsville Movie in the Park
Dusk, Porter Boone Park, 1105 Main St., Aumsville. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a free movie every Saturday. Today: Tinkerbell (2008). July 13: Beauty and the Beast (2017). July 20: Sonic. July 27: Wish (2023). Free. 503-749-2030
Monday, July 8
Ice Cream Social
6 - 7:30 p.m., Santiam Park, 2250 N Third Ave., Stayton. Enjoy ice cream in the park, meet other community members and chat with Stayton city staff and city volunteers. Free. 503-769-3425
Lyons Fire District Board
7 p.m., Lyons Fire Station, 1114 Main St. Open to public. 503-859-2410
Stayton Fire District Board
6 p.m.,. Stayton Fire Station, 1988 W Ida St. Open to public. 503-769-2601
Tuesday, July 9
Wheels of Change
Noon - 1 p.m., Santiam Hospital, 1401 N 10th Ave., Stayton. Monthly education series on lifestyle modifications for common health. Topics include nutrition, diabetes, depression, anxiety, stress, pain management and more. Register at bit. ly/49dcow9. CHW@santiamhospital.org
Cascade School Board
7 p.m., Cascade District Office, 10226 SE Marion Road, Turner. Open to public. 503749-8010, cascade.k12.or.us
Wednesday, July 10
Canyon Garden Club
1 - 3 p.m., Santiam Community Garden, 846 Fifth St., Lyons. First meeting is free; dues $20/year. If you need a ride, call Cheryl at 503-767-2248.
Stayton Summer Reading Program
4 p.m., Stayton Public Library. Alseny Yansane with West African Cultural Arts Institute shares Guinean culture with music and dance. Free. 503-769-3313
RDS Board Meeting
5 p.m., Beauchamp Building, 278 E High St., Stayton. Revitalize Downtown Stayton monthly meeting. Open to public. 503-767-2317, downtownstayton.org
Santiam Heritage Foundation
6 p.m., Brown House Event Center, 425 N First Ave., Stayton. Board of trustees’ meeting. Open to public. 503-769-8860
Thursday, July 11
Sublimity City-wide Garage Sale
All day. Times and days may vary. No permit needed. Runs through July 13. 503-769-5475, cityofsublimity.org
Sew Renewable
10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Stayton Public Library. Bring clothing to mend and give new life to clothes otherwise destined to be thrown away. Free. 503-769-3313
Aumsville Food Pantry
Noon - 4 p.m., Bethel Baptist Church, 645 Cleveland St., Aumsville. Open to people in need of food items. Repeats July 25. 503-749-2128
Oregon Wine Exhibit
1 - 4 p.m., Brown House Event Center, 425 N First Ave., Stayton. Clink! A Taste of Oregon Wine, traveling exhibit that explores the story of Oregon wine. $5/ adult, includes a docent-guided tour of the 1903 home. Under 18 accompanied by an adult are free. Repeats noon - 2 p.m. July 14, 1 - 4 p.m. July 20. cmbrownhouse.org
Aumsville Fire District
6:30 p.m., Aumsville Fire Station, 490 Church St. Agenda available. Open to public. 503-749-2894, aumsvillefire.org
LGBTQ+ Peer Support
7 - 8:30 p.m. Zoom. Peer-led mental health young adult support group for LGBTQ2SIA+ individuals ages 18-30. Free on a drop-in basis. Sponsored by National Alliance on Mental Illness. Visit tinyurl.com/yalgbtqgroup to register. Repeats July 25.
Friday, July 12
Community Play Group
10 - 11:30 a.m., Doris’s Place, 574 N 11th St., Aumsville. Free Community Play Group sponsored by Family Building Blocks. Includes complimentary snacks. RSVP: 503-769-1120, familybuildingblocks.org.
Saturday, July 13
Garden and Food Questions Answered
9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Santiam Community Gardens, 846 Fifth St., Lyons. Linn County OSU Master Gardeners and Master Food Preservers will answer your individual questions about gardening and food. Research-based videos and publications are available for free. Drop in for baked goods, beverages and information. Free. Diane, 503-859-2517, seedsupper97358@ gmail.com
7 p.m., Stayton Community Center. Open to public. Agenda available. Work session begins at 6 p.m. 503-769-3425, staytonoregon.gov
Tuesday, July 16
North Santiam Watershed Council
6 p.m. Zoom. Open to public. For Zoom link information, call 503-930-8202 or email council@northsantiam.org.
Wednesday, July 17
Dementia Care Conversations
1 - 2 p.m. Zoom. Free group for unpaid caregivers providing support to a loved one living with dementia. Offered by Family Caregiver Support Program at NorthWest Senior and Disability Services. To register, contact group facilitator Julie Mendez at 503-304-3432 or julie.mendez@nwsds.org.
Stayton Summer Reading Program
4 p.m., Stayton Public Library. Tour the Pacific Islands through dance, traditional costumes and narration with The Paradise of Samoa Polynesian Dance Troupe. Free. 503-769-3313
Thursday, July 18
Green STEAM
11 a.m., Stayton Public Library. Explore different ways water impact ecosystems that depend on it. 503-769-3313
Upcycled Wall Art
5:30 p.m., Stayton Public Library. Utilize rolled up magazine papers to create a colorful piece of wall art. Free. 503-769-3313
Stayton Public Arts Commission
6 p.m., Public Works/Planning Building, 311 N Third Ave., Stayton. Open to public. 503-769-2998
NSSD Board
6 p.m., District Office, 1155 N First Ave., Stayton. North Santiam School District board. Open to public. 503-769-6924
Friday, July 19
Santiam Canyon Stampede
7 p.m., Sublimity Harvest Festival Grounds, 11880 SE Sublimity Road. NPRA rodeo. Runs July 20. Tickets, prices and event information at scsrodeo.com.
Saturday, July 20
Flea Market
9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Santiam Valley Grange, 1140 Fifth St., Lyons. Crafts, collectibles. Lunch available. Free admission, parking. Information on table rentals: 503-859-2161
Bethel Clothing Closet
9 a.m. - noon, Bethel Baptist Church, 645 Cleveland St., Aumsville. Clothing from newborn to 2x. Free. 503-749-2128
3 - 5 p.m., Mari-Linn School, 641 Fifth St., Lyons. Mari-Linn PTA is seeking gentlyused donations for this year’s annual yard sale. 503-859-2154
Sublimity Movie in the Park
Dusk, Church Park, 375 E Main St., Sublimity. Trolls Band Together. Bring lawn chairs, blankets. Free. All ages.
Monday, July 22
Ice Cream Social
6 - 7:30 p.m., Quail Run Park, 1613 SE Eagle St., Stayton. Enjoy ice cream in the park, meet other community members and chat with Stayton city staff and city volunteers. Free. 503-769-3425
Aumsville City Council
7 p.m., Chester Bridges Memorial Community Center, 555 Main St. Open to public.. 503-749-2030, aumsville.us
Tuesday, July 23
Sublimity Planning Commission
6 p.m., Sublimity City Hall, 245 NW Johnson. Open to public. 503-769-5475, cityofsublimity.org
Lyons City Council
6:30 p.m., Lyons City Hall, 449 Fifth St. Open to public. 503-859-2167
Wednesday, July 24
Stayton Summer Reading Program
4:30 p.m., Stayton Public Library. Clean comedy, interactive magic with magician Jeff Evans. Free. 503-769-3313
Thursday, July 25
Craft Swap
10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Stayton Public Library. Bring craft materials to exchange, gather some inspiration and take home new items to use in your next craft adventure. Free. 503-769-3313
Craft Chopped
3 p.m., Stayton Public Library. Come test your creativity and crafting skills in this competition inspired by the television show Chopped. Free. 503-769-3313
Friday, July 26
Benefit Garage Sale
9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Stayton United Methodist Church, 1450 Fern Ridge Road. Proceeds benefit Santiam Teen Center and MidValley Literacy Center. Repeats July 27.
TGI Friday Fest
5 - 8 p.m., downtown Third Avenue, Stayton. Live music, food, merchant sales, activities, car show. Farmer’s market. Free admission. downtownstayton.org
Saturday, July 27
SummerFest Fun Run
9 a.m., Vault Fitness, 370 N Second Ave., Stayton. 5K/3K fun run & walk. $20 ages 13+. $10/child with adult registration. $40/immediate family. Sponsored by Santiam Hospital. Registration at staytonsublimitychamber.org.
Brent Strohmeyer Car Show
9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sunrise Park, 542 NE Berry, Sublimity. Awards, music, vendors. $15 pre-registration by July 20. $20 day of show. Spectators free. Russ, 503-930-8976, stroscarevents.com
Fireman’s Breakfast
9:30 - 11:30 a.m., downtown Stayton. Biscuit & gravy breakfast provided by local departments and benefiting Sublimity Fire Comfort K-9 Program. $10/person. staytonsublimitychamber.org
Santiam SummerFest
10 a.m. - 4 p.m., downtown Stayton. Street vendors, kids activities, Ducky Derby. Food, brew & live music run 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Free admission. For complete list of activities, visit staytonsublimitychamber.org.
Oregon Wine Exhibit
1 - 4 p.m., Brown House Event Center, 425 N First Ave., Stayton. Clink! A Taste of Oregon Wine, traveling exhibit that explores the story of Oregon wine. Wine tasting with One Love Cellars Winery. $5/ adult, includes a docent-guided tour of the 1903 home. Under 18 accompanied by an adult are free. cmbrownhouse.org
Monday, July 29
Ice Cream Social
6 - 7:30 p.m., Westown Park, 1440 Wespark Court, Stayton. Enjoy ice cream in the park, meet other community members and chat with Stayton city staff and city volunteers. Free. 503-769-3425
Stayton Planning Commission
7 p.m., Stayton Community Center. Open to the public. 503-769-3425
Tuesday, July 30
Stayton Summer Reading Program
11 a.m., Stayton Public Library. Explore a variety of themes with Colombian-born songwriter-performer, Nathalia. Traditional Latin American sounds, rhythms. Familyfriendly. Free. 503-769-3313
Wednesday, July 31
Red Cross Blood Drive
10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Aumsville Fire Station, 490 Church St. Visit redcrossblood.org for appointments.
Stayton Book Discussion
4 p.m., Stayton Public Library. Discuss The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki. Tea, treats, book talk. Free. 503-769-3313
Surfboard strength Santiam Hospital
By James Day
Santiam Hospital & Clinics celebrated the achievements of its Service Integration program on June 14, on the north lawn of the hospital.
A crowd of about 75 was on hand, including Linn County Commissioner Will Tucker, Stayton Mayor Brian Quigley and Councilor Steve Sims of Stayton, representatives of the offices of Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Detroit Mayor Jim Trett.
Melodie Weeks was the top honoree. Weeks received the “Surfboard Award” for her work with Santiam Canyon households.
Kim Dwyer, Santiam Service integration coordinator, said that Weeks “demonstrates the service integration model by assessing a household’s needs. The initial need may be met, but she will continue to work with the household to eliminate barriers, connect them to services and resources without duplication.”
The surfboard, Dwyer said, is a symbol of strength. In a further explanation she channeled those old BASF television commercials in which the company touts that they don’t make, say surfboards, they make them better. Ditto for the SIT program.
Weeks gets to keep the Surfboard Award trophy for a year. The surfboard itself, a splendid looking model, goes back to Dwyer where “it sits in my office as a prop.”
Dwyer also noted that SIT has spent about $19,000 in team funds this year through June 14.
The program used that money to leverage more than $260,000 in grants and matching funds.
The awards ceremony featured presentations from each of the four teams: Santiam Canyon, North Santiam, Scio and Cascade.
Perhaps the most compelling story came from the Cascade group. Marie
Thompson, administrator of the Cascade Opportunity Center, told the tale of a homeless girl who became pregnant.
The Cascade team helped find her free housing and items for the baby, which was born in May. The girl was able to graduate on time and is enrolling at Chemeketa Community College to study nursing.
“It took a community of people,” Thompson said. “We’re not just helping one person. We’re helping the generations that come after her.”
This is year seven of the SIT program, while the Surfboard Award was presented for the fourth time.
“I have a feeling we’re not done yet. We’re just getting started,” Santiam Hospital & Clinics President and CEO Maggie Hudson said.
“Health care begins way before a patient comes in. One by one we are building a healthier community for the Santiam Canyon.
“We are so proud of Service Integration and the difference you are making.”
Melodie Weeks, left, shows off her Surfboard Award at the June 14, with SIT coordinator Kim Dwer. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Just like home
By Sailor Hill
Cottage Cafe & Bakery is becoming a new gathering space in Sublimity, thanks to local baker and chef Debbie Hagglund.
Hagglund looked at several spaces in the surrounding area searching for the perfect location for her dream to take root. When the building at 519 S. Center St. in Sublimity popped up, she knew she had found the spot.
“[The building] is a perfect fit and so beautiful,” she said.
Originally a home, the location has undergone significant renovation to become the cozy cafe that it is now. There is also a small event space available for rent for parties and business meetings.
Opening a bake shop has been a lifelong dream for Hagglund ever since she started
helping out in her aunt’s bakery when she was 15. After working there for five years, she worked in several bakeries and eateries in hopes of one day owning her own.
In 2011, when Hagglund moved back to the Willamette Valley, she opened Brooks Coffee, a drive-thru coffee stop in Brooks. The cart was open for eight years until COVID19 hit and Hagglund decided it was time to delve deeper into her true passion: baking.
“I really wanted to be able to do my desserts,” she said. “With the coffee shop… I made a few little desserts but mostly it was coffee. I wanted people to come in and see the pastries.”
The cafe currently offers new menu items every day for locals to try out, with a few staples as exceptions.
Cottage Cafe & Bakery
519 S. Center St., Sublimity Tuesday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“So far, we haven’t put a permanent menu up because what we’re doing is trying different items to see what is positive –what people like and what they don’t –as far as the lunch menu,” Hagglund said.
Pastries are what the entrepreneur is becoming known for in Sublimity. She said the community has been particularly enthusiastic about her scones, cakes, and cinnamon rolls. Aside from these classics, Hagglund said her baked goods will primarily be offered on a rotating basis.
“We want to do daily specials also… there will be a lot more different items available when things are in season,” she said.
In addition to good pastries, Hagglund said her business model is centered
around community, both in front of the counter and behind it.
“We [the staff] all work together,” she said. “We’re a team. Not one person is more important or less important than the other because it takes everybody in here doing a job to make sure that everything flows.”
Hagglund aims to make Cottage Cafe & Bakery a comfortable gathering space for customers where their hearts are full as well as their stomachs.
“I want that positive, happy atmosphere like it’s a place you want to go because you feel welcomed and treated well and respected,” she said. “Just like you feel at home… you walk in and it’s like you’re getting a big hug!”
And the community is responding exactly as Hagglund had hoped. Customers have been flooding in, drawn by the warm atmosphere and delicious treats.
“They’re happy,” she said. “They’re excited to have a place where they can come together and meet friends and gather together.”
Iwas only 12 years old when I discovered an old apple tree growing way out in the middle of a woods nearby my parent’s farm in Ohio. According to Ed, the old farmer who owned the woods, that tree had been planted by none other than Johnny Appleseed way back in the late 1830s. That made it over 130 years old in 1964!
No one had been taking care of it. It’s branches were drooping down to the ground. It’s apples were small, sparse, and wormy. But they were sweet!
It’s amazing to think that without anyone pruning, fertilizing, or spraying it, that old apple tree just kept on producing sweet apples over all those years. No amount of neglect could change the kind of fruit it bore. It was a good tree.
Good Trees vs Bad Trees
Jesus used this idea to make a point in the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament of the Bible. There, in chapter 6 and verses 43–45, He explained that, “a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.” Then He observed, “A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Character is an issue of the heart. Now, Jesus was not comparing a good fig tree to a bad fig tree. He was comparing a fig tree to a thorn bush. Those are two different kinds of trees. They bear entirely different kinds of fruit because they have two entirely different natures. So, if we think Jesus was talking about a healthy tree versus a sickly tree, we miss His point entirely. It’s not just a disease; it’s a nature.
So, what was His point? Jesus was telling us that we, human beings, just like the fig tree and thorn bush, have a certain kind of heart, and our heart is what determines what kind of fruit we bear, whether good or evil. Even the healthiest thorn bush cannot bear figs, or sweet apples.
In light of that, we must understand that no amount of nurture, such as parental love, child training, education, or even church ministry, can ever change the kind of heart
that a person has. For one’s heart to change we would need a miracle, like turning a thorn bust into a fig tree, or a crab apple tree into a sweet apple tree. We would have to be changed into a new kind of person.
No Problem!
By Gregg Harris
complete that Jesus Himself calls it being “born again.” When Jesus says, “You must be born again” in John 3:7, He’s referring to this change of heart that actually saves us, for all eternity, from our bondage to sin.
So, how Does It
Work?
It works in the following way. First, Jesus agreed to leave His place in heaven and come down to earth to be born and to live with us as a man. (That is why we celebrate Christmas.) He then lived the perfectly obedient life that we were all supposed to live, but haven’t. Though we have all failed, Jesus didn’t fail. Though we deserve God’s judgement because of our sin, Jesus didn’t. He had no debt of His own to pay. That is why Jesus could pay for our debt by dying in our place. No one else could do this for us. That is why trusting in Jesus is the only way to be saved. Don’t miss out on His free gift.
“Jesus was not comparing a good fig tree to a bad fig tree. He was comparing a fig tree to a thorn bush. Those are two different kinds of trees. They bear entirely different kinds of fruit because they have two entirely different natures.”
Jesus does not see our need for a miracle to be a problem. After all, He is God in human form. He was sent into this world by His Father to rescue people like us from this very dilemma. John 3:16-17 sums it up clearly. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
Jesus came to save us, not condemn us. He does so by taking away our evil heart and replacing it with a good heart that wants to do what is right. Everyone needs this miracle because everyone starts out with an evil heart. We have all rebelled against God. So, how does He do it?
The answer is found in what Jesus calls “the good news.” It is the news that we can be forgiven and our hearts can be replaced by God. All we need to do is “believe in Jesus,” trusting in Him alone to perform the miracle we need. This change of our heart is so
Jesus volunteered to be put to death on a Roman cross in order to pay the debt that we all owe to God because of our rebellion. He died for us in order to save us
However, after lying dead in the grave for three days, God raised Jesus from the dead. (This is why we celebrate Easter.) God did this in order to prove once and for all that Jesus was who He claimed to be—God the Son in human form— and that His death was acceptable to God the Father as full payment for all our sins. Jesus paid it all!
Now,
because of what Jesus has done for us, God the Father can forgive us for all our sins, without being unjust. Our debt has been paid in full. We will then be adopted into God's eternal family and granted all the benefits of God's kingdom.
So, whenever anyone believes this good news concerning Jesus, (and by “believe” I mean believing enough to repent and gladly obey Jesus as one’s King), the new birth has already happened. When we believe this in our heart, our old evil heart has already been replaced with a new good heart that honestly wants to please God. That is what it really means to be a born-again Christian
We’re changed inside. We have a new nature that wants to do what pleases God. “You Must Be Born Again!”
Though a good education can increase the amount of fruit a person produces, just as fertilizing a tree can increase its yield, it cannot change the kind of fruit that a person produces. Only God can do that and He does so by causing those who will trust in Jesus to be born again. It’s that simple. What kind of good fruit will you bear as a born-again believer in Jesus? It’s called the fruit of the Spirit and it is found in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
Why not turn to God right now and ask Him to forgive you and cause you to be born again. Then, as a good tree, you will begin to bear the good fruit that pleases God. And you will continue to bear good fruit for all eternity, no matter what, just like that old sweet apple tree out in the woods. To learn more call or text me at 971-370-0967.
The Palace Theater Tuesday, July 9th Showing Hook
Rated PG, 7PM First Come, First Served. Bring Friends! Sponsored by NobleMenOfOregon.org
Attention Noble Men! Our Weekly Men’s Breakfast is changing Time & Location to The Home Place. 1080 N First St, Silverton, OR 97381 Thurs. mornings from 7 to 8:30 AM For info go to NobleMenOfOregon.org Join The Noble Men of Oregon as we impact our community for Christ.
Gregg Harris, “Just a sinner saved by God’s grace!”
Helping Hands
Making rides safer
By Stephen Floyd
An Aumsville woman whose husband was recently killed while driving for Uber in Portland says she wants the murder to be a catalyst for change in the rideshare industry, not just a statistic.
Kelly Kelvin’s world was “turned upside down and then crushed” when she was told husband, Josh Kelvin, 42, had been gunned down after picking up a passenger on June 4.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, the shooting took place shortly before midnight in a suburban residential area near Powell Butte.
The 17-year-old passenger was critically injured and was believed to be the target of the shooting, said police. As of Our Town press time the shooter remained at large.
Kelvin told Our Town her husband was just trying to support his family, working a job that occupied him six days a week and sometimes as many as 12 hours a day. She said Josh was a five-star driver with
diamond status and more than 20,000 rides under his belt. He was about to celebrate five years with the company.
“He took his job seriously,” she said.
Kelvin also remembered her husband as “a super kind soul” who loved his wife and kids, as well as a devout Christian and a patriot.
Wife of slain rideshare driver pushes for change
Kelvin said,while she is struggling to figure out what life will look like without Josh, she has a clear vision for how she wants the loss of her husband to impact fellow gig workers.
“I’m kind of channeling my anger into fighting to have rideshare companies change policies so their drivers are safer,” said Kelvin.
Kelvin said she has met with unions representing rideshare workers with Uber and Lyft, who gave her a warm reception. She plans to join them during a July 8 meeting of the Transportation Network Company Drivers’ Advisory Committee in Portland and advocate for change.
Proposed reforms include requiring and providing cameras in each car, that the person who books the ride will also be a passenger, that riders keep an ID on file and that drivers be able to request a matching physical ID. Kelvin said they also want drivers to be allowed more time to accept or reject a ride once seeing the passenger in person and not be penalized for turning down a fare, and that drivers receive life insurance and death benefits.
“I know that [Uber is] a big corporation, but my husband gave [them] five years of his life, with over 20,000 rides, and it only took one [ride] to take his life,” she said. Our Town reached out to Uber for comment and a spokesperson said they were “deeply saddened” by Josh Kelvin’s death and are “deeply committed to the safety of drivers.”
Uber said the app already includes safety features such as an emergency button that communicates directly with 911 and the ability to share trip data with others in real time, among other features. They said there is also a pilot program to verify rider information through third-party databases, and that verified riders will have a special badge in their profile.
The spokesperson did not respond to a question about whether or not Uber would oppose regulatory reforms sought by Kelvin and others.
Kelvin’s brother-in-law, Ben, has organized a gofundme campaign to help the family. Details are at gofund.me/a7a5031f.
Sports & Recreation
Ty Hart Fitness Center
Stayton High’s new Ty Hart Fitness Center has sprouted impressively on a piece of ground between the Eagles’ gymnasium and the football/soccer/track and field stadium.
Our Town toured the under-construction facility, with Booster Club President Randy Forrette noting that the project is on schedule and should be ready to use in the fall.
The $1.5 million facility will offer a stateof-the-art physical training component for Stayton students and athletes and also will have a large room for athletes seeking medical treatment and therapy as well as office space and storage.
“If everything keeps going the way it has, we’ll be ready for the start of school, maybe by the first of August,” Forrette told Our Town
Forrette also noted that there are different levels of “being done,” indicating that the building could open safely if only some minor touch-up work was required.
The 60x100-foot building feels surprisingly cavernous once you are inside, with Forrette noting the series of big pieces left – drywall, painting, the HVAC system and laying artificial turf on the floor of the exercise-lifting area.
On the day I visited a pair of Booster Club members were supervising a student cleanup crew that filled a pickup bed with debris to get the center ready for painting.
“I can’t wait to see it with some color in it,” Forrette said, imagining the walls awash in classic Stayton navy and gold. The presence of multiple glass overhead doors allows a lot of natural light into the building.
Forette emphasized that not a dime of school district money is being used on the project, which is being paid for with cash donations of about $1 million plus $500,000 in labor and materials from generous local companies.
“This project is a huge compliment to our community,” Forrette said. “We’re just so appreciative.”
And the money is paying for more than just the fitness center. The entrance roads from the parking lot have been realigned and a new entrance to the football/ soccer/grack stadium is part of the overall package.
Forrett said he and others in the design crew were influenced by the new entrances they saw at the redesigned Reser Stadium.
“We wanted that sort of grand entrance,
New facility should be ready for fall season
that’s what we are going for,” Forrette said.
The stadium entrance set up will debut Friday, Aug. 30 when the Eagles open the football season against visiting Molalla.
The fitness center honors Ty Hart, a Class of 2012 Stayton student and athlete who died while flying a helicopter for the Marine Corps in Hawaii in 2016.
Baseball: Regis, which won Class 2A-1A’s Special District 2 with a perfect 18-0 record, dominated the all-district team. Bryson Nygren was named pitcher of the year, Max Eaton was player of the year and Kyle Baker took coach of the year honors for the Rams, who finished 22-5 overall. Also on the first-team were catcher Noah Koenig, first baseman Luke Castillo and outfielders Kollin Schumacher and Parker Bartholomew Korben Schumacher was a second-team outfielder and infielder Rook Smith received honorable mention.
Meanwhile, in Class 4A’s Oregon West Conference Cascade placed four athletes and Stayton three on the all-district team. Jaimen Whelden was a first-team pitcher for Cascade, while pitcher Slade Hudson, outfielder Carter Condon and catcher Braden Johnson earned honorable mention for the Cougars. Infielder Oliver Hunt, outfielder Kaden Arnold and catcher Hudson Hughes received
honorable mention for Stayton. Softball: Regis pitcher Addison Bishop was a unanimous first-team all-Class 2A-1A Special District 3 choice for the Rams, who finished second in the league behind undefeated Santiam. Also unanimous picks on the first team were infielder Mayla Manning and flex player Abby Searles. Catcher Hadley Foster and infielder Abbie Kintz were placed on the second team and infielder Ava Spencer received honorable mention.
Coaching Honors: Stayton grad Anna Heuberger, the girls soccer coach at Gladstone, was named Oregon Girls Soccer Coach of the Year by the National Federation of High School Associations. Heuberger, a 2007 Eagles graduate, played college soccer at Chemeketa and Warner Pacific and earned a master’s degree from Portland State. The former head coach at Class 6A McMinnville, Heuberger is 26-7 in her three years at Gladstone, with two trips to the Class 4A state semifinals and one visit to the quarterfinals. Heuberger teaches history at Gladstone.
Honored with years of service at the May 18 banquet at Autzen Stadium were Stayton athletic director Darren Shryock (35 years) and Stayton girls basketball coach Tal Wold (25 years).
The view from the upper floor storage area of the under-construction Ty Hart Fitness Center at Stayton High. Booster Club officials hope to have it open for the start of the school year. JAMES DAY
Camping Ways to prepare so you can best enjoy the great outdoors
Growing up, camping was my family’s main form of recreation.
I still love it and, while I’m not a hard-core backpacker or even a tent camper anymore – thanks to our nifty pop-up tent trailer – I think there is still something to be said for just getting out of the house and spending time outside.
But it does take some preparation and more than a few supplies, which is why I have a firm rule that I don’t plan trips for less than two nights and I use the following tips to make packing, setting up and cleaning up a whole lot easier.
Go in a group: Not only is camping more fun with friends but sharing resources can be a real gift, especially when you’re starting out.
Make a master list: Even when it was just my husband and I camping in a tent we kept one supply list written directly onto the lid of our large camping tote. Now, the list is longer and kept in a spiral bound notebook on my desk but it’s still just as important.
Containers are your friend: When we were tent campers we had two large plastic totes – one for food and one for supplies. Now, with five people and a trailer, our packing options have expanded to also include a duffle bag for
each person’s clothing – which fit neatly lined up on the couch – a bin for toiletries and a bag for dirty laundry that lives under the bed.
Bring cleaning supplies: since we’re talking about spending time outdoors, but outhouses, sticky s’mores, smoky faces and dirty feet are infinitely easier to manage if you set up a handwashing station – with a water jug, hand soap and a towel – and pack plenty of baby wipes, paper towels and dish rags.
Leave screens at home: spend time doing things I rarely have the time to do at home – read a book from start to finish, sit by a campfire with friends, go for a hike, a bike ride or a swim or take a nap in the middle of the day.
Enter camping mode right away: I strive to get everything set up as soon as we reach a campsite. But that doesn’t mean I want everyone to have a terrible time, so I turn on some music, hand out cold beverages and everything is ready to go in no time.
Bring food pre-prepped: I sometimes get in over my head when it comes to recipes, and I find myself doing so much cooking and cleaning that I don’t get any time to relax. That’s why I’ve begun chopping, grating, mixing and
A Grin at the End
Give me a ‘U’... ‘S’... ‘A’... What does that spell?!
Everyone needs a cheerleader. I know I do. Nothing gets me more excited than someone saying something nice.
Every once in a while someone will say something nice and I turn into the world’s biggest golden retriever.
“Thank you for saying that,” I’ll say. “You just made my day.”
If I had a tail, it would be wagging 90 mph.
Compliments are the currency of kindness.
I don’t know why many people are so stingy with them. After all, compliments are free.
I don’t want to sound like SpongeBob SquarePants, who believes that every day is the best ever – although, when you think about it, every day really is the best.
All I mean is if someone says or does something above and beyond, I give him or her a few good words.
What brings this to mind is the Fourth of July, the birthday of the Good Old U.S. of A. I want to give our one nation, under God, indivisible and with liberty and justice for all, a compliment.
First, as someone who has enjoyed the many opportunities that freedom has provided, I am forever grateful. Try being a journalist in Russia, where they are randomly tossed in jail. Or how about China, where they just disappear? Or a multitude of other nations?
Dissent or criticism is not tolerated.
With this being an election year, the rhetoric and hyperbole are in overdrive.
One Party: We do everything right and
the other party is horrible.
The Second Party: No, we do everything right and the other party is even more horrible.
The People: Ugh. Please pass the earplugs.
This is nothing new. Not even George Washington was unanimously elected.
Because of the freedoms it offers everyone, our nation, since its founding, has been under siege from within and outside its borders. In 1814, the British army even set fire to the U.S. Capitol and the White House, then called the presidential mansion.
That act was just one of many attacks, domestic and foreign, that our nation has endured. Pearl Harbor and 9/11 are two others that immediately come to mind.
Through them all, we as a nation have emerged stronger and more deeply dedicated to the notion that freedom is worth the price. We have sent our sons
and daughters into harm’s way to secure that freedom and we have no intention of giving it up. Ever.
Time after time, foreign powers have made the mistake of assuming the cacophony of many disparate voices signaled weakness or the lack of resolve.
They have been shown to be wrong every time. When attacked, Americans have laid down their differences and picked up arms to defend the ideals we all hold dearly. And, just for the record, anyone who doubts that is in for a big surprise. We all need to be a cheerleader for our great nation. We need to tell the rest of the world that, as Americans, we love and appreciate our nation above all others, one that is of the people, by the people and for the people.
Carl Sampson is a freelance writer and editor and has been a professional journalist for 50 years. He lives in Stayton.
