With coupon • expires 09/30/24 – not good with any other special.
Wilco
deadline for placing an ad in the Oct. 1 issue is Sept. 20. Calendar listings are free for community events. Submissions must include date, time, location and cost. Submissions for the Oct. 1 issue are due Sept. 20 Email calendar items to: datebook@mtangelpub.com
and 97325 zip codes. Subscriptions outside the area are $40 annually
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.
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Comics theft Aumsville man allegedly steals $300K in rare magazines, fees
By Stephen Floyd
An Aumsville man has been accused of stealing more than $300,000 in rare comic books and fraudulent restoration fees over a period of several years from clients across the country.
Michael David DeChellis, 57, was arrested Aug. 14 following a months-long investigation by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), according to a news release.
The release said deputies were contacted in February by a Maryland man who, in 2019, had sent DeChellis comics valued at $62,000 plus a $5,000 restoration fee. At the time DeChellis was owner of Hero Restoration Comics, which he operated
out of his residence on Santiam Terrace Road, near Lebanon.
The alleged victim said he never received the comics back or a refund, and that DeChellis eventually broke off communications. LCSO later learned of 19 additional alleged victims in Connecticut, Montana, New Jersey, Washington, Texas, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Colorado who described similar experiences.
LCSO said losses totaled more than $300,000 including the value of the comics and the restoration fees.
DeChellis dissolved the business in March 2023 then allegedly sold some of the comics in question online or to a private
dealer in Washington between August of 2023 and May of 2024.
Detectives attempted to contact DeChellis at his Lebanon-area residence but he had moved and they were unable to locate him for a matter of months.
On Aug. 14 authorities learned DeChellis had relocated to a residence on the 10000 block of Stayton Road SE, in Aumsville, and he was taken into custody.
During a search of the residence, deputies seized numerous comic books and evidence of theft, according to the press release.
LCSO said their investigation remains ongoing and those with information or who believe they may have been victimized
can call detectives at 541-967-3950.
DeChellis has been charged in Linn County Circuit Court with 10 counts of aggravated first-degree theft and five counts of first-degree theft. The alleged offenses dated back to 2017.
If convicted, DeChellis faces up to 10 years in prison on the highest count. According to court records he may be eligible for increased prison time under Measure 57 due to the seriousness of the alleged thefts.
As of press time DeChellis was held in the Linn County Jail on $70,000 bail including $60,000 for the alleged thefts and $10,000 for a probation violation related to a 2023 DUII hit-and-run conviction.
Attorney compelled to give evidence in state retaliation suit
The State of Oregon has turned over thousands of pages of documents in a local wrongful termination suit where an attorney defending the state may have been a party to charges in the suit.
During a hearing Aug. 19 in Marion County Circuit Court in Sutkowski vs. State, the plaintiff confirmed he received 2,400 pages of documents and expected additional discovery later in the week.
This came after an Aug. 7 opinion by Judge Channing Bennett finding the documents at issue were not protected by attorney-client privilege. This reinforced an order signed by Bennett
June 26 compelling production of the documents.
At issue is whether or not Senior Assistant Attorney General Tracy White played a role in the firing of plaintiff Dave Sutkowski, of Stayton, from his position with Oregon State Police in 2023. White has been assigned to defend the state in Sutkowski’s lawsuit along with Assistant Attorney General Allie Boyd.
According to the suit, filed Oct. 12, 2023, Sutkowski originally worked for ODOT as a program manager until he was fired in 2022. The suit claims this was whistleblower retaliation after Sutkowski
reported his supervisors for allegedly mismanaging $77,000 in resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the time the suit was filed, Sutkowski was a training unit supervisor for OSP. He claims that five days after the suit was filed he was fired without cause.
An amended complaint filed Dec. 18, 2023, claimed White allegedly pressured Sutkowski’s managers to fire him in retaliation for filing the original suit.
Sutkowski is seeking $2.5 million for whistleblower retaliation and discrimination for initiating a civil proceeding.
Oregon has denied wrongdoing and claims the allegations against White are a “baseless” attempt to obtain privileged documents. The state has fought against plaintiff’s motions to have White deposed and to turn over related emails, text messages and call logs.
Bennett has so far ruled in favor of Sutkowski, including on March 4 when he ordered White to be deposed, and on April 24 when he upheld a subpoena for White to produce evidence. In his June 26 order to compel discovery, he threatened legal sanctions if the state “further obstruct[ed]” the court’s orders.
Withdrawn PacifiCorp nixes proposed utility user wildfire fee
By Stephen Floyd
PacifiCorp has withdrawn plans to charge ratepayers an extra fee to cover the cost of potential wildfire lawsuits after regulators criticized the proposal for a lack of clarity.
In a July 26 filing with the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC), PacifiCorp withdrew plans for a Catastrophic Fire Fund “to allow time for additional development.”
The proposal was part of an overall rate increase package which, according to the most recent filings from the company, would raise rates for average residential users $23 monthly starting in January.
In the original proposal, filed with PUC Feb. 15, the company would have charged average Oregon users $7.60 monthly to pay into the fund, with similar fees proposed
in the other states PacifiCorp services. These wildfire surcharges would have been paired with a $60 million yearly contribution from the company to create a $3 billion fund over 10 years to act as a kind of self-insurance.
PacifiCorp said the fund was necessary to protect itself when wildfire claims exceeded normal insurance coverage.
In a June 28 filing, PUC staff said the proposal lacked clarity on how the fund would be managed and used, and how PacifiCorp arrived at its fee amounts and the $3 billion target. They also expressed concerns that the costs of the fund would be passed on to ratepayers when the company has been so profitable it regularly paid nine-figure dividends to shareholders.
Specifically, the filing cited $550 million in dividends paid to parent company Berkshire Hathaway since the 2020 Labor
Day fires. Last year a Portland jury found PacifiCorp liable for the fires through gross negligence and willful misconduct, and the company is bracing for $8 billion in possible damages.
PCU staff said it was “hardly fair” for the company to act wrongfully then pass on the liability of its actions to ratepayers. The filing said, if the Catastrophic Fire Fund were approved, it would be appropriate for PacifiCorp to contribute the $550 million in dividends to the fund.
In the July 26 filing, PacifiCorp said PUC staff unfairly criticized the company when there was no way PacifiCorp could have known before the trial it would be found liable for the fires. The filing said PacifiCorp would incorporate other feedback about the proposal for a possible revised PUC filing in 2025, or even a legislative solution.
6 years for domestic assault
A Sublimity man arrested last year for attacking his mother during a mental health crisis has been sentenced to more than six years in prison after accepting a plea deal.
Travis Matthew Aasness, 31, pleaded guilty Aug. 23 in Marion County Circuit Court to second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.
He was sentenced to 75 months in prison with credit for time served and 36 months of post-prison supervision.
Aasness was arrested June 16, 2023, following what police described as a “psychotic episode” that day at his residence on the 100 block of SE Broadway Street in Sublimity. According to court records, Aasness struck his mother multiple times in the face with a mason jar during a violent outburst that caused damage inside and outside the house.
Aasness was previously convicted in 2021 of unlawful use of a weapon after threatening his fiancé with a knife. He was on probation for that offense during his arrest last year. Both the incident and the 2023 assault were related to alcohol abuse, according to court records.
HP Civil lawsuit set for trial
A March 2025 trial has been set in a lawsuit against a local contracting company by its former CEO after a judge decided major claims could proceed.
On July 17, a five-day trial was set in Silbernagel vs. HP Civil Inc. et al starting March 31, 2025, in Marion County Circuit Court.
The suit was first filed June 28, 2023, by former CEO Roger Silbernagel, who is seeking $15 million. He claims he was wrongfully fired in May of 2023 by co-founders Larry Gescher and Josh Smith, then forced to sell his shares at less than market value.
Gescher and Smith deny wrongdoing and claim they had legal grounds to fire Silbernagel and that the buyout complied with a buy-sell agreement. Defendants have countersued for unspecified damages.
Both parties filed motions for summary judgment Feb. 7 and a hearing was held April 5 before Judge Lindsay Partridge.
On June 7, the judge threw out claims that Silbernagel wrongfully kept a company laptop and used confidential information to
compete against HP Civil.
As to whether or not Silbernagel was wrongly terminated and whether or not his shares were fairly priced, Partridge ruled a jury should decide those matters.
Child porn charges filed
A Stayton man is facing numerous charges after allegedly being found in possession of pornography depicting children and animals.
Frederick Neil Cusimano, 22, was charged in Marion County Circuit Court July 29 with 10 counts of first-degree encouraging child sex abuse and two counts of encouraging sexual assault of an animal.
According to the indictment, between April 14 and May 2 Cusimano allegedly downloaded 10 media files depicting sexual acts involving children, two of which also involved animals.
He is scheduled to enter a plea Sept. 11. If convicted, Cusimano faces up to 10 years in prison on the highest counts.
He was released from the Marion County Jail July 29 on $50,000 bail. While charges are pending he may have no contact with minors nor internet access except for legal aid.
Discrimination suit proceeds
Parties are proceeding to trial in a racial discrimination lawsuit against Regis St. Mary Catholic School after settlement talks did not produce a resolution. During a status check hearing Aug. 20, parties in the suit, filed by guardian ad litem Stephanie Pileggi, agreed to a two-and-a-half week trial starting Feb. 3, 2025.
According to court filings, plaintiffs sought a possible early resolution through mediation during the spring and summer. As of Aug. 20 a settlement had not been reached.
Pileggi filed suit Sept. 19, 2023 against Regis and the Archdiocese of Portland seeking $750,000 on behalf of a student who attended the school in 2022 and 2023.
The suit claims the student was subjected to harassment and discrimination by classmates and teachers due to being black and having ADHD and anxiety. Administrators allegedly failed to intervene or in some cases enabled the harassment, according to the suit.
Regis has denied wrongdoing and said any harassment allegedly experienced by the plaintiff was not the fault of the school or staff.
Something to Think About Wildfire risk
By James Day
The Oregon Department of Forestry has released new wildfire hazard risk maps. This is the second iteration of the project, which is being coordinated by the ODF and the Oregon State University College of Forestry. The wildfire risk project was mandated by Senate Bill 762, the 2021 legislation that aimed to improve wildfire preparedness and resiliency amid the fires that have plagued the state, including the Labor Day 2020 blazes that affected huge swathes of the Santiam Canyon.
The original ODF/OSU work produced maps that included wildland-urban interface boundaries and five fire risk classes. The maps debuted in June of 2022 but were recalled amid criticism from residents and legislators. Concerns were raised about the accuracy of the maps, whether the process was fair, and possible insurance challenges for property owners.
ODF and OSU began gathering feedback on the new map-making effort in
August of 2022. The 2023 Legislature, meanwhile, 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. The new rules are scheduled to be approved in October.
One of the changes made during this second evaluation process is that the
scientists modified their calculations on irrigated agricultural land after concluding that irrigation reduces the likelihood and intensity of wildfires. Ultimately, all ag property that has been irrigated at least once in the past five years automatically
The Local Angle
The map that accompanies this story shows that most Stayton-area communities are “safely” in the green or low-risk area of the new wildfire hazard risk maps. There are small slices of purple (moderate risk) near Marion and Turner, but even in the heavily wooded areas up the Santiam Canyon you don’t reach any “orange” areas for miles.
Source: Oregon Department of Forestry, enhanced by Our Town.
was placed in the low-risk category. The change affected 2.7 million acres statewide.
“The maps are still drafts,” said Andy McEvoy, wildfire research scientist at Oregon State. “The maps won’t become final until we receive input from counties on potential local anomalies,
Explore the Map
To view the state wildfire hazard map go to https://tinyurl.com/ orwildfireriskexplorer/.
You can enter an address in the “address search” box at the left side of the website to receive information on the risk for any address in the state.
administrative rules are adopted by the Board of Forestry, and we evaluate input from the public.”
A series of open houses about the program were held from June 3 to July 1.
The key piece of information for property owners is which of the three categories their property lies because that will affect
any requirements from the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Creating defensible space around a home and hardening it with fire-proof materials might be required, depending on where the property lines up in terms of the risk maps and whether the property is in the wildland-urban interface.
Andrew Stolfi, director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, noted in a press release that “once the map is finalized, we will then
initiate rulemaking to adopt the home hardening standards, which will be followed by a six-month phase-in period for education and outreach.”
Stolfi added that “the standards will not apply retroactively. They will be required only in new construction, major additions, and such things as replacing a roof or siding if the home is in both a high wildfire hazard zone and the wildlandurban interface.
Hazelnut shakeup
By James Day
Wilco has shed its hazelnut business amid price slumps that have roiled the market for the nut, 99% of which is grown in Oregon.
The decision puts in limbo the massive 120,000-square foot Hazelnut Growers of Oregon processing facility in Donald. The plant opened to great fanfare in 2018, but it is now for sale, Wilco officials said.
Wilco, the Mount Angel-based agricultural cooperative, finished its payments to growers for the 2023 crop on June 12 and did not accept a 2024 crop. Dozens of layoffs have been reported, although Wilco marketing executive Jake Wilson said “HGO staff levels adjust each year based on crop size and seasonality. Some team members have moved to Wilco teams, the actual change in team members will not be fully known until a sale finalizes.”
When the Donald plant opened in August 2018 Oregon growers were producing approximately 55,000 tons per year and getting about $1 ,750 per ton, although that figure represented a steep drop from the $3,500 figure for 2014, according to data compiled by Pacific Agriculture Survey. Meanwhile, supply has skyrocketed amid a surge in plantings. It has gone from that 55,000 tons in 2018 to approximately 95,000 tons in 2023 – and the price has fallen to about $1,250 per ton.
When asked about the free fall of hazelnut prices, Wilson noted that “similar to other agriculture crops, [hazelnut] prices go up and down depending on a variety of reasons. Each year’s crop has its own story and reasons for where the pricing comes in.”
However, John Bowersox, Wilco’s president and CEO, had a blunt take on the situation when he spoke with The Capital Press “for a number of years, we’ve really struggled to make the hazelnut operation profitable.”
Ben Coleman, chairman of the Wilco Board of Directors, added in a Wilco press release “we recognize the importance of the hazelnut industry to the greater Willamette Valley region, and we are disappointed we have not been able to achieve an acceptable level of performance with the Hazelnut Growers of Oregon business.”
Wilco jettisons processing subsidiary amid price drop
Oregon grows almost the entire United States crop of hazelnuts, which prosper on land close to the 45th parallel. JAMES DAY
Wilco and Pacific Agricultural Survey, which uses high-tech tools to provide information on acreage and other data to the Oregon hazelnut industry and other agricultural clients, both indicated that the loss of the capacity of the Donald plant should not affect the ability of growers to get their nuts processed.
“In general,” Mike McDaniel, owner of Pacific Agricultural Survey, told Our Town, “growers will have to switch to one of the remaining hazelnut processing companies in the valley. The main options are George Packing Co./ Northwest Hazelnut Co., Willamette Hazelnut Co., and Denfeld Nut. There may be one or two much smaller operations out there but these three now represent almost all the market share for the industry. All the major companies have receiving stations set up across the valley where growers can bring their harvested nuts for collection and weighing.”
Bowersox said in a statement issued by Wilco that “while this divestment means change, it also presents an opportunity for Wilco to refocus our efforts as an agricultural cooperative, investing in areas that will increase our long-term growth prospects, and enhance our ability to serve our members.
“Wilco is financially sound, and we are optimistic about our future. By taking this action, we will emerge better positioned to fulfill our purpose as a member-owned cooperative that strengthens agricultural and rural lifestyles.”
What happens to growers and the hazelnut industry moving
About Wilco
The Wilco agricultural cooperative was formed in 1967 when five cooperatives merged, although the company’s roots go back to the 1930s. Today, Wilco has 26 farm stores, a bulk energy business and is part of the Valley Agronomics’ Joint Venture. There are approximately 3,000 members and the farm stores serve more than 500,000 customers throughout Oregon, Washington and California. The company is based in Mount Angel.
About Hazelnuts
Hazelnuts, also known as filberts, are used as a snack food, in baking and in breakfast cereals such as muesli as well as chocolate bars and hazelnut cocoa spreads such as Nutella. They are also used in Frangelico liqueur and hazelnut oil, which can be used for cooking or as a salad or dressing oil. Turkey is the world’s largest producer of hazelnuts. Virtually all of the U.S. crop is grown in Oregon, with Marion County (26,127 acres in 2023), Yamhill County (19,111 acres) and Linn County (12,659 acres) the largest producers.
Sources: Pacific Agricultural Survey, Wilco, Wikipedia
forward is another matter. It takes a hazelnut orchard approximately four years to mature and produce a crop. That means that the approximately 5,000 acres planted in Oregon in 2020 and the 6,000 or so in 2021 will add to that 95,000 tons of supply in the next year or so, according to McDaniel’s data.
Wilco’s Wilson agreed that there “possibly will be a larger crop for 2025, but [production will be] more consistent after that as there have been less new plantings done in the past few years.”
“Wilco’s decision to divest from the HGO business is to focus on the supply businesses like retail and energy,” he said. “Wilco has invested millions into the hazelnut industry and HGO business over the years. Wilco as a whole is profitable, financially sound, and poised to grow in the coming years.”
1035 N. 6th Ave, Stayton 503-769-2656
Daily Mass: Monday-Friday, 8:15 am, Saturday, 8:00 am
Weekend Mass Schedule: Saturday Vigil, 5:00 pm, Sunday, 8:00 am, 10:00 am
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
McDonald declines to seek re-election
By Stephen Floyd Stayton City Councilor
Ben McDonald has declined to seek re-election, telling officials he needs to spend more time on personal and family commitments.
During the Aug. 5 meeting of the Stayton City Council
McDonald said between having two sons in high school and other obligations, it was time to pass the torch.
“Every time that I think that life can’t get busier, it throws me another curveball,” said McDonald. “I feel like the city can be better-served by somebody that can dedicate more time to the position.”
McDonald intends to serve the remainder of his term, which expires in January 2025. He helped lead the city through challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and a state mandate regarding public camping.
Four-way race Two Stayton council seats on ballot
By Stephen Floyd
There’s a four-way race for two open seats on the Stayton City Council this election season with three newcomers challenging one incumbent.
As of the Aug. 27 filing deadline, incumbent Councilor Stephen Sims had filed for office as well as challengers Gary Frank, Ken Carey and Luke Bauer.
Incumbent Councilor Ben McDonald, whose seat is also open, announced Aug. 5 he would not seek re-election.
The two candidates who receive the most votes during the Nov. 5 General Election will be declared the winners. Both seats are for four-year terms.
Sims was first appointed to the council in February of 2023 to fill a vacancy created when Mayor Brian Quigley was elected to his current office. Sims had sought a seat on the council during the
2022 election and came in fourth out of five candidates.
Sims served in the U.S. Navy from 1994 until he retired as a commander in 2016. He also previously served on the Stayton Parks and Recreation Board.
Frank is a graduate of Stayton High School and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He currently works as a truck driver for Canyon Contracting.
Frank’s previous experience in public office includes serving as a member of the Sublimity Planning Commission.
Ken Carey owns multiple local businesses including Baked and Loaded Potatoes and Third Avenue Eatery. He also has a background as a school bus driver and is a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Carey’s previous government experience includes serving on Stayton’s Homeless Task Force. He was also one of the
candidates who applied for the open council seat in 2023.
Bauer is an owner of local contracting company Bauer Built Construction and specializes in fencing. He is also a coach with Valley District JBO, a regional junior baseball league.
Bauer did not list any previous government experience.
Ben McDonald SUBMITTED PHOTO
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
Santiam Senior Center, 10 a.m.4 p.m., 41818 Kingston-Jordan Road, Stayton. Seniors 50 and older. Daily, weekly, monthly events. 503-767-2009, santiamseniorcenter.com
Senior Meals, 11:30 a.m. Delivery only. Age 60 and older. Serves Stayton, Sublimity, Aumsville, Lyons, Marion, Mehama. Repeats Wednesday, Friday. $3 donation suggested. For delivery, call Ginger, 503-769-7995.
Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., New Life Foursquare Church, 1090 N First Ave., Stayton. Open meeting. Repeats Thursday & Friday.
Griefshare, 6:30 - 8 p.m., Foothills Church, 975 Fern Ridge Road, Stayton. Free support class open to all who have lost a loved one. Starts Sept. 10. 503-769-2731, griefshare.org
Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., Calvary Lutheran Church, 198 SE Fern Ridge Road, Stayton. Open meeting. Follow path on right on building and use side entrance to church.
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. 503-508-9431, staytonarearotary.org
Cascade Country Quilters, 12:30 p.m., Santiam Senior Center. 50 and older. 503-767-2009
Stayton Farmers Market, 3 - 7 p.m., 138 N Third Ave. Fruits, veggies, meat, eggs, breads, pastries, honey, candles, soaps, sunscreen, bath bombs and more. Free admission. downtownstayton.org
Alcoholics Anonymous, 6 - 7:15 p.m., Calvary Lutheran Church, 198 SE Fern Ridge Road, Stayton. Open meeting. Follow path on right on building and use side entrance to church.
$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. 503859-2627.
Friday
Cars & Coffee, 8 a.m., Covered Bridge Cafe, 510 N Third Ave., Stayton. Bring your classic vehicles for coffee, breakfast.
Saturday
Alcoholics Anonymous, 10 a.m., New Life Foursquare Church, 1090 N First Ave., Stayton. Open meeting. 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
6 - 7:30 p.m. Zoom. For military, active duty, National Guard and Reserve members who have experienced military sexual trauma. Facilitated by veterans and former service members with shared experience, no clinicians. Info: info@namimultnomah.org, 503-228-5692. Repeats Sept. 16.
Tuesday, Sept. 3
Stayton Lions Club
Noon, Covered Bridge Cafe, 510 N Third Ave., Stayton. Club and new members are welcome. Repeats Sept. 17. staytonlionsclub.org
Stayton Parks and Rec Board
6 p.m., Stayton Planning Building, 311 N Third Ave. Open to public. 503-769-3425
Wednesday, Sept. 4
Home School Day
10 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Oregon Garden, 879 W Main St., Silverton. Home school students aged 5 to 12 can experience a day of outdoor learning. Pre-registration not required. Adults $12, $9 for students aged 12 - 17, $6 for children aged 5 - 11. 503-799-4792
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 at 503-304-3432 or julie. mendez@nwsds.org
Thursday, Sept. 5
Music on the Lawn
5:30 - 8 p.m., The Oregon Garden, 879 W Main St., Silverton. Live music by Joe Stoddard. Food by Adam’s Rib Smokehouse. Wine by Avidity Wines. Beer by Travelin’ Taphouse. $10/age 13 and older. $5 garden members. Ages 12 and under free. Tickets at oregongarden.org.
Aumsville Planning Commission
6 p.m., Chester Bridges Memorial Community Center, 555 Main St., Aumsville. Public hearing for approval to adopt amendments to Ordinance 705. Changes include amendments to residential single-family and multi-family zone, requirements to encourage consistent designs and modifications to standards requirements to reduce improper deviations from standards and to be in compliance with ORS 227.178. Open to public. 503-749-2030
Saturday, Sept. 7
Road Run & Walk
9 a.m., Sublimity School, 431 E Main St. 10K, 5K, 3K races. Proceeds benefit Sublimity School Parent Teacher Club. $20/person. Youth 12 and under are free. Register at sublimityharvestfest.com. Aumsville Saturday Market
9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sebright Gardens, 7185 Lakeside Dr., Salem. Salem Hardy Plant Society’s annual fall plant sale. Free admission. Free parking. For list of participating vendors, visit salemhardyplantsociety.org.
Northwest Songfest
10 a.m. - 10 p.m., Confluence Arts Center, 20159 Hazelnut Ridge Road, Scotts Mills. Music festival aimed at supporting and showcasing local singer/songwriters. General admission is $25. Tickets and a list of performers is available at northwestsongfest.com.
Harvest Festival Parade
11 a.m., Sublimity. Celebrate “Harvesting the Fun for 51” with a parade winding through the streets of Sublimity. sublimityharvestfest.com
Mt. Angel College Reunion
11 a.m., Father Bernard Youth Center, 980 Main St., Mt. Angel. Lunch, presentations, tours, games. To register, contact gfisher@peak.org.
Oktoberfest Kick-off Party
6:30 p.m., Festhalle, 500 NW Wilco Hwy., Mt. Angel. Gervais Knights of Columbus serve a full BBQ chicken dinner. Music is provided by the Gordanairs. Oktoberfest Olympics begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25, and include dinner, music, beverages. Tickets at oktoberfest. org, Schmidt’s 76, Bochsler Hardware, Mt. Angel Sausage Company and Tiny’s Tavern.
Friday, Sept. 6
Sublimity Harvest Festival
5 p.m., Sublimity Harvest Festival Grounds, 11880 SE Sublimity Road. Truck, tractor, monster truck competition. Food booths, vendors, Kid-Zone, live music. Repeats Sept. 7-8. For complete list of events, daily admission, see sublimityharvestfestival. com
Sunday, Sept. 8
Harvest Breakfast
7 a.m. - noon, Sublimity Fire Station, 115 N Parker St. Eggs, pancakes, sausage and beverage. $10 adults. $7 children 5 - 10. Free children 4 & under. $8 seniors 60+. All proceeds and donations are used for Santiam Hospital Auxiliary scholarship program and medical supplies for various hospital departments.
Brown House Tour
Noon - 2 p.m., Brown House Event Center, 425 N First Ave., Stayton. Tour the historic Charles and Martha Brown House. $5/person. Children under 18 are free. For a special reserved guided tour, call 503-769-8860.
Fall Family Kickoff
4 p.m., Foothills Church, 975 Fern Ridge Road, Stayton. Kids in K-5th grade are invited to start the school year with worship, games, bible stories. Free. 503-769-2731, foothillsstayton.org
Monday, Sept. 9
Abigail Scott DAR
10 a.m., Stayton United Methodist Church, 1450 SE Fern Ridge Road. OSSDAR guest speaker. All welcome. Refreshments. 503-508-8246
Sublimity City Council
6 p.m., Sublimity City Hall, 245 NW Johnson. Open to public. 503-769-5475, cityofsublimity.org
Stayton Fire District Board
6 p.m.,. Stayton Fire Station, 1988 W Ida St. Open to public. 503-769-2601
Lyons Fire District Board
7 p.m., Lyons Fire Station, 1114 Main St. Agenda available. Open to public. 503-859-2410, lyonsrfd.org
Aumsville City Council
7 p.m., Chester Bridges Memorial Community Center, 555 Main St., Aumsville. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-749-2030, aumsville.us
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 and stress, pain management. 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. Agenda available. 503-749-8010
Wednesday, Sept. 11
Patriot Day
Canyon Garden Club
1 - 3 p.m., Santiam Community Garden, 846 Fifth St., Lyons. First meeting free; dues are $20/year. If you need a ride, call Cheryl at 503-767-2248 or Rosemary at 503-769-2571.
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, Sept. 12
Mount Angel Oktoberfest
All day, Mt. Angel. Repeats through Sept. 15. For a complete list of events, visit oktoberfest.org.
6 p.m., Snow Peak Brewing, 280 E Water St., Stayton. Bingo and auction for fundraiser for The Courage Fund. 503-767-2337, thecouragefund.com
Aumsville Fire District
6:30 p.m., Aumsville Fire Station, 490 Church St. Open to public. 503-749-2894
Lyons Library Board
7 p.m., Lyons Public Library, 279 Eighth St. 503-859-2366
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 NAMI. Visit tinyurl.com/ yalgbtqgroup to register. Repeats Sept. 26.
Friday, Sept. 13
Community Play Group
10 - 11:30 a.m., Doris’s Place, 574 N 11th St., Aumsville. Free community play group by Family Building Blocks. Snacks. RSVP: 503769-1120, familybuildingblocks.org. Red Cross Blood Drive
Noon - 5 p.m., Sublimity Fire Station, 115 NW Parker St. For appointments visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-3767.
Saturday, Sept. 14
SHS 2025 Bottle Drop
9 a.m. - noon, Stayton High, 757 W Locust St. The Class of 2025 all-night party committee can/bottle drive.
11 a.m., Stayton Public Library. New members welcome. 503-932-2733.
Red Cross Blood Drive
1 - 6 p.m., Foothills Church, 975 Fern Ridge Road, Stayton. For appt., visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-3767.
Lyons Neighborhood Watch
7 p.m., Lyons City Hall, 449 Fifth St. Open to interested citizens. 503-859-2167
Stayton City Council
7 p.m., Stayton Community Center. Open to public. 503-769-3425
Tuesday, Sept. 17
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, Sept. 18
Dementia Care Conversations
1 - 2 p.m. Zoom. Free group for unpaid caregivers providing support to a loved one living with dementia. To register, contact Julie Mendez at 503-304-3432 or julie.mendez@nwsds.org.
Stayton Library Board
6 p.m., Stayton Public Library. Open to public. 503-769-3313
Thursday, Sept. 19
North Santiam School District Board
6 p.m., District Office, 1155 N First Ave., Stayton. Board meeting. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-769-6924
Small Farm Water Rights
6:30 p.m., Silverton Grange, 201 Division St. Alice Morrison of Friends of Family Farmers discusses small farms’ water rights. Learn about this issue and steps being taken to move to more equitable rules. 971-267-9364
Charley’s Aunt
7 p.m., The Spotlight, 383 N Third Ave., Stayton. Spotlight Community Theatre’s production of Brandon Thomas’ Charley’s Aunt, directed by Shannon Rempel. General admission $15. Seniors and students $12. Age 13-17 $10. Youth $8. Repeats 2 p.m. Sept. Sept. 22-23, 28-29; 7 p.m. Sept. 20-21, 26-29. Tickets at the door or spotlightct.com.
Saturday, Sept. 21
Bethel Clothing Closet
9 a.m. - noon, Bethel Baptist Church, 645 Cleveland St., Aumsville. Clothing from newborn to 2x. Free. 503-749-2128
9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Santiam Community Gardens, 846 Fifth St., Lyons. Linn County OSU Master Gardeners and Master Food Preservers answer individual questions about gardening, food. Research-based videos and publications are available for free. Drop in for baked goods, beverages and information. Free. Diane, 503-8592517, seedsupper97358@gmail.com
7 p.m., Chester Bridges Memorial Community Center, 555 Main St., Aumsville. Open to public. Agenda available. 503-749-2030, aumsville.us
Tuesday, Sept. 24
Lyons City Council
6:30 p.m., Lyons City Hall, 449 Fifth St. Open to public. 503-859-2167
PFLAG Silverton
7 p.m., Oak Street Church, 502 Oak St., Silverton. Everyone welcome. Under 18 must have parent/guardian. Christy, 541-786-1613, silvertonpflag@gmail.com
Friday, Sept. 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, Sept. 28
Santiam Canyon River Run
9:30 a.m., Snow Peak Brewing, 280 E Water St., Stayton. 10K race, 5K run/walk, 3K run/walk. Course includes sections of trail, pavement and gravel. Finishers receive commemorative pint glass along with a coupon for soda or beer from Snow Peak Brewing. Pre-register by Sept. 20: $30 without shirt, $35 w/shirt. After Sept. 20, registration is $40. Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/OR/Stayton/ SantiamCanyonRiverRun.
Monday, Sept. 30
Stayton Planning Commission
7 p.m., Stayton Community Center. Open to the public. 503-769-3425
Datebook Submissions
To get your events and fundraisers in Our Town, send releases – including date, time, location, activity, cost, contact information – to datebook@mtangelpub.com. Or drop off at 2340 Martin Dr., Stayton
What’s Your Real Problem?
There are various reasons why people might have difficulty believing that Christianity is true. These problems include:
1. A Lack of evidence: Some people find the claims of Christianity unconvincing, especially when it comes to the existence of God and the supernatural events described in the Bible. It all seems so “unbelievable.”
2. The Problem of Evil: The existence of evil and suffering in the world can be difficult for people to reconcile with the idea of an all-powerful and loving God.
3. Religious Pluralism: In a world with many different religions, people struggle to accept the exclusivity of Christianity and its claim that “Jesus is the only way.”
4. Science & Evolution: Some people see Christianity as incompatible with scientific knowledge and evolution, especially when it comes to topics like “the Big Bang,” evolution, and the age of the universe.
5. A Bad Experience With a Christian: People's bad experiences with those who claim to be Christians can create personal resistance to believing Christianity is true.
So, What’s Your Problem?
These are the 5 main reasons people tend to be unwilling to believe in Jesus. The following is my attempt to respond to each.
1. Lack of Evidence: The existence of God is not fully provable by empirical evidence. However, there are so many reasonable arguments for the existence of God that we are without excuse (Rom 1:19-22), and even more so for the existence of the God of the Bible. The very existence of anything at all points to the fact that it all had to come from somewhere (Gen. 1:1). Though some, like Elon Musk, believe we are living in a vast computer simulation of some advanced civilization, that only pushes the question of origins back in time. Where did that amazing civilization come from? Actually we are all living in God’s real reality. This universe had a beginning and it is still expanding, which provides evidence for its eternal nature. But that still requires there to be a first uncaused Cause. Christians believe it to be the Creator God, Yahweh, revealed in the Bible.
2.The Problem of Evil: The existence of evil is difficult to reconcile with the existence
of an all-powerful loving God. But Christians do not believe God is the author or cause of evil. Evil is the result of rebellion against God, first by Satan and then by mankind. This world was perfect. Now it’s not. We see the consequences of creatures in rebellion against their Creator. In spite of the “Fall of Man,” and God’s judgement on mankind, Christians believe God uses even the painful consequences of the Fall to bring about good for those who love Him (See Romans 8:28-29). Eventually, God will judge the earth and all those who have rebelled against Him. At that time He will restore the earth to what it is intended to be.
the Bible reveals. We do reject some scientific theories, such as the overreaching claims of Darwinism. Evolution can only explain changes within a species. It cannot explain the existence of all the different species. It also fails to answer questions concerning the existence of natural laws, or the irreducible complexity of even the simplest so-called “single-cell organisms.” Nor can it explain the amazing “fine-tuning” of all the variables that allow galaxies and planets to even exist, and then to allow life to exist on Earth. Finally, evolution cannot account for the amazing amount of information encoded into a single strand of DNA. All of that information logically requires a Coder to write the code for such “software.”
Science itself was launched by Christians who rightly believed that God created the world in such a way that it could be observed and understood by humankind.
“According to Jesus, people refuse to come to Him because they know God disapproves of what they have been doing. Does that describe you? If so, that is the real problem.”
3. Religious Pluralism: While it is true that there are many different religions in the world, Christians believe that the claims of Christianity are uniquely true. Jesus claimed to be the only way to God (John 14:6). That is because it is only His death, burial, and resurrection that can provide the way for God to forgive sinners. Salvation is now available to everyone, regardless of race. (By the way, there is actually only one race — and that is the human race— and all people need the payment Jesus made on their behalf.) While there is at least some truth and even beauty in every religion, only Christianity assures forgiveness.
4. Science & Evolution: Christians believe that true science is not in conflict with what
5. Bad Experiences With Christians: Not all who claim to be Christians really are. Whenever any religion becomes dominant in a culture it attracts hypocrites who want to use it to gain wealth and power over others. Unfortunately, Christianity is no exception to that phenomenon. But Jesus was not like that and neither are those who honestly follow Him. While bad experiences with “Christians” can certainly offend us, one’s faith must ultimately be grounded in God's revelation of Himself in the Bible, not in the imperfect moral character of those who identify themselves as Christians. As Papa ten Boom said to his daughter Corrie, “Just because a mouse is in the cookie jar doesn’t make him a cookie.”
Christians believe that God guides everyone who honestly wants to know the truth to eventually find the truth. God manages to get His good news through to everyone who really wants to know (e.g. you are reading this right now.). This encounter with the truth concerning Jesus Christ that transforms hearts and causes those who believe to be born again into God’s eternal family.
By Gregg
“You Shall Know the Truth”
All our intellectual and emotional “problems” with Christianity melt away when we turn to God with an open heart and ask Him to show us what is true. He reveals Himself to those who really want to know He is there. (e.g. are you still reading this?). If so, God is doing His part. But when we refuse to seek Him, it is because we don’t want to find Him
Jesus taught about this in the Gospel of John, chapter 3, verses 19 -20 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”
So, according to Jesus, people refuse to come to Him, “the light of the world,” because they know God disapproves of what they have been doing. Does that describe you? If so, that is the real problem So, repent. Call out to God right now. He will answer you. “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32). Would you like to discuss this further? Just call me at 971-370-0967. Let’s talk.
Gregg Harris, Pastor of Preaching at Gracious Cross Reformed Church in Salem, OR
Top gear Santiam Hospital adds high-tech knee surgery equipment
By James Day
Santiam Hospital & Clinics has added some new equipment that will enhance its ability to do knee replacement surgeries.
On July 22 hospital surgeons Dr. Derek Riley and Dr. David Thorsett performed the first local knee replacement operation using the new machine, the CORI Surgical System. The equipment, including implants, was sold to the hospital by Smith+Nephew, a Watford, England, medical equipment manufacturer.
Hospital officials said that the key advantages of the new system are that patients experience quicker, smoother recoveries and regain knee function faster.
“We use real time 3D digital modeling to develop a surgical plan customized to each patients’ unique anatomy,” said a news release from the hospital. “This means our surgeon can perform the procedure more accurately than traditional knee replacement surgery.”
Hospital officials also noted that the “surgeon is able to choose from the widest selection of implants available, so implants can be precision-matched to feel more like a patient’s own knee.”
Riley noted that “the CORI provides me with real time
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“A
intra-operative feedback which translates to predictably reliable outcomes for our patients.”
Also on the knee surgery team besides Riley and Thorsett are Nick Stratton and Steve Yao.
Lauren Benjamin, a hospital spokesperson, said the hospital estimates that it will perform approximately 300 knee replacement surgeries annually using the new equipment.
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, in data cited by the hospital, estimates knee replacement surgeries in the United States are expected to increase 180% between now and 2030.
Hospital officials also caution that not all patients are candidates for the knee system. Implants may not produce the same feel or function as the original knee, and individual results will vary. Potential risks include loosening, wear and infection that may result in the need for additional surgery.
Interested patients are advised to discuss such issues and the implant options with their surgeon.
Knee replacement surgeons Nick Stratton and Derek Riley after performing a knee replacement at Santiam Hospital & Clinics using new surgical tools that the hospital’s orthopedics group has acquired. COURTESY SANTIAM HOSPITAL & CLINICS
Taking flight
By James Day
The $2.15 billion upgrade of Portland International Airport’s main terminal debuted Aug. 14, complete with 400,000 square feet of mass plywood panels provided by Freres Engineered Wood of Lyons.
The innovative wood products firm was responsible for the curvy, wooden roof line that is sure to produce a “wow” factor for airport visitors. The roof piece of the project covers nine acres.
“We are incredibly proud of our contributions to this project,” said Tyler Freres, vice president of sales, in a statement released by the company.
Freres has been working on the terminal upgrade for five years, along with dozens of other Pacific Northwest companies. All of the wood used in the project came from within 300 miles of the airport, said officials from the Port of Portland, which manages the facility.
Visitors can tour the impressive facility and experience firsthand the 18-million-pound roof, designed with 49 skylights and 2,425 mass plywood parapet panels around the perimeter that create its unique curved design. Freres Engineered Wood also provided custom wood envelopes to create visual wood enclosures for the HVAC systems and additional mechanical, electrical, and plumbing materials.
Complementing the eye-popping Douglas fir roof, guests will find a live, urban forest below, as well as a dozen local shops and restaurants.
“From day one, the Port of Portland has demonstrated a commitment to environmental stewardship with their ‘forest-toframe’ approach to the terminal’s design,” Tyler Freres said. “Nearly 75 percent of the wood fiber used in our MPP was salvaged from the 2020 Labor Day wildfires in Oregon, and 100 percent of the material was sourced from local Oregon fiber.”
million passengers annually by 2045.
The expanded terminal is the largest mass timber project of its kind. Instead of building an entirely new terminal, the Port of Portland and its project managers decided to renovate and expand in place, keeping the airport fully operational throughout the five years of phased construction.
The strategy was made possible, in part, by Freres’ prefabricated wood roof that spans the expanded lobby, check-in, and security areas.
Freres executives Rob Freres (president), Tyler Freres, and Kyle Freres (VP of operations) toured the new terminal with other project partners on Aug. 12 to celebrate the opening.
“Mass ply has been a game-changer in the mass timber movement, so we’re beyond excited to see the product play such a significant role in the new PDX terminal,” Tyler Freres said.
Freres also said it was “an honor to work alongside industry partners” such as TimberLab, Hoffman Construction, Skanska, WPI and ZGF Architects.
“And we look forward to future projects together,” he said.
Although the terminal has opened, more work still must be done before project participants wrap up in 2026. The second phase will feature additional retail and dining amenities and exit lanes on the north and south sides of the terminal.
The one million square foot project doubles the capacity of PDX and gives the airport the capacity to welcome 35
An engineering marvel, the mass timber roof is the centerpiece of the expansion. It celebrates Oregon’s history of forest product innovation while showcasing what is possible for the future of mass timber design and sustainable wood sourcing.
The project’s sustainable design sets a new standard for airports worldwide. The main terminal doubles capacity while achieving a 50% reduction in energy use per square foot with a highly efficient, all-electric ground-source heat pump. Resilient design strategies are projected to enable the terminal to withstand a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
A Port of Portland spokeswoman said that the previous terminal, which included multiple buildings patched together, wasn’t designed for how visitors travel post9/11 with Transportation Security Administration protocols in place.
PDX handled 16.5 million passengers in 2023, and in June 2024, it saw more than 1.6 million travelers, which was up 9% over 2023, the Port of Portland reported. In the peak summer season, the airport handles about 450 flights a day.
The remodeled terminal at Portland International Airport. The curving wooden roof panels were built by Freres Engineered Wood. COURTESY MIKE BREWINGTON
Franklin McDowell July 3, 1930 – June 23, 2024
Franklin was born in Royal, Arkansas to Frank B. McDowell and Lillie (Griffin) McDowell July 3, 1930. He passed June 23, 2024.
Franklin was raised on the family farm in Sunshine, Arkansas until moving to Oregon in 1946. He finished high school in Mill City, Oregon where he met his future wife, Maxine Scott. After serving in the United States Army in Korea, he and Maxine married.
homes, boats, jeeps, hot rods, furniture and more. Franklin loved to travel. He loved his family and friends. He was never happier than when he was ankle deep in sawdust or elbow deep in grease.
Franklin leaves behind his wife of 71 years, Maxine; sons, Michael (and his wife Shelly), and Frank (and his wife Teresa); daughter, Laura Parrish (and husband Joseph). He is also survived by his five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Judith ‘Judy’ Keillor Sept. 22, 1939 – Aug. 24, 2024
Judy Keillor, 84, passed away in Stayton, Oregon Aug. 24, 2024. She was born on Sept. 22, 1939 to Ralph and Irma Metcalf in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
Judy spent 30 years in Tygh Valley and 23 years in Madras before finally moving to Lyons in 2015.
years, the Santiam Hospital Auxiliary, managed a gift shop for 13 years and was a member of the Lyons Garden Club. Her hobbies included gardening, sewing and crafts. She was a member of the Mehama Community Church.
He worked as a licensed journeyman mechanic in many shops in Oregon and Washington. Franklin also owned and operated several businesses over the years.
He was a man of many and varied enthusiasms leaving a legacy of building
Danny Ray Griffith
Danny Griffith, 75, of Lyons, Oregon passed away Aug. 19, 2024 surrounded by his family after a long battle with cancer.
He was born March 15, 1949, to Billy and Betty Jo (Mangrum) Griffith in McAlester, Oklahoma. He graduated from Stayton High School in 1967.
The family would like to thank the VA for healthcare during his active retirement and to Willamette Vital Health for their care during Franklin’s last months. Serving the family, North Santiam Funeral Service, Stayton.
March 15, 1949 – Aug. 19, 2024
He married Ginger Carter, the love of his life, in Stayton on March 1, 1969. They lived in Salem, Stayton and Lyons over the last 53 years. They share three children.
Danny was an owner/operator of Griffith Transportation, Inc. for 25 years, and also drove a highway truck for Freres Lumber Co., Inc. He retired in August 2021. He was a former volunteer firefighter for the Lyons Fire Department and a member of Owner-Operator Independent Drivers
Association (OOIDA).
His hobbies included his spending time with his family, camping, talking trucks, working on his yard, coaching T-ball and watching his kids and grandkids in sports and other activities.
Danny is preceded in death by his mother, Betty Jo Griffith. He is survived by his wife, Ginger, of 56 years; his father, Billy Griffith; his children, Eric (Kassie) Griffith, Craig (Kristin) Griffith, and Alison Griffith; his sister, Kathy (Jimmie) Cooper; and nine grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held at Jordan Hall on Sept. 6, 2024, 2 p.m. Contributions can be made in his name to Family Building Blocks – Doris’s Place, Oregon Humane Society, or a charity of one’s choice. Serving the family, North Santiam Funeral Service.
She married Cecil “Bill” Keillor in Goldendale, Washington on Aug. 31, 1959. Together they raised four children while Judy stayed home as a homemaker. Bill passed away on Feb. 28, 2011.
Judy presided over the Mountainview Hospital St. Charles Auxiliary for four
Judy is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Cecil Keillor. She I survived by her children, Debby Neer; Dale Keillor, Darryl Keiroll, and Dan Keillor; and sister, Sharon Clowers. There will be no services at this time. In lieu of flowers, a donation to your charity of choice in her honor os suggested. Serving the family, North Santiam Funeral Service, Stayton.
Getting his shot
Former Regis High athlete Tyler Voltin enters a year full of change with the Oregon State University football team. In the offseason the Beavers lost their coach, their top two quarterbacks, their top two running backs and a slew of other players as the transfer portal turned the roster topsy-turvy amid the demise of the Pac-12.
Voltin, a 6-4, 368-pound redshirt junior penciled in to start at right guard, views the situation as an opportunity.
“A lot of offensive linemen left or graduated and a lot of young guys have been stepping up,”
Voltin told Our Town after an Aug. 7 Beavers practice at Reser Stadium. “The depth chart changes every day and you have to make the most of your reps.”
Voltin also said that the mood on the squad has been positive under new coach Trent Bray, who served as defensive coordinator under Jonathan Smith, who left for Michigan State.
“That was fun. I was excited about that play. And Notre Dame definitely wasn’t expecting it.”
Voltin is on track to graduate next spring with a major in kinesiology and a minor in psychology. He hopes to have a career in sports training.
“We’re all hopeful,” Voltin said. “It’s a new beginning, we have a new coach and it gives us the opportunity to look at things in a different way. And a lot of work has been put in by these guys.”
Voltin said that Bray runs a “tough” camp and that “there is a lot of energy. We’ve all bonded together.”
Beaver fans remember Voltin best for rumbling into the end zone for a twopoint conversion in last year’s Sun Bowl loss to Notre Dame.
Hart Center: Supplychain issues have led to the postponement of the opening of the Ty Hart Fitness Center at Stayton High. The massive weight room and training facility is named for former three-sport athlete and student Ty Hart, who died in 2016 in Hawaii while serving as a Marine helicopter pilot. Stayton officials originally had hoped to hold a grand opening ceremony Sept. 6, coinciding with the Eagles’ home game vs. Astoria. The new plan is to hold the ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 3, the day of the Eagles’ rivalry game against visiting Cascade.
Stayton Coaches: Eagles athletic director Darren Shryock has announced some new coaches for the upcoming school year. In the fall, Ruth Daniels will take over the volleyball position. In the winter Kevin Stanley takes over boys basketball for Shryock. Stanley has served most recently in assistant roles with the
Corban University women and the South Salem girls. Stanley also has run camps in England and Ireland. Joining him on the staff will be Nick McWilliams, who coached a boys state title team at Santiam Christian and two girls titles at South Salem. In the spring Ryan Borde returns to take over the softball program. Borde, who led the Eagles to an Oregon West title in 2023 before taking a college job in Minnesota, also will assist with the football program.
JBO: Three Stayton Junior Baseball Organization squads participated in state tournaments in July. Two of the teams, the Junior American squad coached by Brad Emmert, and the Senior American team led by Kyle Hughes, finished third
in their events. A third local team, a Junior National group coached by Luke Bauer, lost its first two games and was eliminated from the tournament.
Stayton-Emmert defeated Newberg 15-5 in its opener at North Clackamas Park in Milwaukie and then dropped into the lower bracket after falling 8-7 to Spartan. Stayton stayed alive by downing Putnam 14-7 and SET 13-7 before falling one game short of the championship round with an 11-7 loss to Spartan. Stayton-Hughes opened with a 21-3 win vs. Grant before falling into the lower bracket via a 21-7 loss to Gladstone. The squad nipped Spartan 11-10 and Grant 15-6 to advance within one game of the title round but fell 8-7 to Gladstone.
Oregon State lineman Tyler Voltin (79) scores on a two-point conversion in last year’s Sun Bowl game vs. Notre Dame. COURTESY OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Tyler Voltin JAMES DAY
Camping shutdown
Silver Falls to start repaving campground
By James Day
The campground at Silver Falls State Park will be closed beginning Monday, Sept. 16 because of paving work and a restroom replacement project.
Crews will be reworking the pavement of the campground’s A Loop as well as a small slice of the B loop. In addition, the B Loop restroom will be replaced.
“It’s going to be great,” Silver Falls Ranger Chris Gilliand told Our Town
The work is tentatively scheduled to continue through June 30, 2025, although Gilliand said that his expectation is that the work will be completed sooner than that.
Camping sites on either the A Loop or the B Loop will be unavailable during the work. Cabins 1-10 to the east of the A Loop will remain open, but the four cabins at the south end of the B Loop will be closed.
The closure affects only the campground. All other park facilities will remain open, including all trails, trailheads, day-use areas and South Falls Lodge. Next year work will begin on adding a new campground and visitor center as part of the upgrade of facilities in the North Canyon area. State general
Sports Datebook
Tuesday, Sept. 3
Boys Soccer
TBD. Stayton vs Cottage Grove
Thursday, Sept. 7
Boys Soccer
6 p.m. Cascade vs Molalla
Friday, Sept. 6
Football
7 p.m. Stayton vs Astoria
Saturday, Sept. 7
Volleyball
TBD. Cascade Volleyball Tournament
Tuesday, Sept. 10
Volleyball
6 p.m. Stayton vs Marist Catholic
Girls Soccer
TBD. Cascade vs Cottage Grove
Thursday, Sept. 12
Boys Soccer
4 p.m. Cascade vs Junction City/ Mohawk
Girls Soccer
6 p.m. Stayton vs Tillamook
Saturday, Sept. 14
Cross Country
TBD. Stayton Cross Country Invitational
Monday, Sept. 16
Volleyball
5:30 p.m. Regis vs Salem Academy
Tuesday, Sept. 17
Volleyball
6 p.m. Stayton vs Gladstone
6 p.m. Cascade vs Marist Catholic
Friday, Sept. 20
Football
7 p.m. Cascade vs Tillamook
7 p.m. Regis vs Monroe
obligation bonds are paying for the work at Silver Falls as well as work at seven other state parks. The total pricetag for all the projects is $50 million.
Gilliand was especially excited about the new restroom.
“That restroom is outdated, it’s from the ’70s,” Gilliand said. “It has this old style of shower with less privacy. The new one will have individual stalls, will be easier to manage and will be more ADA accessible.”
In addition to the paving and restroom work, one of the B Loop campsites will be converted for ADA use.
Gilliand said the paving work also will improve connectivity between the campground loop and a paved path that links the campground with dayuse features such as the swimming area, South Falls and the South Falls Lodge.
“I agree, it’s a great path,” Gilliand said. “Part of the repaving project will make the connection from A-Loop to the highway crossing more obvious. We hope more and more visitors use the connection in the future. Some campers choose to drive the trailhead parking lots.”
HOUSE KEEPER NEEDED 2 days every other week, mornings or afternoons. $20 per hour. Please call 971-308-4175
SERVICES
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
MAGIC CARPET CLEANING & MORE Since 1992. Carpet & upholstery cleaning at its best. Free estimates. Residential & commercial. Located in Silverton. Call Harold at 503-391-7406
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
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 503-769-9525
The B Loop restroom at the Silver Falls State Park campground. The outdated, 1970s style facility will be replaced in state-bond funded work that will continue into next spring. JAMES DAY
Billions and trillions Looking out on the cosmos
I often get up early, and part of my typical morning routine is a walk. It’s usually dark when I go outside. The first thing I do is look up.
There, among the searing stars and the bits of flotsam whirling through the universe, is our story.
I don’t know much about astronomy. I could not name most constellations. To me, a planet is a large point of light in a field of stars, which are small points of light.
Yet, out there, beyond the surly bonds of Earth, is our beginning.
My freshman year of college, a friend, who happened to have the key to the observatory, and I would take the telescope for a spin through the solar system. One by one, we’d search out planets – those that were visible –and, between beers, we’d wonder at their station so far away, and yet so close. With a telescope, it looked as
though we could reach out and touch Saturn, yet we knew no person could ever travel there.
Distance in space is relative. For example, the moon is a little less than a quarter-million miles from our homestead on Earth. The sun is something like 94 million miles away. Yet that’s just a hop and jump compared to the distances separating us from other stars.
For example, the Proxima Centauri is the closest star to us other than the sun. It’s 4.2 light-years away. Translation: that’s 24 trillion miles. Traveling at the speed of the
international space station — 17,500 mph — it would take …. Let’s see, let me just divide this into that, carry the 1, multiply by my shoe size and add the square root of…. Oh, wait, I think my calculator just melted.
Suffice it to say that, barring a breakthrough in interstellar travel, we will never visit even the closest stars.
Except for one thing. We can travel fantastic distances using telescopes. Not the tiny ten-inch mirror telescope I used in college, but the telescopes we have stationed in space, beyond the atmosphere that warps our view. Using devices like the Hubble, James Webb and Euclid telescopes, astronomers can “see” far more than just visible light.
By calculating the red “shift” of light they can even determine how fast and the “direction” those objects are moving. How cool is that?
And they can peer into the past, almost all the way back to the beginning. Of everything. Every atom has its beginning not with humans and not on Earth, but far, far away in a galaxy long, long ago. Maybe. We really don’t have most of the details. Yet.
So when I take that morning walk, I not only see points of light, planets and an occasional satellite passing overhead, I can see our beginning and hints of the trillions – yes, trillions – of galaxies and 200 billion trillion planets that accompany us through a crowded place called the universe. It is a wondrous, extraordinary experience. All we have to do is look up.
Carl Sampson is a freelance writer and editor. He lives in Stayton.
Sunday, September 8th, 2024
7 am—Noon
October 19, 2024 • 6:30pm
Immaculate Conception Parish Center Doors open at 6pm
Sublimity Fire Hall 115 N. Parker St. Eggs made to order, Pancakes, Sausage, Milk, Juice, Coffee
ADULTS..........$10.00
SENIORS 60+...$8.00
CHILDREN 5-10............$7.00
CHILDREN 4 & UNDER...FREE
Fashions by 3rd Ave Boutique, West End Boutique, Kicks & Giggles Children’s Boutique, and 505 Men’s Collective.
Tickets $30 on sale at Santiam Hospital Front Desk or from Auxiliary members.
Reserved tables of 8 available for $250! must be 21+ to attend
All proceeds and donations are used for the Auxiliary Scholarship Program for students interested in the medical field and to purchase supplies and equipment requested by the various hospital departments. For more information call 503-769-2846
