Our Town - Silverton, Mount Angel, Scotts Mills

11/18/2025

Oregon Schools: What Went Wrong?

Oregon’s K-12 spending ranks 15th in the nation, however the state is 50th in reading and 49th in math when adjusted for demographics, and also ranks among the lowest in regular attendance.

The Oregon Journalism Project has started a new series asking why so many tax dollars are doing so little for Oregon students, and why lawmakers seemingly shrug at the problem.

The initial article in the series features an interview with education policy expert Christine Pitts, president and CEO of Portland-based nonprofit Open School Inc.

Readers are also encouraged to take OJP’s survey (bit.ly/ojpeducation) and describe the successes and failures they have experienced with the Oregon public education system.

https://ourtownlive.com/ourtown/?p=18384

Oregonians believe in public education. And we put our money where our values are. K-12 schools claim the largest share of Oregon’s general fund, and our spending per capita ranks 15th in the nation, according to educationdata.org. But as the […]

11/17/2025

Wanted Scotts Mills man arrested after standoff

A Scotts Mills man suspected of injuring two people in a hit-and-run, among other offenses, has been taken into custody following a lengthy standoff with authorities.

Darren Lee Lake, 40, was arrested Friday morning at his home on the 300 block of 2nd Street, according to a Saturday news release from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office...

A Scotts Mills man suspected of injuring two people in a hit-and-run, among other offenses, has been taken into custody following a lengthy standoff with authorities. Darren Lee Lake, 40, was arrested Friday morning at his home on the 300 […]

11/17/2025

11/17/2025

Just after 10 p.m. on Nov. 13, Marion County deputies responded to the 300 block of Second Street in Scotts Mills regarding a wanted subject, 40-year-old Darren Lake. When deputies arrived, Lake refused to come out or surrender.
SWAT and SWAT negotiators were called in, and for several hours, officers attempted to communicate with Lake. He refused to cooperate and would not engage in negotiations.
With no progress, SWAT entered the residence, and Lake was taken into custody with assistance from a K-9 unit.
Lake was treated at a nearby hospital and later lodged at the Marion County Jail on multiple charges and outstanding warrants, including:

Elude – Felony
Criminal Mischief in the First Degree
Failure to Perform Duties of a Driver to Injured Persons (two counts)
Reckless Driving (two counts)
Stalking
Recklessly Endangering Another
Attempted Assault in the Second Degree
Failure to Perform Duties of a Driver – Property Damage
Failure to Appear – Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree

11/15/2025

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Over the years I’ve thought of several pieces of advice I would give to my younger self, that young mom, just starting out, doing the best she could with the information she had at the time. I wouldn’t make any […]

11/15/2025

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The Silverton High girls and boys squads both advanced to the Class 5A quarterfinals before falling in an unusual doubleheader on Nov. 8 at Summit of Bend. The luck of the bracket placed both matches at Summit. The Foxes’ girls […]

11/15/2025

https://ourtownlive.com/ourtown/?p=18308

Line dancing and square dancing aren’t all that similar in origin or in practice. Square dancing, which was brought to the U.S. from Europe by settlers who enjoyed dances like the Quadrille, utilizes a caller who gives the dancers instructions. While line dancing, […]

11/15/2025

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For the 35th time Jazzercise instructor Andi Morgan will be holding a Thanksgiving morning benefit workout for Silverton Area Community Aid. This year’s event will be in the Silverton 50+ Center, 115 Westfield St. at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 27. […]

11/15/2025

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Reed Alden Munson, age 69, of Silverton passed away peacefully on Oct. 20, 2025. Reed was born April 7, 1956, to Alden and Adele Munson in Menomonie, Wisconsin. He grew up in West Linn, Oregon, as one of nine children and graduated from […]

11/15/2025

https://ourtownlive.com/ourtown/?p=18316

For the past 14 years, since John Friedrick was just a teenager, a substantial portion of his life has included Oak Street Church. “I kind of fell into it,” Friedrick said. “While I was in college, I needed a job […]

11/15/2025

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Marty Limbird has taken over as the branch manager at the Silver Falls YMCA. He replaces Kristi Horner, who is stepping away from the position to spend more time with her family. Limbird is a long-time Silverton resident and fixture, […]

11/15/2025

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The Silverton High SkillsUSA program came back from the annual conference in Atlanta with a national championship Matthew Bielenberg, Carter Lanz and Nathan Dettwyler, who qualified for the national welding fabrication event by winning the state contest at Linn-Benton Community College […]