Silverton voters will decide Nov. 3 whether the city manager must live inside city limits. Until then, City Manager Cory Misley is staying with his parents after leaving a Silverton home at the end of July, while a charter amendment sits on the ballot. City Charter Section 22 requires that the manager, within one year of appointment, “shall become, and remain during tenure, a resident of the city of Silverton.” Misley started Oct. 16, 2023. The one-year window closed in 2024

INDEPENDENCE, Ore. — City parks in Independence began closing this week after a citizen referendum petition qualified a proposed fee ordinance for the November ballot, preventing the city from collecting revenue budgeted for parks, library and museum operations. The Polk County Clerk’s Office certified the signatures Aug. 20, placing the measure on the Nov. 3 ballot, according to city officials. The City Council adopted the Community Services & Parks Fee ordinance June 23 as

Drone Shot of City Hall, Silverton Oregon. By Derek Bratton The City of Silverton is advancing its Main Street Redevelopment and Downtown Plaza Park projects, releasing a 60% design update outlining infrastructure upgrades, pedestrian improvements, and a new public gathering space. Jason Gottgetreu, the city’s community development director, detailed the plans in a recent video presentation. The Main Street work will focus on the corridor between North Water Street and North

Emergency responders were dispatched early to a report of a gunshot wound involving a late-teens female at Webb Lake in Silverton, according to public safety radio traffic monitored by CrimeRadar and The Silverton Independent. Marion County METCOM North-1 Fire channel traffic directed units to respond to a gunshot wound at Webb Lake. Dispatchers described the patient as a late-teens female with a gunshot wound to the head. The location was further specified as the spillway al

A 20-year-old Kentucky man died after falling nearly 180 feet from a waterfall at Silver Falls State Park while posing for photographs in a closed area, Oregon State Police said. Zachary Nicholas Mertens of Burlington, Kentucky, fell from the top of South Falls around 6:30 p.m. Monday, authorities said. Oregon State Police troopers and Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports that someone had fallen from the 177-foot waterfall into the pool below. Investig

Tonya Smithburg works on the restoration of a mural in downtown Silverton, Oregon. The mural, originally painted by Lori L. Rodrigues, requires extensive surface preparation after years of weather exposure. SILVERTON, Ore. — Local muralist Tonya Smithburg is restoring a weathered historic mural in downtown Silverton, carefully preparing the surface so new paint will adhere through Oregon’s seasons, with the work expected to finish by the end of the month. Smithburg, who balan

A fan discovered one of Pops’ treasures near Pettit Reservoir, laser-engraved it with “PopsRocksPNW,” and returned it to him. Pops now plans to hide the engraved keepsake at a local store in downtown Silverton. Photo By Derek Bratton SILVERTON, Ore. — A YouTuber known locally as "Pops" from the PopsRocksPNW community, placed a massive stone and dozens of smaller rocks and gems throughout Silverton neighborhoods aiming to lure residents outdoors for discovery and adventure. P

A single dead adult quagga mussel discovered on the shoreline of a central Oregon reservoir has triggered an intensive monitoring effort as state wildlife officials work to prevent the highly invasive species from gaining a foothold. The mussel was found June 6 during a routine invasive species survey at Prineville Reservoir, marking the first time the prolific freshwater mollusk has been detected in or near an Oregon waterbody, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and

Silverton, Ore. In the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, two pizza makers are giving customers a fresh taste of tradition with wood-fired pies at The Old Oak Oven. Kelan Wall and Christian Epping, owners of the popular Silverton pizzeria, recently invited ExpeditionPNW behind the counter for an exclusive look at how they make their Margarita pizza from start to finish. Christian Epping walked viewers step by step through the creation of the shop’s classic Margherita pizza,

Danielle Gilpin, owner of Solstice Market, cuts the ribbon during the grand opening celebration. Photo/Video by Derek Bratton The Solstice Market celebrated its grand opening Saturday with a Summer Solstice Eve event that drew visitors to the Hartman Building for live music, local vendors, and family-friendly activities. The new owner, Danielle Gilpin, cut the ribbon at 11 a.m., accompanied by her staff and family. “I am excited to introduce it to the community and be here f

Firefighters with the Silverton Fire District demonstrated the high-stakes art of vehicle extrication Saturday, using powerful hydraulic tools to methodically tear apart a car in front of a community audience during the “Silverton Emergency Teams and Big Machines” event. The live demonstration, scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Silverton Fire Main Station, showcased the teamwork and specialized equipment used in real-life crash rescues. Crews employed the “Jaws of Life” and other

SILVERTON, Ore. — Hundreds of pets from the ordinary to the exotic marched through downtown Silverton on Saturday in the town's annual Kiwanis Pet Parade, a beloved Oregon tradition now in its 95th year that draws families, costumed animals and community spirit to the streets of this small Willamette Valley town. The parade, recognized as one of the longest-running pet parades on the West Coast, kicked off promptly at 10 a.m. under overcast skies from Coolidge Street, winding

Hundreds gather in front of the closed Rite Aide on McClaine St. to protest Trumps policies. SILVERTON, Ore. — Hundreds of residents and supporters from surrounding areas converged on downtown Silverton Saturday for a "No Kings" protest, joining a nationwide wave of demonstrations denouncing President Donald Trump's administration as authoritarian. The rally, held in front of the shuttered Rite Aid store, drew hundreds of participants — a significant turnout for the town of a

Mary DeSantis, left, and sculptor Marty Eichinger present a clay model and proposal for a bronze statue honoring Stu Rasmussen, the nation's first openly transgender mayor, during a Silverton City Council work session in Silverton, Ore. SILVERTON, Ore. — A nonprofit group urged Silverton city leaders to accept a life-size bronze statue honoring Stu Rasmussen, the nation's first openly transgender mayor, during a council work session, emphasizing his transformative role in the

Silverton, OR – On August 2, 2025, the annual Homer Davenport Community Festival Parade filled Silverton’s streets with color, music, and hometown pride. Celebrating the legacy of Homer Davenport, Oregon’s famed political cartoonist. The parade kicked off at 10:00 AM, drawing crowds to Coolidge-McClaine City Park and beyond. The event featured antique automobiles, marching bands, and dancers, with participants gathering at the Silverton Middle School parking lot from 9:00 AM.

WASHINGTON, July 27, 2025 — President Donald Trump’s executive order, signed July 24, 2025, and Oregon’s House Bill 3644, passed in 2025, both address homelessness but diverge sharply in their approaches, priorities, and methods. While the federal order emphasizes public safety, civil commitment, and enforcement, Oregon’s bill focuses on expanding shelter capacity, fostering regional coordination, and promoting equity and housing stability through a structured, state-funded p

CANBY, Ore. — Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has paused proposed regulations on farm stands and agritourism operations following strong opposition from family farmers and their advocates, state Rep. Christine Drazan announced Friday. Drazan, the Oregon House Republican Leader, shared the development on X, stating, “Thanks to hundreds of Oregonians who spoke out in opposition, the governor has halted the harmful rules proposed on Oregon’s farm stands and family farms.” She emphasized

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Terry Gene Bollea, better known as Hulk Hogan, the charismatic professional wrestler who became a global pop culture phenomenon, died Thursday, July 24, 2025. He was 71. Hogan suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida, and was pronounced dead at Morton Plant Hospital, according to a statement from his family. The exact cause of death is under investigation, pending an autopsy. Hogan was a cornerstone of professional wrestling’s rise to ma

SILVERTON, Ore. — The Silverton Emergency Preparedness Fair drew residents to the City Hall parking lot at 410 N Water St. on Saturday, offering critical resources and information as wildfire season intensifies across the region. Held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 12, 2025, the event featured presentations from community partners focusing on wildfire prevention, health and safety protocols, and livestock and pet evacuation plans. The fair, organized by the Silverton Fire Dis

PORTLAND, Ore. – On July 10, 2025, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Oregon’s junior senator since 2009, announced he will seek a fourth term in the 2026 election. The Democratic senator, known for his focus on issues like housing, climate policy, and government reform, made the announcement amid a politically charged national landscape, emphasizing his commitment to serving Oregonians. A Longtime Oregon Public Servant Born in Myrtle Creek, Oregon, in 1956, Merkley grew up in a wor