EDITOR’S CHOICE
Football season preview: Warriors return veteran core, brace for tougher district
Philomath High School’s football team spent the winter and spring with a bit of unfinished business hanging over the program. The Warriors closed last season 6-3, capping the regular season with a 26-14 win over Sweet Home that appeared to punch their ticket to the playoffs — only for the postseason berth to be wiped away when the team was forced to forfeit the game for using an ineligible player. In the end, the official record shows the team went…
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NEWS
Ballot set for Philomath City Council; commissioner race gains challenger, sheriff unopposed
The ballot for the Nov. 3 general election is coming into final shape with five candidates confirmed for three Philomath City Council seats, a last-minute addition to the Benton County commissioner race and an unopposed candidate advancing for county sheriff. All five candidates seeking a City Council seat have now…
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Oregon Health Authority approves Samaritan’s affiliation with MultiCare
Samaritan Health Services has cleared a major regulatory hurdle in its planned affiliation with Washington-based MultiCare Health System, receiving approval from the Oregon Health Authority this week. The Aug. 24 approval marks what Samaritan officials called the most significant milestone to date in the affiliation process, which was first announced…
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Mount Union Stories: Joseph H. Benton (1839-1913)
In this week’s Mount Union Stories, read about Joseph H. Benton, a 74-year-old man who appeared to have lived in Oregon only the last few years of his life.
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Gomberg to chair new Oregon Blue Economy Task Force
State Rep. David Gomberg (D-Otis) has been named chair of a newly formed Oregon Blue Economy Task Force, created this year to examine ways to grow the state’s coastal economy while safeguarding coastal ecosystems. The task force was established through Senate Bill 1525 during the 2026 legislative session. Gomberg, whose…
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Oregon Secretary of State: Mail elections to continue as planned despite court setback
All Oregon voters will receive ballots by mail and should plan to return them by mail or an official dropbox despite a legal setback for states suing to block the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict mail voting, Secretary of State Tobias Read said Tuesday. Read, a Democrat elected in 2024,…
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MORE NEWS
SPORTS
Cross-country season preview: Deep girls team, rebuilding boys squad
The Philomath High School cross-country season kicks off Friday on Western Oregon University’s Ash Creek Preserve course in Monmouth — and for the girls, the storyline is continuity. For the boys, it’s about restocking after losing two all-state runners. Longtime head coach Joe Fulton, entering the season with assistant coaches Diana Bushnell and Whitney Smart, said the girls squad returns loaded with talent while the boys are relying on youth to rebuild. Junior Cassidy Smart made history last fall by…
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Challenge of Champions bull-riding series coming to Philomath on Saturday
Bull riders from across the country will converge on Philomath this Saturday for a stop on the Challenge of Champions Tour, a traveling bull-riding series making a stop in Philomath. The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Philomath Frolic and Rodeo grounds. The doors open at…
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Youth rodeo finals to fill Philomath arena this weekend
The Philomath Frolic and Rodeo arena will come alive Friday through Sunday as the Northwest Youth Rodeo Association holds its finals rodeo, the last stop of a summer-long season that draws young competitors from across the region. Gates open at 8 a.m. Friday and the day begins with 2027 NWYRA…
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Two-day camp aims to build confidence, strength in Philomath girls
Natasha Nuño is hoping to tackle a problem she’s watched play out for years — girls quitting sports just as they’re hitting their stride. Nuño, who is putting on the camp along with her daughter, Rivers, said research shows girls drop out of sports at roughly double the rate of…
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Philomath in Photos
VIEW PHILOMATH IN PHOTOS GALLERIES FROM PAST MONTHS
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26, 2026: Seniors Erynn Kohler, left, and Olivia Daggett get started on painting their parking spots at Philomath High School on Tuesday afternoon. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
TUESDAY, AUG. 25, 2026: The creativity of student artists on display on a mural located outside of Philomath High's Clemens Community Pool. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
SATURDAY, AUG. 22, 2026: Strings of lights brighten 13th Street. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
FRIDAY, AUG. 21, 2026: Sunflowers bloom at Lupe's Community Garden next to Philomath Community Services. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
THURSDAY, AUG. 20, 2026: A vintage Studebaker pickup parked at the Philomath Farmers' Market last weekend. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19, 2026: A school bus mailbox on South Ninth Street marks the location of the Philomath School District's new transportation provider, First Student Inc. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
TUESDAY, AUG. 18, 2026: Ashlyn Terry, of Philomath, competes in pole bending at last weekend's Northwest Youth Rodeo Association finals in the Frolic arena. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
SATURDAY, AUG. 15, 2026: Chainsaw art at Skirvin Park. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
FRIDAY, AUG. 14, 2026: A chestnut horse pauses for a close-up at the Philomath Frolic and Rodeo grounds Friday morning as the Northwest Rodeo Association finals get ready to kick off. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
THURSDAY, AUG. 13, 2026: Philomath Public Works employees install wood framing Wednesday around the new readerboard at Dale Collins Memorial Park. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 12, 2026: Benton County Emergency Manager and Philomath resident Bryan Lee encourages residents to prepare for emergencies during a program at the Sunset Building in Corvallis on Tuesday night.(Photo by Eric Niemann) 
TUESDAY, AUG. 11, 2026: A load of lumber rolls down Philomath's Main Street last week. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
SATURDAY, AUG. 8, 2026: Mule On Fire plays a set at the Strengthening Rural Families Summer Gathering Friday night at Lumos Wine Co. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
FRIDAY, AUG. 7, 2026: Jodi Russell, Philomath Community Services board president, shares comments at Thursday's Celebrating Service fundraiser at Cardwell Hill Cellars. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
THURSDAY, AUG. 6, 2026: Hazy skies from wildfire smoke as seen this week in the Philomath area. (Photo by David Low) 
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 5, 2026: A banner at Philomath Community Library's front desk promotes summer reading. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
TUESDAY, AUG. 4, 2026: Philomath High junior Bryce Hruska shows his pygmy goat during the Lee Allen Memorial Youth Auction Saturday night at the Benton County Fair. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
SATURDAY, AUG. 1, 2026: Philomath City Park's skate park opened during the summer of 2000. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
GALLERIES
STATE
COMMENTARY
STACKER
READ PAST STACKER STORIES
Philomath Community Services
Verses
By Kevin Ahern
STICKY SITUATION
The Scotch factory robber
Did not make a great escape
And so they identified him
By looking at the tape
Where to Write
Click on the name below to send an email to an elected representative:
U.S. SENATE
Sen. Ron Wyden
Sen. Jeff Merkley
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rep. Val Hoyle
OREGON LEGISLATURE
Sen. Dick Anderson
Rep. David Gomberg
BENTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Commissioner Pat Malone
Commissioner Gabe Shepherd
Commissioner Nancy Wyse
PHILOMATH CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Christopher McMorran
President Teresa Nielson
Councilor Jessica Andrade
Councilor Diane Crocker
Councilor Spencer Irwin
Councilor Brent Kaseman
Councilor Rich Saalsaa
PHILOMATH SCHOOL BOARD
Chair Tom Klipfel
Vice Chair Erin McMullen
Director Ryan Cheeke
Director Erin Gudge
Director Sandi Hering