NOV. 3 GENERAL ELECTION
Oregon Capital Chronicle Statewide Voter Guide
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Hernandez, deep lineup help Philomath girls to district cross-country title
This coming Saturday in Eugene, Philomath High’s girls cross-country team will have the reigning conference champion and the reigning state champion on the same starting line. Freshman Olivia Hernandez won the Oregon West Conference girls title Saturday at Stayton by 42.8 seconds and led the Warriors to the team championship. Philomath won by 27 points without junior Cassidy Smart, Class 4A’s returning state champion, who has been out with a foot injury but has been cleared to run at state.…
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NEWS
Free curbside leaf pickup continues with four more collection days
Philomath residents have four more chances this fall to have leaves hauled away from the curb for free. Republic Services, which provides the service under contract with the city, will collect leaf piles on paved city streets Nov. 5 and again on Nov. 19, Dec. 3 and Dec. 17. The…
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Three Things: Describing Philomath, Dax’s new jobs and a late Halloween night
Not long ago on a visit to the Midwest, a relative asked me to describe Philomath, the place I’ve chosen to call home. In the moment, I did the best I could, but in hindsight, I missed a lot of the highlights. So I’m going to give it another try,…
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OSP Log: Log trucks collide after driver swerves to avoid deer near Elgin
Editor’s note: This report is based on information submitted by Oregon State Police. Not all fatal crashes may be included. The status of incidents might change after further investigation. FRIDAY, OCT. 23 • 9:53 p.m. — A trooper discovered a deceased pedestrian in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 84 west…
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Philomath Community Services kicks off Holiday Cheer gift drive
Philomath Community Services is looking for sponsors and donors to help local families through its annual Holiday Cheer program, which provides grocery gift cards and gifts for children age 18 and younger. Cynthia Ferguson, the program’s manager, said sponsors who sign up will receive general information about a child, including…
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Skate Park After Dark brings food, clothing and connection to Philomath youth
A cute goat, hot burritos and a karaoke mic aren’t standard skate park gear. On Thursday evening at Philomath City Park, they came with a purpose. Jackson Street Youth Services brought Skate Park After Dark to town for a two-hour event that included tents with free food, clothing and art…
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MORE NEWS
SPORTS
PHS football season ends with loss as team’s 11 seniors say goodbye
Philomath High senior quarterback AJ Altishin isn’t worried about how Friday night’s scoreboard will be remembered. “You won’t remember the score of these games,” Altishin said when asked to sum up the season. “You just remember the guys you did it with.” It’s a score the Warriors won’t want to remember. Estacada, a top-10 ranked team, ran for 493 yards and pulled away for a 63-14 Special District 2 victory that ended Philomath’s season on Senior Night. Before kickoff, though,…
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Gallery: PHS football vs. Estacada (Oct. 30, 2026)
A collection of photos from Philomath High’s football game at home against Estacada on Friday.
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PHS girls end volleyball season with road loss to conference champions
The Philomath High School girls volleyball team’s season ended Tuesday night with a three-set loss at Oregon West Conference champion Stayton. The Eagles posted a 25-12, 25-7, 25-22 victory and won the league title with a 9-1 record. Stayton (17-4 overall) will now await the release of the Class 4A…
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Philomath girls soccer clinches Oregon West title with 4-1 win at Stayton
The Philomath High School girls soccer team won the Oregon West Conference title on Tuesday night with a 4-1 victory at Stayton. The Warriors finished atop the standings with a 9-0-1 record — the lone blemish being a scoreless tie on Oct. 13 against Newport. Stayton settled for runner-up at…
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Philomath in Photos
VIEW PHILOMATH IN PHOTOS GALLERIES FROM PAST MONTHS
SATURDAY, OCT. 31, 2026: Trunk or Treats attracted hundreds of kids on Friday afternoon in downtown Philomath. (Photo by Mike Brawner) 
FRIDAY, OCT. 30, 2026: A fall afternoon in Philomath City Park. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
THURSDAY, OCT. 29, 2026: Cinnamon rolls, cookies and hot chocolate were among the items served at a fundraiser last weekend for Tom Overlin. The At Home Properties event was organized to help Overlin with medical expenses. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28, 2026: Philomath High sophomore Kaylie Thomas shoots photos for the yearbook at Tuesday's boys soccer game. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
TUESDAY, OCT. 27, 2026: A view from Neabeack Hill looking west down Applegate Street. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
SATURDAY, OCT. 24, 2026: The Willamette Community and Grange Hall on Greenberry Road was built in 1923 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
FRIDAY, OCT. 23, 2026: Maxtivity's Glory, a human-powered kinetic sculpture vehicle, joins Philomath Elementary's bike bus on Friday morning. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2026: A scene from last weekend's Autumn Craft Show at Philomath Scout Lodge. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 21, 2026: An evening-sky view looking east toward Plymouth on Tuesday. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
TUESDAY, OCT. 20, 2026: The Oregon Department of Forestry's Ryan Schmidtgall demonstrates fire behavior and defensible space at the Philomath Fire and Rescue open house event earlier this month. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
SATURDAY, OCT. 17, 2026: Steve King's Blinky Lights Halloween display at 597 Neabeack Hill Drive. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
FRIDAY, OCT. 16, 2026: Fall colors at Philomath City Park. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
THURSDAY, OCT. 15, 2026: A rooster skeleton Halloween yard decoration on Main Street. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 14, 2026: A participant in the Great Pumpkin Run turns off the Hunsaker Bike Trail onto Applegate Street on Sunday morning. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
TUESDAY, OCT. 13, 2026: Philomath Fire and Rescue's Engine 251 provides rides to youngsters Saturday during the organization's annual open house event. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
SATURDAY, OCT. 10, 2026: PHS junior varsity girls soccer coach Anton Grube talks to his team in the shade on a hot day before a game Thursday. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
FRIDAY, OCT. 9, 2026: The Paul Mariman Memorial Cross-Country Course will be the site of Philomath High's annual meet on Saturday. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
THURSDAY, OCT. 8, 2026: Tree service workers trim limbs away from a power line while a bicyclist uses the bike lane on Applegate Street. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 7, 2026: Don Rogers shares his experiences spending his junior year in high school on a Rotary Youth Exchange in Jakobstad, Finland at Tuesday’s Philomath Rotary Club Meeting. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
TUESDAY, OCT. 6, 2026: A new sign for the Philomath Police Department has been installed in front of the station. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
SATURDAY, OCT. 3, 2026: A Philomath High band member glances back at bandmates while pounding out a beat on the bass drum during Friday morning's homecoming parade. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
FRIDAY, OCT. 2, 2026: The spirit rock at Philomath High promotes this week’s Golden Hour-themed homecoming dance. A homecoming parade is scheduled for 9:40 a.m. Friday. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
THURSDAY, OCT. 1, 2026: The Philomath Farmers' Market on a fall Sunday afternoon. The market will operate through Oct. 18. (Photo by Eric Niemann)
GALLERIES
STATE
COMMENTARY
STACKER
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Philomath Community Services
Verses
By Kevin Ahern
DEAD HEADS
The funeral parlor’s
Coffee astounds
Perhaps they’re using
Burial grounds?
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