EDITOR’S CHOICE
Emotional return by PHS senior provides special moment in otherwise down evening
Entering Tuesday’s game against Newport with 1:38 remaining in the fourth quarter, Philomath High senior Josiah Peters got back onto the floor for the first time since scoring 11 points in a Dec. 9 win over Marist Catholic. Forty-five seconds later, he got the ball outside of the 3-point arc and attempted a shot — nothing but net. “I was shooting it no matter what if I got the ball,” Peters said. “It made me feel like a sophomore again,…
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featured
City refers eight ballot measures for May primary election
Philomath voters will decide in May whether to prohibit psilocybin-related businesses within city limits and whether to annex seven island territories currently surrounded by the city. The city has referred the eight ballot measures to the May 19 primary election, according to a notice of receipt of ballot titles that…
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PHS girls roll past Cubs, refocus for second half of Oregon West play
Following a week with back-to-back conference losses at the hands of Cascade and Stayton, the Philomath High girls basketball team needed a positive boost to wrap up its first trip through the league. Going up against an overmatched Newport squad Tuesday night, the Warriors posted a 73-29 victory in the…
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Philomath School District Budget Committee to hold informational meeting Thursday
The Philomath School District has started to work on the 2026-27 budget and on Thursday evening, the Budget Committee will meet for the first time this cycle with an informational meeting. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in the Philomath High School Community Conference Room (go in…
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Mount Union Stories: Mary J. Williams (1846-1902)
In this week’s Mount Union Stories, read about Mary J. Williams, a 56-year-old woman who died in Salem of consumption, a disease that today is known as tuberculosis. She is buried in the cemetery’s Northeast section close to the family of her brother, Thomas P. Conner.
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Neelands makes fall dean’s list at Hartwick College
Philomath High School graduate Allison Neelands was named to Hartwick College’s fall dean’s list, the school announced. Neelands, who is pursuing a major in political science with a minor in legal studies, was among the approximately 400 students named to the dean’s list at the Oneonta, New York, school. To…
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SPORTS
Gallery: PHS boys basketball vs. Newport (Feb. 3, 2026)
A collection of photos from Philomath High’s 68-42 boys basketball loss to Newport on Tuesday.
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Warriors tune up for district with four-school meet at Sweet Home
The Philomath High swim teams got in another competition before shifting focus to districts with an appearance Saturday at a four-school meet at Sweet Home. Junior Lucas Brandt won two events and senior Cameron McLennan and junior Kate Burriel also had wins in the individual events for the Warriors. Philomath’s…
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Philomath in Photos
VIEW PHILOMATH IN PHOTOS GALLERIES FROM PAST MONTHS
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4, 2026: The Independent Community Center on the corner of Fern Road and Airport Avenue. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
TUESDAY, FEB. 3, 2026: A snow moon on Groundhog Day over Philomath. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
SATURDAY, JAN. 31, 2026: A picnic table built and donated by Hoskins Livestock 4-H Club sits at Flossie Overman Discovery Park. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
FRIDAY, JAN. 30, 2026: A school of colorful wooden fish swim along the fence line behind Philomath Elementary. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
THURSDAY, JAN. 29, 2026: Philomath High senior Ike Avery sings the National Anthem prior to Wednesday’s home swim meet. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 28, 2026: A redwood tree at Philomath High’s Clemens Field. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
TUESDAY, JAN. 27, 2026: A Clydesdale pulls a buggy past the Benton County Fairgrounds northeast of Philomath on Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
SATURDAY, JAN. 24, 2026: Public art at Philomath City Park. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
FRIDAY, JAN. 23, 2026: A view of Marys Peak from Fern Road. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
THURSDAY, JAN. 22, 2026: Philomath High’s Class of 1956 planted 56 trees in this redwood grove in Marys River Park and Natural Area in 2006 during their 50th class reunion. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21, 2026: Philomath High cheerleaders at Tuesday night’s boys basketball game. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
TUESDAY, JAN. 20, 2026: The American flag flies in front of Philomath Museum Monday on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
SATURDAY, JAN. 17, 2026: Sunset at Philomath City Park with the recently installed light poles from Main Street. (Photo by Eric Niemann)
GALLERIES
STATE
COMMENTARY
STACKER
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Philomath Community Services
Verses
By Kevin Ahern
OPEN AND SHUT
70 years before my 70th year
I opened my eyes and then
70 years passed and I realized
They will close again
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