• U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Dave Takush, 2 Towns Ciderhouse co-owner and cider maker, asks a question during Thursday’s town hall with U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden responds to a question. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • A woman who said she wants to start her own business listens to Sen. Ron Wyden’s response to a question. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • An audience member asks the senator a question. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • An audience member asks the senator a question. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Benton County Commissioner Pat Malone, who is a tree farmer in Kings Valley, offers comments during Thursday’s town hall. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) shakes hands in Philomath High School’s hallway prior to Thursday afternoon’s town hall meeting. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Philomath Chief of Police Dave Gurski shakes hands with Sen. Ron Wyden prior to Thursday’s town hall. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • State Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin was among those who asked questions. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Audience members listen to U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden during Thursday’s town hall. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Philomath City Councilor Ruth Causey makes introductory remarks at Thursday’s town hall with U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and Philomath City Councilor Ruth Causey walk toward the PHS auditorium for Thursday’s town hall. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Philomath resident John Booker Jr. asked the first question of the afternoon. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Benton County Commissioner Xan Augerot (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Benton County Commissioner Xan Augerot speaks during Thursday’s event as U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and Philomath City Councilor Ruth Causey look on. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden shares his views on Roe v. Wade. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden answers a question during Thursday’s Benton County town hall at Philomath High School. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden answers a question during Thursday’s Benton County town hall at Philomath High School. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden listens to a question during Thursday’s Benton County town hall at Philomath High School. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden answers a question during Thursday’s Benton County town hall at Philomath High School. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)

Brad Fuqua has covered the Philomath area since 2014 as the editor of the now-closed Philomath Express and currently as publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He has worked as a professional journalist since 1988 at daily and weekly newspapers in Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, Arizona, Montana and Oregon.