• The first of six groups of people scoop ceremonial shovels of dirt during Tuesday’s streetscapes groundbreaking ceremony. From left, Benton County Commissioner Nancy Wyse, ODOT Area Manager Savannah Crawford, Rep. David Gomberg, Murraysmith Regional Manager Chris Link, Philomath Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lisa Watkins and Mayor Chas Jones. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • City councilors, mayor, county commissioners (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Business owners/organizations (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Engineers (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • City staff (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Chas Jones (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • City Manager Chris Workman (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Public Works employees (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Randy Kugler (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Rep. David Gomberg (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • ODOT Area Manager Savannah Crawford (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • County Commissioner Nancy Wyse, from left, Rep. David Gomberg, City Councilor Catherine Biscoe and County Commissioner Pat Malone listen to Mayor Chas Jones speak during Tuesday’s streetscapes groundbreaking event. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Current City Manager Chris Workman, left, and former City Manager Randy Kugler talk after Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony. (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.