NOV. 3 GENERAL ELECTION
Oregon Capital Chronicle Statewide Voter Guide
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Philomath School Board agrees to elevate safety and security planning
Days after a deadly shooting at a Bend elementary school, the Philomath School Board agreed Tuesday night to make school safety and security a priority. The chair told colleagues he couldn’t say with confidence that the district has done enough to prepare for an attack. Board chair Tom Klipfel raised the issue near the end of the meeting, calling it “the wrench in the works” for the board’s planned discussion of district objectives. He said the Oct. 15 shooting at…
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NEWS
Peace Lutheran event aims to remind shoppers that every dollar goes back to community
Peace Lutheran Church’s Ladies Guild will host its annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and organizers hope shoppers walk away with more than bargains this year. Guild member Holly Bendixen said the sale’s reputation for low prices sometimes overshadows its purpose. “People really haven’t been aware that…
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BCSO Log: Crashes, juveniles, grease-tampered truck
Benton County sheriff’s deputies responded to a flipped semi, a near hit-and-run, alcohol at a Kings Valley school and other incidents Oct. 3-18.
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Memorial gift adds lathe, bandsaw to middle school woodshop
Friends, family and fellow foresters of the late Dick Powell have donated $6,170 to the Philomath Middle School woodshop program to buy a wood lathe and bandsaw in his memory. Steve Pilkerton, treasurer of the Society of American Foresters’ Marys Peak Chapter, presented the memorial contribution to the Philomath School…
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Mount Union Stories: Hattie K. Williams (1873-1902)
In this week’s Mount Union Stories, read about Hattie Williams, a Philomath schoolteacher who died in 1902, is remembered through her mother’s memorial poem and records tracing her family, marriage and short life.
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Fundraiser to support Tom Overlin set for Oct. 25
At Home Properties will host a fundraiser on Sunday to help longtime Philomath community member Tom Overlin with costs related to recent medical issues. The Oct. 25 event will feature a hot chocolate and doughnut/cookie stand from 9 a.m. to noon at the company’s office at 1010 Main St. in…
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SPORTS
Team depth carries Philomath girls to Happy Hustle win
Philomath High’s girls cross-country team placed five competitors in the top 18 in a field of 149 runners Wednesday at Crystal Lake Sports Park to win The Happy Hustle. The Warriors scored 54 points, well ahead of runner-up Crescent Valley (90) and third-place Dallas (104) in the 21-team girls field. The Philomath boys placed sixth of 22 teams with 164 points, one spot behind conference rival Stayton. “I was really proud of the girls today,” Philomath coach Joe Fulton said.…
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Philomath girls soccer still unbeaten in league play
Kya Bolton didn’t like the call that set up a drop ball midway through the first half Tuesday. She did something about it. The Philomath junior scored twice, including a goal moments after the restart, and the Warriors defeated Cascade 3-0 at Philomath High School to stay unbeaten in league…
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Philomath drops league match in 4 sets vs. Cascade
The Philomath High School volleyball team avoided a sweep and pushed visiting Cascade to a fourth set before falling in the Oregon West Conference match on Tuesday evening. The Cougars took a 25-16, 25-20, 20-25, 25-16 win. Philomath drops to 4-15 overall and 1-7 in the conference. PHS senior Nora…
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Future Stars Basketball Camp set for Nov. 11 at Philomath High
Young basketball players in Philomath will have a chance to sharpen their skills next month at the Future Stars Basketball Camp, a one-day session hosted by the Philomath High School boys basketball program on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The camp is open to boys and girls in third through eighth grades…
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Philomath in Photos
VIEW PHILOMATH IN PHOTOS GALLERIES FROM PAST MONTHS
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
PEDAL PUSHER
A psychiatrist pedaling backwards
Abuses bike technology
Perhaps he thinks he’ll get his way
By using reverse cycology
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