NOV. 3 GENERAL ELECTION
Oregon Capital Chronicle Statewide Voter Guide
EDITOR’S CHOICE
City manager review to gather input beyond the council
The Philomath City Council wants this year’s performance evaluation of City Manager Chris Workman to draw on more voices, focus on fewer but more meaningful questions and be run by elected officials rather than city staff. Councilors voted unanimously Oct. 12 to authorize the Finance and Administration Committee to finalize the 2026 city manager performance evaluation process and questions, incorporating council feedback and a 360-degree evaluation. The motion also makes the mayor and council president responsible for administering the process.…
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NEWS
Emerald Drive officially becomes Jade Place
Residents of Jade Place won’t notice anything different, but on paper their street just got a new name. The Philomath City Council voted 5-0 at its Oct. 12 meeting to adopt an ordinance to officially rename Emerald Drive to Jade Place. The change corrects a discrepancy that dates back more…
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Philomath Police Log: Criminal mischief, Highway 20 crash, family argument
Philomath police assisted at a Highway 20 semitruck rollover, arrested a woman after a torn flag incident and served two warrants during Oct. 9-15.
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Fire and Rescue Calls: Crew helps free semitruck driver after crash on Highway 20
Philomath Fire and Rescue crews helped extricate a semitruck driver on Highway 20 and answered mutual aid and smoke calls during the week of Oct. 9-15.
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Benton County Records and Elections expands online services with new subscription research room
Benton County’s Records and Elections Department is moving more of its services online with the latest addition aimed at title companies, real estate agents and other professionals who regularly dig through property records. The department on Wednesday announced the opening of its Digital Research Room, a subscription service that gives…
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2026 property tax statements now available in Benton County
The Benton County Assessor’s Office released 2026 tax statements and certified property values Monday. Property owners can view both through the county’s online property search tool. Owners of business personal property accounts valued below the county’s $24,000 cancellation threshold will not receive a tax statement for that business property. Taxpayers…
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SPORTS
Warriors girls run to win at CG Bramble Scramble
Freshman Olivia Hernandez broke the meet record by nearly 49 seconds and the Philomath High School girls cross-country team placed five runners in the top 13 to win the team title Saturday at the CG Bramble Scramble at Cottage Grove High School. Hernandez finished in 19:28.8, eclipsing the previous meet record of 20:17.4 set in 2024 by Philomath’s Adele Beckstead, then a senior. The Warriors scored 28 points to finish ahead of host Cottage Grove (47) and Glide (53). “The…
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Herbert’s first varsity goal sends Philomath teammates into celebration
Ryan Herbert’s goal Thursday afternoon didn’t change the outcome. Philomath already led Taft by six with less than five minutes to play. It didn’t matter to his teammates. When the sophomore forward tapped in a cross from junior Dreyton Nuño in the 76th minute, the Warriors celebrated wildly. The goal…
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Gallery: PHS boys soccer vs. Taft (Oct. 15, 2026)
A collection of photos from Philomath High’s 7-0 boys soccer victory over visiting Taft on Thursday.
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Taft posts 3-set volleyball victory over visiting Philomath
The Philomath High School girls volleyball team couldn’t find the winning formula on the road Thursday evening with a three-set loss at Taft. The Tigers earned the victory, 25-18, 25-23, 25-15, to improve to 13-7 overall, 3-4 in the Oregon West Conference. The Warriors drop to 4-14 and 1-6. PHS…
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Philomath in Photos
VIEW PHILOMATH IN PHOTOS GALLERIES FROM PAST MONTHS
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
ONE FOURTH SIZE
I bought a replica fisherman’s knife
Yesterday on sale
It was a smallish copy
That was made to scale
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