EDITOR’S CHOICE
Council warms to ‘Fridays on 13th Street’ and downtown upgrades
After a 43-minute public hearing and discussion on a local improvement district consumed the early part of Monday night’s meeting, Philomath city councilors clearly welcomed the chance to talk about something a little more fun — how to transform North 13th Street into the kind of place where neighbors run into each other on a summer evening. City Manager Chris Workman laid out a package of downtown improvements — a timber-framed pavilion, cross-street string lighting, additional benches and a state-of-the-art…
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NEWS
Council adopts 2026 cybersecurity policies
The Philomath City Council adopted an updated set of cybersecurity policies Monday night following a brief closed-door discussion of the city’s digital infrastructure. Councilors met in executive session for 13 minutes to discuss cybersecurity infrastructure. Oregon’s public meetings law allows governing bodies to discuss such matters privately when they involve…
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Mount Union Stories: Susan Jane Hennessey (1891-1928)
In this week’s Mount Union Stories, read about Susan Jane (Keyes) Hennessey, who died at age 39 in Portland and is buried near family members in the northeast section of Mount Union Cemetery.
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Library to host Squishtivities messy-play session Wednesday
Philomath Community Library will host its free Squishtivities session for young children and their caregivers from 11-11:45 a.m. Wednesday immediately following the library’s regular storytime. The May 13 installment, titled “Rolling Ball Masterpiece,” will give children the chance to experiment with rolling objects of different sizes through paint to create…
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Life Line Screening event set for May 29 at Scout Lodge
Life Line Screening will host a preventive health screening event on Friday, May 29, at the Philomath Scout Lodge. The company, which bills itself as a national leader in stroke and cardiovascular disease risk screenings, is offering a package of four tests for $129. The screenings include checks for carotid…
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About 12% of Oregon voters have cast ballots week ahead of primary election
Oregon election officials have received 357,000 ballots as of Tuesday, about 12% of the 3.1 million sent to registered voters across the state ahead of the May 19 primary. That’s a third of the overall voter turnout during the 2024 primary, according to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Elections Division,…
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MORE NEWS
SPORTS
Philomath boys golf finishes 6th at Oregon West championships at Tokatee
The Philomath High School boys golf team wrapped up the Oregon West Conference Championships on Tuesday at Tokatee Golf Club near McKenzie Bridge with a sixth-place finish. Senior Roman Robins was the top PHS performer in the tournament with a two-day score of 186, which put him in 12th place. Robins shot rounds of 93 on both days. A pair of freshmen followed with Corbin Black in 25th with a 216 and Conrad Yates in 26th with a 224. Another…
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Philomath rides Babcock’s arm, balanced offense past Newport 6-2
The Philomath High School baseball team won its second straight game with a 6-2 victory Monday at home against Newport. The Warriors are now tied with Cascade for second place in the Oregon West Conference standings at 6-4 and chasing first-place Stayton, which is sitting at 8-2. Overall, Philomath is…
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Philomath softball wins second straight, beats North Marion 10-7
The Philomath High School softball team won its second straight game Monday with a 10-7 victory on the road over North Marion. The Warriors (8-9 overall, 3-7 Oregon West) are scheduled to play at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Sweet Home in the third meeting of the season between the two…
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Warriors win 6 of 8 matches on Day 1 of girls tennis districts
The Philomath High girls tennis team posted a dominant opening day at the Special District 2 Tournament on Monday by winning six of eight matches at Molalla High School to position multiple players and doubles teams for runs heading into the tournament’s continuation Thursday and Friday at the Salem Swim…
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Philomath in Photos
VIEW PHILOMATH IN PHOTOS GALLERIES FROM PAST MONTHS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2026: A rainbow over Applegate Street on Wednesday morning. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2026: Volunteers cook pancakes, sausage and bacon at a breakfast fundraiser Saturday morning at the Main Street fire station. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2026: Dutch irises bloom in front of the Benton County Historical Society's Johnson Collection Center. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2026: The Merry's Place concession stand at the PHS baseball field — named in memory of Merry Rath. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2026: Adjutant Frank Blair, left, and Post Commander Elwin Callahan conduct business at the May meeting of the American Legion Marys River Post 100. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2026: Playground equipment at Philomath Elementary School. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2026: New signage in front of the Philomath School District office. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2026: The Centuries of Celebration exhibit at Philomath Museum. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2026: Colors outside of Lupe's Community Garden. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2026: PHS Warrior flags fly at the tennis courts earlier this week. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2026: Rhododendrons bloom at the PHS Botany Lab. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2026: A trail through Downing forest on Philomath School District property. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026: Newton Creek runs through Philomath City Park. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2026: The Philomath High School baseball team meets postgame under a canopy of blue sky and clouds Thursday evening at Terry Stephenson Field. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News) 
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2026: The historic Philomath College building, now Philomath Museum, in the side-view mirror. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
GALLERIES
election 2026
May 19 election: Q-and-A with candidates in contested primary for county commissioner
Benton County voters will decide a contested Democratic race for county commissioner on the May 19 primary election ballot. The Democratic primary for the board’s…
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May 19 ballot: Philomath Fire and Rescue seeks five-year operating levy
Philomath Fire and Rescue officials say a five-year local operating levy on the May 19 ballot is essential to maintaining current staffing and service levels…
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May 19 ballot: Voters to decide psilocybin ban, 7 annexation measures
Philomath voters will weigh in on eight city-referred ballot measures in the May 19 primary election, deciding whether to permanently ban psilocybin-related businesses within city…
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STATE
COMMENTARY
STACKER
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Philomath Community Services
Verses
By Kevin Ahern
BLEU IS BEAUTIFUL
The cheese shop owner
Has odd views
Always happy
With the bleus
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