EDITOR’S CHOICE
State cut leaves Philomath Outdoor School needing community help
Philomath Middle School’s sixth graders are still headed to Outdoor School this spring for the full five-day, four-night experience. The open question has been how to pay for it — and that question got a bit easier this week. Principal Steve Bell learned Tuesday that the school’s projected award from the state’s Outdoor School for All grant program has risen to $79,091.25. That’s $17,337.01 more than the previous projection and lowers the school’s estimated fundraising need from about $30,000 to…
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NEWS
OSU enrollment holds near-record level as out-of-state students fuel growth
About 10,000 new students enrolled at Oregon State University this fall, a group that edges past the school’s previous high-water mark set in fall 2024, according to preliminary figures released Thursday. Total enrollment across all OSU campuses stands at 37,460 students, slightly below last year’s record. Of that total, about…
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BCSO Log: Marijuana theft, crashes, broken vehicle windows on Marys Peak
Benton County sheriff’s deputies responded to a Blodgett marijuana theft, a Chapel Drive menacing report, an elk collision and trailhead car break-ins Oct. 1-5.
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Philomath schools went to ‘secure’ status Monday as law enforcement searched for suspects
The Philomath School District’s five in-town campuses went into “secure” status Monday afternoon as law enforcement officers from three agencies searched for two men suspected in a series of vehicle break-ins across Linn and Benton counties. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is now asking for help identifying a rideshare driver…
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Pies take center stage at Marys River Grange Harvest Fest
Marys River Grange’s Harvest Fest has a sweet new addition this year. The grange’s pie auction, previously part of its Amazing Grange Day event, has moved to the annual fall festival, which runs from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Marys River Grange Hall. Organizer Susan Stogsdill said the switch simply…
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U-of-O program launches two-year partnership with Philomath
The city of Philomath and the University of Oregon’s Sustainable City Year Program celebrated the start of a two-year partnership Friday during a kickoff event at Philomath High School. Under the partnership, university courses will take on projects drawn from the city’s strategic plan. Topics include housing, downtown placemaking, street…
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SPORTS
Philomath football rolls past Gladstone with 30-point first quarter
Philomath High’s football team didn’t waste any time Thursday night at Gladstone. The Warriors scored 30 points in the first quarter, led 44-8 at halftime and cruised to a 51-24 Special District 2 victory over a shorthanded Gladstone squad. “It kind of went the way we thought it would go,” Philomath coach Alex Firth said. “They had 18 healthy players to start the game, so they were outmanned at the beginning. We just did what we do, ran the ball,…
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Stayton pulls away from Philomath boys soccer, 7-1
The Philomath High School boys soccer team could not keep pace with the home team on a visit to Stayton Thursday night in a 7-1 conference loss. The Warriors (3-6-1 overall, 2-3 Oregon West) will begin their second tour of the league Tuesday with a trip to Newport. The Cubs…
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PHS pulls off rare volleyball feat but ends up falling in 4 to Stayton
Philomath volleyball coach Whitney Thomas has seen a lot of matches, but nothing like Thursday’s first two sets against Stayton. The Warriors lost the opening set 25-3 to the conference leaders, then came back and won the second set 25-16. Stayton recovered to win the last two sets and the…
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Philomath girls soccer takes sole possession of first with 2-0 win over Stayton
Philomath High’s girls soccer team scored early in each half and kept Stayton off the scoreboard Thursday in a 2-0 victory over the Eagles to move alone into first place in the league standings. Warriors freshman Lilly Ellis scored in the sixth minute and senior Angelica Morales-Marquez added a goal…
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MORE SPORTS
Philomath in Photos
VIEW PHILOMATH IN PHOTOS GALLERIES FROM PAST MONTHS
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) 
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30, 2026: Sunset along a wooded hiking trail in Bellfountain County Park, 16 miles south of Philomath. The park is the oldest in Benton County. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
SATURDAY, SEPT. 26, 2026: ODOT contractors finish pouring new sidewalks along the traffic median east of downtown. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
FRIDAY, SEPT. 25, 2026: Firefighters work at the site of a controlled burn earlier this week at Bald Hill Farm. Philomath Fire and Rescue's Chancy Ferguson, Dan Eddy and Will Beede participated along with a tender and medical standby. (Photo provided by Philomath Fire and Rescue) 
THURSDAY, SEPT. 24, 2026: Fall colors along the railroad tracks behind Pioneer Park on Tuesday — the first day of fall. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23, 2026: Philomath High graduate Rocco De La Rosa lines up on special teams Saturday night during Oregon State's 52-17 win over Montana. (Photo by Andy Cripe/Philomath News) 
TUESDAY, SEPT. 22, 2026: Seneca Sloan plants a tree during a celebration of life event Sunday in Philomath City Park in honor of her late husband and former mayor Rocky Sloan. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
SATURDAY, SEPT. 19, 2026: Philomath High cheerleaders carry the POW/MIA flag onto Clemens Field during a pregame presentation on Friday night. (Photo by Andy Cripe/Philomath News) 
FRIDAY, SEPT. 18, 2026: Benton Habitat for Humanity home under construction on Quail Glenn Drive. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
THURSDAY, SEPT. 17, 2026: Philomath High's spirit rock promotes the upcoming Glow Dance. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16, 2026: Outdoor garden classroom at Clemens Primary School. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
TUESDAY, SEPT. 15, 2026: Annabelle Schultz from the Benton County Mounted Posse rides “Pistol” to help park vehicles at the Public Safety Chili Cook-off on Sunday. (Photo by Eric Niemann) 
SATURDAY, SEPT. 12, 2026: A fire hydrant near the entrance to Philomath Middle School off Chapel Drive. (Photo by Eric Niemann)
GALLERIES
STATE
COMMENTARY
STACKER
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Philomath Community Services
Verses
By Kevin Ahern
LOCKS MYTH
A skill I learned has helped me out
I can say with certainty
Picking locks, without a doubt
Has opened doors for me
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