S ERVING THE S ILVERTON A REA S INCE 1880
50 C ENTS
●
A U NIQUE E DITION OF THE S TATESMAN J OURNAL
V OL . 136, N O . 12
W EDNESDAY , M ARCH 8, 2017
SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM
CREEKSIDE CHAT
Rich offerings from local grange
Gus Frederick, who will have the perfect
backdrop to deliver his talk on “The His-
tory and Future of the Grange in Transi-
tion.”
That presentation is coming up 5 to 7
p.m. Sunday, March 12, and we’ll hear
more about it below. The following week-
end “Seedy Saturday” from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m., March 18, presents a great opportu-
nity for green thumbs, semi-green
thumbs and/or aspiring green thumbs.
While grange activities primarily
cater to a grown-up set, Silverton’s After
School Activities Program continues to
provide ample undertakings for 7th and
8th graders during the core hours of the
week. With spring break coming up soon,
volunteers are refreshing programs
through the break and into the spring.
The biggest kid in the group (a.k.a.
JUSTIN MUCH
A lot of activity sur-
faced last week around
the Creekside Chat hour.
Mixed into the fold were
grange-hosted gardening
tips, history, after-school
planning, and even some
athletes trotting from school to school,
geared for intrastate travel.
Among the visitors to the Silver Creek
Coffee House on Wednesday, March 1,
were Jan McCorkle, secretary at Silver-
ton Grange #748, a busy Josh Burgeson
and his After School Activities Program
cohort Emalie Radocchia.
The local grange has some rich offer-
ings on the March calendar, including a
presentation from Silverton historian
Josh) knows a bit about precious spring-
break activity as he’s working toward
finishing his degree at Oregon State Uni-
versity this year, on track to do that sum-
mer term.
Josh advised us that the ASAP pro-
gram’s original Tuesday and Thursday
schedule has been augmented by a new
partnership. ASAP now has Wednesday
hours, but at a different location. So cur-
rently there are nine after-school hours
for kids to partake each week: 3 to 6 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursdays at Emmanuel
Lutheran Church, 303 N. Church St.; 3 to
6 p.m. Wednesday at Assembly of God,
427 N. James St.
“We can never say thank you enough
to the individuals and community who
See MUCH, Page 2A
Palmer appointed
Silverton mayor
JUSTIN MUCH/APPEAL TRIBUNE
Jan McCorkle at the Silver Creek Coffee House
for a Creekside Chat.
Silverton Fire
District honors
commitment
APPEAL TRIBUNE STAFF
Silverton Mayor Kyle Palmer takes the oath of office after his appointment to the position by a unanimous City Council vote.
Palmer will serve out the term of Rick Lewis, who resigned after being appointed to the Oregon House District 18 seat.
Former Mayor Lewis leaves post after
being named to state legislative seat
CHRISTENA BROOKS
SPECIAL TO THE APPEAL TRIBUNE
Silverton’s new mayor, Kyle
Palmer, is so quick to say he’s
“nothing special,” you might actu-
ally believe him.
Until you learn he’s been a city
councilor for more than a decade,
coached baseball for two, helped
plan the new high school, and is the
outgoing Rotary Club president.
He also works full-time managing
a veterinary practice and has four
part-time jobs.
A healthy dose of self-deprecat-
ing humor makes Palmer, 50, a pol-
itician whom his fellow councilors
say has “zero ego,” is “a fabulous
listener,” and “believes that di-
verse opinions are better than a
single group opinion on any issue.”
Thus, they unanimously voted on
Feb. 27 to make their council presi-
dent Silverton’s new mayor follow-
ing Rick Lewis’ resignation.
“Being mayor is surreal – I do
not take it for granted,” Palmer
said. “There’s nothing special
about me. We could’ve picked any
one of us (councilors), and they
would’ve done a good job.”
Lewis resigned from his mayor-
PHOTOS BY JUSTIN MUCH/APPEAL TRIBUNE
Kyle Palmer was appointed as
Silverton’s mayor by a vote of the city
council.
al post last month after being ap-
pointed to Rep. Vic Gilliam’s seat in
the Oregon State Legislature and
learning that serving in both posi-
tions could cause conflicts of inter-
est. Gilliam stepped down from the
District 18 seat earlier this year
due to having Lou Gehrig’s dis-
ease.
Lewis’ appointment and resig-
nation came suddenly for Silver-
ton residents, who’d just elected
him to a term in office that ends in
2018. The former mayor said it all
happened suddenly for him, too.
“My decision to file for the
House seat started in February,
just a few weeks ago. I had no con-
sideration to do so before then,” he
said. “Even after reaching that de-
cision, I had planned to continue
serving as mayor through the re-
mainder of this term.”
One of Lewis’ last acts in office
was to help vote Palmer in as Sil-
verton’s new mayor, although
Councilor Dana Smith said Palm-
er’s selection was a group decision.
“I’m as happy as I could be to
have Kyle as our next mayor,” she
said. “I think it’s long overdue.”
In the past, Palmer ran for ma-
jor twice, once in 2010 and again in
2012, losing first to Stu Rasmussen
and then to Lewis. Palmer recalls
his pride taking a beating, but he
accepted the losses and looked for
other ways to be involved in local
politics, including sitting on the
budget committee and pool task
force. He’s since been reelected to
the council.
“A lot of people would’ve
See MAYOR, Page 2A
Silverton Fire District held their annual Awards
Banquet on Feb. 18th. The evening celebrated commit-
ment to the Silverton Fire District and recognized a few
outstanding members of the organization.
Firefighter Keith Veit was named Firefighter of the
Year.
Veit volunteers and responds to calls from the Dis-
trict’s Main Station. He is known for participating in the
annual food drive for Silverton Area Community Aid as
well as his numerous responses to calls. According to a
press release, Veit “is an outstanding firefighter who
we count on to help day and night for anything we need.
Volunteer personnel are our number one resource and
Keith is a dedicated member who puts the community
first.”
Captain Jesse Hulett was named Officer of the Year.
Hulett volunteers and responds out of the District’s
Main Station. He has been a volunteer with Silverton
Fire since January 2004 and since that time his efforts
include responding to calls, training and overseeing the
Rescue and Aerial Division of the Fire District.
Firefighter and Paramedic Tyler Smith was named
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) of the Year.
Smith has been a volunteer with the Fire District
since 2011 and started in the Fire District’s youth Ex-
plorer Post.
He recently achieved the paramedic level of certifi-
cation and spends countless volunteer hours going on
calls, helping with public education events and assist-
ing with training.
Firefighter James Ruks was named Rookie of the
year.
Ruks is assigned to the District’s Main Station. He
started with the Fire District with no fire experience
but excelled in the District’s training program. Accord-
ing to the release, Ruka “is also very active in our annu-
al food and toy drive. James is also a full time member
of the military but still finds time to volunteer to for his
community.”
With 25 years of service, Firefighter Dennis Mess-
man was presented with the lifetime membership
award.
Outstanding Service awards were given to Assistant
Chief Gordy Jensen, Captain Ed Grambusch, Lt. Ray
Dandeneau, Firefighter Keith Veit and Firefighter
Danielle Bowman.
This award is given to members who go above and
beyond the call of duty to support their community.
Keith Veit
Jesse Hulett
Silverr ton B usiiness of t he Y ear 2 016
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Life..........................................4A
Obituaries.............................3A
Police logs.............................3A
Sports......................................1B
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