Linn County commissioners extend enterprise zone tax deal for Valliscor’s $25M expansion
ALBANY, Ore. — At their March 3 meeting, Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker approved an extended Enterprise Zone Tax Abatement Agreement for Valliscor LLC. Linn County is a cosponsor of the Albany Enterprise Zone. The City of Albany had already approved the agreement, which...
Bowman ramp cleared of logs and debris
A mass of driftwood clogged the boat ramp at Albany’s Bowman Park over the last few weeks. But on Wednesday the logjam had been cleared away. Logs and smaller bits of driftwood were piled up beside the upstream ramp, well out of the way of anyone trying to launch or take out a boat.
Oregon bipartisan duo push for compensating committee aide wrongfully accused of misconduct
Bipartisan Oregon lawmakers introduce legislation to compensate Robert Parker Jr., a Black legislative employee wrongfully accused of financial impropriety in the 1980s. The decades-long plight of a Black legislative employee wrongfully accused of financial impropriety during his time battling the influence of oil...
Yamhill Pub Bathrooms Are Worthy of Thatcher-Era Glasgow
My editor sent me to Yamhill Pub because I have OCD, with certain germs as my demon (“Anthony Takes a Trip,” WW, Sept. 17, 2025). I’ve been doing exposure therapy, confronting things that scare me and trying not to respond. The “Yammi” has what might be the most frightening bathrooms in town. They are bombed-out...
Church complex proposed on N. Albany field
On March 17, the Benton County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing before deciding whether to allow a church, gymnasium and 269-space parking lot to be built on a 19-acre property in rural North Albany. Before you read on, I should tell you that I have a personal interest...
Salem man sentenced to 9 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter
SALEM, Ore. (KATU) — A Salem man will spend more than nine years behind bars for the death of his girlfriend. On Tuesday, 40-year-old Atilano Davalos III pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter. Prosecutors say in May 2024, Davalos accelerated and then braked sharply while his girlfriend, Carla Vasquez, was...
Sweet Home woman charged with luring a minor after alleged explicit texts to child
A Sweet Home woman is facing one count of luring a minor after a parent allegedly found explicit messages sent to a child by the child's volleyball coach. The investigation began on Oct. 31, 2025, after a parent notified the Lebanon Police Department about the messages which allegedly included explicit content.
Noted in passing: Permanent path still closed
Returning from a visit to Deerfield Park last week, the bike and I stopped at an Albany oddity, a “permanent” public path that is indefinitely closed. This is the walkway, 10 feet wide and 50 feet long, that used to connect Ermine Street with 36th Avenue opposite South Albany High School and the Community Pool.
Decision on Rural Church Delayed as Sides Negotiate
A last-second agreement between opposing sides of a rural Newberg church application made Thursday’s Board of Commissioners appeal hearing somewhat unnecessary, but a verdict was delayed to allow the parties to finalize details. Neighbors on Northeast Chehalem Drive in rural Newberg appealed the county’s approval of...
Salem’s new park rules: No refunds on same-day camping cancellations
OREGON - The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission has announced updates to its camping reservation policies following a virtual meeting on February 24, 2026. The new rules will take effect in April 2026 and include changes to the cancellation policy, reservation rate ranges, and the special access pass program.
