PHOTOS BY LON FRENCH
The Taft High and Yamhill-Carlton football teams won’t be the only ones taking the field tonight when the Tigers are uncaged at Voris Field. The Taft cheerleaders will join the two Class 3A Special District 1 squads for the 7 p.m. contest
Meet coach Karen Richards’ Taft cheer squad below:
The Taft High girls volleyball team is still searching for its first win following a four-set home defeat to Nestucca on Thursday.
The Tigers fell 25-12, 24-26, 25-21, 25-11 to drop to 0-8 this season.
Taft returns to action Saturday at a tournament at Salem Academy.
This post will be updated
Taft High senior Micah McLeish finished second for the boys and junior Autumn Ellis third for the girls Thursday in the Cape Kiwanda Invitational cross country meet in Pacific City.
“The challenging sandy course with a finish up the sand dunes had athletes fighting to the end,” Taft coach Mandy Weiss said.
Delphian, Nestucca, Riverdale, Sheridan, West Albany and Willamina joined Taft in the event.
The Tigers will run next on Thursday in the Conquer the Hill event at Delphian High School in Sheridan. Amity, Chemawa, Molalla, Nestucca, North Marion, Santiam, Sheridan and Willamina are also scheduled to compete.
This post will be updated with team scores, complete individual results
A handball violation in the box that resulted in a penalty kick led to the game’s only goal Thursday in a 1-0 girls soccer league home victory by Gervais over Taft.
“We lost a tough conference match against a team that wanted a win a bit more than we did,” Taft coach Joey Arce-Torres said.
The first-half goal was just the second of the season against 22 surrendered for the Cougars, who improved to 1-6 overall and 1-5 in Class 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 play. The Tigers also stand 1-6, 1-5.
“The teams were equally matched, each had strong defensive stands and kept the match tight,” Arce-Torres said. “Our strikers and midfielders fought vehemently to get that equalizer, but came up short.”
Arce-Torres, whose Tigers return to play at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday at home against Amity in another league match, said he was encouraged by his team’s tenacity throughout the match.
“Both teams, in mind, represent the most positive things about high school sports,” he said. “Wins and losses don’t define their seasons, but test their fortitude and build character.”
Arce-Torres said the Cougars resembled his team from a season ago.
“Nine seniors and a desire to compete from the start to the finish,” he said. “Ours is loaded with freshmen and sophomores and are seeking game-time experience to build on the next three years.”
Arce-Torres said freshman Jaelyn Olmeda displayed her athleticism in her first start of the season and was among the players responsible for the close match.
“Jaelyn showed great determination and will be quite the athlete for Taft over the next four years,” he said. “The back line of Avery [Nightingale], Fatima [Lupercio] and Lydia [Prins] did not let a score penetrate their defense the entire match. I am so proud of their play and improvement.”
Arce-Torres also cited the physical play of junior Sammy Halferty and freshman Aubrey Schiarrotta.
“They ran every pass down and sacrificed their bodies all night to make that elusive goal,” he said. “My heart goes out to those two, for I know they carried a tremendous amount of pressure to give us a win tonight.”
Arce-Torres said he remains optimistic despite the team’s current standing in the SD2 ranks.
“We are almost to the halfway point of the season and have more losses than wins year to date,” he said. “The team is positive, hard-working and kind to each other. I would give my right arm to give these guys another win; they deserve it. We are determined to get over this hump and string a couple victories together.”
The veteran Taft coach refused to discount Taft’s playoff chances.
“This is a setback, but the season is long and gives the nod to those who stay healthy and come out strong at the end,” he said. “I still like our chances. We are Tigers, we don’t give up and we are all about the whole experience, and, right now, we are a dangerous team because we know we are but a few good bounces away from success.”
A Lincoln City mayoral candidate lunch forum will take place Tuesday, Sept. 25, at Eden Hall, 6675 Gleneden Beach Loop in Gleneden Beach.
Mayoral candidates Dick Anderson, David Dahle and Susan Wahlke will answer questions and provide insight and their views on becoming Lincoln City mayor.
Lunch will begin at 11:45 a.m. and costs $13. The public should RSVP to the Chamber through the Lincoln City Chambers website. LCCHAMBER.COM
For more information, contact the Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce at (541) 994-3070 or e-mail [email protected].
Lincoln City and Lighthouse 101 Storage are the sponsors of the luncheon.
The Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce, 4039 NW Logan Road, is comprised of local businesses supporting one another and the community.
An open house to discuss options for a sustainable trails plan for the Cascade Head Scenic Research Area (CHSRA) will be held Thursday, Sept. 27.
“If Cascade Head is a special place to you, I would highly encourage you to fill out the survey and attend the open house,” Hebo District Ranger Deb Wilkins said. “It’s really important to us that input from visitors, recreationists, landowners and land managers is heard early and incorporated into the planning process.”
The open house will offer opportunities to learn more about CHSRA with table displays and provide a platform for community members to share thoughts on recreational access in the area. The public open house will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m, at the Lincoln City Community Center, 2150 NE Oar Place.
The Coordination Team is comprised of representatives from the USDA Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, Camp Westwind, Lincoln City Parks & Recreation and Cascade Head Ranch. It was formed to address new challenges and opportunities with the trail system, trailheads and parking areas at Cascade Head. Recreational use and visitation in the area has increased over the last several years.
The team is receiving technical assistance and facilitation thanks to a grant from the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program.
In addition to the open house, a brief online survey has been developed for the public to provide feedback regarding trail access and use. The survey data will help shape proposals for a trail system design which allows for recreational use while still protecting the incredible natural resources of this unique area. A link to the survey can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/r/CHSRA.
The 9,670-acre CHSRA was established by Congress in 1974 “to provide present and future generations with the use and enjoyment of certain ocean headlands, rivers, streams, estuaries and forested areas, to insure the protection and encourage the study of significant areas for research and scientific purposes and to promote a more sensitive relationship between man and his adjacent environment.”
The coastal headland provides critical habitat for native prairie grasses, rare wildflowers and the Oregon silverspot butterfly as well as recreational, research, educational, scenic and estuarine resources.
Western Christian/Perrydale scored twice early and responded to a Taft High charge Wednesday for a 4-2 Special District 2 boys soccer victory.
“We came back out the second half ready to play and applying pressure better,” Taft coach Ryan Ulicni said. “We had some fantastic individual foot work and skill from captain Edson Fuentes, who put us on the board right away.”
Co-captain William Calderon scored Taft’s second goal on an assist from Jose Flores.
“Major credit to captain William Brooks, who had some outstanding saves to keep us in the game,” Ulicni said. “His quick reflexes and leadership on the field is a big factor to the positive attitude.”
First-place Western Christian improved to 4-1-1, 4-0-1 with the victory, while the Tigers fell to 3-2-1, 2-1-1.
Taft returns to the pitch at 3:30 p.m. Friday at home against Gervais.
“With a these boys only having one day to prepare for another game, the feeling they had coming off the bus showed me they are ready to put in the work,” Ulicni said.
Samaritan Health Services invites community members to register for the upcoming Adult Focused Mental Health First Aid course on Tuesday, Oct. 23, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital.
You may know CPR or the Heimlich maneuver, but do you know how to respond when someone says they are thinking about suicide? Mental Health First Aid is a free eight-hour training that provides participants with the tools to identify signs of a mental health problem or crisis and get help for a person in need.
This course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to offer initial help in a mental health crisis and connect people to the appropriate professional, peer, social and self-help care. The program also teaches the common risk factors and warning signs of specific illnesses like anxiety, depression, substance use, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and schizophrenia.
Registration is required and space is limited. To register, call 1-866-243-7747 or email [email protected]. To learn more about Mental Health First Aid, visit samhealth.org/MentalHealthFirstAid.
Things move fast in the circles the spirited character with the colorful name of Boone Marker travels.
Mere days ago, a reporter was about to type a final period on a feature story detailing the many worthy accomplishments and outstanding qualities the personable 34-year-old sports enthusiast has brought to Lincoln City in less than three years of residence.
Stop the presses!
On Tuesday, the former Lincoln City Community Center program supervisor was named to the newly created position of Recreation Supervisor (formerly known as Center director), replacing Gail Kimberling, who recently retired after more than a decade of unprecedented service.
“His experience, enthusiasm and expertise in recreation, past success in city parks and recreation programming, and leadership role in the community and with staff make him a good fit with our department,” Parks & Recreation Department Director Jeanne Sprague said.
Born in Albany and raised in Salem-Keizer, the 2002 McNary High graduate came to Lincoln City in the fall of 2015 after a co-worker recommended the Community Center’s recreation program supervisor position after meeting Kimberling at an Oregon Recreation & Park Association conference. Marker met with Kimberling and interviewed the following week.
“Two weeks later I began my career here . . . Nov. 30, 2015,” he said.
Son of Ben Marker, mother Amy and stepdad Dale Slater, the animated sports fan has three sisters — Tina, Jennifer and Mariesha (and brother-in law Derek). He owns an associate’s degree from Chemeketa Community College, a bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies from Western Oregon and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.
“I love working and watching the growth of the kids who play sports,” Marker said. “Youth sports help pave a way and teach so many values to kids growing up. After working in youth sports since I was 18, and running a successful sports program in Salem, Lincoln City was a great opportunity for me.”
In his short time on the Coast, Marker has coached fifth- and sixth-grade boys and girls basketball, indoor soccer, middle school track and field, youth volleyball, youth league softball and high school softball and volleyball. He has coached volleyball since he was 19, including 12 years of high school, a “Little Spikers” clinic, and competitive travel and college softball.
“I’m most proud of the youth volleyball program . . . the kids involved and the growth we have had as a program.” he said. “I hope to see great volleyball funnel into Taft High in the next few years.”
Perhaps Marker’s crowning achievement to date has been “National Night Out,” a community-building campaign staged in early August at Kirtsis Park to promote police partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.
“I grew up going to a neighborhood block party and I had the idea to have one in Lincoln City,” he said. “With partnership with Lincoln City Police we had live music, a dunk tank, free food, games and much more.”
Marker has also been deeply involved in projects such as “Touch-A-Truck,” “Movie in the Park,” building the float for this year’s Portland Grand Floral Parade, starting adult kickball and volleyball leagues and improving the youth sports leagues, camps and after-school programs.
“Boone has demonstrated numerous times his solid ability to organize and lead the community,” Sprague said.
Marker credited his parents and family, coaches Gib Gilmore, Roland Herrera, Jeff Auvinen and Tom Smythe, supervisors Skip Collins, Jason Caldwell and Kimberling for playing key roles in his development as a leader and supervisor.
“Boone has been an excellent addition to the Lincoln City community,” said former Taft High Principal Majalise Tolan, now Lincoln County School District Improvement and Secondary Curriculum Administrator. “He goes above and beyond to find ways to engage youth and adults in our community.”
Marker started his recreation career in 2005 as a branch manager for Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion & Polk counties, moving his way up to athletic director. In early 2015, he joined the City of Salem as recreation leader.
“Boone is a high-energy hard worker.” said Melinda Mokalla, recreation specialist for the City of Salem Public Works Department, who got to know Marker at the Boys & Girls Club. “His enthusiasm for youth sports and life is hard to match.”
In his spare time, the energetic redhead volunteers with many groups, such as the School District, Kiwanis Club, Family Promise and more. He also serves as a public address announcer, master of ceremonies, radio guest, sportswriter and referee.
“Though relatively young, Boone had impressive experience in the field of recreation,” Kimberling said. “In addition to his experience, Boone had great confidence in his ability to take on a new position in a new community.”
Marker said his vision includes maintaining a positive environment and building participation in expansive adult and youth sports and recreation programs.
“Boone is incredibly organized,” Tolan said. “He goes above and beyond to ease the life of his volunteer coaches and finds time in his schedule to volunteer with high school programs and also watch students he has coached as they move up through their life as a Tiger.”
Kimberling, who retired last week, met Marker when he applied for the recreation program supervisor position following the departure of Karl McShane, a former Taft High coach who left to work for the School District.
Kimberling said Marker’s first request was to be known as “Coach Boone,” “which told me a lot about the positive, respectful relationships he wanted to develop with co-workers, parents, coaches and youngsters.”
Kimberling said “Coach Boone” met and exceeded all expectations.
“Coaching has been a large part of my life, and I remember asking Gail if my email could be ‘Coach Boone,’” Marker said. “After she agreed, I agreed to come to Lincoln City. I was welcomed by the community and did my best to embed myself in Lincoln City.”
It wasn’t long before Boone made his mark on the community he has grown to love and appreciate.
“He was a pure joy to have on our team,” Kimberling said “Boone always has a ‘can-do’ attitude. No task is too small or too large. Dress up as ‘Cap’n Barnacle’ and build a float, no problem! Learn about pool pumps, OK! Mediate between agencies, check! Coach that extra team and run a camp, sign him up! Boone is not shy about creating new programs, asking for sponsorships, recruiting volunteers or facing the City Council.”
It’s a role Marker cherishes from his newly appointed point-guard position.
“Creating a positive experience is what I was taught growing up, and I try to provide that atmosphere in all sports programs,” Marker said. “More importantly, I love being a part of our community. Lincoln City is special, and I’m fortunate to be a part of it.”
Applications to fill vacancies on the Lincoln County Special Transportation Advisory Committee (STAC) are being sought through Oct. 5 by the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners.
The committee oversees grant money provided by the State’s Special Transportation Fund Program (STF), which provides revenue in support of transportation services for Seniors and people with disabilities of any age.
The Oregon Legislature has intended that STF funds be used to provide transportation services needed to access health, education, work, and social/recreational opportunities so that Seniors and people with disabilities may live as independently and productively as possible. The funds may be used for any purpose directly related to transportation services, including transit operations, capital equipment, planning, travel training and other transit-related purposes.
STAC meetings are held at least twice a year. Membership duration is three years.
In addition to evaluating transportation services to persons residing in Lincoln County who are elderly or are persons with disabilities, the STAC also identifies and advocates for transportation needs and services that affect the welfare of all residents of Lincoln County.
STAC Committee membership consists of at least five individuals to be appointed by the Board of Commissioners. Applicants need to meet at one of the following categories to be eligible for committee membership:
1) Elderly users of transportation services;
2) Disabled users of transportation services;
3) Providers of elderly or disabled transportation services;
4) Representatives of elderly;
5) Representatives of disabled;
6) Elderly individuals living in an area of the district or county where there are no public transportation services
7) Disabled individuals living in an area of the district or county where there are no public transportation services.
Applications are available at Lincoln County Transit Office, the Board of Commissioners Office, or online at the County’s website:
