Good morning, Corvallis.

Philomath resident Jean Christensen Hansen, 102, died peacefully on October 1; her funeral service will be held today at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Corvallis—honoring her long and cherished life.

The Corvallis School District plans to close Letitia Carson Elementary and Cheldelin Middle School to cut a $4 million deficit while affecting low-income families.

A board meeting is set for Monday Oct 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Letitia Carson to review the plan—community feedback will help guide the final decision.

OSU professor Sam Logan, a horror writer and teacher, will launch the new magazine SLUGGER in November—featuring stories and artwork by OSU students that explore bold horror themes.

Philomath is giving away over 80 trees, including 44 crabapple trees, to boost coverage in neighborhoods with less green space.

City officials said a door-to-door campaign will provide details to residents and additional trees may be purchased if needed—an effort that could become annual if successful.

Benton County Board of Commissioners approved a grant of up to $100,000 to the Corvallis School District for planned repairs at Osborn Aquatic Center—corrosion forced the pool's closure in October 2024 and the facility is key for swim meets and public programs.

The move supports a community hub that the City and School District jointly operate.

A federal shutdown that began on September 30th has left nearly 23,000 Oregon federal workers, including essential airport screeners and air traffic controllers, without pay.

Rural counties are hit hardest; in Sherman County — where federal workers make up 14% of the local workforce and more than a quarter of annual wages — some workers have filed 39 unemployment claims and may need to repay benefits if back pay is issued.

On Wednesday, Samaritan Health announced it will be acquired by MultiCare Health as both boards approved the merger and the organizations plan to sign a formal affiliation agreement with the deal expected to finalize by mid 2026 pending state approval.

The affiliation will include significant investments to expand local hospital care, modernize clinics and adopt new telehealth technology — ensuring that patients and staff experience no immediate changes in operations.

Lumina Hospice and Old Mill Center for Children and Families will offer a free monthly grief support group for families with children and teens ages 5 to 18 who are grieving a loss.

The group will meet on the first Wednesday evening each month from November 5 through June 3 at Old Mill Center for Children and Families in west Corvallis—families must register and complete an orientation before attending, and evening meals are provided.

Stacker used Zillow data to rank five cities in the Corvallis metro area—Adair Village, Monroe, Philomath, Alsea, and Corvallis—with details on typical home values and one- and five-year price changes, showing Monroe with the highest value at $569,081 and Corvallis at $555,371.

Philomath High football lost 49 to 0 at Marist Catholic in Eugene on Friday—coach Alex Firth said he will review the game’s issues and work toward improvements before the season finale against Sweet Home next week.

Willamette Bewitched Halloween Paddle

10 a.m.-2 p.m. — Crystal Lake Sports Fields — Free entry — Celebrate Halloween with a festive paddle on the Willamette River in costume and support a community food drive.

Majestic Movie Extravaganza: Hocus Pocus

7 p.m. — Majestic Theatre — $15 — Experience the classic tale of witches and mischief in Salem this Halloween.

Vaulted Aviary: Happily Ever After... After Dark

7 p.m. — Whiteside Theatre — $10 pre-sales, $15 at the door — Experience whimsical tales with thrilling acrobatics after dark.

North Texas Mean Green vs. Oregon State Beavers Basketball

6:30 – 8:00 PM — Gill Coliseum — Check website for ticket prices — An exciting college basketball match-up in Corvallis.

Lightnin' Luke Concert

7-11:30 p.m. — Bombs Away Cafe - A Rockin' Taqueria — Check venue for ticket info — Experience the soulful folk tunes of Lightnin' Luke with powerful vocals and heartfelt lyrics.