Mount Hood

Restaurants offering delivery and dine-in near Monmouth

Get dinner delivered from these eight local restaurants

Mirella Barrera-Betancourt | Staff Writer

With food delivery apps like GrubHub, DoorDash and Uber Eats becoming popular nationwide, it is no surprise that college students have been amongst the many to hop on the trend of food delivery. Here are some restaurants in and around Monmouth that are offering delivery services.

  • Yeasty Beasty — 167 Main St. W Monmouth, OR. Offering delivery on their website and dine-in services. Open Sunday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Lunitas Mexican Food — 365 E Ellendale Ave. Dallas, OR. Offering delivery on DoorDash and GrubHub. Dine-in and drive-thru services offered. Open Sunday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Carl’s Jr. — 131 Pacific Highway N Monmouth, OR. Offering delivery on DoorDash, dine-in and drive-thru services. Open Sunday – Thursday from 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Friday – Saturday, 6 a.m. – 12 a.m.
  • 7-Eleven — 1696 Monmouth St. Independence, OR. Offering delivery on their website and DoorDash. In-store shopping available. Open 24/7 every day of the week.
  • Burgerville — 615 E Main St. Monmouth, OR. Offering delivery on DoorDash and drive-thru services. No dine-in. Open Sunday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

  • Momiji Sushi Restaurant — 183 Main St. W Monmouth, OR. Offering delivery on DoorDash, dine-in and takeout services. Open Sunday – Thursday from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
  • Subway — 113 E Main St. Monmouth, OR. Offering delivery on DoorDash, dine-in and takeout services. Open Sunday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Urban Deli Mexican Food — 145 Monmouth Ave. N Monmouth, OR. Offering delivery on DoorDash, dine-in and takeout. Open Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Hours may be subject to change.

Contact the author at staffwriter@thewesternhowl.com

Dollar Tree opens in Independence

A new business moves into town 

Mikayla Coleman | News Editor

Everyone’s favorite store where everything is just one dollar has made its way to the Monmouth-Independence area. Dollar Tree opened at the end of September and is ready to serve the community, catering to those in the market for everything from craft wire, to duct tape, to kitchen utensils or frozen burritos. 

While the campus community loves the small town lifestyle that Monmouth offers, the need to drive at least fifteen minutes to get to something as simple as Walmart or the Dollar Tree can be difficult, even for ones that have resided here for several years. Pursuing higher education is a costly endeavor that leaves many students financially straining to keep up with even the most basic necessities. 

Having a Dollar Tree a walkable distance away from Western will prove useful for the many students on campus that do not have cars. Plus, Dollar Tree has many accessible and cost effective items that make it very valuable to the town’s community. They carry everything from school supplies, to hand soap, to phone chargers at a very reasonable price. They also accept Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT). 

The Dollar Tree located on 1401 Monmouth St. is open for business Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. 

Contact the author at newseditor@thewesternhowl.com

Snag some well-loved literature in your area

Local little libraries make a big impact on communities

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Sunny days are best enjoyed with a lounge chair and a captivating book, but sometimes it feels impossible to find the “right” book to start reading. With local little libraries, it’s easy to explore new titles provided by the community. These libraries can be made by families, bought online or provided by organizations, and they offer a convenient and interactive way to get involved in the community by having others take or donate well-loved books. Here are just a few little libraries in the area, out of the many that are in Oregon: 

Monmouth 

  • MaMere’s Guest House ⏤ 212 Knox St. N. This little library is a replica of the historic house and is crafted entirely from LEGO’s. It’s complete with LEGO flowers, a miniature library and a black cat that roams the property. 
  • Monmouth Montessori School ⏤ 1140 East Main St. This library is for anyone to enjoy, take a short walk to discover the big blue butterfly on the back of the library — with this cute design, it’s hard to miss.

Salem and Keizer

  • American Antique Hardware ⏤ 2983 D St. NE. This red and blue library is bigger than others since it’s in a larger neighborhood and a busier location. Supported by the surrounding seven homes in the area, they have all come together to offer books for all ages in English and Spanish. 
  • Oneil Library ⏤ 7426 Oneil Road NE. This royal blue library was built in 2019 by Donovan Karnes for his Eagle Scout Project, with the help of Boy Scout Troop 7067. 
  • Little Free Library ⏤ 5908 Legacy St. SE. Smaller and tucked away, these wooden navy blue walls hold a selection of children’s books and adult literature.

Eugene 

  • Anthony and Jodie St. Clair’s ⏤ 1260 Beebe Lane. This blue and purple library was gifted to Anthony and Jodie St. Clair by Nancy Nathanson and the River Road Community Organization. Now, they pass on their love for reading by sharing their colorful library with the community. 
  • Treetops Little Free Library ⏤ 3049 Deerbrush Way. Parked in the shade from the trees in Southwest Eugene, this library is made from rich, dark wood that will immediately catch the eye. Snag a book to add some excitement to the day.  
  • Cole Family Library ⏤ 553 North Bertelsen Road. This is the second library made by the Cole family, and they’re back and better than ever. With the adorable addition of a flower doorknob, small flower beds and windows, anyone in the neighborhood can enjoy their labor of love. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Anti-protest bill in Oregon to be conscious of

Important protest bill to keep on the lookout for heading into summer

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

A national debate over peaceful and violent gatherings has sparked U.S. lawmakers to engage in writing “anti-protest laws.” 46 states have currently proposed or passed bills.

In Oregon, there have been three bills presented; two of them have been defeated or expired, while one known as House Bill 3329 — introduced on March 2 — is currently under review by the House Committee On Judiciary.

The proposed bill, sponsored by Representative David Brock Smith of  District 1, introduced a new felony charge to peaceful protesters who block traffic.

Under the bill, vehicles or people blocking roadways would be classified as a Class C felony. Convicted of the felony, people could expect to serve up to five years in prison and pay around $125,000, done during a ‘violent or disorderly assembly,’” according to icnl.org. 

Additionally, the legislative proposal introduced a Class C felony for “engaging in threatening or intimidating conduct” in public, which disqualifies people from receiving financial aid from the state if convicted of these charges. In addition, it prohibits immediate release if arrested for rioting or for “violent” behavior, and gives protection to police if a person filing a civil claim was “grossly negligent.” More information about the specificities of the bill can be found at incl.org.

Associated Students of Western Oregon University President NJ Johnson said he believes the bill is in direct response to People of Color in Oregon after a full year of using their voice to protest.

“Whether we want to admit it or not, the state of Oregon has a history of trying to silence the voices of People of Color,” said Johnson. “This is obviously a bill (that) if passed is going to be implemented largely to punish and silence People of Color for speaking out against racial injustice. I want to make it clear (that) a lot of this violence that we see and blame on protesters is incited by law enforcement.”

To follow the bill’s movement, community members can visit olis.oregonlegislature.gov or email Rep.DavidBrockSmith@oregonlegislature.gov to learn more.

Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu

WOU softball enters GNAC championship as alternates

Wolves softball team place third overall in GNAC championship

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

A rise in COVID-19 cases in the state of Washington caused the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s original fourth seed — Central Washington — to drop out of the softball championship being hosted at Western.  

As a result of the Conference’s bylaws, the Western Oregon Wolves softball team — fifth seed — was promoted to the fourth seed position and entered into the championship game for the eighth consecutive year.

Similar to years prior, GNAC formatted the championship game as a double elimination tournament. The first round winners went head to head in a second round, and the losing teams from the first round played in a second round match to determine the competitors for the third and final championship match. 

In the first round of the tournament on May 6, Western lost to first seed Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks 2-1. The following day, Western competed against third seed Saint Martin Saints; the team gave the Wolves several walking opportunities to fill the bases, leading to a 7-6 victory for the Wolves. Western advanced to face off again against the Nighthawks, only to lose 9-0 in five innings, bringing an end to the softball season. With this, the Wolves placed third in the GNAC conference. 

After the game, the Wolves commemorated the senior members of their team that will be graduating in June. Head Coach Lonny Sargent commented on how proud of the team he is after having such a hectic year. 

“It’s such a great group of kids,” said Sargent. “We have a lot of young kids … they just (want to) go play.”

Going forward, Sargent is excited about the upcoming season and what the next year will bring.

“The players we have and the players we have coming in, we’re building another great program for next year,” he said.

Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu

Western professor wins “Educator of the Year”

IndyMo honors Dr. Leanne Merrill during  the 56th year of community awards

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

For a little more than half a century, the cities of Monmouth and Independence have celebrated community members through their “Community Awards.”

This year, Western’s own mathematics professor Dr. Leanne Merrill was honored as co-honoree in the “Educator of the Year” category. A newer hire at Western, Merrill has been teaching full time for less than four years, and taught part time at University of Oregon while completing her master’s degree.

“I feel very lucky to have been recognized at such an early stage in my career — I don’t even have tenure yet,” said Merrill. “I love my job because I am so grateful that I get to work with (Western) students. Every single day I am energized and inspired by (Western) students’ work ethic, humility, bravery and accomplishments.”

Merrill goes on to say how rewarding it is for her department to receive such a high achievement.

“Mathematics gets a bad rap a lot of the time,” said Merrill. “But I strongly believe that everyone can be a successful practitioner of mathematics, and that mathematical empowerment is a human right.

As an educator, Merrill says she has struggled with imposter syndrome, particularly being a woman in science, technology, engineering and math. Being given the award made Merrill feel empowered, and that her teaching style is resonating with students while also making a difference in their lives.

“Teaching is a great but challenging career because there is no one right way to do it — what works well is depending upon the teacher, the students and the relationships that are formed in the classrooms,” said Merrill. “As a teacher, I believe it is my duty to meet students where they are. Teaching is so dependent upon the individuals involved that it’s always possible to rework ideas or discover new fun ways of doing things.”

Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu

Get your green thumb ready for Earth Day

Celebrate Earth Day with these events across Oregon

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Strap on some shoes, grab some water and spend time outside this Earth Day, on April 22. While it’s always a good idea to reduce, reuse and recycle year-round, Earth Day aims to bring awareness to environmental concerns worldwide. The day can be celebrated with environmental activism, like picking up litter or cleaning up parks, dams and beaches. If plans are still up in the air, consider checking out these local Earth Day themed events happening across Oregon:

  • “Earth Day Succulent”: hosted by Student Engagement. April 22, 12 to 2 p.m. Located at The Grove on the Western’s campus, Monmouth, OR. 
  • “Earth Day Block Release & Oregon Truffle Party”: hosted by Coeur de Terre Winery. April 24, 1 to 3 p.m. Located at the Coeur De Terre Winery, 21000 SW Eagle Point Rd., McMinnville, OR. 
  • “Earth Day Volunteer Crew”: hosted by the Hoyt Arboretum. April 22, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Located at the Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd., Portland, OR. 
  • “Earth Day Event”: hosted by Washington Square. April 22, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located at 9585 SW Washington Square Rd., Portland, OR. 
  • “Kindness Farm Earth Day Celebration”: hosted by Kindness Farms. April 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located at 7101 SE 127th Ave., Portland, OR. 
  • “Earth Day Spring Planting with SOLVE & Hillsboro Downtown Partnership”: April 22, 12 to 4 p.m. Located at 409 E. Main St., Hillsboro, OR. 
  • “MHCC Beaver Creek Earth Day Cleanup”: hosted by Mt. Hood Community College. April 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Located at 26000 SE Stark St., Gresham, OR. 
  • “Earth Day of Service”: hosted by the University of Oregon. April 24, 1 to 4 p.m. Located at 1585 E. 13th Ave., Eugene, OR. In-person and virtual options. 
  • “Earth Day Virtual Guided Hike”: hosted by the City of Keizer. April 22 through 30, 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Located at the Keizer Rapids Park, 1900 Chemawa Rd. N., Keizer, OR. In-person, virtually guided. 
  • “Culture Club at Hilyard Community Center”: hosted by the Hilyard Community Center. April 24, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Located at 25080 Hilyard St., Eugene, OR. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Have some fun in the sun with a local photoshoot

Hit up these fantastic photoshoot locations near Monmouth

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor  

Whoever is reading this, this is a sign to go out and have a photoshoot. Spring has brought wonderful weather and beautiful blossoms, making now the perfect time to spend some time outdoors — and have photographic evidence of it. Whether looking for a last minute senior photo spot, or some inspiration for a fun weekend activity with friends, these spring photoshoot spots are sure to please.

Head downtown for some charming photos amid historic buildings. Any nearby city will do — even Monmouth’s Main Street has charismatic brick facades that make for the perfect photo setting.

Public art and murals can make for colorful backdrops that pop. Stay close by and check out some art and sculptures all around campus, such as “Growth” near the Richard Woodcock Education Center or “Oregon Rivers” in front of Rice Auditorium. Corvallis boasts a number of beautiful murals and even has a scavenger hunt for an added activity.

Cherry blossom season is nearly over, but even fallen cherry blossom petals can make for artsy photos. Take a roadtrip to the Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland, or make the shorter trip to Salem’s Capitol building to photograph in a lovely pastel pink grove.

Monmouth and its surrounding towns and cities have much to offer when it comes to parks — the nearest park could be just a few blocks away. Parks with a waterfront view include Sarah Helmick State Park in Monmouth, Riverview Park in Independence, Minto-Brown Island Park in Salem and Dallas City Park in Dallas. Chip Ross Park in Corvallis is an ideal spot for golden hour and sunset photos. Bush’s Pasture Park in Salem offers a manicured outdoor setting, including a picturesque gazebo amid a rose garden. Deepwood Museum & Gardens in Salem also provides an immersive experience into nature with a variety of plant life that can serve as a unique photo background.

Wildlife areas also offer elegant photo locations out in nature. Such areas include the Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Dallas, the E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area in Monmouth and the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge south of Salem.

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

Independence Cinema showings begin April 9

Independence Cinema reopening after COVID closures

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

In February, movie theaters in Oregon were permitted to reopen under the official Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. However, some movie theaters such as the Independence Cinema delayed their reopening, citing concerns for the new strains of COVID-19 and wanting more viable movies to showcase in the theaters.

“The hardest thing on a small business so devastated by these closures would be to reopen only to have to close down again,” said Independence Cinema in a Feb. 23 Facebook post. “We did it this fall, and we could not repeat that scenario and survive.”

However, on March 10 the local theater announced that it would be reopening its doors on April 9. 

“This was a very careful decision,” said a March 10 Facebook post, “with lots of planning, waiting and watching. We feel confident that everyone is ready to safely enjoy family entertainment again.”

The current plans for reopening entail operating daily with limited showtimes and adhering to industry-wide safety standards called CinemaSafe. Under these guidelines, all theaters are expected to require staff and patrons to wear masks, social distance audience members, increase ventilation where possible, provide hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content, disinfect the auditorium between showings, train staff on COVID-19 symptoms, make online tickets available for patrons and minimize cash transactions. In each state, theater capacity size varies depending on state governments mandates; in Oregon, it is contingent on a county’s COVID risk level. 

As of March 26, Polk County Health officials reported the county qualified for the moderate risk level by having a 2% positivity rate and 72.3 cases per 100,000 people over the course of 14 days. As a result, Independence Cinema will have a maximum capacity of 50%.

At this time, the theater does not have an official schedule for their showings, but according to their Instagram page, they plan to open with “Voyagers,” “Godzilla vs. Kong,” “Nobody,” “Chaos Walking,” “Raya and the Last Dragon” and “Tom & Jerry.” 

To ensure patron safety, the theater is implementing an RSVP system that can be done either online at www.independencecinema8.com or in person at the ticket counter located outside the theater.

If patrons are not comfortable with watching movies in person, the theater is still offering to-go concessions.

For further information or questions, visit their Facebook page @independencecinema8 or their Instagram @indycinema.

Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu

Northwest Housing Alternatives finishes College Manor renovations and mural

Northwest Housing Alternatives hosts big reveal of Monmouth project

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor

During Spring Break, Northwest Housing Alternatives ⏤ a not-for-profit developer of affordable housing in Oregon ⏤ completed the renovations on College Manor apartment complex.

Starting back in Aug. of 2020, the organization began revamping the interior design, mainly with the replacement of existing, domestic and wastewater systems and updating the bathrooms. External renovations included siding and window replacements on North and South elevations, exterior stairs and enclosure replacements, adding accessible ramps and walkways, mow strips, sealcoat and restriping the parking lot. 

“Affordable housing that is well cared for is an increasingly rare resource all across Oregon, especially in smaller/rural communities,” said Northwest Housing Alternatives housing developer Clayton Crowhurst. “Ensuring that this property continues to be … affordable for many years to come and isn’t sold to a market rate developer that will raise rents and let housing vouchers expire is critical.”

Over the course of the build, the update encountered setbacks, including a four-week delay due to COVID-19 and the Sept. Oregon wildfires, replacing moldy refrigerators and collecting funding.

“The most challenging part of any project like this is obtaining the funding to do it and then getting the many different funders and attorneys involved to all sign off on the project,” said Crowhurst. “The closing process occurred right at the start of COVID and came in right under the wire as several other projects had major funders pull out at the last minute due to fear about what the economy was going to do.”

However, the project was able to be fully funded by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, Housing Partnership Fund and a perm loan with Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credit. During COVID and the wildfires, Crowhurst stated the cost of materials rose significantly, causing a challenge to remain within budget. According to Crowhurst, the construction team of 80 to 100 people remained within budget, totaling $4,553,747 for labor and cost of materials. 

In addition to the construction, Northwest Housing Alternatives implemented a mural ⏤ painted by Portland artist Heidi Schultz ⏤ to showcase during their small presentation to the public. 

“The two of us just kicked back and forth a few different design ideas,” said Crowhurst, “and we really settled on the oak tree … It encompasses the themes of growing but also being sturdy and providing shelter during changing times. It captured a bunch of those things that embody our organization.”

Crowhurst explained that the organization is not out to make a quick dollar, and genuinely cares for its people. Being able to provide 3,000 Oregonians with a place to call home every single night ⏤ because housing is a human right and no one should have to choose between food, housing or healthcare ⏤ makes him proud to be affiliated with Northwest Housing Alternatives. 

Although there were renovations done to College Manor, current rents will not be increased. For more information about the organization, visit their website at https://nwhousing.org/#.

Contact the author at scarpenter18@mail.wou.edu

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