•  New Page added 08/16/2023  -  Pudding Creek Watershed Project/Scotts Mills County Park (referencing the "dam")

• New Page added 07-19-2022 - REPORT TO MCSO ONLINE  (Marion County Sheriff's Office) with links and information regarding a new service.

• "Neighborhood Watch" is a LifeStyle ... one where each and every resident of our area (in town and rural) believes in the importance of watching out for each other and reporting any questionable activities that are illegal and/or potentially harmful to our neighbors or the community. 

• By residing in the "Scotts Mills Area," you are part of this important community network! 

• The volunteers who have been involved in your local program for years never limited what was considered "community" to the city limits. 

• When "Vehicle/Citizen Patrols" were in place, we would often go up above Camp Dakota, take in McKillop and Briar Knob, travel Hazelnut Ridge to Heinz, do a short jaunt up Butte Creek Road and/or Maple Grove, and check out Maple wood Pioneer Cemetery! Mostly it was to check on homes where folks were on vacation, check for abandoned vehicles (which we used to have regularly), look for suspicious vehicles - perhaps do a well-check with some folks - with magnetic car signs to show the presence of a "patrol."  As the years have passed, "outsiders" have seemed to gather that SMNW is very active, that neighbors here are looking out for each other and calling in reports - and events have greatly reduced.  Another sign of success is that the County Park for years was "best known" for a lot of drug activity at all hours of the day.  Patrols and reports helped draw MCSO and justify more frequent "visits," and the community regained the park as family-centered with much fewer incidents.

• All  residents of the Scotts Mills general vicinity are "members" of Scotts Mills Neighborhood Watch merely by being a resident of the area.  (There are no 'sign-ups" required.)

• A 100% volunteer program, the goal of SMNW is ALL area residents recognizing they are a partner toward providing a safer environment  -  acting as "additional eyes and ears" for MCSO.  Scotts Mills Neighborhood Watch has been "recorded" as an active organization in the community for at least 40 years with "historical notes" posting an association with MCSO as early as 1984.  "Old Timers" (mostly now deceased as of 2023) in the area reported there has been an ongoing neighborhood/community watch in one form or another in the Scotts Mills area for well over 60 years and the County has recognized the group for its ongoing and Pro-Active partnership.

• As we join thousands of communities around the country in celebrating a mutual focus on crime-free neighborhoods, we never let an opportunity go by without thanking our team partners - Marion County Sheriff's Department and the volunteer Silverton Fire Department.  These, as well as a cross-section of our "just-being neighbors," are our "First Responders."

*Questions regarding this page may be directed to Raleen at smnwcp@gmail.com or 503-559-6907

• A major and very positive adjustment occurred as a result of the 2020 Fire that so heavily affected our area.  A local "community" Facebook GROUP which had been in place for sometime became the "go-to-hub" of communication and updating for area residents at that time:  Scotts Mills, Oregon - Residents only.  That page continues to be a major communications hub, among other chatter, of "neighborly concerns/notes" that fall within the realm of "Scotts Mills Neighborhood Watch."  If you are new to the area, or consider yourself a Scotts Mills resident and have not yet joined, we encourage you request to be added to that Group.

• The City of Scotts Mills and our extended Neighborhood was highly effected by "The Beachie Creek Fire" - being called an emergency Level 3 evacuation the morning of Tuesday, September 8th, 2020 due to its proximity to our town and surrounding neighbors.  A lot of unique changes took place across our area.  In addition to the amazing coming-together of area residents, businesses, firefighters, and county and state law enforcement, a group of residents temporarily rekindled "Citizen Patrol" during the days of the town being evacuated.  Much gratitude to the inventive measures that were taken and the time, energy, and commitment to Showing how wonderful our Neighbors are!  Additional Gratitude is expressed to Marion County Sheriff's Department, Oregon State Police, Silverton Police Department, Mt. Angel Police Department and other community Police Departments for their concerted patrols in our in-town and rural community.  No words can express the Gratitude for the multiple Firefighting Agencies, our local volunteer Fire Departments, and volunteer community members and businesses who warded off the fires advancing into the community,  We keep in thought and prayer for the families who lost homes, animals, and property from the three fires that raged near Scotts Mills.  

The Oregonian ran a wonderful article on September 13th that shows just how unique this extended community is:  https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/09/behind-the-firelines-the-race-to-save-scotts-mills.html

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Prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic in early spring 2020, attendance at regularly-scheduled monthly meetings dropped to "1 or 2" for several months.  Then, due to the Pandemic of COVID-19, the meetings were cancelled. With locals using the "residents-only" Facebook Group to communicate concerns, provide notifications, and advise if MCSO had been contacted, that remains the "the community networking space." 

We have always made best use of being - and having the reputation as - "The infamous Squeaky Wheel" in rural Marion County,  Continued reporting - and multiple reports by those seeing/affected by an occurrence - helps build a pattern documenting our need for MCSO support.

Please continue calling reporting EACH of your concerns regarding questionable or illegal activity to 503-588-5032 for Marion County Sheriff Non-Emergency Dispatch to have it documented and toward a potential response -

or making use of the "REPORT TO MCSO ONLINE" page included here that links to that service which became active in 2022.  

Please use 9-1-1 ONLY for "Crime-in Action" or Life Threatening Events.  "

Thank you all for being observant, pro-Active neighbors.  

For folks considering doing any form of "courtesy patrols," please contact Raleen for information before doing so -  (503-559-6907 or smnwcp@gmail.com )

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Dedicated volunteers - That is YOU - act solely as helpful/additional eyes and ears of law enforcement while striving to keep neighbors informed and alert.  It is common for NW to visit with neighbors, draw attention to potential or known concerns, and become a "hub" for education regarding safety and crime prevention ... while adhering to the Sheriff Liaisons' emphasis we are not to confront nor carry items considered as potential weapons (even baseball bats) when on patrol -  whether walking or driving.  "Neighborhood watch" can be done from your window, your front porch, your walking pattern, your vehicle.  Whatever you're doing in the concept of Neighborhood Watch, The Sheriff's Department is adamant we, as citizens, are never to put ourselves at risk!  That's a task the sheriff and police forces take on ... 

Call it in:  (503) 588-5032 !!

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Note:  Scotts Mills' program is unique in that this isn't a the common "block watch."  SMNW operates within a community of about 400 people plus a large rural area served by Marion County Sheriff's Department - and some of the southernmost Clackamas County.  There are multiple 'neighborhood watch clusters' within the neighborhood watch including in-town and rural - with neighbors in the area of Briar Knob Loop, up Crooked Finger Road (including Camp Dakota), in the Glen Cove neighborhood, and others.    These are "neighborhoods" who are communicating among their immediate residents about concerns specific to their area.  We focus on being a team, diverse and inclusive - and in the importance of helping each other continue in a safe environment.

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Neighborhood Watch is an extremely important program, but, more than that, it is a Lifestyle!

The best of Neighbors are oft-times merely gentle spirits looking out for each other and focused on the well-being of their own small community. For those watching out for the "community" of Scotts Mills, "community" far exceeds the city limits! 

We emphasize Neighborhood Watch will always be a program of volunteers.