Gallery Theater will present “The Wiz,” a musical based on "The Wizard of Oz," at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays, through May 25, at 210 N.E. Ford St., McMinnville. Tickets cost $16, $14 for students and ages 62 and older; visit 
Tuesday: Showers, thunderstorm possible after 11 p.m., W wind 6-9 mph, high near 51. 
Crash claims life of Newberg High School junior
17-year-old dies Saturday afternoon in single-vehicle crash
DUNDEE — A 17-year-old Newberg High School junior was killed about 5:15 p.m. Saturday in a single-vehicle crash on Northeast Fox Farm Road near Hidden Springs Road.
The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office identified the victim as Alex Neel Weiler of 949 Seventh St.
Capt. Tim Svenson of the sheriff's office gave this account:
Weiler, who was driving a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban, was southbound on Fox Farm Road toward Highway 99W. He lost control as he was negotiating a sharp "S" corner.
"He went off the side of the road, overcorrected, shot across the road and sideswiped a tree," Svenson said. "When he did that it caused a fuel line to snap and there was a fire.
Video showing use of excessive force by local officers goes public
After settlement talks foundered, details of 2010 case come to light
Hipolito Aranda, 48, is asking for $1 million in punitive damages from each of seven defendants, plus compensatory damages and legal fees. He alleges his Fourth Amendment rights were violated because he was arrested without probable cause and subjected to excessive force
Dribbling 'free spirit' touches local family before untimely death
Richard Swanson was like a celebrity to local soccer youths
(Ossie Bladine / News Editor) A great story ended tragically on Tuesday when Richard Swanson died after being struck by a car on Highway 101 south of Lincoln City.
The 42-year-old was journeying on foot from Seattle to Brazil, the whole way dribbling a soccer ball made by One World Futbol Project, a Berkeley, Calif.-based organization that donates durable soccer balls to people in developing, often war-stricken countries.
On Saturday, Swanson hustled from Tigard to McMinnville to make a youth soccer game at Joe Dancer Park. Jason and Jennifer Elkins invited Swanson to their son's soccer game on Friday after a blog post about the traveler on the News-Register website. The Elkins invited him to a family barbeque after the game.
“He was like a celebrity to the kids,” Jason said. “They didn’t leave his side all evening.”
Need warm couch Saturday night; will contribute game of juggle
Seattle resident's journey on foot to Brazil comes through Yamhill County this weekend
(Ossie Bladine / News-Editor) Seattle resident Richard Swanson is dribbling a One World Futbol (soccer ball) all the way to the 2014 World Cup.
Swanson left Seattle on May 1. He plans to visit 11 countries before arriving in Sao Paulo, Brazil next summer in time for the first game of the World Cup. He is documenting his travels on his website and his Facebook page. He is couch surfing the whole way and needs a place to crash in McMinnville this Saturday night, and in Grand Ronde Sunday night. HE is also looking for a warm couch the following nights in Lincoln City, Newport, Yachats and Florence.
Swanson's journey is supporting the One World Futbol Project, which makes soccer balls that are designed to be nearly impossible to destroy. According to the organization's website: "For every One World Futbol you buy through our “Buy One, Give One” program, we give a second ball to children and youth in need through organizations working in disadvantaged communities such as refugee camps, war zones, disaster area and inner cities."
One DSA winner was missing
Co-winners of Outstanding Young Farmer grow family and produce on community-supported farm
(Jeb Bladine/N-R Editor) One of the seven McMinnville Distinguished Service Award winners was unable to attend this week's dinner after injuring her back a few days before the event. Sheila Jaillet was co-winner of the Outstanding Young Farmer award with her husband, Andre.
We caught up with Sheila on the website of their community-supported Growing Wild Farm, where her welcome to readers is brief and inviting, while her blog posts are longer, descriptive and heart-felt. The "Welcome" reads:
"This is where i capture the thoughts inside, and the images outside, that make up this life, on this farm. We are a family of happy people and we have mostly happy stories to share; living here -- growing food and community -- enables us to keep growing ourselves, and for that we are grateful. Thank you for looking in on us."
Feline obesity at all time high
Letter to the Editor encourages owners to help fat cats slim down
(Lindsay Pollard-Post / The PETA Foundation) Dear Editor:
In light of a recent survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention which found that cat obesity is at an all-time high—with 58 percent of cats overweight or obese—we should all take an objective look at our feline friends’ weight.
Obesity lowers animals’ quality of life and can lead to serious health problems including diabetes, arthritis, kidney failure, high blood pressure, and cancer. It can also shorten their lives by years.
Ballots are in the mail
Slew of school board positions contested for May 21 election
(Nathalie Hardy / N-R reporter) Starting Friday May 3, ballots are being mailed out to the 52,950 registered voters in Yamhill County.
To hear an audio clip from Secretary of State Kate Brown, click here.
Voters who do not receive their ballot by Wednesday, May 8, should go to My Vote to see if their ballots have been mailed. Otherwise, voters should call the clerk's office at 503-434-7518.
Ballots must be received by county elections officials no later than 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21.
It's going to take HOW long???
DAY 4 OF THE FEMA-SPONSORED INTEGRATED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COURSE, Part 2
(Nicole Montesano/N-R Reporter) The Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission presented a report to the state Legislature in February, titled “The Oregon Resilience Plan: Reducing risk and improving recovery for the next Cascadia Earthquake and Tsunami.”
It presents a long-term plan for upgrading the state's currently highly-vulnerable infrastructure, to better withstand a major earthquake.
It also presents a timeline for recovery of services, under present conditions.
It estimates that, in the Willamette Valley, it will take one to three months to restore electrical services. Note to self; guess that can of Sterno I packed in the emergency kit isn't going to be enough.
Who's on first?
DAY 4 OF THE FEMA-SPONSORED INTEGRATED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COURSE
(Nicole Montesano/N-R Reporter) Three days after the major earthquake that struck Yamhill County, participants playing the role of emergency operations managers found themselves facing a quandry over recovery operations: Which issue to prioritize first?
We have a fault line?!
DAY 3 OF THE FEMA-SPONSORED INTEGRATED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COURSE, Part 2
(Nicole Montesano/N-R Reporter) The magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Yamhill County at 9:45 in the morning, collapsing most of the buildings in downtown McMinnville.
By late afternoon one lane had been cleared, but the road remained closed to traffic, as search and rescue teams combed the rubble for survivors.
Public information officers repeatedly assured insistent media and frantic residents that shelter locations would be released as soon as possible, but said they could not do so until the buildings had been inspected for safety. Bridges were down on many highways.
