Editorials
Gudman best qualified in state treasurer race
In an ideal world, politics would permeate the governor’s office, but the offices of attorney general, secretary of state, labor commissioner and state treasurer would be as non-partisan as we could ...
Read stands out among secretary of state hopefuls
Over the course of the 1990s and early 2000s, Phil Keisling, Bill Bradbury and Kate Brown combined to head the Secretary of State’s office for a quarter of a century. But since Brown ascended to ...
Parties best served with Rayfield, Latrhrop for AG
We found the calls remarkably easy to make, on both sides of the aisle, for nomination to the attorney general helm being ceded by three-term Democrat Ellen Rosenblum. Our endorsements go to former House ...
Torrent slows to a trickle in Oregon's 2024 primary
Torrent slows to a trickle in 2024 primary Two years ago, we led off the start of the biennial candidate endorsement process with an editorial headlined: “Showering of April endorsements marks flowering ...
After-school program needs a new team of champions
When it comes to McMinnville’s successful but financially starving after-school program, the headlines tell the story. They tell it in glowing terms from the founding of Kids on the Block in 1989 ...
Time to get going on McDougall Junction
Patience and persistence seem to be the watchwords for getting deficiencies in the local highway grid addressed. Local improvement advocates run up against two powerful forces, one working to limit the ...
City spending referendum doesn't require a petition
What do you do if you’re outvoted 13-1 and you still want your way? If you’re McMinnville City Councilor Chris Chenoweth, it would seem, you launch a petition drive aimed at overturning the ...
Spirit of compromise fosters major breaktrhoughs in Salem
What a difference a year makes. Last year, rancor ruled throughout the 160 days set aside for odd-year legislative sessions in Oregon. Senate Republicans staged a walkout that halted work outright for ...
Community educational efforts key to countering youth suicide
“It takes a village to raise a child” is an ancient proverb originating with indigenous tribal cultures in West Africa. It’s based on the premise that successful child rearing requires ...
Is Hastings Village a model worth emulating around here?
An array of churches, schools, nonprofits and social service agencies manage, by tackling different aspects of the problem in a largely if loosely collaborative fashion, to do a lot to help the unhoused ...
Letters
News-Register Letters Policy
The News-Register welcomes written opinions about issues of public interest and about the content of this newspaper. Letters from non-local writers are accepted only if they focus on local issues. Letters ...
Letters to the Editor: April 26, 2024
Right the wrong Our Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center is a community health care organization in Yamhill County, composed of doctors, dentists, nurses, behavioral health providers and others. We ...
Letters to the Editor: April 19, 2024
Sadly fault-finding I recently read some of the letters to the editor about our elected county commissioner, Lindsay Berschauer. I would like to relate an experience I had with Ms. Berschauer just a few ...
Letters to the Editor: April 12, 2024
Keep the character There are many objective and subjective reasons why McMinnville is considered to have the best small-town downtown west of the Mississippi River. So why are we paying large fees to ...
Letters to the Editor: April 5, 2024
Sheriff misstep Last week, I expressed to Sheriff Sam Elliott, through e-mail, my disappointment regarding his endorsement of Commissioner Lindsay Berschauer for re-election. To my surprise, he promptly ...
Letters to the Editor: March 29, 2024
Dress ’em up I read with interest the reader’s letter about the necessity of having awnings on the storefronts on Third Street. It is important. But why can’t these awnings be colorful ...
Letter to the Editor: March 22, 2024
Warding off the drizzle Where does Michele Reeves come from? Not the Pacific Northwest, apparently. It has been known to rain here. Awnings are to keep people dry while they walk up and down Third Street, ...
Letters to the Editor: March 15, 2024
Another view My response to the president’s State of the Union address consists of takes on four items he didn’t mention or glossed over: 1) Fighting in Ukraine and the Middle East With ...
Letters to the Editor: March 8, 2024
Educate and vaccinate As a retired physician, I have to ask, what are our county commissioners thinking? Vaccination has saved more lives than any other medical invention. It leads any list of the top ...
Letters to the Editor: March 1, 2024
Losing our way My greatest good fortune was to be born into an ascendant America, a proud nation of immigrants that had just led an alliance to defeat fascism in Europe and the Pacific. During the post-war ...
Commentary
Roger Currier: Back in the day, goal was to make our parks better
After reading all the letters about the pros and cons of the county’s parks, trail and recreation efforts, I felt I should drop my thoughts into the issue.
Investigating the Bible: Is Hell a place, an idea or a choice?
At a dinner party, Mark Twain was quiet as the subject of eternal life and hell was discussed. A woman seated next to him asked why he had not spoken.
Whatchamacolumn: Take the plunge into tri-weekly E-Editions
I was about 40 when computers first absorbed our business operations, and less than enthusiastic about the changes. Over subsequent decades, my wealth of valuable and enjoyable computer experiences has ...
Letter to Readers: ‘Our Town’ addresses the question of what’s still left to learn
The McMinnville High School production of “Our Town” is an evening well spent. As someone who has performed in the play three times, I know that the Thornton Wilder classic is a tremendously ...
Calendar of Quirk: This week, it’s a lock that some of these Quirk items just hasp to be
Quirk is often connected, in spirit, appearance, location or a combination of those things. We start this week’s Calendar of Quirk in the Granary District square, at the south end of Alpine Avenue, ...
Investigating the Bible: Response to evil can take variety of forms
December 2019, in a Sunday morning worship service, a gunman opened fire, killing two people. Before he could kill more, he was shot and killed by an armed usher, who later said he did not consider himself to be a hero. No community is spared the ugly possibility of violence. So what advice does the Bible give us if evil strikes close to home? There is no one-size-fits-all response; however, there are guidelines:
Whatchamacolumn: Disruptive cyberattacks come in all sizes and shapes
News of cyberattacks is so persistent that it can become white noise, distracting us from the magnitude of individual computer system assaults and catastrophic risks. NBC News, January: FBI Director Christopher ...
Calendar of Quirk: Various elements circle around this week — in a roundabout way
This week’s Calendar of Quirk elements include metal, wood, neon, and even some fire. April 15 The classic look of the Farnham Electric neon sign, a standout along Lafayette Avenue. April 16 The ...
Letter to readers: A national, and personal, hero
What can I say about Peggy Lutz, who served our country in the Navy WAVES during World War II? She’s been a role model and inspiration in many ways, for me and so many others. As one of the first ...
Whatchamacolumn: Reinvigorate what made KOB a success
Two recent headlines captured community attention and helped stimulate private/public discussions. “Next year could be last for after-school program.” That March 29 news story provided some ...
Interpreting the Bible: Did Jesus get timing wrong?
On October 22, 1844, thousands of followers of Baptist minister William Miller waited on rooftops and hilltops for the rapture he had predicted. They were called Millerites and wore white robes; many sold all their possessions. The day came and no one was lifted to heaven. In recent times, radio minister Harold Camping had five different dates for the second coming, starting on September 6, 1994. When each date came and uneventfully passed, he’d choose another.
Allen: No reason to give up on Yamhelas Westsider Trail
Don’t let Mary Starrett fool you about the Yamhelas trail.
Shumway: Only three Senate seats considered to be in play
Senators serve four-year terms with staggered elections, so only half the Senate’s 30 seats are up any given year. And the 2024 election is just a formality for two senators — Fred Girod, R-Silverton, and Kathleen Taylor, D-Portland — as they have no opponents from either party.
Calendar of Quirk: Twists, turns and sweet surprises in CQ’s ‘Evans Street Special’
This week’s Calendar of Quirk presents an Evans Street parade — a variety of Quirk from along one of McMinnville’s most popular thoroughfares. It should be stressed that, given Evans ...
Stapilus: Tight races loom in House, but shift in control unlikely
Two years ago, the Democratic majority in the 60-member Oregon House slipped from 37 seats to 35. Could Republicans win a majority this year? Probably not, though it’s not entirely out of the question.
Whatchamacolumn: Newspaper seeks its 'value proposition'
After correcting a previous error, last week’s column concluded: “That’s one of the reasons we have a community newspaper … if you want to help sustain that newspaper, take a look ...
Investigating the Bible: Held aloft by the perfection of compassion
In 1965, southern states would not air the television show, “I Spy,” because the leading actors were Bill Cosby acting as an equal with the very white Robert Culp.
Calendar of Quirk: Quirk examples that stand up to the test of time – and fashionably
Where else but McMinnville, a town of bountiful Quirk, would you find not one but four places that give names to mannequin? This week we celebrate Clark, Inez, Franz, Regina and Eva, four stand-up female ...
Yamhelas Westsider Trail, Pro: Project is worth a look with fresh eyes
Does Yamhill County’s Yamhelas Westsider Trail, proposed for former railroad right of way extending 14.8 miles north from Gun Club Road almost to Gaston, have a legitimate future?
