Futornick: Streetscaping vital element of downtown Mac rebuild

I would like to express my support for McMinnville’s Third Street Improvement Project, and especially its inclusion of trees and shrubs. I live outside the city, but have for many years enjoyed the vibrant downtown.

Bladine: Legislative session ending with a bipartisan flurry

Unlike Congress, Oregon’s 2024 Legislature is winding down with a strong showing of bipartisan attention to public interest legislation. Thursday, as this column goes to production, the Oregon Senate ...

Investigating the Bible: Let’s instead say, ‘Spare the rod; school the child’

The toddler threw a tantrum. His father gently carried him to an empty corner of the dining room so he wouldn’t hurt himself. However, the tike began spitting on the linoleum floor. This continued for several minutes and then silence. His father asked: “Are you ready to come out now and behave?” The child yelled, “No! I’m waiting for more spit!”

Calendar of Quirk: ‘Toma un libro’ and other worthy oddities found all around Yamhill County

Another week’s worth of oddities, from legacy ceramic tiles to badminton on carpet: March 4 We mentioned the Dayton-area Highway 18 moose in recent weeks; we should also mention the deer statue ...

Letter To Readers: Remembering Nex, seeking respect for non-binary people

When tragic incidents happen time zones away we tend not to focus on how they affect us or anyone around us. Some might feel that way about the death of 16-year-old Nex Benedict after they were attacked ...

Investigating the Bible: Love of money: ‘don’t pay too much for the whistle’

Joe Louis is one of the greatest boxers ever, the world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949. When he was asked in retirement who hit him the hardest in his career, he replied, “Uncle Sam.” As we prepare to pay income tax, we may agree with Joe. Does the Bible consider income and money evil?

Schuck: U.S. must remain steadfast in repelling Russian hegemony

The 1998 National Defense Authorization Act awarded “Cold War Recognition” certificates to uniformed and selected civilian personnel who supported the Department of Defense between 1945 and 1991. While trivial to some, these certificates are important mementos in my family, and with good reason.

Williams: Don’t let affiliations thwart lifesaving medical decisions

A practicing physician’s response to the county commissioners’ request for information about vaccines:

Thank you for the opportunity to speak of the impact of vaccinations. As a frame of reference, I was born in 1955 and have experienced directly or indirectly many of the illnesses now prevented with vaccines, both personally and as a practicing physician.

Bladine: Attention now turns to downtown trees

Trees, particularly downtown trees, are important to McMinnville, and public angst erupts when talk turns to removal of existing downtown trees as part of future redevelopment. With an expanding timeline ...

Offbeat Oregon: Oregon’s real-life Indiana Jones

In the summer of 1981 a little action-adventure movie titled Raiders of the Lost Ark came out, and fans have been speculating ever since on who the character of Indiana Jones might be based on. The most ...

Gibson: Maybe we should learn to appreciate hedonism

Epicureans have their excesses, but efforts to avoid pain and suffering have led to great advances

Bladine: No harm from a little bit of public scrutiny

Private agencies, even if spending millions of public dollars, can fly under the radar with closed meetings and private records. Sometimes, lacking experience being fully in the public eye, they can respond ...

Investigating The Bible: Following the child’s example

Jesus gave an urgent message involving children, which is recorded in three of the gospels. “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:17, New International Version; used throughout). What did Jesus mean when he said children must be role models for anyone who would enter the kingdom of God? The answer may surprise us.

Calendar of Quirk: You never Sauvignon such sights as this week’s set of oddities

Calendar of Quirk moves between backroom black-light and a prominent tribute to Wine Country you might never have seen, though it stands two stories tall next to a highway. Feb. 19 Sand and gravel silos ...

Vasquez: Restoring our faith in the American dream

In recent years, I have become increasingly confused about what it means to be an American.

As a child, the sight of our flag and sound of our anthem evoked the comforting assurance of shared devotion to our beautiful nation. That continued up until recent times, but no longer.