Yamhill County dons a patriotic palette for Fourth of July festivities


Commentary

 
Adam Davis: Communities coming together to make more of nation's 250th

As our country reaches the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence, we’re not gliding into the celebratory or joyous moment we might have been.

 

 
David Sumner: All men are created equal too powerful to be thwarted

Part of my teaching assignment at Linfield is “American Dreaming,” a course that tells the American story, from first contact to ChatGPT, through literature.

 

Kirby Neumann-Rea: O say, can you see rockets’ red glare?

On June 27, a week before Independence Day, someone began setting off illegal fireworks a block away. It started about 10 p.m., the same time as the night before.

 

Jeb Bladine: Changed America shares McMinnville birthday

Happy Birthday, America. My, how you’ve changed! I remember when you were a youthful 200 years old. Who could forget your 1976 McMinnville birthday party: huge parade with downtown streets packed ...

Margaret Cross: Nostalgic for true ideals of our founders

If you like fireworks, a steak on the grill and a day off, have a good time. Don’t whine about the cost.

 

Editorials

 
Prosperity Council delivers workable roadmap for state

Gov. Tina Kotek’s 15-member Oregon Prosperity Council released its 452-page prescription for Oregon’s ailing economy to great fanfare last week. Cutting through the report’s massive scope ...

 
State's school funding formula in desperate need of overhaul

Oregon’s school funding formula — last reconfigured in 1991, some 35 years ago — fails to provide more than 100,000 poverty-afflicted students with the extra help they desperately need ...

 
Now’s the time to be heard on sewage system funding

McMinnville has embarked, and wisely so, on planning for the next 20 years of operation, maintenance, rehabilitation and expansion of its sewage transmission and treatment system. The challenge is to ...

 
Don't just vote no on IP28; give it a blistering rejection

Initiative Petition 28 has succeeded in placing the PEACE Act, short for the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions Act, on Oregon’s November ballot. And that has, understandably, ...

 
Graduates let feelings known about who controls the future

There have been numerous news articles and viral videos this graduation season featuring the Class of 2026 raining a chorus of boos upon speakers promoting the wonders of artificial intelligence (AI). ...

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. This ...

 
Letters to the Editor: July 2, 2026

Hate is learned Dear Commissioner Starrett: Several years ago, I discovered a disturbing drawing on the sidewalk at Jay Pearson Park here in McMinnville. It depicted a person being lynched and was accompanied ...

 
Letters to the Editor: June 26, 2026

Respect for all I am writing to express my profound concern regarding recent comments made by Yamhill County Commissioner Mary Starrett. As an elected official, she holds a position of public trust and ...

 
Letters to the Editor: June 19, 2026

Wall of honor Adie and I just wanted to show you what we’ve done with all of your amazing work over the years. Thank you so much for shining a light on our special teammates, coaches and community! Adie ...

 
Letters to the Editor: June 12, 2026

Canary in coal mine As a former hospital administrator in both non-for-profit and for-profit systems, and senior manager in a major Medicaid program, I read your article on United Healthcare Advantage ...

News & Features

Board closes in on solution for Newberg park bridge

A three-year-old request to build a footbridge at Ewing Young Park may soon be approved following proposed changes to the Yamhill County zoning ordinance around “transportation facilities.” Following ...

 
Mac tool library seeks new digs

Following a successful first year of operations, the nonprofit McMinnville Tool Library is on the hunt for a new location that hopefully provides more space. The library opened March 1, 2025, at 1040 ...

Board fills committee seats, excludes recent challenger

The Yamhill County Board of Commissioners filled two vacancies on the budget committee Thursday, dismissing the recommendation of Bubba King to appoint recent board challenger and financial analyst John ...

Along the Street: Demolition permit filed for old bowling alley

The Walnut City Lanes bowling alley building will be razed soon to make way for Les Schwab’s new tire center for trucks. The city received a demolition permit June 30 and is reviewing the project. ...

 
Food truck serves beer, cocktails

Musician and retired Marine Nick Manzke is planning to transform a parking lot food truck pod into an entertainment hangout spot. “I hope people will come out, get a drink, get some food from the ...

Mac schools serving free summer meals

Free meals are available for those 18 and younger at several sites in McMinnville. McMinnville School District is hosting the federal free breakfast and lunch program. In other cities, school districts ...

Mac hospital, major insurer strike a deal

Willamette Valley Medical Center and UnitedHealthcare reached an eleventh-hour agreement Tuesday to continue in-network service for thousands of Yamhill County residents. The two sides were staring down ...

 
What in the Yamhill: The Wortman family

Like many pioneers, the Wortman family traveled west for a dream and ended up creating community in ways still visible in the fabric of modern-day life. For many McMinnville residents, a stroll or disc ...

Court Records: July 6, 2026

CIVIL FILINGS Bank Of America, N.A. vs. Teresa M. Emery: Granted $15,903.01 judgment. Pacific NW Federal Credit Union vs. Maribel Ortega: Granted $14,837.56 judgment. Bank Of America, N.A. vs. Sarah ...

History museum campus partly open

While remodeling work is continuing on the Yamhill County History Museum’s main building, other parts of the museum campus are open to visitors. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. A ...

Lafayette council to vote on ballot initiative

The Lafayette City Council on Thursday, July 9, will consider the proposed ballot language that, if approved, will allow the city to expend grant money to repair the Canyon View Pump Station. The Lafayette ...

Roadwork and construction in Mac may cause delays, booms

McMinnville residents may experience loud booms and road closures this month in connection with two ongoing projects. Notices have been delivered about blasting that will occur throughout July at the ...

Friends book sale Saturday

Friends of the McMinnville Public Library will hold its bimonthly fundraising book sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at the library. Adult books will be sold for $1, children’s books ...

Evergreen hosts car show

Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum will host a car show Saturday, July 11, featuring rare and vintage European sports cars, supercars and roadsters. Jaguars, Alfa Romeos and other restored vehicles ...

 
Stopping By: American rider

A cross-country cycling journey started for the Bicentennial completed for the country’s 250th

 
Photo Gallery: Red, White & Blue

Yamhill County dons a patriotic palette for Fourth of July festivities

 
Flyovers mark Fourth as local communities celebrate nation’s independence

Fighter jets will fly over McMinnville and Willamina Saturday In celebration of Independence Day and America's 250th birthday. F-15s from the Portland Air National Guard Base will be doing flyovers at ...

Cities hope zones spur economic development

Four tracts of Yamhill County have been submitted to Gov. Tina Kotek’s office to be included in the federal Opportunity Zone 2.0 program intended to stimulate business development. Opportunity Zones ...

 
Photo Gallery: Let's play base ball

The McMinnville Gristmillers take on the St. Joseph Boilermakers during Yamhill County History Museum’s annual Vintage Base Ball game

Dayton makes offer for interim leader

Following a series of candidate interviews last week, Dayton City Council agreed Monday to offer its interim city manager position to Florida government administrator Gretchen Cassini. Cassini is an administrator ...

Sports

 
Bears boys basketball inspiring leadership during summer play

McMinnville’s boys’ basketball team was hard at work over recent weeks. Between summer leagues, youth camps and an alumni game, Grizzly players soaked up as much as they could handle. Their ...

 
Mac's Duryee ready for next steps after varsity reps

Nerves rattled Jonah Duryee when he stepped onto the baseball diamond for his first varsity contest of 2026. The incoming sophomore received the call-up from JV on May 1 for a road bout versus Forest ...

 
Side-by-side short course racing makes Willamina Mud Drag debut

More than 70 vehicles competed in the Willamina Mud Drags on Saturday, June 27, as the city of Willamina raised funds for its Fourth of July celebration. Through spurts of heavy rain and sunshine, competitors ...

 
Top county softball teams recognized with all-state honors

The battle for the 3A softball crown ended in the semifinals for both of No. 4-ranked Yamhill Carlton and No. 3 Dayton, but each was awarded its fair share of All-State recognition. YC had five players ...

Lafayette Fourth of July feature special guests from POW Pro Wrestling

The Lafayette Fourth of July celebration is one of the oldest in the state and this year will feature special guests at the third annual hot dog eating contest. POW Pro Wrestling out of Eugene will have ...

Amity, Mac locals make their case at USATF Oregon Junior Olympics

The first rounds of the USATF Oregon Association Junior Olympics unfolded seamlessly from June 25-28, with a large contingent of Yamhill County athletes competing at Mt. Hood Community College. Along ...

Mac, YC seniors represent squads on all-state teams

All-State recognition graced just one player from McMinnville in 2026, senior designated hitter Cameron Hyder. The Lower Columbia College commit led the Grizzlies in batting average (.432), OBP (.544), ...

 
Amity boys basketball going back to basics during summer league

Based on record alone, the Amity boys’ basketball team of 2025-26 was the best the program had seen since 2019-20. The varsity Warriors went 16-10 overall and 12-4 in PacWest Conference play. Amity’s ...

 
Photo Gallery: Past versus present

McMinnville alumni took on current Grizzly varsity players on Wednesday for the first of what hopes to become an annual basketball game between the school’s past and future graduates. In front of ...

 
Upon Further Review: Covering history at Hayward

In my travels across the nation to view athletics for both work and pleasure, few cathedrals of sport have attracted my gaze more than historic Hayward Field. Growing up in a family whose lineage had ...

 
Grizzlies taking a page from Wildcats' playbook

Those in charge of McMinnville High School football are always trying to find ways to improve, and after losing more than a dozen seniors and all but one game in 2025, the Grizzlies are taking every opportunity ...

 
Mac's Carpenter, Amity's Howard reach record marks at Nike Outdoor Nationals

Two McMinnville school records and an overwhelming personal best marked some of the praiseworthy performances by Yamhill County athletes during the Nike Outdoor Nationals annual track and field invite ...

 
Youth softball players, coaches learn from Portland's professional team

Professional softball players and the youth athletes they’re inspiring met for the first time in Hillsboro last weekend. The newly-founded Portland Cascade of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League ...

Willamina Mud Drags offering new SXS class

This Saturday, June 27, the Willamina Mud Drags are returning to the West Valley with a new event for spectators to enjoy and racers to partake. Outside of the usual Super Modified, Modified, four and ...

 
Grizzlies baseball star praises family, community for strength to battle adversity

When Cameron Hyder entered the ranks of McMinnville High School baseball, he was not projected to become the player he was during the Grizzlies’ most recent spring season. Hyder shined as an athlete. ...

 
Tiger girls basketball 'in a good place' with incoming freshman

There is a consensus opinion from opposing coaches facing the Yamhill Carlton girls basketball team during summer league: they’re going to be fun to watch. Despite being down in games and fairly ...

 
Pirates, Tigers using basketball offseason to reinforce leadership skills, toughness on the court

County rivalries take on a different form in the summer. The mood is more playful, but the competition is just as heated. Such was the case last week when Dayton High School hosted the boys’ basketball ...

 
Fueling the future: Warriors measuring success by 'getting better every day' of summer basketball league

The ability to play freely was one of the major contributors to success for Amity’s girls’ basketball championships over the last two seasons. A few years of defeat while falling short also ...

 
Miersma, Lomeli represent Warriors in All-Star showcase

A throng of elite class 2A, 3A and 4A basketball players assembled at the Warrior gymnasium and Amity High School on June 12-13. For two days, seniors who took the winter by storm donned their school’s ...

 
Upon Further Review: Regret, reminiscence and goals to be glorified

The world’s game has taken over North America. Every four years, nationalism and patriotism — depending on your point of view — take over sporting news for the better in most ways. The ...

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