Surrounded by Fun Days activities, parade announcer David Blanchard may have been having the most fun of all. Blanchard, a Carlton resident since 1974, looks forward to repeating his role every June. ...
News & Features
EMPWR takes fight over big sign to LUBA
EMPWR Nutrition Group is continuing its pursuit of a large electronic sign for its Booth Bend Road headquarters, recently appealing a McMinnville City Council denial to the Land Use Board of Appeals. Earlier ...
Dundee neighbors dispute adjusted plans for home
A Yamhill County approval adjusting a planned home footprint in rural Dundee has been appealed by a group of neighbors, citing effects on local roads and their businesses. Applicant and future owner Andre ...
Along the Street: Nick’s announces suspended operations
Nick’s Italian Café announced last week it is closing until further notice. “We received a report indicating a significant safety hazard due to our hood vent being non-compliant and ...
Most proposed initiatives won’t make next ballot
Oregonians proposed nearly 90 changes to state law or the Oregon Constitution for the November 2026 ballot, and a dozen of those petitions with priorities ranging from ending mail voting to enshrining civil rights for women and LGBTQ people in the state constitution cleared an initial hurdle.
Natural Grocers store opens this week
Natural Grocers’ crews, both local and from other outlets, were busily stocking shelves in the new McMinnville store Monday in preparation for grand opening festivities this week. The 13,500-square-foot ...
4th of July celebrations around the county
In honor of the 250th Independence Day celebration, events across the county are aiming to be bigger and better. Willamina's annual Old Fashioned Fourth of July celebration will be graced with an Air ...
Willamina ready to continue tradition
The build up to the Willamina Old Fashioned Fourth of July is year-long as the committee members raise funds for 12 months with two mud drag events, bake sales, t-shirt sales and other fundraisers. At ...
Stopping By: Life of music
Willamina musician Johnny Wheels sings the blues but lives with positive purpose
Revamped MacFresco called success
MacFresco’s first weekend in its new format — three times over the summer, rather than weekly — was well received, according to Emily Matsuda, co-director of the McMinnville Downtown ...
Caretaker charged with stealing from clients
A McMinnville caretaker has been indicted on two counts of first-degree theft after allegedly stealing jewelry from her senior clients. According to the McMinnville Police Department, Emily Ann Womack, ...
The voice of Fun Days
Surrounded by Fun Days activities, parade announcer David Blanchard may have been having the most fun of all. Blanchard, a Carlton resident since 1974, looks forward to repeating his role every June. ...
What in the Yamhill: Carlton and Lafayette honor U.S. presidents on roadways
When you hear the names Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison, you likely think of the first four presidents of the United States. Those names are also ways to navigate the roads of Carlton and Lafayette. With ...
Council agrees on May bond for $80 million rec center
Only a few questions remain on the design of a new $80 million Riverside Drive recreation center, but McMinnville City Council agreed Tuesday to delay a municipal bond measure until the May 2027 election ...
Starrett faces backlash over comments about racism
Community members turned out to Thursday’s Board of Commissioners meeting to condemn Mary Starrett’s comments last week over a car yelling racial slurs at a group of girls in Newberg. After ...
Mac Water & Light passes budget, breaks ground
McMinnville Water & Light will spend approximately $28 million in reserves over the 2026-27 fiscal year, largely on its headquarters renovation. The utility remains in sound financial shape despite ...
Emerald Ash Borer found in Newberg
The emerald ash borer has been detected in a parking lot outside Newberg and in Tualatin and Silverton, the Oregon Department of Forestry reported this week. “This June, the Oregon Department of ...
Attempted murder, sexual assault trial continued
The Yamhill County District Attorney’s Office has requested a continuance in the attempted murder trial of Travis William Ferguson. Prosecutors told Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Easterday that lab ...
DCI International leaving for Wilsonville
DCI International, one of Newberg’s largest employers and a fixture of Newberg’s manufacturing economy for more than four decades, announced Tuesday it is leaving Newberg and consolidating its Oregon operations at a newly purchased campus in Wilsonville.
Recover, rebuild
Provoking Hope program sets a path to overcome addiction, detach from criminal behavior and serve the community
Sports
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 ...
Three locals named to All-State teams
A trio of Yamhill County athletes earned Oregon School Activities Association All-State recognition, as selections were announced this week by the organization for boys and girls tennis and boys volleyball. Among ...
Local girls flag rugby league ends first season with for players and parents to enjoy game
On Sunday, June 6, the Mid-Willamette League of girls rugby met at Joe Dancer Park in McMinnville to finish its inaugural season. Six fields were in use as young ruggers laughed and smiled while playing ...
Grizzlies taking summer ball as opportunity to embrace new roles
Though the calendar hasn’t yet marked it, summer is in full swing for the Mac-Willamette Valley Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Varsity baseball team. The Grizzlies’ offseason squad has been ...
Amity's Dyer, McMullen named 3A Coaches of the Year
On Saturday, May 30, Amity High School head coaches Jed McMullen (girls basketball) and Andy Dyer (girls soccer) each received recognition as Class 3A Coaches of the Year for their respective sports ...
Photo Gallery: All for one, one for all
Between the high school and collegiate level, five softball teams from Yamhill County made a run through their respective playoff tournaments. Though none were able to capture a title, many set records ...
3A Softball: Yamhill Carlton's Bradfield named Special District 3 Pitcher of the Year
On top of their first league title since 2022 and a trip to the 3A State semifinals, Yamhill Carlton’s softball team owned a fair share of their Special District 3 all-league awards. Headlining ...
3A Baseball: Five Tigers, Pirate trio head all-league awards
As the 3A baseball season ended, 12 ball players from Yamhill County represented their respective squads as all-league honorees in Special District 3. A pair of Tigers from Yamhill Carlton came away with ...
Upon Further Review: The game with a heart beat
Since moving to McMinnville in May of 2025, I have been gobsmacked by the sport that is fastpitch softball. The reasoning’s in the name, end of story. All joking aside, fastpitch offers everything ...
