About the writer: Republican Cyrus Javadi, a married father of five, is in his second term representing Clatsop and Tillamook counties in the House. In his private life, he owns and operates a Tillamook ...
Editorials
Fire district can't allow revenue to go untapped
“Declining Medicare reimbursement from the federal government, combined with an increasing Medicare patient load, have driven up the cost of providing ambulance service in the last few years. “The ...
Bond issue never easy sell, but good case can be made
The city’s community center has passed the century mark and its aquatic center is about to turn 70. The ravages of time have left both in a state where a serviceable makeover would run nearly as ...
Steering a school of tradition through a time of transition
Traditions and timeless features are hallmarks of Linfield University. Pioneer Hall, Streak Street, the Paul Durham statue, the Murdock Hall sundial, the acorn ceremony, to name a few. But this is a ...
Garvin fits the mold as interim manager of the city
Before being named city manager in McMinnville in 2017, Jeff Towery had already served four tours in upper-level city management posts, dating back 30 years. He had also earned a master’s degree ...
Fair has come a long way to enjoy sustained success
In previewing this year’s edition of the Yamhill County Fair & Rodeo with the Board of Commissioners last week, Manager Gary Wertz said: “Oregon’s oldest fair is ready for you. Just ...
County takes first step in making parks a priority
Imagine, if you will, an alternative universe where the Yamhill County Parks system included: - The Stuart Grenfell Park County Campground, attracting RVers and others to West Valley for overnight ...
Airport finally taking flight in the skies over City Hall
The future has never looked brighter for the 650-acre, dual-runway airfield the city inherited from the military in 1943, at a time when World War II was still raging in both the European and Pacific theaters. Over ...
Massive mixed-use venture moving to forefront in Mac
Fasten your seat belts, McMinnville dwellers. You will soon be hearing and seeing a lot about another major local development project — one the city council got its first formal look at in conceptual ...
Legislators left a mess that demands a prompt cleanup
The Oregon Legislature opened this year’s session with three tasks towering over the rest: - Balancing the budget in the face of worrisome economic slippage and continued economic uncertainty. - Developing ...
City gets budget passed; bond showdown up next
The McMinnville City Council laid one contentious financial issue to quiet, anticlimactic rest Tuesday night — a proposed $121,454,284 budget for the new fiscal year it will be ushering in next week. The ...
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: Aug. 29, 2025
Open letter Dear Chief Godfrey: Having served as an elected board member and vice president with the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District, I understand your financial issues with providing under-reimbursed ...
Letters to the Editor: Aug. 22, 2025
A cheaper way There is a significant shortfall in funding the transportation and water/sewer infrastructure projects that have been delineated by the city of Carlton, even at the most basic level. Some ...
Letters to the Editor: Aug. 15, 2025
Role of citizen In Germany, and across much of Europe, there is a project underway to commemorate the lives of the victims of the Nazi regime and the systematic disappearance of Jews, Gypsies, some Catholics ...
Letters to the Editor: Aug. 8, 2025
Our Mad King Tyrants can’t handle the truth. They invent their own version, insist their subjects subscribe to it and punish those who refuse to go along. One of the first jobs of an up-and-coming ...
Letters to the Editor: Aug. 1, 2025
A special place I recently received literature from Henderson House indicating President Trump’s administration has proposed a 50% cut in assistance for domestic violence. My sister, Mary Henderson, ...
Letters to the Editor: July 25, 2025
Better with less Regarding the article from July 18 about the county parks situation, which raises some questions and need for comment. First, ask us if we want more parks and are willing to pay for ...
Letters to the Editor: July 18, 2025
Stuck with bill I watched the president talking about tariffs on TV. He said the United States had collected somewhere in the neighborhood of $65 billion from his tariffs so far. He said this was money ...
Letters to the Editor: July 11, 2025
The true picture Open letter to Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank Bisignano: Poverty does not equate with stupidity, Mr. Bisignano. Those of us living chiefly on Social Security are not ...
Letters to the Editor: July 3, 2025
Fireworks sanctuary? Open letter to McMinnville mayor and council: Please seriously consider a total ban on sale and use of all fireworks within the city limits — year around. Please seriously ...
Commentary
Quirk of the Week: Linfield’s top 10 quirks
This is the first week of classes at Linfield University and, with new president Mark Blegen on board, it means it is time to revisit a few examples of campus Quirk and roll out some new ones, amounting ...
Rep. Cyrus Javadi: Politically convenient option or one that actually works?
About the writer: Republican Cyrus Javadi, a married father of five, is in his second term representing Clatsop and Tillamook counties in the House. In his private life, he owns and operates a Tillamook ...
Jeb Bladine: Reducing abuse of Oregon foster care children
Oregonians had a glimpse into the world of child foster care, but transparency is fleeting. From a report in The Oregonian: “Disability Rights Oregon and national advocacy group A Better Childhood ...
Investigating the Bible: Courage to accept
In 1956, Black student Autherine Lucy attended her first class at the all-white University of Alabama. Soon riots erupted and violence escalated. Lucy locked herself in a classroom, praying for strength. The University expelled her, claiming it was for her own safety and campus peace. Dr. David Jeremiah reported that in 2019, Autherine returned to the University of Alabama for an honorary doctorate and shed tears. She said, “I wasn’t crying — tears were just rolling down my eyes because it’s just so different. …I see laughing faces instead of people frowning and displeased at me being here.” One man in the Bible had courage to accept a feared Jew.
Eric Schuck: Whole generation missing out on benefit of fostering fitness
Like a lot of 50-somethings, I have a complicated relationship with my body.
When I look at a photograph behind my desk of an 18-year old me flying over a hurdle, I’m not going to lie: I miss that body, and the speed and grace it carried.
Investigating the Bible: Salvation today
James Keller wrote of an airplane making a bombing raid over Germany in WWII. An army chaplain had joined the crew. Soon their airplane was attacked with anti-aircraft fire and enemy planes. Trying to ...
Jeb Bladine: Government mixes weaknesses with strengths
Government isn’t bad, we keep reminding ourselves. It protects our property, educates our children, and builds our roads and bridges. Government arrests and prosecutes criminals among us, and writes ...
Sarena Neyma: Excluding ordinary people from extraordinary places
For decades, I’ve returned to Truro, Massachusetts, drawn by some of the most breathtaking vistas on Cape Cod. I never tire of biking through the dunes, hiking the sandy bluffs of the National Seashore, or watching the sun rise over the tidal flats.
Quirk of the Week: ‘Soup,’ stump and signs: McMinnville miscellany
Call this McMinnville Miscellany: some Quirk finds, most of them fun, discovered mid-summer around town. Quirk listings have focused here and there on readerboards, the changeable ones seen at some businesses ...
Scott Gibson: Boys falling by the wayside as soeciety's demands evolve
About the writer: Scott Gibson has practiced medicine in his hometown of McMinnville since 1989. He and his wife, Melody, raised their three children in McMinnville before moving to the Eola Hills in 2017 ...
Investigating the Bible: The fastest disciple
In the Reader’s Digest, Nandiara Hentges wrote: “When I asked my friend if she was planning to attend church, she just shook her head. ‘I haven’t gone in a long time, she said. ‘Besides, it’s too late for me. I’ve probably already broken all seven commandments.’” A close look can find subtle humor in the Bible.
Jeb Bladine: Walking a mile, or two, in the other guy’s shoes
We’re often reminded that many news articles can’t capture the full human story behind the reported facts, especially when those facts involve the activities of law enforcement and the judicial ...
Quirk of the Week: A brief sweep of unique chimneys and other unusual building features in Mac
A pair of unique chimneys highlight this week’s Quirk tour of unusual McMinnville building features. For a couple weeks, we’ll visit some unique aspects of McMinnville, then take a couple ...
Quirk of the Week: Curiosities found in Gaston and north Yamhill County
One more north Yamhill County tour of Quirk, starting with a brief journey in and around Gaston (as promised): Checking these out might come with a visit to the 28th annual Wapato Car Showdown and related ...
Stephanie Baker: I lost my brother to our broken health care system
My brother, Tim, died a few weeks ago at the age of 69.
He’d been diagnosed with bile duct cancer that had metastasized to his liver. He was gone in less than two months, so quickly he didn’t even have the chance to try chemotherapy in hopes of buying him some more time
Jeb Bladine: Banks add fraud warnings to cash withdrawals
Banking customers, of course, can withdraw small or large amounts of cash from their accounts. However, in today’s world fraught with fraud, banks have adopted new communications seeking to warn ...
Investigating the Bible: Contentment in all circumstances
Chip and Joanna Gaines, of Waco, Texas, are founders of the home décor business, Magnolia Market. Joanna likes perfection. She explained in her book, “The Magnolia Story,” that when their four children were young, she plopped down to rest on their old sofa with the new white slipcover: “I made the mistake of looking down. My beautiful, brand-new, snowy-white slipcover was covered in little black fingerprints.”
Kirby Neumann-Rea: Is Mac truly trapped in time, or is it just the travel writer?
“McMinnville looks like something out of a Christmas card and its history dates back to the mid-1800s. McMinnville’s picture-perfect Third Street is lined with buildings built between the late 1800s and early 1900s.”
Mel Gustov: Scientific research is being gutted in the U.S.
There was a time not too long ago when American scientists and research facilities were the envy of the world. In those days, our scientists typically swept Nobel and other international prizes.
Jeb Bladine: Palestinian state? AI assists in report of debate
Heart-breaking images of starvation in Gaza are at least reminiscent of unspeakable modern-era examples of genocide described at www.genocideeducation.org. The stakes of that debate expanded this week ...
