The natural world is on the brink of collapse, and it’s not due to lack of awareness or solutions, but to the deliberate exploitation of our planet’s resources by powerful corporations and the Brahmins who lead them.
Editorials
Danger signals on rec bond suggest a pause to reassess
There’s always a good time to lock up land for future development, and it’s always right now, as far in advance as possible. If you don’t, you’ll inevitably find on down the road ...
County's OMI purchase promises big dividends
The lead headline on last Friday’s front page, “County to buy OMI campus,” serves to answer an editorial call we’ve been sounding for more than 20 years now. If we had to reduce ...
To fluoridate or desist rises to the fore again
A movement fueled by dentists and dental health researchers in the 1930s and ‘40s led the Michigan city of Grand Rapids to begin fluoridating its water in 1945. By 1960, 50 million Americans were ...
Supermajorities in the offing: let's see they aren't abused
Marion County’s House District 22, which encompasses Woodburn, Gervais, Brooks and the northern reaches of Salem, is arguably the most distinctive legislative district in the state. It has also been ...
YCAP performs key function demanding support from all
The Yamhill County Board of Commissioners appeared to solve a major interagency communications problem last week — at least for the immediate future — with allocation of $650,000 in federal ...
Floodplain hue and cry much ado about very little
A July notice from the Federal Emergency Management Agency imposed a Dec. 1 deadline on Oregon cities and counties for adoption of updated flood management regulations. The local jurisdictions are saying ...
Another free and fair election deserves acceptance as such
We have no sweeping revelations to impart about Tuesday’s local, state and national balloting, particularly with a fair number of races and measures yet to be decided, hither and yon. We do, however, ...
Uniting in common cause key to getting things done
Last week’s groundbreaking for the Housing Authority of Yamhill County’s 175-unit Stratus Village affordable housing project, its first since the Village Quarter development of 2006, was well ...
Allow nothing to infringe on our sacred right to vote
Ensuring free, fair and universal elections has proven an uphill grind throughout recorded history, and no less in the United States than in its pioneering predecessors in Greece and Western Europe. If ...
Close call for mayorship; here's our take on the race
We are torn two directions on this year’s hotly contested mayor’s race in McMinnville. A strong case can be made for incumbent Remy Drabkin, who spent many years moving up the chairs as a ...
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: Dec. 6, 2024
Another option I agree with Erik Halstead that a roundabout at the junction of Highway18 and the Lafayette Highway is a poor solution. A grade-separated intersection would be ideal, but is unlikely to ...
Letters to the Editor: Nov. 29, 2024
Mad in McMinnville I’m mad. Mad as hell. Today we learned that the murderer of Laken Riley was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without parole. He should have been executed. I, for ...
Letters to the Editor: Nov. 8, 2024
Taxed to death I was reading the article about the homeless saying they are being ignored. As a hardworking taxpayer, I am tired of my property taxes increasing. Nothing is free. That money has to come ...
Letters to the Editor: Oct. 25, 2024
Better grasp Relatively new here, I’ve made it a priority to understand how our city operates. Having met Mayor Remy Drabkin several times, I’ve been impressed with her professionalism, dedication ...
Letters to the Editor: Oct. 18, 2024
Leader we need Having known Kim Morris for many years, I’ve witnessed her dedicated leadership as the founder of the McMinnville Community Task Force. Kim has actively listened to and supported ...
Letters to the Editor: Oct. 11, 2024
A trusted leader I am writing to support re-election of Remy Drabkin as mayor. Remy is a trusted leader who has: - Successfully expanded access to affordable housing for local families and workers ...
Letters to the Editor: Oct. 4, 2024
Vision and dedication As the mayoral election approaches, it’s clear Kim Morris embodies the change our community needs. Her leadership offers a fresh perspective and genuine understanding of residents’ ...
Letters to the Editor: Sept. 27, 2024
Real change I was disappointed to read the News-Register’s endorsement of Dan Rayfield for Oregon attorney general, especially when his opponent, Will Lathrop, has the support of nearly all of Yamhill ...
Letters to the Editor: Sept. 13, 2024
Rest of the story While the idea given in the mobile home editorial of last week sounds good, I would suggest that the writer investigate the current rents for mobile homes in the parks mentioned. I ...
Commentary
Calendar of Quirk: A track record of noisy, fleeting, inspiring and humorous moments
This week’s Quirk list is less about places or objects than a celebration of moments: some recurring, one annual, others incidental or fleeting. Dec. 18 The singing of jingles and chanting of “tag ...
Brier Dudley: News deserts still expanding according to latest report
This isn’t what you want to hear in a presidential election year, but 55 million Americans now have little to no local news coverage where they live.
Investigating the Bible: The baby and the bathwater
Lucille Ball delighted millions in the 1950’s with the “I Love Lucy” show. She was an intelligent and savvy businesswoman, but in her sitcom she portrayed a ditzy blond.
Whatchamacolumn: City governance to represent all the people
McMinnville City Council’s final 2024 meeting on Wednesday began with extended, well-deserved accolades for long public service by Mayor Remy Drabkin and outgoing council members Kellie Menke and ...
Readers have a hand in helping papers survive
Hello N-R Readers: Dudley Brier, the writer of today’s main Viewpoint article (see Page A16), is the Northwest’s and perhaps the nation’s town crier regarding the demise of newspapers ...
Whatchamacolumn: New waves from Artificial Intelligence tsunami
Alan Turing’s 1950 “Computer Machinery and Intelligence” launched an embryonic tsunami of artificial intelligence that is crashing down on our lives in ways yet unknown. As widely reported ...
Ramsey McPhillips: The rise of plundercrats reshaping a fragile world
The natural world is on the brink of collapse, and it’s not due to lack of awareness or solutions, but to the deliberate exploitation of our planet’s resources by powerful corporations and the Brahmins who lead them.
Investigating the Bible: ’Twas the First Night of Christmas
(with thanks to Clement Clark Moore) ‘Twas the first night of Christmas in little Bethlehem. All the creatures were sleeping, every goat, sheep, and lamb. The children were snuggled under their ...
Calendar of Quirk: Guac talk, vinyl choc and a framed arachnid: a truly varied week
For another week, the move continues to examples of indoor Quirk. Dec. 11 In the display windows at venerable Mac Prescription Shop, facing Second and Third streets, one can view a sign reading “General ...
Investigating the Bible: Take money from husband’s rich family to join huge, luxury reunion?
A young man boarded an airplane and happened to sit next to a philosopher, famous for his intelligence and wisdom. The youth asked the gentleman: “Please sir, is it true that all of life is a paradox?” The sage thought, then he replied, “Yes and no.” Paradox is in the Bible.
Whatchamacolumn: Producing history with downtown development
There are several well-known, foreboding quotes about failure to learn from history, but my favorite is the lighter touch provided by Mark Twain: “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often ...
Kirby Neumann-Rea: Time to get off the logo - at least symbolically
“Off the logo!” The Texas football coach’s words might have been the quote of the sport’s Thanksgiving weekend. Steve Sarkisian wanted to avoid a repeat of the pathetic outburst ...
Terry Donnelly: Vaccination saves lives; one may be your own
About the writer: Terry Donnelly is a 79-year resident of Planet Earth, a 51-year-resident of Oregon and an 11-year resident of Yamhill County. Now making his home on McMinnville’s west side, he ...
Erik Halstead: Highway 18/223 junction ill-suited for roundabout
Roundabouts are just one of many transportation tools to help traffic move. The problem in America is that roundabouts are used as a “traffic calming” device, whereas in Europe and elsewhere in the world, they are as a “traffic throughput” device — that is, they are built to efficiently move traffic without significantly slowing or stopping traffic.
Investigating the Bible: Always give thanks
The first Thanksgiving was the meal shared by pilgrims and the Wampanoag Native Americans. President Abraham Lincoln established a national day of Thanksgiving, Oct. 3, 1863, in celebration of the Union Army victory at Gettysburg. Thanksgiving today is mostly about family time, food, football, and wholesome fun.
Whatchamacolumn: In times of transition , 'Shop Local' value endures
Life seems filled with transitions. We have world attention on uncertain outcomes in the war between Israel and its enemies, and in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. National attention is focused ...
Investigating the Bible: Why read it? Guidance
A 2023 survey by the American Bible Society (ABS) found that 52% of Americans wish they would read scripture more often, but only 14% say they increased their reading over the previous year. ABS reported in 2024 that 57% of Americans called themselves “Bible disengaged.” Why should someone engage in reading the Bible? Here are some of the reasons offered in the Bible.
Lisa McCracken: What’s with the American aversion to roundabouts?
Here in America, we have a history of bucking any change that has even a remotely European metric, no matter how promising it might be. And yes, that includes the metric system, used virtually everywhere ...
Letter to Readers: On stage before you, a live theater hat trick
“The Embarrassment of Riches” was a 1906 play by Louis K. Anspacher: a comedy set in a Lower East side tenement. That play won’t go under the footlights anytime soon, but this month ...
