2025: The year in review

Yamhill County’s 2025 was a time of surprises and disappointments, many distinct from those of other years. In 2025, public projects were both buffeted and boosted, and national issues also found ...

Commentary

News item: “In-N-Out Burger has eliminated use of ‘67’ for orders in its restaurants, due to a viral meme causing disruptive outbursts when the number is called.” The list grows. We ...

It has been a rare — and fleeting — opportunity to write columns in back-to-back print newspapers published on Christmas and New Years eves. Last week’s “Season of Hope” messages ...

This year’s-end grab bag of revisits and newly found Quirk might give new meaning to “phoning it in.” Plenty of cool indoor items deserve a look this week, starting with an elephant. There’s ...

By LES HOWSDEN Things I have not been thankful for in 2025: - Blanket clemency for the almost 1,600 individuals convicted or awaiting sentencing in the Jan. 6 insurrection. - DOGE, which destroyed ...

Candace Owens has a very popular internet show in which she trots out deranged conspiracies. Among other things, they include the demonic nature of Jews, the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk ...

Editorials

Yamhill County — where public park development has not been a high priority — has park projects drawing high public interest going into 2026. County leaders are planning to eliminate the expansive ...

Resolution and reverberation offer different ways to define 2025 in Yamhill County. As we look at Yamhill County’s year past and year ahead, local issues often either bookended or leapfrogged: many ...

It’s been a long time coming, but a sitting Oregon governor finally conceded earlier this month, at Oregon’s annual Oregon Leadership Summit, that business leaders have a point when they complain ...

To the casual observer, the McMinnville School Board’s unanimous Monday night embrace of Dr. Kourtney Ferrua as the next superintendent of schools here may seem the product of a whirlwind courtship. But ...

Since coming into vogue in the 1970s, transient lodging taxes have become almost universal in the U.S. and more the rule than exception elsewhere in the world — particularly in countries with at ...

Letters

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 ...

No moral compass I can understand how a person of Christian faith would be encouraged by this president’s remarks during the lighting of the national Christmas tree. Even though I am not affiliated ...

Weak and damaged A malignant narcissist is defined as an individual with a personality disorder that includes these characteristics: profound lack of insight, extreme grandiosity, lack of empathy, sadism, ...

Insurance a basic need Democrats may have lost their fight to extend subsidies for purchasing health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, but their efforts have started ...

Ferrua best choice As a past long-time employee and board member in the McMinnville School District, I am writing in support of maintaining Dr. Kourtney Ferrua as school superintendent on a permanent ...

News & Features

2025: The year in review

Clerk gives trail petitions green light

Two initiative petitions aimed at preserving a 15-mile trail corridor for public use were approved last week to proceed by the Yamhill County Clerk. Trails PAC member Matt Dolphin submitted ...

Landscape committee weighs tree preservation, property rights

Preservation, property rights and staff time were all considerations of McMinnville’s Landscape Review Committee Monday during a second look at proposed protections for significant and landmark ...

Stopping By: Maisie looks forward

Maisie Staebler is looking forward to starting kindergarten in 2026, like other children who turned 5 just a little too late for the 2025 deadline. She’s looking forward to playing with her ...

Man accused of stabbing father

A Newberg man remains in custody at the Yamhill County Correctional Facility after allegedly stabbing his father at their home on Dec. 22. Authorities allege that Vasiliy Vasilyvich Barbiyeru ...

Release revoked for Bachand

Release had been revoked for Paul Bachand, a McMinnville businessman indicted on 11 counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, one count of encouraging the sexual abuse of an animal ...

Some of those we lost in 2025

Yamhill County lost many people in 2025 – veterans, city officials, educators, relatives, friends. People we remember from high school, from service clubs, from passing on the street. Community members. Every ...

Arrests & Citations: Dec. 31, 2025

Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office Gary Steven Ward, 70, Carlton, Dec. 23, second-degree criminal mischief, recklessly endangering another person/two counts; booked into the Yamhill County Jail on ...

Special Delivery: BC Harleys group rolls Christmas joy into hospital

Members of the BC Harleys drag-racing group roared up to the Willamette Valley Medical Center wearing Santa hats, their parade accompanied by the lights from McMinnville Police Department and Yamhill County ...

PAC awaits ruling on trail ballot petition

Yamhill County trail advocates will find out Christmas Eve if they are getting what they want — petitions designed to preserve the Yamhelas Westsider trail approved by County Clerk Keri Hinton. Trails ...

Heavy rains lead to sewer overflows

High rain levels caused sewer overflows and mechanical failures in several cities across Yamhill County including McMinnville, Amity and Willamina. McMinnville had a sewer overflow from 3:10 a.m. to 10:10 ...

Stopping By: Enjoying the experiences

A native of Tunisia, Raghad Ben Ameur, known as Rae, is experiencing her first Christmas celebrations this year as an exchange student at McMinnville High School.

Planners give green light to McMinnville Landing overlay

The table is set for development on 190 acres of land off Highway 18, following the Planning Commission’s unanimous adoption of a development overlay for the planned McMinnville Landing. “This ...

Along the Street: Park & Main changing owners

Park & Main founders Dustin and Maryfrances Wyant are selling their restaurant in downtown Carlton to The Ground, which operates The Pub and Grounded Table in McMinnville, along with Stillwater Event ...

About one-tenth of total McMinnville UGB represented in study area

McMinnville City Council and Planning Commission gave feedback last week on three concept plans for a 640-acre area of unincorporated land that could be annexed into the city in the coming years. The ...

Local pizza chain adds another slice with Mandie's in Lafayette

After 27 years in the pizza business, it is no wonder Mike Howard sees slices of savory pie everywhere he looks. When he and his wife, Mandie, were painting the century-old building to become the latest ...

Mac Fire battles blazes

The McMinnville Fire District battled two structure fires this week, including a three-alarm blaze at UFP Industries on Highway 18. Firefighters were dispatched to 1726 OR-18 at 11:30 p.m. Friday, and ...

Amity man drowns in flood waters, body recovered

Hector Ramirez Aldaco, 52, of Amity drowned the morning of Friday, Dec. 19 near Ballston. At 7:40 a.m., Yamhill Communications received a 911 call from an individual stating they saw a vehicle drive around ...

Lafayette to accept bids for wastewater screens

Lafayette City Administrator Branden Dross expects new screens to the city’s wastewater plant headworks and engineering will use most of the city sewer budget for the year. “We’re probably ...

Vintage N-R/Memory Land: Dec. 24, 2025

10 Years Ago -- While locals are nestled all snug in their beds this Christmas, the cadets of McMinnville’s Civil Air Patrol squadron will be watching the skies. Lt. Cathe Frederic, the squadron’s ...

Sports

3A Basketball: Tigers, Bulldogs end year with tournament victories

Yamhill Carlton Girls BasketballYamhill Carlton’s girls’ varsity team (8-2) split their first two games at the Valley Catholic Holiday Tournament in Beaverton. On Sunday, Dec. 28, the Tigers ...

Mac Basketball: Boys erase 14-point deficit, but fall short to Beavers; girls get first win at POA Holiday Classic

McMinnville’s boys varsity basketball team (4-4) continued to teeter, going back and forth in the win and loss columns, but was nearly provided a dose of late holiday magic in a 52-50 loss against ...

Grizzlies overpowered in first Pac conference dual meet

On Wednesday, Dec. 17, McMinnville High School’s wrestling troupe took a trip to Newberg, where the boys and girls combined to go 6-14 in their bouts against the Tigers. Each side saw three ...

Best in class: Mendonca Academy karate siblings make history in Venice

In an unprecedented achievement for American karate, siblings Logan Mendonca (16) and Mackenzie Mendonca (14) have each risen to No. 1 in the world in their respective divisions in the World Karate ...

Grizzlies drop first Pac conference dual meet

On Wednesday, Dec. 17, McMinnville High School’s wrestling troupe took a trip to Newberg, where the boys and girls combined to go 6-14 in their bouts against the Tigers. Each side saw three individual ...

Pressure upends Grizzlies in loss to Guardians

McMinnville’s boys varsity basketball team (4-3) was given a lesson in late-game execution on Friday, Dec. 19, in their own gymnasium, falling 65-59. The Grizzlies opened their non-league match against ...

Yamhill wrestling wins Bill Hagerty

Both Yamhill Carlton wrestling teams won the Bill Hagerty at Nestucca High School on Dec. 20. The boys scored 200 points, walking away with one champion and four runners-up and the girls team had 101 ...

Grizzlies bested by blistering Bruins

It is wise not to get in the way when two bears are dueling. The scene can get grisly. Blood might fly and skin may break, but neither side is bound to let up until their opponent is finished for good. On ...

Amity takes second at Capitol City Classic

The Amity Warriors girls basketball team spent the weekend defeating 6A programs Sprague and Grants Pass at the Capitol City Classic basketball tournament before being taken down by South Salem, the No.5 ...

Wildcat Roundup: Mens and womens basketball have weekend success, Smolt named NWC POTW; volleyball awarded for academic achievements

Womens Basketball Linfield’s womens basketball team (6-2, 1-0) picked up two victories over the weekend in non-conference play against NAIA Simpson (Calif.) and No. 22 NAIA Corban. The ’Cats ...

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