Willamina native receives diploma while recovering from traumatic brain injury 


Commentary

 
Gary Conklin: How to prevent an AI race to recklessness

About the writer: Gary Conkling started writing stories as a child and publishing them on his own hand-cranked printing press. Little did he know digital technology would make it possible to repeat the ...

Jeb Bladine: A worthy holiday delays newspaper delivery

We newspaper folks keep track of many, many things: Deadlines, for example; election dates; court schedules; names and numbers of local officials who return phone calls, and those who commit themselves ...

Investigating the Bible: A very good father

Erma Bombeck was a syndicated humorist, writing thousands of columns from 1965-1996. Here’s one from 1973: “When the good Lord was creating fathers, he started with a tall frame. A female angel ...

 
Jonah Goldberg: Let's hear it for Team Capitalism

I am not a huge fan of Elon Musk as a political activist or commentator.

 

 
Quirk of the Week: Pulling for a ‘Sweet Song’

Or, altar-native takes at the county Clerk’s Office When Quirk of the Week’s “The Gone Show” left off last week, it mentioned the old-but-new voting instructions in portable voting ...

Editorials

 
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). ...

 
Schools can’t afford to just kick the can down the road

The last of the big local public agency budgets, that of the McMinnville School District, won final committee approval last week. And after a long, steep and steady enrollment decline, one that’s ...

 
Positives to take from county election, no matter the victor

As with any election, there was much to like and not like about the races for Yamhill County commissioner positions. It appears that Jason Fields has avoided a November run-off by receiving more than ...

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: 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 ...

 
Letters to the Editor: June 5, 2026

Revise terms? Our present three-member board of county commissioners has the potential for a major adjustment every four years. The possibility of having two-thirds of the board subject to change at the ...

 
Letters to the Editor: May 29, 2026

Crazed and unstable A slush fund of $1.776 billion to give money to the Washington rioters who wanted to abolish our freedom? Why aren’t more citizens angry? How can one unstable man, our president, ...

News & Features

Rate hikes on horizon to address sewer needs

The McMinnville City Council wants more information on plans to address $330 million in wastewater capital projects over the next 20 years, citing concerns with growth projections and increasing expenses ...

Hampton Lumber Mills sued by neighbors for noise

Residential neighbors living near Hampton Lumber mill in Willamina have filed a civil lawsuit claiming noise levels violate nuisance laws and physically shake their homes since the facility was upgraded ...

 
Dayton City manager resigns

Dayton City Manager Jeremy Caudle announced Monday he will be resigning after nearly two years in the role to take a position at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. “I was not searching ...

 
Stopping By: ‘A ministry of presence’

Leo Keelan makes a point of being there to listen and help when people are going through the worst of times. “This is my walk. I feel compelled to help,” said Keelan, who calls himself “Hope ...

 
Enrollment steady in Willamina, Amity districts

While many school districts are facing budget cuts because of decreased enrollment, Willamina and Amity numbers remain strong. Willamina Superintendent Mike Gass told the News-Register that the district ...

 
A good day to Make Music

For the fifth year, Make Music McMinnville will place numerous local musicians and groups in the open air for free performances throughout the city. They will sing and play in a variety of genres, including ...

County board OKs new funding program for businesses

The Yamhill County Board of Commissioners on Thursday adopted a Commercial Property-Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE) financing tool. The county will partner with McMinnville Economic Development Partnership ...

 
Vintage N-R/Memory Lane: June 19, 2026

10 Years Ago • Lt. Col Leonard DeWitt, nominated for a Medal of Honor for bravery displayed in World War II, died Saturday at the age of 95. Hi medal nomination is still pending; however, fellow ...

 
Walking before she can run

Willamina native receives diploma while recovering from traumatic brain injury 

Arrests & Citations: June 19, 2026

Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office Krista Marie Harker, 45, Willamina, June 12, second-degree disorderly conduct, harassment, domestic menacing; booked into the Yamhill County Jail. Grant Michael ...

Enrollment continues to drop at Sheridan High

Sheridan School District enrollment is expected to drop, resulting in funding gaps. Facing a budget deficit of at least $400,000, the Sheridan School District will cut five to six full-time positions ...

Carlton celebrates Fun Days

Carlton Fun Days will include a variety of activities Friday and Saturday, June 26-27, from booths and a beer garden in the park to a parade and plenty of music. The traditional festival will be held ...

County HHS will pursue new outpatient treatment program

Commissioners last week directed staff to pursue two programs that would use about half of Yamhill County’s opioid settlements funds. County Administrator Ken Huffer said the county currently has ...

 
Mac school board names Houston to vacant seat

The six remaining members of the McMinnville School Board voted unanimously Monday night to appoint Brielle Houston to the open seat. She will finish the year in the post vacated by Abbie Warmbier, who ...

 
Dayton Friday Nights start June 26

Dayton Friday Nights will open Friday, June 26, with music by Thunder Road along with food and craft vendors and a cruise-in car show. The family events will continue from 5:30 to 8:30 each Friday through ...

 
Photo Gallery: Tasting Tour

Record number of businesses participate in Lions annual fundraiser

Tunes music series starts Tuesday

Newberg’s community summer concert series, Tunes on Tuesday, will open June 23 with Hometown Sound, a collection of six local artists: John Short, Victor Artis, Butch Kent, Olivia Pothoff, Kara Johnson ...

Wildwood music fest this weekend

The second edition of the Wildwood Music Fest Revival will host 18 music acts and a poet from Friday to Sunday, June 19-21. The event originated at the Roshambo Art Farm in 2012 and earned a reputation ...

Lafayette approves $22 million budget

The city of Lafayette approved a nearly $22 million budget for fiscal year 2026-27, including fee increases for system development charges and permits, and a $2 sewer rate increase and a $15 sewer surcharge ...

Sheridan adds grant line item to budget

The Sheridan City Council approved a nearly $25 million budget for fiscal year 2026-27, with a new line item of donations to community partners and nonprofits. The Community Grant Contributions fund has ...

Sports

 
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 ...

 
Dayton's Chinchilla meets the moment, sets school hurdles record on way to 3A state podium

When Dayton’s Erick Chinchilla was thrown into the 300-meter hurdles with no prior experience as a freshman, it seemed unfathomable that he’d become one of the best Pirates to ever do it. Often ...

 
Willamina wrestler Risseeuw named All-American before final scholastic season

Landon Risseeuw, a Willamina High School heavyweight wrestler entering his senior season, has joined the annals of Bulldog history as the fifth wrestling All-American in school history. Risseeuw traveled ...

 
Mac Baseball: Bears name eight to all-league teams

McMinnville’s varsity baseball team saw eight players receive all-league nods in the Pacific Conference for their play during the 2026 spring season. Many of the Grizzlies’ eight seniors were ...

 
Mac Softball: 'Resilient' Grizzlies earn nine all-league awards

The ups and downs of a softball season affected McMinnville’s varsity softball squad more than most this season, but Head Coach Josh Terry said it was their resilience that kept them afloat. “There ...

 
Johnston, Riddle graduate from McMinnville as role models of track and field program

Few have set a precedent for success with an implement in their hands like McMinnville’s Brooklyn Johnston and Ruby Riddle. The pair of 6A State Championship placing track and field throwers completed ...

 
3A Softball: Dayton unable to make noise against Vale’s Navarrete in semifinals

The dominant force that is Vale freshman Sophia Navarrete and the No. 1-seeded softball team in Class 3A had thrown 13 shutouts prior to Tuesday’s semifinal against No. 4-seeded Dayton. With a double ...

 
3A Softball: South Umpqua’s Morales shuts down high-powered YC offense as title berth remains elusive

Yamhill Carlton’s high-octane offense and best season in relation to record since 2022 ended Tuesday afternoon. Visiting No. 2-seeded South Umpqua (27-2, 15-0) in Myrtle Creek, the No. 3-seeded ...

McMinnvile basketball and golf camp registration open for June

Grizzly basketball camps The McMinnville Girls Basketball program will hold its annual girls basketball camp from Tuesday, June 16, through Thursday, June 18, at the high school. The camp is open to all ...

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