Over the weekend, a fantastical world landed in the Willamina Public Library, transforming the aisles of bookshelves into a land of mystery and grounds to hunt for a murderer. To raise funds for Love ...


Commentary

Jeb Bladine: Huge cost of unfunded mandates falls to taxpayers

It’s annual budget time for state and local governments, and the numbers are staggering. There isn’t enough money for government to do what it wants, but the costs are beyond what taxpayers ...

 
Quirk of the Week: Punching out the center hole for some serious spin

As we March Fourth toward spring, Quirk of the Week yields one more “indoor delights” accounting, starting with several short takes before spinning our main feature: • Shoe rack sign ...

 
Rusty Rae: Saving Oregon newspapers one community at a time

You might be wondering what all the hubbub is here locally over the News-Register’s Community Partners program, and programs like it now springing up around the state.

 

Jonah Goldberg: One man's war has us all on blowback watch

About the writer: Conservative D.C.-based commentator Jonah Goldberg serves as editor-in-chief of The Dispatch, hosts The Remnant podcast, authors a weekly Los Angeles Times column, holds a chair ...

Mel Gurtov: A board like no other

Donald Trump has turned the presidency into a vanity project, campaigning for the Nobel Peace Prize, pimping for cybercurrency and putting his name and image all over Washington, most recently on a banner atop the Department of Justice. He’s every bit the rival of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin when it comes to a cult of personality.

 

Editorials

 
Oregon takes lead again on recycling/reuse front

Oregon broke new environmental ground 55 years ago with the bottle bill. It was the national pilot for a new generation of “extended producer responsibility” measures, designed to force producers ...

 
Short session shenanigans produce biggest stinker yet

One terrible bill being pushed through the 2026 Oregon Legislature would allow quorums of local government bodies to meet and discuss important public business in private. In opposing that bill, HB 4177, ...

 
Government budgets grow alongside limits on taxes

In this semiquincentennial birthday year for America, history reminds us that opposition to taxation measures — Stamp Act, Townshend Duties, Tea Act — helped light the fuse that sparked the ...

 
Let us all come together to bridge the gaps that divide

The nonprofit Unidos Bridging Community, prominently featured in a story in last Friday’s News-Register, has been providing support services to Yamhill County’s large and diverse Latino population ...

 
Those who covet power must first earn out trust

For the first 150 years of its statehood, Oregon limited regular legislative sessions to odd-numbered years. As governance turned increasingly complex and contentious, it became one of only a handful of ...

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: March 6, 2026

Simply wrong As an octogenarian, I’ve had a lifetime to learn the difference between right and wrong and live by that understanding. I don’t claim to have lived a perfect life, but I have ...

 
Letters to the Editor: Feb. 27, 2026

Where’s my refund? It’s always a good idea to read the fine print. Knowing exactly where you stand is important. By now, most people know that the foreign countries who send goods to the ...

 
Letters to the Editor: Feb. 20, 2026

Damaging leasing practices I am writing as a concerned community member about the growing impact of excessive rent increases and profit-driven practices by some landlords in downtown McMinnville. Small ...

 
Letters to the Editor: Feb. 13, 2026

Get a real Republican This moderate Republican has praised the News-Register many times and still thinks we are lucky to have a newspaper, left-leaning though it may be. I have a criticism, though. It ...

News & Features

$5.2 million in state funds headed to local projects

Three Yamhill County projects are anticipated to receive a combined $5.2 million in state funds after being included in a final list of projects in the Legislature’s capital construction package. The ...

 
MURAC recommends First Street bungalow project get $50,000

The McMinnville Urban Renewal Advisory Committee (MURAC) recommended issuing a $50,000 forgivable loan Wednesday to help complete a First Street short-term rental business. Shannon Quimby, owner of Hoff’s ...

County to pledge $200k for loan program

Yamhill County small business owners could soon have access to a $1 million revolving loan fund stemming from a 30-year-old county grant and the 2024 windstorm that qualified as a federal disaster. The ...

 
Crash damages St. Vincent office

Manager Patricia Jensen was having a meeting with a client at the St. Vincent de Paul social services office just before 1 p.m. on Thursday when a Toyota Highlander rolled into building. Jensen was sitting ...

 
Women of note: 99 GALS funds Second Winds concert featuring female composers

‘Women of the Podium,” a concert featuring symphonic and concert band music by female composers, will be performed at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 8, in the McMinnville Community Center. Second Winds ...

 
Stopping By: Being heard, healing, helping others

Being heard means everything, said Amanda Farmer, one of dozens of sexual abuse victims who seek help, often from organizations such as Henderson House, the Yamhill County shelter and service program. In ...

 
Dayton water leak keeps crews busy

A water main line break at the Dayton footbridge forced public works staff to work overtime during Presidents’ Day weekend, but the situation had a happy ending for the city. Public Works crews ...

 
Vintage N-R/Memory Lane: March 6, 2026

10 Years Ago • The city of McMinnville has organized an open house to discuss Hill Road projects that will be funded by the 2014 street bond. Hill Road is currently a narrow, rural road. But after ...

Terroir writing festival registration open

Registration is open for the Terroir Creative Writing Festival, which will be held Saturday, May 2, in the Experience Center at Stoller Family Estate near Dayton. Hosted by the Arts Alliance of Yamhill ...

 
N-R matriarch Meg Bladine dies at 105

Margaret “Meg” Bladine, who was active in the McMinnville community for decades, died Wednesday, March 4, in a McMinnville senior care center. She was 105. Bladine, who was named McMinnville’s ...

In Brief: Mac, Amity boards to meet; garden workshop; Navy breakfast; book sale

McMinnville board to meet The McMinnville School Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 9, in the district office, 800 N.E. Lafayette Avenue. The meeting also will be on Zoom. Board members will ...

 
Carlton council greenlights pollinator garden

Carlton resident Robin Geck is spearheading a revived attempt to create a community pollinator garden to support the native bee population. Geck presented her plan during the city council’s Tuesday ...

McMinnville robotics team wins, heads to national event

Chronobreak, one of two Grizzly robotics teams, won a Sustain Award at the 20th annual Oregon FIRST Tech Challenge Championship Tournament over the weekend. The team will advance to a national tournament. Ursa ...

McMinnville to begin accepting council applications

McMinnville will begin accepting applications for its city council opening Monday, with the chosen replacement serving Ward 3 through the end of the year. In a press release issued Tuesday, the city announced ...

 
Wine & Food Classic runs March 13-15

The annual McMinnville Wine & Food Classic, a fundraiser for St. James Catholic Elementary School, will be held Friday through Sunday, March 13 to 15, in both the aviation and space buildings on the ...

Matheny found not guilty

A former Willamina man, Jack Marion Matheny, 39, was acquitted of first-degree rape by a 12-person jury in Yamhill County Circuit Court on Feb. 26. The verdict followed a four-day trial. The Oct. 17, ...

Sheridan stops advertising council vacancy

With zero applicants by the time they planned to interview candidates, Sheridan city councilors voted Monday, Feb. 2, to leave the vacant council position open but no longer pay to advertise the vacancy. In ...

 
Quirk of the Week: Punching out the center hole for some serious spin

As we March Fourth toward spring, Quirk of the Week yields one more “indoor delights” accounting, starting with several short takes before spinning our main feature: • Shoe rack sign ...

 
Willamina Public Library invites guests to roleplay a fantastical murder mystery in annual fundraiser

Over the weekend, a fantastical world landed in the Willamina Public Library, transforming the aisles of bookshelves into a land of mystery and grounds to hunt for a murderer. To raise funds for Love ...

Arrests & Citations: March 6, 2026

Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office Jonathon Wesley Fugit-Travis, 37, McMinnville, Feb. 26, probation violation; booked into the Yamhill County Jail without bail. Eduardo Cruz-De Jesus, 31, Newberg, ...

Sports

 
Mac Girls Basketball: Grizzlies end year in Eugene one shot short of sweet 16

As the No. 21-seed in the 6A Girls Basketball State Championship tournament, McMinnville’s varsity girls basketball team battled with No. 12 Sheldon (20-5, 8-4) on the road in Eugene. The two sides ...

 
3A Wrestling: Willamina's Savage, Stanton claim titles one year after falling short

Willamina senior wrestlers Kizor Savage (138) and Adonijah Stanton (132) fulfilled years-long goals, winning the 2026 OSAA 3A Wrestling State Championship on Saturday, Feb. 28. Stanton led John Henderson ...

 
Mac Girls Basketball: Grizzly seniors feel the love, end regular season with team-high point total

Senior night celebrations are made by the moments they bring. Whether it’s a long-time starter receiving deserved recognition or a role player seeing the rim for a few extra shots, the night-long ...

 
Mac Boys Basketball: Bears end 2025-26 campaign with commanding victory over Falcons

Following a blowout of a contest in the girls’ game, McMinnville’s No. 38-ranked varsity boys (10-14, 5-7) practically filled half the floor with friends and family as eight senior players ...

 
Mac Wrestling: Campos leads Grizzlies, places sixth at state championship tournament

A long road led eight Grizzlies to Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland’s Rose Quarter on Feb. 27-28 for the 2026 OSAA OnPoint Community Credit Union Wrestling State Championships. Facing the ...

 
3A Girls Basketball: Warriors bound for Coos Bay, Tigers’ season ends in Sisters

It’s always a great feeling to be heading for Coos Bay. On Saturday, Feb. 28, Amity’s No. 2-seeded Warriors (25-2, 16-0) hosted No. 19 Westside Christian (18-11, 8-4) in the second round of ...

 
3A Girls Wrestling: Eight county wrestlers look forward to state tournament

The Yamhill Carlton Tigers will send three girl wrestlers to the 4A/3A/2A/1A OSAA State Championships at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland Feb. 26-28. Seniors Aubrey Mortimore (105) and Addison ...

Linfield Softball Preview: Catball to have more speed, less power

The Wildcats’ softball team was a force to be reckoned with in 2025. On the backs of a record-breaking season, where 108 home runs became a new NCAA Division III single-season litmus — topping ...

Linfield Womens Basketball: Wildcats seek NWC crown

Linfield’s women’s basketball team (22-3, 15-1) set program records in total wins and conference victories this season on its way to becoming Northwest Conference regular-season champions and ...

 
Mac Wrestling: All guts in the name of glory

Eight Grizzlies will compete at the 6A State Wrestling Championships this weekend. Bryson Rex (106), Cole Thomas (113), Devin Hernandez (157), Nelson Campos (138), Trent Rauch (138) and Brayden ...

 
Mac Boys Basketball: Merlier, Howard call game after 36 minutes of strife

Tuesday’s Pacific Conference matchup between the No. 38-ranked McMinnville Grizzlies (9-14, 4-7) and No. 36-ranked Century Jaguars (10-13, 7-4) was a marathon. By the end, junior guard Cayd Howard ...

 
Pools of bliss: Mac record braking swimmers credit friends for finals success

Swimming at the highest level of high school competition, alongside the top aquatic athletes in Oregon, McMinnville’s varsity swim team found a sense of bliss among the chaos. On Saturday, Feb. ...

 
Mac Girls Basketball: Grizzlies celebrate Coste's 500th win on way to 10th postseason berth

From Saint Helens High School to an assistant position under the great Greg Bruce at Portland State University, to Lincoln High School, Beaverton High School, and what is now 21 years in McMinnville ...

 
Gallary: Face Off!

In McMinnville High School’s cavernous main gym Saturday for the Pacific Conference’s district wrestling meet, the sounds of the day dominated. A sometimes boisterous crowd regularly over ...

 
3A Girls Basketball: YC, Amity playoff bound

The Yamhill Carlton girls basketball team is in the state playoffs for the second year in a row after downing the Neah-Kah-Nie Pirates 32-27 on Saturday, Feb. 21, in the 3A Coastal League Playoffs title ...

 
3A Boys Basketball: Tigers, Warriors fall in league playoff nailbiters

The Yamhill Carlton boys basketball squad showed grit at the league playoff against Corbett on Saturday, Feb. 21, going shot for shot against the Cardinals, fighting for a chance at the 3A state playoffs. The ...

 
Grizzlies send six to state tournament

Six Grizzly grapplers will take the big stage on Friday, Feb. 27, at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland after qualifying for the Class 6A Wrestling State Championships with top-three finishes ...

Mac Girls Basketball: Double trouble in Hillsboro

Brooklyn Summers’ 11th double-double (17 points and 18 rebounds) helped the No. 19-ranked Grizzlies to their third straight win on Friday by a score of 50-36 at No. 36 Glencoe (7-15, 1-9). The Crimson ...

Mac Boys Basketball: Bears triumph in overtime

Senior guard Dylan Ferrua and sophomore forward Xander Gurash gave all they could on Friday, each scoring 18 points to lead the No. 39-ranked Grizzlies (8-14, 3-7) to a 61-59 overtime win at No. 47 Glencoe ...

 
3A Wrestling: Tigers, Pirates prepare to face best at state

Yamhill Carlton took third at districts with four Tigers qualifying for state. Taking second for YC was Cooper Marshall (106) and Johnathan “Johnny” Hernandez-Rubio (120). In the semifinals, ...

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