Drumming and singing by members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde opened the Stratus Village ribbon-cutting Tuesday afternoon. They were there to celebrate the tribe’s partnership in the ...


Commentary

 
Quirk of the Week: All about eaves

Porches and carports are two underappreciated domestic spaces. A carport is not just a poor man’s garage, and a porch can be more than a covered entry. Both can do much to project a home’s ...

Jeb Bladine: 2026 is showtime for Westsider Trail supporters

In 2026 — 14 years later — it’s showtime for Yamhelas Westsider Trail supporters. County voters could face three trail-related ballot measures in November, and those issues will weigh ...

 
Jonah Goldberg: News flash: He never had any real plan

When President Trump spoke at the Saudi Future Investment Initiative last Friday, he offered a pristine example of what he calls “the weave.” What detractors take for incontinent verbal rambling is, in his own telling, genius-level embroidery of a rhetorical mosaic.

 

Investigating the Bible: The foundation of joy

Author Lucie Winborne, in her column “Strange But True,” wrote about Margaret Dixon, a Scottish criminal hanged in 1753. Amazingly, just a few hours later she climbed out of her coffin quite ...

 
Eric Schuck: Loving our neighbors with no buts about it

 

Editorials

 
Depleted highway coffers demand a new infusion

Property taxes, income taxes, sales taxes and most other governmental taxes have one crucial element in common. They are based on percentage rates applied to ever-rising dollar volumes. That serves to ...

 
Bee-friendly pollinator garden a cause we should all support

So many national and international threats hanging over the heard of humanity these days seem so complex and distant as to defy meaningful impact at the local level. Fortunately, though, there is at least ...

 
No time to change course on overdue downtown overhaul

By the turn of the 21st century, McMinnville realized its treasured downtown Third Street spine would need extensive below-ground renovation in the coming years. It also knew that would logically dictate ...

 
Bipartisanship has moment in most self-serving of ways

When newsroom e-mail boxes begin filling up with our-side congratulatory and their-side condemnatory press releases from Ashley Kuenzi, Jill Bakken, Mack Smith and Elizabeth Cronen, we never fail to offer ...

 
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 ...

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: April 3, 2026

Proceed with care Yes, McMinnville’s downtown needs major infrastructure work — and sooner rather than later. However, government and civic leaders need to understand the potential consequences ...

 
Letters to the Editor: March 27, 2026

All talk, no action I was reading about Mayor Morris’ new program, “We care about kids.” I hope it will be a program of action, not just words. Beyond the staged photo op with the mayor ...

 
Letters to the Editor: March 20, 2026

So much to say There’s so much to talk about. First, a rare commendation to the News-Register for a most excellent editorial, “Bipartisanship has moment in most self-serving of ways.” ...

 
Letters to the Editor: March 13, 2026

Fiscal ruin Trump’s policies are cruel, immoral and fiscally suicidal. Last year, his Big Bad Bill added $2.23 trillion to our national debt, bringing it to $38.86 trillion. Our debt now equals ...

News & Features

Fields, Trails lead campaign fundraising

Jason Fields this year has raised more than the other three county commissioner candidates who will appear on the May ballot combined. Meanwhile, a political action committee is bolstering its spending ...

Mac councilors set to fill empty seat

Five candidates have applied to fill the Ward 3 McMinnville City Council seat vacancy and will be interviewed at a special meeting Wednesday, April 8. The selectee will complete the term of resigned councilor ...

 
Watershed council wraps up two-year phase of Cozine restoration plan in City Park

Ask a McMinnville native about childhood memories of growing up in town, and there’s a good chance you’ll hear about catching crawdads in Lower City Park. Now, however: “I have yet to ...

County Public Works ramping up for summer projects

Yamhill County Public Works crews are preparing for a summer of projects, including bridge improvements, paving work and roadway repair along Ribbon Ridge Road. Work will begin in July on four large sections ...

 
Trimble Aviation recommended as McMinnville airport operator

McMinnville’s Airport Advisory Commission opted to stay local with its choice for the facility’s next operator, unanimously recommending Trimble Aviation. Owners Jerry Trimble and Alison Row ...

 
Long forgotten 14-foot, 500-pound "Welcome to McMinnville" sign to be refurbished

A forgotten “Welcome to McMinnville” sign is getting a second life, and the man restoring it is doing so in an act of love and legacy for his father. About 40 years ago, local craftsmen Joe ...

 
Stopping By/Yard of the Month: Ever green, ever changing

Eldon and June Hilton’s front yard may be the tidiest on 17th Street — or maybe on any block in McMinnville. The place features a trimmed sweep of grass neatly bordered by the sidewalk on ...

 
Ceremony opens 175-unit affordable housing complex in McMinnville

Drumming and singing by members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde opened the Stratus Village ribbon-cutting Tuesday afternoon. They were there to celebrate the tribe’s partnership in the ...

 
Visitors DIG Amity Daffodil Festival

The city of Amity was bustling on Saturday, March 28, as droves of visitors and residents celebrated the first sign of spring, the humble daffodil. The Amity Daffodil Festival is sponsored by the Amity ...

Amity Council approves new goals

The Amity City Council has approved new goals and objectives for 2026, focusing on a safe and welcoming community, public facilities, local economy, city infrastructure, governance and administration. Each ...

In Brief: OEA fundraiser; Pollinators talk; Sheridan work session

Into the Woods fundraiser set Outdoor Education Adventures, a program that offers education activities in nature, will benefit from the annual “Into the Woods” fundraiser on Saturday, April ...

MIP appeals sidewalks requirement to city council

McMinnville Industrial Promotions has appealed a planning commission decision requiring the group to construct sidewalks or pay a bond to defer the work as part of a Miller Street property partition. MIP ...

Arrests & Citations: April 3, 2026

Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office Mitchell Andrew Jones, 37, Willamina, March 24, unlawful possession of methamphetamine, post-prison supervision sanction; booked into the Yamhill County Jail without ...

Man sentenced to 57 months for child exploitation

Charlie Gail Coy, 40, of rural Lafayette was sentenced to nearly five years with the Oregon Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to five counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. Coy ...

Small towns developing food cart ordinances

As temperatures rise and residents shed their winter coats, local cities are looking to allow food carts and trucks to attract more business. The planning commissions in Lafayette, Sheridan and Willamina ...

 
Quirk of the Week: All about eaves

Porches and carports are two underappreciated domestic spaces. A carport is not just a poor man’s garage, and a porch can be more than a covered entry. Both can do much to project a home’s ...

Mac Fire employees to vote on Social Security enrollment

The McMinnville Fire District Board of Directors agreed to hold another staff-wide vote to participate in Social Security after it was voted down last year. State and local government positions covered ...

County transit manager retiring, future funding cloudy

Yamhill County Transit Manager Cynthia Thompson is retiring this week after spending more than a decade growing and modernizing the county’s bus system. In her final update to the Yamhill County ...

Dayton Fire addresses complaints against chief

The Dayton Fire District Board agreed Monday, during a special meeting, to schedule a meeting with Chief Scott Law to discuss recently submitted complaints, following an executive session. Before entering ...

 
Loft will help museum preserve artifacts

A new second story in its main building will help the Yamhill County History Museum better care for its collection of household items, clothing and other artifacts. In addition, “this will help ...

Sports

 
Mac Baseball: Rolfe latest hero in Grizzlies' 5-4 walk-off win over Pacers

McMinnville senior Aaron Rolfe was having a rough go at the dish heading into the No. 5-ranked Grizzlies’ (4-2) first home game on Tuesday at Patton Middle School. The senior had just two hits through ...

 
Overcoming, one throw at a time: Amity senior hosts mock track meet for area youth, raising diabetes awareness

Amity High School senior Jaxson Howard merged his love for throwing events and overcoming his diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes to inspire area youth and complete his senior project. “I took two things ...

 
Hallee Hughes sets personal record in first meet back from injury

Hallee Hughes, a five-time state champion and school record holder from Willamina High School, set a new personal record in the javelin while competing for DI University of Nevada, Reno at the Cal Invitational ...

 
Mac graduate Powell lighting up NAIA softball

McMinnville High School alum Madelyn Powell has been setting the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) world of softball on fire, earning NAIA Softball Player of the Week honors on March ...

Mac Tennis: Varsity squads split first matches before strong conference showings

McMinnville’s high school varsity tennis squads have been off and running, each finding its legs in the early season with matches against non-league opponents. On Tuesday, Pacific Conference play ...

Linfield womens basketball: ’Cats proud of team's efforts after heartbreaking end to season

Linfield’s women’s basketball team of 2025-26 reinvigorated a local fan base. The Wildcats’ season ended in heartbreak when less than a second of game time and a shot supposedly late ...

Mac Softball: North Medford woes a lesson in ferocity for young Grizzlies

March 23 McMinnville 6 Grants Pass 7 For the No. 15-ranked Grizzlies (3-3), the North Medford Spring Break Tournament was a mixed bag of results as they went 1-3 overall and saw both good and bad, according ...

Mac Baseball: Bears taking positives from blistering hot trip to Arizona

March 23 McMinnville 9 Bear Creek (CO) 1 Two four-run innings and a masterful all-around performance from senior Tyler Brummitt led the Grizzlies last Monday as they toppled Colorado 5A Bear Creek ...

3A Baseball: Tigers find momentum with first two victories

March 24 Dayton 4 Kennedy 15 While a slew of the No. 15-ranked Pirates (3-2) games were canceled due to weather last week, they were able to get in seven innings versus 2A/1A No. 4 Kennedy (6-0) at ...

3A Softball: Pirates, Tigers find success at spring break tournaments

March 23 Amity 5 Marshfield 9 The No. 36-ranked Warriors (1-5) began a spring break trip to the North Medford Tournament with a matchup against 4A No. 13 Marshfield. The Pirates proved tough, out-hitting ...

 
Linfield Baseball: ’Cats take three of four from Texas travelers

One week after a trio of unfavorable, yet commendable losses to the No. 1 team in all of Division III, Denison University, Linfield’s Wildcats (15-8, 7-2) returned to Roy Helser Field with something ...

 
The boys are back: Tigers look to be county leaders serving up new season of boys volleyball

This spring marks the first season for boys volleyball as a sanctioned high school activity in Oregon, and Yamhill Carlton’s Tigers are back in action for a second year. “We have a lot of ...

 
Local high school, collegiate rugby stars show stripes at national tournament

The Valley Panthers girls rugby club played their first full-length 15s match against the Beaverton Barbarians at Western Oregon University on Saturday, March 7. The two high school squads battled it ...

 
Grizzly golfers open season with team victory, boys show promise in stacked field

It took 27 years, but when the McMinnville varsity girls' golf team arrived at Emerald Valley Golf & Resort in Creswell for the state championships, it was well deserved. The Grizzlies won their fourth ...

 
Willamina's Brewer named college All-American

Zoe Brewer, a Willamina high alumna, has claimed Collegiate All-American status taking third at 103-pounds for Southwestern Oregon Community College at the NJCAA National Championships at Council ...

Amity senior hosting youth mock track meet and fundraiser

A track and field clinic and mock meet for kids from first to eighth grade is scheduled for Sunday, March 29, at the Amity High School track. Amity High School senior Jaxson Howard is organizing the event ...

Middle school state placers Tanner Rauch, Tucker Wilson create hope for future

The growth of wrestling in Yamhill County is undeniable. Some schools, like Willamina and Newberg, have continued to dominate at the high school level, while many in McMinnville discover passions for the ...

 
County athletes refine techniques at annual Jim Barks Grizzly Bear Open

McMinnville’s Jim Barks Grizzly Bear Open marked the beginning of the high school track and field in 2026. Among 15 competing schools from Class 1A through 6A, five Yamhill County squads ...

Upon Further Review: A different breed of athlete

Behind the facade of stoicism put on by those engaged in the most extreme of high school combat sports, layers of identity wrap like a blanket around the bodies who fearlessly crash into oncoming traffic. Some ...

 
Gallery: Hundreds of track and field athletes descend on Wortman Stadium for annual Jim Barks Grizzly Bear Open

Yamhill County’s Amity, Delphian, McMinnville, Willamina and Yamhill Carlton all sent participants to the Jim Barks Grizzly Bear Open at Wortman Stadium on Thursday, March 19. As the first meet of ...

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