Starla Pointer

"Stopping By:" A reporter who knows that everyone has an interesting story to tell welcomes suggestions.

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Stephen Haller, a sophomore at Willamina High School, shows off the 1932 Ford Coupe hot rod that he spent nearly two years polishing and painting. Stephen said he loves hands-on projects, such as working on cars, welding and raising rabbits in FFA.

Stopping By: Redone hot rod

Although he’s still too young to drive, Stephen Sanchez-Haller has proudly spent many hours stripping defects, smoothing metal and spray painting a special hot rod in the shop at Willamina High School. Once ...

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Eliana James, a 2025 McMinnville High School graduate, shapes clay into stories, pursuing her dream of sculpting lifesize bronze figures.

Stopping By: Inspired to make art

Mac High grad looks toward furthering ceramics studies after acing national AP exam

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Chickens became a project for the whole family, mom Jody Warren said, after FFA member Colby Warren, left, decided to raise poultry to show at the Yamhill County Fair. The whole family was stunned when five couples bought the birds at auction for $5,200.

Stopping By: Colby's chickens

FFA member from YC succeeds at county fair in ‘whole new adventure’ in poultry

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##The Wallicks’ “Peanuts”-inspired Little Free Library was decorated by a friend.

Stopping By / Yard of the Month: Happiness and hydrangeas

Snoopy hangs out at Lori and John Wallick’s house in McMinnville, dancing happily on the porch and napping atop the Little Free Library near the sidewalk. “We all need a little more Snoopy ...

Stopping By: Creating ‘The Creation’

Shirley Cunningham developed a new medium to tell the oldest story in the Book. “I don’t know where it came from,” the artist said, talking about the ideas and handcrafting that went ...

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Charlie Bauer, who grew up in Yamhill, stands beside a 1967 Camaro parked in front of the derby ramp in Beulah Park. The car belongs to his friend, Nick Mccleskey, with whom Bauer shares a passion for classic vehicles.

Stopping By: Wheels of Time

Car enthusiast has driven in Derby Days parades since the 1950s; now he’s special grand marshal

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Rich Pruitt enjoys making his yard a place for wildlife, especially birds – and the birds help out by planting things such as the large sunflowers that are a focal point in front of his home. Pruitt is retired from Patton Middle School, where he taught sixth grade. The McMinnville Garden Club chose his front garden at 927 N.E. 18th St. as its Yard of the Month for July. The yard features a variety of flowers and foliage, most of which are perennials.

Stopping By/Yard of the Month: Working with nature

Gardener Rich Pruitt works with nature to create a beautiful display in his front yard, which was named Yard of the Month for July by the McMinnville Garden Club. Pruitt, who enjoys spending most of the ...

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Joey McKenzie plays his mandolin during a recording session at Rorschach Studio in McMinnville, which is owned by his longtime friend Keith Sommers, right, who is in the background with another old friend, Jon Sherwood, who is making an EP of several new country-influenced songs.

Stopping By: Music in three players time

Reunion of friends brings back music made right

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Artist Bob Frosty talks about the paintings and other art, as well as items such as furs from a bear and other animals, that hang in his Eagles Nest Gallery. His is selling the contents.

Stopping By: Frosty the art man

Longtime gallery owner, artist selling off stock of wooden sculptures, other works, materials 

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Lisa Hansen has enjoyed driving around the county as a home inspector for the Housing Authority of Yamhill County.  It s beautiful,  she said. Hansen retired last month after 30 years with the agency.

Stopping By: Safety and security

Longtime Housing Authority inspector calls it a career

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Danna Bone, who does community service as a member of Soroptimist International of McMinnville, shows off auction paddles she created for the club’s fundraising Women Who Wine Summer Soiree. Bone also uses her graphic design skills to make brochures and create the club newsletter.

Stopping By: Making friends, and a difference

Danna Bone has a long history of service to her church and her community. When she moved to McMinnville in October 2019, volunteering seemed like a way to make friends, as well as to make a difference. “Service ...

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Abraham and Sara Hanson admire the golden cedar slab bench he crafted from a tree felled in their yard — one of many family-friendly garden features visitors will see during the McMinnville Garden Tour on Sunday, June 8. A wooden tepee in the background, constructed during a socially distanced birthday party, now stands as a playful garden relic.

Stopping By: A garden for growing

Abraham and Sara Hanson’s garden has grown and changed over the years, just as their children have. In fact, many of the changes — planting fruit trees so the children could snack, adding ...

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Barry Brown, a retired Army and National Guard helicopter pilot, stands beside the UH-1 Huey he flew during his service with the Oregon Air Guard. Now a docent at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Brown is helping restore the very same aircraft.

Stopping By: Flying to help others

Evergreen docent Barry Brown recalls wartime experiences in Vietnam, Iraq 

Stopping By: Learned confidence

Mac native enjoying platform that comes with Ms. Black Oregon title

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