Starla Pointer

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

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Candace Van Zanten stops to smell the roses in front of her home at 507 N.E. 11th St., the McMinnville Garden Club’s Yard of the Month. She chose the yellow-orange “At Last” roses for their fragrance, as well as their beauty.

Stopping By: Framing home - Fragrance and color abound, from roses to ‘huggable trees’

Fragrant yellow-orange roses greet visitors to the home of Candace and Barend Van Zanten in McMinnville. The bush, which grows in a half wine barrel, is usually covered with blooms all season — ...

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Matt Taylor, owner of Astro-Zombie Bio-Labs, checks on a 3-D printed version of the robot mask for “Metropolis.” He is using special, non-toxic materials to print out pieces of the robot costume, which will be worn by a cast member in the stage play.

Stopping By: Building a ‘Metropolis’

As a young woman, Tracey Ward was fascinated by “Metropolis,” the century-old Fritz Lang pre-talkie that predicts a future in which people are sharply divided by class and artificial intelligence ...

Rusty Rae/News-Register##At 99, Margaret Kurpies walks around the parking lot at her apartment complex four times a day. She used to do a longer route, a two-mile loop through McMinnville. She’s always walked for health and pleasure, she said.

Stopping By: Walking toward 100

Margaret Kurpies has plans for July 15, her 100th birthday. “I’ll probably take a walk,” said Kurpies, who makes a habit of walking four times around the parking lot of her McMinnville ...

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Debbie Lewis sits in the Bear Hugs playground with the “Going on a Bear Hunt” mural behind her. Lewis said she has enjoyed her 24 years with Mac High’s daycare and education program.

Stopping By: ‘Baby whisperer’ retires

A longtime caregiver at Mac High’s ‘Bear Hugs,’ Debbie Lewis loved seeing infants and teens grow up

Rusty Rae/News-Register##The St. Barnabas sanctuary dates from 1964, when the building went up at 822 S.W. Second St. in McMinnville. It replaced the original church at Fifth and Davis streets downtown.

Stopping By: Generous of spirit

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church marks 150 years, with special services planned June 15-16

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Jack and Kirsten Browne loved their house at Ninth and Birch streets in McMinnville. They found the 1904 farmhouse online and fell in love with its majestic 240-year-old walnut tree (pictured below), as well as the renovated interior with plenty of wall space for art.

Stopping by: Ode to an old walnut

McMinnville couple’s yard, shaded by a centuries-old tree, to be featured Sunday on Summer Garden Tour

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Susan Milano talks to Lynore Frew about Soroptimist business during one of the club’s meetings. She is president-elect, but will become the group’s leader in June. She learned about the service club when she attended one of its Women Who Wine events.

Stopping by: Playing a leading role

Former Hollywood casting agent finds her place with McMinnville Soroptimist group

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Beth Craig stops to admire the dogwood blossoms on one of the many flowering trees that grace her front yard on Northwest 18th Place in McMinnville. The trees were planted by her late father, Jim Craig, at the home where Beth grew up and still lives.

Stopping By: Yard of the Month - Family Trees

Dogwoods and rhododendrons fill Beth Craig’s McMinnville yard, a floral testament to her parents

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Emily Duerfeldt loves to wear purple, “the color of royalty,” she says with a laugh. She is known as a queen, though — the “Queen of Snacks” for providing food for crews working on McMinnville Habitat of Humanity Builds. It’s one of her many volunteer activities.

Stopping By: A passion for books and helping

Woman of the Year, Emily Duerfeldt, spends hours volunteering — but always finds time to read

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Rick and Candy Olson enjoyed hosting the Mayor’s Charity Ball, a fundraiser for the Kids on the Block after school program –- making sure children are safe is vitally important, Rick said. They were the second couple to host the annual gala, started by Rick’s predecessor as mayor, Ed Gormley, and his wife, Candi.

Stopping By: Many ways to serve

Long, varied community roles reflected in DSA award to former mayor Rick Olson

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Charlie Burnett uses a speech-generating device to communicate with Melissa Hernandez, Memorial Elementary special education teacher who advocates for her students. Her efforts led to her being named Educator of the Year in the Distinguished Service Awards program.

Stopping By: Teacher and advocate - Melissa Hernandez named Educator of the Year

Everything Melissa Hernandez does as a special education teacher is important — teaching her students to communicate, to behave safely for their own sake and the sake of others, to help them reach ...

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Scott and Elizabeth Hinchcliff enjoy riding in their 1938 Ford pickup. Scott, a master mechanic at Scott’s Automotive in McMinnville, said he believes vehicles are meant to be driven, so he uses the vintage truck on a regular basis.

Stopping By: Cruising duo

Love of cars and community drive McMinnville DSA winners Scott and Elizabeth Hinchcliff

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Laura and Steve Hall contrast their life in Los Angeles with their current time in Oregon, where they raise alpacas while continuing Steve’s audio mastering business. The alpacas’ humming sound combined with the recording work led to their farm’s name, Buzznhum.

Stopping by: Humming along - Mac couple find harmony in music and alpacas

Alpacas are known for their endearing “humming” vocalizations, rather than barks, whinnies, or meows. Their hum is similar to sounds Steve Hall deals with daily as a mastering engineer for ...

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Bob Luoto grew up west of Carlton working for his father’s Luoto Logging Company and later founded Cross & Crown Logging. His three 
younger brothers worked in the logging industry, as well — brother John worked for Luoto Logging and Cross & Crown for 30 years, Dan 
is retired from his own logging company, and Randy still runs log trucks.

Stopping By: A life of faith and hard work

Longtime logger Bob Luoto looks back on a career setting chokers and setting examples

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