Starla Pointer

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

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Woman of the Year Sylla McClellan loves being a small business owner in McMinnville, where she has operated Third Street Books for 21 years. Among her recent community activities was leading the campaign to raise funds to replace the twinkle lights downtown, for which she was honored as “Friend of Downtown” at the McMinnville Downtown Association awards.

Stopping By: Books and community

Downtown bookseller Sylla McClellan named DSA Woman of the Year

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Bill Willis, a longtime woodworker, stands with a display of some of the pieces available at Earth & Wood, the Amity shop he runs with his son, Dan Willis. The elder Willis created the wood items, with a collaborator providing the metal tree.

Stopping By: A life working in wood

Shoppers may know Bill Willis as the friendly face behind the counter of Earth & Wood gift shop, which features the work of nearly three dozen artists and crafters. But Willis is more than that — ...

##Paul Haddeland

Stopping By: McMinnville, medicine good choices for co-winner Haddeland

Dr. Paul Haddeland said he felt “a little sheepish” when his friend Stan Primozich delivered the news that Haddeland had been named co-winner of this year’s McMinnville Man of the Year ...

Rusty Rae/News-Register## Steve Rupp said he was “flabbergasted” when his friend Dave Haugeberg, a former Man of the Year winner, told him he was one of this year’s winners.

Stopping By: Longtime arts advocate named Man of the Year co-winner

Steve Rupp, co-winner of the Distinguished Service Awards Man of the Year award, literally has changed McMinnville’s landscape. [See also: McMinnville, medicine good choices for co-winner ...

Rachel Thompson/News-Register ##Pastor Steve Hopper stands beneath stained-glass windows inside the Pioneer Evangelical Church sanctuary on Tuesday, reflecting on the history of both the windows and his tenure at the Dayton church. He is retiring after Sunday. Installed in the 1870s, the windows were funded by local donors, including a central pane honoring town founder Joel Palmer. “It’s the highlight window,” Hopper said. “It’s one piece, and it says ‘God is love’ — that kind of summarizes everything.” The flanking windows display the Greek symbols Alpha and Omega, symbolizing God as the beginning and the end.

Stopping By: A final sermon

Longtime Dayton pastor and fire chaplain’s Easter service will be his last

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Mel Baughman speaks up for children who are involved in court cases as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate. She had a rough time growing up, and uses her experience to help others. She said more volunteers are always needed by the CASA of Yamhill County program.

Stopping By: Advocating for children

CASA volunteer draws on own experience to help others

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Jack Boersma, who marks his 50th anniversary of ownership of Boersma’s Sewing Center on April 1, talks about one of the long-arm quilting machines he sells, installs and teaches to quilting enthusiasts. He is the No. 1 dealer in long-arm machines in the world, he said. Boersma’s devotes 2,200 square feet to quilting fabric — cotton cloth with colorful, often whimsical designs.

Stopping By: A career sew good

Jack Boersma had been the main repairman at Boersma’s sewing and vacuum center for six years by the time he took over ownership of the McMinnville store. It was April 1, 1975, and he was 18 years ...

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Susan Pinto, 60, is almost done with her first two years of school on her way to becoming an art therapist. She plans to transfer from Chemeketa Community College to Linfield University for a four-year degree, then pursue a master’s degree at Lewis & Clark. Below are submitted photos showing examples of her creations. She learned beading and leather work from her grandmother when she was a girl in Oklahoma.

Stopping By: Moving forward

‘Live Your Dream’ grantee pursues art as creative outlet, and education as art therapist

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##First-grade teacher Mariana Fernandez shows illustrations in “Dinorella” to Mason Templeton, left, and other students as she reads the fairy tale, based on “Cinderella.” Dinosaurs are among the first-graders’ many interests, she said. Fernandez, who is bilingual, graduated from Linfield in 2024 and teaches at Wascher Elementary School.

Stopping by: Good day, every day

Inspiring kids by example, first-year teacher sees results are often ‘mágico’

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##A window in the Great Wall of China provided the framework for one of Struxness’s images of the landscape.

Stopping By: Wonders of the world

Career in medicine sustains, informs local photographer’s global image-making

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Tuesday Senior League President Larry Hartman, right, congratulates Roger Miller on a successful roll during a game at Walnut City Lanes. The men say bowling is great exercise for seniors — and a great way to socialize.

Stopping by: Lanes for life

A strike and a spare, and friendship, keep seniors coming back to bowling alley

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Kent and Rosie Minor share a moment in their new home, Brookdale City Center. They enjoy having dinner together and just spending time in one another’s company. If there’s a chance for a kiss, they’re all for that, too.

Stopping By: Valentines forever

On their first official date, 16-year-old Rosie Minor clambered onto the handlebars of her future husband Kent Minor’s bicycle. Off they went to a Tony Curtis movie. They’ve been traveling ...

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Shana Levin shows some of the tiny needles she uses at the Peaceful Owl Acupuncture clinic in McMinnville. The needles usually don’t cause pain, she said. On their own or with other techniques, they relieve pain, help people sleep and address other health problems

Stopping By: Healing with needles, Chinese techniques

Acupuncturist Shana Levin knows what many of her patients are feeling: they just want the pain to stop. She felt that way herself after being injured in a car wreck; she also suffered ongoing pain from ...

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Yu-Shan Chen, in traditional dress, shares a Lunar New Year meal with friends and fellow members of the Asian Heritage Association Wednesday at Yan’s Chinese Restaurant. Chen, who works at Linfield University, is originally from Taiwan. She will join the AHA in hosting a community celebration of the Lunar New Year on Sunday at the McMinnville Community Center.

Stopping by: From the heart

Asian Heritage Association is one way Yu-Shan Chen extends the hospitality of her native Taiwan and helps educate the community about her culture

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