Starla Pointer

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

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Mary Lou Coburn, left, shares a laugh with Mona Clark, right, during a rehearsal of the Vineyard Heights Theater Club. Across the room, director Carolyn McCloskey and Theresa Martsolf laugh along. The club will perform skits and routines July 31 at Vineyard Heights.

Stopping By: Laugh Lines

Comedy comes naturally to members of the theater club at Vineyard Heights 

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Phil Juttelstad, surrounded by his paintings of buildings, bridges and cities, talks about how intentionally he has pursued his art since retiring from a career as a project manager. He and his wife, Holly, support the local art scene and are the founders of this weekend’s McMinnville Art Festival, at which both will show work.

Stopping By: Art and togetherness

When Phil and Holly Juttelstad were looking for a new home in McMinnville, they had one major criterion in mind: it had to have room for at least one art studio. Phil is a painter who works primarily ...

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Hanna DeMaster is happy among the colorful flowers and vegetables that grow cooperatively in her front yard, which the McMinnville Garden Club chose for its July honors. DeMaster converted a lawn to a bountiful garden after moving to the 10th Street property a decade ago.

Stopping By/Yard of the Month: Where connections bloom

McMinnville gardener’s flower- and vegetable-filled front yard a way to engage with neighbors

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##In his garage workshop in Dayton, Cecil Elbert talks about the bicycle he built in 1976 for a cross-country Bicentennial ride with three companions.

Stopping By: American rider

A cross-country cycling journey started for the Bicentennial completed for the country’s 250th

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Heron statues and potted plants create a focal point in the side garden at the home of Don Gates and Steve Hall of southwest McMinnville. Gates said he loves birds; there are numerous avian sculptures in their expansive yard.

Stopping By: One garden, many gardens

McMinnville couple’s Asian-inspired yard featured on annual summer tour

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Tayah Curry, who will graduate tonight from McMinnville High School, is excited about serving in the Navy. She won a hard-to-get placement in the Naval Academy because of her academic strengths and physical fitness, developed through participating in track, cross country and wrestling.

Stopping By: Teens ready to serve

Yamhill County students are receiving diplomas this month, and most have big plans for their next steps — trade schools, work, college. Here are two of the nearly 1,500 members of the county’s ...

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Registrar Roseanne Roberts, left, talks with exchange student Raghad “Rae” Ben Ameur from Tunisia, center, and MHS student Nancy Granados in her office at McMinnville High School. Behind her, a bulletin board shows off photos of her family and some of the 315 exchange students with whom she has worked. Roberts has been one of the first people students from other countries meet when they arrive at the school since she became registrar and International Club adviser in 2003. She is retiring in June.

Stopping By: Global ally - Roseanne Roberts reflects on years working with exchange students

Retiring Mac High registrar Roseanne Roberts reflects on years working with exchange students

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Candace Morgan and Jake Wilson stand in front of the Bellevue Schoolhouse west of McMinnville. The couple purchased the vacant 1917 building earlier this year with plans to restore it into an event center and community gathering space.

Stopping By: Saving a schoolhouse

After driving by the 1917 Bellevue Schoolhouse for “years and years” on their way from Tigard to the beach, Jake Wilson and Candace Morgan learned it was for sale. They had just returned from ...

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Brian Bixler spends time with students outside Willamette Elementary School, which in 2024 planted a Moon Tree that had flown into space on the Artemis I mission. Willamette is one of only a few schools in the nation to plant a Moon Tree seedling. Bixler, who is fascinated with the space program, applied for it on behalf of the school.

Stopping By: Space to learn

Teacher encourages kids’ natural ability to acquire knowledge through play

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Kate Payne Brown, who came to Argyle Winery last year for the opportunity to make sparkling wine at a place that’s been using the traditional method since 1987, speaks with colleagues Rachel Healow, left, the assistant winemaker, and Erica Miller, vineyard manager. They collaborate on all stages of the process, from the time grapes are growing until, several years later, the wine is ready to drink.

Stopping By: A sparkling conversation

Kate Payne Brown has worked happily with a variety of people in the wine industry for more than 20 years. She is especially satisfied with her current team at Argyle Winery, where she is head winemaker. The ...

Rusty Rae/News-Register##June Hilton and her husband planted this magnolia tree when it was about 8 feet tall; it’s more than double that height now. It produces showy dinner-plate size flowers that welcome visitors as they walk the curving concrete path that leads to the Hiltons’ front porch.

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 ...

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Elsie Best delivers a coffee to her mother, Tiffany Best, at her mom’s workplace, First Federal — something Elsie often does. She said her mother has been a great inspiration to her, leading her to take business pathway classes at Mac High and help found the Leos, a junior Lions club, at McMinnville High School.

Stopping by: Business plans

Mac High senior Elsie Best stays active in community while working toward her future 

Rusty Rae/News-Register##Lesley Anderson, sitting next to the window in her business, Cascade Movement Center, talks about her love of nature and how exercise, yoga and being outdoors help not only with physical wellness, but also with emotional well-being.

Stopping By: Movement for healing

Edited to correct a typo in the spelling of the word "meditation" -- "What pulled me out was meditation and yoga, which I could do anywhere," Anderson said.   ------ Strength training, yoga, meditation ...

Rusty Rae/News-Register##While his work is all about technology — including AI, which is the subject of his new book — Joe Sessions enjoys life away from the computer, as well. He pursues activities with his wife and children, and rides his mountain bike whenever he can.

Stopping By: Retaining the human element

Artificial intelligence, or AI, can be a useful tool that can help people and businesses organize and increase their speed and efficiency, according to Joe Sessions, a former educator and owner of Abundance ...

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