Starla Pointer
"Stopping By:" A reporter who knows that everyone has an interesting story to tell welcomes suggestions.
Stopping by: One step at a time
If Ruth Mendes da Costa were to wear every medal she’s brought home from half-marathons, 10Ks and 5Ks, she wouldn’t be able to stand upright or take a step — the hardware would ...
Stopping by: Scaling down
On a certain scale, Jim Dunk is a land baron. His McMinnville yard is large enough to hold the equivalent of miles of railroad track, a mining operation and many associated buildings. There’s ...
Stopping By: Running the show
McMinnville woman steps into lead role to preserve beloved rummage sale Donna Reynolds was 7 years old when McMinnville Presbyterian Church started its annual rummage sale, which draws hordes ...
Stopping by: A strange and precious inheritance
When handyman Robert Walker began helping Richard and Ruth Miller with the upkeep on their house, he had no idea what a great friendship they’d develop — or that his relationship with ...
Stopping by: Motivated by beauty
Science and art may seem like opposites, but retired electronics engineer Steve Rupp sees parallels between his career and his passion for sculpture, paintings and performance. “Art and ...
Stopping by: Meeting of the minds
One Valentine’s Day, Miles Dresser and Muriel Dresser shopped separately for greeting cards that would express their love. Each found the perfect card, with gentle humor as well as affection. When ...
Stopping by: A good, long life
WILLAMINA — Week in and week out, Milton Roten hosts a Bible study at his home. He opens his large-print King James version, which he keeps within reach of his favorite chair, and reads and ...
Stopping by: Exploring opportunities
DAYTON — In her essay for the Daughters of the American Revolution good citizenship contest, Emma Jo Monteith called the U.S. “awe-inspiring.” “We have many opportunities ...
Stopping By: Quilting camaraderie
Quilters lug their sewing machines, piles of fabric, patterns, scissors, rulers and other equipment to the McMinnville Grange once a month to cut, sew and finish projects. They could sew at home, without ...
Jazz guitarist plays music in the moment
Mac High senior enjoys experimenting with sound For Mallory Mead, music is “a spiritual thing.” Whether she’s playing her guitar by herself or with fellow McMinnville High School musicians, ...
'Once you've died, you really start living'
Robert “Bob” Moxley looked through his scrapbook stuffed with memorabilia of his service in the Vietnam War — local currency; propaganda fliers offering rich rewards to American ...
The road to wellness
When Brian Trent started his fitness routine, he said, “I huffed and puffed” after slowly walking only a few blocks. A year and a half later, he feels refreshed after walking three miles in ...
Holiday traditions: Art and Nutcrackers
Art fills the walls of Mark and Julia Hamilton’s home — works by other local artists, as well as their own encaustic paintings. This Christmas season, they’ve added decorations ...
Holiday Traditions: A marrying of cultures
For both Manuel and Nevenka Gigena, childhood Christmases meant church, parties, dancing and special foods such as roast lamb or pig. Nevenka celebrated in chilly Cleveland, Ohio, where her Croatian parents ...
