Linfield would be ideal host for a new city rec complex
When Linfield University's founding fathers needed land to establish a local campus in the 1850s, McMinnville's founding father, William T. Newby, donated wooded acreage out south of town. When ...
Finding it in your heart to help others over holidays
Philanthropy consists of private initiatives undertaken for the public good without an expectation of personal gain. Acts of philanthropy or charity represents one of the few ways individuals, ...
Centrist compromise spurs renewed virus relief hopes
The $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Relief and Economic Security Act, known as the CARES Act, won final congressional and presidential approval on March 27. At the time, the case count stood at 85,000 in the ...
Oregon’s economic recovery hinges on legislative action
Asked why he persisted in robbing banks, the incorrigible Willie Sutton responded, “Because that’s where the money is.” We have an equally direct reason for making American business ...
City steering safest course through state land use maze
McMinnville’s first and only urban growth boundary was adopted in 1981, when the city’s population stood at only 14,000. That boundary was designed to guide local growth through 2001. But ...
Third time’s the charm when it comes to campaign limits
Oregon is one of only five states placing no limits on corporate contributions to political candidates and causes. It is one of only 11 with no limits on individual contributions, allowing Nike founder ...
Electoral gridlock at the top masks shifting tides below
In many ways, this year’s general election greatly resembled those of past presidential years. America remains deeply divided. It is fractured along the fault lines of geography, ethnicity, gender, ...
GOP needs to rethink its strategy in Oregon
Democrats once again swept all four statewide offices in Oregon. They also retained their supermajority status in the state Legislature, and continued to claim both the state’s U.S. Senate seats, ...
Virus retaining its grip; new surge biggest yet
County Public Health Officer Lindsey Manfrin warns in today’s Viewpoints that this is no time to let up on the three known ways to ward off COVID-19 — masking, distancing and sanitizing. In ...
Broader civic involvement should be a universal goal
In a front page story in today’s edition, reporter Dora Totoian asks: How well do city managers, councils and mayors in Yamhill County reflect the ethnic and demographic makeup of the communities ...
Menke, Garvin, Chenoweth our choices for city council
For at least the last quarter century, McMinnville’s mayor and council candidates have generally faced little if any serious opposition. That began to change two years ago with the hard-fought, high-dollar ...
Treasurer pick goes to Bledsoe
American actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein once said, “Just because you thought something yesterday doesn’t mean you have to think it today. Don’t ever become a prisoner of your own ...
Hill the best option for Mac during critical time
Scott Hill has amassed a rich résumé of public service in McMinnville. During a 37-year career as a KeyBank executive, he found time to serve 20 years on the city budget committee, 12 years ...
Public not ready to lift penalty for possession of narcotics
Thanks to William Simon U’Ren, dubbed “Referendum U’Ren” for his devotion to the cause, Oregon pioneered the initiative and referendum process nationally in 1902. The vehicle was ...
Hansen and Noble earn the local legislative nods
The most successful Oregon political leaders of the late 20th and early 21st century have often been marked by a streak of stubborn independence, a vein of occasionally contrarian views, or personal traits ...
