Whatchamacolumn: Name changes that recalibrate history
Columbus Day remains a federal holiday (second Monday in October), but Columbus School is ending its 131-year life in McMinnville. We’ve joined communities nationwide that have eliminated “Columbus” ...
Stopping By: Encouraging respect for Oregon’s native plants
Tim McDaniel is a native of McMinnville who grew up as part of the McDaniel Seed Company family. He’s been in the area for many, many years. But his time here is short compared to the native ...
Back, and Forth: MacLocals creator inspires McMinnville state of mind
After talking with Josh Sager, I got to thinking — for reverse reasons — of a line from a 1989 James McMurtry song, “I’m Not From Here.” “I’m not from here/I ...
Whatchamacolumn: Dosages and costs for pain medications
Life’s aches and pains may come from injuries or just normal wear and tear, and Americans continue to lead the world in use of prescribed and over-the-counter pain medications. It can be a good ...
Back, and Forth: Finding the fun in the nooks and crannies of Carlton
In my two years in Yamhill County, I have gradually come to appreciate the small joys that make up Carlton. The number of pleasures packed into the downtown of a 2,100-population town is remarkable. My ...
Whatchamacolumn: Finding the humor in politics of 2023
Beckett and Moliere, even Shakespeare, were virtuosos of farce, a genre passed down to the likes of Mel Brooks and Monty Python. Chaucer, Swift and Voltaire all excelled at satire, much later celebrated ...
Stopping By: Champion of public education reflects on 24 years on school board
Longtime McMinnville School Board member Janis Braich had her first experience with public education when she took a job as a school nurse in the Estacada School District. She hadn’t gone ...
Whatchamacolumn: We watched her world 'Through Rohse-Colored Glasses'
After decades of writing News-Register news and feature stories, Elaine Rohse settled into 40-plus years of creating an estimated 2,250 episodes of her human-interest column, “Through Rohse-Colored ...
Longtime columnist Elaine Rohse dies at 103
Elaine Dahl Rohse, a longtime McMinnville resident and News-Register columnist, died Thursday, June 8, at her home at Hillside Retirement Community, McMinnville. She was 103. Arrangements are ...
Back, and Forth: Sometimes outdoor art features an inside story
One of my favorite things about McMinnville is the art walk on the Linfield University campus. I have found one of the walk’s newest works, installed two weeks ago, particularly dynamic. It got ...
Whatchamacolumn: This rural estate has stories to tell
Looking for a house with a history? Do you have a spare $5 million and a passion for isolated rural life? Just head to Sheridan, turn right at the Highway 18 Dairy Queen, and back-road navigate toward ...
Stopping By: A home fit for royalty
Soon a knight in shining armor will have a home in Carlton. A real knight, in real armor, albeit a tiny version. But the statue will live in a castle, which is under construction on the east side ...
Whatchamacolumn: System tries to ID political influencers
Campaign finance databases reveal much about cultural values, political influence and interesting trends. We found that, and more, in a recent News-Register investigation into local political fundraising. One ...
Stopping By: Flags forever
Every day is flag day for Owen and Sharon Johnson of McMinnville. While many people put out flags in honor of the recent Memorial Day weekend, the Johnsons display theirs every day. And not just ...
Back, and Forth: Bearded space-fly guy comes in peace
Town festivals based on flowers, rodeos, derby races or other themes are always full of possibilities. But after seeing my second full-on version of the McMinnville UFO Festival, held May 19-20, I think ...
