Whatchamacolumn: Bright lights shine on school elections
McMinnville School Board elections are in a bright community spotlight this month. Three women — Audrey Aase, Shellie Reyes and Anita Humlie — have local families, friends and supporters with ...
Whatchamacolumn: Some weeks, it's a show about nothing
Occasionally, writing this column can be relatively easy; other weeks, simply choosing a topic is a frustrating challenge. Consider some current options that didn’t make the cut: Transgender phobia ...
Whatchamacolumn: Joe Dancer Park becomes a village
Ten days ago, our reporter counted 29 RVs and trailers parked in Joe Dancer Park, presumably examples of illegal daytime camping on public property. The new McMinnville Community Task Force has recommended ...
Whatchamacolumn: Packaged races in District 40 election
Conservatives should be commended for their transparency in seeking more ideological control of McMinnville School District with three high-visibility campaigns running in absolute lockstep. Governance ...
Whatchamacolumn: Mandates end, but masks still in play
Nearly three years of mask mandates mostly ended this week in Oregon when those requirements were eliminated for patients, workers and visitors in health care settings. It’s a relief for many, but ...
Whatchamacolumn: Follow the trail for just a few 'minutes'
Please second my motion in praise of minutes. This week, minutes saved me hours, perhaps days, in reviewing activities of the Yamhill County Parks & Recreation Advisory Board. Those hours and days ...
Whatchamacolumn: Long ago unveiling of downtown event
I remember waking at dawn, dressing silently, and sneaking out on a mission to see the early unveiling of long-awaited festivities. I watched tarps pulled off to reveal all manner of equipment, table-top ...
Jeb Bladine: The sun never sets on 'Sunshine Week'
This may be the end of “Sunshine Week,” but the sun never sets on the importance of retaining and expanding access to government public records. Media organizations often join and lead others ...
Bladine: A better plan for student debt relief
Three years ago, we reported a local woman’s campaign seeking debt relief and lending fairness in America’s federal student loan system. She had borrowed $108,000 for college 10 years before, ...
Jeb Bladine: Our lazy language needs new words
Here’s a fun hint for times when someone criticizes others for being “woke”: Look perplexed and ask, sincerely, “What does that word mean?” Whatever the response, you likely ...
Jeb Bladine: Interesting twist on TML developments
Here’s an interesting twist on discussions about development of Three Mile Lane. Oregon Sen. Bill Hansell recently grumbled that Oregon lacks any site with all desired characteristics for development ...
Bladine: Interesting stories just keep on coming
Stimulating local stories abound in recent weeks, prompting this occasional column with “short takes” on the news. - Have we solved the mystery of those “booms” bothering ...
Jeb Bladine: Reclaim downtown; ensure public safety
I’m remembering movie character Howard Beale’s famous monologue in the 1976 film, “Network” — a passionate assessment of social and cultural ills ending with this appeal to ...
Whatchamacolumn: Response insists on follow-up story
My column last week about financial intrigue at the Oregon Firearms Federation was not intended as Part 1, but OFF Executive Director Kevin Starrett insisted on a follow-up. Starrett was angered by the ...
Jeb Bladine: Saga continues for gun law opponents
Perhaps Yamhill County should pony up $75,000 to Portland attorney John Kaempf for legal costs in the fight against gun regulations Oregonians approved in November. That kind of financial commitment makes ...
