Jeb Bladine: Like giving drugs to Oregon addicts
In February we asked: “How long will Oregonians allow the excessive cost of PERS to drive our ship of state?” It’s time to change that rhetorical question to something slightly more impudent: ...
Joan Paddock: Starting with a rhythm
People may know me as a professor of music at Linfield College, as conductor of the college band or as a trumpet player at churches and concerts in the community. A newer, somewhat related, interest of ...
Jeb Bladine: Consider who gets Measure 97 billions
An attorney from Portland and a citizen-politician from Klamath Falls win this week’s nod for thought-provoking commentary about state financial management and the call for an unprecedented tax increase. James ...
Jeb Bladine: Countdown starts for another election
Counting this week, there are 10 Viewpoints sections before election day, so get ready for a steady stream of letters, editorials and commentary about candidates and issues on the November 8 ballot. When ...
Tom H. Hastings: Time for nuclear disarmament
When I turned 12 on October 27 1962, I asked my dad if he thought I’d live to go to high school. The memory of him looking at me — he was a Navy veteran of World War II in the Pacific and spent ...
Mary Stern: Inspired for the Aspire development
I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new executive director at the McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity. As many of you know, I served for many years as a Yamhill County commissioner and was deeply ...
Jeb Bladine: Marijuana stories populate the news
Who would have thought, a few short years ago, that marijuana would become one of the most prominent 2016 story topics in the News-Register? After Oregonians voted in 2014 to legalize recreational marijuana, ...
Jeb Bladine: It’s tough to have an original thought
I don’t know why anyone tries to write creative commentary about Donald Trump — it’s all been written before. This week, The Donald couldn’t stop himself from wondering aloud if ...
Gene Policinski: What is 'free speech’ on the web?
Digital etiquette and the first amendment — in theory and in practice — in social media
Jeb Bladine: Law enforcement via 'civil exclusion'
Civil exclusion laws have a dark history in Oregon, where “white utopia” policies once banned all black people from entering the state. Today, though still controversial, civil exclusion laws ...
Chip Hutcheson: We count on the mail
I got the mail today. A couple of bills. A greeting card. Some catalogs. A newspaper. One package that my wife grabbed right away. (Wonder what that was?) Guest Writer Chip Hutcheson is president ...
Nathan Knottingham: A fond farewell
First, a heartfelt thank you. Thank you to so many who were open to accepting a new member to the community, who allowed me to earn your trust, and lead your Chamber of Commerce for the past three years. ...
Pat Swanick: Pool a community success story
For the past eighteen months, I’ve been deeply involved in an exciting project to preserve and enhance Carlton’s Community Pool Complex. Carlton’s pool has a long and proud history, and ...
Jeb Bladine: Revisiting choice to avoid tweeting
Communication technology passed me by as I avoided joining Twitter — a choice I reconsidered while watching the 2016 presidential campaigns. (Point of reference: That opening paragraph is exactly ...
Tom Henderson: A star is born (just don't blink)
I now only work as a journalist between acting projects. My first gig was in “Othello” at South Salem High School in 1980. Most recently, I appeared in last year’s motion picture “10 ...
