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 ...
Jeb Bladine: Pokemon game has political connections
It seemed necessary this week to read up on “Pokémon Go,” the game that suddenly exploded into international prominence. Locally, some urged businesses to use Pokémon to lure ...
A quest to improve public records laws
Legal issues involving access to Oregon public records are complex, often contentious and sometimes subject to costly appeals and litigation. Last year, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum formed the ...
Amy Halloran-Steiner: Practicing mindfulness
Stop right there and pay attention — not to the thoughts you might be having, but to the feel of this newspaper between your fingers just now. See the contrasted black and white of the typed ...
Ron Wyden: A fighting chance against fire
By SEN. RON WYDEN In the past, warm spring weather touched off the start of the worst wildfires. Now, unfortunately, one fire season essentially runs into the next. In early summer, states were ...
Jeb Bladine: An ironic local twist to Ron Stover story
Picking up, as promised, from last week: Former McMinnville wheeler-dealer Ron Stover faces federal indictments alleging wire and bankruptcy fraud, with pending charges of theft, racketeering and securities ...
Mel Gurtov: The extent of Brexit fallout
To judge from a New York Times front-page article that appeared two days after the British vote to withdraw from the EU, the entire post-World War II global financial and political structure that the United ...
Jeb Bladine: Stover case brings a rush of memories
Once, long ago, I secured a loan with a phone call followed by a quick bank visit to sign a few sheets of paper. Today, the same process can take weeks, if not months, with more stringent requirements ...
Dave Robinson: Wilderness preparation
One of the more popular summer activities in our area is camping. We live in the middle of one of the most beautiful outdoor recreation areas in the world. No matter where you live in Oregon, you are only ...
Jeb Bladine: Silent moments; back to business
Please join me in a moment of silence for 189 mass-shooting victims — killed and wounded — from incidents since June 2015 in Charleston, Chattanooga, Roseburg, Colorado Springs, San Bernadino ...
Ossie Bladine: Enjoying the summertime tunes
Ah, summer. The days when I celebrated the end of my school year are long gone (although I get to help my wife, a teacher, celebrate) and summer weather seems to be sporadic throughout the year these days. ...
Sen. Doug Whitsett: Putting an end to fake emergencies
The ability of American citizens to petition their government to redress grievances is enshrined in our nation’s founding documents. The right to refer measures passed by the Oregon Legislative Assembly ...
Carolyn Smithrud: Staying safe while you sip
The attention on our area as the heart of Oregon wine country continues to grow, and with it an increase in traffic in our cities and on country roads. All should do their part to ensure the roads remain ...
