Mac’s Turkey Rama festival a tradition worth supporting
This weekend marks the 59th edition of Turkey Rama, McMinnville’s annual community festival. Let’s be honest: It’s a mere shell of its former self. Major features like the World’s ...
Brown should resist urge to act unilaterally
On April 22, 1793, George Washington signed the nation’s first executive order, authorizing prosecution of citizens caught defying American neutrality by interfering in a war pitting England against ...
Developing on floating zone likely a tough sell
Are any private developers eager to build transitional, temporary housing in McMinnville’s industrial zone? We have our doubts. Unless city planners know something we don’t, it’s hard ...
Marginalizing the opposition also marginalizes Democracy
It was the best of sessions; it was the worst of sessions. It was the best in the view of Democratic Party partisans and the public employee unions that bankrolled them to 60 percent supermajorities in ...
Personal fireworks aren’t worth the trauma inflicted
Americans annually celebrate their freedom by setting off explosions that traumatize many of the veterans who fought for that freedom. Does that make any sense? Celebrating America is a pretense many ...
Salem caught in grip of rampant hypocrisy
Hypocrisy is never in short supply in seats of government, including the Oregon State Capitol. However, it seems to have attained new heights here on the wings of the recent walkout by Senate Republicans, ...
We owe seniors the care we’d expect in their shoes
Our June 12 edition documented a lengthy history of local, state and national failures in the senior care industry. Unfortunately, as so often proves the case with public policy challenges, it’s ...
Councilors should grant opponents new hearing
McMinnville city councilors on Tuesday will be presented a staff report on the Oak Ridge Meadows Land-Use Applications, which would combine two previously approved, but still unbuilt planned developments ...
Contention, angst fester as old ways merge with new
McMinnville city government is at risk of an increasing disconnection from key elements of its constituency. The recent dustup over the downtown Economic Improvement District was short-lived and ended ...
Arguments based more on fear than facts
New parents — especially those caught off guard by the experience — have countless questions. There should be a program where they can invite nurses to drop by during the first two or three ...
Care centers shouldn’t be scare centers
Understandably, McMinnville care centers oppose reimbursing the city for the cost of business licensing overhead and ambulance responses for unjustified 911 calls. But they should stop scaring voters — ...
Innocence something to be cherished, not scorned
Our May 31 front page was about as grim as it gets. If we’re ever forced to display stories more stomach-turning that the trio detailing criminal allegations pending against Jermaine Streeter, Michael ...
Politics eclipse reason in county’s coalition rejection
Forging alliances with neighboring counties of similar needs, views and politics is one of the most common — and natural — elements of governmental organization. Oregon groupings that follow ...
Sewer surcharge a stinky surprise for Mac residents
The city of McMinnville pulled the budgeting equivalent Tuesday of shoot first, aim later. In the process, it established a new franchise fee for residents that will add more money, not into the ...
Tourism tax could be doing more for Mac
Given the dramatic increase in transient lodging tax funds being collected in McMinnville, it’s time the city reevaluated the almost $1.3 million being split between tourism promotion and the city’s ...
