Trail's end or just a hiatus?
With opponents of the Yamhelas Westsider Trail now in the majority on the county board of commissioners, progress on the project is uncertain, but widely expected to be halted for at least two years. It’s ...

Carlton swears in new mayor, councilors
Carlton’s council transformed Tuesday night as several new leaders were sworn in. Linda Watkins, voice shaking with emotion, was the first to take her oath of office as the new mayor. A former city ...
Districts around the county planning for school return
After months of working on a variety of plans for returning to in-person classes before the school year, then converting to comprehensive distance learning instead, Yamhill County school districts expect to finally begin reopening school buildings this month.

Stopping by: For Yamhill tree farmer LeLand Payne, nature has always been the best teacher
LeLand Payne remembers walking over the hills and through the woods northwest of Yamhill as a boy in the late 1930s and ‘40s. He enjoyed every step — and he still does as he ...

LUBA remands trail, again
Opponents of the proposed Yamhelas Westsider Trail scored another victory last week when the state Land Use Board of Appeals remanded the county’s approval of a 2.82-mile segment of trail a ...

No-contact violations lead to jail term
Michael Cook, a Carlton resident who Police Chief Kevin Martinez said displayed a “total disregard” for the no-contact agreement meant to protect his former girlfriend, was sentenced to 30 ...

Stopping By, Holiday Traditions: The Dutch house
As a child in The Hague, the capital of South Holland and the entire Netherlands, Joka Moree started the holiday season the evening of Dec. 5, when she and her two older brothers placed their shoes ...

Burglary suspect faces more charges
Charges are mounting against a Carlton resident while he remains out of custody. Brock Keinonen, 32, faces two counts of first-degree theft and one count each of aggravated first-degree theft, second-degree ...
Woman escapes her burning Yamhill home
A Yamhill woman was helped from her burning home by passersby late Thursday night. The first Yamhill Fire District crew was dispatched to the blaze at 17905 Highway 47 at 11:50 p.m., according to Fire ...
County advances Yamhelas trail planning on split vote
Design of the Yamhelas Westsider Trail will proceed following a 2-1 vote by Yamhill County Commissioners on Thursday, after hearing a presentation from Project Manager Mary Stewart of Alta Planning ...

Along the Street: Hallmark shop searching for new storefront
Customers of Kathleen’s Hallmark, a longtime McMinnville business, reacted with sympathy and outrage last week after learning the store had been given 30 days to vacate its location in the Town Center ...

Stopping By, Holiday Traditions: Feliz Natal in São Paulo, Merry Christmas in Carlton
When Guilherme Brandao was growing up in São Paulo, Brazil, Christmas meant getting together with extended family at his grandparents’ house.
They exchanged gifts at midnight. Kids knew the presents came from their parents or other relatives.

A fire engine for Santa
If Santa were to become stuck in a chimney, Amber Schmidt’s Christmas fire truck would race to the scene to rescue him and his bag of presents. The 1967 Western States engine, which Schmidt’s ...

Outdoor spaces help local restaurants keep serving
Numerous restaurants around Yamhill County have set up tents, awnings or other types of outdoor arrangements in order to keep serving customers during the latest round of coronavirus pandemic restrictions. Under ...

Trail design planning begins with request for public input
Final design planning for the Yamhelas Westsider Trail has begun, and county grants and special projects manager Carrie Martin hopes to include a community compromise for what’s been a controversial ...