As their recess ended Tuesday, second-graders lined up at the gate of the Newby Elementary School playground, eager for it to open so they could reach the school’s raised bed garden. “Garden’s ...


Commentary

 
Quirk of the Week: Off-the-wall in Willamina

Ready to rock ‘n’ rail? Let’s head to Timbertown, USA. You’ll see what we mean … Sheridan and Dundee had, well, dan-dee, moments in this column in recent weeks. (Lafayette, ...

 
Quirk of the Week: Discoveries in every direction

On Tax Day, we can all use a little direction but also a bit of diversion. Here, then, is a McMinnville Quirk Compass, with something special in all four directions: North: Two Quirks of note, just outside ...

 
Scott Gibson: China leaving U.S. behind on renewable energy front

About the writer: Scott Gibson has practiced medicine in his hometown of McMinnville since 1989. He and his wife, Melody, raised their three children in McMinnville before moving to the Eola Hills in 2017 ...

Investigating the Bible: Living better

I once read that natives in African jungle villages captured monkeys by hollowing out a coconut through a hole and putting a pebble inside. The hole in the side of the coconut was so small that a monkey ...

 
Letter to Readers: On the other side of the interview

In March 2024, I wrote a story about a new podcast center at Duniway Middle School. In honor of the late student Ronan Godrey, the Traveling Light Foundation and Cruising McMinnville paid to decorate ...

Editorials

 
Nods go to Stephenson, Merkley and Brock Smith

We have three races on today’s endorsement menu, and in our estimation, the vast majority of you should be able to join us in making easy calls on them. In the non-partisan race for commissioner ...

 
Primary would best serve us by returning Kotek, Drazan

There are no fewer than 27 candidates for the Oregon governorship out on the hustings so far this year — 10 Democrats and 14 Republicans seeking major party nominations, one unaffiliated candidate ...

 
Depleted highway coffers demand a new infusion

Property taxes, income taxes, sales taxes and most other governmental taxes have one crucial element in common. They are based on percentage rates applied to ever-rising dollar volumes. That serves to ...

 
Bee-friendly pollinator garden a cause we should all support

So many national and international threats hanging over the heard of humanity these days seem so complex and distant as to defy meaningful impact at the local level. Fortunately, though, there is at least ...

 
No time to change course on overdue downtown overhaul

By the turn of the 21st century, McMinnville realized its treasured downtown Third Street spine would need extensive below-ground renovation in the coming years. It also knew that would logically dictate ...

Letters

News-Register Letters Policy

The News-Register welcomes written opinions about issues of public interest and about the content of this newspaper. Letters from non-local writers are accepted only if they focus on local issues. This ...

 
Letters to the Editor: April 17, 2026

Open and respectful I am following the 2026 Commissioner races with interest. Having served Yamhill County for eight years as sheriff and six as undersheriff, I am aware of what it takes to make county ...

 
Letters to the Editor: April 10, 2026

Out of ammo We’re about a month into the war with Iran. In that short time, we’ve started to run out of the interceptor missiles we and our allies rely on to defend against missile and drone ...

 
Letters to the Editor: April 3, 2026

Proceed with care Yes, McMinnville’s downtown needs major infrastructure work — and sooner rather than later. However, government and civic leaders need to understand the potential consequences ...

 
Letters to the Editor: March 27, 2026

All talk, no action I was reading about Mayor Morris’ new program, “We care about kids.” I hope it will be a program of action, not just words. Beyond the staged photo op with the mayor ...

News & Features

Mac councilors dip toes in area pools

The McMinnville City Council discussed possible refinements to the planned November recreation center bond measure last week after visiting comparable facilities. Councilors and city staff toured aquatic ...

Feds recover $200k from Taste of India restaurant on Third

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division announced Wednesday results from an investigation that found Taste of India I on Third Street in downtown McMinnville violated federal wage law ...

Community members raising funds for Sheridan decorations

To raise funds for new Christmas decorations in Sheridan, community members will host a spring bazaar on May 2 and 3. The free event will last from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at Sheridan High School. Tolva ...

Sediment buildup adds 75k to cost of Dayton wells project

Dayton City Council approved nearly $75,000 in additional expenses for its Fisher Farms well rehabilitation project Monday after it was discovered half the wells need extra work to clear sediment buildup. The ...

Salem man resentenced to 75 months in manslaughter case following appeal

In March 2024, Javier Antonio De Jesus, 31, of Salem was found guilty at trial and sentenced to 75 months with the Department of Corrections for second-degree manslaughter, third-degree assault, DUII, ...

Survey recommends changes to historic resource designations

Following a survey of some of McMinnville’s historic resources, 27 properties are recommended to move up to the highest protection class, which could qualify them to be listed nationally as historic ...

 
HLC to vote on request for church demolition

The city has received 14 letters of opposition regarding a plan to replace a 1941 church on Second Street with a new 72-unit affordable apartment complex. McMinnville’s Historic Landmarks Committee ...

 
Quirk of the Week: Off-the-wall in Willamina

Ready to rock ‘n’ rail? Let’s head to Timbertown, USA. You’ll see what we mean … Sheridan and Dundee had, well, dan-dee, moments in this column in recent weeks. (Lafayette, ...

Pittman dies after years of community service

Ron Pittman, who was active for many years on several local boards of directors and performed other community service, died Friday, April 17, in McMinnville. He was 89. A celebration of his life will ...

 
Sheridan Rd. resident seeks quick solution for speeders

“Someone’s going to be killed on Sheridan Road, and it’s not going to be my fault,” Linda Harrell, Southeast Sheridan Road resident, told the Sheridan City Council during the Monday, ...

Former Mac PD detective dies

Former McMinnville Police Sgt. Terry “TJ” Ward died of cancer Saturday, April 18. He was 77. A celebration of his life will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 17, in the Leslie Lewis Pavillion ...

 
Early learning hub celebrates home visitors

Employees of agencies such as Head Start, Lutheran Family Services and A Family Place help families find resources, develop parenting skills and learn to navigate educational systems so their children ...

 
Growing big and strong

As their recess ended Tuesday, second-graders lined up at the gate of the Newby Elementary School playground, eager for it to open so they could reach the school’s raised bed garden. “Garden’s ...

Court Records 042226

CIVIL FILINGS Citibank, N.A. vs. Larry D. Martincek, Newberg: Renewal of $5,670.32 judgment. Discover Bank vs. Jessica L. Hansen, McMinnville: Renewal of $3,146.10 judgment. Citibank N.A. vs. Sandra ...

Trial scheduled for Mac woman charged in toddler’s death

Ashley Louise Dixon, 27, of McMinnville is scheduled to stand trial beginning Tuesday, May 5, on charges of second-degree manslaughter and others for allegedly driving under the influence of intoxicants ...

Bridge projects, contracts up for vote Thursday

A replacement bridge project south of Amity is now set to receive $3.8 million in federal funds for the construction phase. The Yamhill County Board of Commissioners will vote Thursday to amend an agreement ...

Along the Street: Century Cafe opens in BoHo Building

The Century Cafe has opened at 824 S.E. First St. in the BoHo Building. A grand opening event is planned Saturday, April 25. Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. In addition to serving coffee and ...

Lafayette council addresses concerns over a letter not read into the record

Community accusations of censorship resulted in a Lafayette City Council discussion about when letters should be read into the record. During a March council meeting, Mayor Hilary Malcomson was prepared ...

Commissioners agree to sponsor loan program

The Yamhill County Board of Commissioners last week reached consensus to oversee a new Oregon revolving loan program intended to spur development of workforce housing; and several local cities are interested ...

 
Duerfeldts honored with Lafayette community award

During an April 16 Wascher Elementary School assembly, the city of Lafayette recognized Tim and Emily Duerfeldt’s dozen years of service running the Friday food bag program at the school by presenting ...

Sports

 
Toliver's Toss: A throw for the ages

Byron Toliver was not one for the spotlight. But on the biggest stage, he had his brightest day. The teenage farmhand was not much of a track and field athlete growing up. Toliver was a hard-nosed center ...

 
Mac Tennis: Grizzlies battle rain in trio of conference victories

Century, Newberg and Liberty were the foes of McMinnville’s varsity tennis teams last week as the programs tiptoed around inclement weather to put a bow on a trio of match days. For boys and girls ...

 
Pirate girls claim team title at PacWest League Meet

Among a slew of Class 3A-6A athletes, a trio of Amity Warriors earned top placements on Saturday, April 18, at the Jon Oliver Invitational and Panther Stadium at Central High School. Seniors Trenton Ruston ...

 
Mac/Newberg Baseball: Tigers take first series over Grizzlies since 2012

The last time the Newberg baseball team beat McMinnville twice in a row, current Tigers head coach Andrew Reichencach was a junior. Newberg secured a 2-1 series victory on Friday, downing Mac 8-3 ...

 
Mac Softball: Carton throws first career complete-game shutout in win over Century

With the offense sputtering, the No. 14-ranked Grizzlies (7-6, 1-0) relied on defensive heroics to provide the spark they needed to pull out their first Pacific Conference win of the season, 4-0 against ...

3A Baseball: Pirates route Warriors

Two days after believing his team had more to prove, the No. 25-ranked Pirates (8-5, 3-3) put on an offensive show to the pleasure of Dayton Head Coach Reed Rainey. Scoring 16 runs in the top of the second ...

3A Softball: YC splits trip east

The No. 7-ranked Yamhill Carlton Tigers (10-3, 4-1) took a trip into the Mountain Time Zone on Saturday, facing off with No. 2 Vale (12-0, 6-0) and No. 28 Nyssa (5-7, 3-3) on each of their home fields. YC’s ...

Mac Golf: Grizzlies reach halfway point

McMinnville’s varsity boys golf team continued to climb past Pacific Conference foes with a total team score of 315 to finish third behind Newberg (302, 2nd) and Sherwood (294, 1st) at Chehalem Glenn ...

 
3A Baseball: Dayton handles Amity, look to improve in hopes of a playoff run

It can be difficult to flip an off-speed pitch into the strike zone when you can’t feel your fingers, so Dayton senior Carter Webster relied on his heater on a cold, rainy Wednesday. “When ...

3A Softball: Bulldogs, Tigers on winning trail

April 13 Yamhill Carlton 6 Stayton 4 The No. 4-ranked Tigers (8-2, 3-1) travelled to the home of Class 4A No. 11 Stayton (4-5) on Monday and never looked back after taking a 2-0 lead before the home ...

Mac Baseball: Grizzlies tag Tigers with first loss of season, split first two of three-game series

April 13 McMinnville 7 Newberg 5 The first of three games between No. 6-ranked McMinnville (7-4, 1-1) and No. 5 Newberg (11-1, 4-1) began as a pitchers’ duel at George Fox University’s Morse ...

 
Mac alumna wins second career CUSA Player of the Week for Liberty

Brynn McManus — a senior at NCAA DI Liberty University and 2022 graduate of McMinnville High School — has had a hot bat for the Flames as of late, earning her second career Conference USA Softball ...

 
Haddeland: Master of the mound

Everything Chris Haddeland does is with pinpoint precision. The 2011 graduate of McMinnville High School was an ace on a staff with two other Grizzly standouts in Zev Egli and 2025 MHS Hall of ...

 
Gallery: Gravel, Pavement and the Beauty of Yamhill County

The Sasquatch Duro is an annual gravel-and-road bicycle race hosted by Mudslinger Events. In its second year in Yamhill County, it takes participants on one of two courses: a 45-mile loop or a 67-mile ...

 
Sights and scenes from the 2026 Vic Downs Invitational

The 2026 iteration of McMinnville’s annual Vic Downs Invitational was minutes away from completion before thunderstorms and heavy rain cleared Wortman Stadium. However, many Yamhill County track ...

 
Mac Softball: Grizzlies tire Lakers with patient at-bats, expert gloves

Not all has been sunshine and rainbows for the No. 14-ranked Grizzlies varsity softball team (6-6), but they did everything right in the first inning of their outing against No. 15 Lake Oswego (9-2) on ...

 
Mac Tennis: Girls ready for next steps following first victory over Sherwood in five years

When McMinnville’s varsity girls tennis team meets at the beginning of each season, there is one goal above the rest that gets reiterated; defeat Sherwood. The last time the Grizzlies (6-1) beat ...

 
Mac Baseball: Grizzlies fall too far behind Lions despite spectacular defensive plays

McMinnville and West Linn have a history that extends far beyond their matinee meeting that occurred Thursday at Patton Middle School. Grizzlies Head Coach Todd Peterson was just a teen with baseball ...

Mac Golf: Findley stays atop conference, boys lower team scores

Meriwether National Golf Club, along the Tualatin River in Hillsboro, was the venue on April 6-7 as the Grizzlies’ golf teams took on Pacific Conference foes. Mac’s boys approached the par-72 ...

Wildcat Roundup: Softball, Baseball lead NWC; golf seeks DIII championship berth

Softball Catball has been at an all-time high, currently holding onto a 20-game win streak with its last loss coming on March 8 at George Fox. Linfield (26-2, 14-2) was ranked third in the most recent ...

Web Design and Web Development by Buildable