Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Gonzalo Martinez of the San Francisco area, who founded the Helicopter Scale Masters fly-in, looks over his rare Russian Kamov Ka-52 combat model. This is the first time the fly-in has been held outside Davis, California; it will return to McMinnville again in 2026, and an additional McMinnville Aircraft Modelers event will be held at the airfield on Masonville Road in October.

Tiny, but fit to fly: Radio-controlled helicopter enthusiasts gather in Mac

 

The whirl of helicopter blades fills the air as several choppers head toward people lining a runway southwest of McMinnville. From a distance, the helicopters appear tiny, but as they approach … ...


Commentary

 
Brad Lunt: Kent Taylor was one of the good ones

I went to get a new phone a couple of months ago and endured a conversion process that keeps getting harder the older I get.

 

 
Rob Davis: Spread of misinformation torched wildfire risk map

About the writer: A native of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Rob Davis cut his journalistic teeth in Virginia. He’s spent more than a decade now working as an investigative reporter in Oregon. Before ...

Investigating the Bible: Age is not a barrier

Economist and prolific author Thomas Sowell is ninety-five, so he is qualified for opinions about old age: “Some people age like fine wine and others just turn into vinegar.” An elderly champion of the Bible demonstrated how to keep living productively.

 

Jeb Bladine: City manager transparent on costs for bonds

Interim McMinnville City Manager Adam Garvin this week provided some welcome candor about taxpayer costs being estimated for McMinnville’s proposed $98.5 million recreation bond measure on the November ...

 
Quirk of the Week: Collection of county curiosities

Pasture boat, bear on a log, quizzical owl are stops on an imaginative route We start another around-the-county Quirk tour back where we left off last week, in Dayton. At the city’s dormant Palmer ...

Editorials

 
Nothing's what it seems with edicts descending from D.C.

Sometimes it seems as though we’ve tumbled down Alice’s Wonderland rabbit hole and joined her at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, where nothing is as it seems. At least it has in the eight ...

 
Private and public failings leave toxic stench in Sheridan

Late last month, one of North America’s largest treated-wood producers pleaded guilty in Yamhill County Circuit Court to 10 misdemeanor counts of unlawful water pollution, based on a legacy of toxic ...

 
Fire district can't allow revenue to go untapped

“Declining Medicare reimbursement from the federal government, combined with an increasing Medicare patient load, have driven up the cost of providing ambulance service in the last few years. “The ...

 
Bond issue never easy sell, but good case can be made

The city’s community center has passed the century mark and its aquatic center is about to turn 70. The ravages of time have left both in a state where a serviceable makeover would run nearly as ...

 
Steering a school of tradition through a time of transition

Traditions and timeless features are hallmarks of Linfield University. Pioneer Hall, Streak Street, the Paul Durham statue, the Murdock Hall sundial, the acorn ceremony, to name a few. But this is a ...

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: Sept. 12, 2025

Oregon, not Ohio Thank you for highlighting in your Sept. 3 edition the quirk found in Dayton. When one sees these things every day, they can be taken for granted. Regarding the sign: When you Google ...

 
Letters to the Editor: Sept. 5, 2025

Lost trust The subject of mail-in ballots has been in our news lately, and not surprisingly, our left-wing Democrats don’t want the practice to stop in Oregon. As a Republican, I have to admit ...

 
Letters to the Editor: Aug. 29, 2025

Open letter Dear Chief Godfrey: Having served as an elected board member and vice president with the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District, I understand your financial issues with providing under-reimbursed ...

 
Letters to the Editor: Aug. 22, 2025

A cheaper way There is a significant shortfall in funding the transportation and water/sewer infrastructure projects that have been delineated by the city of Carlton, even at the most basic level. Some ...

News & Features

Ahead of vote, local mayors call for ODOT accountability

While passage of a proposed statewide transportation bill would direct funding to cities and counties, Yamhill County mayors question if it’s worth it and would rather see more accountability from ...

Over half of Mac renters struggling with prices

McMinnville’s economic council reviewed annual housing statistics at its meeting last week and the numbers paint a bleak picture for the city’s growth goals and residents trying to keep pace ...

 
Starr named Senate Minority Leader following Bonham's resignation

Oregon Senate Republicans chose one of their most experienced members to lead the caucus on Monday after outgoing Minority Leader Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, stepped down and announced plans to resign from the Senate.

 

 
County properties come with historic strings attached

Interested parties will soon have the option to purchase an entire downtown McMinnville city block for $5.5 million; however, the historic nature of some of the existing buildings could limit the scope ...

Planners to review McMinnville Landing design updates

McMinnville’s Planning Commission will review an update on the planned nearly 200-acre industrial and commercial center off Highway 18 Thursday and discuss design and development standards for the ...

 
At Aveline, tradition with a twist

After running a successful restaurant in the Reno area for 14 years, chef Nicholle Alumbaugh went looking for a new place to prepare her sweet and savory meals and baked goods. After 18 months of searching ...

Along the Street: County Public Health wants businesses to become ‘Safe Zones’

Yamhill County Public Health is seeking to expand participation in its Mental Health Safe Zone program, which provides local businesses and organizations with the opportunity to support and participate ...

 
Tendril opens new tasting room

Tendril Wine Cellars, which produces the Tendril and Child’s Play labels, has opened a new wine tasting room adjacent to its winemaking facility in Carlton. Tony Rynders and his wife, Diane Simpson, ...

Recreation bond PAC to hold town hall

The community group supporting a $98.5 million bond measure to build a new rec center and update city facilities will hold a town hall forum on the measure at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9. The Community, Parks, ...

 
Southwest Area planning kicks off with workshop

McMinnville residents took a first crack at laying out the 640-acre Southwest Area on Saturday during a community design workshop hosted by the city. The Southwest Area is the second tract of land planned ...

 
Kiwanians reboot auction to raise funds for shoe program

The McMinnville Kiwanis Club used to call its largest annual fundraiser the “Bids for Kids” auction. For nearly 40 years, the event raised money for scholarships, library books, park projects ...

 
Tiny, but fit to fly: Radio-controlled helicopter enthusiasts gather in Mac

The whirl of helicopter blades fills the air as several choppers head toward people lining a runway southwest of McMinnville. From a distance, the helicopters appear tiny, but as they approach … ...

Man dies at river after apparent medical event

About 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13, a Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office deputy and a Marine Safety Officer recovered a body on the Willamette River in the vicinity of Willamette Mission Park, just ...

Court Records: Sept. 16, 2025

CIVIL FILINGS Synchrony Bank vs. Minnie Nelson: Granted $5,094.42 judgment. Crown Asset Management, LLC vs. Devyn Haggith: Granted $4,210.89 judgment. TD Bank USA, N.A. vs. Sarah M. Hoey: Granted $7,522.74 ...

 
A sobering message: Sheriff hopes public health campaign makes difference

Yamhill County residents have been seeing a lot of Sheriff Sam Elliott lately. He’s the face of a new Yamhill County Health and Human Services awareness campaign intended to curb driving under the ...

Haworth Inc. wins bid for Amity waterline contract

Amity City Council had a packed agenda during its Wednesday, Sept. 3, meeting during which they issued contracts for waterline improvements, the historic preservation plan and a tourism project, “On ...

County continues search for dog control solution

Yamhill County is in a Catch-22 situation with its dog control program. It needs to increase paltry license fee revenue collection, but to do so requires additional enforcement officers, which would be ...

 
Stopping By: Personality of the garden

McMinnville photographer’s book captures unique spaces

Muni court sees success with specialty programs

McMinnville Municipal Court has seen improvements to staffing and inmate access and introduced specialty courts in the last year, but staff needs more time for trials than the current four days per year, ...

School board position open as Towery announces resignation

The McMinnville School Board is accepting applications for a new member that will open following the resignation of Doris Towery on Sept. 30. Towery, who was elected in 2023, announced Monday night she ...

Sports

 
Gallery: Volleyball facetime

Whenever Dayton and Amity High Schools meet it is an intense battle, regardless of the score. On Wednesday, Sept. 10, the two volleyball teams met as a part of a three-way series that also included Blanchet ...

 
3A/2A football: Tough Tigers tenacious in loss to Santiam Christian; Dayton's defense 'dialed in' versus Warrenton

Toughness comes in many shapes and sizes, but one needs to look no further than the Yamhill Carlton varsity football sideline to find players who bring the definition to life. The 3A No. 37-ranked Tigers ...

 
Grizzlies go on scoring frenzy, Tessa Ravia records a haul in 9-1 saddling of Milwaukie Mustangs

A scoring clinic occurred at Wortman Stadium last Thursday night as the 6A No. 14-ranked McMinnville girls varsity soccer team (2-0-1) defeated 5A Northwest Oregon Conference Milwaukie/Milwaukie Academy ...

Diego Fabela secures first clean sheet of season in 3-0 victory over Mountainside

After falling to 6A No. 1 Lakeridge on Tuesday, Sept. 9, the Grizzlies’ boys soccer team notched their first win of the season, overpowering No. 41 Mountainside (1-3) on the road by a score of 3-0. Senior ...

Mac drops road bout to Sandy, 58-6

The McMinnville varsity football team (0-2) battled through another lopsided loss on Friday, 58-6 on the road to No. 19 Sandy (2-1), but did finish with something to build from — their first touchdown ...

 
Mac boys win league meet; girls grow stronger with young runners

Pure dedication and hard work separate the McMinnville girls and boys cross country teams from their competition in the eyes of head coach Matt Dressel. The teams began their season last Friday, Sept. ...

 
3A volleyball: Pirates, Warriors learning from experience in early season meeting

A long evening of volleyball on Wednesday night ended in quick fashion. The No. 5-ranked Dayton Pirates (5-1) varsity squad played host to PacWest league opponents No. 15 Blanchet Catholic (7-3) and No. ...

 
Grizzlies jolt to life in reverse sweep of Glencoe

Down 2-0, some teams would buckle to the pressure, but the Grizzlies were more composed than most on Tuesday. After securing their first win of the season against Beaverton at home on Thursday, Sept. ...

Mac Soccer: Girls draw; boys fall to Lakeridge

The No. 14-ranked McMinnville girl’s soccer team (2-0-1) played to a 2-2 draw with No. 44 Southridge (0-2-1) on the road on Tuesday. Both Grizzly goals came in the second half as they kept pace ...

Wildcat Roundup: Women's soccer victorious in first home stand; volleyball splits opener

The Wildcats’ women’s soccer team (2-0-2) completed their first home stand and final games of non-conference play in impressive form, defeating Warner Pacific University, 5-2, and the University ...

 
3A/2A volleyball: Amity unable to mount comeback against Taft in new gym christening

The smell of fresh hardwood resonated around the confines of Amity’s new high school gymnasium on Friday. For the Warriors varsity volleyball team and community members in the bleachers, it was difficult ...

 
Young 'Cats drop opener; start 0-1 for first time since 2018

Head coach Joe Smith anticipated a challenge in the Wildcats’ first game of the season. The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh entered the year ranked just outside of the top 25 by D3football.com and ...

 
3A football: Bulldogs too much for Spartans in rivalry match

Sheridan High School and the grandstands at Bill Chrisman Memorial Field were filled with West Valley citizens on Friday as Sheridan and Willamina faced off in week one of the varsity football season. A ...

Mac Soccer: Boys draw; girls secure 'composed' victory in first games

Sophomore forward Izaiah Gavidia scored the Grizzlies’ lone goal Thursday, Sept. 4, as the McMinnville boys soccer team played to a 1-1 draw at South Salem. Gavidia scored when sophomore ...

Mac football unable to find momentum in shutout loss at Westview

After Westview scored an early touchdown Friday night, the McMinnville Grizzlies’ defense was able to keep the Wildcats out the endzone for most of the first half. However, head coach Ty Tomlin said, ...

3A/2A soccer: Pirates undefeated in first three matches

Following the success of an 11-3-3 season in 2024 and a trip to the 3A boys’ soccer quarterfinals, the Dayton Pirates varsity squad has impressed, going 3-0 in their first three matches. “It ...

Grizzlies drop non-league match to reigning champion Jesuit

The McMinnville varsity volleyball team (0-1) faced a tough task to open the season as they faced the reigning 6A champion Jesuit. The Grizzlies lost in three consecutive sets: 25-10, 25-5, 25-7. Jesuit ...

 
Gallery: Jam Sessions

McMinnville's boys and girls varsity soccer teams stretched their legs on Thursday, Aug. 28 at Wortman Stadium as each squad participated in a trio of jamboree matches.

 
3A/2A volleyball: Pirates topple Jefferson in league play

Jubilant cheers from the Dayton Pirates varsity volleyball team echoed out from the Dayton High School gymnasium on Tuesday. After losing their first match to non-league opponent Valley Catholic in straight ...

 
'Cats making adjustments ahead of week one rematch agasint UW-Oshkosh

There is reason to be excited about the Wildcats this season, but head coach Joseph Smith admits there is immense room for growth after seeing a few dozen players graduate in the spring. “The talent ...

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