North Valley chorus builds connection to music and one another

During the three months since they started rehearsing, members of the new North Valley Community Chorus have learned to harmonize as they sing classic choir pieces — and a few novelty songs. John ...

Commentary

This week’s column is built around information from artificial intelligence (AI) — intertwined (hopefully) with splashes of human intelligence (“HI”). In today’s unprecedented ...

For generations, foreign policy eggheads debated the question, “Who lost China?” I’m wondering if election analysts might soon ask, “Who lost the Latinos?”

Approaching his first anniversary in office, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, who ran most prominently on grappling seriously with the city’s homelessness, just made a major course shift. It may — and should — indicate more to come.

Analysis of why countries go to war sometimes argues that leaders are motivated by problems at home. They attack another country to divert attention from an economic crisis, an unlawful act, or, as in the Robert De Niro movie Wag the Dog, a sex scandal.

Fred Lockley interviewed a pioneer woman named Valeda Smith Ohmart in 1934. She remembered a story about Tabitha Brown, the founder of Oregon’s Pacific University. Mrs. Brown was a devout and s

Editorials

At this writing, a final, official reckoning is still not yet available for the $98.5 million parks and rec bond appearing on McMinnville’s November general election ballot. The most recent tally ...

At this writing, we finally appear poised to close the books on the longest federal shutdown in American history, exceeding that even of the 35-day closure marking the first Trump presidency. But in addition ...

A political storm brought thunder and lightning raining down on America’s east and west coasts Tuesday, and vast swaths of the heartland lying between. Almost everywhere, the results were delivered ...

So much of what local government entities do for their constituents is so mundane and routine it seldom gets any attention until things go wrong. Then a hue and cry arises. Everyone wonders why someone ...

In the face of troubling social issues, our first instinct has traditionally been to simply keep them out of the public eye, thus avoiding the messy necessity of addressing them. When that fails, our fallback ...

Letters

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 ...

Yes on Yamhelas Trail I am now a senior rider, after decades of being a cyclist for both recreation and transportation at different periods in my life. And I feel much safer on a trail away from the increasingly ...

It’s on us I want to thank each and every one of you for participating in marches against the man in the White House. With the help of the Supreme Court, he created a hopeless atmosphere of despair ...

No sense of mercy? I volunteer at the Soup Kitchen at St. Barnabas, and on the Tuesday evening of Oct. 28, we served 80 plates in the first 30 minutes. Are we people choosing to have a country without ...

Long tradition Citizens of McMinnville helped pay for public facilities long before I moved here in 1978. In fact, since McMinnville’s naming in 1856 and platting in 1876, its residents have most ...

News & Features

Over a third of students aren’t consistently attending school

Attendance at Oregon public schools improved only slightly during the 2024–25 school year, and continued to lag behind the national average.

Free wood for Willamina residents

The city of Willamina has freshly cut timber free to the public on a first-come-first-served basis. Willamina Public Works often must fell trees on city property, and the city has made a practice ...

Landmarks board continues review of demolition rules

McMinnville’s Historic Landmarks Committee discussed proposed amendments to demolition rules for historic structures for the eighth time last week and will hold another meeting in December to finalize ...

Dayton hearing on fees Dec. 1

Dayton residents will have an opportunity to comment on approximately $28 per month in new fees at a public hearing Dec. 1. City Council will hold hearings Monday on the creation of a $12.50 public safety ...

Mac Fire District to use $3M on Hwy. 18 station

The McMinnville Fire District plans to use $3 million in state funding for upgrades to its Station 15 on Highway 18, rather than building a new station in the northern part of the district. The district ...

heridan schools awarded $500k school safety grant

The Sheridan School District is set to receive a $500,000 grant through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and School Violence Prevention Program. The ...

One of two armed robbery defendants takes plea deal

One of two defendants in an armed robbery case set for trial next week pleaded guilty last week. Dennis Daniel Russell Jr., 37, of Dundee, pleaded guilty Friday to one count each of second-degree robbery ...

A Family Place dedicates new playground

Adults of various ages climbed onto the boulders, walked across a series of tree-trunk stepping stones and even slipped down the slide at A Family Place’s new playground at the relief nursery’s ...

Along the Street: Holiday events need volunteers

Several holiday events still need volunteers to help, two of them this week. -- Volunteers are still needed to help with McMinnville’s annual Santa parade, which will be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday, ...

Mac man remains in custody on sexual abuse charges

McMinnville man Rory Dean Oliver Jr., 33, has been indicted on charges of incest and sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12. An Oct. 29 grand jury indictment includes first degree sodomy, two counts ...

Leaving a legacy, Hamilton retires from city of Sheridan

Understanding the importance of institutional knowledge, outgoing Sheridan city recorder and assistant manager Yvonne Hamilton said she will remain available for questions from city staff, just like her ...

Sentencing hearing set in Hotel Oregon theft case

A plea and sentencing hearing has been scheduled for a former McMenamins Hotel Oregon worker who allegedly made $6,000 in electronic payments from the company system to himself. According to a probable ...

ICE arrests Mac High senior; protests follow

McMinnville High School students organized a walk-out and protest in response to one of their own being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday, Nov. 21.

Vintage N-R/Memory Lane: Nov. 21, 2025

10 years ago -- The thought of sledding across the tundra of northern Sweden and Norway makes Nadine Lew Basile shiver with delight. The Carlton-area resident is one of a handful of Americans vying to ...

Landscapers boycotting Recology over new fee

A new Recology fee for yard waste has local landscape companies looking at alternative dump sites to avoid hundreds in additional weekly costs. On Oct. 1, Recology Organics implemented a $16 per yard ...

Show at fairgrounds focuses on metal art gifts

Metal art gifts, from small items to larger sculptures, will be for sale at the fourth-annual Metal Arts Gift Show on Saturday, Nov. 22. The show will last from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Yamhill County ...

Amity man captured by K-9, multiple cases referred to DA

Keith Edwin Becker, 36, of Amity faces additional charges of assault and unlawful use of a weapon. Becker had been a fugitive from the law since he failed to appear for sentencing on Oct. 23. At 8:15 ...

North Valley chorus builds connection to music and one another

Head of nonprofit school finds flaws in how Oregon students are taught to read

The Oregon Journalism Project What Went Wrong? Oregonians believe in public education. And we put our money where our values are. K-12 schools claim the largest share of Oregon’s general fund, ...

Lafayette sign over joint water system to Dayton

Lafayette councilors transferred the city’s rights to a joint water system to Dayton at its Nov. 13 meeting. The joint water system was a secondary source for Lafayette. They city’s primary ...

Sports

Team of destiny: Warriors praise Amity fandom after winning second championship of 2025

Not since the years 1999 and 2000 have two Amity High School athletic programs won state championships in the same calendar year. In the realm of varsity sports, the feat is not uncommon, but never unadmirable. When ...

Mac Soccer: Grizzlies combine for 19 All-League honors, Adam Howard and Isai Cuevas-George repeat with respective Coach and Player of the Year honors

Wortman Stadium was raucous this season for Grizzly soccer. Both of McMinnville’s varsity squads made the playoffs and impressed on the pitch, catching the attention of opposing players and coaches ...

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