Television announcer: “We interrupt this pandemic to bring you an election.” As if 2020 were not already loaded with drama, we now have a major national election underway. Ken ...
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Editorials
Broader civic involvement should be a universal goal
In a front page story in today’s edition, reporter Dora Totoian asks: How well do city managers, councils and mayors in Yamhill County reflect the ethnic and demographic makeup of the communities ...
Menke, Garvin, Chenoweth our choices for city council
For at least the last quarter century, McMinnville’s mayor and council candidates have generally faced little if any serious opposition. That began to change two years ago with the hard-fought, high-dollar ...
Treasurer pick goes to Bledsoe
American actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein once said, “Just because you thought something yesterday doesn’t mean you have to think it today. Don’t ever become a prisoner of your own ...
Hill the best option for Mac during critical time
Scott Hill has amassed a rich résumé of public service in McMinnville. During a 37-year career as a KeyBank executive, he found time to serve 20 years on the city budget committee, 12 years ...
Public not ready to lift penalty for possession of narcotics
Thanks to William Simon U’Ren, dubbed “Referendum U’Ren” for his devotion to the cause, Oregon pioneered the initiative and referendum process nationally in 1902. The vehicle was ...
Hansen and Noble earn the local legislative nods
The most successful Oregon political leaders of the late 20th and early 21st century have often been marked by a streak of stubborn independence, a vein of occasionally contrarian views, or personal traits ...
Vote Biden, Merkley, Bonamici
Let’s get something straight at the outset. Our endorsement for president of the United States goes to Joe Biden of Delaware, who has prepared himself for the highest office in the land with 36 years ...
Thatcher, Rosenblum, Read get the nod for state offices
A political race with the most on the line this year in Oregon doesn’t feature Joe Biden, Jeff Merkley or Suzanne Bonamici. It is between Kim Thatcher and Shemia Fagan, who are vying to replace the ...
Yes, we feel your pain; but it was preordained
Who says history doesn’t repeat itself? On March 10, the McMinnville City Council approved the 280-unit Baker Creek North subdivision despite plenty of opposition. As the second phase in a large ...
Employee concerns deserve a full and fair consideration
The COVID-19 pandemic has crushed major sectors of the economy around the globe. The impact has proven particularly devastating in the U.S., as we have appeared unable, among the entire community of nations, ...
Letters
Letters to the editor: Oct. 23, 2020
Effective contributor Tynan Pierce has filed to run against Adam Garvin for a Ward 3 seat on the city council. Mr. Pierce cites frustration with how the city is operating and barriers to community participation ...
Letters to the Editor: Oct. 16, 2020
The invisible man Votes are precious. Choose wisely. We elect legislators to debate blls with colleagues on all sides, then vote on the record, regardless of the chances of prevailing. Sen. Brian Boquist ...
Letters to the editor: Oct. 9, 2020
No hidden agendas I’m endorsing the re-election of Mayor Scott Hill. I’ve known Mayor Hill for more than 35 years now, and have always been impressed by his dedication to the city of McMinnville ...
Letters to the Editor: Oct. 2, 2020
National crisis point Our president has declined to assure us he would accept the results of the Nov. 3 election. It’s the first time in more than 200 years of democracy. His words were, “We’re ...
Letters to the editor: Sept. 25, 2020
Stranded in Mac I’m visually impaired, so I don’t drive. On Sept. 11, I took the bus to McMinnville. After finishing my business, I waited at the stop for the return bus to Carlton, but it ...
Letters to the editor: Sept. 18, 2020
Grateful evacuees As evacuees from the Echo Mountain Complex Fire in Otis, we would like to thank McMinnville Motel 6 Manager Brooke and her kind staff for accommodating us. They went out of their way ...
Letters to the editor: Sept. 11, 2020
Postal slowdown Lately in the new, there has been much about the federal government changing the operation of the U.S. Postal Service. If one of the goals is to slow down mail service, there ...
Letters to the editor: Sept. 4, 2020
Time to move on I was really upset by statistics Tom Henderson listed in his Viewpoints article about the Willamina protest, appearing in the Aug. 21 issue. Vanport was one of many communities built ...
Letters to the editor: Aug. 28, 2020
Keep the trees I am eight. I have lived in McMinnville my whole life. I was upset and angry when I saw the trees on Baker Creek torn down. Those trees have their own lives. Please find ways to keep our ...
Letters to the editor: Aug. 21, 2020
We must stand united I wear a mask and avoid crowds out of respect and concern for the well-being of others. I do so not to protect myself, but to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus from me to others, ...
Commentary
Jeb Bladine: The right mayor at the right time
This is not the first time competing political interests have sought control of McMinnville City Council. Whatchamacolumn Jeb Bladine is president and publisher of the News-Register. > See ...
Dollinger: Ballots safe and secure, even in troubled times
Television announcer: “We interrupt this pandemic to bring you an election.” As if 2020 were not already loaded with drama, we now have a major national election underway. Ken ...
Jeb Bladine: Social media the target of diverse warnings
It seems there’s a split decision about social media: Those digital apps are amazing communications tools … or, an addiction that insulates and isolates many people. Social media ...
Bone: Teleconferencing restoring medicine's house call roots
By MICHAEL BONE For the News-Register For many of us, the images of doctors making house calls are relegated to nostalgic black and white movies in which the doctor arrives at the patient’s ...
Jeb Bladine: PPP loans may be a bait-and-switch
Millions of businesses across America are beginning to recognize what may be the largest financial bait-and-switch scheme in history. You know it as PPP — the “Paycheck Protection Program,” ...
Marshall: Addiction cries for treatment, not punishment
By S. AMANDA MARSHALL For the News-Register As a 16-year resident of Yamhill County, I was disappointed to see my hometown newspaper editorialize against Measure 110. Oregon’s current approach ...
Jeb Bladine: Politics produce signs of the times
Researching rules on political campaign signs reveals an interesting dichotomy: Whatchamacolumn Jeb Bladine is president and publisher of the News-Register. > See his column Citizens ...
Olson: Is time right for county to embrace home rule?
What is home rule? Should Yamhill County consider a move in that direction? Under home rule, local government retains all powers of self-governance except those specifically pre-empted under state or ...
Stone: Making a difference, one turtle at a time
Around this time last year, I was sitting at my desk at Oregon Public Broadcasting, where I worked as a production assistant for the radio talk show Think Out Loud. A colleague asked if anyone would be ...
Meador: Walking in a child’s shoes
Consider what you don't have to worry about before you reject white privilege A lifelong friend called to ask the saddest question I have ever been asked. Guest Writer Guest writer ...
Jeb Bladine: Rumbling trucks and council campaigns
Newspapers consistently provide invitations to learn about and become involved in public affairs. This week, two of those invitations deserve extra attention. One involves regulatory overreach in the ...
Bladine: Campaigns citing political ideologies
Street signs are going up; candidate forums are underway; and voters are beginning to recognize that their 2020 city and county elections are different from any in memory. Consider this salvo posted online ...
Stubblefield: Prioritize caring for vulnerable
It is said that a society can be judged by how it cares for its most vulnerable. Guest Writer Fee Stubblefield is the founder of The Springs Living, a senior living company ...
Kaplan and Colins: Is capital punishment still worth rising cost?
By ALIZA KAPLANOf Lewis & Clark Collegeand PETER COLLINSOf Seattle University Recently, several states, including Nevada, have introduced bills that cite legal costs as one of the reasons ...
Kulla: Shared values may be key to bridging our differences
“Nobody gets left behind.” It’s an easy statement to make and an important aspiration to support. But what does it look like? In Oregon, we’re divided one from another. We’re ...
Bladine: A different year for honors and awards
People love awards. We like to give them, receive them, read and talk about them. We memorialize them in photos, videos, scrapbooks and wall plaques. In fact, for all the comment we receive about coverage ...
Kermis: Is Oregon prepared to pioneer new approach to drug abuse?
In November, Oregon voters will have the opportunity to vote on Measure 110, the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act. And action couldn’t come too soon. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated ...
Expect big undercount in truncated 2020 census
By AGNES YELLOW HORSE, Professor of Asian Pacific American Studies at Arizona State University Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Census Bureau is having a harder time counting all Americans. And its ...
Bladine: It shouldn't matter who's the president
Taking a four-week hiatus from this column — my first in 46 years — was easier than anticipated. After initial withdrawal symptoms, I learned life will be just fine when time comes to break ...
