For years, controversy has raged over the effectiveness of preschool. Advocates for early childhood education insisted children receiving professional instruction would do better in grade school ...
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Editorials
We owe seniors the care we’d expect in their shoes
Our June 12 edition documented a lengthy history of local, state and national failures in the senior care industry. Unfortunately, as so often proves the case with public policy challenges, it’s ...
Councilors should grant opponents new hearing
McMinnville city councilors on Tuesday will be presented a staff report on the Oak Ridge Meadows Land-Use Applications, which would combine two previously approved, but still unbuilt planned developments ...
Contention, angst fester as old ways merge with new
McMinnville city government is at risk of an increasing disconnection from key elements of its constituency. The recent dustup over the downtown Economic Improvement District was short-lived and ended ...
Arguments based more on fear than facts
New parents — especially those caught off guard by the experience — have countless questions. There should be a program where they can invite nurses to drop by during the first two or three ...
Care centers shouldn’t be scare centers
Understandably, McMinnville care centers oppose reimbursing the city for the cost of business licensing overhead and ambulance responses for unjustified 911 calls. But they should stop scaring voters — ...
Innocence something to be cherished, not scorned
Our May 31 front page was about as grim as it gets. If we’re ever forced to display stories more stomach-turning that the trio detailing criminal allegations pending against Jermaine Streeter, Michael ...
Politics eclipse reason in county’s coalition rejection
Forging alliances with neighboring counties of similar needs, views and politics is one of the most common — and natural — elements of governmental organization. Oregon groupings that follow ...
Sewer surcharge a stinky surprise for Mac residents
The city of McMinnville pulled the budgeting equivalent Tuesday of shoot first, aim later. In the process, it established a new franchise fee for residents that will add more money, not into the ...
Tourism tax could be doing more for Mac
Given the dramatic increase in transient lodging tax funds being collected in McMinnville, it’s time the city reevaluated the almost $1.3 million being split between tourism promotion and the city’s ...
Less than meets the eye in massive K-12 package
In almost apocalyptic terms, Democrats are applauding a measure infusing another $2 billion a biennium into Oregon’s public school system. They term it a milestone, a landmark, a watershed, a development ...
Letters
Letters to the editor: June 21, 2019
School support gratifying The last few months have provided many examples of the commitment of members of our generous community to the success of students attending our schools. Individuals and ...
Letters to the editor: June 14, 2019
Gather up in arms of love Mr. Randy Johnson objects (Readers Forum of May 17) to an analogy I supposedly drew between economic conditions in 18th century London and 21st century McMinnville. The problem ...
Letters to the editor: June 7, 2019
News or opinion? Tom Henderson’s Viewpoints article, “A threat to the free Flow of information,” was lengthy and convoluted. I read the article three times to decipher its intent. If ...
Letters to the editor: May 31, 2019
Don’t demonize the patient The Oregon Health Authority has rescinded a directive to doctors that all patients receiving opioids for chronic pain conditions, such as back and neck pain, be tapered ...
Letters to the editor: May 24, 2019
Rubber stamp for staff? Having just completed my first participation in a contested zoning matter before the McMinnville Planning Commission, I am sharing my observations for those in a similar position ...
Letters to the editor: May 17, 2019
A headache in the making I have mixed feelings about an air show at our municipal airport. Would it bring revenue to our community? Absolutely! Would it be a fun three-day event? Absolutely! However, ...
Letters to the editor: May 10, 2019
A grateful patient Having read a recent letter critical of the Willamette Valley Medical Center, I felt I should write about my own recent experience, which was caring, professional and humane. In February, ...
Letters to the editor: May 3, 2019
Save our wetlands It was frustrating to read about the debate going on over the proposed developments along Baker Creek. I remember opposing all that w-a-a-a-y back, years ago, when it was a Jones development. The ...
Letters to the editor: April 26, 2019
Think Tank offers ideas Concerned as many of us are for our community’s increasing homeless crisis, members of the Yamhill County Democratic Think Tank discussed the issue at our April meeting and ...
Letters to the editor: April 19, 2019
Forsake the barbarism Thanks to the News Register for its April 4 editorial supporting SB 1013, which would limit death penalty cases to acts of terrorism. Thanks also to Rep. Ron Noble for supporting ...
Commentary
Jeb Bladine: McKay Road deaths require speed limits
Decades ago, McMinnville citizens demanded action after 10 deaths in 10 years on the Three Mile Lane Bypass. Who will match that level of outrage after 12 deaths in 12 months on McKay Road? Whatchamacolumn Jeb ...
Jeb Bladine: Creating need for affordable housing
Nobody testified at this week’s public hearing on the city of McMinnville’s 2019-20 budget. Whatchamacolumn Jeb Bladine is president and publisher of the News-Register. > See his ...
Jeb Bladine: Plenty of questions about homeless law
The homelessness roller-coaster wild ride continues. McMinnville’s forbearance of homeless camping hit the wall with passage of Ordinance No. 5064. Beginning June 27, it is a crime to camp on public ...
Jeb Bladine: Too many topics to choose just one
Occasionally, exploring ideas for this column ideas reveals too many options to choose just one. Thus, this week’s surplus of topics. McMinnville isn’t alone in its meandering mission to treat ...
Jeb Bladine: Sneaky try to slow tax bill referendum
Oregonians revere — and will defend — their rights to access an initiative and referendum process that dates back to 1902. Consider these excerpts from 200-plus submissions of testimony on ...
Jeb Bladine: Viewpoints-style 'Vintage Photos'
Past McMinnville Chamber Chair Stevie Whited is an upbeat, optimistic person. Still, her recent letter to community leaders showed there are limits to her tolerance for unwanted change. Here are ...
Jeb Bladine: Civility set aside in state’s political war
A Viewpoints editorial today urges the “return to moderation and civility” in political discourse. So, what about the caustic message last week from state Sen. Brian Boquist to Oregon Business ...
Jeb Bladine: Sales tax on move; carbon cap next up
Battle lines are drawn in Salem, but legislative Republicans still are brandishing knives in a gunfight. Democrats number 38 of 60 representatives and 18 of 30 senators. Both totals meet the 60 percent ...
Jeb Bladine: Lawmakers engage in state money-grab
Oregon lawmakers have successfully diverted $108 million from the “kicker” that otherwise would have been returned to Oregon taxpayers as per the state constitution. But don’t even try ...
Jeb Bladine: A clash of ideas on immunization
You can understand much about the current immunization debate from just two words on each side of the controversy: Proponents of change refer to “required immunizations”; opponents call it ...
Mike Colvin: Development threatens Baker Creek wetlands
Growth inevitably triggers impacts that ripple through the community. Executed unwisely, it can significantly reduce the quality of life in older, established neighborhoods and inflict damage ...
Jeb Bladine: Migration issues mix macro, micro
Most controversies produce macro and micro views of the issues. Consider the humanitarian crisis evolving on our southern border with Mexico, where “the past two months have seen a huge ...
A gram of prevention avoids a kilo of cure
By SEAMUS McCARTHY Of the Yamhill Community Care Organization The National Association for the Education of Young Children has proclaimed this the Week of the Young Child, aimed at spotlighting not only ...
Jeb Bladine: Who actually wins 'most sexist' title?
Biden, Basketball and Benevolent Sexism: I don’t know if I can cover all that in 400 words, but here it goes. Joe Biden drew heavy fire this week for his alleged past invasions of women’s ...
Hospital strives to meet changing needs
In healthcare, each day is filled with new discoveries and possibilities, a spirit we embrace at Willamette Valley Medical Center, despite the inevitable challenges. We are inspired each day to ...
Let good times roll, but beware the black swan
In the field of economics, a black swan is an unanticipated force that can disrupt a seemingly tranquil market. The theory arose from the dot-com bubble that burst between 2000 and 2003 and the ...
Jeb Bladine: The wrong kind of destination resort
We hear a growing background buzz about the considerable expansion of small and large homeless encampments in McMinnville. That murmur will grow after today’s News-Register story explaining why the ...
Veteran trail riders make their case
By JOHN & KAREN VANDERWALL My wife and I recently relocated to McMinnville from Wisconsin. In our short time here, we have been most impressed by the friendliness of the residents who have welcomed ...
Advocates don't get the story straight
By CORY VANDYKE Last week, the News Register published an editorial headlined, “Don’t let fringe elements derail local trail project.” The content was a reminder of how the power elite, ...
