No bets, Bernie, on Clinton-Trump
vote
10/28/2016 Whatchamacolumn by Jeb Bladine, president and publisher of the News-Register.
I missed
Sunday’s party, when McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity celebrated the
organization’s new Aspire subdivision and 25 years of contributions to Habitat
by co-founder Bernie Turner.
News about the
event prompted a few “episodic memories” about Bernie. That kind of thing seems
to happen to me more often in recent years — you know, when you can’t remember
what you had for breakfast yesterday while accessing detailed recollections of experiences
decades ago.
We supposedly
have infinite storage capacity for long-term memory, which can be procedural
(how to do things), declarative (facts and knowledge) or episodic (events and
personal experiences). Here are just a few of my episodic memories involving
Bernie Turner:
During a time
about 40 years ago, I fell into a regular series of handball games at Linfield
College with Bernie, Ad Rutschman and the late Ted Wilson. And yes, as I
recall, the presumably mild-mannered Baptist pastor was a terror on the
handball court.
Skip forward
about 15 years to Bernie’s fair-handed organization of a volatile community
meeting related to the local school strike. He wasn’t exactly a fan of our
editorial position at the time, but I remember him recognizing that some of the
local rancor toward our newspaper coverage was misdirected.
Then there was
the time Bernie and I made a friendly bet on a certain high-passioned
presidential election. The loser, we decided, would donate $100 to the winner’s
favorite charity. Someone, who shall remain nameless, formally accused me of
illegal betting on elections, leading to an investigation by the state
Elections Division.
Bernie, as I
recall, considered it all somewhat amusing that his old handball partner
temporarily was twisting in the wind, but I still refused to divulge his
identity to state officials.
So what, you
might ask, does any of this have to do with Habitat for Humanity creating
Turner Way as the roadway alongside its latest affordable housing project?
Well, nothing, I suppose — except, perhaps, that many people in the community
have cherished episodic memories that involve Bernie Turner, and I suspect more
than a few of those memories were recalled after this week’s story.
As luck would
have it, next week Bernie and I will join a small breakfast meeting that has
nothing to do with handball or Habitat. I won’t be surprised, however, if talk
turns to yet another high-passioned presidential election — but no betting this
time
………….
Habitat honors founder with new
street
By Nicole Montesano N-R/News Register 10/24/2016
McMinnville
Area Habitat for Humanity held a street dedication Sunday for the Aspire
subdivision in development in southeast McMinnville.
The purpose was
two-fold — to honor founder Bernie Turner and celebrate its 25-year history.
The new road
has been dubbed Turner Way. Because rain prevented crews from getting it paved
in time, the celebration was held on the American Legion Hall’s covered patio.
Executive
Director Mary Stern said about 100 people turned out, including some of the
homeowners in the new subdivision.
Former Habitat
Executive Director Marianne Milles told them she had known Turner and his
family for 46 years — ever since he came to McMinnville as senior minister at
First Baptist in 1970, she said.
McMinnville
Area Habitat for Humanity became an affiliate of its international parent
organization in 1991, and Turner played a key role in that, Mills said.
She also praised
community volunteers and businesses for dedicating thousands of hours of labor
and tens of thousands of dollars worth of materials. And she shared a quip from
Washington Roofing owner Harold Washington, who said he “got involved in
Habitat by choice — Turner’s choice.”
He said Turner
was very emphatic about the need for a roof for one of the chapter’s early
houses, and he’s been involved ever since.
The Aspire
project, which has been underway for several years, started out as a
controversial one. Neighbors vehemently objected to the organization’s plans,
and appealed local approval on to the state Land Use Board of Appeals.
Habitat for
Humanity won in court. And it eventually won over the neighbors by re-designing
some of the aspects they found most objectionable.
The changes
included making one of the sections smaller, in exchange for adding a third set
of homes, and enlarging a community park, to replace some lost open space.
Stern said five
homes have been completed so far, and three more are under construction.
She said having
a single large piece of property, expected to last for several years, greatly
simplifies the homebuilding process. It also makes that process a lot more
affordable, she said.
...........
Letter to editor, 11/4/2016 McMinnville N-R/News-Register
Last week I received a lot of ink in the News-Register. First, with a story about the Aspire project. It’s been a privilege to be involved with Habitat for Humanity and its work in the community. I am grateful for the recognition I have received. Then Jeb Bladine reminisced about the many ways we have been associated over the years in McMinnville. I enjoyed his reflections; thanks, Jeb.
Today I have in mind the ink Ken Moore has received. Ken is a good friend whom I respect. It has been troubling to me that his campaign has come under fire for the ads used by the Democratic Party of Oregon. I have not talked with Ken about these ads, but I believe he is a man of integrity who would not initiate these ads himself.
Why the DPO decided to inject this kind of politics in his campaign, I do not know. There is speculation about their efforts, which I’m sure puts Ken in a difficult position to comment. Our district has been served by Republicans for many years — Marilyn Dell was the last Democrat representative. Ken’s opponent, Ron Noble, is a good man and I do not believe the negative implications with which he has been charged, but I am sticking with Ken.
For two years, Ken Moore has worked hard to be informed about the desires of the electorate. He has talked with people. I believe he is prepared to serve us well. I was disappointed with the harsh position taken by the News-Register in last week’s editorial. Ken is a consensus builder and he will work with both sides of the aisle to represent the people of this district. I am voting for Ken and I hope you will join me in supporting his efforts.
Bernie Turner
McMinnville
...........
Letter to editor, 11/4/2016 McMinnville N-R/News-Register
He’s a consensus builder
Last week I received a lot of ink in the News-Register. First, with a story about the Aspire project. It’s been a privilege to be involved with Habitat for Humanity and its work in the community. I am grateful for the recognition I have received. Then Jeb Bladine reminisced about the many ways we have been associated over the years in McMinnville. I enjoyed his reflections; thanks, Jeb.
Today I have in mind the ink Ken Moore has received. Ken is a good friend whom I respect. It has been troubling to me that his campaign has come under fire for the ads used by the Democratic Party of Oregon. I have not talked with Ken about these ads, but I believe he is a man of integrity who would not initiate these ads himself.
Why the DPO decided to inject this kind of politics in his campaign, I do not know. There is speculation about their efforts, which I’m sure puts Ken in a difficult position to comment. Our district has been served by Republicans for many years — Marilyn Dell was the last Democrat representative. Ken’s opponent, Ron Noble, is a good man and I do not believe the negative implications with which he has been charged, but I am sticking with Ken.
For two years, Ken Moore has worked hard to be informed about the desires of the electorate. He has talked with people. I believe he is prepared to serve us well. I was disappointed with the harsh position taken by the News-Register in last week’s editorial. Ken is a consensus builder and he will work with both sides of the aisle to represent the people of this district. I am voting for Ken and I hope you will join me in supporting his efforts.
Bernie Turner
McMinnville
