Salem S-J covers (with 4-inch story bylined by its entertainment reporter) a McMinnville band Sunday edition 7/29/2018

Yes, Salem Statesman-Journal covered (with 4-inch story bylined by its entertainment reporter) a McMinnville band in its Sunday edition 7/29/2018.

Headline calls it a "local" band. So, does the Salem S-J consider McMinnville local?

Covering McMinnville is an exception rather than rule for the Gannett-owned S-J.

A case in point is sports. The S-J covers Amity and Dayton High Schools (both in Yamhill County) sports, but not McMinnville (also in Yamhill County) sports.  However, as this is written, the S-J has whittled down its already tiny sports staff. So, maybe coverage of Amity and Dayton sports will be out the window starting with the 2018-2019 school year? Stay tuned.

If you want good coverage of McMinnville for news and sports, it's in the McMinnville (also known as "Yamhill Valley") News-Register. It's not in the Salem S-J.

G-Sale (Garage Sale) sign McMinnville 7/28/2018, Filbert & 2nd

McMinnville baseball team takes 2nd in state in a game played 7/15/2018 in Lebanon, Oregon

McMinnville baseball team takes 2nd in state in a game played 7/15/2018 in Lebanon, Oregon
8 Lincoln - Richardson
7 McMinnville - Foster
JBO Junior National

See photos/video clip from the game at the 'Mac News' Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/920491941397720

McMinnville Turkey Rama carnival July 13, 2018.

McMinnville Turkey Rama carnival July 13, 2018





Mac News video

EDITORIAL: Shadow on two McMinnville traditions (July 8, 2018)

MAC NEWS EDITORIAL -- July 8, 2018

Recent announcements cast a shadow on two McMinnville traditions.

One, tradition, ‘Turkey Rama,’ started in 1960 or 1961. The other, ‘Dragging the Gut’ Festival, began in 2010. In both cases, these events have brought positive national attention to McMinnville.

For years, Turkey Rama boasted its world's largest turkey BBQ. And, half turkey meals barbecued on giant grills either downtown or Wortman Park were bought and gobbled up by Turkey Rama-goers. Forget it. 

Turkey Rama continues, but no barbecued turkey or turkey meals from those giant grills.

A younger event, a good one, too, was Dragging the Gut, a brainchild of McMinnville High and Linfield College grad Ruben Contreras Jr. of McMinnville. It featured cars cruising/dragging the gut on McMinnville's downtown Third Street, a car show, and money and food donations for Yamhill Community Action Partnership’s food bank. 

It was great. Now. like the turkey BBQ and meals, it’s in McMinnville's dustbin. 

No matter if a copycat event takes over, it won't be the same. And, that's a shame. Mr. Contreras started it and should be allowed to continue it. If the City of McMinnville really cared it'd find a way. 

Sometimes change is good. In this case it's a double dose of bad. McMinnville is the loser. Twice.

Retain turkey, history (Letter to N-R July 6, 2018)

Letter to editor of McMinnville News-Register/N-R July 6, 2018. Name of letter writer*, who lives in McMinnville, withheld on request. 

Retain turkey, history

1) I agree with the June 29 letter from Claudia Spawn, headlined “Please bring the turkey back!” No turkey sides or BBQ for Turkey Rama 2018 is a major disappointment.

2) What year did Turkey Rama start?

Much of what I’ve read says 1961. However, a June 28, 1983, Oregonian story by correspondent Jo McIntyre said this “community extravaganza” emerged from “relatively small beginnings in 1960.”

I’ve seen the 1960 date indicated elsewhere, too.

The History of The Rotary Club of McMinnville #922 reports, “On 12/6/47, 49 local area turkey growers were guests of the club. The first week of December had been proclaimed Turkey Week, with exhibits, judges, speeches and entertainment. This might have been the forerunner of what became Turkey Rama in 1960, a huge celebration in McMinnville each summer.”

A photo cutline in The Oregonian of Aug. 9, 1963, called that year’s Turkey Rama the third. The newspaper’s July 5, 1972, edition referenced the 12th and its July 11, 1976, edition the 16th. All three references would suggest a 1960 start.

Xxxxx Xxxxx*McMinnville