(KATU) — The McMinnville School District is parting ways with its superintendent The school board voted to approve a separation agreement with Debbie Brockett during its meeting on Monday night Brockett was supposed to be with the district through 2027 She will be employed with the district through the end of the school year KATU is working to find out what led to this situation A lighter color can mean less organic material Squeezing a ball of soil in your hand is a quick test to determine its type If it is “cookie crumb” crumbly it is more loam Ideal is permeable enough to absorb water to feed plants Does your soil have lots of Nitrogen for leafy growth which means the acidity or alkalinity of the soil The UT Extension Office will do the test for a nominal fee At home tests are available at garden stores you can add limestone or sulfur to get to the balance you want for what you are planting most plants respond best to neutral pH soil Rhododendrons and blueberries like more acid Lilies of the valley and lavender link more alkaline Once you get your soil to the preferences of your plants mulch or add plant cover so it does not get washed away Let the organic matter on top decompose and enrich the soil Leave the microorganisms and living critters in place to break down the organic matter and to aerate TIP OF THE MONTH: The average annual temperature in Tennessee has increased by 5 degrees As of 2023 Middle Tennessee is now in 7a rather than 7b temperature zone per the USDA Hardiness Zone Map and vegetables will thrive in our area and survive the winter temperatures McMinnville was recognized on USA Today's 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards list of public spaces for having one of the best main streets in the U.S USA TODAY asked a group of industry experts to nominate their favorite public spaces based on spots that exhibit the best in travel drink and lifestyle and then presented them to the public to vote on best recreational trail and best riverwalk McMinnville's Third Street placed seventh on the top 10 best main streets list. The downtown area was noted as the "living room" for the Willamette Valley town It was recognized for its tree-lined streets featuring turn-of-the-century buildings McMinnville’s downtown features many events each year, such as the McMenamins UFO Festival, the Santa parade and Christmas tree lighting, downtown festivities and trick-or-treating and the annual summer farmer’s market Recent summers have also seen the rise of Mac Fresco, where restaurants provide al fresco dining Friday-Sunday. McMinnville has also received a number of accolades in recent years for its downtown Here is the full list of the top 10 best main streets in the U.S Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at GSandoval@gannett.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval A small group for math instruction at Wascher Elementary School in Lafayette The school district parted ways with its superintendent of nearly 4 years this week (Photo by Mark Graves/The Oregonian)Mark Graves fired its superintendent of nearly four years this week who is on medical leave through Paid Leave Oregon as of late last week was hired in 2021 after serving in Clark County She arrived at the helm of the Yamhill County district just before students and staff returned full-time to buildings after 18 months of online and hybrid school five of seven board members voted to terminate her without cause Under an Oregon law designed to protect superintendents from being fired without cause Brockett will be paid through June of 2026 She makes about $180,000 a year plus benefits and this week signed a separation agreement agreeing not to pursue legal action against the district At a three hour board meeting Monday night board members heard concerns from two former staff members about turnover at the district’s central office allegations about a lack of proactive communication and suggestions that there were academic red flags that surfaced post COVID Jazmin Juarez, with the Hispanic PTA of McMinnville, said her group had tried repeatedly to express concerns about the district’s decision to phase out immersion classrooms at two elementary schools She said those complaints to both board members and district leaders fell on deaf ears Prior to the pandemic, McMinnville had no schools on the state’s list of those where at least one group of students had fallen dangerously behind academically. Now there are four: Willamette Newby and Wascher elementaries and Patton Middle School just 8% of Oregon schools were in that category thanks in part to a change in the way the state defines when a student is experiencing poverty.) was among board members making somewhat inscrutable public remarks about why they were ousting the superintendent: “Sometimes you come to a point where relationships and the effectiveness is not at a point that is repairable Our primary responsibility is to make these decisions that are in the best interest of our students and our staff.” Brockett also had vocal supporters in the audience Tuesday night including board Chair Jason Bizon and Vice Chair Abby Warmbier both of whom voted against her termination Leaders of the McMinnville Education Association and the McMinnville Chamber of Commerce also testified on her behalf board members were making a costly and reputationally damaging mistake that would make it hard to recruit a new superintendent “We have witnessed [Brockett] be a strong advocate for teachers supporting our work and recognizing the realities we face in our classrooms every day,” said McMinnville Education Association bargaining chair Michelle Formway who teaches fifth grade at Willamette Elementary School “I have been in this district for a very long time and [under Brockett’s leadership] is the first time I feel that I can speak my mind honestly and not be retaliated against.” Brockett said she felt as though she’d been fighting an uphill battle since arriving in McMinnville Brockett acknowledged that student academic outcomes in McMinnville dipped during the pandemic — as they did in virtually every Oregon school district — and that they have yet to fully recover to persistently high student absenteeism that has required a focus on making sure students feel like they belong at school and want to be there But she said McMinnville was in the process of turning around its academic metrics showing growth on interim assessments and reduction in absenteeism though some board members said there were few chances to discuss ask questions or give feedback about those results including some with close ties to board members took job promotions elsewhere or decided to stop working for personal reasons There was no data ever presented that indicated that we had a poor culture at our district,” Brockett said you will find that I am holding staff to the levels of accountability to which they should be held So they are bound to find employees who are unhappy.” Earlier this year, Brockett told longtime school board member Larry Vollmer that he would no longer be allowed to drop in to local schools without notifying the principal in advance But the move further soured relations with the board and she notified them that she wouldn’t seek renewal of her contract when it expired in 2027 was that the long runway would give board members plenty of time to find her successor the majority of the board told her they wanted to terminate her contract early in order to avoid having a “lame-duck” superintendency “The saddest part about this is that [the board members who voted for termination] always talked about me They never talked to me,” about their other concerns board members said repeatedly Monday that they were limited in what they could disclose about their decision to sever ties with Brockett “We can’t share a lot of the things that would probably settle some of your thoughts around the decisions we may or may not make,” said board member Lu Ann Anderson “But I do feel that the information I have received from community and staff members has weighed heavily on my heart — Julia Silverman covers K-12 education for The Oregonian/OregonLive Reach her via email at jsilverman@oregonian.com Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices — Four dogs accused of killing other pets and terrorizing a McMinnville neighborhood in early March have been seized by police Authorities secured kennel space for the dogs and on Thursday night officers obtained and served a search warrant at the NW Alder St according to the McMinnville Police Department Officers seized the dogs and transported them to the kennel where officials said they would be kept pending the court process READ MORE: McMinnville residents seek justice after neighbor's dogs kill beloved pets This latest development comes after an incident on March 7 when the dogs reportedly escaped from their owner’s property and killed three neighborhood pets – one small dog and two cats One of the incidents was caught on a Ring doorbell video KATU has chosen not to share that video due to the graphic nature the owner was charged under McMinnville City Ordinance for dogs-at-large and for maintaining a vicious dog The owner did not respond to KATU’s request for comment (KATU) — Three pets in a McMinnville neighborhood are dead after police say four dogs escaped a home and went on a killing spree According to the McMinnville Police Department the dogs got out of the owner’s property and three neighborhood pets (one small dog and two cats) were killed in that process One of the incidents was caught on a Ring doorbell video “There was these two wolfdogs standing over Roxy who was dead,” Jill Shenefield said of her 16-year-old pet READ ALSO: Criminal charges filed 8 months after vicious dog attack in North Portland Shenefield told KATU she does not agree with the discipline the owner is being given. "She got a fine and she went home and her dogs are still with her,” she explained. According to McMinnville Police, the owner was charged under McMinnville City Ordinance for dogs-at-large and for maintaining a vicious dog. KATU did reach out to her for comment but she did not respond. “We're working on developing some tools to have places to put dogs when these kinds of things occurred,” Police Chief Cord Wood said of the incident. “McMinnville, the city of McMinnville, doesn't have it or operate its own kennel facility where if we have to impound a dog, we can do that." Wood said, simply put, they don’t have enough space for one dog, let alone four, and the department is looking into ways to address this. “I just hope that they understand that we're doing everything that we can with the tools that we have available to bring a resolution to this,” he added. The owner is due in court on Wednesday, April 16. April 23Stephanie Craig is a seventh-generation basket weaver artist and enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde whose exhibit "Hands of the Ancestors" is on display from April 2 - May 2 2025 at Linfield University's Miller Fine Arts Center Craig is shown in this photo taken in summer 2024 at the achaf-hammi plankhouse in the Grand Ronde Reservation weaving a wa'paas or Columbia Plateau basket used for gathering roots Craig spends nine months of the year locating and harvesting traditional materials such as hazel bigleaf maple and western red cedar from across the state She uses them to shape baskets and other woven items with the aid of tools like an antler awl and kupin But “Hands of the Ancestors” offers visitors more than just a window into Craig’s skills and artistry It opens up a bridge linking the past to the present and future with an array of family photos and texts honoring the elders who taught Craig the Kalapuya tradition of basket weaving and the new generations Craig teaches today Craig joins us to talk about the exhibit and the messages of resilience and Native pride embedded in her work Note: The following transcript was transcribed digitally and validated for accuracy readability and formatting by an OPB volunteer Dave Miller: This is Think Out Loud on OPB We start today with an Oregon artist who sees herself as a kind of bridge between the past and the future Stephanie Craig is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and a seventh-generation basket weaver and artist which is on display right now at Linfield University’s Miller Fine Arts Center in McMinnville has her own work and baskets made by her forebears It also includes an array of family photos and texts that honor the elders who passed down her tribe’s artistic and cultural traditions The name of the exhibit is “Hands of the Ancestors.” What does that title mean to you my ancestors and our tribal ancestors forward and letting them know that we are still carrying on their life ways and their traditions that they have dreamt about wanting to continue Miller: I’m fascinated by the fact that the very first thing that you mentioned was not the past As I said that the title’s “Hands of the Ancestors,” but you said what first comes to mind is the future and your daughter We’re always looking seven generations ahead and wanting to make sure that either our first foods or traditional foods are going to be taken care of so that they will return for the next generations my goal was to make sure that I could have one student that held on interest into weaving and continued – then I did my job as a teacher so my daughter is my number one priority right now to continue Miller: I want to hear more about her in just a second but I do want to go a little bit into the past What are some of your earliest memories involving weaving either yourself or seeing other people doing it My very first earliest memory of anything – I spent a lot of time with my chich and her family There was baskets that my great great great grandma made and telling stories of gathering and using baskets so being a farmer’s daughter I was always playing the stuff outside Miller: When did you start learning how to weave yourself Craig: I would say my first official class or workshop that I took so I was always around doing crafty things But one of my first Native teachers … I wasn’t driving my understanding is that a hugely important part of the process is collecting materials What goes through your mind when you’re out somewhere in Oregon collecting various kinds of materials that will eventually become a basket I think of what plant … Say I’m out gathering western redcedar I think about them and just wonder what they’ll turn out to be I’ve learned to not put really super high expectations with “I’m gathering this today and it’s gonna be made into this,” because many times you’re making something and it doesn’t always turn out to be what you want it to be Miller: Because the material itself physically wants to be something All those emotions reflect in the weaver’s weaving so that also plays a part in the final outcome of the shape of the basket Miller: Do you feel like you can read that If you knew nothing about who made a basket or what tradition they came from I’m curious how you read a basket for the first time amazing … I don’t know where to start cause I see so many things Certain shapes have different uses and different tribes have different shapes different materials only grow in certain plant regions or ecoregions within the state depending on a couple factors – the patina And I can tell you if it was a man or a woman if they were more high social status where they could … if they had the means to trade and travel for finer material that was harder to get or that wasn’t in their region versus someone that didn’t have those means Miller: I’m curious what it’s like for you to see one of your baskets in a museum setting on a pedestal as something to be looked at and maybe even have a glass box around as opposed to something being used in daily life Craig: It’s something that has taken me a few years to come to terms with And I grew up with my ancestors and my family – our stuff is meant to be used It wasn’t meant to sit on a shelf and or be on display so it’s still kind of crazy to me that it’s my work that’s out there I just wanted to learn the culture the best I could My kids now – I have a 4-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old son – they’ll see something online or me in a newspaper and [say] “that’s my mom!” It’s crazy Miller: Do you ever think that the baskets want to be carrying stuff even if that means that they’re going to be damaged in some way as opposed to being put away simply as an object of aesthetic fascination or love My basket cap that I wore in my wedding was made in the late 1880s I just know that it comes from one of my villages down in Southern Oregon I wear it for ceremonies and I’ve been wearing it for eight years So I’m having to kind of draw that line of so that way it can be passed down and preserved I will say there are certain items that I have made that I do not touch very much And there’s items that’ve been passed down to my family that the kids know that they’re not allowed to touch and we don’t take them out to show people It’s different having to walk in two worlds being museum trained and knowing protocols and best practices but being Indigenous and growing up with the land and understanding the land and the importance of using and continuing these things Miller: How much have you taught your 4-year-old daughter and your 6-year-old son the actual craft and art Craig: Our son William was born in December so he was about 5 months old when he first started gathering materials with us .. I guess you mean in the way that babies grasp things him in a carrier at the base of the cedar tree as we pulled the cedar and he either touched it or didn’t touch it teaching over at Crow’s Shadow in Pendleton Our niece was so happy sitting next to Josie and I had already started stripping and thinning down plant material that I’ve never shown her how to do And then [my niece] got her plant material stacked up and then Josie just started twining it And I looked at my niece and I looked at my daughter again and I gently grabbed the little basket start from her because I didn’t teach her how to thin the material down at all I didn’t even realize that she had watched me that day she took the material which is already split down at a quarter of an inch Miller: Could you do that when you were a 4-year-old thanks so much for spending some of your time with us today an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde a seventh-generation basket weaver and artist which is called “Hands of the Ancestors” is on display right now at Linfield University’s Miller Fine Arts Center in McMinnville “Think Out Loud®” broadcasts live at noon every day and rebroadcasts at 8 p.m If you’d like to comment on any of the topics in this show or suggest a topic of your own, please get in touch with us on Facebook, send an email to thinkoutloud@opb.org or you can leave a voicemail for us at 503-293-1983 The call-in phone number during the noon hour is 888-665-5865 Tags: Think Out Loud, Indigenous peoples, Art, History, Mcminnville Stand with OPB and protect independent journalism for everyone Listen to the OPB News live stream (opens new window)Streaming Now James Beard Award-nominated chef Kari Shaughnessy will take Hayward to Carlton in July “I think a move like this is exciting for the community at large,” Shaughnessy tells Eater Portland “ I would love for Hayward to grow and be viewed as really a Willamette Valley restaurant.” While there are few details for this new restaurant yet fans can expect more of the stuff that brought online fame to the restaurant known for whipping up Twin Peaks menus through the pandemic The buzzy restaurant’s inventive dishes broke with the idea that Willamette Valley food needs to be approached as wine paired-bites chitara pasta with dandelion pesto and manchego sweet potato butter mochi Shaughnessy stewards what she calls “New Northwest” dining She says that since opening Hayward five years ago the area’s restaurant community’s become thick with talent She wants to have a presence in that space The hope is to be an upscale place for birthdays but also a spot for those weeknight dates — to make sure the restaurant plays both sides of the coin “I want to be viewed as really a mainstay for Yamhill County (KATU) — McMinnville police are investigating an incident involving two dogs that were at large and killed several chickens and ducks The animals were in their owner's yard when the dogs attacked The dogs had left the scene before police arrived and have not yet been identified or located Officers are actively working to identify the dogs' owners and their location to follow up on the incident "We are asking for the community's help in identifying the owner of these two dogs," police wrote brindle pattern with what appears to be a light color accent on its right front paw please call non-emergency dispatch at 503-434-6500 and ask to speak with an on-duty officer A 31-year-old McMinnville woman died Wednesday in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 99 West near Dayton State police responded to the crash at 9:18 a.m They found a southbound Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 28-year-old Washington man had attempted to turn onto Highway 18 The truck entered the path of a northbound Toyota Yaris The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries Police said the cause of the crash remained under investigation Isabel Funk covers breaking news and public safety for the Statesman Journal. Funk can be reached at ifunk@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @isabeldfunk which actually was a Century High School classroom They were quietly awaiting the arrival of McMinnville head coach Sean Coste and the rest of the coaching staff after finally making his way down the long hallway knocked on the door and stepped into the team room and then — boom — there it was: a huge explosion of celebration The Grizzlies were boisterously celebrating their 67-50 win over the Jaguars on Tuesday at Century High School and what that victory gave them — sole possession of the Pacific Conference championship “It’s insane,” McMinnville senior guard Rylie McManus said “It’s just amazing,” said McMinnville junior post Brooklynn Summers McMinnville senior Macie Arzner had 37 points and 13 rebounds in the Grizzlies’ 67-50 win at Century / Dan Brood“It means everything,” said Grizzlies senior guard Macie Arzner who had an astonishing 37 points and 13 rebounds we knew we would have to work really hard to get here it feels really good to know that all of that hard work has been paying off.” That hard work started after the 2023-24 season when McMinnville shared the Pacific Conference crown with Sherwood as both squads went 11-1 in conference play the Grizzlies wanted the crown all for themselves “That was 100 percent motivation,” McManus said “And I’ve played with these girls since I was super little so winning it with them is everything I could ask for.” “It was extra special to get it for ourselves,” Arzner said but there’s just something about getting that win to make you one-and-only at the top Getting sole possession of the conference title not only provided the Grizzlies with motivation but it also was a goal they were happy to achieve evidenced by the big celebration at Century But the McMinnville squad has an even bigger goal which has given the team an even bigger dose of motivation — getting to the Class 6A state tournament they entered the Class 6A state playoffs as the No They opened postseason play with a 62-32 first-round win over Wells the Grizzlies fell 54-45 at home to Grants Pass That had McMinnville looking at this season with plenty of inspiration “That’s probably our biggest motivation,” Arzner said “We really want to get to the Chiles Center (site of the Class 6A state tournament) but we decided that we needed to work a little bit harder this year “Last year is 100 percent motivation for this year,” McManus said “Our goal is to make it to the state tournament McMinnville junior Brooklynn Summers goes up to the basket in the 67-50 victory at Century We’ve been together and played together for so long I really think this is the healthiest that the team has been.” which entered Tuesday’s game with a 9-1 record in conference play and an overall mark of 19-3 McMinnville improved to 11-0 in conference games and to 18-5 overall “It’s going really well,” McManus said of the season The Grizzlies’ early-season slate included games against Jefferson defending state champion South Medford and Willamette who are all in the top six in the final Class 6A coaches poll (McMinnville is No as well as Class 5A powers Silverton and Wilsonville but playing those tough teams has made us stronger,” McManus said McMinnville senior Rylie McManus looks to go to the basket against Century’s Mia Brownson in Tuesday’s game 6 spot in the OSAA Class 6A power rankings The Grizzlies will get a home game in the first round of the Class 6A state playoffs on March 4 there appears to be a good chance they’ll host a second-round game as well with the winner of that contest going to the state tournament If the Grizzlies get the opportunity to again play for a tournament berth they know they’ll have one thing going for them “That motivation in practice is always there,” McManus said McMinnville jumped out to an 11-0 lead before the contest was four minutes old and four rebounds during that scoring spree Senior Alison Jensen had a steal and a layup as well as another steal that led to a layup by Arzner Senior Alison Jensen had a big game for the Grizzlies in the win at Century with 12 points and seven steals all of that motivation might have been part of the reason for the fast start but there might have been something else behind it “We always meet before games and do a little ‘dance party’ and fire each other up,” Summers said nine rebounds and two steals for the Grizzlies in the first half which ended with McMinnville holding a 32-23 lead The Grizzlies led 55-38 after three quarters and fought off every Century rally attempt in the fourth to secure the title-clinching 67-50 victory “This was really good,” Arzner said with a smile McMinnville head coach Sean Coste watches the action during the Grizzlies’ victory at Century / Dan BroodIn addition to Arzner’s huge performance Summers had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds sparked a swarming McMinnville defense that helped force Century into an 18-for-56 shooting night from the field the biggest cheer from the Grizzlies’ sideline came when sophomore Rylan Carton sank a free throw with 8.4 seconds left “We’re always cheering the younger players on We’re all here for each other,” Summers said The girls have always been so welcoming to me.” “This season has been so fun,” McManus said And there can’t be too many things more fun than a title-clinching victory celebration To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App DAN BROODDan Brood who might be the very last of the straight-on place-kickers has been covering high school sports in Oregon for more than 30 years winning multiple awards for writing and photography He started working with SBLive Sports in 2021 © 2025 ABG-SI LLC - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER is safe and the elder Billy McKinley is in custody the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said early Sunday morning -- A missing 2-year-old out of McMinnville has prompted an endangered child alert last seen on Falcon Drive with his non-custodial parent Billy McKinley according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation who issued the alert on behalf of the McMinnville Police Department The 54-year-old is wanted for especially aggravated kidnapping and custodial interference Authorities are asking the public to be on the lookout for McKinley Anyone with information on the McKinley's whereabouts is asked to call the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND or the McMinnville Police Department at 931-668-7000 The hyperlocal emphasis of the farm-to-table concept at Hayward captures the beauty and bounty of the Pacific Northwest in the wine-country destination of McMinnville "I'm honored that Hayward and what we represent is included on the list," Kari Shaughnessy executive chef and owner of the restaurant said Shaughnessy and her team flex their creative muscles every week changing their menu to best highlight their produce and meats — all sourced within a 10-mile radius of the restaurant What sets Hayward apartWhile the items change most weeks the types are consistent: three snacks or small bites two pastas and two protein-forward entrees The constantly changing global flavors guarantee a unique culinary experience every visit the wine list is intentionally international as everywhere else in the heart of wine country offers local options There is also a surprisingly large selection of non-alcoholic beverages The ambitious menu and concept might give the impression the restaurant is pretentious the restaurant would blend almost seamlessly into the communal seating if you weren't looking for it The effect is made by the thrifted decor and rugs You can dine on items like beef tartare and brothless ramen while the hum of diners and shoppers in the rest of the market is just behind the music It makes it casual enough to come just for a drink and bite at the bar while exclusive enough to be a spot for special occasions When Shaughnessy came into the space in 2019 the intended concept was a breakfast café for the marketplace But the pandemic forced Shaughnessy and the team to reinvent themselves a few times which finally resulted in the full-service restaurant Being hyper-focused on locality is not just in the food but also as a statement in promoting sustainable practices and community building in and out of the restaurant Flashback to 2024: These were crowned top restaurants across America This cocktail is Hayward's take on a martini and the only one that's remained on the menu since it opened The drink has more sherry than a standard cocktail and includes blue cheese-stuffed green olives This house-made thick sliced bread has a crisp sesame top with almost undetectable pieces of dulse throughout which provides a mild salinity to the bread It comes with a generous amount of koji butter on the side which gives the butter deeper umami and saltiness You'll want to be generous with the butter as the two pair perfectly to prep your tastebuds for the rest of your meal This option is the "most Hayward" experience you can get It is not a tasting menu or a typical prix fixe menu — it's chef's choice done family style All the people at the table must participate and you'll get a variety of whatever is on the menu A particularly great choice for solo diners and couples Check out the latest iteration of the menu here. Coming soon: An aperitif list at the restaurant and bar it only made sense to start compiling pre-dinner options too Shaughnessy is working hard to be able to bring some of the Hayward experience to them Hayward in McMinnvilleDetails: Hayward, 1140 NE Alpine Ave., McMinnville, Oreg.; 503-687-3605, haywardrestaurant.com Book your reservation now on Open Table. Em Chan covers food and dining at the Statesman Journal. You can reach her at echan@gannett.com and follow her on X @catchuptoemily.  We occasionally recommend interesting products and services If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently See the entire list of USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year 2025 here: at the University of Portland's Chiles Center The winner will face top-seeded Jefferson in a semifinal Friday Their Colorado State-bound wing would have starred for 90% of teams around the state but instead played third banana for the Cavaliers averaging 9.6 points and 4.5 rebounds as a second-team all-Mt Hood Conference point guard led the Cavaliers in assists (4.9) and was second in steals (2.7) while scoring 4.8 points per game The Seattle University commit has overcome two torn ACLs during her career to earn Mt Hood Conference defensive player of the year honors while averaging 6.3 points Hood Conference pick and Southern Oregon commit Barhoum is Robin to Jazzy Davidson’s Batman in the Cavaliers’ pecking order with the Oregon commit averaging 19.2 points while making 43.9% from 3-point range (she is the team’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made) Summers made the all-Pacific Conference first team averaging 11.2 points while shooting 60.5% from the field and grabbing 8.9 rebounds per game The Pacific Conference player of the year and University of Pittsburgh signee averaged a double-double for the Grizzlies scoring 24.9 points and grabbing 11.9 rebounds to go with 3.6 assists and 2.7 steals The second-team all-Pacific Conference selection is the Grizzlies’ primary outside threat shooting 34.5% from 3-point range and averaging 9.9 points First basket of the game goes to — who else Macie Arzner makes 1 of 2 free throws for McMinnville's first point Allie Roden knocks down a 3-pointer for Clackamas' first non-Jazzy points And now a 3-pointer by Avery Peterson — with the assist from Jazzy Reyce Mogel drills a 3-pointer to start the second quarter for Clackamas Sara Barhoum knocks down a corner 3-pointer for her first points Dylan Mogel banks in a 3-pointer — Clackamas' seventh made 3-pointer Sara Barhoum with another 3-pointer — Clackamas' ninth She just missed another at the buzzer — it was in Macie Arzner leads McMinnville with six points Second half starts with a 3-pointer by Clackamas' Sara Barhoum She has three 3-pointers in about the past 3 minutes of game play She might not play much in the fourth quarter as Cavaliers seemingly have this one wrapped up and she has the first basket of the fourth quarter Jazzy Davidson putback gives her 24 points and Clackamas a 58-25 lead with 3:05 to play Sara Barhoum 12 points — all on 3-pointers Macie Arzner led McMinnville with 10 points JD HUMBURG, SBLIVE SPORTSJD Humburg is a Managing Editor for SBLive Sports KOIN.com Foodie Friday: Okta returns to McMinnville in May Mia Villanueva joins KOIN 6 News as the new 4pm anchor Bodies found in Portland rivers ‘pretty normal occurrence’ Mayor’s Portland budget: ‘Back to basics,’ ‘no easy answers’ Indigenous people ‘matter and are not disposable’ The body of a kayaker from California who went over Willamette Falls in April was found early Sunday afternoon the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said VIDEO: Driver 'intentionally' sideswipes motorcycle on Hwy 26 before fleeing Auto prowling incident now tied to Vancouver weekend shooting Legacy Health announce end to merger plans Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Celebrating Our Diversity Clackamas' Jazzy Davidson drives in with the ball during a Class 6A girls basketball state quarterfinal game between Clackamas and McMinnville on Wednesday 2025 in the Chiles Center.Tim Healy for The Oregonian/OregonLive .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Nik Streng | The Oregonian/OregonLiveThe Clackamas girls basketball team was on a business trip on Wednesday afternoon routing McMinnville 60-29 in the state quarterfinals at the Chiles Center outscoring the Grizzlies 39-11 in the opening half while holding McMinnville to making just two of 22 shots from the floor Clackamas senior Jazzy Davidson led the way with a 26-point The USC commit also added five blocks while holding Grizzlies senior Macie Arzner to 10 points (leading McMinnville) 1/30OSAA Class 6A girls basketball state quarterfinals: Clackamas Cavaliers vs McMinnville GrizzliesSara Barhoum scored 12 points for Clackamas Clackamas is a perfect 4-0 in state quarterfinal games The Cavaliers have won those games by an average of 26.25 points The Cavaliers move on to Friday’s state semifinals, where they will play Jefferson The last time Clackamas and Jefferson played each other was the second round of the state tournament in 2023 (the last time the Cavaliers won the state championship) Subscribe to the High School Sports+ newsletter Sign up here to get exclusive news and insights from high school sports editor Nik Streng -- Nik Streng covers high school sports in Oregon. Reach him at nstreng@oregonian.com or @NikStreng Every year around this time, in the weeks leading up to the McMinnville Short Film Festival I find myself telling people about the terrific films I’ve been watching to prep for covering the event The question I’m asked repeatedly: “So how can I see these movies?” but typically my brain jumps to the usual suspects: “Well I think,” and “You might find that one on Vimeo,” and “Look for such-and-such on their website.” Only afterward do I realize that the obvious and correct answer is: “Go to the festival it’s literally a few minutes from your house.” at some point all 107 films in the 14th annual festival probably will be available somewhere to watch online in the privacy of your home — some already are But it’s not just blockbusters that are intended to be seen in theaters on big screens these short films typically do not enjoy the advantage of a theatrical run “This is an excellent question,” said Heather Older, who in her third year as the festival’s executive director has assembled a festival that is bigger (it’s four days, up from three) and more glamorous (looking at you, Anuja an Oscar-nominated short about child labor in India with an ending that will astonish you) “The fact is that the general public doesn’t have an avenue to watch these films,” she went on some may show up on YouTube or another streaming service independent and short films do not have widespread distribution deals That is why supporting film festivals is so important Film festivals like MSFF provide access to these films and to independent storytellers and voices from around the world.” The festival starts at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at McMinnville Cinema 10 with a Native American film block the environmental category gets its few minutes of fame A mid-afternoon panel on how to include animation in live-action films and a filmmaker mixer (open to the public) is followed that evening with blocks for animation and “experimental” films at 6 and 9 p.m Ten more blocks will be screened over the next three days The 107 films arrive from 15 countries and include 18 world premieres Film blocks are typically about 90 minutes and include an assortment of films running from a few minutes to nearly 30 minutes They’re always followed by a talk-back with the filmmakers themselves many are in attendance and enjoy hearing from people who just watched their work The festival has struggled over the years to get the word out to locals This event is designed support indie filmmakers — how virtually all filmmakers start — but it is also for you to enjoy It appears the festival has finally turned that corner “We’ve definitely accelerated the last few years,” said Older who got her start with the festival as a filmmaker herself we had the most submissions we’ve ever seen so I’m really excited to see the numbers for this year’s festival.” The festival markets itself as being very filmmaker-friendly (a few events are scheduled strictly for those whose films are being screened) and I’ve never had a director tell me otherwise Along with marching up in front of the audience to take questions after a screening filmmakers also regard it as a terrific networking event that can lead to future collaborations One filmmaker who will be on hand this year is Gregory J.M. Kasunich, who wrote The Heart of Texas with Lauren Noll who also stars in the barely 15-minute story an aspiring country singer stuck in a paycheck-to-paycheck life whose life-changing break collides brutally with the dreams of Jesús (played by Carlos Moreno Cravioto) Kasunich and Noll made the film a few years ago because they were angry about the treatment and demonization of undocumented workers He’s worked with some of the big dogs in the entertainment industry — Lucasfilm and even Taylor Swift — but The Heart of Texas showcases what a film artist can do when they have complete creative control But along with the control comes the responsibility to get it out there in the world bringing it to events like the McMinnville Short Film Festival “We’ve taken it all over the world and been very fortunate that we’ve won in about half those festivals; I think we have more than 25 wins under our belt.” I told Kasunich I loved his film but at first found myself frustrated by the ending It turns out that bringing The Heart of Texas to McMinnville is part of his larger vision for the film — turning it into a full-length feature which would at least give it a shot at a theatrical run “We’re working hard on a draft and trying to get financiers and production partners and all that,” he said “I personally have never had massive success in finding financiers at film festivals a conversation can always lead to another that leads to The Heart of Texas will be screened Saturday, March 1, in the drama/comedy block that begins at 12:30 p.m. at McMinnville Cinema. It’s one of eight films in that block, along with another immigration-themed title: American Daydream a 15-minute film written and directed by Ziyu Luo This year’s speakers include Sandrine Faucher Cassidy, a producer who has served on the Tribeca Film Festival screening committee since 2015, Ellie Foumbi, an award-winning Cameroonian American filmmaker who was named one of 25 New Faces of Independent Film by Filmmaker Magazine, and R.J. Daniel Hanna an Irish/Canadian/Arkansan filmmaker who made the indie Hard Miles with Matthew Modine and Sean Astin The McMinnville Short Film Festival runs Feb. 27 through March 2, concluding with an awards luncheon (a ticketed event) at 2 p.m. in The Bindery in downtown McMinnville. All-access passes are $120, daily passes are $40, and tickets to attend a single block are $10. Tickets may be purchased through the website Email *Your email address will not be published Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. If you prefer to make a comment privately, fill out our feedback form The appearance by the poet and memoirist is part of the school's “Learning Across Boundaries” program which also includes a literary and visual art display With robust audiences and several hit films this year's lively festival climbed out of the pandemic-years slump Coming in 2026: AIFF's 25th anniversary celebration Grant recipients scramble as promised funding is withdrawn for programs already in motion Dixon continues his series of cultural profiles with portraits of actor & acting teacher Brooke Totman the celebrated McMinnville-based restaurant known for its hyper-seasonal approach to dining stunned its loyal followers this week by announcing its sudden closure locally sourced ingredients from its onsite regenerative farm and rose to prominence both locally and nationally for its Oregon-based ingredient list Katie Jackson and Shaun Kajiwara partnered to create the restaurant gained notoriety for its ambitious use of regional ingredients like Oregon wagyu In a message shared across its social media platforms the ōkta team thanked its supporters and celebrated an "incredible" two-year run "We are proud of what our dedicated team accomplished and for all of the transformational dining moments we shared with our guests," according to the social media posts "We want to thank Chef Matthew Lightner for his talents and passion in bringing the ōkta vision to life." The note also emphasized that while the restaurant would be closing the Tributary Hotel and its farm will continue to merge hospitality with regenerative farming practices said more updates will be provided in the coming weeks The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will begin a milling and paving project on Hwy 55 (McMinnville Hwy) starting April 28 with an estimated completion date of September 30 Work will commence at the intersection of Hwy 41 and Hwy 55 Crews will operate Sunday through Thursday from 7 PM to 6 AM News@ontargetnews.com After a rocky start – largely due to an injury to its best player – McMinnville's girls basketball team is finding its stride co-champions in the 6A Pacific Conference last season have won nine games in a row and 11 of their last 12 5-0) got its biggest win of the season Friday prevailing 69-61 over visiting Century (14-3 had 25 points and 12 rebounds to lead the way against the Jaguars Senior guard Rylie McManus had 19 points and junior post Brooklynn Summers added 10 points for the Grizzlies McMinnville has made gains since a four-game slide early in the season Arzner was sidelined after suffering a sprained ankle in the first half of a 47-39 loss to 5A No 2 Silverton and was not available when the Grizzlies lost to No “We're really inexperienced and we were putting kids in new roles,” coach Sean Coste said it was just a struggle to understand the offense.” the Grizzlies also have defeated Metro League frontrunner and ninth-ranked Beaverton twice she's definitely in the top two or three players in the state She gives us such a presence at point guard and you can't take the ball away from her.” McMinnville has not lost since falling to No 4 Willamette 62-40 in the POA Holiday Classic in late December “It just took us a while to play together and play crisp and move the ball,” Coste said “The execution has gotten better over time We've settled into some defenses that our team has kind of found an identity with The Grizzlies brought back three key contributors from a 22-4 team in Arzner Junior forward Ruby Riddle (5-11) and senior guard Alison Jensen (5-9) moved up from JV to join the starting lineup Summers is averaging 12.0 points and 8.4 rebounds and McManus is putting up 10.0 points McMinnville jumped ahead 17-4 and led 39-25 at half but the Grizzlies regained control behind Arzner who scored 12 points in the fourth quarter She scored her team's last six points after Century again cut the lead to four points in the last two minutes “We didn't play as well in the second half but we still did enough to hold them off,” Coste said Century got 18 points from junior guard Mia Brownson and 15 points from senior guard Alyssa Loza was held to 11 points as Riddle battled her inside “It allowed us to free up Brooklynn to move and be able to help on other kids and drivers.” If the Grizzlies can finish in the top eight that would assure them of home games in the first two rounds of the playoffs “That was really tough to handle,” Coste said The Grizzlies are hopeful to redeem themselves this season Coste likes his team's chances “if we take care of the ball Philomath handed Stayton its first loss of the season grinding out a 27-26 home win over the Eagles in a 4A Oregon West Conference showdown Friday scored the go-ahead basket with 7.1 seconds left who missed seven of her first eight shots in the game scored six of her game-high nine points in the fourth quarter Stayton had taken a 26-25 lead on a three-pointer by senior Brooklynne Morley with 32 seconds to go Warriors coach Ben Silva drew up the play for Heiken during a timeout with 14 seconds remaining didn’t want to let everyone down,” Heiken told the Philomath News “I missed a few shots that I thought should have gone in Stayton failed to score on its final possession settling for a heave just inside half-court Stayton opened a 21-16 lead early in the fourth quarter on a three-pointer by sophomore Kathryn Samek Philomath rallied and pulled ahead 25-23 when senior Anneka Steen converted a layup with 1:01 on the clock Philomath bounced back from a 46-44 loss at Cascade on Tuesday stayed unbeaten against Oregon teams this season by holding off No 5 Springfield 53-47 on Friday in a game between leaders in the Midwestern League 16 rebounds and four blocks for the host Comets (18-1 Junior point guard Taylor Young made three three-pointers and scored 16 points and senior post Alexa Gugliotta added seven points Crater led 29-16 at half and was ahead by 14 points in the fourth quarter before Springfield surged But Traore stemmed the tide with a putback basket with 1:45 left “It’s hard because all of the teams that we play we’re blowing them out by a lot of points and stuff,” Traore told the Rogue Valley Times “so just making ourselves better at practice every day and trying to become a better team for games like these has been important so we can prepare for state.” Crater won despite shooting 18 for 61 from the floor. “It wasn’t even like our best game — I feel like we have so much more in us — so facing adversity and having good teams play us like that it’s all just about making sure we’re working hard and getting better for state,” Traore said Sophomore Sailor Hall had 18 points and six rebounds for Springfield Notes: With first place on the line in the 6A Metro League 9 Beaverton outlasted visiting Jesuit 45-43 in double overtime Friday Sophomore guard Dara Oluwafemi had 21 points and 10 rebounds and senior guard Embrie Honnold came off the bench to score nine points in the second half for the Beavers (9-9 Junior center London Bologoff came through on defense holding Jesuit 6-4 freshman post Ceanna Forney to five points on 1-for-6 shooting … Junior guard Harper Smith had 22 points and five steals as Crook County maintained its hold on first place in the 4A Tri-Valley Conference with a 61-43 home win over Madras on Friday Freshman Hayden Decker scored all 12 of her points in the second half and had team highs of eight rebounds and six steals 4-0) own a one-game lead over The Dalles (13-3 4 Coquille handed Sutherlin its first league defeat in six years Friday 10 Bulldogs 38-28 at home in a battle for first place in the 3A Far West League Sutherlin had not dropped a league game since Feb Senior point guard Holli Vigue scored 16 points for Coquille (16-1 Senior wing Madison Huntley led Sutherlin (12-6 7-0) gained sole possession of first place in the 5A Northwest Oregon Conference with a 69-36 rout at La Salle Prep (9-8 Junior guard Gabi Moultrie scored 21 points seniors Audrey Counts and Payton Ratcliffe had 14 points apiece and senior Ryme Jaekel added nine points and nine assists in the win.