Memorial Day is almost here, and with it an opportunity to honor those we’ve lost, celebrate their dedication and courage, and be thankful that we live in the greatest country on earth.
Built in 1953, Douglas High School is more than 65 years old and has seen more than three generations of Douglas County residents graduate. My wife is among those (class of ‘01), and my own three sons will someday be Trojans as well.
On April 19, 2019, a significant act of honor and compassion took place in Roseburg. Twenty-eight unclaimed and forgotten veteran ashes (known as cremains) were transferred from a local mortuary with the assistance of the Douglas County Veterans Forum to the custody of Douglas County Veteran…
Hello citizens of Douglas County. Today, I want to talk to you about hope, proven results and community reinvestment.
We’ve all seen the stories: a prominent leader in our community is accused of sexually abusing a child. A trusted adult, like a coach or medical professional, is charged with sexually abusing the young athletes they care for — the Larry Nassar case, for example.
We are all wondering what happened to the ground hog’s prediction of an “early spring” this year. However, one thing we are sure of is that an early spring was nowhere in sight. However, finally we are seeing some better weather. It appears again this year we may go from 45-degree weather to…
Our late February snowstorm did not earn a label or name of distinction, but that did not make it any less damaging. It closed roads and schools — and disrupted lives — with extended power outages. More significant than the damage, however, was the vibrant community spirit that we all saw fr…
Several important facts were omitted by the author of a recent guest column in The News-Review on March 17, “Starved of timber in a sea of trees.” On the Medford, Coos Bay and Roseburg Bureau of Land Management Districts, the three closest to the Swanson Glendale facility, from 2017-2019, a …
I would like to thank The News-Review for running the recent Feb. 21 article, “Polluted water pours daily from mine sites,” which mentioned our own Formosa Mine near Riddle.
Having been involved with the Oregon carbon conversation for a number of years, attending all of the workgroups during the ’17 interim and as a member of the House Energy and Environment Committee during the ’17 and ’18 Legislative Session, I believe we all can agree that there are changing …
As administrators of county government, it is the job of the Board of Commissioners to appoint, supervise and provide policy direction to department directors. In turn, these directors have the responsibility of implementing policy and ensuring their departments are good stewards of the publ…
The fight against fake news just won’t end — but it seems like it’s going to be much harder to kill than we thought.
“We are seeing the things we said would be happening, happening now, in real life. It’s almost surreal,” said Dr. Kathryn Hayhoe, climate scientist and co-author of the National Climate Assessment.
Democrats have been calling what is happening on our southern border a “manufactured crisis.” Environmentalists have been saying the same thing about the mega-wildfires that have been raging in our national forests recently. The definition of a crisis is “a decisive moment,” or “a time of gr…
If you are the mother or father of a high school athlete here in Oregon, this message is primarily for you.
When the Roseburg Library opens its doors, get your hands on “The Worst Hard Time” by Timothy Egan. It is page-turner nonfiction that follows some tough, hard-luck people through the Dust Bowl. It is a story with surprising resonance today.
It was with great sadness that I learned last week of the passing of our 41st President of the United States, George Herbert Walker Bush. For me, President Bush was more than just my President, he was also my Commander in Chief when I served in the Army from 1989 to 1992. While stationed at …
My first visit to the Roseburg VA was in 1991. I have seen many directors come and go, and with each new director there has been hope that things would get better. In that time there have been many changes, some good, most not so good.
A proclamation for the future has been declared by school boards across the country, and Roseburg Public Schools has joined the fanfare by proclaiming November 12-16, 2018, American Education Week.
Douglas County has a proud tradition of having more than its fair share of citizens who have or are currently serving in the military. Nationwide, less than 7 percent of people are currently serving or previously served, but in Douglas County it’s more than double that at 15 percent, accordi…
I am writing to rebut the opinion column “No, he cannot end birthright citizenship” by Marc Thiessen, and all other off-the-cuff remarks pertaining to President Trump’s proposed executive order.
What comes to mind when you think about the essentials for life? Food? Clothing? Education? How about shelter? I think we can all agree that these are necessities for all people, globally and in our county. Without access to these, life itself is put in jeopardy. When you look at the informa…
In response to the Oct. 21 article, “How fire burned Forest Service budget,” I’d like to add a component rarely spoken of regarding the utilization of private contractors in wildland fire suppression. The element I speak of is arson for profit.
Public transportation services are about to see major changes in service provisions along with a boost in funds from the state. My name is Vince Portulano, and I’m seeking a seat on the new Douglas County Transportation District, and am seeking your support because I believe I can work with …
It appears that the massive tax cut at the federal level is not producing offsetting revenues through growth that was expected. Now the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, is talking about cutting entitlements. Namely Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
In our county and across the state, people with disabilities, seniors and low-income families are struggling to secure safe, stable and affordable housing. For people who experience a disability, as well as seniors, income is often fixed and very limited, leaving adequate and affordable hous…
Every morning since that fateful day begins the same way. It was the most intense heartache imaginable, the middle of a bad dream, drifting in a small boat on that mighty sea of sorrows. And when she awakened, nothing changed. The nightmare was still there.
After purchasing our home, we spent the first two years bending over and picking up trash. It was as if someone loaded a plane with garbage, flew over and randomly dumped it out. For the past eighteen years we have carefully restored much of the wildlife habitat, planting thousands of trees …
