Columnists

RURAL REFLECTIONS: Let's party!

Holidays. We love them. They are days of celebrations and remembrance. Costumes and turkeys. Fireworks and prayers. Read moreRURAL REFLECTIONS: Let's party!

OFFBEAT OREGON: Oregon's infamous 1925 prison break: A tale of betrayal, courage, and tragic consequences

It was a typical balmy August evening at the Oregon State Penitentiary. The bell had rung for supper, so inmates were streaming out of their cells and heading tow… Read moreOFFBEAT OREGON: Oregon's infamous 1925 prison break: A tale of betrayal, courage, and tragic consequences

FROM THE SIDELINES: With assets firmly in hand, it's time for the Blazers to start walking the walk

With the NBA Draft roughly three weeks away and the league’s draft lottery now in the rearview mirror, Portland’s chips are firmly on the table for what will be t… Read moreFROM THE SIDELINES: With assets firmly in hand, it's time for the Blazers to start walking the walk

RURAL REFLECTIONS: Slunking behind a different drummer

Pamela Loxley Drake didn’t really realize until later in life that she could do her own thing. Read moreRURAL REFLECTIONS: Slunking behind a different drummer

FROM THE SIDELINES: Michael Block stole the 2023 PGA Championship, and who would've wanted it any other way?

Michael Block has become a household name. And while the 46-year-old California golf club professional is basking in the glory of his 15th-place finish at last we… Read moreFROM THE SIDELINES: Michael Block stole the 2023 PGA Championship, and who would've wanted it any other way?

RURAL REFLECTIONS: Traveling widens your world

Traveling widens your world. It opens your eyes and, hopefully, your minds. Read moreRURAL REFLECTIONS: Traveling widens your world

THINGS TO DO: The wild songs of wildflowers

Wildflower season comes but once per year. Read moreTHINGS TO DO: The wild songs of wildflowers

OPINION: Replacing the I-5 Interstate Bridge is not a solution for anything

The Interstate Bridge should be left alone for now and ODOT should be directed to start planning for two new bridges

FROM THE SIDELINES: Ja Morant needs the truth, not excuses to get right

Ja Morant is his own worst enemy.

RURAL REFLECTIONS: If you have any questions, ask me

Pamela Loxley Drake reflects on her epic road trip with her sister June.

FROM THE SIDELINES: Wyndham Clark's win was an honor a decade in the making

Oregon’s Wyndham Clark is a winner on the PGA Tour.

RURAL REFLECTIONS: Treasuring our planet, and people, on Earth Day

Earth Day. By the time you read this, Earth Day will be a week behind us.

GUEST COLUMN: How to make the kicker rebate work for all

There's never been a more important time for policymakers and the public to consider the inequities embedded in the kicker

Oakland’s loss wasn’t Portland’s gain, what’s next?

It sure feels like it’s happening, again.

RURAL REFLECTIONS: Seeking the sun

Pamela Loxley Drake’s sister, June, has a fitting name — the sun always seems to shine when Pam is with her.

THINGS TO DO: Forest bathing

“Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not the fish they are after.” — Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

FROM THE SIDELINES: When it comes to the Lakers, I have nothing nice to say, but — against my mother's wishes — I'm saying it all

I’m just going to say what every Blazers fan and self-respecting Oregonian is thinking: Anyone but the Lakers.

RURAL REFLECTIONS: A bit of this and a bit of that

Pamela Loxley Drake doesn’t cook much — not because she doesn’t love her family, she writes, but because she does.

Pamplin's Corner: Wonder why your taxes just increased?

Legal notices published by newspapers may be less compelling reading, but they often contain serious information. Want to know if your neighbor’s house is in foreclosure? Is a public hearing being held about a zone change near you? Or how the…

FROM THE SIDELINES: The season is over, but the future is now for a Blazer franchise at the crossroads

Now what?

RURAL REFLECTIONS: Stand up for books

We’ve all heard of giving the gift of reading. Pamela Loxley Drake takes it to the next level by giving out bookstands to make it easier and more comfortable for people to read.

Reese and Clark were wrong, but we're all to blame for their behavior

I don’t care who you are. The color of your skin. Male or female. The team you play for or who did what first.

RURAL REFLECTIONS: Bee active, beecause you can bee the difference

Columnist Pamela Loxley Drake, mason bee aficionado, says beeing a good steward of the earth is its own beeautiful reward.

Pamplin's Corner: Would you pay $6.69 per gallon of gas?

Serving as our community’s best local news source is our goal and our compass. We strive to connect neighbors and the community daily through our commitment to delivering trusted, local news.

RURAL REFLECTIONS: All you can see in that rearview mirror

"Back off, Bud!" I exclaim looking in my rearview mirror at this guy who wants to ride my bumper. He is trying my last nerve.

Pamplin's Corner: Promoting local events builds strong Oregon communities

You can’t be a good community member without stepping up to support your community.

FROM THE SIDELINES: House Bill 2472 is A problem, and it won't solve THE problem

What are we doing?

White: If the Blazers want to win, they need more veterans to build better habits

COLUMN: Lillard is the lone 30-year-old on Portland's roster, and it shows.

FROM THE SIDELINES: Good things come to those who...believe

Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.

RURAL REFLECTIONS: Predictions, and a planet that defies them

Do you want to build a snowman?

RURAL REFLECTIONS: Pages of life

Pamela Loxley Drake's heart breaks when she thinks about the pain and uncertainty some young people feel.

RURAL REFLECTIONS: Behind the curtain

Pamela Loxley Drake takes a self-conscious look at herself past and present — she's not so unlike her grandkids trying to hide in a place that they've outgrown.

FROM THE SIDELINES: Wrestling isn't about fame and fortune, it's about work

Let’s get ready to rumble!

FROM THE SIDELINES: Gary Payton II could be headed for Trail Blazer purgatory

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our NBA lives.

FROM THE SIDELINES: If you're asking for Scott Rueck's dismissal, you're the problem, not him

Scott Rueck is a good coach, and any assertion otherwise is absurd.

FROM THE SIDELINES: Portland's major league dreams lie in the hands of MLB, and MLB isn't talking

Five years.

BBB: Better Business Bureau offers tips to protect yourself from tax scams

Tax scams are among the most stubborn cons out there. They reappear often, each time with a slightly different spin.

FROM THE SIDELINES: Bill Schonely's mark on the city and franchise was immeasurable

Bill Schonely is gone, but his memory and the memories he provided aren’t going anywhere.

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTEBOOK: A moment in Oregon’s history as seen through my lens

Two fellow photojournalists and I were allowed to capture the historic moment when Tina Kotek, soon to be governor, stood with her wife and rewrote Oregon history books.