|
Yamhill County News Update
|
|
|
What we've been talking about
- "Yamhill County will appeal a ruling that struck down its gun “sanctuary” ordinance as unconstitutional and illegal". Commissioners Starrett and Berschauer voted to have attorney Tyler Smith appeal the recent court decision. Read more here.
- The Yamhill County Board of Commissioners still hasn't disbursed almost $3.5M in state funds intended to increase county mental health worker retention and recruitment. "Commissioners have for weeks failed to address a bill intended to provide county behavioral health employees raises and bonuses to help with staff retention and help recruit new hires, at no cost to the county." According to county employees, "the department is losing staff, morale is plummeting and the money is badly needed. The county website lists 27 jobs available in Health and Human Services, compared to just one or two in other departments." Read full reporting from the News-Register here.
- Oregon senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are raising concerns about FCI-Sheridan in a letter to Colette Peters, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. "Their letter cited recent reports about alleged retaliation and violence at the facility at the hands of corrections officers against inmates for speaking out about a litany of concerns, including medical needs. The letter also inquires about "'significant delays' in access to treatment and evaluation for defendants in Oregon’s federal criminal justice system, and nationwide, who suffer from mental health conditions." Read more here and here.
- House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was in Oregon on Wednesday to stump and raise money for GOP candidates Lori Chavez DeRemer, Alek Skarlatos, and Mike Erickson. Read reporting from the Newberg Graphic here.
- The City of McMinnville and McMinnville Rural Fire Protection District are planning a proposal to create a new special district that merges fire and ambulance services. A community conversation will be held on September 6 at 6pm at the Civic Center. The McMinnville City Council voted 4-2 to move the planned City Services Charge to 2nd reading. Read the story here.
- Police shot and killed a man in McMinnville last Tuesday. Read about the story here.
Opportunities to get involved
- Volunteer to help our immigrant neighbors study for their citizenship tests in the fall. Contact Mary Holdman to get involved.
- Host youth in Yamhill County that are experiencing homelessness. Volunteer as a Host Home Family with YCAP's SafeShelter Program and host youth aged 11-17 for up to 21 days. Contact Amber at Youth Outreach at 503-687-3185 or amberh@yamhillcap.org.
- There will be a measure on the November ballot to amend Oregon's constitution to abolish slavery once and for all. The campaign is seeking endorsements from nonprofits, labor unions, businesses, trade associations, faith organizations, social services organizations, and prominent individuals. Click here for info on how to volunteer to collect endorsements.
- Volunteer with Saturday Morning Breakfast in Mac. This is a great way to serve the community and our community members that are hungry or food insecure. Learn more here.
- Share your story with GaraDatos, the Journal of Community Experience & Analysis. The publication began as a grassroots effort in a community under siege by radicalized conservatism, cronyism, and regressive ideals. Foundational to GaraDatos is active discourse among neighbors, students, educators, community leaders, politicians, organizers and business leaders with a shared goal in growth and intellectual curiosity. Learn more, Sign-up to contribute your essays, poetry, visual art, and audiovisual media, and subscribe to upcoming issues here.
- Add your name to the list of supporters calling for removal of the Consent Decree limiting the ability of Tribal members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde to hunt and fish on their ancestral lands. Click here. Read Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy's opinion piece in the Oregonian here.
- Sign the petition to rename Columbus Elementary School in McMinnville. Click here.
- The Chehalem Cultural Center wants your input on how to make the Center more inclusive for all. Complete the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) survey here.
- Want to help people in Yamhill County experiencing homelessness? Volunteer at the Newberg Emergency Shelter. Sign-up here. You can also donate by purchasing items from the shelter's Amazon wishlist here. Read the shelter's newsletter here. Encompass Yamhill Valley also provides support to this population. Learn more about them here.
- Volunteer with McMinnville's low-barrier shelter on Fridays. Volunteers are needed for 4 shifts between 8pm-8am, including two meal shifts. Sign-up here.
Opportunities to donate and give back
- Reminder: the Food Bank at the First Baptist Church in Dayton (300 Flower Ln.) is open every other Tuesday from 4-6pm and is accepting donations.
- Donate to Patton Middle School's Backpack Drive here. The Patton Boutique, a resource room designed to help students with unmet needs, is collecting backpacks for students in need.
- Donate to the McMinnville High School Resource Room here. They are looking for: tampons, pens, water bottles, cup of noodles/ramen (single serving cups), and other individual snacks and microwavable food items. The Resource Room is for any MHS student who is having trouble getting their basic needs met. The MHS Resource Room has clothing, school supplies, hygiene products, and non-perishable family meals. Email agreene@msd.k12.or.us or kcarlson@msd.k12.or.us if you'd like to volunteer.
- Want to provide assistance to people affected by the war in Ukraine? Donate here.
|
|
|
Bothered by the candidate signs from the primaries still up along the highway? Call to report them to ODOT. The agency knows the signs are still up, but isn't acting fast enough to take them down. Call 971-375-8143.
|
|
|
Make Your Voice Heard
Contact the Board of Commissioners:
bocinfo@co.yamhill.or.us
When sending emails to the Board of Commissioners, cc the News Register at nmontestano@newsregister.com.
|
|
|
|
Available Positions on Local Boards, Committees, and Commissions
|
|
|
Non-Profits
The Henderson House Advocacy Center is looking for more board members. For a minimum commitment of one Monday evening a month, you can help an incredible organization provide shelter and services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
State positions
Long Term Care Volunteer Ombudsman needed to protect the rights of seniors and other residents living in long term care facilities. 4 hours a week. Training and support are included. Apply by September 28.
Carlton
Carlton has a Planning Commissioner vacancy. Deadline for filing September 19, 2022.
Dayton
The Dayton School Board is looking for a new School Board member (application here) and a new Budget Committee member (application here). The city is looking for a new member for the Planning Commission (application here).
Dundee
The City of Dundee is looking for a new City Councilor. Contact the city for more info.
McMinnville
McMinnville is looking to fill vacancies on the Airport Commission. Apply by September 22. Learn more here.
Willamina
Willamina is seeking volunteers for the Planning Commission and Budget Commission Boards, Inquire here
|
|
|
Work on a Campaign and Help Progressives get Elected this November
|
|
|
|
Andrea Salinas for US Congress, OR's Congressional District 6
Help Andrea Salinas’ CD 6 campaign: Sign up for weekly Wednesday phone banking. Starting at 5:00 pm.
Canvassing opportunities: September 3 in Dundee from 10-1pm; September 11 in McMinnville from 10-1pm (with Victoria Ernst for HD 24).
Have any questions about volunteering with the Salinas campaign? Interested in volunteering on your own? Email wright@dccc.org, or sign up to volunteer with this link.
Victoria Ernst for State Representative, House District 24
This week, join Team Ernst at McMinnville Music Fest (they will be standing outside the festival on 3rd street, available to talk with concert goers). Sign-up here. Join a joint canvass with Andrea Salinas on September 11th! Join the Team Ernst phone banking team by signing up here.
Join Team Ernst for a volunteer kick-off BBQ on Sunday, September 11 from 4-6pm. T-Shirts, yard signs, cold drinks, and BBQ available. RSVP for the address.
Team Ernst is holding a fundraiser on Saturday, October 1, and is looking for silent auction and wine wall donations. Please reach out to Allison if you'd like to donate: allisoneernst@gmail.com or victoria4oregonhouse@gmail.com.
Other opportunities
Help State Democratic candidates: sign up to phone bank with the DPO Coordinated Campaign working for Democratic candidates up and down the ballot on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 12 pm, 4 pm and 6 pm.
|
|
|
Volunteer Opportunities with our Neighbors at YCD
|
|
|
The Yamhill County Democrats really need help staffing the booth at upcoming fairs and festivals. Sign-up for a shift here.
The YCD office just moved into a new and improved location on Adams Street in Mac - but the rent is higher than before. You can donate to the effort here.
The office is open:
Tuesdays from 3-7pm
Saturdays from 10am-5pm
Sign-up for an office shift here!
If you have any questions feel free to email office@YCDemocrats.org or call the office at 503-883-8653.
You can also get involved by joining a YCD Committee:
Exec - 2nd & 4th Mondays, 7:30pm, Contact Chair
Budget - Contact Chair
Communications - Second Fridays, 12pm, Contact Chair
Fundraising - Last Wednesday, 7pm, Contact Chair
Office - First Friday, 7pm, Contact Chair
Outreach - First Thursday, 7pm, Contact Chair
Political Action - Contact Chair
Want to help turn out voters for the general election? Sign-up to be a neighborhood leader. Learn more here. Email secretary@ycdemocrats.org to get involved.
|
|
Know of an upcoming event we should share? Email the details to progressive.yamhill@gmail.com
Fundraisers & Events
Meaningful Movies
Every second Thursday of the Month
Next showing: Thursday, September 8, 6:30pm
McMinnville Cooperative Ministries
Movie: "Poverty, Politics, & Profit" (approx. 50 minutes) and a 15-minute segment from CNBC, entitled, "Why the U.S. Can't Solve the Homeless Crisis." Stick around after the film for a discussion about our current state of houselessness in Yamhill County. Members from Encompass Yamhill Valley will lead the conversation.
Hope Needs a Helping Hand
A Yamhill County Casa Online Event
Friday, September 9, 2022 12 pm - 12:30 pm
November Election Neighborhood Leader Kickoff
Saturday, September 10th, 10 am to 12 pm
Wortman Park, McMinnville
Homeward Bound Pets Virtual Auction
Paws For a Celebration Virtual Auction opens at noon on Monday, September 12 and closes at 6pm Sunday September 18
Register to bid here
Welcome Celebration - McMinnville Women's Choir info session
Tuesday, September 13, 6-7:30pm
Discovery Meadows Community Park
Zero Waste McMinnville Collection Event
The Recycling Project
Saturday, October 22, 10-1pm
First Baptist Church, McMinnville
|
|
|
Upcoming City, County, and School Board Meetings
|
|
|
|
Amity
City Council | September 7, 2022, 7:00 pm
Planning Commission Meeting | Monday, October 12, 2022, 6:30 pm
School Board | September 21, 2022, 6:00 pm
Carlton
City Council | September 6, 2022 6:00 pm
Planning Commission Meeting | September 19, 2022, 6:00 pm
School Board | Thursday, September 8, 2022, 6:00 pm
Dayton
City Council | September 6, 2022 06:30 PM
Planning Commission Meeting | September 8, 6:30pm (if needed)
School Board September 13, 7:00 pm
Dundee
City Council | Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 7:00 pm
Planning Commission Meeting | 2nd Thursday of each month (September 8), 6:30pm
School Board (see Newberg)
Lafayette
City Council | September 8, 6:30 pm
Planning Commission Meeting | September 15, 2022, 7:00 pm
School Board (see McMinnville)
McMinnville
City Council | September 13, 6pm
Planning Commission Meeting | September 1, 2022, 6:30 pm
School Board | September 12, 6:30
Newberg
City Council | September 19, 2022, 6:00 pm
Planning Commission Meeting | September 9, 2022, 7:00 pm
School Board September 14, 2022, 7:00 pm
Sheridan
Planning Commission Meeting | 2nd Mon. each month, September 12, 6:30 pm
School Board Third Wednesday, September 21, 6:00 pm
Willamina
City Council | Second Tuesday 6:00 PM: September 13th
School Board Mon, September 12, 7pm – 8pm
Yamhill
City Council | Wednesday, September 14, 7:00 pm
Planning Commission Meeting | 3rd Wed. of month, September 21, 7:00 pm
School Board Thursday, September 8, 6:00 pm
|
|
Progressive Yamhill is a non-partisan group with a regional focus on Yamhill County politics at the city, county, and state level, as well as a vehicle to connect with neighbors on issues and actions at a federal level. Our goal is to connect, educate, inform, and actively participate in the creation of a local community that shares and supports our mission. You can learn more about our origin, and our group, at our website.
Our growing Facebook Group is 'Private', meaning that unless you are in the group, you cannot search for it, see anything anyone posts in it, or even find out who else is a member. We take our members privacy seriously and have a team of moderators who vet every new member before adding them. In order to enable new members to find us, and to communicate key events to the public, we also have a public Facebook Page. If you would like to join, and the first link didn't work for you, use the second link and follow the instructions to let us know!
|
|
|
|
|
