2021-202 Letters, letters VISITOR GUIDE and more letters INSIDE See today’s Viewpoints section Yamhill County’s Friday April 30, 2021 $2 KEEPING YOU CONNECTED SINCE 1866 McMinnville, Oregon 156th year, No. 33 Linfield fires professor who alleged antisemitism, draws condemnation Advocacy organizations, A letter from the Foundation university”; intentionally violat- Pollack-Pelzner said he is dev- for Individual Rights in Educa- ed instructions to preserve the astated and said Linfield did not alumni, students, faculty tion raising concerns and a call attorney-client privilege with adhere to its own policies of members decry decision from the Pacific Northwest ADL respect to information that was guaranteeing due process in fir- for university President Miles entrusted to him in a position of ing tenured professors. By DORA TOTOIAN K. Davis’ resignation followed, trust and confidence; deliberately “It’s such a shock. It’s such Of the News-Register adding to condemnation and circulated false statements about a blow to all the work my col- similar calls from many students, Linfield University fired Dr. the university, its employees and leagues and I have been doing to professors and alumni. Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, a ten- its board; refused to comply with try to make Linfield a safer and ured English professor and Linfield University told the university policies and, “in doing more welcoming community, faculty member of the Board of News-Register the termination so, has been insubordinate and and I’m heartened that alum- Trustees who raised allegations was for cause, claiming Pol- interfered with the university’s ni and colleagues around the of antisemitism and mishandling lack-Pelzner has “engaged in administration of its responsi- Pollack-Pelzner Davis of sexual misconduct claims. conduct that is harmful to the bilities.” See LINFIELD, A3 UK variant “We want to get things in the hands of people who really, really need them.” spreading — John Schmidt, founder of Share Inc. of Yamhill County in Oregon B.1.1.7 thought to spread 50% faster; vaccines effective against strain By NICOLE MONTESANO Of the News-Register The “principle variant of con- cern” in the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon is the so-called UK strain B.1.1.7, Brett Tyler, Direc- tor of Oregon State University’s Center for Genome Research told a group of journalists this week. Tyler, who has been overseeing genome testing of sewage sam- ples from around the state, said incidence of the B.1.1.7 variant is “rising rapidly in Oregon. “That’s of concern because there’s evidence it can spread up to 50% faster than the original strain. The South African vari- ant is also making an appearance both in the wastewater samples, and in the sequencing of individ- ual samples. That also appears to be able to spread up to 50% faster; and there’s also some con- cern about that variant’s ability to resist some protection provided by the vaccines,” Tyler said. However, he said, “Having said that, all the evidence shows that the vaccines are very, very Marcus Larson/News-Register effective against both the variants, Furniture bank Director Meghan Smith prepares a box of kitchen utensils, cups and plates for a needy family. The new program will supply furniture even the South African strain. So and other household goods to those who otherwise might have to choose between paying rent or buying food, instead of getting a bed or chair. I think that the message here is that people need to be responsible in their behaviors; stay distanced, wear masks and so forth while the vaccination gets ahead of the spread of these variants. And once a larger percentage of the pop- ulation is vaccinated, the threat ‘A good, clean start’ posed by these variants will be significantly decreased.” Fifteen counties this week are returning to “extreme risk” status, With furniture bank, new nonprofit hopes to help people in need set up a household requiring tighter restrictions on By STARLA POINTER business operations, because of “We want to get things in the hands of people everything closed down because of the coro- rising case counts. So far, Yamhill Of the News-Register who really, really need them,” Schmidt said. navirus pandemic, he considered other ways to County is remaining in the high “We want to help them make a good, clean start; help the community. A new charitable organization, Share Inc. of a hand up, not just a handout.” risk category. It would move to Yamhill County, is starting a program to help He became involved with Mac Hub, a non- extreme risk if it sees 200 or more The new program is working out of Schmidt’s profit program that “turns unwanted items into people who are leaving behind distressed situ- home and a temporary furniture storage space cases per 100,000 population, ations and moving into a house or apartment. resources for the community.” Mac Hub has over two weeks, and a positive provided by Calvary Chapel. helped him start Share Inc., although his pro- test rate of 5%, and statewide hos- A furniture bank supplying donated, used Share Inc. is looking for a larger, ware- gram is separate, he said. household items, is one of several missions house-type space to store and work on donations. pitalizations continue to increase The furniture bank will accept, clean and by more than 15% a week. Share Inc. organizers plan to pursue. Founder Share Inc. also needs a truck and volunteers to John Schmidt said the nonprofit also plans prepare the donations and, eventually, make repair good, usable furniture and other items a The county’s was at 174.9 person or family would need when setting up a cases per 100,000 last week, and to focus on suicide prevention, support other deliveries. had a positive test rate of 5.3%. charitable organizations, and help people find Schmidt arrived in McMinnville in March services and resources. 2020 with the intent of starting a church. When See FURNITURE, A7 See VARIANT, A5 Sports Commissioners ask Gov. Brown to CORONAVIRUS Mac pitcher (COVID-19) strikes out six discontinue COVID-19 shutdowns Below are a number of resources to in 8-0 help educate you and your family. because of high transmission rates, shutout Starrett says county ‘dodged bullet’ in escaping Extreme a positive test rate of 5% or greater, against category, yet dismisses state’s restrictions as ‘arbitrary’ and 300 hospitalizations statewide. Oregon Health Authority - Oregon.gov/OHA Liberty Yamhill County remains in the Our Health Oregon - OurHealthOregon.org A10 By NICOLE MONTESANO after Commissioners Mary Star- high risk category, and its cases Yamhill County Public Health - hhs.co.yamhill.or.us/publichealth Of the News-Register rett and Lindsay Berschauer said continue to increase. Starrett said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - CDC.gov Yamhill County Commissioners they would not agree to adding the county had “dodged a bullet” World Health Organization - WHO.int on Thursday approved on a split a sentence pledging to promote by not going into the Extreme Risk vote sending a letter to Gov. Kate vaccination against the virus that category. For general information on coronavirus, call 211 Brown, asking that she end county causes COVID-19. The letter states that “Our neigh- Additional resources are also available at lockdowns intended to slow the “I don’t see how that’s germane,” bors and friends cannot continue to WillametteValleyMedical.com spread of COVID-19. Starrett said. function with arbitrary rules that County Commissioner Casey Fifteen counties will return to Kulla cast the opposing vote, the Extreme Risk category today See COUNTY, A5 U|xaIICGHy02366qzZ A2 Friday, April 30, 2021 News-Register/McMinnville, Oregon KEEPING YOU CONNECTED Sheridan council stalls HOW TO REACH US Editor-in-Chief Ossie Bladine fire district consolidation 503-687-1269, [email protected] By PAUL DAQUILANTE The chief petitioners Buckles asked, “Will this should go to the voters, but Managing Editor Sports Editor Of the News-Register were Cody Heidt of the plan solve the problem?” He fear is driving this (Sher- Kirby Neumann-Rea Logan Brandon The Sheridan City Coun- Sheridan Fire District and said he did not believe it idan/Southwestern Polk 503-687-1291 503-687-1205 cil quickly extinguished any Keith Moore of Southwest- would, and that he disagreed plan),” Cox said. “It’s like [email protected] [email protected] possibility the Sheridan and ern Polk. Heidt’s mother, with the decision to not doomsday is just around the Southwestern Polk fire dis- Tammy, is a member of the include the West Valley Dis- corner. Associate Editor Viewpoints Editor Sheridan District Board. trict. Other councilors joined Racheal Winter Steve Bagwell tricts will become District “Something is missing 22 by year’s end. Fred Hertel, chief of the Buckles in their concern that here. I can’t let this go for- 503-687-1246 503-687-1226 Sheridan/Southwestern the council had little time to [email protected] [email protected] The council opted at this ward. I want to see the chief month’s regular meeting Polk/West Valley fire dis- consider consolidation and and others come back with a not to send a petition to tricts, issued a statement reach a decision. revamped plan.” INDEX the Yamhill County Com- following the Sheridan “I do not see this improv- Cox said he “sees and missioners that would have Council’s decision. ing life here (Sheridan),” hears what’s on paper,” but Court records A4 Marketplace B5-7 requested the consolidation “Items of concern to the Buckles said. “There is a in his mind, there’s some- vote be placed on the Nov.