Good morning, McMinnville.

Madison Street repaving and sidewalk improvements in Lafayette caused gridlock on Highway 99W Thursday afternoon as cars built up along Third Street; city officials expect most of the repairs to be completed by this evening.

Sheri King looks back at Oregon’s early Fourth-of-July celebrations held at Champoeg and Lafayette.

She details how pioneers celebrated with parades, patriotic speeches, and communal events (without modern commercialism) to honor America’s birthday.

The Oregon Department of Forestry reported this week that emerald ash borers were found in a parking lot outside Newberg and in Tualatin and Silverton.

Homeowners are urged to delay tree removal until mid-October to avoid costly hazards.

Local officials approved plans for subsidized housing projects such as the RB Rubber and Methodist Church proposals and allowed demolition of a historic building on Second Street.

A public hearing on the Methodist Church project is set for July 16 so residents can express their views on housing and parking.

Local youth athletes and professional softball players met last weekend in Hillsboro as coach Josh Terry — who led the Northwest Vandals — partnered with the Cascade to run a clinic and host a Valley Invite tournament, following their opener on June 18 against the Oklahoma City Blaze.

At the Nike Outdoor Nationals, McMinnville's Mac’s Carpenter and Amity's Howard broke school records while reaching personal bests in their events.

Their strong performances have raised local pride in the county’s sports scene.

A list of high school seniors headed for college men’s swimming was released, showing over 1,400 graduates committed to competing; local swimmers Olin Hamilton (College of Idaho) and Keller Shea (University of the Pacific) are set to make their mark.

McMinnville Chess Club Weekly Gathering

5:30-8:00 p.m. — Mac Market — Free entry — Engage in friendly chess matches and enjoy community bonding in a historic setting.