By Butch Freedman “Anyone who survives childhood has enough to write about for the rest of their lives.” Flannery O’Connor I’ve always found comfort in the above quote. I don’t think it…
Category: Guest Column
MANY THINGS CONSIDERED: Abject Stupidity on a Global Scale
“The Government of Spain will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket.” – Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez By Marc C. Johnson (Above)…
BOOK REVIEW: When the Forest Breathes – Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World by Suzanne Simard
By Neal Lemery Rarely do I anticipate a new book that arrives in my mailbox with such curiosity and eagerness. Yet Suzanne Simard’s newest book has pushed my other reading aside as…
COLLECTING SUNSETS: The River and the Wren
By Adam Sawyer Apr 07, 2026 I went walking through a familiar forest this morning and was almost overwhelmed by the volume of two distinct sounds that flooded the air. Harbingers of…
BUTCH’S BLOG: How Long Can the Madness Persist?
EDITOR’S NOTE: I’ve had many conversations with friends and family over the last day or so about what we can do as the foundations of our government continue to be eroded and…
MANY THINGS CONSIDERED: The Very Strange World of Trump Straphangers
“These guys are weird.” – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz By Marc C. Johnson (April 3, 2026) The president of the United States went on television Wednesday night (April 1st) to say something…
THE SCOUTING REPORT: Gini Coefficient Observation – Just Do the Math
By Jim Heffernan Finding truth is difficult. Contrasting messages swirl about continuously. Inspired by the book, “The Scout Mindset” by Julia Galef, I’ve volunteered to be a scout for the community. I…
THE GRIEF HOUSE: Life After Loss – Surviving and Rebuilding After The Death Of A Partner Group Series
By Adam Sawyer Today, I facilitated my first “Life After Loss” gathering at The Grief House in Portland. I am ever enlivened and further convinced with each such presentation or conversation that…
BUTCH’S BLOG: My Three Favorites
EDITOR’S NOTE: What are your three favorite books? The Pioneer welcomes book reviews and recommendations – send to editor@tillamookcountypioneer.net. By Butch Freedman A good friend and fellow writer asked me (and others)…
BUTCH’S BLOG: Are They All Bad?
By Butch Freedman I was having a conversation with my daughter, Jessie, when, as is unfortunately the norm in all conversations these days, the talk turned toward politics and the crew of…