by Neal Lemery As a 51 year Tillamook County voter, I like to be educated on the candidates and issues that I cast my ballot on in every election. The May primary…
Category: Words of Wisdom
The Unexpected Conversation
OIOpublisher by Neal Lemery One of the often uncelebrated benefits of living in a small town are the seemingly random and unplanned conversations that occur at the grocery store or the post…
Meth World – A Bitter Truth
EDITOR’S NOTE: “My latest, and not my usual. It’s long, and deeply personal. Feel free to not use this,” said the note from Neal Lemery that accompanied this article. What?! Of course,…
WORDS OF WISDOM: Our Differences and the Coming Change
By Neal Lemery We are emerging into new times, new opportunities. How are we going to take advantage of all of the possibilities? The end of the pandemic restrictions is not going…
WORDS OF WISDOM: The Old Hay Fork
By Neal Lemery It was always in the barn, by the loose hay that Grandpa had tossed down from the hay mow, the bales breaking open, one by one, on the old…
WORDS OF WISDOM: Pruning Time
By Neal Lemery The recent sunny weather gave me good reasons to get outside and start my early spring pruning chores. That work includes a lot of social and personal pruning, as…
WORDS OF WISDOM: Reaching Out — One to One
EDITOR’S NOTE: I treasure my friendship with Neal, and as his email landed in my inbox today, starting out with “We seem to be on the same wavelength recently.” I knew I…
BOOK REVIEW & READING: Building Community: Rural Voices for Hope & Change by Neal Lemery
EDITOR’S NOTE: We recorded this reading by Neal Lemery in March 2020 and it’s been available on the Pioneer’s YouTube site. We did an introduction to Neal’s new book and we had…
WORDS OF WISDOM: Filling Up the New Calendar
By Neal Lemery The new calendar on the wall is fresh and clean. So far, there are only a few events are there. It is a fresh start to a new year….
WORDS OF WISDOM – Unexpected Gifts: Giving From the Heart
by Neal Lemery Putting aside the hubbub, the seemingly endless demands on us to be “in the holiday mode”, I find my purpose and comfort in the quiet of the winter, as…