By Butch Freedman So, here we are—2026. Scary but hopeful. If you’re still hanging on. Which I am, though with great trepidation. 2025 was such a brutal and outrageous slide for the…
Category: Guest Column
BOOK REVIEW: Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
By Jim Heffernan One of my resolutions for the New Year is to read more fiction. This book was an excellent way to begin. My home page, refdesk.com, has been recommending it…
WORDS OF WISDOM: Uncelebrated Heroes
EDITOR’S NOTE: Let’s celebrate our community heroes. Who needs to be recognized for the daily good deeds? Tell us about your favorite Tillamook County heroes, so we can honor and acknowledge their…
BOOK REVIEW: Separation of Church & Hate by John Fugelsang
By Jim Heffernan I can’t remember where I saw news of this book, but the title grabbed me. The author is the son of a former Carmelite nun and a former Franciscan…
I’VE BEEN THINKING … Make Lying Wrong Again
By Jim Heffernan I’ve been thinking a lot about our government lying to us lately. I wish it would stop. I think the lying started out small, but has grown throughout my…
BOOK REVIEWS: Jim Heffernan’s Top 25 for 2025
By Jim Heffernan Here’s my fourth annual book list. It’s my take on the best 25 books I’ve read in 2025. Many of them have reviews in the Pioneer, some don’t. Many…
WORDS OF WISDOM: A Bittersweet Time
By Neal Lemery When I was a kid, Christmas was always a bittersweet time. Lots of emotions were at play, even though the family worked together to make it a joyous and…
BOOK REVIEW: “Paper Girl” by Beth Macy
By Jim Heffernan This is one of those rare books that I just couldn’t put down after I started reading it. It set me off on a binge to read her other…
WORDS OF WISDOM: Flash Mob
By Neal Lemery Like many heart-warming events, it came together quickly. My simple errand of mailing some Christmas cards turned into a special community event, which grew in popularity and provided much…
BOOK REVIEWS: Superbloom & The Shallows by Nicholas Carr
By Jim Heffernan I was attracted to “Superbloom” as a new 2025 book. It opened me up to the writing of Nicholas Carr and I had to have more. I went on…