Author: Barry
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The Hard Truth: Three Minutes and a Song
By Toledo Tribune There was a time when city council meetings were a kind of civic potluck. You showed up with your thoughts, maybe a question or two, and you sat among your neighbors and listened. Some folks brought half-baked ideas, others brought seasoned wisdom, but the table was open and everyone had a chance…
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The Hard Truth: Between the Ballot and the Boot
By Toledo Tribune Lets take a deeper look at a previous Hard truth: The Keys and the Blame Our last Hard Truth column compared electing government officials to hiring a store manager—raising questions about accountability, oversight, and public engagement. Today, we continue the conversation with a deeper look at what happens betweenelection day and the next campaign cycle.…
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The Hard Truth: The Keys and the Blame
By the Toledo Tribune Back in the days when folks still paid with checks and the sound of a bell above a shop door meant you were likely to meet someone with a story, there was a man—a decent man, far as I could tell—who owned a small business on Main Street. Let’s say it…
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Whimsy an Wonder: The Virtue of Silence: A Series for Reflection
The Toledo Tribune is happy to have received a series of sermons from “The Reverend” an introduction followed by 5 parts, we present you our dear reader with this the intro. The different parts will be posted in the comments each Sunday. With part 1 posted later today. The Virtue of Silence: A Series for…
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Whimsy and Wonder: Tunnels, Tall Tales, and Toledo Lore: Digging Deep Beneath Main Street
A Curious Observation by the Toledo Tribune Toledo, a small town perched on the banks of the Yaquina River, is a place where history flows like the tide, leaving behind stories that ripple through time. Folks here will tell you about the golden days of timber and trains, the scent of fresh-cut spruce wafting through…
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Whimsy and Wonder: Stellar Drift: The Thousand Line Convergence
The starship Toledo Venture drifted quietly on the edge of the East Rim Nebula, its sleek hull reflecting the shimmering blues and golds of the stellar nursery nearby. Captain Marlow leaned forward in his chair, the soft hum of the ship’s systems filling the bridge. “Lieutenant Vega, confirm the coordinates,” Marlow said, his voice steady.…
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Breaking News: Toledo City Council Votes on Interim City Manager Authority
Published January 15, 2025 by the Toledo Tribune TOLEDO, OR — The Toledo City Council convened for its regular meeting this evening, but an unexpected turn of events brought heightened attention to the proceedings. Approximately halfway through the meeting, the council recessed into an executive session citing ORS 192.660(2)(b). This statute allows for the private…
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The Hard Truth: “Steering the Ship: A Look at How Toledo’s City Council Keeps the Course”
January 7, 2025 By the Toledo Tribune Well, folks, I was sitting in the quiet of a rainy morning, sipping coffee, with a little sugar and cream, thinking about the machinery that keeps this little town of ours ticking. Not the most glamorous subject, I admit, but it’s the kind of thing that deserves a…
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This is Toledo: A Night of Honor and Hard Decisions
January 15, 2025 Good evening. Tonight, as the clock struck six, Mayor Rod Cross gaveled the Toledo City Council to order. The meeting began, as always, with the Pledge of Allegiance, but it quickly became clear this was not an ordinary gathering. The council chambers were filled to capacity, with citizens standing shoulder to shoulder—a…
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The Hard Truth: Communication, Transparency, and Knowing Who’s in Charge
January 17, 2025 By the Toledo Tribune The heart of any small town is its people, and the health of its government depends on how well it communicates with them. When it comes to Toledo, our city council and city manager face the unique challenge of balancing legal boundaries, operational duties, and community engagement. Yet,…