Wow, Cin! I didn't know that's where ya lived! I went to high school in McMinnville! Well, for 2 years anyway. As an 8th grader and a freshman. Used to fish the Yamhill river in Lafayette.
Yep, lived here almost my entire life. Went to Aloha Park Grade School, Five Oaks Middle School & Aloha & Sunset High Schools. One of my sons still lives in Hillsboro and my husband works up there now. I live just outside of Cottage Grove so Eugene & Roseburg are really the closest "big cities", but Eugene is the easiest drive.
We actually live just a stone's throw away from the Umqua River. The creek that surrounds our property is a Salmon breeding stream that's an offshoot of the river. Most beautiful river I've ever seen in my life. Even as a kid I to live in this area.
Cindie