By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews NEWPORT – Daniel Neustel died five years ago in Eugene from an overdose of Xanax and methadone. A friend found him on the couch and called 911 before rolling him to the floor and administering CPR until paramedics arrived. Paramedics used Naloxone, a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose, to […]
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Community News
Need help from social service agencies? A dozen will be in Waldport Tuesday to help connect you
By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews WALDPORT — If you know someone in need, the kindest thing you might do is give them a ride to an event in Waldport next week. Almost a dozen agencies will gather from 2-5 p.m. Tuesday at DaNoble House, 125 N.W. Spruce St., to help people in south Lincoln County connect […]
Yachats Library closes for three weeks as some items move to Commons; demolition possible in July
By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews YACHATS — The Yachats Library closed its doors to the public this week as volunteers began boxing up and moving some of the collection to Room 8 in the Commons for up to a year. The temporary location will open May 29, when patrons can resume browsing a much smaller collection […]
Now that your ballot has arrived, here’s a rundown of who and what are seeking your vote
There’s a little bit of everything on the May 21 primary election ballot for the more than 41,000 registered voters in Lincoln County – choices for political office and a handful of pocketbook issues. During a presidential year primary that includes races for low-profile statewide offices, there’s a bit more to chew on for Lincoln […]
Yachats’ first “Wild Things” festival Saturday intended to inform, educate and entertain
By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews YACHATS — Nature’s creations rule downtown Yachats on Saturday, when the community’s first “Wild Things” festival ambles, soars and swims into town. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., free, family-friendly activities will inform, educate and entertain as the biodiversity of the Oregon coast takes center stage. Sponsored by the Yachats Chamber […]
Waldport’s weekday market brings community together as it grows, adapts and provides opportunities for vendors
By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews WALDPORT – There’s fettucine and sweet rolls, earrings and wall art, knives and wood furniture, knitted hats and early-season vegetables — just a bit of everything — at the growing Waldport Wednesday Market. All accompanied by the sound of music wafting over the market from a rotating and expanding list of […]
In the planning for seven years, Oregon Coast CC now asking voters for trades center bond, other projects
By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews In a perfect world a trades education center would already be up and running on the main campus of Oregon Coast Community College in Newport. College officials began working on plans for such a center seven years ago. But its board and administrators decided to pivot from 2018-20 to the task […]
Voters in Lincoln County Library District being asked to renew 9 cent levy to help fund operations
By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews Voters in several small cities and unincorporated areas of Lincoln County will have a chance to decide whether to help keep library services going in the May 21 primary election. The Lincoln County Library District is asking voters to renew a levy of nine cents per $1,000 assessed property value for […]
News Briefs
Emergency responders hold big exercise next week at Newport airport
NEWPORT — In the largest exercise of its kind on the Oregon coast, a variety of local, state and federal agencies will conduct a two-day exercise next week to introduce and train first responders and volunteers in the deployment of an evacuation center now housed at the Newport airport. Agencies involved include Lincoln County Emergency […]
Newport voters deciding whether to increase gas tax to 5 cents
By KLCC News Newport city officials say they don’t have the resources to repair the city’s aging roads – so they’re asking voters in the May 21 primary to weigh in on a higher, year-round gas tax. For decades, Newport drivers have paid 1 cent a gallon at the pump in the winter and spring […]
Lincoln County Historical Society hires Syrop as executive director
NEWPORT — The board of the Lincoln County Historical Society has hired Jeffrey Syrop as its new executive director to replace Susan Tissot, who retired Tuesday. Tissot had led the organization the past two years. The nonprofit organization oversees and operates the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center and the Burrows House Museum in Newport. Syrop worked […]
Crash into Alsea River on Wednesday leads to two driving citations
WALDPORT – A 60-year-old Waldport man who drove his truck into the Alsea River on Wednesday and needed a specialized rescue team to get him to safety has been cited by police for drunk and reckless driving. Oregon State Police cited Ricky A. Woosley on the two charges after he was taken to Samaritan Pacific […]
Lincoln City theater group opens five-week run of thought-provoking comedy “Bakersfield Mist”
By Oregon Coast TODAY Theatre West of Lincoln City will tackle deep topics with a lighthearted touch when it presents “Bakersfield Mist,” opening for a five-week run Thursday, May 16. Written by Stephen Sachs and directed by Bonnie Ross, the hilarious and thought-provoking comedy asks vital questions about what makes art and people truly […]
Food Share of Lincoln County holding annual “BeJeweled” fundraising sale on Saturday
By Oregon Coast TODAY Looking for a fun Mother’s Day weekend activity that can also help those in need? The annual fundraiser for Food Share of Lincoln County has thousands of second-hand jewelry for sale. The 15th annual “BeJeweled” second-hand jewelry sale, the annual fundraiser for Food Share of Lincoln County, is taking place […]
5 Questions and a Secret: 11 years on the road for Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Scott Severson
By KATHLEEN O’CONNOR/YachatsNews How do those flashing red and blue lights atop an Oregon State Police cruiser make you feel? Dismayed if you know you’ve been speeding. Relieved if you are waiting for help for any reason, especially if there’s been an accident. Oregon State Police troopers are on the road every day to […]
Historical display shows how coastal Native Americans used shaped rocks, wood and bones to fish
These three objects, two sinker stones and a wood and bone hook, are part of the Lincoln County Historical Society’s collection and are on display at the Burrows House Museum in Newport. The smaller sinker stone with a drilled hole was likely used to weigh the bottom edge of a gill net to keep […]
Letters from Readers
Library support is crucial in rural areas like Lincoln County
To the editor: Love your community library? If so, it’s a definite yes on Measure 21-222 on the May 21 primary election ballot that you received in the mail. At nine cents per $1,000 assessed property value, it’s one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to help our community. Where else can you find […]
College’s bond request just renews rate, doesn’t mean an increase
To the editor: I am writing in support of Measure 21-224 on your May primary ballot, which would renew the bond for Oregon Coast Community College. If passed, this measure would renew the college’s bond at its current rate, meaning no increase in the tax rate for Lincoln County property owners. But the benefits for […]
Law school colleague supports Wallace in DA’s race
To the editor: I’ve known Lincoln County deputy district attorney Jenna Wallace for over a decade since we first met in law school. During those years I watched Wallace begin to develop her affinity for justice and integrity. Since that time I have litigated cases against Wallace, and while I don’t always agree with her […]
Benfield can end chaos, dissension in district attorney’s office
To the editor: Newport native Kathryn Benfield should be the voters’ overwhelming choice for Lincoln County District Attorney in the May election. With more than 35 years experience in practice, Benfield has handled both civil and criminal matters and regularly appears before juries. She has compassion and common sense. She has discernment and discretion. She […]
Oregon News
Tuition at Oregon’s seven public universities increasing 3-5 percent in the fall for incoming freshmen
Oregon State University in Corvallis is one of the most expensive public four-years in the state to attend. The university, along with the six other public universities in the Oregon, is raising tuition for students next year. By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle Incoming freshmen at Oregon’s public universities will pay record tuition for the upcoming […]
ODFW commission has choice Friday between insider and outsider to lead agency
By ZACH URNESS/Salem Statesman Journal SALEM — Two finalists have been picked to become the next director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Debbie Colbert and Kaitlin Lovell were selected from a pool of 30 candidates to lead an agency with more than 1,000 employees and the often polarizing task of managing the […]
Nonprofit and state agency kick off Oregon fentanyl awareness campaigns amid an overdose epidemic
By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle A national nonprofit organization released a new program on Tuesday to help families navigate the hazards of fentanyl and prevent deaths of young people as Oregon continues to battle the lethal drug epidemic. Song for Charlie, a nonprofit focused on raising awareness about fake fentanyl pills, launched The New Drug Talk […]
OSU researchers using artificial intelligence to help study threatened coastal seabirds
By APRIL ERHLICH/Oregon Public Broadcasting Artificial intelligence tools are helping Oregon wildlife researchers study hard-to-reach threatened species like the marbled murrelet. Researchers with Oregon State University and the U.S. Forest Service collected millions of hours of audio from federal forests in Washington and Oregon between 2018 and 2022. “We cannot physically review all the […]
Democrats vie for Oregon state treasurer nomination to face Republican state senator in November
By CONRAD WILSON/Oregon Public Broadcasting Oregon’s next state treasurer will take the reins on an office with big tasks already at hand. They will manage the state’s $98 billion Public Employees Retirement System and its $28 billion unfunded liability. They will inherit outgoing state Treasurer Tobias Read’s plans to divest in fossil fuels and […]
Four candidates square off in May primary race for Oregon attorney general to replace Rosenblum
Left to right top: Republican Will Lathrop and Democrat Dan Rayfield, and left to right bottom: Democrat Shaina Maxey Pomerantz and Republican Michael Cross are running for Oregon attorney general in the primary election May 21. By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle Four candidates are running for Oregon attorney general and hope to get their party’s […]
Two Republicans competing for 4th Congressional District nomination hope to unseat Hoyle
Amy Ryan Courser, left, and Monique DeSpain are vying for the Republican nomination in Oregon’s 4th Congressional District. BY ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle A lawyer and Air Force veteran and a marketing consultant and former Keizer City councilor are vying for the Republican nomination to represent Oregon’s 4th Congressional District in the May 21 primary. […]
Demand for electricity in Northwest projected to grow 30% in decade, triple previous estimates
By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle Electricity demand in the Northwest is expected to grow more than 30% in the next decade, or about 5% more than estimated last year and triple the prediction three years ago, industry experts said in a new report. Large data centers, an increase in high-tech manufacturing and growing electrification in […]