Trump Administration proposes closing 9 Job Corps centers; Angell center near Yachats escapes ax but will get new operator

May 24, 2019

By YachatsNews.com, Politico and Huffington Post Angell Job Corps Center north of Yachats escaped a closure announcement Friday from the U.S. Forest Service but apparently will be run this fall by a contractor or non-government partnership overseen by the U.S. Labor Department. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced Friday the agency intends to close nine of 25 Job Corps Centers across

State and volunteers nurture native plant nurseries for coast restoration efforts

May 23, 2019

By ELAINE WATKINS/YachatsNews.com When one of Oregon’s state parks needs seashore bluegrass to restore a beach near Astoria, it contacts Celeste Lebo. When native thistle needs to be planted to attract the endangered Oregon silverspot butterfly to a meadow south of Yachats, the parks turn to Sherri Laier. Lebo and Laier scout salt meadows, searching for seed-bearing native plants. In

Yachats Pride Festival scheduled May 31 to June 2 at Commons

May 23, 2019

By ELAINE WATKINS/YachatsNews.com June is Pride Month and Yachats is kicking it off with the third annual Pride Festival from Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 2 at the Commons. The festival is the brainchild of Yachats resident Helen Anderson, who estimates attendance to be split pretty evenly between LGBTQ and straight people. Anderson’s favorite event of the weekend is

Lincoln County buys house to help probationers transition into community

May 22, 2019

Lincoln County commissioners on Wednesday approved buying a five-bedroom house in Newport to use for men on probation as they transition into the community. The vacant home at 168 S.E. 10th St. previously operated as a group home. The county bought the house for $347,500, with the money coming from state funding for parole and probation. The county will be

Lincoln County high school students gain free bus passes

May 22, 2019

Yes, there is a free ride. Lincoln County Transit has announced a new program that allows any high school student a free ride anywhere in the county. This includes Waldport High School, Toledo High School, Newport High School, Taft High School, Lincoln City Career Tech High School, Siletz Valley High School, and Eddyville Charter High School. “This will open many

Yachats Fire Department headquarters and main station

Yachats Fire District levy wins voter approval, board gets two new members

May 22, 2019

Voters in the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District on Tuesday renewed a five-year tax levy for district operations by wide margin, 530 to 174. In other election results, two new members were elected to the fire district’s five-member board and the board chair, running unopposed, was re-elected. The fire district levy was the only money issue on the ballot in

Lincoln County’s unemployment rate dips below 5 percent in April

May 21, 2019

Lincoln County added 270 jobs and its unemployment rate dropped back below 5 percent in April, according to seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll numbers released Tuesday by the Oregon Employment Department. Although the number of jobs increased, regional economist Erik Knoder said that it was 50 jobs fewer than expected. Private-sector employment rose by 250 jobs, and government employment edged up

Yachats budget committee OKs 2019-20 fiscal year spending after debates on church replacement, warnings over lodging tax use

May 16, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The Yachats Budget Committee on Wednesday approved general fund and capital improvement budgets for fiscal 2019-20 that focuses on catching up with infrastructure work and starting remodel or replacement projects on three city buildings. The $1.15 million general fund budget is for daily operating expenses, including everything from payroll to legal fees to maintenance. The $952,000 capital

See those sea lion rafts offshore? Here’s an expert’s explanation – and more

May 15, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Jim Rice gets lots of questions about seals and sea lions. Most inquiries are about their health or when adult or offspring come ashore. Rice is the sole employee of the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network at the OSU Marine Mammal Institute in Newport. His job now is to report on – with the help of a

Vacation rental testimony Tuesday night favors license transfers and more code enforcement

May 15, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The speakers were nearly unanimous – the city of Yachats’ 2-year-old vacation rental ordinance needs some tweaks – and muscle. All but one of 20 people who testified to the Yachats City Council Tuesday night said a “pilot” vacation rental ordinance that caps the number of licenses at 125 needs some changes. There was only a little