Expansion of earthquake early-warning system along Oregon coast takes a hit in last days of Legislature

July 18, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Take a look at your watch and count the seconds to 120. One, two, three …. 61, 62, 63 … 118, 119, 120. Two minutes. It can be a really long time, says Doug Toomey, a professor at the University of Oregon who is leading the effort to install a seismic alarm system along the Oregon coast

Yachats council gives go-ahead for $370,000 library expansion and remodel

July 18, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The Yachats City Council gave the go-ahead Wednesday night to a $370,000 project to expand, remodel and furnish the city’s 46-year-old library. The city will use $60,000 from its capital improvement budget, and authorize spending $100,000 of a bequest to the library from the Hall family. The rest of the money — $210,000 – is planned to

Seven Yachats residents chip in to buy surplus entrance sign for City Hall

July 18, 2019

When Yachats city offices move from the Commons to the 501 Building there will be a bright, new sign for it. Seven Yachats residents banded together to buy a mistakenly-made city entrance sign and are donating it to hang in or on City Hall. Wednesday night, the City Council formally accepted the gift and thanked Michael and Debbie Hempen, Jacqueline

Lincoln County health agency names three priorities for next five years

July 17, 2019

After community meetings and an online survey, Lincoln County Public Health has selected three priorities to guide the work of the agency and its partners for the next five years. The priorities are: Healthy lifestyles: Will focus on nutrition/food access, physical activity, smoking, and people’s ability to achieve a healthy lifestyle; Mental health: Will focus on our communities’ ability to

Dahl Disposal hosts free hazardous waste disposal event Saturday, July 20 in Waldport

July 17, 2019

Lincoln County’s annual event where residents can dispose of household hazardous waste at no cost will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 20 at Dahl Disposal in Waldport. The event, which rotates between Lincoln City, Newport, Toledo and Waldport, is sponsored by Lincoln County garbage companies and the county’s Solid Waste District. Household hazardous materials that will

Central Lincoln has to pay $1.6 million after six years of bad readings from faulty BPA meter

July 17, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Talk about a surprise bill in the mail. The Central Lincoln Peoples Utility District was recently forced to dip into its reserves to pay the Bonneville Power Administration $1.6 million after the agency said a malfunctioning meter miscalculated almost six years of electricity it delivered to the coast. The BPA discovered the problem in December, notified Central

Saturday night dance in Yachats is fundraiser for Little Log Church replacement

July 16, 2019

The Yachats Big Band, which performs Swing Era music, is donating proceeds from two special summer concerts to help fund the replacement of the Little Log Church and Museum. The first summer concert is 7-9 p.m. Saturday, July 20, in the Yachats Commons multipurpose room. The second concert is Aug. 24. The band usually plays the first Thursday evening of

Yachats-to-Florence bus has few passengers but gets an extension and likely a big, new lease on life

July 11, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Alan Haring pulls away from the bus stop at the Little Log Church in downtown Yachats and heads south on U.S. Highway 101. In 45 minutes – with one stop – his 10-passenger bus pulls up to a small shelter near a strip mall in Florence. Ten minutes later he starts up the bus and retraces the

Is Yachats’ “Clean Sweep” getting too big? City commission begins debating that question

July 11, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Yachats’ annual “Clean Sweep” event may be getting too popular – and big – for its own good. The city-sponsored event each June encourages people to bring unwanted household items, yard debris and other junk to the field behind the 501 Building. Trash goes into dumpsters and better household items are laid out for other people

Yachats Fire Department headquarters and main station

Yachats Fire District starts process for rezoning and selling downtown station

July 10, 2019

The Yachats Rural Fire Protection District has started the process of getting its downtown property re-zoned before putting it up for sale later this year. The district plans to start moving into its new, $8.3 million station on the north edge of Yachats in late September. The district property on West Second Street is zoned for public use and consists