Oregon Legislature starts quietly Monday, but tensions simmer just below surface

February 3, 2020

By SAM STITES, JAKE THOMAS and CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — A contentious proposal to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions dominated political chatter in the weeks before the 2020 legislative session began. So much so that observers expected “sparks” when lawmakers convened Monday, Feb. 3, said Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas. But sitting in his office Monday, wearing

Some big businesses throwing support to Oregon cap-and-trade legislation

February 3, 2020

A June 2019 Capital rally by members of Timber Unity helped cement the end of a cap-and-trade bill opposed by rural constituents. CLAIRE WITHYCOME/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Oregon Democrats’ effort to limit greenhouse gas emissions is getting a public nudge from business.Nearly two dozen companies and two health care climate alliances in Washington and California, signed a Jan. 29 letter to

Oregon lawmakers hope to improve rural dental care with new legislation

February 3, 2020

By SAM STITES/Oregon Capital Bureau Oregon is facing a dental health epidemic, and a lack of access to care is at the root of the problem for many children, rural residents and low-income families. This month Oregon legislators will consider improving access to education and services in schools, as well as create licensing for a new type of practitioner who

Yachats records 14.52 inches of rain in January

February 1, 2020

Going to state the obvious here – it was very wet in Yachats in January. The city received 14.52 inches of rain last month, the second-highest amount for the month in the past 10 years. It was also double the rainfall in December. The 14.52 inches was the highest since 19.12 inches were measured at the city’s wastewater treatment plant

Yachats Fire District will return $562,000 to taxpayers once new station is completely finished

February 1, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com When the finishing touches are completed, the last equipment purchased and the final landscaping done, the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District estimates it will have $562,000 left over after building its main fire station. Now the district’s board has to figure out how to give the money back to taxpayers. The district moved into its new

Fire chief apologizes for actions that led to ethics investigation

January 31, 2020

To the editor: On Jan. 3 the Oregon Government Ethics Commission issued a stipulated final order and letter of education to conclude its investigation into my actions as fire chief and administrator of the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District. The commission found that my use of fire district equipment and personnel to block the road for cattle and to move

“The Hub” in Waldport provides a glimpse into homeless, poverty issues in south Lincoln County

January 30, 2020

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews.com WALDPORT – A tall, rangy man in worn jeans and parka rushes into the storefront near the Waldport Café. “Hey, bro,” he greets the man on duty as he strides past shelves and racks crammed with clothing and blankets. Heading straight for the children’s section, he grabs a package of baby diapers and heads back out

Lincoln County seeking five new members for planning commission

January 30, 2020

NEWPORT — Lincoln County is seeking five new members to serve on its Planning Commission. The nine-member commission plays a key role in the administration of land use planning within the unincorporated areas of the county, conducting public hearings and help make decisions on local land use applications and permits. The commission also reviews and makes recommendations on amendments to

Lincoln County unemployment rate finishes 2019 at 4.3 percent

January 30, 2020

Lincoln County’s unemployment rate ended 2019 at 4.3 percent – a percentage point lower than the end of 2018 but still higher than Oregon’s statewide rate of 3.7 percent and national rate of 3.5 percent. December’s total non-farm employment was 50 more than one year before, according to the Oregon Employment Department’s regional economist Erik Knoder, an increase of 0.3

Second member of Lincoln County district attorney’s staff files to seek top position

January 30, 2020

The race to become the next elected Lincoln County District Attorney is getting more interesting. A second deputy district attorney in the office has filed for the May primary election to challenge newly appointed district attorney Jonathan Cable. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown appointed Cable, a Newport attorney in private practice, to the position on Jan. 17. Cable succeeded Michelle